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of the finest white currants. The Belgian is late and con- 

 tinues long in bearing, and as it lengthens the season two or 

 three weeks it is valuable for this purpose. The Black Naples 

 and Lee's Prolific are the only two black currants named in the 

 catalogues, and what use any civilized being can make of either 

 it is impossible to imagine. But the rank and musky odor of 

 the leaves, wood, and fruit, that is so disagreeable to me, is 

 thought by others to be delightful. Truly there is no account- 

 ing for tastes culinary. 



No fruit will pay better for the care bestowed in its cultiva- 

 tion than the currant. It meets with less competition in market 

 than most other small fruits, and there is not the same occasion 

 for haste in gathering and disposing of the crop as in case of 

 the strawberry and raspberry. The fruit may remain on the 

 bushes for weeks after coloring, if not stolen by the birds, and 

 thereby be improved for all uses except for jellies, for which 

 purpose it should be picked before it becomes over-ripe. The 

 same is true of the grape and other fruits, and for want of this 

 knowledge many a good housewife fails to make the jelly 

 " come." 



The currant does not require to be renewed every five or six 

 years, as some suppose, but with proper treatment, such as 

 pruning, cultivation, and manuring, will continue to yield good 

 crops for a long time. The plants may be set in fall or spring. 

 The buds push early, and if transplanting is delayed till late in 

 May, but little growth will be made ; while if set in autumn, as 

 soon as the leaves fall, they will become well established before 

 the ground freezes, and be ready for an early growth. 



The proper age for plants is one or two years from the cut- 

 ting. I should prefer plants of one year, if of first quality, to 

 those of two years of second quality. There is little danger in 

 transplanting the currant, even though the plant contains but 

 few roots, as new roots form readily under favorable conditions. 

 The work of setting requires less skill than with many other 

 plants, though extra care will be well repaid, and should never 

 be neglected. As every part of the plant will emit roots when 

 placed in contact with the soil, there is no objection to planting 

 the bush three or four inches deeper than it stood in the cutting- 

 bud. 



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