298 Report op the Horticulturist of the 



open field our practice has been to set them about four feet apart 

 in the row with rows six feet apart. If thej are to be cultivated 

 both ways they should stand at least 6'x5\ There seems to be a 

 difference of opinion as to the advisability of cultivating both ways, 

 many good cultivators holding to the opinion that it disturbs the 

 roots too much. Others believe that it lessons the cost of cultiva- 

 tion more than enough to counterbalance any injurious effects on 

 the plants. So far as I know no exact comparison of the two 

 methods has been made. No doubt the mistake is frequently made 

 of allowing the cultivator to run too deep close to the plant. In 

 such cases when the cultivator is run both ways the roots would 

 probably be disturbed enough to work more harm than good 

 especially with shallow rooted kinds. 



Planting. — Before setting the plants the broken or bruised 

 roots should be removed with a clean cut, since the clean cut sur- 

 face will heal more readily than will the bruised or broken tis- 

 sues. The roots have been much shortened in digging and pre- 

 paring for planting and the tops also should be shortened by remov- 

 ing enough branches to correspond with the amount of roots that 

 have been removed. New branches will push out later in the 

 season as fast as the new roots are able to support them. 



The plants should be set about as deep as they stood in the nur- 

 sery or a little deeper, since the earth that is filled around them will 

 settle somewhat after they are planted. After the hole is prepared 

 for the plant the roots should be spread out, and covered a little 

 with earth which should be tramped firmly around them. The hole 

 is then filled and the earth again tramped firmly. A thin layer of 

 fresh, loose earth is added to retain the moisture and prevent the 

 rapid evaporation that takes place when the surface of the earth is 

 hard and compact. 



Fertilization. — For currants the soil must be kept fertile in order 

 to secure good growth of plants and consequent good crops of fruit. 

 It is our practice to put a forkful or two of stable manure around 

 each bush in the fall. On our clay loam this not only furnishes 

 plant food but has a beneficial mechanical effect in loosening the 

 soil. With this treatment abundant crops of fine fruit are secured 

 every year. 



Mr. James R. Clarke, Milton-on-Hudson, N. Y., a successful 

 grower of currants, in replying to an inquiry as to his method of 

 fertilizing currants writes as follows : 



