iSyi.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 371 



modes of training, which may be the same as the Gooseberry, but as a rule, 6 feet 

 plant from plant will be found to be quite sufficient. 



A few words regarding the pruning of the Black Currant will be sufficient. The 

 pruning of these dififers from that of other Currants in this respect, that Red and 

 White Currants are done upon the spur system, much similar to that generally 

 practised upon Vines, whereas the pruning of the Black is more of a thinning 

 nature, much after the style of Peach-pruning. In fact, from the nature of the 

 Black Currant, all that is necessary is to thin out regularly all the old exhausted 

 wood, and encourage the formation of new healthy shoots as "far back" as 

 possible. By regularly attending to this, old bushes may be kept bearing for 

 thirty or forty years, and the fruit produced from such bushes is often of a 

 quality superior to that produced by younger plants. The planting and early 

 management of the Black Currant are the same as the Red — the Black, however, 

 delighting in a soil of a rather heavy nature. 



The diseases to which the Currant is liable are canker, and a sudden dying-away 

 of some of the branches during the summer season. The cause of canker in the 

 Currant arises from the same causes as those which cause it in other fruits. As 

 prevention is better than cure, the best plan is to cultivate the plants well, and 

 plant them in the soil which is best suited for them. If this be done, chere is 

 not much reason to fear from either of the above-named diseases. There is a 

 disease which has made its appearance upon Black Currants in many places within 

 the last few years. It is apparently very fatal, but as it has never made its 

 appearance among any plants under my care, and as I know very little about it, 

 in the mean time I had better refrain from making any remarks regarding it. 



The insect enemies are, in many cases, the same as those which attack the 

 Gooseberry, and such being the case, we beg to refer the reader to our last article, 

 where he will find them described. Besides the three there mentioned, there are 

 first the Tinea capitella, or triple-spotted Currant-moth. The larva attacks and 

 feeds upon the interior of the young wood, and so great at times is their destruc- 

 tion that bushes are almost entirely destroyed by them ere the month of June. 

 As soon as the enemy is noticed, all aflfected branches ought to be destroyed by 

 burning them in the furnace of soma of the forcing-houses. 



The J^geria tipuliformis or Currant sphynx-moth is another great enemy to 

 the Currant, especially the Black Currant. Its presence is indicated by the 

 withering of the leaves and branches. Wherever its presence is noticed, the 

 branches ought to be removed and burned as in the former case. In the month of 

 June the female deposits her eggs in the joints of the branches, and more especi- 

 ally the younger branches or twigs. The larva, as soon as hatched, penetrates to 

 and feeds upon the pith until it has attained its full size, after which it changes 

 into a pupa, having short sawlike spines, by means of which it is enabled to 

 ascend to an orifice prepared by the larva upon the side of the shoot from whence 

 escapes the perfect moth. Aphides are often very troublesome in summer, but 

 as we have so often referred to them in previous papers, there is no need to de- 

 scribe over again what we have before said. With regard to red -spider the same 

 may be also remarked. James M'Millan. 



{To he continued.) 



