65 



furnish markets for much of the fruit from the Hudson Riv- 

 er valley, something you should not allow. 



Currants like a rather heavy soil with good feeding and 

 cultivation, and will do well in partial shade so they can be 

 used as fillers in young orchards. A patch of good currants 

 helps keep the gang of pickers good natured when the straw- 

 berries get small and the raspberries don't fill up the bas- 

 kets very fast. A little while in the currants puts new life 

 into them. 



In pruning, I try to cut out about one third of the old 

 wood, forcing new shoots from the base. I cut out the weak- 

 est of these and cut back the new growth about a third. 



The Red currant is the only one profitable for market, 

 though I cannot see why the black currant is not more popu- 

 lar. To one who has acquired a taste for black currant jam 

 this is inexplicable. 



I am now planting only the Wilder and Perfection 

 currants although others may be as good. The Perfection 

 is well named. While some think it too mild in flavor such 

 varieties will promote the use of currants as a fresh des- 

 sert fruit and greatly increase their consumption. 



I spray the currants and gooseberries as soon as the 

 first worm appears with Bordeaux and arsenate of lead. 

 This takes care of both broods of worms and helps to keep 

 the foliage free from leaf spot. 



The gooseberry is also a profitable fruit that is not 

 grown as much as it should be, but while the market is limit- 

 ed it is growing evry year. I am growing the Downing and 

 Chatauqua, both of which are of as easy culture as the cur- 

 rants. 



I can remember as a boy when the hills of northern 

 Worcester County were covered with famous vineyards, and 

 [ believe that there is today opportunity for the profitable 

 cultivation of the grape. 



The grape does well in rocky soil with little humus 

 where other fruits do not vsucceed and it can be used to 

 make profitable use of waste land. Of course we have to 

 give it close attention and spray very thoroughly, but 

 spraying is now looked upon as much an essential to the 

 growing of fruit as is the planting of it, and spraying has 

 lost most of its terrors. 



In this tremendous wave of apple enthusiasm that is 

 sweeping over New England let us not forget the other 



