NOTES ON CURRANTS. 



The North Star Currant.— We 

 have fruited this currant at Maplehurst 

 since 1896. At first we were inclined 

 to condemn it as being too small a 

 berry, but during our four year's acquaint- 

 ance with It, our estimate of its value 

 has been gradually growing higher, until 

 in 1899 its great productiveness, bright 

 beautiful color and lateness have given 

 us a much more favorable impression of 

 its value. Originating in Minnesota, it 

 may naturally be expected to have 

 greater hardiness than varieties origin- 

 ating farther south. The plant is very 

 vigorous and very productive, and the 

 fruit grows in long compact bunches, 

 with an inch or so of naked stem as a 

 handle. The fruit hangs in fine con- 

 dition as late as September ist, a point 

 in its favor for Southern markets. 



Currants. — On the subject of cur. 

 rants, J. S. Stickney, speaking from 

 twenty years' experience, " recommends 

 deeply trenched soil ; would not manure 

 too heavily ; too much wood, too little 

 fruit ; prune severely in fall or spring, 

 also in summer for renovating old plants ; 

 eight acres of Prince Albert produced 



900 bushels, that netted $200 ; long 

 Bunch Holland not good — too dry and 

 sour ; Fay not good ; is looking for a 

 new variety ; Pomona recommended as 

 good, better, best; Wilder highly re- 

 commended" Mr. Reed says Pomona, 

 Wilder and Knight's Improved are the 

 same. Mr. Stickney and also Mr. 

 Barnes recommend London Market. 

 Berry boxes in sixteen quart crates re- 

 commended for currants. — Report of 

 Minn. Society. 



The White Imperial Currant is 

 about the most satisfactory white currant 

 to be found. We consider it one of the 

 most satisfactory fruits for table use. It 

 lacks the sharp acid taste of the red 

 currant, which is quite objectionable to 

 some people, but has a mild, pleasant 

 flavor, which is very enjoyable. Perhaps 

 the finest of all currant jelly can be made 

 by using White Imperial with just enough 

 of the red currant mixed with it to give 

 a light red color. It, probably, would 

 not pay to raise white currants for mar- 

 ket, but they are very satisfactory for 

 home use. — R. N. Y. 



Pickle Mildew. — Bulletin 156, 

 Geneva, gives some pointers of interest 

 to pickle growers. A few years ago 

 this crop was considered quite a profit- 

 able one until the downy mildew ap- 

 peared, and caused nearly all the 

 growers to lose money. In 1897 it was 

 proved by repeated experiments that 

 repeated sprayings of Bordeaux mixture 



will prevent the mildew and save the 

 crop. The spraying begins about July 

 20th, and continues every eight or 

 ten days until frost, costing from 2^ to 

 3^ dollars an acre for each application. 

 This seems quite an expense, but since 

 the yield is increased in value from 

 $22.50 to $73.75 per acre by the out- 

 lay, it is evidently a safe investment. 



348 



