018 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



after tlie buds start to grow and the first season's growtli may be seriously 

 checked. Plants which are set in the fall or vei-y early in the spring al- 

 ways make a mncli larger growth the first season than those which are 

 set after the buds have expanded into leaves. 



Choice of Plants. Either one or two-year-old plants may be set. Good 

 strong, well-rooted one-year-old plants are cheaper and have some ad- 

 vantages in setting over the two-year-old plants. The younger plants 

 are more easil}' set; they suffer less from transplanting, and they are 

 more certain to make a strong vigorous plant than if left crowded too 

 long in the nursery row. 



Setfliuj the Plants. If a considerable number of plants are to be sot 

 the land should be thoroughly prepared, marked both ways, and a furrow 

 run in one direction. The plants are then set at the intersection of the 

 furrow and mark. 



Prune all badly injured roots, and set the plants at least one or two 

 inches deeper than they stood in the nursery row. Pack the soil firmly 

 to bring it in close contact with the roots and leave a layer of loose soil 

 on the surface to act as a mulch and prevent the packed soil beneath 

 from drying out. When a few plants are to be set in the home garden 

 it is best to dig the holes large enough so that the roots of the plants 

 can be well spread out and deep enough so that some of the rich top 

 soil may be placed beneath and around the roots. 



CULTIVATION 



Thorough and frequent cultivation is necessary to conserve moisture 

 and keep the soil cool. Tillage should begin early in the spring by shallow 

 plowing or discing and the surface soil kept in a fine, loose condition 

 by frequent stirring with light fine-toothed implements during the sum- 

 mer. While the plants are young cultivation between the rows may be 

 fairly deep but later cultivation should be shallow to avoid injury to the 

 feeding roots which are produced in abundance near the surface. Culti- 

 vation should be discontinued soon after the fruit is picked and a cover 

 crop sown. Oats or barley sown at the rate of two bushels per acre make 

 the best cover crop for this purpose. 



In the home garden where cultivation is inconvenient the plants may 

 l)e mulched with coarse strawy manure, lawn rakings, or similar ma- 

 terial. This will help to conserve moisture and keep the soil cool. The 

 currants and gooseberries succeed well when heavily 'mulched and for 

 this reason they may be planted in out of the way places in the garden 

 where culti\'ntion caniiof ))e given. 



FERTILIZING 



Currants and gooseberries require large amounts of i»laiil food and as 

 the feeding roots are shallow and do not extend far it must be readily 

 available and close at hand. Thorough cultivation and manuring are 

 important. Stable manure is the best fertilizer and it is difficult to 

 apply too much in growing these fruits. Young plantations need not 

 be fertilized heavily, but after the plants begin to bear fruit heavy an- 

 nual dressings of well-rotted manure should be ai>plied, preferably in the 

 fall or winter, to keep them in a good productive condition. 



