50 ANNUAL REPOKT 



currant seems to be derived from Corinth from the similarity of 

 the fruit to the Corinth raisin or small grapes, of Zante, which are 

 known as Corinths or Currants. The three varieties best known 

 and most largely cultivated are the vibes rubrum, alba, and 

 nigrum — the red, white and black. The red is the universal favor- 

 ite, although the white is by many preferred for table use on ac- 

 count of its milder flavor. The black currant has eome reputation 

 as a domestic remedy iu some quarters, but is comparatively little 

 known and less cultivated. There are a number of sub varieties 

 both of the white and the red currants, mostly of the latter. Of 

 the former we have the White Grape and White Dutch. Of the 

 latter we have the Red Dutch, Victoria or Cherry, Stewart and the 

 Long Bunch Holland, etc. 



Propagation is most readily accomplished by cuttings, though it 

 is easily done by layering. The former is the most usual method, 

 The terminal portion of the new growth, of six or eight inches in 

 length, should be taken off in autumn after the leaves have fallen, 

 buried in well-drained soil to the depth of four or five inches, with 

 the lower or butt end uppermost. In the spring, as soon as the 

 soil can be worked, a deep loam should be selected, well plowed, 

 and made smooth and firm by the use of the harrow, then marked 

 off into rows thirty inches apart. Along the rows a trench should 

 be made six inches deep and the cuttings planted eight or ten 

 inches apart in the row, care being taken to pack well the earth 

 about the cuttings, leaving the terminal bud two or three inches 

 above ground. A mulch of strawy manure should be scattered 

 over them to prevent the too large escape of moisture, and to pre- 

 vent the sun from burning the young buds. All this work should 

 be done as early in the season as possible, as the buds of the cur- 

 rant are among the earliest to start, and delay would endanger them 

 in the process of planting. A large proportion of cuttings thus 

 treated will become thrifty plants for the next year's setting in 

 permanent positions. In order to the best results in a permanent 

 plantation, currants should be planted in a deep fertile loam with 

 a subsoil of yellow clay well enriched with plenty of stable manure. 

 The ground should be nearly level, but with enough inclination to 

 afford good drainage. Before planting, the ground should be deeply 

 plowed and well pulverized and the plants deeply set and given 

 plenty of room. The large growing varieties as the Cherry and 

 Long Bunch Holland should be planted at least six feet apart 

 each way. This may seem to some almost like a waste of land, but 

 a few years of growth will demonstrate its wisdom. Five years 

 since I planted 1000 bushes of the cherry variety, foui feet apart 

 each way, and now when they are in leaf it is difficult to get around 

 among them. There should always be sufficient room so that they 

 can be cultivated by the aid of a horse without injury to the bushes. 

 Some of the smaller growing varieties, as the Bed Dutch, could with 

 propriety be planted five feet apart each way, still I think six feet 

 the better distance. In order to the prosperity and profit of a cur- 

 rant plantation, it should be kept well cultivated and absolutely 

 free from weeds, grass, clover etc. It is a delusion to believe that 

 currants can be successfully grown among grass, weeds, and bur- 



