GARDENING FoR ALL. 95 
A well-shaped currant bush will 
have seven to nine branches. These 
will be of nearly equal strength 
and length, and will radiate from 
the main stem at about six inches 
trom the soil, and equal distances 
apart from each other. The side 
shoots will not be allowed to become 
of undue length, but will be cut 
back to within half-an-inch or an 
inch of the main branch, to form 
compact fruit-spurs,as shown. This 
severe pruning will be carried out 
each winter, and the operation will 
be as rapid as it is simple. 
Summer - pruning is of great 
benefit to currants. This is a very 
simple process also, and merely con- 
sists of cutting. the side shoots back 
to three or four leaves at the begin- 
ning of July, which admits the 
summer wind and sun with their 
fructifying influences, converting A branch of a Red 
useless and sappy wood into fruitful Ss Tree unpruned. 
he cross-bars indicate the 
wood, (See figure of summer-pruned ees aghers vile nde 
shoot). When the trees are man- shoots should be cut off. 
aged in this way in regard to 
summer and winter pruning, and kept well nourished, the 
branches are annually clothed in dense masses of fruit. 
Few plants are more easily managed than red or white 
currants, and the former yield an average of about £40 per 
acre under good management. 
BLACK CURRANTS. 
The black currant is a general favourite, and we are not 
likely to suffer from an over-production of it at present. 
Really good crops have brought to their owner as much 
as £90 per acre, but these crops are above the average; £60 
is the average value per acre. Plentiful as they have been 
some years, they have sold at one and tenpence per dozen 
