STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 85 



Martha. — Hull — I move it be recommended " for trial," South. 

 Carried. 

 Adjourned. 



SECOND DAY — EVENING SESSION. 

 Samuel Edwards of Lamoille, Bureau Co., read an 

 ESSAY ON THE CURRANT. 



Tlit' Currant is well adapted to the climate of our state, and regions farther north. Iu 

 consequence of its easy propagation and producing fruit when cultivation is neglected, 

 it will probably ever remains as at present, a popular fruit with those owning land, who 

 give no special attention to fruit culture. 



Though it will give some return for the room occupied, when neglected, Buch a course 

 is not recommended to be pursued with this or any other artificially planted fruit. By 

 deep tillage, a liberal annual manuring, pruning, clean cultivation, and thorough mulch- 

 ing, the size and quality of the fruit is greatly improved. 



The currant succeeds tolerably well in a great variety of soil ; best in one strong and 

 slightlj moist — northern slope is preferable to a southern one. By being planted in 

 shade of fence or trees, the fruit is retarded in ripening, and may be used a much longer 

 time direct from the hushes, than when grown in open exposure. By covering bushes, 

 when fruit is nearly mature, with gunny sacks, bass mats or brush, the same result can 

 doubtless be attained. 



For our usually dry and hot summers, the hush form is far preferable to growing them 

 as trees. Late summer, after growth is completed, fall, or early spring is proper time 

 for planting cuttings — wood of one year's growth is preferred; cut in lengths of eight 

 or ten Inches, inserting four tilths of their length in well prepared rich soil, dirt pressed 

 firmly around lower end. It is always advisable to take cuttings before severe freezing; 

 if not planted out until spring, winter them in moist sand in cellar, where they form 

 callous preparatory to rooting, and often send out roots two or three inches in length. 

 Well cultivated plants, one to three years of age, or vigorous offsets are suitable for set- 

 ting in permanent plantations, four by Bis feet a good distance apart. Manure liberally 

 each ant mnn, or cultivate clean but shallow early in the BCason, mulching hea\ ily before 

 hot Weather >et> in. 



When they are of full bearing si/.e, shorten long shoots of the year one third their 

 length each fall, remove old mossy branches and feeble young shoots, thus keeping up 

 young vigorous wood fur bearing. 



The bunr i> the only in-eet enemy which has yet appeared to inflict injury on the cur- 

 rant with me, and tiny have done so little damage we have never attempted any pre 

 ventive or remedy. An application of soot from wood lire, is -aid to be an effectual rem 

 cdy, and the cheapest known for repelling the currant worm, which for the past few 

 years has caused a general failure of the crop of currants and gooseberries in many parts 

 of the Eastern States. It Bhould be sprinkled on the foliage when wet with dew or rain. 



Saving a \rv\ high appreciation of the value of this fruit, I made a collection of ail 

 varieties recommended, readily obtainable from nurseries of the Eastern States and 



