822 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
December 14 
desired market quality, or were not productive. My 
favorite varieties are Prince Albert, Victoria, Presi¬ 
dent Wilder and White Imperial. Of all the small 
fruits that are grown, none is more healthful for 
family use than the currant; but the extreme acidity 
which is so marked in many varieties, has prevented 
its becoming a relished fruit in many families. Hence 
my desire and aim has been to supply the markets 
with sorts sweet enough to make them favorites upon 
every table, as well as those having the quality of 
keeping in perfect condition upon the bushes for the 
longest possible period after they are fully ripe. 
“The demand for white currants, except for table 
use, is very limited, and for this purpose the superi¬ 
ority of the White Imperial, on account of its rich¬ 
ness and sweetness, is unequaled by that of any other 
currant I have ever seen. The President Wilder, as a 
red currant, possesses the same characteristics as the 
White Imperial, while it excels all others that I have 
ever grown in point of productiveness and keeping in 
fine condition on the bush after being thoroughly ma¬ 
tured. I believe these two varieties to be better 
a good corn crop or any other fruit crop, and they'can 
be sold to the best advantage in almost any of our city 
markets, or, where accessible, to canning factories.” 
“ What is the best way to set and feed currants ? ” 
“If it were possible, I would always set them out 
upon land that has been plowed very deeply, and 
heavily fertilized with well-rotted barnyard manure, 
in rows about six feet apart with the plants about 
five feet apart in the row. As the plants begin to 
fruit, feed them with liberal applications of bone 
meal and potash in some form. My choice would be, 
as in feeding other trees, the use of unleached, hard¬ 
wood ashes, provided I could obtain them. I think 
that the best results are generally obtained by judi¬ 
cious pruning in the same manner that I would prune 
trees ; in short, my method of pruning embodies the 
cutting in annually more or less]of«the previous year’s 
growth, at the same time thinning out any surplus 
wood not required for the production of fruit. 
“The much-hated currant-worm is the only pest 
that has annoyed us to any extent in the production 
of this fruit. Watchfulness in the spring, with a 
sorghum on conn for new England. 
Which Gives More ' Pounds Per Acre ? 
THE QUESTIONS. 
1. Can more pounds of sorghum be grown on an acre than of 
corn—cultivation and fertility being the same? 2. Can it he suc¬ 
cessfully cured for winter use? 3. Is there any''danger' in- feed¬ 
ing it to stock, green 'Or.dry?^4. How and when should it he 
sown ? 
THE ANSWERS. 
Of Great Value for Soiling. 
1. Sorghum is one of the best and most nutritious 
soiling crops with which I am acquainted. The yield 
per acre is considerably greater than that of corn 
raised under similar conditions, and sheep, horses, 
cattle and swine eat it greedily and thrive-perfectly 
under its use, whether the plant be used green or 
dry. 2. It would be difficult to cure sorghum so that 
it could be stored safely in stacks or mows ; but if 
tied in small bundles, and set up like shocks of corn, 
it will keep nicely, and may be fed, successfully-nil 
winter. 3. I have fed tons of sorghum in all stages 
IN A BEARING PLUM ORCHARD; HARVESTING THE CROP Fig. 2(30. 
adapted for family use than any others which have 
yet been introduced. 
The Prince Albert, while inferior as a table currant, 
will produce a greater amount of fine, translucent 
jelly from a pound of fruit than any other that I have 
ever tested for this purpose ; while at the same time 
the fruit will stand transportation for a longer dis¬ 
tance in perfect condition than any other variety that 
I have attempted to market. We have shipped it 
to Cincinnati and Chicago, where it has opened in as 
fresh and fine condition as if just taken from the 
bushes. The Victoria is an abundant producer ; in¬ 
deed, one of the best in this respect, and as it makes 
wood rapidly, every plant at an early age has a sur¬ 
face on which is frequently spread a large amount of 
fruit. It also ripens a little later than some of the 
large varieties, hence I regard it as one of the valua¬ 
ble sorts for market purposes. 
“Aside from the fact that the farmers’ tables should 
always be found provided with the choicest of all 
fruits, it is my opinion that, where conveniently 
located for shipping, and with facilities for handling, 
a few acres of currants can often be raised with a 
much greater profit than many acres of the cereals. 
They may be grown upon any land that will grow 
liberal application of hellebore or Paris-green, in a 
water solution, applied through the force pump, soon 
disposes of this enemy. I prefer the use of hellebore; 
it seems to me safer than Paris-green. Of all the 
small fruits grown, I know of none that should com¬ 
mend itself so strongly to the attention of every 
farmer’s family as the currant; none that will thrive 
with so little care and give such ample returns in the 
neglected condition in which it is so often found, as 
this our favorite of all the small fruits.” 
For Chapman’s Consideration. —Could C. E. Chap¬ 
man furnish team, man and tools, and fit the ground, 
manipulate the fertilizer, furnishing and paying for 
the same and the seed, doing all the labor in his 
schedule at the prices named, and feel that he was 
well paid ? If the man was hired for the winter, or 
a month even, would Mr. Chapman be willing to let 
him work for a neighbor at an average price per 
day ? At prices named for other work on the potatoes, 
it seems that the digging is quite out of proportion, 
as it seems to have been done with a new machine. 
Could not that §13 hired man and cheap team have 
dug an acre for the §1.50, instead of the apparently 
exorbitant price of §7, as stated ? r. 
of growth during a period of from eight to ten 3 - ears, 
and I have never had an animal injured by its use. 
4. Cane seed should be planted like corn, and at about 
the same time. It may be planted in either hills or 
drills, but the seed must be covered lightly, or it will 
not germinate ; an inch below the surface is quite 
deep enough. The 3 T oung plant is very slender, look¬ 
ing like a blade of grass, and its early cultivation 
must be done very carefully. It soon starts into vig¬ 
orous growth, however, and, after a few weeks, shades 
the ground so effectually that weeds have no chance. 
If the cane gets an early start, it may be cut in 
August for soiling and, with sufficient rain, it will 
make a good second growth before frost. While I 
was engaged in the manufacture of sorghum molasses, 
I made this experiment, and the second-growth cane 
yielded a juice which tested six degrees of sugar by 
the saccharometer. When one remembers that it is 
a remarkably rich cane which tests more than 12 
per cent of sugar, this second-growth crop made a 
good showing. 
During the early years of my experience in the 
cane business, I pressed no cane from which the leaves 
had not been stripped ; but later I pressed the plant 
as it grew, except when the seed was large, when the 
