218 



Success with Small Fruits. 



feet apart and the cuttings six inches apart in the row. In raising them 

 by the thousand for market, we must economize space and labor; and, 

 therefore, one of the best methods, after rendering the ground mellow 

 and smooth, is to stretch a line across the plat or field ; then, beginning on 

 one side of the line, to strike a spade into the soil its full depth, press it 

 forward and draw it out This leaves a slight opening of the width and 



depth of the spade, and a boy, fol- 

 lowing, inserts in this three cuttings, 

 one in the middle and one at each end. 

 The man then steps back and drives 

 the spade down again about four inches 

 in the rear of the first opening, and, 

 as he presses his spade forward to 

 make a second, he closes up the first 

 opening, pressing indeed, almost 

 pinching the earth around the three 

 slips that have just been thrust down, 

 until but one or two buds are above 

 the surface. We thus have a row of 

 cuttings, three abreast, and about three 

 inches apart, across the entire field. 

 A space of three feet is left for cultiva- 

 tion, and then we plant, as before, 

 another triple row. These thick rows 

 should be taken up the following fall, 

 when the largest may be sold, or 

 planted where they are to fruit, and 

 the smaller ones replanted in nursery 

 rows. When land is abundant, the 

 cuttings may be sunk in single rows, 

 with sufficient space between for horse 

 cultivation, and allowed to mature into 

 two-year-old plants without removal. 

 If these are not planted or sold, they should be cut back rigorously before 

 making the third year's growth. 



In moist land, cuttings can be made to grow even if set out late in 

 the spring, especially if top-dressed and mulched ; but if they are to be 

 started on high, dry land, they should be out sufficiently early in the 

 autumn to become rooted before winter. If our land is of a nature that 

 tends to throw roots out of the ground, and moist, heavy land has this 



Currant Cuttings and Callus. 

 (See Figs. A, B, C.) 



