196 THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 



" I don't see what currants have to do with it." 



Kate laughed. " You are a little goose, Johnny Wellson. 

 Current year means this year." 



"Oh! " 



" And if I remember," said Mary, " when we were pinch- 

 ing the shoots last summer, I noticed that the buncfles were 

 hanging on the green and tender shoots that grew this 

 season." 



4 'That's it! That's it!" said Johnny. "They are 

 brown and stiff now, and all look alike. No wonder we 

 could not tell 'em apart." 



"You are right. Now to work. The book says: 

 1 Cut back to a good bud near the wood of the previous 

 year.' In this fashion, I suppose." 



So saying, Mary took the knife and lopped off the shoot 

 upon which the wilted bunch was hanging. 



" You've done it," cried Johnny. " See ! there is the 

 little stump as it is in the picture." 



The three crowded round, and discovered that, in cutting 

 the shoot, about three inches remained growing on the stout 



stem from which it had started. 







"Wouldn't it look better if it were cut off close up to 

 the old wood?" 



" Why, no, you would cut away the bud out of which 

 the shoot that is to bear next year. is to come. Now, 

 according to my idea of it, all we have to do is to keep cut- 



