FOR VICTORIAN INDUSTRIAL CULTURE. 



201 



Ribes aureum, Pursh. 



Arkansas, Missouri, Oregon. This ' favourite bush of our 

 shrubberies would likely on our forest-streams produce its plea- 

 sant berries, which turn from yellow to brown or black. Mr. 

 Meehan mentions a variety or allied species from Utah, with 

 berries larger than those of the black currant; they are quite 

 a good table-fruit, and of all shades from orange to black. 

 Allied to this is E,. tenuiflorum (Lindl.), of California and the 

 nearest States, with fruits of the size of red currants, of 

 agreeable flavour, and either dark-purple or yellow colour. 



Ribes divaricatum, Douglas. 



California and Oregon. One of the Gooseberries of those 

 countries. Berries smooth, black, about one-third of an inch 

 in diameter, pleasant to the taste. Culture might improve 

 this and many of the other species. Iv. JSTuttalli (R. villosum 

 Nutt., not of Gay, nor of Wallich), is an allied plant also 

 from California. 



Ribes Floridum, L'Heritier. 



The Black Currant of North America. The berries resemble 

 in odour and taste those of R. nigrum. Allied to this is 

 H. Hudsonianum (Rich,), from the colder parts of North 

 America. 



Ribes Griffith i 5 J. Hooker and T. Thomson. 



Himalaya, at the height of 10,000 to 13,000 feet. Allied to 

 R. rubrum, bearing similar but larger berries Of somewhat 

 austere taste. The naturalisation of this Currant-bush on 

 our highest alps may prove of advantage. R. laciniatum 

 (H. and T.) is likewise a Himalayan species with red berries, 

 and so R. glaciale (Wall). Furthermore R. villosum WalL, 

 (R. leptostachyum, Decaisne) comes from the Indian high- 

 lands and seems worthy of introduction. 



Ribes Grossularia, Linne. 



The ordinary Gooseberry. Europe, North Africa, Western 

 Asia, on the Himalayan mountains up to a height of 12,000 

 feet. This bush, familiar to every one, is mentioned here 

 merely to indicate the desirability of naturalising it in our 

 alpine regions, where no fruits equal to it in value exist. 



Ribes hirtellum, Michaux. 



The commonest smooth Gooseberry of North America. It 

 likes moist ground. 



Ribes nigrum, Linne. 



The Black Currant. Middle and Northern Asia, Europe, 

 North America, ascending the Himalayan and Thibet moun- 

 tains to a height of 12,000 feet. Commonly cultivated 



