New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 297 



At the end of the iirst season the plants usually are from two to 

 eight inches high and unbranched. At the end of the second season 

 vigorous ones are frequently found eighteen inches or more in 

 height and with str«j:i^- branches. During the third season's growth 

 fruit spurs may begin to develop. 



In preparing the boxes for the seed a layer of coarse gravel or 

 potsherds is placed in the bottom of the box. The box is then filled 

 with soil consisting of one part rotted manure and t\/o parts of good 

 loam. If the loam is heavy it may be lightened by mixing with an 

 equal measure of sand. In preparing the soil for growing the seed- 

 lings the second year it is given a liberal dressing of well-rotted 

 manure and then spaded and worked till it is mellow. 



Field and Ctaeden Culture. 



When grown for home use currants are too frequently neglected 

 as to cultivation. Often they are allowed to stand in sod along 

 fence rows, or under large trees where the ground is so crowded 

 with the roots of other plants that the currants are necessarily 

 too much occupied in a struggle for existence to give either abund- 

 ant yields or large fine flavored fruit. When currants are grown for 

 home use they should be given thorough cultivation the same as 

 when grown for market. To this end it is always best to select a 

 location where a horse cultivator can be used. 



In the fruit growing sections of New York currants are grown to 

 some extent in field plantations by themselves but more frequently 

 they are grown as a secondary crop in well cultivated orchards, 

 especially in orchards of young trees or trees that do not completely 

 shade the ground. Currants are also grown to some extent in vineyards, 

 being set between the trellises. Where the Kniifen system of train- 

 ing grapes is followed currants are sometimes set between the vines 

 under the trellis, the currants alternating with the vines, that is to 

 say, a currant bush between two vines. In this position, however, 

 the fruit is more liable to be spotted by the spraying mixture when 

 the vineyard is sprayed than is the fruit on bushes set midway 

 between the rows. 



Distance apart.— When set between vineyard rows the currants 

 should stand five feet apart, although some advocate placing them 

 as close as three and a half feet. Strong growing varieties need 

 more room than the stocky moderately vigorous kinds. In orchards 

 the currants should not be set nearer the trees than six feet. In the 



