OF CURRANTS. 219 



the leaves to remain on the bushes, to shade the 

 fruit and make it keep the longer. 



Pruning of Currant-Bushes, 



The pruning of Currants is nearly similar to 

 that of Gooseberries. You may begin in the month 

 of November, and continue till March, as it suits 

 your convenience. 



Currants should never be left too thick of wood; 

 and a great deal depends on the management of 

 them in Summer, to have strong and fine wood for 

 the following vSeason. If they have been neglected 

 for some years, and suffered to run up to long 

 naked wood, they must be cut down near the 

 ground ; they will then set forth fine strong shoots. 

 In this case, I would recommend heading down 

 every other tree, and cutting the others partially, 

 by taking out every other branch as near as can be 

 to the ground, unless they are trained up with 

 single stems, in which case it will be necessary to 

 cut them as near as possible to where the branches 

 be2:in to break out and form the head. 



In the Winter pruning, you must preserve the 

 strongest and finest shoots, leaving them from nine 

 to eighteen inches long, according to their strength, 

 and from eight to tea inches apart, and as regular 

 as possible from top to bottom of the tree; taking 

 care to cut out all the dead and weak shoots. Pay 

 particular attention in Summer, and keep the mid- 

 dle of the bush open to admit the sun and air ; 



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