68 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



For the Neio England Fanner. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE 

 CURRANT. 



Mr. Editor : The currant, it must be admitted, is 

 one of our best summer fruits, and deserves more 

 attention in its cultivation, than it generally receives 

 from most of our farmers. Many still retain the old 

 kinds, often leaving them to take care of themselves 

 year after year, apparently satisfied with their pro- 

 ducing a small, sour, poor fruit. All cultivators 

 should at once discard the old varieties of the cur- 

 rant, and substitute for them, the new and better 

 kinds. These should be planted in a rich soil, and 

 kept clear from grass and weeds, and subjected to a 

 regular system of pruning. Some cultivators prune 

 the shrub to a single stem, but we never could see 

 much advantage to be derived from this mode ; for 

 when grown in this form, and the stem weakened 

 by the attacks of the borer, as is frequently the case, 

 it is very liable to bo broken off; and being deprived, 

 before ])lanting, of the power to send up suckers, the 

 whole plant is lost. And we think also, in a given 

 space, they will produce less fruit than those culti- 

 vated with several steins, in the form of a bush. 

 Eut when permitted thus to grow, it should be kept 

 clear from superfluous branches and old wood, en- 

 deavoring always to keep a succession of young and 

 vigorous wood, of two or three years' growth ; for it is 

 on such branches that we always iind the best 

 fruit. Currants are much better to remain some 

 time on the bushes, after they are well colored, and 

 supposed to be ripe. They improve in their flavor, 

 and lose much of their acidity. Knight's Early Red 

 and Sweet Red, the White Dutch, together with all 

 other early or comparatively sweet varieties, of the 

 currant, should be placed on the south side of a wall 

 or fence, fully exposed to the sun. This exposure 

 will hasten the ripening of the fruit, and lessen its 

 acidity. On the contrary, the late varieties, such as 

 Lovctt's Red, and the Victoria, should be placed on 

 the north side of a wall, or fence. Ey adopting this 

 mode of planting the currant, they can be brought 

 forward much earlier in the season, or retarded to 

 late in autumn. We also prefer these close quarters 

 for our bushes, to more open ones in the garden, 

 because we can the more effectually secure the 

 fruit from the depredations of birds. In regard to 

 the different kinds of currants now under cultiva- 

 tion, we would name the Red and White Dutch, two 

 very good varieties. The latter, when fully ripe, is 

 much less acid than the red. The Champagne, a 

 pink-colored variety, is very handsome and is more 

 acid than the red. Mr. Knight's Sweet Red is only 

 comparatively so, being less acid than the White 

 Dutch. Knight's Early Red, being about ten days 

 earlier than any other currant ; Knight's Large Red, 

 larger than the Dutch ; Lovett's Large Red, a good late 

 currant ; Victoria, an uncommonly large, fine currant ; 

 and the Cherry currant, lately introduced, said to be 

 one of the largest currants, but not thought, by some, 

 to bo very good or productive. The black currants 

 are medicinal, and not relished, by many persons, 

 imtil they have acquired a fondness for them by 

 frequent use, as we do for the tomato. It is then, 

 PS we ourselves do know, most delectable to the 

 taste. The Black Grape and Black Naples are 

 some of the best varieties of this cvu'rant. There 

 will probably be many new varieties of the currant 

 added to the above list, from our newly-acquired 

 territories on the shores of the Pacific ; some hav- 

 ing already been discovered, with fruit as sweet and 

 as pleasant as the strawberry. And when the 

 adventurers, now pressing forward to those shores, 

 shall have, in some mcasiu'e, cxhaiistcd its mineral 

 ■Wealth, Avo hojie their attention will be directed to its 

 vegetable productions, and that wc, who dwell on the 



shores of the Atlantic, shall receive from them 

 many valuable trees, shrubs, and plants. 



S. P. FOWLER. 

 Daxvers, Xew-Mills. 



Editorial Remarks. 



Wc arc much pleased with the mode of culti- 

 vating the currant, as recommended by Mr. Fowler, 

 as it shows the result of practical knowledge, and 

 sufficient patience to make fair experiments. Many 

 writers — perhaps I might say most writers — rec- 

 ommend training currant bushes as trees, and many 

 cultivators have tried this mode to their loss ; for in 

 a few years the little tree becomes covered with moss, 

 and is unjDroductive. 



The tree fomi will do well for a year or two, and 

 we suppose that some have reported on their experi- 

 ments before they were fully tried ; hence the recom- 

 mendation of a system that will not bear the test of 

 several years. Trained in bush form, and managed 

 as our correspondent has recommended, the currant 

 will flourish long, without renewal, and yield large 

 and excellent crops. 



For the New Enf/Iand Fanner. 

 SPRING BUDDING OF FRUIT-TREES. 



It may not be generally known that fruit-trees can 

 be budded in the spring as soon as the bark will slip 

 with case, with equally as good success as those 

 done in the usual season. 



Spring budding possesses some advantages, inas- 

 much as one year's growth of the bud is obtained in 

 advance of those budded in summer or fall. Scions 

 cut the previous fall or winter may be preserved in 

 moss or saw-dust, so as to perform this operation as 

 late in the season, with safety, as can be with the 

 present year's growth of scions. This is quite a con- 

 venience when scions are wanted from a distance, as 

 there is not so much trouble in preserving them per- 

 fectly fresh as when cut in the leaf. 



The only difference necessary to make betwixt 

 spring and fall budding is, the stock of the former 

 should be cut off at the time of budding, three or 

 four inches above the insertion of the bud, and a coat 

 of shellac or other cement applied to the stock to 

 prevent decay, and for the health of the tree. I 

 think this should be done in all cases. 



D. TABOR. 



Vassalboro', Vt., 1849. 



For the Nctc England Farmer. 

 DIFFICULTIES IN FRUIT-GROWING. 



Mr. Editor : Having this day been making out 

 an order for a lot of fruit-trees, I will make some 

 remarks upon this text. How can any one de- 

 termine which arc the best varieties of the different 

 kinds of fruits ? The difficulties in the way are 

 manifold. Our nursery-men's catalogues contain 

 endless varieties, one half of which are entirely 

 worthless; and again, no two catalogues give the 

 same names for the same fruits. 



These are evils which can easily be remedied, if 

 those most interested would begin by learning that 

 those catalogues will command the most notice 

 which contain the best and not the greatest varieties ; 

 and then by agreeing upon one system of nomencla- 

 ture. I ani aware that attempts are being made to 

 bring about the last, by some of the Horticultural 



