Small and Bush Fruits: Currants 155 



growth and on the older wood. The best form for a Red-currant bush 

 is that of five main shoots springing from the centre stem in the form 

 of a cup. The main shoots each year should be pruned to the third or 

 fourth bud, always selecting an outside bud. All the laterals should be 

 cut back to within 1 in. of the stem. The fruit will be found to come 

 round the base of each of these laterals. 



In some places there has grown up a practice of leaving JRed Currants 

 to grow uncut; it is claimed that they crop more heavily. The practice 

 has as much to recommend it as any other "do nothing" policy has. It 

 saves trouble and provides an excuse for cutting down the wages bill. The 

 test of experience proves that the fruit loses in colour and size; the bushes 

 become lanky and flop about, so that the fruits are mostly on the ground, 

 splashed by every rain, and made an easier prey for the birds. 



It will be found well to defer topping the main shoots till as late as 

 possible in the spring, because the little blue tit, in hard weather, has a 

 fondness for the buds of the Currant and Gooseberry, and he may choose 

 just the bud left to form next year's main shoot, which will spoil the 

 plan; but if the topping is not done till late the damage he has done can 

 be seen and discounted. 



The Ked Currant is liable to the attack of a fungus which shows itself 

 in red spots which form on decaying wood. All dead wood should be cut 

 off and quickly burned. 



The only other pest of a serious nature to which the Red Currant is 

 subject is the Currant Aphis. This will in bad cases cause the leaves to 

 curl up and the currants to be covered with brown deposit. 



Spraying early with poisonous spray fluid that does not injure the 

 foliage will prevent the attack being serious. 



Small birds are very fond of the Red Currant, and some growers spend 

 money and trouble during the fruit season in keeping men with guns to 

 scare them away. It may be doubted whether in the case of bush fruit 

 there is any return at all for such outlay. It drives the birds from one 

 part of the garden to another, it is true, and probably increases their 

 appetite with exercise. The time to keep the bird pest in hand is the 

 winter. 



Red currants will begin to bear the third year. The cost of plants 

 is a little less than that for Gooseberries. The selection of sorts is small. 

 The old " Red Dutch " is still largely grown, but " Enfield Long Bunch " is 

 better. For late work " Raby Castle " is good. (See Coloured Plate.) 



Expenses and Receipts. The cost of pruning Red Currants is about 

 the same per acre as Gooseberries. The cost of picking is generally 

 Qd. per half-sieve, the average crop 3 to 4 tons per acre, and the price 

 variable from 6 to 12 per ton. If the grower is near a good market 

 and can get some selected large fruit put up in punnets or pecks for 

 table fruit, he can thereby considerably increase his average of price. 

 The cost of cultivation would be the same as for Gooseberries, and the 

 remark there made as to intercropping will also apply (see p. 145). 



