64 PROFITABLE FRUIT-GROWING. 



older and weaker parts, the bushes remain profit- 

 able for a number of years. Lee's Prolific and 

 Black Champion are profitable sorts to grow. 



The character of a Black Currant bush is 

 displayed in the small sketch, fig. 23. As will 

 be seen, there are no " spurs" as in the Eed 

 Currant and Gooseberry, but the branches are 

 simply studded with buds ; strong suckers are also 



Fig. 23. BLACK CURBAXT BUSH. 



seen pushing from the ground a little distance from 

 the main stem. All that is necessary in pruning is 

 to thin out the older and weaker parts to give the 

 stronger more room, and these may be five or six 

 inches asunder. As further elucidating the matter 

 a branch is shown on a larger scale in fig. 24, page 

 65. The old wood is dark, the young lighter. 

 The best fruit will be borne by the latter, therefore, 

 when the branches are too close together, the old, 

 as represented by the central one, should be cut 

 out at the cross-mark. A shoot will push from the 



