CURRANT. 



and it was said that, if fifteen larvre of this species, or 

 fifteen of the weevils, immediately after their arrivu 

 at the perfect state, were rubbed between the fingers 

 till all the moisture was gone, these fingers wouk 

 acquire the power of causing a cessation of pain, or 

 touching the affected teeth, for a period of twelve 

 months, notwithstanding all the washing which they 

 might undergo. Truly, our forefathers were not a 

 whit less gullible than their posterity of the present 

 day. When full grown, many of these larvae enclose 

 themselves in cocoons of silk, which, in some species, 

 closely resemble net-work, with open meshes. 



The great Linnaran genus, Citrculio, has been from 

 time to time divided, by different authors, into various 

 other generic groups, into the details of which it 

 would scarcely be thought profitable were we to 

 enter. This may be conceived, when it is stated that 

 Schuenherr has increased their number to 288. We 

 shall, therefore, content ourselves with giving 

 slight sketch of the distribution of the chief subdivi- 

 sions into which the group is arranged, taking it in its 

 extended limits, and embracing the Attelabides, Bren- 

 lides, and Bruchides, which, together, constitute the 

 sub-section Rhyncophora. 



1. Antennae not elbowed at the extremity of the 



basal joint ; rostrum without lateral gutters, 

 for the reception of the basal joint of the 

 antennae (ORTHOCERI). 



* Upper lip distinct ; palpi filiform, or thickened 



at the tips. 



a Antennae thickened at the tips (Anthribides). 

 b Antennae filiform ; rostrum broad (Bruchides). 



* * Upper lip not visible ; palpi short, conical. 



a Antennae filiform, with the last joint alone form- 

 ing a mass (B rent/tides). 



b Antennae, with the three or four last joints, 

 forming a mass (Attelabides).* 



2. Antennae elbowed at the extremity of the basal 



joint, which is generally received in a gutter 

 at the sides of the rostrum (GONOCERI). 



* Rostrum short ; antennae inserted near its extre- 



mity (Brachycerus, Curculio, Hypera, Liparus, 

 and a very great number of other generic 

 divisions). 



* * Rostrum long, with the antennae inserted near 



the middle of this rostrum. This division 

 nearly corresponds with the genera Lixus 

 Rync/Keniu, and Calandra of Fabricius, from 

 which a great number of generic and sub- 

 generic divisions have been detached. 

 CURRANT, is the Ribes rubrum, &c. of bota- 

 nists. It is a native of Britain, and has been long 

 cultivated in gardens, and no domesticated plant 

 repays the care and trouble bestowed on it more than 

 this. It is not only a most agreeable and wholesome 

 table fruit, but its pulp and juice are convertible into 

 many excellent confections, and sparkling wine, little if 

 at all inferior to many sorts manufactured from the 

 grape itself. 



The currant, like all its alliances, are usually and 

 easily propagated by cuttings. These should be 

 chosen from among the most healthy and moderate- 

 sized shoots of the previous summer ; not those 

 rankly luxuriant ones which sometimes rise from the 

 root, nor the slender, dangling growths of the top. 



* We have altered Latreille's arrangement, by bringing the 

 Attelabides into connection with the Gunoceri, the interposition 

 o( the Brenthidei not appearing to us to be so natural as that 

 given above. 



The regular form of the future tree depends much 

 on the proper choice and preparation of the cuttings. 

 They should be from twelve to fifteen inches in 

 length, after the knobbed part of the base.and slender 

 points are cut off. All the buds on the lower part of 

 the cutting should be carefully pruned off, leaving 

 only four or five at the top, and which are destined 

 to form the first branches. The cutting thus prepared 

 is dibbed firmly into the ground, about five or six 

 inches deep, as will allow as much for a clear stem, 

 surmounted by the branches, at a due height above 

 the surface of the ground. The cuttings may be 

 planted either in autumn or in early spring, at a foot 

 distance from each other, and on a rather shady spot 

 of rich soil. Here they will not fail to prosper, sel- 

 dom miscarrying, except from extreme drought, or by 

 insects which destroy the foliage and points of the 

 shoots. 



The young plants will require no care during the 

 first summer, nor till they want pruning in the follow- 

 ing winter. At this first pruning some little skill is 

 necessary in using the knife, in order to get the tree 

 into good form. If the cutting has produced five 

 shoots, the centre one had better be entirely removed , 

 the four remaining (or if there be only three) will be 

 enough of principal branches whence other shoots 

 will be produced to form a head. The most desi- 

 rable form is that of a cup ; the middle being vacant, 

 and surrounded by the fruit-bearing branches at about 

 nine inches apart from each other. This is to be 

 understood of the tree when it has arrived at its 

 required height ; because this form is gradually 

 attained by the assistance of the pruner, in the follow- 

 ing manner : The first shoots are at the first pruning 

 cut down to one-third of their length ; these in the 

 following summer produce a number of other shoots, 

 some of which are reserved to fill up and complete the 

 form, and the rest are pruned down to about an inch, 

 to serve henceforth as a fruit-bearing spur. Thus 

 the tree becomes annually enlarged till it has arrived 

 at its full size, by which time all the primary and 

 secondary branches will be also furnished with spurs. 



These spurs yield the fruit and also a birth of 

 shoots every year, which latter are spurred down at 

 the winter pruning. This treatment is, or may be 

 continued for half a score of years, if necessary ; only 

 occasionally cutting away old or worn-out branches, 

 and training up young ones in their places. 



But there is another way of pruning currant-trees 

 which may be described in a few words : no spurs 

 are allowed to remain on the old branches, but instead 

 of them a select number of summer shoots are re- 

 served ; and which, in consequence of their fewness, 

 grow strongly. These at the winter pruning are re- 

 duced only one-third of their length ; and the fruit 

 aroduced from these shoots are invariably larger and 

 aner than those produced from spurs. This last- 

 mentioned method of pruning is eligible where quality 

 is chiefly regarded ; and the spurring mode where 

 quantity is the object. 



It has been a question whether or not it be expe- 

 dient to divest the trees of their summer shoots while 

 the fruit is swelling. Those who practise this process 

 assert, that it assists to enlarge both the bunches, 

 and berries, and also, by admitting the sun's rays, 

 leightens the flavour. This is quite feasible, as the 

 same thing is practised on the grape-vine; but a 

 martial application of the knife in this case is always 

 iroductive of the best results. 



The best varieties of the currant arc the large Dutch 



