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LIV. An Account of some new, and little known Species of 

 the Genus Ribes. By Mr. David Douglas, F. L. S. 



Read April 21, 1829. 



It is well known that of Ribes, the genus to which the goose- 

 berry and currant belong, many species indigenous to both 

 Northern and Southern America, do, in their native soil, pro- 

 duce excellent fruit ; while the same species when transported 

 to an English climate, seldom bear any, or when they do, the 

 flavour is either almost insipid, or in no small degree astrin- 

 gent. A few exceptions, however, occur. 



Among the numerous species lately introduced, and chiefly 

 natives of America, few possess greater claims on our atten- 

 tion as ornamental shrubs, than R. sanguineum, Plate XIII. 

 This plant, in its natural state, produces abundance of fruit, 

 but of so musky and unpleasant a flavour, that the berries 

 continue to hang on the bushes throughout the winter, even 

 the birds refusing to make them a part of their food. It can 

 hardly be expected to improve materially by culture ; certainly 

 never to such a degree as may entitle it to the rank of an 

 edible fruit ; but as it possesses considerable recommendations 

 of another kind, I have selected it, together with six others, all 

 growing in the Horticultural Society's Garden at Chiswick; to 

 form the subject of the following notices. 



