240 Home Vegetable Gardening 



The black currant, used almost entirely for culi- 

 nary or preserving purposes, is entirely different 

 from the red and white ones. They are much larger 

 and should be put five to six feet apart. Some of 

 the fruit is borne on one-year-old wood, so the 

 shoots should not be cut back. Moreover, old wood 

 bears as good fruit as the new growth, and need not 

 be cut out, unless the plant is getting crowded, for 

 several years. As the wood is much heavier and 

 stronger than the other currants, it is advisable 

 gradually to develop the black currants into the tree 

 form. 



ENEMIES OF THE CURRANT 



Tlie worst of these is the common currant-worm. 

 When he appears, which will be indicated by holes 

 eaten in the lower leaves early in spring, generally 

 before the plants bloom, spray at once with Paris 

 green. If a second brood appears, spray with white 

 hellebore (if this is not all washed off by the rain, 

 wipe from the fruit when gathered). For the 

 borer, cut and burn every infested shoot. Examine 

 tlie bushes in late fall, and those in which the borers 

 are at work will usually have a wilted appearance 

 and be of a brownish color. 



VARIETIES OF CURRANTS 



Red Dutch, while older and smaller than some 



