300 Report of the Horticulturist of the 



cause the death of the wliole plant, but its place is readilj filled by 

 permitting other canes to grow from the root. 



The tree form is well adapted to well- cultivated gardens as the 

 plants may be pruned into more symmetrical, attractive shape as 

 trees than as bushes. To grow currants in tree form it is simply 

 necessary to remove all buds from the part of the cutting or layer 

 that is put in the ground. This prevents the growth of shoots from 

 below" the surface of the soil and consequently no suckers are formed. 

 The tree currants may be kept in symmetrical shape by annually 

 cutting back the shoots of new wood leaving but two or three buds 

 to the shoot. This may be done at any convenient time while the 

 leaves are off. 



No definite I'ule can be given for pruning currants grown in 

 bush form, for the kind and amount of pruning necessary is in 

 each case determined by the condition and individual habits of 

 growth of the bush to be pruned. In general it may be said that 

 during the first two or three years the bushes require but little 

 pruning except to head back the new shoots so that the fruit spurs 

 will develope all along the cane. Otherwise the fruit bearing 

 branches and fruit spurs will be found mostly near the top of a long 

 cane. When this is permitted, especially with some varieties, such 

 as Fay for example, the weight of the fruit is quite apt to bend the 

 canes nearly or quite to the ground. 



Besides this heading-in to keep the bushes in shape the pruning 

 consists of removing the broken branches or those that droop too 

 closely to the ground, and removing the old wood after it has passed 

 the age of greatest productiveness. Mr. S. Haviland, a practical 

 fruit grower, of Marlboro, N. Y., has, I believe, correct ideas on this 

 subject. He writes as follows : 



" 1 am particular about trimming currants the first five years 

 from setting, cutting a few inches from the end of all the new 

 wood. If you do not, the end buds being stronger will push out 

 and all the others will die and the bush will soon be very tall, with 

 few fruit buds. If cut back nearly all the other buds will start, 

 forming a cluster of fruit buds at their base, thereby increasing the 

 crop and keeping the bush low for a much longer time." 



Insect and Fungous foes. — Fighting the insect and fungous foes 

 has come to be one of the essentials of successful currant culture. 

 Chief among the insect enemies is the so called "currant worm" 

 which is the larva of a sawfly. It has four wings and the female is 



