_R. lacustre_, Lake or Swamp Gooseberry, with the prickly stems
of the gooseberry, but with a raceme of flowers like those of a
currant; found in the cold bogs and wet woods of the North; small,
bristly berries, of unpleasant flavor.

Last, but by no means the least, is the _Ribes hirtellum_, "commonest
in our Eastern States, seldom downy, with very short thorns or none,
very short peduncles, stamens and two-cleft style scarcely longer than
the bell-shaped calyx; and the smooth berry is purple, small and
sweet." (Gray.) This is the parent of the most widely known of our
native varieties, the Houghton Seedling, named from its originator,
Abel Houghton, of Lynn, Massachusetts. The bush is a vigorous grower,
that will thrive, with decent culture, on any moderately good soil,
and is very rarely injured by mildew. At the same time it improves
greatly under high culture and pruning. The bush has a slender and
even weeping habit of growth, and can be propagated readily by
cuttings. From the Houghton have been grown two seedlings that now are
justly the most popular.

The first and best of these is the Downing, originated by Mr. Charles
Downing of Newburgh. It is an "upright, vigorous-growing plant, very
productive. Fruit somewhat larger than the Houghton, roundish-oval,
whitish-green, with the rib veins distinct. Skin smooth. Flesh rather
soft, juicy." I consider this the best and most profitable variety
that can be generally grown in this country. In flavor, it is
excellent. I have had good success with this whenever I have given it
fair culture. It does not propagate readily from cuttings, and
therefore I increase it usually by layering.

The second seedling is Smith's Improved, a comparatively new variety