340 BUSH-FRUITS 



isfactory than lower altitudes, especially toward the 

 southern limits of its range. It is stated* that in 

 Pennsylvania better fruit is produced at an elevation 

 of 1,000 feet than on plateaus near the sea, the 

 leaves falling earlier on the lower lands, and the fruit 

 being smaller in consequence the succeeding year. 



FERTILIZERS 



The currant is a rank feeder, and needs a rich 

 soil, with liberal fertilizing. Yet the roots are small 

 and fibrous, and do not extend far for their food. It 

 must be supplied in liberal quantities and close at 

 hand. While no fruit will live and apparently thrive 

 under greater neglect than will the currant, it is 

 equally true that no fruit will more quickly or fully 

 respond to liberal treatment. Too often it is relegated 

 to the fence corners, without care or culture, there to 

 battle with sod and currant worms from year to year. 

 Little wonder that the returns are sour and small! 

 Liberal applications of stable manure, preferably in the 

 fall, supplemented with the addition of wood ashes or 

 potash in the form of commercial fertilizers in the 

 spring, are always in order. Currants contain t 0.11 

 per cent of phosphoric acid and 0.27 per cent of 

 potash, while stable manure contains only about one- 

 third more potash than phosphoric acid, which shows 

 the need of additional potash. There is little danger 



*Gardeners's Monthly, 1887:208. 

 tExp. Sta. Handbook, p. 402. 



