162 



Pj-'uninff the Currant. 



selected as the most eligible for a stem, should be short- 

 ened, so that the third bud below the cut may be five 

 inches above the ground. Three 

 shoots will generally be produced 

 the following summer. In au- 

 tumn the plants will require to 

 be planted out where they are 

 to remain, and at the same time 

 the shoots should be cut back to 

 about four inches, taking care to 

 cut above buds pointing outwards. 

 We have now a stem five inches 

 high, and three branches diverg- 

 ing from it, each of them shortened 

 to about four inches. Two shoots 

 should be encouraged from each 

 of these three, so that in autumn 

 the plant will have six shoots, 

 corresponding with the ultimate 

 number of branches necessary. 

 All other shoots must be spurred 

 to within an inch of their bases. 

 The six shoots selected for leaders 

 should be cut back so as to leave 

 them from four to six inches long ; 

 and, like those of the former sea- 

 son, they should be cut to buds 

 pointing outwards. At every fu- 

 ture winter pruning the termuial 

 shoots of the six branches should 

 be shortened to between four and 

 six inches long, according to their ^^^ s ^Ae Currant Tree. 

 strength. When the branches „ a a a, Wood buds. 



nearly attain the intended height, ^ ^ Fruit buds 



■^ ^ ^ c c c, Clusters termed fruit spurs ; 



the terminals maybe shortened to they consist chiefly of fruit buds, 



two or three buds. With regard ^ut amongst tliem, there are 



° generally, some wood buds 



to the lateral shoots, they must which produce small shoots. 



