~'i~ BLACK-CURRANT. 



" Now will the corinths, now the rasps supply 

 Delicious draughts." — Philips. 



There are six native species of Ribes, of which the one here 

 selected for illustration, and the Red Currant, {Ribes ruhrum,) 

 together with the Gooseberry, {Ribes Grossularia,) are most 

 common. They are among the most esteemed fruits of cool 

 and temperate climates, where alone they come to perfection. 

 It is singular that no varieties have been raised of the Black 

 Currant, nor w ill it produce hybrids as far at least as has been 

 tried with the other cultivated kinds. Dr. Witherina; has 

 noticed a curious change of the petals into stamens. The 

 leaves are eaten by goats and sheep. 



Qualities and general Uses. — The fruit of the Black Cur- 

 rant, though disagreeable to many persons in its recent state, 

 is much used in forming a pleasant and w^holesome wine, and a 

 grateful preserve. In Russia and Siberia, a wine is made of the 

 berries alone, or with the addition of honey ; and also a distilled 

 spirit *. The leaves are used to tincture common spirits so as 

 to resemble brandy. The young leaves, fresh gathered and 

 infused for a moment in hot water and then dried, have been 

 recommended as a substitute for common tea. 



The odour of the berries is peculiar and fragrant and has 

 been compared to that of the Bird-Cherry {Prunus Padus) or of 

 Savine {Junijoerus Sahina) ; the taste is acidulous and sweetish. 

 The leaves have also a strong scent, which exudes from the 

 glands occurring on their under surface. The berries submitted 

 to analysis, yield sugar, malic, and citric acids, volatile oil, a 

 large quantity of jelly, and a violet colouring matter. The 

 volatile oil is bitter and aromatic ; it resides also in the flower, 

 stalks, leaves, and bark of this shrub, and is supposed to give 

 the peculiar aroma by which they are characterised. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — The fruit is considered 

 refrigerant, aperient, stomachic, and anodyne. The jelly pre- 

 pared from it has been used from time immemorial as a popular 

 remedy in sore-throat and quinsy ■\. Dale J speaks of its efB- 



« 



Wargs Hjelpreila, ]>. 494. 

 t Vide Raii Hist. Plant, vol. ii. p. 1486. 

 J Pharmaoologia, p. 321. 



