36 



growth and productiveness of the plant. Diseased canes should be 

 avoided in setting a new plantation. The simplest remedy is to replant 

 frequently. The pest is nearly always more troublesome upon old 

 23lantations than upon young ones. With good care and frequent re- 

 planting it seldom becomes a serious handicap. Its ravages can be 

 reduced bj' thorough spraying with Bordeaux mixture, but this is not as 

 feasible as in the case of some plant diseases. 



Leaf-spots sometimes cause serious injury. Bordeaux mixture will be 

 more useful in controlling them than with anthracnose, Ijut is not often 

 necessary. 



Another troublesome pest is the crown gall, which causes the growth 

 of warty galls on the roots. These growths may occur just at the surface 

 of the ground or at points further underneath. The disease is due to the 

 work of a fungus of low order, and may be communicated from one 

 plantation to another, or from berry plants to fruit trees. It is therefore 

 best to exercise great jirecaution to avoid introducing this trouble, 

 especially if the plants ai-e to be set among trees in the orchard. Plants 

 aftected soon grow -weak and fail to yield satisfactory results. 



The Groselles. 



Soil and Climatic Conditions. 



Like the brambles, the groselles are not sensative to variations in 

 soil, though best returns can be expected from a moist, fertile soil, 

 fairl}" heavy. They will thrive belter on clay than the brambles. They 

 are cool climate plants and do better in cool locations, such as a north 

 slope. Currants are frequently planted in orchards and give good re- 

 sults under these conditions. A wet soil is unfavorable because it tends 

 to induce heaving in winter. Currants in particidar are easily lifted 

 and seriously injured by this cause. 



These plants are particularly hardy and seldom or never suffer winter 

 injury, at least under conditions prevalent in southern New England. 

 They are, however, suVjject to injury from summer drought, though this 

 is likely to be less serious than with the brambles, for the reason that 

 their fruit develops earlier A lack of moisture will reduce the size of 

 the fruit, hence for best returns a moist soil and good cultivation should 

 always be the aim. 



Fertilizers. 



Both currants and gooseberries delight in a rich, fertile soil. Stable 

 manure is well adapted to their needs, and no commercial fertilizer will 

 give superior results. Experiments in Massachusetts some years ago 

 showed that the quality of the currant could be improved by the liberal 

 use of potash. .Since the fruit is developed so early in the season, nitrate 

 ol" soda should prove a satisfactory source of niti'ogen when chemicals 

 must be used. 



Preparation and Planting. 



The preparation of the soil does not differ from that suggested for the 

 brambles. Underdraining will prove equally important in the case of 

 wet soils liable to heaving. This will not only avoid such injury, but 

 also afford better moisture conditions during the season of growth. 



A convenient distance for planting is six feet by four, and if planted 

 in check-rows ciiltivation may go on in both directions, thereby reducing 

 the amount of hand-hoeing to the minimum. Methods of planting are 

 the same as for the brambles. 



Among varieties of currants, there is no such unanimit}^ of choice as 

 with the red raspberries. No one variety seems to be 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, while large in berry, 



