388 ANNUAL REPORT 



cultivation should follow the spring planting as well as fall; run 

 the cultivator through every ten days till July. Should the 

 soil be clay and a heavy rain follow right after cultivation, then 

 another cultivation should be given as soon as the condition of 

 the soil will permit, to keep the soil from baking. 



VARIETIES OF CURRANTS. 



On soils inclined to be sandy the Red Dutch is the best. On 

 heavy soil Red Dutch, Stewart, White Grape, Long Bunch Hol- 

 land and Black Naples. On heavy soil the Long^unch Holland 

 lives the longest, makes the largest bush and beais the most fruit 

 of any variety I have ever seen. I have known more than ten 

 bushels to be produced in one year on a row of Long Bunch 

 Holland only fifty feet long. This row was on a northern slope 

 — nearly level — rich black timber soil, and had been heavily 

 mulched in the antumn previous with begasse from a sorghum 

 mill. This variety retains its foliage all through our hot dry 

 summers and frequently holds its fruits till September. It is 

 very valuable on that account. It needs more room than any 

 other variety and they should be set five feet in the row by six 

 feet between rows. 



VARIETIES OF GOOSEBERRIES. 



So far as our observation and experience has extended the 

 Houghton is the only profitable variety. It may be considered 

 the standard. Th^re have been some instances where the Eng- 

 lish White Smith has produced remarkable crops for a single 

 season. We have known eight quarts to be gathered from a 

 single bush, but they are not as reliable as the Houghton. 



Gooseberries may be grown from cuttings like currants but it 

 is better to take layers — strong, one year olds — to set for fruit- 

 ing. Set and cultivate the same as currants. The third year 

 they begin to bear well. After they have borne two crops mow 

 the tops off in the autumn or early spring, in this way enabling 

 them to bear a new top and have a season of rest. If they 

 don't get this one year of rest they will take two or three with- 

 out asking permission. They must have a new top and plenty of 

 stable manure and wood ashes in order to bear much fruit; but 

 with liberal care judiciously bestowed they may be made profit 

 able without these. Gooseberries need mulching as soon as the 

 fruit is gathered to keep the ground cool and moist. In early 



