No. 4.] BUSlI-FKUn\S. ^08 



if planted in check-rows cultivation niaj go on in both direc- 

 tions, thereby reducing the amount of hand-hoeing to the 

 uiininumi. Methods of planting are the same as for the 

 brambles. 



Among varieties of currants there is no such unanimity of 

 choice as Avith the red raspberries. No one variety seems to 

 be the best adapted to all localities. In many places Fay is 

 one of the best, while in others it does not seem to give good 

 satisfaction. Cherry, Avhile large in berry, is likely to be 

 small in bunch. Versailles is generally reported more reli- 

 able. Amonff late varieties, Victoria is one of the best and 

 very generally successful. There are many new claimants to 

 public favor, some of which may in time take the place of 

 older ones. 



White currants are little wanted in the market, and should 

 seldom be planted for market purposes. They are slightly 

 sweeter than red varieties, and a few may be desirable for 

 home use. 



Among gooseberries two classes are to be considered, the 

 American and the English types. These diller widely in 

 their characteristics. The English gooseberry is far larger, 

 and consequently more attractive in market, though no bet- 

 ter in (juality, if, indeed, equal to the American. It is only 

 with exceptional care and under favorable conditions that 

 this type will succeed in America. A few amateurs have 

 reported excellent success with it. With us, in Rhode 

 Island, none of the varieties of this class have proved at all 

 satisfactory. One by one they disappear as the winters go 

 bv, and there is little to show for the effort to o;row them. 

 The gooseberry mildew is thought to be the chief enemy 

 responsiljle for this faihu'e, but not all the difference in hardi- 

 ness may be due to injury from this cause. Under our con- 

 ditions the type is far less productive than the American 

 sorts. The weak point of the American varieties is the 

 small size of their fruit. As yet, however, this class must 

 be depended upon under most conditions for commercial 

 work. Downing is still our most popular and most uni- 

 formly successful variety. It is believed to contain some 

 European blood, but the native element predominates to 



