498 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



smooth branches, doubly-serrate, pubescent leaves, and 

 yellowish flowers, which ripen early in the spring. The 

 fruit ripens with the later strawberries and raspberries. 

 It succeeds and thrives admirably in our mountain sec- 

 tions, and will live and bear tolerably Avell here in a cool 

 northern exposure, but would probably die the first sea- 

 son near the sea-coast. 



The fruit is of an agreeable acid taste; when ripe it is 

 used with sugar for dessert, and also alone, or mixed 

 with raspberries, for jams, jellies and wine. It is used 

 both green and ripe for stewing, tarts and pies. In cool 

 climates it is the most easily cultivated and useful of 

 small fruits. 



The currant is propagated from cuttings, which should 

 be planted in the fall in a shaded place, but not under 

 trees; the north side of a plank fence is an excellent situa- 

 tion, provided it is open to the morning sun. 



The currant requires a moist, rich soil, and should be 

 trained as a bush. All the pruning it requires is to cut 

 out the superabundant old wood, and to shorten that of 

 the last season's growth. 



There are two species of the currant — />'. nigrum and 

 R. rubrum. The Naples variety of the first species has 

 been grown with some degree of success in Georgia, 

 South and North Carolina and Texas. The following- 

 varieties of R. rubrum were cultivated by Mr. White in 

 Athens, Georgia, with success, and are recommended: 



Red Dutch. — Fruit of large size, oblate, borne in clus- 

 ters, and less acid than the common red; color fine trans- 

 parent red. 



White Dutch. — Large, yellowish-white, less acid than 

 the red varieties. 



We could describe several other varieties, but not 

 having had any success with them, we only give those 

 with which we have succeeded. 



