GROWING THE CURRANT 413 



of the State, and is grown for market chiefly, on lands adjacent to the 

 Bay of San Francisco. The comparatively cool and moist air of the 

 ocean favors it, but even here the sunburn, which is the bane of its ex- 

 istence in the interior valleys, occasionally injures the fruit. Away from 

 the coast, currants are grown to a limited extent along the Sacramento 

 and San Joaquin rivers, near their confluence, but not in the hot val- 

 leys whence they flow. On the foothills, too, where the plant has a 

 northerly slope, or other cooling influence, and sufficiently moist soil, 

 it will do moderately well. It is quite possible that the currant may be 

 satisfactorily grown for home use, or for local market in parts of the 

 State where at present one does not find it, providing the moderating 

 effect of elevation and northerly exposure, coupled with the shade of 

 trees; be secured, but even then the hot north wind of the early summer 

 may often injure the fruit. So far as the metropolitan market is con- 

 cerned, it does not matter that the currant area is limited, for existing 

 plantations produce all, and sometimes more, than can be profitably 

 disposed of at present. It is possible, however, that the future may 

 show a larger demand, for the pure food laws are likely to prevent the 

 further selling of apple jelly with a currant color and flavor under the 

 name of currant jelly. 



Propagation. The currant is readily grown from cuttings. As 

 soon as the bush drops its leaves, and the ground is in condition, as to 

 moisture, secure the cuttings about a foot in length from straight wood 

 of the last growth, and place them in nursery or in permanent place, in 

 good sandy or garden loam, deeply spaded and well broken up. Set the 

 cutting firmly in the earth, six or seven inches deep. If they are to be 

 trained as small trees, every bud below where the lowest limb is to 

 start should be cut out even to the end of the cutting underground 

 otherwise they will be continually throwing up suckers. If they are to 

 grow as bushes, the natural and more productive form of the currant, 

 set them as they are taken from the parent bush. 



Planting and Care. Currants are usually grown in rows about 

 five or six feet apart, the plants standing two and a half or three feet 

 apart in the rows. Most of the currant plantations are between orchard 

 rows, the partial shade of the trees being considered desirable. It is 

 claimed that currants do best when interplanted with cherry, apricot, 

 apple, and pear, not so well when associated with plum and peach, and 

 the almond is least desirable possibly because the almond is often 

 given less cultivation than the pulpy fruit or is grown on lighter, drier 

 soils. The cultivation is such as is usually given to the orchard, except 

 that in heavy soil the plow is not allowed to come near the cuttings 

 the first season for fear of tearing them from their rooting. After the 

 first year the plow is used in the winter and the cultivator in summer. 



Currants will repay generous applications of well-rotted manure, 

 and relish sufficient moisture in the soil. Where this can not be had 

 from rainfall, and retained by cultivation and mulching, irrigation must 

 be resorted to. 



Pruning. If the currant is to be grown in tree form, the 

 branches from the upper buds of the cutting should be shortened in at 



