FRUIT-GARDENING. 83 



HOW TO START NEW BUSHES FROM CUTTINGS. 



Select the sprouts that grew the previous season, and cut off 

 the butt-end, retaining about eight or ten inches of the top-end. 

 Cover the butt-end with grafting-wax, and transplant them with 

 a dibble, at least six inches deep, in soil thoroughly pulverized 

 and enriched. Press the earth gently around the cuttings, and 

 spread straw or some other material around them to keep the 

 ground moist, to promote the growth of roots. All the buds 

 should be pinched off the cuttings below the surface of the 

 ground, if the bush is to be trained to a single stem. If the 

 buds below the surface of the ground be not removed, strong 

 shoots will spring from them, which will overgrow the main 

 stem. If currant bushes be well pruned, the soil around them 

 kept in a good state of fertility, weeds and grass subdued, and 

 the fruit thinned out properly before it has attained much size, 

 currants may be produced twice as large as they usually grow. 



SELECT DESCRITIVE LIST OF CURRANTS. 



BLACK ENGLISH, Common BlacJc. This species is most 

 generally cultivated in private gardens for medicinal purposes ; 

 the berries are plentiful, of large size, and frequently hang on 

 the bush two months, improving in flavor. 



BLACK NAPLES. In this variety the fruit is larger, the clus- 

 ters more numerous, and each cluster produces more berries 

 than the ordinary kinds, on which account it is highly es- 

 teemed. 



CHAMPAGNE. The berries of this variety are of a pale red 

 color, which, being transparent, causes it to be generally esti- 

 mated as a dessert fruit. It is a prolific bearer. 



LARGE RED, Red Dutch. This is the most desirable kind 

 of the red-fruited currant cultivated ; the bush, when properly 

 trained and pruned, grows strong and upright, and produces 

 an abundance of fine large berries. 



