THE CURRANT. 145 



it will be observed that much more wood is form- 

 ing than can be permitted to remain. There are 

 weak, crowding shoots which never can be of any 

 use. If these are cut out at this time, the sap 

 which would go to mature them will be directed 

 into the valuable parts of the forming bush. Sum- 

 mer pruning prevents misspent force, and it may 

 be kept up with great advantage from year to year. 

 This is rarely done, however; therefore early in 

 spring the bushes must receive a good annual 

 pruning, and the long shoots and branches be cut 

 well back, so as to prevent naked reaches of wood. 

 Observe a very productive bush, and you will see 

 that there are many points abounding in little side- 

 branches. It is upon these that the fruit is chiefly 

 borne. A bush left to itself is soon a mass of long, 

 slender, almost naked stalks, with a little fruit at 

 the ends. The ideal bush is stocky, open, well 

 branched, admitting light, air, and sun in every 

 part. There is no crowding and smothering of the 

 fruit by the foliage. But few clusters are borne on 

 very young wood, and when this grows old and 

 black, the clusters are small. Therefore new wood 

 should always be coming on and kept well cut 

 back, so as to form joints and side-branches ; and 

 as other parts grow old and feeble they should be 

 cut out. Observation and experience will teach 

 the gardener more than all the rules that could be 



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