CURRANTS 



HE culture of the currant is becoming increasingly profitable 

 eA^ery year. The briefness of this chapter does not indi- 

 cate my estimate of the value of this fruit, but its cultiA^a- 

 tion is so simple that but few words of direction are neces- 

 A deep rich soil, clean culture, mulch, and the pruning 

 knife are the secrets of success. Straggling currant bushes 

 along old fences and half-smothered by grass and weeds are not 

 the models to be recommended. It is pretty hard to kill a cur- 

 rant bush, but only by the following methods can paying crops be 

 raised in the garden or field. 



A moist, heavy soil is the best, but high manuring and mulch- 

 ing will make any answer. It is difficult to enrich the soil too 

 highly as the currant is a gross feeder and not particular as to 

 quality. Wood-ashes however are specially excellent. Deep 

 plowing in preparation, clean culture and mulching, will go a great 

 way toward making up for lack of fertilizers. 



Set the plants of the white and red kinds four feet apart 

 each way and keep them in shape and bounds by pruning. At 

 this distance 2,722 will be required for an acre. During the 

 first two years let the spaces between them be kept clean and 

 mellow by the frequent use of the plow and cultivator, keeping 

 the ground level. The third year a paying crop may be ex- 

 pected. Let the ground be thoroughly cultivated and cleaned 

 as early as possible in spring, working in a heavy top-dress- 

 ing of compost or any manure that can be had. If a mulch of 

 leaves or any kind of litter can be put on at once while the 



