IS 2 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



SELECTION OF BLACK CURRANTS. Three varieties for general cultivation : Black Naples, Lee's Prolific, and 

 Baldwin's. Two profitable varieties : Black Naples and Baldwin's. One variety for general purposes : Black 

 Naples. One variety for quality : Lee's Prolific. For training to walls for hanging late : Lee's Prolific. For cold 

 localities : Ogden's Black. 



Propagation. The black currant is readily grown from cuttings. These may be 12 

 to 15 inches in length, of straight, firm, young wood. All the buds should be cut out, 

 except those intended to form branches, if the bushes are to be grown with short, 

 clean stems. If they are to grow in the natural manner, set the cuttings as they are 

 taken from the parent bush, merely cutting each transversely below a joint at the 

 lower end, and removing the top. The cuttings should be inserted firmly 6 inches 

 deep, and 6 inches apart, in rows 1 foot asunder, as soon as the leaves can be shaken off 

 in the autumn. 



When the shoots push in the spring, three should be encouraged on plants to be 

 grown with a clean stem, rubbing off the others. Cuttings that produce three strong 

 shoots the first year will be ready for transplanting the autumn following their insertion, 

 but if the shoots are not strong, cut them back to a bud or two, and let the plants 

 remain another year. Cuttings inserted with all their buds, two or three only being 

 left above ground, may push three or more good shoots, and all may be left ; but if, 

 through weakness, one only starts freely, let it grow, and cut it off about 4 inches 

 from the ground, in the autumn. Strong growths will follow in summer, and the plant 

 will be suitable for removal in the autumn. 



By the methods described two essentially different plants are produced. One has a 

 clean stem of 4 inches a little more or less, and no suckers. This answers well when 

 no mishap occurs to disturb the equilibrium of the branches ; but in the case of borers, 

 or accident causing the collapse of one side of the bush, the defect is not easily remedied. 

 The other kind of bush does not invite borers, because its stem is not dried by expo- 

 sure ; and in case of a branch failing, it is easily made good by a sucker springing from 

 the base. Gardeners, as a rule, prefer clean-stemmed bushes, and these often give full 

 satisfaction ; yet fine fruit and heavy crops are borne on young healthy growths, and a 

 succession of these is maintained by suckers taking the place of worn-out branches. 



Situation. The finest fruit is produced on bushes in open, yet sheltered, situations. 

 Bleak, high and dry sites will not grow black currants profitably. They succeed fairly in 

 moderate shade, as between rows of standard fruit trees, but if much shaded there will 

 be little fruit in consequence of soil exhaustion. Shelter from strong winds is absolutely 

 necessary, for if a gale occur when the fruit is advanced in growth it is seriously battered, 



