'54 



THE FRUIT GROWERS GUIDE. 



growth ; late planted bushes seldom push strongly and are noted for producing indifferent 

 fruit. A. little rich compost mixed with the soil used in covering the roots in 

 planting contributes to a good start, and free growth can afterwards be maintained by 

 mulching over the roots with manure. 



Training. Two methods are followed in training, as in raising, black currants : 1, 

 clean stemmed trees ; 2, natural bushes. These forms are represented in the accom- 

 panying illustrations. Cutting the branches of the young tree (T) back to inside 

 buds about 4 inches from their base, when transplanted, causes two or more shoots 



to push from each branch the following 

 spring. In the autumn of the second 

 year the tree will consist of six shoots. 

 These should be cut back to outside 

 buds about 6 inches from the previous 

 year's wood, and the smaller shoots 

 closely shortened. The two-years tree 

 (17) and its pruning are shown in the 

 figure. 



The following spring two shoots will 

 start strongly from each of the six 

 branches, the tree then having twelve 

 main growths, and it will produce fine 

 fruit freely in the fourth year from the 

 cutting, some having been borne pre- 

 viously. In the third autumn the lead- 

 ing shoots will not require shortening 

 unless a few are much longer than the 

 rest, and these may be cut back to 

 preserve the symmetry of the bush ; otherwise pruning must be confined to cutting 

 out elongated and enfeebled branches with the object of encouraging the production 

 of sturdy young growths for bearing. This will be made plain presently. 



Natural Bushes. The cutting inserted with all its buds, as shown in the above 

 illustration, will push shoots strongly from its upper buds the following spring, and 

 others of less vigour as represented in W. The stronger need only be shortened to 

 about 6 inches from their base, the smaller shoots being left intact. This will give ample 



Fig. 49. MODES OF TRAINING BLACK CURRANTS. CLEAN STEM 

 TBEE. NATURAL BUSH. 



References : The three figures on the left show the for- 

 mation of a clean stemmed tree : S, a cutting with buds 

 removed, except the three uppermost ; T, a one-year-old 

 tree marked for pruning to inside buds ; U, a two-year-old 

 tree marked for shortening. The two figures on the right 

 show in V a cutting inserted with all its buds ; W, one- 

 year- old bush marked for pruning. 



