80 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



species, this is very conspicuous in autumn, by reason 

 of the long feathery tails of the fruit. 



C. Vitalba has, perhaps, a wider distribution than 

 any one of the species already mentioned. Besides 

 Britain it occurs throughout Europe (from Holland 

 southwards), in North Africa, and "West Asia. The 

 greenish-white almond-scented flowers in late sum- 

 mer, and the long feathery tails of the fruits in 

 autumn, render large plants of this very conspicuous. 



C. Viticella is not so rampant a grower as the last- 

 named ; but no Clematis is more beautiful and 

 graceful than this when allowed to grow in a natural 

 manner amongst low- growing trees, or on rustic 

 supports. The long-stalked drooping flowers are 

 rather large, and vary from blue and purple to 

 rose. It produces a succession of blossoms from 

 June to September, and flowers on the young grow- 

 ing wood. A native of South Europe and Western 

 Asia. Many hybrids and seedling forms, some very 

 beautiful, have been derived from this species. 



Hybrids. — One of the earliest, and still one of the 

 very best, of the popular large-flowered hybrids 

 is C. Jachnannii, with its large deep violet-purple 

 flowers, produced during nearly the whole of the 

 summer. A host of others may be found described 

 in the catalogues of most nurserymen. Most of these 

 require either the shelter of a wall, or to be grown 

 on trellis- work, or supports, in sunny spots. Some 

 of the continuous bloomers, like Jachnannii, have 

 been successfully employed for massing in large beds. 



Cultivation. — The large-flowered sorts just men- 

 tioned like a rich, deep, loamy soil, and thrive all 

 the better if frequently top-dressed with manure. 

 The species which flower on the previous year's 

 wood will, of course, require different treatment with 

 regard to pruning from those which blossom on the 

 young growing summer wood. The latter can be 

 cut down as required, but the former can only have 

 superfluous branches removed. The best sorts for 

 the Wild Garden, or for draping old trees in the park 

 or pleasure-ground, are C. Vitalba, C. virginiana, C. 

 Flammula, and C. Viticella. C. Jackmannii, amongst 

 the hybrids, is perhaps the most vigorous grower, 

 and for an old trunk, where it is fully exposed to 

 light and air, and can be attended to now and then 

 with manure or fresh soil, it makes a very beautiful 

 covering. All may readily be increased by cuttings 

 or by layering the young growing shoots. In some 

 establishments recourse is had to grafting to a very 

 large extent. Pieces of the fleshy roots of C. Viti- 

 cella or C. Flammula are used as stocks, and to these 

 are bound short lengths of the tender stems. _ No 

 claying is needed, provided the cut surfaces are firmly 

 and neatly bound together. The " grafts" are then 

 potted in small pots, and these plunged in ashes or 

 cocoa-fibre in a close propagating-frame. 



SMALL AND BUSH FRUITS. 



By D. T. Fish, assisted by William Caemichael. 



THE CUBEAVT. 



THERE are two species of the Currant, both in- 

 digenous to this country — the Red Currant, 

 Ribes rubrum, and the Black Currant, Hibcs nigrum. 

 The White Currant is merely a variety of the Red, 

 and is not a distinct species. It is, however, more 

 soft and sweet in flesh, and as far as eating for dessert 

 is concerned, every way superior to the Red Currant, 

 the absence of colour seeming to add to its quality. 

 The Black Currant is so widely different from the 

 other two, as to warrant the claim to a distinct 

 genus rather than a species ; the fruit not merely 

 differs wholly in colour, but almost equally so in its 

 form of growth and quality. Instead of being pro- 

 duced in long regular bunches, the fruits are either 

 solitary, or congregated into small, loose, and irregu- 

 lar bundles. The quality is harsh, almost austere, 

 contrasted with the sharp, tart, or mild acid flavour 

 of the other Currants. Of late years, however, a new 

 variety of Black Currant has appeared, Lee's Pro- 

 lific, which is so much sweeter than the other, 

 and indeed so different, as almost to merit elevation 

 to a distinct species. Most of the harshness and aus- 

 terity seems to have gone out of this superior Black 

 Currant, and its flesh is tender, sweet, and richly 

 flavoured; the bunches are larger, as well as the 

 berries, which are of nearly equal size throughout. 

 Black Champion is another novelty of similar class, 

 with equally large or larger berries. 



Commercially, Currants are of very great im- 

 portance, more money being made out of them 

 than Gooseberries, or far larger superior fruits. 

 From the enormous quantities used for tarts as 

 gathered, preserved in bottles for this purpose for 

 use throughout the season, and converted into jams 

 and jellies, Currants have always a ready sale, and 

 command good prices. They are also less perishable, 

 and bear transit to long distances better than many 

 fruits. Once converted into preserves, they will 

 keep for almost any length of time. Amateurs and 

 cottagers also convert many of their Currants into 

 wine, though the introduction of cheap wines has 

 greatly limited the quantities employed for these 

 purposes. 



The Currant is also a far more certain crop than 

 most others — the Gooseberry for example — from its 

 being later, and its bunches drooping downwards 

 more under the leaves than those of the Gooseberry ; 

 this peculiar habit enabling it the better to escape 

 spring frosts. Currants are much more popular 

 with cottagers in. most parts than Gooseberries, and 

 command higher prices. This is especially true of 

 Black Currants, particularly along some of our main 



