IN EXTUA-TROPICAL COtTNTRIES. 281 



Ribes niveum, Lindl. 



One of the Oregon Gooseberry-bushes. Berries small, black, 

 of a somewhat acid taste and rich vinous flavour. 



Ribtes rotundifolimn, Michaux. 



North America, as far as Canada. Yields part of the smooth 

 Gooseberries of the United States. The fruit is small, but of 

 delicious taste. Unlike the ordinary Gooseberry, not subject 

 to mildew. Careful cultivation has advanced gradually the 

 size of the fruit (Meehan). 



Ribes rubnun, Linne. 



The ordinary Red Currant. Europe, North America, North 

 and Middle Asia, in the Himalayan Mountains ceasing where 

 R. Griffithi commences to appear. One of the best fruit- 

 plants for jellies and preserves that could be chosen for colder 

 mountain altitudes. The root-bark contains phlorrhizin. 

 Perhaps other species than those recorded here, among them 

 some from the Andes, may yet deserve introduction, irre- 

 spective of their showiness, for their fruits. 



Ricbardia Africana, Kunth. {B. AetMopica, Rosenthal.) 



From the Nile to the Cape of Good Hope. Important for 

 scenic effects, particularly on the margins of waters. Easily 

 moved at all seasons. The fresh root contains about 2 per 

 cent, of starch. 



Ricinus communis, Linne.* 



The Castor Oil Plant. Indigenous to the tropical and sub- 

 tropical zones of Asia and Africa. A shrubby, very decora- 

 tive plant, attaining the size of a small tree. It was well 

 known to the Egyptians four thousand years ago, and is 

 also mentioned in the writings of Herodotus, Hippocrates, 

 Dioscorides, Theophrastos, Phnius, and other ancient physi- 

 cians, philosophers, and naturalists. The easy and rapid 

 growth, the copious seeding, and the early return of produce 

 render this important plant of high value in the warm tem- 

 perate zone, more particularly as it will thrive on almost any 

 soil, and can thus be raised even on arid places, without being 

 scorched by hot winds. It may thus become an important 

 plant also for culture in desert- tracts, and is evidently des- 

 tined to be one of the most eligible oil-plants for technical 

 uses, particularly for lubricating machinery, irrespective of 

 the value of its oU for medicinal purposes. The seeds contain 

 about 50 per cent. oil. To obtain the best medicinal oil. 



