CHAPTER XIII. 

 BUSH FRUITS. 



The currant and the gooseberry are the two most impor- 

 tant bush fruits. The gooseberry is not so well known as 

 the currant, but it deserves more attention from the Ameri- 

 can grower. In England the reverse is true and the goose- 

 berry is very widely planted, and many varieties with very 

 large fruit have been developed. The currant and the 

 gooseberry are called bush fruits because the plants are 

 low growing and are inclined to be bushy. The bush fruits 

 should find a place in every garden because of their relia- 

 bility. They rarely ever fail and are consistent bearers. 

 These fruits are highly prized by many people for the mak- 

 ing of jellies and jams. The bush fruits take up much less 

 space in proportion to the amount of fruit produced than 

 almost any other fruit. They are easily grown, are compact 

 in habit and can be set in places too small for tree fruits. 

 The currant and the gooseberry make a fitting border 

 around the garden. They can be planted so as to screen 

 some objectionable fence and at the same time produce an 

 abundance of fresh fruit. The currant and the gooseberry 

 are the hardiest of our common fruits, and they are very 

 easy to protect in an unfavorable climate. They are of 

 easy culture. 



Currant. — There are two common types of the currant, 

 namely, the red and the black fruited sorts. These types 

 are based upon the growth of the plant and the color of the 

 fruit. 



The red currant is supposed to have its origin in northern 

 Europe and in the northern part of America. The origin of 

 this plant is accountable for its hardiness. This species has 

 both red and white colored fruits. The red fruited varieties 

 are the most popular, although the white currants are grown 

 in some sections. 



