862 
Currant 
The currant derived its name from the 
Greek city of Corinth, where it was first 
cultivated and became commercially im- 
portant. Many new varieties have been 
developed, chief of which is the red cur- 
rant, Rides rubrum, from which have 
grown several white varieties and many 
red varieties as well. One peculiarity 
of the currant is its tendency to varia- 
tion in color. It is not very unusual to 
find red, white and striped berries on 
the same stalk. 
There is a black species, Ribes nigrum, 
which is popular in some parts of Europe, 
but not so in America, because of its pe- 
culiar flavor, because it is a light bearer 
and is not commercially profitable. The 
principal use to which this fruit is ap- 
plied is in the making of jellies; although 
it is used fresh for the table, and in the 
making of pies. 
There is also an American black cur- 
rant, Ribes floridum, or Americanum, 
which resembles the black currant of 
Europe, but is not much esteemed. There 
is an American species of flowering cur- 
rant, Ribes aureum, but it is not culti- 
vated for its fruit, since it ripens very 
unevenly and is not of first-class quality. 
On the Pacific coast several varieties 
classed as Ribes sanguineum, are grown 
for ornament, mostly producing a red 
flower. 
The currant is native to the United 
States, and many parts of Hurope. It 
thrives best in cool, rather humid cli- 
mates; upon soil that is rich, well drained, 
and with a clay subsoil. However, it 
may be grown in hot climates, if planted 
on the north side of buildings, or where 
the plants are shaded by trees of larger 
growth; provided that the ground is suf- 
ficiently fertilized to support the larger 
trees and currants as well. 
The plant is propagated mainly by 
means of cuttings which may be plant- 
ed either in the autumn or spring; but 
if planted in the spring the planting 
should be early, as they begin to grow 
earlier than most other shrubs or trees. 
The cuttings should be made from six 
to eight inches long, cutting just below 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
the bud for the root, and just above the 
bud for the top. There is no secret 
about planting, except that there should 
be a careful preparation of soil, and the 
cuttings should be set so that at least 
two buds shall be below the surface of 
the soil, and one or two buds above the 
surface. The planting may be done with 
a spade, or a furrow may be plowed and 
the plants dropped against the perpendic- 
ular side of the furrow, and the dirt 
pressed firmly against them. Currants 
may be propagated by means of roots; 
but it is generally done by means of 
cuttings. Seeds are planted, if it is de- 
sired to originate new varieties. 
There is considerable difference of opin- 
fon about the distance of planting; some 
say the rows should be made four feet 
apart, and the plants three feet apart 
in the row. Others say the rows should 
be eight feet apart and the plants five 
feet apart in the row. If I were planting 
and the ground was so that one could use 
the square method, I would plant them 
according to that method, five feet apart 
each way, then cultivate both ways. By 
this means, I think labor could be saved 
and better fruit produced. In adopting 
this method, there would be a waste of 
land for the first and second years of 
growth, but if so desired some other crop 
could be grown between the rows until 
the currants needed the soil and space. 
Cultivation should be shallow, as the 
roots are fine and grow near the sur- 
face of the soil. 
Pruning is a simple process, although 
it is impossible to reach good results if 
it is neglected. It should be remember- 
ed that the fruit is borne on both the 
old and the new wood, most of it near the 
base of the one-year-old shoots. Conse- 
quently most of the wood more than one 
year old might be cut out and still a 
crop be produced, or most of the new 
wood might be pruned off and a crop re- 
sult; but the new wood bears the strong: 
er, better fruit, so it is better to sacrifice 
the old stalks. Card says: “For field cul- 
ture, four to eight main stems are allow- 
ed, and these should be frequently re- 
newed.” It is my judgment that wood 
