R. CEREUM (syn R. inebrians).—­North America, 1827.  One of the dwarfer-growing species of Flowering Currant, forming a low, dense bush of Gooseberry-like appearance, but destitute of spines.  By May it is in full flower, and the blooms, borne in large clusters, have a pretty pinkish tinge.  The foliage is small, neat, and of a tender green that helps to set off the pretty flowers to perfection.  It is a native of North-west America, and perfectly hardy in every part of the country.  Though not equal in point of floral beauty with our common flowering Currant, still the miniature habit, pretty and freely-produced pink-tinted flowers, and fresh green foliage will all help to make it an acquisition wherever planted.  Like the other species of Ribes the present plant grows and flowers very freely in any soil, and almost however poor.

R. FLORIDUM (syns R. missouriense and R. pennsylvanicum).—­American Wild Black Currant.  North America, 1729.  This should be included in all collections for its pretty autumnal foliage, which is of a bright purplish bronze.

R. GORDONIANUM (syns R. Beatonii and R.  Loudonii) is a hybrid between R. aureum and R. sanguineum, and has reddish, yellow tinged flowers, and partakes generally of the characters of both species.

R. MULTIFLORUM, Eastern Europe (1822), is another desirable species, with long drooping racemes of greenish-yellow flowers, and small red berries.

R. SANGUINEUM.—­Flowering Currant.  North-west America, 1826.  An old inhabitant of our gardens, and well deserving of all that can be said in its favour as a beautiful spring-flowering shrub.  It is of North American origin, with deep red and abundantly-produced flowers.  There are several distinct varieties as follows:—­R. sanguineum flore-pleno (Burning Bush), with perfectly double flowers, which are produced later and last longer than those of the species; R. sanguineum album, with pale pink, or almost white flowers; R. sanguineum atro-rubens, with deeply-coloured flowers; R. sanguineum glutinosum and R. sanguineum grandiflorum, bearing compact clusters of flowers that are rosy-flesh coloured on the outside and white or pinky-white within.

R. SPECIOSUM.—­Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry.  California, 1829.  A Californian species, remarkable for being more or less spiny, and with flowers resembling some of the Fuchsias.  They are crimson, and with long, protruding stamens.  As a wall plant, where it often rises to 6 feet in height, this pretty and taking species is most often seen.

The flowering Currants are of unusually free growth, and are not at all particular about soil, often thriving well in that of a very poor description.  They are increased readily from cuttings and by layers.

ROBINIA.

ROBINIA DUBIA (syns R. echiuata and R. ambigua).—­A very pretty garden hybrid form, said to have for its parentage R. Pseud-Acacia and R. viscosa.  It is of quite tree-like growth and habit, with unusually short spines, and Pea-green foliage.  The flowers are produced pretty freely, and are of a pale rose colour, and well set off by the light-green leaves, over which they hang in neat and compact spikes.