THE September number of The American Garden is before me, and I have read with care Professor Bailey's estimate of the value of the Victoria and the Crandall currants, and the thought occurs that some notes on the races of the currant and their possible improvement for various parts of our great country might have some interest.

Ribes Rubrum

Loudon, and later, Alphonse De Can-dolle place all the cultivated varieties of the red and white currants known to the gardens of Southwest Europe in this species; but De Candolle hints at the ancient cultivation of the currant by saying: "The Slav names are different and in considerable number".

A careful study of these Russian varieties with the Slav names indicates that they have probably a separate and distinct origin from primitive eastern types. Of our well-known varieties, the Victoria and Long-Bunched Holland are plainly members of the eastern family of Ribes rubrum.

As grown in the prairie states, they differ from the Red Dutch, White Dutch, Cherry, Fay, etc., in their endurance of heat and drouth, the holding of their thick foliage until late fall, and greater longevity and vigor of bush.

We have on trial red and white varieties of this eastern race, all of which have the same habit and per-sistenoe of foliage, and some of them have peculiar pear-shaped fruit. At present I am not certain that any of them will prove superior to the Long-Bunched Holland; but for western culture they are beyond doubt the founders of a new race that will bear the heat and drouth of the west and south.

Ribes Aurcum

Professor Bailey's estimate of the prospective value of the Crandall draws public attention to this native species and its possible development. The Crandall is not the only free-fruiting variety. Twenty-five years ago I grew a variety from Utah that was fully equal to the Crandall, and I have seen and tested several others. At the Exposition at New Orleans specimens of Ribes aurcum fruit were exhibited from Wyoming that measured three-fourths of an inch in diameter. While I do not place very high estimate on the value of the Crandall for dessert or culinary use, I yet believe it will be the parent in the near future of varieties that will prove real acquisitions.

Ribes Nigrum

This species is indigenous to nearly all parts of Europe and Asia, hence we might expect to find many climatic variations. In Russia we found green, yellow, white and black varieties in cultivation, some of which were wholly destitute of the peculiar odor and flavor of the Black Naples and other South European sorts.

An eastern variety we picked up in Central Russia has thick and firm leaves, a decidedly pendent habit, and its quite large fruit is in long racemes, black or dark brown in color, and far better in quality than Crandall. Its fault seems to be unequal ripening of the fruit. We are so much pleased with the present promise of this variety that we shall try to introduce other forms we saw in the steppe country east and west of the Volga.

Ribes Alpina

Under this name we found red and white varieties of a nearly sweet currant in different parts of East Europe. In leaf, bud and fruit it wholly differs from Ribes rubrum, and is said to be indigenous to South Central Asia. The plant seems at home in Iowa climate and soil, and its first fruits are very satisfactory in size and quality. In inflorescence it is so near the common currant that we can hope to cross it with the Cherry and Fay, with a view to sweetening and improving the flavor.

Ribes Dikusha

Here is another name not known to our horticultural or botanical works. It is an Oriental species, cultivated even in ancient times in Central Asia. That it is closely allied to the Ribes alpina I do not doubt. The fruit is in racemes, and in size and flavor it much resembles the dwarf juneberries.

This brief review of the most promising species of the hardy currants of the north temperate zone is given with a view to the possible improvement in the size and quality of this healthful fruit.

Iowa Agricultural College. J. L. Budd.