The Canadian Horticulturist. 



127 



PROPAGATION AND PRUNING OF CURRANTS. 



iHE rules for the propagation of the gooseberry may be applied to the 

 currant. For the purpose of making well-formed bushes the cuttings 

 should be fifteen inches long, and all buds carefully taken out, except- 

 ^? ing the three at the upper end. The cuttings should be inserted into 

 the soil six inches ; there will then be left from four to five inches of 

 clean stem between the surface of the soil and the first branches. If 

 the cuttings are planted in the fall, the three buds that are left 



will each make a growth of at least eight or ten 



inches during the following summer. At the fall 



pruning these shoots should be cut back to two 



buds each ; from these, two more shoots will be 



formed the next season, thus forming a bush of six 



branches. These branches should all be cut back 



at the winter pruning, so as to leave them from 



four to six inches long, being always careful to cut 



back to an outward bud. Each terminal shoot 



should be cut back, at the winter pruning, until the 



required height is attained, which need not exceed 



three feet. If the soil is rich and the bushes make 



strong growth they may be permitted to grow to a 



height of four feet. All laterals that are thrown 



out from each main branch should be cut back to 



two buds, at the winter pruning. It will be found 



when the laterals are treated in this way, that fruit 



spurs will be formed throughout the whole length 



of the main branch. The object in cutting to a 



bud pointing outward, is to encourage the bush to 



form an outward growth. Under this treatment, 



work among the bushes will be found much more 



convenient, and better fruit will be produced. 



There will be an abundance of leaves and laterals 



formed each year, to shade the fruit from the direct 



rays of the sun ; thus the gathering of the fruit will 



be made much easier, and a better appearance 



given to the plants. 



Theaccompanying cut Fig. 5 24, shows the manner 



of pruning and the position of the fruit buds on the 



main branch. 



I 'K- 5 2 5 represents a branch of the currant in 



its natural state, with but few fruit spurs. It will 



be readily seen that the plant has to produce a 



great amount of wood which should go to the pro 



duction of fruit, if pruned as in Fig. 524. 



Fig. .V24. 



