CURRANTS - PRUNING THE RED AND WHITE KINDS. 



161 



make little more wood than is necessary for their continued fruitfulness, and only need 

 the extremity and side shoots spurring closely in at the winter pruning. When the 

 branches become too long they may be shortened to convenient growths lower down, or 

 cut clean out in favour of promising growths springing from the base. This is very 

 desirable when the branches arc aged, and the spurs thick and long, for the fruit is then 



Fig. 51. CHARACTERISTIC GROWTHS AND FORMS OF RED CI.-RRANT BUSHES. SUMMER AND WINTER PRUNING. 

 References: Z, unpruned side branch; 1, pruning mark too low no basal buds. A, pruned side branch : ?', 

 summer growth pinched at the bar ; _;', second growth ; k, point of winter pruning. B, bush in summer : I, three 

 branches with side growths unpinched ; m, two branches with summer shoots pinched. C, standard. D, bush in 

 winter : n, three unpinched branches marked for pruning ; o, branch with detached shoots, indicating winter pruning ; 

 p, pruned branch. N.B. The bush has nine branches, four at the back not shown. 



produced in " heaps," and decays rapidly in wet weather, often before it is ripe. 

 Thinning the spurs moderately obviates that defect, and the fruit is larger and keeps 

 longer ; but cutting out old branches and supplanting them with young secures the 

 finest and heaviest crops over the greatest number of years. Cutting off the heads of 

 old bushes, and commencing with new growths from the base of the branches, affords 



VOL. II. Y 



