Berries and Small Fruits 239 



pruning currants 



Besides careful cultivation, to insure the best of 

 fruit it is necessary to give some thought to the 

 matter of pruning. The most convenient and the 

 most satisfactory way is to keep it in the bush form. 

 Set the plants singly, three or four feet apart, and 

 so cut the new growth, which is generously pro- 

 duced, as to retain a uniform bush shape, preferably 

 rather open in the center. 



The fruit is produced on wood two or more 

 years old. Therefore cut out branches either when 

 very small, or not until four or five years later, 

 after it has borne two or three crops of fruit. 

 Therefore, in pruning currants, take out ( i ) super- 

 fluous young growth; (2) old hard wood (as new 

 wood will produce better fruit; and (3) all weak, 

 broken, dead or diseased shoots; (4) during sum- 

 mer, if the tips of the young growths kept for fruit- 

 ing are pinched off, they will ripen up much better 

 — meaning better fruit when they bear; (5) to 

 maintain a good form, the whole plant may be 

 cut back (never more than one-third) in the fall. 



In special situations it may be advisable to train 

 the currant to one or a few main stems, as against 

 a wall ; this can be done, but it is less convenient. 

 Also it brings greater danger from the currant- 

 borer. 



