144 THE HOME ACRE. 



employed, use it first as a mulch. It will thus 

 gradually reach the roots. Otherwise it is too 

 stimulating, and produces a rampant growth of 

 wood rather than fruit 



Under any circumstances this tendency to pro- 

 duce an undue amount of wood must be repressed 

 almost as rigorously as in the grape-vine. The 

 secret of successful currant-culture is richness be- 

 neath, and restriction above. English gardeners 

 are said to have as complete and minute systems 

 of pruning and training currants as the grape ; but 

 we do not seem to have patience for such detail. 

 Nor do I regard it as necessary. Our object is an 

 abundant supply of excellent fruit ; and this result 

 can be obtained at a surprisingly small outlay of 

 time and money, if they are expended judiciously. 



The art of trimming a currant-bush, like that of 

 pruning a grape-vine, is best learned by observa- 

 tion and experience. One can give principles 

 rather than lay down rules. Like the vine, the 

 currant tends to choke itself with a superabun- 

 dance of wood, which soon becomes more or less 

 barren. This is truer of some varieties than of 

 others; but in all instances the judicious use of 

 the pruning-knife doubles the yield. In view of 

 the supposition that the leading shoot and all the 

 branches were shortened in one half when the 

 plant was set out, I will suggest that early in June 



