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CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



leys, occasionally injures the fruit. Away from the coast, cur- 

 rants are grown to a limited extent along the Sacramento and San 

 Joaquin Rivers, near their confluence, but not in the hot valleys 

 whence they flow. On the foot-hills, too, where the plant has a 

 northerly slope, or other cooling influence, and sufficiently moist 

 soil, it will do moderately well. It is quite possible that the cur- 

 rant may be satisfactorily grown for home use, or for local market 

 in parts of the State where at present one does not find it, pro- 

 viding the moderating effect of elevation and northerly exposure, 

 coupled with the shade of trees, be secured, but even then the 

 hot north wind of the early summer may often injure the fruit. 

 So far as the metropolitan market is concerned, it does not matte 1 

 that the currant area is limited, for existing plantations produce 

 all, and sometimes more, than can be profitably disposed of at 

 present. It is possible, however, that the future may show a 

 larger demand, for the pure food laws are likely to prevent the 

 further selling of apple jelly with a currant color and flavor under 

 the name of currant jelly. 



Propagation. The currant is readily grown from cuttings. As 

 soon as the bush drops its leaves, and the ground is in condition, 

 as to moisture, secure the cuttings a foot in length from straight 

 wood of the last growth, and place them in nursery or in permanent 

 place, in good sandy or garden loam, deeply spaded and well 

 broken up. Set the cutting firmly in the earth, six or seven inches 

 deep. If they are to be trained as small trees, every bud below 

 where the lowest limb is to start should be cut out even to the 

 end of the cutting underground otherwise they will be contin- 

 ually throwing up suckers. If they are to grow as bushes, the 

 natural and more productive form of the currant, set them as they 

 are taken from the parent bush. 



Planting and Care. Currants are usually grown in rows about 

 five or six feet apart, the plants standing two and a half or three 

 feet apart in the rows. Most of the currant plantations are between 

 orchard rows, the partial shade of the trees being considered desir- 

 able. It is claimed that currants do best when interplanted with 

 cherry, apricot, apple, and pear, not so well when associated with 

 plum and peach, and the almond is least desirable possibly be- 

 cause the almond is often given less cultivation than the pulpy 

 fruits or is grown on lighter, drier soils. The cultivation is such 

 as is usually given to the orchard, except that in heavy soil the 

 plow is not allowed to come near the cuttings the first season for 

 fear of tearing them from their rooting. After the first year the 

 plow is used in the winter and the cultivator in summer. 



Currants will repay generous applications of well-rotted manure, 

 and relish sufficient moisture in the soil. Where this can not be 



