32 
W. F. ALLEN, SALISBURY, MARYLAND 
CURRANTS 
Soil and Cultivation. Red Currants are more particular 
in regard to soil than most other small fruits. They will 
grow in a hot sandy soil, but are never so productive as in a 
cool, moist clay loam, and no small fruit will repay liberal 
manuring better. While the vitality of the plant is great 
and it will grow in almost any soil if fertile, the moisture- 
retaining character of a clayey soil, well supplied with humus, 
will always make the crop greater and better. 
Pruning and Training. While some growers have attemp¬ 
ted to train the Currant to a single stem in tree-like form, this 
is not the best, especially as a commercial fruit. The bush 
form in which shoots are thrown up from the base is always 
the best. The pruning needed is to prevent too many shoots 
coming up from the base and crowding the bush, and cutting 
out of the old gnarly shoots that have served their purpose. 
Half a dozen thrifty shoots will make more and larger fruit 
than a crowded cluster, and the effort should be to maintain 
a supply of vigorous two-year-old shoots, and then elim¬ 
inate the stunted ones. The first season allow three good 
shoots to grow, and the next spring shorten these slightly if 
they have made a long growth, and encourage new shoots 
from below. In a dry sandy soil I have found that a good 
mulch of sifted coal ashes under the plants will retain moisture 
better than any other material. 
Red Cross Currants. Vigorous and productive 
Paid More for Inferior Plants 
The privet plants ordered from you arrived today, 
and I wish to congratulate you upon the same. I have 
in the past paid over twice as much for far inferior 
plants, and I shall take pleasure in recommending you 
to anyone whom I hear making inquiries about hedge 
plants. With best wishes.—F. D. Cock, Elizabeth 
City Co., Va., March 13, 1911. 
Cherry. Very large; deep red, rather acid; bunch is short, 
plant erect, stout, vigorous and productive. 
Fay’s Prolific. Less acid than Cherry, bunch large, berries 
medium, bright and sparkling. One of the leading red va¬ 
rieties and a remarkable cropper. 
White Grape. This is the largest and most productive of the white varieties. Flavor sweet and very 
fine for the table. 
Wilder. One of the strongest growers and most 
productive. Bunch and berry large, bright, attrac¬ 
tive red color, even when dead ripe. Hangs on 
bushes in fine condition for handling as late as 
any known variety. Ripens at same time as Fay’s 
and hangs on bush much longer; fully as prolific. 
A popular variety both for table or for market. 
Pomona. Of good size and flavor. Bright red 
and long-stemmed, hanging in fine condition long 
after ripe. Bears early and abundantly. 
Red Cross. A large and productive variety, 
and undoubtedly one of the best Currants if not 
the very best midseason variety on the market. 
The masses of fruit are so dense as to cut off the 
naked canes from view and the fruit has a mild 
and pleasant flavor. One proof of its popularity 
is that we sell more of this variety than anything 
else on our list. It is a vigorous grower and is very 
productive. 
Pleased To Do Business with Us 
Your shipment of privet arrived in good shape, 
am pleased with them. It is a pleasure to do business 
with people who are prompt as you have been in 
making shipments.—F. R. Schubert, Detroit, Mich., 
May 19, 1911. 
Wilder Currants 
One of the strongest growers 
Best He Ever Planted 
I received strawberry plants in first-class condition, 
and they were the best I ever planted. Thanks.—J. H. 
Van Reed, Berks Co., Pa. 
