124 ^^^ CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



year and we think we can produce a new plantation quite as 

 easily as to clean out an old one and they suffer less from 

 insects. 



There are a few varieties that are subject to rust and we 

 have discarded them. We have never tried spraying straw- 

 berries. In the experiments I have known of, the results were 

 not very conclusive that benefit was derived from the spray- 

 ing; so I have never sprayed. 



Never take up a plant for replanting from a bed that 

 has borne fruit. The bearing of fruit seems to withdraw 

 from the plant strength and the new plants have not sufficient 

 vigor to be of any particular value. 



The next fruit in order is the currant, which is a great 

 favorite of mine. We have found them specially valuable as 

 a crop to grow in our new orchards. They seem to take to 

 shade and it is of benefit to the grower as it prolongs the 

 season. By prolonging the season we accomplish several 

 things. We can finish our cherries before we begin on the 

 currants, and later on the currants bring a better price, and 

 they are a good crop to handle late, as you can pick them 

 whenever it is convenient. 



In growing the currant I have always preferred the one 

 year-old bush. Cut it back to 6 or 7 buds and plant in the 

 fall or early spring. The currant needs good rich soil, per- 

 haps it will take more manure than any other fruit that we 

 grow, and the soil needs to be rather heavy and moist. Don't 

 grow them in tree form; they are more apt to get topheavy 

 and, when loaded with fruit, break over. Another reason 

 is that it is more difficult to renew. In starting with 

 the 6 or 8 buds you get your bush headed down low. Cut 

 out the excessive young shoots to keep the bush compact and 

 symmetrical; then, after they have borne two or three crops, 

 begin to remove about a third of the old bearing stems and 

 allow enough young shoots to come up to keep the bush the 

 proper size. If any of the young shoots make an excessive 

 growth, cut them back. We don't practice as severe cutting 

 back as some do, as we have not found it necessary. Pos- 

 sibly in some varieties it is necessary to be more severe in 

 cutting. 



