Prunins^ the Currant. 163 



'to 



all be cut to within an inch of the old wood at every winter 

 pruning. 



Some recommend summer pruning. In moderation it may 

 be advantageously performed. When the plants are lux- 

 uriant, and shoots are likely to overcrowd the centre, the tops 

 of such shoots may be cut off in June. But it must be ob- 

 served that if no shoots were allowed to grow excepting 

 those necessary to be retained at the winter pruning, the 

 plants would, in consequence, be less vigorous in the follow- 

 ing season ; for the more leaves the more roots, and the 

 greater the quantity of the latter the more abundant will be 

 the supply of nourishment. 



Instead of the open bush-form, Currants may be grown 

 with a single upright stem ; and in this way they occupy 

 very little space, and yet produce good bunches of fruit, 

 which are not liable to be spoiled by wet. 



When Currants are intended to be trained against a wall, 

 they should be planted three feet apart, and a strong shoot 

 trained upright for a stem. This should be shortened to six 

 inches, and the two uppermost shoots trained horizontally 

 right and left. From these, four upright shoots should be 

 trained, so that the distance between them may be nine 

 inches. In order that these may not run up without being 

 sufficiently furnished with fruit spurs, they should be short- 

 ened to six inches, and every year, at the winter pruning, the 

 upright terminal shoots of the branches should be shortened 

 according to their strength, shorter if weak, and if strong 

 they should not be left longer than is consistent with their 

 breaking into spurs not more than six inches apart. The 

 laterals may have their points cut off, annually, in June, and 

 cut nearly close to the old wood at every winter pruning. 

 Various other modes of training may be adopted, but the 

 same principles of pruning are generally applicable, namely, 

 the shortening of the leading shoots and spurring in the 

 laterals as above directed. The red and white Currants may 

 be grafted on each other with good effect, as regards con- 

 trast of colors. 



