220 OF CURRANTS. 



preserving the finest and strongest shoots that are 

 nearest the stem. Some are fond of training them 

 up with single stems, to a considerable height, to 

 form fine round heads, which are very ornamental, 

 if not suffered to run up too high ; as in that case 

 they are liable to be broken by the wind, if not 

 well supported by stakes. Care must be taken not 

 to let the shoots run to more than six inches long ; 

 because such short shoots will not be so liable to 

 be damaged by the wind as long and weak one^s 

 are, especially when loaded with fruit. I prefer 

 dwarfs from three to four feet high. 



The same manner of pruning, &c- will do for 

 Black Currants ; but, as they grow stronger than 

 the Red or White, the shoots should be left thin- 

 ner, and laid in longer, which will make them 

 produce larger and finer fruit. 



Those against walls and palings should have the 

 shoots laid in thinner tiian those in the quarters, 

 and trained as horizontally as possible, shortening 

 them in the Winter, pruning to a foot or eighteen 

 inches, according to the strength of the shoots. 



As Currants are very liable to be devoured by 

 earwigs, which take shelter under their leaves and 

 branches, bundles of bean-stalks should be hung 

 up some time before the bushes are covered with 

 mats or nets. If pro})er attention be not paid to 

 this, the fruit will generally suffer very much from 

 these insects. After the bushes are covered, take 

 the mats off once in three or four days, and kill the 

 earwigs that have got ijito the bean-stalks, which it 



