740 
f 
been made. Not being able to procure Lee's 
Prolific, I would plant the Black Naples. It 
seems to me that a time will come when the 
black currant, being better known, may be 
grown profitably for market. That may, in¬ 
deed, already be theease in some places. It is 
found in the New York markets in limited 
quantities, and meets with a ready sale. The 
demand would seem to be increasing. 
Mamaroneck, N. Y. 
From Annie L. Jack. 
It has often been a matter of surprise tome 
that the black currant is seen so seldom in 
American gardens, and as a conserve so little 
known. Many people object to the flavor, 
but the taste for it grows by indulgence, and 
the jelly made from it is especially valuable 
or sore throats, and iB also the preserve which 
many use for puddings and tarts. The berries 
are tonic, slightly diuretic aud^ sudorific, aud 
of some value to those affected with bronchial 
troubles. While so little cultivated here, there 
is hardly a garden in Scotland where it is not 
grown and prized, while in France large 
tracts of land are planted with black currants 
to furnish a sort of wine called liqueur de 
cassis, which is extensively used for its tonic 
properties. 
Of varieties we have only tried Black 
Naples and Lee’s Prolific, having at one time 
had nearly two acres planted with the former. 
The price in our market averages about Son. 
to 40c. per gallon, and the profits net the 
moderate sum of about. $200 per acre. The 
plants are propagated by suckers, by layers, or 
by cuttiDgs of ripe wood, taken off after tbe 
fall of the leaf in Autumn. It must be wood 
of the present seasou’s growth, aud the cut¬ 
tings are generally about six inches long. In 
training and pruning, it is well to remember 
that the fruit is chiefly produced on wood two 
or more years old, aud when a branch has 
borne two or more crops it is as well to take 
it off, as uew wood gives finer fruit. Black 
currant bushes may be allowed to grow larger 
than red or white, being of stronger growth, 
but they bear larger fruit if kept within 
bounds. 
Being gross feeders, they will be benefited 
by any kind of manure, but uuleached wood 
ashes we have found of special benefit as a 
fertilizer, and also as having a tendency to 
keep away injurious insects that seek the 
ground in a chrysalis Plate, and do nbt tlrive 
well in the leaching ashes. 
I If 1 intended to plant anew of this fruit, I 
would try Lee’s Prolific, as the bunches are 
larger and closer, though the fruit is not 
much larger; but if sold by the pound, as they 
are in many markets, they would pay better. 
I have not had au opportunity of testing the 
new Champion Black Currant, but the editor 
of the Rural New-Yorker has grown it on 
his Experiment Grounds. As the price was 
$1 per plaut, we thought best to wait till it had 
been tested by one in authority, as we have 
invested a great many dollars iu tender fruits 
that could not stand our Winters. Yet.it is 
the aim of our fruit farmers here to get a 
larger black currant that will he as hardy aud 
prolific as the Black Naples; they also want a 
large mildew-proof gooseberry, and these two 
things are-not yet obtainable. 
Quebec, Canada. 
From Prof, L, H, Bailey, Jr. 
In point of hardiness, vigor, productiveness 
and demand in good markets, when properly 
grown, the black currant is not excelled by 
any red variety. People are not generally 
aware that the black currant is a wholly 
distinct species from the red aud white varie¬ 
ties, and that its habits and needs are essen¬ 
tially different from theirs. Red and white 
currants are horticultural varieties of the 
wild red currant,, Ribes rubrura, of Europe 
and our own northern swamps, and their 
habits of growth are identical. All our culti¬ 
vated black currants belong to the Ribes 
nigrum of Europe, a speciesof robust growth, 
inhabiting rich aud moist soils, and bearing 
the greater part of its fruit on last year’s 
wood. These distinctions at once suggest 
three cardinal poiufcs of culture: Give the 
plants au abundance of room; select heavy, 
moist soil; and allow the young wood to re¬ 
main. 
Unless I were crowded for room, I would 
plant this species five feet apart, in rows 
seven feet apart; and doubt if it would ever 
be expedient to plant much less than six feet 
apart. Although tbe black currant demands a 
moist soil, it must not be supposed that we 
are to neglect thorough drainage. Good 
drainage is essential to all fruit culture. I 
have this year set black currants ou what I 
am confident will prove to be a model site. 
The ground has a gentle slope, and under the 
lowest point there is a well-laid tile drain. 
The soil is a black loam with a tincture of 
clay, naturally wet, but since the draining 
only agreeably moist during the whole season. 
he water does not stand on the surface at 
ny time during tbe year. Even on this 
strong land, we shall manure liberally. I 
have frequently seen tbe common English 
black currant bearing abundantly ou light 
soils, but in all such cases, manure had been 
applied in ample quantity. In fact, I have 
never yet seen ground too rich for black 
currants. 
I am partial to tbe tree form of pruning 
black currants. not confining tbe plant to one 
trunk but to two or three. If one trunk is 
injured, tbe plant is then not destroyed. 
Keep the old wood thinned out to some extent, 
and, if tbe growth is very long, pinch it back 
during the Bummer. This pinching back is 
tbe most important operation iu the pruning, 
I doit for the same reasou that I pinch back my 
raspberry canes—to render the canes stocky 
and to increase the size of the fruit. The 
training and pruning of the black currant 
require less attention tbau in the case of the 
red and white currants. 
As to varieties, Black Naples takes the lead 
everywhere iu this couutry, so far as I know; 
it certainly does here. It is the only sort we 
are attempting to grow. Nurserymen do not 
always recognize the difference between ibis 
variety aud the English Black; at any rate, 
the English is sometimes sent out for the 
other. The English is well-nigh worthless 
here as a market berry. A recent letter from 
Mr. J. G. Ramsdell, of South Haven, Mich., 
a gentleman who has had much experience 
iu currant growing, contains the following: 
The Black English is almost worthless, being 
a very shy bearer and a tender bush. I bad 
200 of this sort, and after keeping them seven 
years pulled them out, The Naples is as prof¬ 
itable as any of the red varieties, and very 
hard}, and with my present knowledge I 
should plant no other." 
The wild black currant of our copses, Ribes 
floridum, possesses many points of excellence. 
Its tlavor. when ripe, is superior to that of auy 
of the cultivated sorts. This year l collected 
beautiful aud sweet wild berries which measur¬ 
ed au inch and two-thirds in circumference 
I shall endeavor to grow pluuts from them 
The one pateut fault with these wild berries is 
the unevenness with which they ripen. 1 am 
looking for a new and hardy breed of cur 
rants from this source iu the near future. 
Black currants possess a dec-iied advantage 
over other sorts, in being almost entirely ex¬ 
empt from insect ravages. 
Agricultural College, Mich. 
From the Rural Grounds. 
We have little to add to the above re¬ 
marks, except to speak of the new Black 
Champion Currant, a single specimen of 
w hich we imported from England about four 
years ago. It was advertised largely at that 
time in English farm or horticultural journals, 
and pictured iu tbe Floiist and Pomologist 
and, if we mistuke not, iii the Revue liorticole. 
But we have since heard little or nothing of it. 
It was claimed that the racemes were much 
longer than those of Lee’s, the Black English, 
Black Nuples, or Prince Albert, and that tbe 
berries were as large as grapes. How well 
such claims are sustained is well shown in our 
illustration, Fig. 478 (first page), which is a 
true portrait from a partof a fruiting branch 
of the plaut grow ing here. The flavor is much 
like that of the Naples or Lee’s, perhaps a 
little less musky. Near by this Black Champ¬ 
ion we have a bush of Prince Albert. These 
two currants resemble each other closely. 
But as both bore fruit the past seasou, for the 
first time it might be well to wait another year 
before making a pronounced comparison. 
porno logical 
AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
TWENTIETH BIENNIAL MEETING. 
(RURAL SHORT HAND REPORT.) 
wanted is a vigorous vine that will resist at. 
tacks of mildew, endure a temperature of 40° 
below zero in Winter, aud 100° above in Sum¬ 
mer. Delaware is very free from rot, but it 
has weak foliage." He alluded to a seedliug 
of tbe Niagara, raised by Geo. Trowbridge, 
of Cleveland, Ohio, which he thought was 
superior to Niagara. He spoke of his ex¬ 
perience with seedlings and crosses somewhat 
in detail. “Recent cold Winters,’’ he said, 
“show that hardiness of vine is becoming the 
-most important element. I bad no grapes on 
my place that were sufficiently ripe to show 
here at this time." (tf all growers had been as 
truthful and conscientious on this point as Mr. 
Campbell, the grape exhibit on the society’s 
tables would have been much smaller, and 
better.) Continuing, he said, "Hardiness, 
healthy foliage, aud good quality are now 
the desired points in uew grapes. There is a 
teudency to too many new varieties. Many 
are most unworthy, but advauee has been 
made, and still further improvement may be 
expected in the future. ” 
In closing, Mr. Campbell gave a detailed 
accouut of tbe operations of a swindler who 
bad written him concerning a new grape 
which he called Lutie. claiming for it every¬ 
thing that could be desired, and more. Mem¬ 
bers were greatly amused, and it turned out 
that several of them had been approached in 
a similar manner by the same graceless rascal. 
INSECTS AND REMEDIES. 
GRAPES. 
The afternoon session of the second day was 
a long and busy one. It closed with a valu¬ 
able paper on “American Grapes," which was 
read by the veteran Geo, W. Campbell. He 
spoke of the efforts which had been made 
towards improvement, ai d thought there was 
much to encourage us, but also very much 
yet to be accomplished. “Forty years ago,” 
said be, “Catawba, Isabella, aud Clinton were 
uboutthe only varieties we had. Mr. Down¬ 
ing names only about 100 sorts iu bis catalogue. 
Iu 1880 the Mississippi Valley Society had 
240 distinct varieties on exhibition. Now we 
probably have over 800 iu cultivation, and 
still they come. But improvement in char¬ 
acter and quality has not kept pace with the 
increase in number of varieties. In quality 
very little advance has been made since the 
Delaware. We have mildew of foliage, 
rotting of fruit, and tenderness of vine in 
Winter. Perhaps these obstacles will not be 
overcome entirely in the future. What is 
Prof. Cook said it should be fresh. It might 
be well to apply it dry when plants were 
small; but for the second brood, use it in 
solution, as it can then be dashed in among 
the large leaves, and reach the worms more 
effectively. 
THE THIRD DAY, 
After several importaut announcements at 
the opening of the morning session of the third 
day President Barry made a few remarks. 
“All these proceedings are very instructive,” 
said he; “the papers are of a higher character 
than usual, and they are also practical and 
scientific. 1 have seen larger exhibitions of 
fruit, but not a more instructive one. Here 
are fruits from Massachusetts, New York and 
the West, and really it is an excellent exhibi¬ 
tion and a study for auy mao for a whole 
week. The people here deserve thanks for 
the excellent arrangements. This is the best 
room for our meetings we have ever had, I 
confess I was sorry when I heard this meet¬ 
ing was to be held at Grand Rapids; 1 thought 
it was out of the way. But really I am de¬ 
lighted with the beautiful city, its many flee 
residences and tbe hospitable people here.’’ 
Most of the sscond evening session was 
profitably given up to an illustrated lecture 
on “Economic Entomology," by Prof A. J. 
Cook, He said, in part, “Destructive insects 
are increasing every year, and the x'robletn of 
wf.rring against them is becoming very im¬ 
portant. Many of them are mere formidable 
by reason of the few bird foes met in this 
country. Some insects are changeable in 
tastes and habits, leaving one kiad of plant, to 
attack another, or eating up one vegetable 
aud then feeding upon another. Eternal 
vigilance alone can save the harvest. Until 
recently California was absolutely free from 
insect depradations; but now it is infested as 
badly as the other States. All insects have 
their enemies aud a knowledge of these is ab¬ 
solutely net-essaiy to the successful farmer or 
fruit grower. Their habits aud life should be 
more carefully studied, and the best means of 
extermination ascertained. The census shows 
that the known damage done by insects in a 
single year in this county (Kent Co., Mich.), 
was over 82.QUO,000, and the uukuown damage 
would, doubtless, amount to as much more. 
Large areas of certain crops favor iusect at¬ 
tacks. Wild cherry trees near an apple 
orchard, are a partial protection from tent 
caterpillars, the former being more desirable- 
food. France pays liberally for the diffusion 
of knowledge concerning these insect pests, 
aud the remedies, but our Government is do¬ 
ing next to uotbing in this direction. More 
experiments aud more discussion among far¬ 
mers are greatly needed. Birds are uatural 
enemies of the insects, aud yet many seem 
bent on destroying these feathered friends 
of the fruit grower. 1 know that Paris green 
and London-purple will destroy the codling 
moth. Sprinkle the trees just after the blos¬ 
soms fall: once is enough, no trouble about it, 
and it’s ft perfect protection. But lice, aud 
other sucking insects ore not injured by this 
process. They need the kerosene emulsion." 
The lecturer was deluged with questions from 
all sides after closing his remarks, and it was 
almost impossible to take them one at a time. 
He answered good-naturedly as far us he was 
able. 
Mr. Augur had found tbe apple maggot 
attacking tender wiuter varieties us well as 
fall sorts. Prof. Cook: “Turn in hogs to eat 
up the fallen fruit." Mr. Woodward: "1 
prefer sheep, protecting the trees with wire 
cloth, or some offensive wash if necessary." 
Mr. Moody: “For the codling, I have used the 
spray with entire success every time. It also 
destroys many other iusects. I use half a pound 
of the poison mixed with 100 gallons of water, 
aud throw tbe liquid over the trees with a 
force-pump. No dauger from poison in using 
the fruit. I have used it so strong that it 
killed the leaves, and yet even iu August not 
a trace of the poison could be found ou the 
fruit, cither with tbe microscope or by chem¬ 
ical analysis. 1 use the fruit iu the Winter, 
aud my friends often say; ‘Why, how well 
you look I'” Mr. Hathaway: “Would it not 
be dangerous to turn Btock luto the orchard 
soon after the spraying f" Prof. Cook: “i 
have mown the grass under the trees imraedl 
ately after spraying, fed it to horses, with no 
harm resulting : but it is belter to wait until 
utter the poison has been wushed away by 
rain." Mr. Woodward: “I feel quite certain 
that £ once lost several sheep which had eaten 
such grass soon after spraying. It is hardly 
safe; better wait a little.” 
Pyrethrum for the destruction of the cab¬ 
bage worm was generally commended; but 
COMMISSIONER COLMAN’S ADDRESS. 
On motion of Dr. Hexamer, Commissioner 
Column then addressed tbe society. He said, 
in part: “I came here to get information, 
knowing I should meet the advanced think¬ 
ers, the progressive horticulturists of the na¬ 
tion. 1 expected to gain information of use 
to me in my olfieial position aud have not 
been disappointed. Horticulture is but a 
higher branch of agriculture. As farmers 
advance in intelligence aud refinement they 
pay more attention to the culture of fruits 
and flowers and the adornment of their 
homes. Being by profession as well as taste 
and ineliuatiou a horticulturist, iu accepting 
my present office I felt anxious to do all iu 
my power to aid and advance this growing 
interest. I believe I am tbe first practical 
horticulturist ever placed at the head of the 
Department. 1 want jour assistance, your 
encouragement. Your suggestions will al¬ 
ways be welcome and receive careful consider¬ 
ation I have already put uew machinery to 
work in aid of your interests. Prof. Scribner, 
highly Indorsed as a bolatmt, has been ap¬ 
pointed to make a specialty in the study 
of fungi in plants, and he is giving the 
subject his entire attention. You can greatly 
aid him in this work. Auy information sent 
toihe Department will be thankfully received, 
and any questions will receive attention. I 
feel thHt this is a most important field for in¬ 
vestigation Another subject 1 have giveu 
considerable thought is the collection of horti¬ 
cultural .statistics. Nothing has beeu done by 
the Department in this matter heretofore. 
Grain crops are carefully reported, hut who 
can tell of the quantity or quality of our fruit 
crops } Who knows whether there is an over 
or underproduction of apples tbe present year 
from auy official source I The value of our 
apple crop—that is the crop that is marketed 
—cannot be less than $80,000,000 In Michigan 
alone ft is estimated to be over one million 
dollars. Apples and many other fruits have 
u commercial value like other crops, and I 
shall endeavor to devise some means to collect 
statistics relating to them. Indeed I thiuk 
there ought to be a pomologieul or horticultur¬ 
al division connected with the Agricultural 
Department, and nothing but the lack of funds 
prevents me from establishing it ut once, and 
1 may yet find some means of doing so.” (Ap 
plause.) 
The Commissioner, speaking of the agri¬ 
cultural convention held at Washington last 
June, said it was a greatsuccess. “Hereafter,” 
said he, “fruits, seeds and plants, whethercol- 
lected here or abroad, will be distributed to 
different agricultural colleges and tested, and 
those of value cm be afterward distributed iu 
the different States where colleges are located. 
I have already commissioned Mr. Leo. Writs, 
of Ohio, to oolleetseeds. fruits and plants from 
the great steppesof Russia, and he is now at 
work. But, gentlemen, I am but jour ugcut, 
your servant in this work. 1 want not only 
your aid, but your sympathy, your support 
There has never heen a time when more in¬ 
telligent work was needed to be doue by tbe 
American farmer tbau now. With insect foes 
almost innumerable, with blights, mildews 
and rusts, with overproduction staring us in 
the face, it is only the intelligent, the progres 
sive, tbe industrious that will succeed. The 
laggards will be left behind.” (Applause.I 
At theclose of the Commissioner’s address a 
resolution was adopted heartily commending 
his proposed plans, aud promising the contin¬ 
ued support of the society. 
AMERICAN GRAPES. 
Mr. Munson then read a carefully prepared 
paper on “American Grapes.” Having made 
a specific classification of all the different 
American species, covering every point, Mr. 
Munson’s paper may be considered the most 
