THE CURRANT. 79 
suckers uniformly produce poor and small fruit, and 
should never be permitted to grow. 
The best way of propagating the currant, is to cut 
off in the, early spring, before the buds swell, the 
erowth of the last year, close to the old wood; make 
the cuttings one foot long; remove all the eyes except 
some three or four at the top of the cutting, to prevent 
suckers; then place it compactly in good sandy soil to 
half its depth, or six inches, and by good care in one 
year it will be sufficiently established for transplant- 
ing. In new, rare varieties, it can be more rapidly 
increased by layering, where the first branches have 
been allowed to grow near the surface of the earth. It 
‘should always be cultivated in the form of small bush 
trees, and by a skilful hand can be easily made to 
assume a handsome pyramidal or espalier form. All 
superfluous wood should be carefully pruned out 
every winter, and the plant invigorated with rich 
manure in the spring. The currant and gooseberry 
can hardly- be over-fed. Hach bush should be re- 
newed every six or eight years, as young vigorous 
plants of most fruits produce the largest and best spe- 
cimens. It will bear very well partially shaded by 
trees or shrubbery. 
