ON FRUIT CULTURE. 



995 



Black Currants. — Taking the Black Currant first, the ideal soil 

 for this is one that is deep, rich, moist, and with sufficient 

 drainage to take away all surplus moisture. Other soils,. however, 

 will produce very good crops of fine fruit by a little judicious 

 management of the soil and situation. For instance, in a garden 

 where the soil is naturally hot and dry, owing to its light or 

 sandy character, the Black Currant plantation should be in the 

 coolest part of the garden, and if somewhat shaded the better, 

 giving a mulch of strawy manure every year early in May ; this 

 will keep the soil moist and cool during the dry summer months, 

 and will assist in swelling the fruit to a large size. If planted 

 on very light soils in the full blaze of the sun Black Currants 

 are almost certain to fail. On heavier soil, which is of a much 

 cooler nature, it is not necessary to select a low or shady position, 

 as they will then succeed in almost any position, and may 

 be planted wherever convenient. However, before planting the 

 soil should be thoroughly cleansed of all noxious weeds, especially 

 Convolvulus and Couch Grass. The first cost of doing this may 

 be rather heavy, but it is the most economical method, for if 

 these tiresome weeds once get established amongst the roots of 

 the trees they can only be cleared therefrom by lifting and 

 thoroughly cleaning both the roots and the surrounding soil. 

 Another point of really great importance is the purchasing of 

 plants from a nurseryman who will guarantee his stock free from 

 that terrible pest — the Black Currant Mite. Thousands of trees 

 are annually ruined by this creature, and proper precautions 

 should be exercised that it is not introduced with newly-purchased 

 trees. 



As with all other fruit-trees, planting, if possible, is advisable 

 at the end of October or early in November, the distance being 

 6ft. apart each way. Digging amongst the bushes is done in 

 most gardens during the winter, but the system is not one to be 

 recommended, as the Black Currant roots freely on the surface, 

 and to dig amongst the bushes means cutting through the best 

 fibrous roots. The difficulty of keeping weeds down will be 

 comparatively easy by means of frequent hoeings in dry weather, 

 and the loose surface soil following these repeated hoeings will 

 conserve moisture, admit air, and prove highly beneficial to the 

 health of the trees. 



The pruning of Black Currants differs from that of the other 

 kinds by reason of no spurs being made, but a good supply of 

 strong, young wood annually retained, which is not cut back at 

 all. In brief, the object is to encourage young wood from the 

 lower part of the bush every year, and to cut out a corresponding 

 amount of old wood without reducing the size of the bush. 

 The pruning may be done at any time after the fruit is all 

 picked, as it does not signify whether the trees have lost all 

 their foliage or otherwise. All prunings ought to be burnt as 



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