232 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



Propagation. — The Currant, like the Goose- 

 berry, may be propagated by seed, cuttings, 

 suckers, and layers; also, as we have seen in 

 particular cases, by budding and grafting. The 

 best mode, and that which is generally practised 

 for obtaining good plants of any particular 

 variety, is by cuttings. These may be taken 

 off, prepared, and planted, soon after the fruit 

 is gathered, that is, when the young shoots are 

 mature; but any time from the beginning of 

 autumn till March will do; those, however, 

 which are struck in autumn have a great ad- 

 vantage over those inserted in spring, inasmuch 

 as the young roots of the former, are prepared 

 to start early in spring, and shoots are pro- 

 duced at the same time, the cutting becoming 

 a plant; whilst in the latter case the cutting is 

 only commencing to form roots. It will there- 

 fore be readily understood that nearly a year 

 is gained by early autumn propagation over 

 that performed in spring. 



The cuttings should consist of well-ripened 

 vigorous young shoots. If taken off close to the 

 old wood so much the better. The end should 

 be cut smooth, and the buds removed as far as 

 the cutting is to be inserted in the ground. 

 The very small buds near the base of the 

 cutting are apt to be overlooked, and these 

 are most likely to produce suckers, so that care 

 should be taken to remove them completely. 



Currants ought to have a clean stem of 5 

 inches above the ground. If cuttings suffi- 

 ciently long can be obtained, 6 inches may 

 be allowed for insertion in the ground, 5 inches 

 for the stem, and 3 inches for shoots to pro- 

 ceed from, for forming the head, thus making 

 the whole length 1-1 inches. But should the 

 cutting be too short or weak, then it may 

 be cut to the length of about 9 inches, or 

 so as to leave G inches below ground and 

 about three buds immediately above the 

 surface. When prepared, the cuttings should 

 be inserted as for the Gooseberry. When 

 the shoots begin to push, three should be en- 

 couraged, if the cutting is long enough to 

 admit of these being at the proper height 

 from the ground. If the cutting is short the 

 strongest and most upright shoot ought to be 

 allowed to take the lead, and should be trained 

 as straight as possible at least to 8 inches 

 above the surface. If other shoots push they 

 ma} r be allowed to grow, as their foliage will 

 assist in forming roots; but they should be 

 kept subordinate to the one trained upright. 

 They will require to be cut off close in autumn, 

 and the upright one shortened back so that 



the third bud below the cut shall be 5 inches 

 above the ground. The plants should be fit for 

 planting out in autumn, but if not strong, they 



had better remain 

 another year. 



Insects, &c. — See 

 chapter on this sub- 

 ject. 



Red and White 

 Currants : — Bark 

 enemies — Apple Mus- 

 sel Scale. Fruit and 

 seed enemies — Birds. 

 Leaf enemies — Cur- 

 rant Aphis, Goose- 

 berry and Currant 

 Saw-fly, Green -fly, 

 Magpie Moth, V- 

 Moth. Root enemies — 

 Red-legged Garden 

 Weevil. Stem-borers 

 • — Currant Clear- 

 wing Moth, Currant 

 Shoot Moth. 



Black Currant. 



— Bud and flower 



enemies — Currant 



Gall Mite. Leaf 



enemies — Currant 



Aphis. 



Selection op 

 Varieties. 



Bla oh Naples. — Bunch- 

 es abundant ; berries 

 large. A good black- 

 fruited variety for gen- 

 eral cultivation. It 

 comes into leaf early. 



Carter s Champion. — 

 Fruit in long clusters, 

 large, black, juicy, and 

 palatable; a very prolific 

 bearer. 



Corned (fig. 1029).— An 

 exceptionally free Red, 

 remarkable for length 

 of bunch and size of 

 berry. The fruits will 

 hang on the bushes till 

 September if netted. 



Fays Prolific. — Fruit 

 large, red, and of agree- 

 able flavour; often used for dessert and for flavouring 





Fig. 1029.— Currant— Comet. 

 (Natural size.) 



Gonduin (Raby Castle). — Bunches long; berries large, 

 with a sharp acidity; ripening late and hanging well. 

 Vigorous and suitable for growing as a standard or large 

 bush. 



Houghton Seedling. — A late and most abundant cropper; 

 bunches long, berries medium, deep-red, very acid. Is 



