CHAPTER XI 

 Red, White, and Black Currants 



RED and White Currants need similar treatment, so they may 

 be considered together. They are usually grown as bushes 

 in an open part of the garden, or as cordons trained against 

 a wall facing north or east, or against a trellis in the open. These 

 Currants are especially useful as cordons, and in this form are 

 strongly to be recommended to the amateur. They are con- 

 venient to attend to, and bear fruit freely. Red and White 

 Currants thrive in ordinary soil ; bushes should be planted 5 or 

 6 feet apart. October and November are the best months 

 for planting. 



When they are grown as cordons it is advisable to practise 

 summer pruning, which consists in pinching ofi the ends of 

 the side shoots in July, at about 5 inches from the base. Winter 

 pruning is performed by cutting back the side shoots to within 

 one or two buds of the base. When the Currants are grown 

 as bushes, summer pruning is rarely practised, but it is never- 

 theless advisable. 



The bushes derive considerable benefit from a mulching of 

 manure forked into the soil in spring. Otherwise they need 

 little attention except that the ground must be hoed frequently 

 to keep down weeds. 



Birds often play havoc with the fruits, and the only way 

 to prevent their attacks is to net the bushes. Obviously it is 

 far more convenient to protect a row of cordons than a plot 

 of bushes, and this is an additional recommendation for growing 

 the Currants in that form. 



Good varieties of Red Currants are Champagne Red, Rabj 

 Castle, and Fay's Prolific. White Currants to be recommended 

 are White Dutch and White Transparent. 



Black Currant. This is an accommodating bush, and 

 will thrive in a somewhat partially shaded situation if no better 

 can be found for it. Nevertheless, providing the ground is 



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