Ornamental Currants and Gooseberries 333 



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 and produced in great pro- 

 fusion. Unfortunately, it is not entirely hardy in the 

 northern states, needing some protection, which the 

 beauty of its bloom will well repay. 



A hardier plant is the hybrid between the preceding 

 species and Ribes odoratum, which is commonly known 

 under the name Ribes Gordonianum. This is not so hardy 

 as Ribes odoratum, but will stand more exposure than 

 Ribes sanguineum. It is intermediate in character be- 

 tween the two parents, resembling R. sanguineum in shape 

 of flower, though the flowers are lighter in color and nearly 

 odorless, while the character of bush is more like R. odora- 

 tum. Although not a common plant, it has been well 

 known, both here and abroad, and frequently mentioned 

 in horticultural literature. 



Several species of the Menziesii group have large, attrac- 

 tive flowers, particularly R. amictum, and R. californicum; 

 also, R. Lobbii. (Fig. 48.) R. alpinum and R. fasciculatum 

 have ornamental scarlet fruits, those of the latter species 

 ripening in September and remaining on the plants during 

 winter. They are recommended for borders of shrubberies 

 and the trailing kinds for slopes. R. alpinum is said to be 

 excellent for shady places. R. alpestre, a strong-growing 

 and very spiny gooseberry from China is suggested as a 

 possible hedge-plant of value. 



For a full account of the botany of the cultivated and 

 American species of Ribes, the reader is referred to the 

 Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. 



