260 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



when they may be put in a greenhouse or hotbed. But very few 

 seedlings are of any value, and the growing of them is seldom 

 attempted. 



Cuttings are very easily rooted and varieties are almost 

 universally grown from them. They may be taken off at almost 

 any time while the plant is dormant, and wood of almost any 

 age or size will root if carefully handled, but the following meth- 

 od is generally very certain to bring good results: 



As soon as the leaves have fallen — which may be in the 

 latter part of August or first of September — the young wood 

 (growth of the current season) is cut into pieces about seven 

 inches long. They are then at once set out in rich, well drained 

 soil four inches apart, in rows three feet apart. Only about one 

 inch of the cutting should be above ground, and great care 

 should be taken to very firmly pack the earth around the bottom 

 of the cuttings. When thus treated they will have calloused and 

 mad-e some small roots before the ground freezes, and will start 

 vigorously the following spring. The cuttings should remain as 

 planted for at least one, or perhaps two years. If the land is 

 in good condition they will be ready to set out when one year 

 old, but can remain where planted for several seasons if well 

 cultivated. If wood is scarce the cuttings may be shorter than 

 recommended, but in such a case more care will be required to 

 ensure that they do not dry out in the soil. Sometimes the cut- 

 tings may consist of a single bud each, and may be sown like 

 beans in a furrow, but much experience is required to be suc- 

 cessful with them when made so very small. 



Layers may be made at any time during the growing sea- 

 son, but preferably in the spring or early summer, as they will 

 then be well rooted by autumn. They consist simply of branches 

 which have been covered with earth and have become rooted. 

 After becoming well rooted they are separated from the old plant. 

 The branches are rather surer to root if the bark and wood is 

 cut or broken a little, but most varieties root very easily without 

 this trouble. 



Soil and planting. — The currant will grow in almost any 

 kind of land, and on that which will raise a fair corn crop it 

 gives good returns, but the soil cannot be too rich or the cul- 



