Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-04-20
agricultural



No fruit will more certainly grow under
adverse treatment than the currant--or TO use
the quaint phrase of our iacctous friend
Brooks of Wyoming county, which will
"stand grief better. Planted under the
fence of a neglected and wcedy garden. or
enycloped in tall grass, and never pruned,
currant bushes still continue TO afford yearly
crops. But these crops are very puny fruit
such as they are, however they are better
than the owners deserve, who ought 20 be
willing to devote TO them small share Oft
cultivation which other crops receive. For
no fruit is porc improved under right man
agcment than the curraut. We have known
the berries to be increased at least ten {,
twelve times in size by pruning, manuring,
and cultivation. Those new varieties,
the Cherry currant, which grows fve-cighths
Of an inch in diameter, and the White Grape,
which is often an inch in diameter, when both
are fairly treated. often greatly dsappoiut
purchasers, who totally negle t Them when
they become but little larger than other
sorts.
The currant is propagated by cuttings A
one-ycars shoot is taken, seven or eight in
ches long, cutting it off close to the old
wood and set about two-thirds Of its length
in the earth, which is closely packed about it.
As roots arc apt to be thrown out at each
bud, all the lower ones are taken Off 1t
will make a good well rooted plant by au-
tumn. Scarce varieties may be layered at
midsummer if growing rapidly, and will root
the same season.
The bushes will grow in any good soil 1t
should be kept rich with frequent manurng.
The ground must be kept clean and mellow,
the same as for cabbage or hill Of potatoes
The best way, both for facilitating cultivation
and for neatness Of appearance. is to allow a
single stem to grow at the surface of the
ground, the branches spreading out into a
regular head few inches up. These branch
es should be kept thin by pruning, or at reg
ular distances so as to admit air and sun to
the leaves and branches in every part. fthe
growth is allowed to become dense and thick
ly shaded, the fruit will be smaller, of mferi-
or flavor, and les in quantity. As the
branches become old they should be cut out
and new and vigorous ones, which have been
allowed to grow for this purpose. take their
place--somewh hat similar 10 theronewal prun-
ing Of the grapc-but with this exception.
that while the grape bears ON the present
year wood from last years shoots, the cur
lhhi u'hla ON Nupots ono wear or more older.
hence the renewal should not be SO frequent.
Some skill must be exercised when shoots are
left for new branches to leave them ON the
lower parts Of the bush, in such position as
to ill up regularly the future yacancics
Bushes preserved, as here described. in the
tree form, or with but single stem at bottom.
lose their yigor in few years, and should be
replaced by new plants which will give larger
fruit But allowed TO grow in the bush form
with several stems springing up from the eartl
together, they may be thiuned ont and prunet
at the surface in such a manner as to afford ,
continued succession of new branches will
roots, to take the place of the older portion,
as they are Excessively cut out. This, there
fore, although not so rcrfect a mode as tn,
/ tree form, is well adapted to ordinary culture
where 1t may prove announcement to make new
/ paintings frequently. But successive prun
/ ing and good and enriching cultivation ar,
especially necessary.