THE CTTKRAl^T. 



265 



form round the stem of each plant a basin, to be mnlched, 

 or manured, or watered, as may become necessary. When 

 a root has extended too far from the stem it is uncovered, 

 and all the strongest leaders are shortened back nearly 

 oiie-half of their length, and covered with fresh marly loam, 

 wel"! manured.. The effect of this pruning is to increase 

 •the number of fibres and spongioles, which form rapidly 

 on the shoi-tened roots, and strike out in all directions 

 among the fre&h, newly stirred loam, in search of nutri- 

 ment. 



They also practise what they term suckling their prize 

 fruit. By preparing a veYy rich soil, and by watering, 

 and the use of liquid manure, shading and thinning, the 

 large fruit of the prize cultivator is produced. Not con- 

 tent with watering at root, and ovei the top, the Lanca- 

 shire connoisseur, when he is growing for exhibition, 

 places a small saucer of water immediately under each 

 go<^seberry, only three or four of which he leaves on a 

 tree; this he technically calls suckling. He also pinches 

 off a great part of the young wood, so as to throw all the 

 strength he can into the fruit. 

 • 



Section 12. — Pkuning aot) Managemei^t of the 

 Ctjkeant. 



The red and white currants bear like the gooseberry on 

 wood not less than two years old, and, therefore, the same 

 system of pruning may be applied to them. The most 

 convenient and easily-managed form in w^hich they can 

 be grown, is that of a bush or small tree, with a stem of 

 tiiree to six inches high, and a head composed of a cer- 

 tain number, say six or eight principal branches, situated 

 at equal distances, and not nearer to one another at the 

 extremities than six or eight inches. 



These branches are produced by cutting back the 



