Fruit-growing in Kent. 
of them, and do infinite mischief in plantations near woods. 
Bullfinches are especially troublesome in this respect, so much 
so, that fruit-growers set a price of 2d. each upon their heads, 
lied worsted is often put over the bushes to frighten the birds 
away. 
Currants. — Red, white, and black currants are grown in great 
quantities in Mid and West Kent, and to some extent in East 
Kent. Black currants have been lately planted to a consider- 
able extent in the Weald of Kent, Currants are usually grown 
under fruit-trees : they are, however, occasionally put by them- 
selves. 
The red currant is indigenous in this country according to 
Phillips.* There are not many sorts of it. Dr. Hogg mentions 
only five or six. The Dutch, Raby Castle, and the Scotch, — 
which is by far the best, though it is not mentioned by Dr. Hogg, 
— are generally planted in Kent. This fruit is not so profitable 
as the gooseberry. The bushes are raised from cuttings, and 
are cultivated in the same way as gooseberry-bushes, only that 
in pruning them nearly all the growing wood is cut away, the 
fruit-buds coming on small shoots or " snags" thrown out each 
year from the older wood. The inside of the bush is therefore 
kept cleared well out to allow air and light to get to the bunches 
on the inner side of the fruit-bearing branches. Red currants 
are in great demand for bottling, for jam, and for currant jelly ; 
they are packed in sieves weighing 48 lbs., and make from 2d. to 
2^d. per lb. 
White currants are not much grown. They ripen well under 
even the darkest shade of standards. They are only used for 
dessert purposes. 
The black currant is a most profitable fruit when the bushes 
are planted upon suitable soil. It is very much grown upon 
heavy, sticky land, which can hardly be too wet. The bushes are 
raised from cuttings, and their growth is very rapid. Pruners 
cut away the greater part of the old wood, as the fruit comes best 
and largest on young wood. No wood is left over two years old. 
The wood does not grow from a stem, as in the case of other 
currant and gooseberry bushes, but from a " stub " or stock close 
to the ground, like the Ribes in shrubberies. Only two sorts 
are grown — the Black Naples and the old Black. This fruit 
always sells well for jam, jelly, and lozenge-making. About 
3d. per lb. is the average price of it in London. An average 
crop of black currants would be at the rate of 3000 lbs. per acre, 
though as much as 6000 lbs. has been grown per acre upon land 
planted with these bushes alone. 
* Op. cit, p. 130. 
