222 THE CURRANT. 



ters. We have grown the Cherry Currant in a poor, gravelly soil, 

 and on a rich loam, and could hardly recognize the fruit as the same : 

 the first, being only of medium size and indifferent character ; while 

 in the second, they were large, as described, and possessing the 

 sharp acid characteristic of the variety. The situation should be 

 free from shade of trees, but if shaded by hedge or fence, so as to 

 give the morning and evenmg and not the noonday sun, the fruit 

 will ripen and hang on much later, serving, by means of a few plants 

 so placed in each garden, to continue the currant season from July 

 to September. 



Culture. — The soil should be well enriched with rotted barn-yard 

 manure every fall ; this should be spaded or forked in lightly, and, 

 during the fruit season, the ground should be kept clean of weeds. 



Pruning. — ITiis should be pursued much as is described under 

 head of Gooseberries, except that the suckers, or a portion of 

 them, should be permitted to grow ; while wood of three years old 

 should be regularly cut out. Where new shoots springing from the 

 root are not permitted to grow, but plants kept as miniature trees, 

 it will be necessary to furnish plants every four or five years ; and 

 as the best and largest fruit is borne upon wood of the preceding 

 year's growth, it is always best to retain as much of that as possible, 

 compatible with form and habit of the plant ; which should present, 

 when fairly grown, or at three years from setting, a bush of pyram- 

 idal shape, three to five feet high, and about two to three in di- 

 ameter. 



The Currant, as well as Gooseberry, may both be trained as Espa- 

 liers, or otherwise, to suit the fancy or particular situations ; produc- 

 ing freely of fruit in all positions, and of good quality when well 

 supplied with food. 



Insects. — The Currant Borer {^Egeria tvpuliformis) is the only de- 

 structive insect which attacks the currant, and this is seldom met 

 with in the West, or in gardens where the three years' old wood is 

 regularly cut away, thereby giving vigor to the remainder of the 

 plant. This insect is produced from a blu« black moth, appearing 

 about the middle of June, and depositing its eggs near the lower 

 buds ; these hatch, and the young borer enters the stem to the pith, 

 which it devours. Tlie best remedy is to cut off and hum all 

 branches affected. 



' The Abraxas (?) Riberaria is said to destroy the foliage of the Cur- 

 rant and Gooseberry, and prevent the perfection of fruit. We have 

 not seen the insect at the West. It is fully described in the N. Y. 



State Ag. Transactions for 1847, pages 461 to 469, by Asa Fitch, M.D. 

 •■* 



Uses. — Familiar to e 'ery one are the uses of the currant ; green 



it is made into pies, and bottled for similar use in winter, by gather* 



