Subsequent Tillage 271 



rows in one direction. It. will be still better if these 

 furrows are made deeper than necessary to receive the 

 plants, in order to insure their being set in a well-fined bed. 

 The setting is easily done by placing the plants against 

 the land-side of the furrow and drawing the earth about 

 them, packing it firmly with the feet. No one point is 

 more essential than this thorough firming of the soil 

 about the roots. A layer of loose, fine soil should be left 

 at the surface, to act as a mulch and prevent the packed 

 soil beneath from drying out. The remainder of the fur- 

 row may be filled in as cultivation progresses later on. 

 One-year-old plants, if vigorous and well grown, are quite 

 as satisfactory and cost less money. They are easily set, 

 meet with little check in transplanting, and make a 

 better growth than if left in the crowded nursery row dur- 

 ing the same time. 



The earliness of the currant in starting into growth in 

 spring is a point in favor of fall planting. This depends 

 so much upon climate that it is unsafe to lay down a 

 general rule. Throughout the western plains, where the 

 winters are dry and open, fall planting is always uncertain, 

 though with careful protection it may succeed. Whatever 

 the location, if the planting is undertaken early enough 

 in spring there is nothing to fear. If neglected until the 

 plants have started into growth, the check must always 

 seriously affect the first season's results. 



SUBSEQUENT TILLAGE 



Cultivation of the currant should be shallow. The 

 roots run near the surface, and are likely to be injured by 



