252 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



of the bloom should be cut off in the pruning, (d) It is desirable 

 to have a trellis for blackberries and dewberries. (U. S. E. S. B. 

 178.) 



Conclusion. Why the farmer necessitates his family dragging 

 through dew-laden and tangled bramble patches, or else resorts to 

 buying second grade and trashy fruit from the "professional berry 

 picker," rather than grow high class fruit of improved quality, and 

 which he knows to be entirely wholesome as food, is difficult to under- 

 stand. A supply of berries for any family of ordinary size can be 

 grown on a few bushes in the garden and with very little expense. 

 These plants will need attention, however, just the same as any other 

 crop ; fine, luscious berries can not be grown without some care at the 

 proper time. (Va. E. S. B. 147.) 



CURRANT AND GOOSEBERRY. 



Origin. (a) The red currant has descended from Riles rubrum 

 of Europe and America. Examples are Red Dutch and White Grape. 

 (6) The black garden currant is the Ribes nigrum of Europe. Ex- 

 amples are Black Naples and Lee Prolific, (c) The Crandall is the 

 Ribes aureum of western America which is practically the only 

 form of this variety, but it varies greatly when grown from seed, (d) 

 The American gooseberry has come from the Ribes oxyacanthoides 

 of America. Examples are the Houghton and Downing, (e) The 

 European gooseberry is Ribes grossularia. Examples are the Indus- 

 try and Triumph. They are not much grown in America, as they are 

 subject to mildew. 



Propagation. (a) Currants are grown from hardwood cuttings. 

 Nearly all kinds may be propagated in this way, but some varieties 

 do best from layers. Cuttings should be made in the early autumn 

 and if planted out at once will be rooted by winter. (6) The Ameri- 

 can gooseberries seldom do well from cuttings and are consequently 

 chiefly grown by layering the branches in the summer and autumn, 

 then separating them and planting out like cuttings for one season, 

 (c) Occasionally currants and gooseberries are grown by grafting to 

 make what are called tree gooseberries and currants. Tree currants 

 are also grown by pruning off all laterals, (d) New varieties are 

 grown from seed, (e) Currants and gooseberries may also be grown 

 from suckers. 



Soil and Location. Currants and gooseberries do well on any 

 soil adapted to agricultural crops, but prefer a cool location and a re- 

 tentive soil. They do not prosper in hot climates. 



Plants and Planting. (a) Thrifty one-year-old plants from cut- 

 tings or layers are best for starting new plantations. (>) They may 

 be planted out in autumn or spring, and should be set deeper than 

 they grew in the nursery, (c) On inferior land currants and goose- 

 berries of the weaker-growing varieties may be planted as near as 4 

 by 4 feet, and some sorts may also be planted as close on rich soil. 

 The strong-growing kinds, such as the Red Dutch and White Grape 

 currants and the Downing gooseberry, should always be planted 5 

 by 5 feet, and often 6 by 6 is not too far. (d) Some hoed crop may 

 be grown between the plants without disadvantage the first year. 



