27 

 Varieties of Black Currants Recommended. 



Saunders, Collins Prolific, Buddenborg', Victoria. 



Of those not yet on the market which are considered equal to or better than those 

 above, the following are the best: — 



Kerry, Eclipse, Magnus, Clipper, Climax and Eagle, and the Success for an early 

 variety where yield is not so important as size and quality. 



Topsy is very handsome and of good size and good quality," and ripens evenly, but 

 has not been quite as productive as some others. Boskoop Giant is promising. 



Propagation. 



The usual method of propagating currants is by means of cuttings. These root 

 very readily and good plants are obtained after one season's growth. The best tima 

 to make the cuttings is in the autumn, as currants begin to grow very early in the 

 spring, and once the buds have swollen they cannot be rooted successfully. Wood of 

 the current season's growth is used. This may be cut early in the autumn as soon as 

 the wood has ripened, at Ottawa from the end of August to the middle of September 

 being a good time. They should be cut in as long pieces as possible, to save time in 

 the field, and put in a cool, moist cellar or buried in the sand. If the cuttings can ba 

 made at once it is best to do so. These are made by cutting the wood into pieced each 

 about eight to ten inches long, although an inch or two more or less is not of much 

 consequence. The base of the cutting should be made with a square cut below th« 

 last bud. There should be at least half an inch of wood left above the top bud of each 

 cutting, as there should be a strong growth from the upper bud, and if the wood is 

 cut too close it is liable to be weakened. A sloping cut is best for the upper cut as 

 it will shed rain better, but this is not important. When made, the cuttings should 

 be planted at once, which is usually the best plan, or heeled in. If heeled in they 

 should be tied in bundles and buried upside down in warm, well-drained soil, with 

 about three inches of soil over them. Ttheobject of burying them upside down is that 

 by this method the bases of the cuttings will be nearer the surface where the soil is 

 warmer and there is more air, and they will callous quicker than if they were further 

 down. The cuttings should callous in a few weeks, and they may then be planted 

 outside if thought advisable. Cuttings may be kept in good condition over winter by 

 heeling in or burying in the sand in a cool cellar, or after callousing under a few 

 inches of soil outside they may be left there over winter if covered with from four 

 to five more inches of soil to prevent their drying out. Good results are obtained 

 with the least trouble by planting the cuttings in nursery rows as soon as they are 

 made. The soil should be well prepared and should be selected where water will not 

 lie. Furrows are opened three feet apart and deep enough so that the top bud, or at 

 most two buds, will be above ground. The cuttings are placed about six inches apart 

 on the smooth side of the furrows and soil thrown in and tramped well about them. 

 Where only a smaU number are to be planted a trench may be opened with a spade. 



Yield of Currants. 



The red currant is one of the most regular bearing of all fruits, and as it is 

 naturally productive the average yield should be large. Bailey, in the Horticulturist's 



