ORNAMENTAL GROSELLJZS 413 



class, the American Red Jacket, Champion and Pearl 

 deserve especial mention." 



ORNAMENTAL CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES 



The best known species in this role is the Flowering 

 Currant, Ribes aureum (known also as R . fragrans) , 

 so common in eastern gardens. This is a most attrac^ 

 tive plant early in spring. It forms a graceful, droop- 

 ing shrub, well adapted to masses or groups. In the 

 early months of summer few plants are more attractive 

 than this, regardless of its bloom, for its foliage is 

 bright and glossy, and the form of the plant perfect. 

 Yet before the middle of August its leaves are mostly 

 gone. Were it not for this defect, few plants would 

 deserve a higher rank for ornament. 



The most showy plant of the genus is the Fuchsia-- 

 flowered Gooseberry, Ribes speciosum, of the Pacific 

 coast. Its flowers are long, bright red and showy, and 

 its foliage small, firm and glossy. Whether good 

 in habit of plant or not, I do not know, nor whether it 

 will thrive well outside the clime of its choice, but its 

 flowers are certainly more attractive than those of many 

 plants far more widely grown for the beauty of their 

 bloom. 



A plant which has received much more attention for 

 its flowering qualities is the Eed- flowered Currant, 

 Ribes sanguineum. It has been frequently grown both 

 in the United States and in Europe, and seems to be 

 everywhere prized. 'The flowers are rose- colored or 

 reddish purple, borne in long, leafless racemes 



