The Currant. 395 
seem to be a fair conclusion that even in the most moist regions 
our summer air is too dry to suit the plant. 
THE CURRANT. 
The currant reaches perfection in size and quality in parts 
of California adapted to its growth, but its area is comparatively 
small. The plant does not thrive in the dry, heated air of the 
interior either at the north or south. It does well near the 
coast, especially in the upper half of the State, and is grown 
for market chiefly, on lands adjacent to and on the east side of 
the bay of San Francisco. The comparatively cool and moist 
air of the ocean favors it, but e¢ven here the sunburn, which is. 
the bane of its existence in the interior valleys, occasionally in- 
jures the fruit. Away from the coast, currants are grown to a 
limited extent along the Sacramento ana San Joaquin Rivers, 
near their confluence, but not in the hot valleys whence they 
flow. On the foot-hills, too, where the plant has a northerly 
slope, or other cooling influence, and sufficiently moist soil, it 
will do moderately well. It is quite possible that the currant 
may be satisfactorily grown for home use, or for local market 
in parts of the State where at present one does not find it, pro- 
viding the moderating ¢ffect of elevation and northerly ex- 
posure, coupled with the shade of trees, be secured, but even 
then the hot north wind of the early summer may often injure 
the fruit. So far as the metropolitan market is concerned, it 
does not matter that the currant area is limited, for existing 
plantations produce all, and sometimes more, than can be 
profitably disposed of at present. 
Propagation.—The currant is readily grown from cuttings. 
As soon as the bush drops its leaves, and the. ground is in cor- 
dition, as to moisture, secure the cuttings a foot in length from 
straight wood of the last growth, and place them in nursery or 
in permanent place, in good sandy or garden loam, spaded and 
broken up to a depth of eighteen inches. Set the cutting firmly 
in the earth, six or seven inches deep. If they are to be trained 
as small trees, every bud below where the lowest limb is to start 
should be cut out—even to the end of the cutting underground 
—otherwise they will be continually throwing up suckers. If 
they are to grow as bushes, the natural and more productive 
form of the currant, set then: as they are taken from the parent 
bush. 
Planting and Care.—-Currants are usually grown in rows 
about five or six feet apart, the plants standing two and a half 
or three feet apart in the rows. Most of the currant plantations 
are between orchard rows, the partial shade of the trees being 
considered desirable. It is claimed that currants do best when 
