THE CURRANT 



The currant is a very hardy fruit, and for this reason can be grown with success 

 all over the Province of Ontario, and as fair results are obtained without high culture, 

 almost everyone who has a garden grows currants. Like all other fruits, however, the 

 currant becomes most profitable when given good care. 



The currant is a moisture-loving fruit, hence for profit it should be planted in a 

 cool, moist, but well-drained soil. It also requires rich soil, hence as a rule the best 

 is a good clay loam which is retentive of moisture and cooler than sandy loam. The 

 soil should be thoroughly prepared for currants before planting. One year old plants 

 from cuttings, if strong, will give good satisfaction, although two year old plants are 

 not too old. They should be planted in rows about six feet apart, and from four to 

 five feet apart in the rows, the wide distance being more satisfactory for the strong 

 growing varieties and especially black currants. Fall planting is best for currants, as 

 the buds start very early in the spring and should these develop before they can be 

 planted, their future growth will be checked. They can, however, be planted in the 

 spring with success. The plants should be set a little deeper than they were in the 

 nursery, and the soil well pressed against the roots. Thorough cultivation should follow 

 to promote as much growth as possible, but it should be shallow, as the currant roots 

 are near the surface. The following spring the currants will need some pruning to give 

 them a shapely open head, the bush when well shaped having from five to seven main 

 branches well distributed to avoid crowding. The fruit of red currants is formed from 

 spurs on wood two years old, while the fruit of black currants Is borne on wood of the 

 previous year. Currants should be pruned annually to get the best results. 



After the bushes are in full bearing, the pruning should be done with the object 

 of removing some of the young and some of the older wood from the ground each year. 

 There should be no wood more than three years old left on black currant bushes, as 

 the object is to keep up a strong growth of young wood. It is also not well to let the 

 wood of red currants get very old, as the finest fruit is produced on the two and three 

 year old wood. 



The currant plantation will begin to give some fruit the third season, but a full 

 crop will not be obtained until the fourth. 



As the currant is a gross feeder, drawing heavily on the fertility of the soil, the 

 plantation should receive an annual dressing of barnyard manure or some other fertilizer. 

 Rotten manure applied in the autumn and cultivated in the next spring gives very good 

 results. Applications of wood ashes or muriate of potash and ground bones are also 

 beneficial. 



VARIETIES RECOMMENDED. . 

 General List, approved ~by the Board of Control. 



Black: Black Victoria, Champion, Lee, Boskoop Giant, Saunders. 

 Red: Cherry, Pay, Red Cross, Victoria, Wilder. 

 White: Grape. 



DISTRICT LISTS. 



PONTHILL DISTRICT 

 (Including Townships of Pelham, Stamford and Thorold). 



G. C. Brown, Ponthill. 

 Red: Cherry, Perfection, Prince Albert. 



