THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE RED CURRANT. 269 
Ribes petraeum has not of recent years played a prominent part 
in the production of new varieties, nearly all I have collected proving 
to be either the Continental Dutch (' Prince Albert ' &c.) or ' Gondouin/ 
a variety raised at Versailles probably about 1785. 
It remains to consider two recent additions which are of special 
interest as introducing two new species. The first is known as Ribes 
x Koehnianum, a hybrid between Ribes multiflorum and vulgare. In 
this we get a very distinct plant, of strong upright growth, with stout 
woolly leaves and bunches of great length, bearing often thirty-five 
to forty fruits. The second, Ribes x futurum, is remarkable for its 
vigorous growth, enormous leaves, and fruit of a dull brownish red, 
the flavour of the fruit being mild and agreeable. Both of these 
hybrids are of great promise, and may, when interbred with existing 
garden forms, give seedlings of value. 
In discussing the relative parts played by the different species 
as shown by the characters of the plant, it at once occurs that it would 
be interesting to analyze these by means of self-fertilization. It 
is found, however, that a large number of the garden varieties come 
more or less true from seed whether descendants of one species only 
or of more. So far as my own experiments have gone they seem 
to confirm the experience of previous workers, and no segregation 
of parental species has occurred. The great confusion in the nomen- 
clature of the Red Currant has doubtless been increased by this 
fact, seedlings having often reproduced the parental characters. 
In conclusion I submit that there is considerable historical evidence 
to show that cultivation per se has not played any part in the amelio- 
ration of the Red Currant ; such improvement as has occurred may 
be traced in all cases but one to the introduction of new species and 
their intercrossing. 
My thanks are due to many friends who have aided me with 
material, and in a special measure to Dr. B. Daydon Jackson for 
kindly translating HEDLUND'sjmper for me. 
REFERENCES TO LITERATURE. 
1. Janczewski, E. de. Monographie des Groseiiliers. Mdmoires de la Society 
Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Gendve, vol. xxxv. 1907. 
2. Hedlund, Af. T. Om Ribes rubrum. Botaniska Notiser. Lund, 1901. 
3. Janczewski, E. de. Ancetres des Groseiiliers a Grappes. Bulletin de la 
Socie'ti Nationale d'Acclimatation de France. Paris, 1909. 
4. Sturtevant, E. Lewis. History of the Currant. Western New York 
Horticultural Society Report. 1887. 
5. Fischer Benzon, R. v. Zur Geschichte unseres Beerenobstes. Botanisches 
Centralblatt, No. 49, 1895. 
6. Agricola, Johann. Medicinae herbariae libri duo, &c. Basle, 1539. 
7. Fuchsius, Leonhardus. De Historia Stirpium. Basle, 1542. 
8. Tusser. A hundreth good pointes of husbandrie. London, 1557. 
9. Matthiolus, Petrus Andraeus. Commentarii in sex libros Pedacii 
Dioscoridis. Lyon, 1573. 
10. Camerarius, Joachim. Hortus Medicus et Philosophicus. Frankfort, 
1588. 
11. Lobelius, Mathias. Plantarum seu Stirpium historia. Antwerp, 1576. 
12. Gerard, John. The Herbal, or Generall Historie of Plantes. London, 
1597. Second edition, 1633. 
