the Currant and Gooseberry-bush: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the pentandra clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 36th order, Pomaceae. There are five petals, and stamens inserted into the calyx; the style is bifid; the berry polyspermous, inferior.
The currant and the gooseberry were long considered each as a separate genus; ribes the currant, and groffularia the gooseberry; but they are now joined together, the groffularia being made a species of ribes; all the currant kinds having inermous or thornless branches, and racemous clusters of flowers and fruit; and the gooseberry have spinous branches, and flowers and fruit for the most part singly.
There are three species of the currant-tree, two of which, and their varieties, merit culture for their fruit; the other as a plant of variety or observation: all of which are inermous or unarmed, having no thorns on the branches.
1. Rubrum, common red-currant tree, &c. hath a shrubby stem, dividing low into many branches, forming a bushy head, five or six feet high or more, without thorns; broad trilobate leaves, and smooth pendulous clusters of pale greenish flowers, succeeded by small clusters of berries. It grows naturally in woods and the hedges in most parts of Europe, and comprises all sorts of red and white currants; as, common small red currant—large bunched red currant—Champagne paled red currant—common small white currant—large white Dutch currant—yellow blotched-leaved currant—silver striped leaved—gold striped leaved—gooseberry leaved. All these sorts are varieties of one species, ribes rubrum, or common red currant; it being the parent from which all the others were first obtained from the seed, and improved by culture. They all flower in the spring, and the fruit ripens in June and July; and by having the trees in different situations and modes of training, such as plantations of standards in the open quarters for the general supply, others trained against walls or pales of different aspects, the fruit may be continued ripe in good perfection from about the middle of June until November, provided the later crops are defended with mats or nets from the birds.
2. The nigrum, or black currant tree, hath a shrubby stem, dividing low into many branches, forming a bushy head five or six feet high; broad trilobate leaves of a rank odour, and having racemous clusters of oblong greenish flowers, succeeded by thin clusters of black berries. The fruit of this species being of a strong flavour, and somewhat phytical relish, is not generally liked; it, however, is accounted very wholesome; there is also made of it a syrup of high estimation for sore throats and quinsies; hence the fruit is often called quinsy berries. There is a variety called the Pennsylvanian black currant, having smaller shoots and leaves, not strong scented, and small fruit but of little value; so the shrub is esteemed only for variety and shrubberies. The mode of bearing of all the varieties of currants is both in the old and young wood all along the sides of the branches and shoots, often upon a sort of small sprigs and frays, producing the fruit in numerous long pendulous clusters.
3. The groffularia, or common gooseberry bush, rises with a low shrubby stem, dividing low into a very bushy bushy head, armed with spines; trilobate smallish leaves, having hairy ciliated footstalks; and small greenish flowers, succeeded by hairy berries. It consists of many varieties, of different sizes and colours.
4. The reclinatum, or reclined broad-leaved gooseberry-bush, rises with a low shrubby stem, and reclined somewhat prickly branches, trilobate broadish leaves, and small greenish flowers, having the pedunculi furnished with triphyllous bracteas.
5. The oxyacanthoides, or oxyacantha-leaved gooseberry, hath a shrubby stem, and branches armed on all sides with spines; and large trilobate hawthorn leaves.
6. The uva crispa, or smooth gooseberry, hath a shrubby stem, and branches armed with spines; trilobate leaves; pedicles having monophyllous bracteas; and smooth fruit.
7. The cynofoiati, or prickly-fruited gooseberry bush, hath a shrubby stem and branches, armed with spines, mostly at the axillas, and prickly fruit in clusters.
All the above seven species of ribes, both currants and gooseberry kinds, and their respective varieties, are very hardy shrubs, that prosper almost anywhere, both in open and shady situations, and in any common soil; bearing plentifully in any exposure, though in open sunny situations they produce the largest and fairest fruit, ripening to a richer vinous flavour; but it is eligible to plant them in different situations and aspects, in order to have the fruit as early and late as possible.
They are commonly planted in the kitchen-garden; mostly as dwarf standards, in the open quarters, for the general supply; being disposed sometimes in continued plantations in rows, eight or ten feet by six furlong, where great quantities of the fruit are required for market or other large supplies; and are sometimes disposed in single ranges round the outward edge. edge of the quarters, eight feet asunder; frequently in single crofs rows, in order to divide the ground into separate wide plots or breaks, of from 20 to 30 or 40 feet wide, which also serves to shelter the ground a little in winter; in all of which methods of planting them as standards, they should be generally trained up to a single stem about a foot high, then suffered to branch out every way all around into bushy heads, keeping the middle, however, open, and the branches moderately thin, to admit the sun and free air; though if some are fanned, that is, trimmed on two sides opportunely, so as to make the other branches range in a line like an espalier, they will take up much less of the ground, and, by admitting the sun and air more freely, they will produce large fair fruit. They are likewise trained against walls or palings, like other wall-trees, but principally some of the large red and white Dutch currants, in which they will produce fine large fruit, and those against any south fence will ripen early, and be high flavoured; but it is proper to plant a few both against south, north, east, and west walls, in order to obtain the fruit ripe both early and late, in a long succession. It is also proper to plant a few of the finest sorts of gooseberries against a warm fence, both to have early green gooseberries for tarts, &c. as well as to ripen early; and they will grow very large and fine. Sometimes both currants and gooseberries are also trained in low espaliers for variety, and they produce very fine fruit.
The fruits both of the currant and gooseberry are of an acid and cooling nature, and as such are sometimes used in medicine, especially the juice reduced to a jelly by boiling with sugar. From the juice of currants also a very agreeable wine is made.