30 CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. 



August. To do this work properly it should be understood that 

 but very little fruit is borne on the wood of the preceding season's 

 growth, and that the buds which produce the greatest amount of 

 fruit are on wood in its third season of growth or older. The fruit 

 buds are formed late in summer and open early in the following 

 growing season. In pruning, the old wood which is weakened by 

 age, should be cut out close to the ground and enough new sprouts 

 from the roots should be encouraged to take its place. Not more 

 than from four to six shoots from the roots should be allowed to 

 remain ; the rest should be cut away, for if allowed to grow too 

 much bearing wood will be produced and the fruit will consequent- 

 ly be very small. The wood which is infested by borers should 

 also be cut out as nearly as may be. But for the past few years in 

 some sections of Minnesota ail the shoots of the currant have bsen 

 infested with this insect. In such extreme cases necessity may 

 compel the leaving of those least injured. 



FIG. 20. Currant /'///>/ *ilit before, layering to en- 

 courage , he formation of roots. 



Tree Currants are frequently advertised as being very desir- 

 able and are often sold at a much higher price than commoner cur- 

 rants ; while in fact they are our common currants pruned so as to 

 make them take on a tree-like form. They appear very pretty 

 while growing, but having only one stem the first borer that attacks 

 it destroys the plant. To make plants take on this tree-form all 

 but one upper bud is rubbed off the cuttings when they are set out. 

 The remaining bud pushes up a straight shoot, which is allowed to 

 branch at about a foot from the ground and to make a miniature 

 tree. Such plants seldom send up sprouts, so the stem cannot be 

 renewed. The common red currant is sometimes grafted on the 

 Ribes aureum, but such plants are open to the same objections as 

 other tree currants, and are only valuable as curiosities. 



