28 



Rule Book, puts the average yield at 1?0 bushels per acre. Card, in his book on Bush 

 Fruits, makes it 100 to 150 bushels, with a possible yield of 320 bushels per acre. At 

 the Central Experimental Farm the Eankins' Red, the largest yielder, averaged for 

 four years at the rate of 8,107 lbs., or over 202 bushels per acre. The Red Dutch 

 averaged at the rate of 7,335 lbs. per acre, or over 183 bushels. The largest yield from 

 red currants obtained at the Central Experimental Farm was in 1900, when six bushes 

 of the Red Dutch currant yielded 73 lbs. 15 ozs. of fruit. The bushes were six by five 

 feet apart. This means a yield at the rate of 17,8&2 lbs. per acre, or at 40 lbs. per 

 bushel, 447 bushels 12 lbs. per acre. The same variety in 1905, in a new plantation 

 yielded 5&i lbs. from six bushes, or at the rate of 13,431 lbs. per acre, or 335 bushels 

 31 lbs. These are very large yields, and while half of this amount may be expected 

 in ordinary field culture, the fact that such yields can be produced on a small area 

 should be an inspiration to get more on a larger one. 



The average yield of black currants has been somewhat less than the red, although 

 individual yields have been large. The Saunders currant in an average of four years 

 yielded at the rate of 6,382 lbs. per acre, or over 159 bushels. The highest yield of 

 black currants was obtained in 1905, when six bushes of Kerry planted six by five feet 

 apart yielded 62 lbs. of fruit, or at the rate of 15,004 lbs. per acre, equal to 375 bushels, 

 estimating at 40 lbs. to the bushel. 



Diseases and Insects. 



The currant is affected by very few diseases. The only ones which do much 

 injury are the following : — 



Leaf Spot, Bust. — The Leaf Spot fungus affects black, red and white currants, 

 causing the leaves to fall prematurely, and thus weakening the bushes. This disease 

 is first noticed about midsummer, when small brownish spots appear on the leaves. 

 These often become so numerous that they affect a large part of the foliage; soon 

 it is difficult to control it if the bushes are not sprayed until after the fruit is picked, 

 except by using the ammoniacal copper carbonate a week or two before the leaf spot 

 is expected. This will not discolour the fruit, and a second application may be given 

 if necessary. As soon as the iruit is picked the bushes should be thoroughly sprayed 

 with Bordeaux mixture. Experiments have shown that this disease can be controlled 

 by spraying. 



Currant Anthracnose. — This disease which may be mistaken for the Leaf Spot 

 affects different parts of the bush, including the leaves, leaf stalks, young branches, 

 fruit and fruit stalks. On the leaves it may be evident during the month of June by 

 the small brown spots, which are usually smaller than those made by the Leaf Spot 

 fungus. The lower leaves are affected first and finally the upper ones. They turn 

 yellow and gradually fal to the ground, and when the disease is bad the bushes are 

 defoliated before their time. On the petioles or leaf stalks the disease causes slightly 

 sunken spots. The fruit is affected with roundish black spots, which are easier seen 

 when the fruit is green. On the young wood the diseased areas are light in colour 

 and are not so noticeable. 



The wood is not nearly so much injured by the disease as the leaves. The spores 

 which spread this disease are formed in pustules, the majority of which are under the 

 upper epidermis of thj leaf. Where the spores are to appear the surface of the leaf is 



