298 VILLA GARDENINa part nr 



one season, which, before being headed down, only looked fit for the 

 rubbish heap. 



Mulching and Watering. — To do the former would be 

 within the means of all, as short Grass is better than nothing, 

 though manure will add size to the fruit and strength to the 

 bushes. Where the sewage of the homestead flows into a tank near 

 the garden in dry seasons, the Black Currant crop will pay for a 

 soaking as well as most things. 



Gathering the Fruit. — It is essential that the bushes should 

 not be too thick on the ground, or the fruit will not ripen well 

 together. Black Currants must be gathered as soon as ripe, or 

 they will fall and be lost. 



Varieties. — Lee's Prolific and the Black Naples are the best, 

 and no one need })lant more. 



Red and "White Currants — For all practical purposes these 

 may be classed as one, though, at the same time, it is better in 

 planting to keep them separate, or rather not mix them indis- 

 criminately, as the White Currant is dwarfer and less spreading in 

 habit, and will not require so much space as the red variety. All 

 the Ribes family are great bearers, seldom failing, and conse- 

 quently ought to be well fed. Before planting, the ground should 

 be well manured and deeply cidtivated ; trenched up 2 feet at 

 least, burying some of the manure a foot deep. The surface can 

 be kept in condition by rich top-dressing. In the ordinary course 

 Currant bushes will last a dozen years at least ; and land that is 

 to carry one croj) for so long a period should be thoroughly done 

 before planting. 



Propagation. — All the bush fruits are so easily raised from cut- 

 tings that it is scarcely necessary to refer to any other method, and 

 all that need be said about it is. Have the cuttings as long and 

 strong as possible. Cut out all the eyes except the three upper- 

 most, plant firmly in rows 1 foot apart, and 6 inches in the row, 

 and transplant at the end of the second year. Currants are easily 

 raised from seeds, and of course all new varieties have been ob- 

 tained in that way ; but in order to obtain any result worth noting 

 the seed should be saved from the finest fruit of the best variety. 



Training and Pruning. — Standard trees are interesting, 

 though perhaps of but little real utility. Occasionally they are 

 obtained by grafting on some of the strong-growing American 

 species, such as Ribes sanguinea, R. aurea, etc. ; and this is the 

 best and speediest way of obtaining them, though they may be 

 trained up from cuttings by removing all side shoots. When the 

 necessary height has been gained, the Red and White Currants 

 bear so well on spurs that, beyond allowing for a certain natural 



