FRUIT PLANTATIOXS CHERRIES CURRANTS, RED. 291 



judicious root-pruning, and bear enormously, especially the Morello and Kentish. These 

 varieties should be planted alternately, as the Morello is more vigorous than the Kentish, 

 and the advantages are mutual. At 6 feet distance the cost of trees for planting an acre 

 is considerable 1,210 maidens, 6 per 100 = 72 12s. per acre; three-years-old coming 

 into bearing 7 10s. per hundred = 90 15s. per acre. Maiden trees produce some 

 fruit in the third, and three-years-old trees a profitable amount in the year after 

 planting. In the seventh year of bearing the trees average 7 pounds of fruit each = 352 

 half-sieves, which at 4s. each = 70 8s. per acre. In the twelfth year the trees average 

 double the amount of fruit named, and return 140 8s. per acre. When the fruit is 

 fine through thinning and high cultivation, also attractively packed in boxes, high prices 

 are realised, occasionally doubling the price of sieve fruit = 280 16s. per acre. Cherries 

 are profitable fruit, but the trees thrive only in certain districts, and the sweet varieties 

 suffer most of any fruit from birds. Morello and Kentish are far less liable to devastation. 

 Standard Morellos at 12 feet and Kentish at 9 feet distance on the Mahaleb attain their 

 best period of production about the twelfth year, and the plantation proves remunerative 

 from the second by growing bush fruits between the cherry trees. Half standards, 

 however, afford greater facilities for pruning and picking the fruit. The returns from 

 them are even better than from pyramids and bushes from the twelfth year. The trees 

 should be kept cleared of dead spurs, cutting away worn-out branches in favour of pro- 

 mising growths. This applies particularly to the Morello. 



Currants Red. A rather light or free working soil, preferably a little damp rather 

 than dry, grows red currants well. Short stemmed (6 inches) are better than 12-inch 

 stemmed bushes. They should be two years old from the cutting. Profitable varieties 

 are Cherry (Scotch Bed, Knight's Early), Eed Dutch (New Eed Dutch), with Raby 

 Castle [Victoria] as suitable for gardens. The ground requires to be well prepared 

 and liberally manured if in poor condition. In ordinary soils the bushes should be 

 allowed 5 feet, or 6 feet in good soils. The trees may be bought at 10.s. per hundred, 

 but parsimony is often costly afterwards, and it is cheaper in the end to procure stout 

 well-formed bushes at 1 5s. per hundred than mere "scrags" at 6s. By taking a 

 number a reduction is generally made in the price. At 5 feet distance apart, 1,742 

 bushes are required to plant an acre, cost at 10s. per hundred = 8 15s. ; at 1 per 

 hundred for bearing bushes == 17 10s. ; at 6 feet apart 1,210 bushes = 6 Is. 

 1 2 2s. The bushes should be kept cup-shaped, the leading shoots shortened at from 

 6 to 10 inches, and laterals cut back to form spurs. Summer pruning is imperative to 



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