Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-04-13
Culture OF CURRANTS.
From the Country Gentleman.

,,se the quaint phrase of our facetlOus friend
Brooks of Wyoming county, which will
:. stand grief better. Planted under the
fence of a neglected and weedy garden, or
onveloped in tall grass, and never pruned.
o,,rrant bushes still continue to afford yearly
crons But these crops are very puny fruit
-such as they are, however, they are better
+bon the owners deserve, who ought to be
willing to devote to them small share OF the
cultivation which other crops receive. For
no fruit is more improved under right man
agement than the currant. We have known
the berries to be increased at least ten to
twelve times in size, by pruning, manuring,
ond cultivation. Those new varieties,
the Cherry currant, which grows fve-eighths
of an inch in diameter, and the White Grape,
which is often an inch in diameter, when
both are fairly treated, often greatly disap-
noint purchasers, who totally neglect them,
when they become but little larger than other
sorts.
The currant is propagated by cuttings. a
one-vear's shoot is taken, seven or eight
inches long, cutting it off close to the old
wood. and set about tw0-thIrds of its length
in the earth, which is closely packed about
IT, As roots are apt to be thrown out at each
bud. all the lower ones are taken off. twill
make a good well-roOted plant by autumn
Scarce varieties may be lAyered at mId-sum-
mer. if growing rapidly, and will root the
same season.
The bushes will grow IN any good soil. 1t
should he kept rich with frequent manurIng.
The ground must be kept clean and mellow,
the same as for cabbage or hill Of potatoes.
The best way. both for facilitating cultiva-
ton. and for ueatneSs of appearance, Is to
allow u single stem to grow at the surface OF
the ground. the branche, spreading out into
a regular head few inches up. These
branches should be kept thin by pruning, or
at regular distances, SO as to admit air and
sun To the leaves and branches in every part.
If the growth Is allowed to become dense and
thickly shaded. the fruit will be smaller. Of
inferior flavor, and less in quantity. As the
branches become old. obey should be cut out,
and new and vigorous ones, which have been
allowed to grow for this purpose, take their
pIace-sOmewhat similar u the renewal
pruning of the grape-but with this excep-
ton, that while the grape bears on the
present year ; wood from last year 8 shoots,
the currant bears on shoots one year or more
older; hence the renewal should not
be so frequent Some skill must be ex-
ercised when shoots are LETT for new branches,
to leave them on the lower parts of the bush,
in such position as to fill up regularly the
future vacancies.
Bushes preserved, as here described, in the
tree form. or with but single stem at bot
tom, lose their vigor in a few years, and
should be replaced by new plants, which will
give larger fruit But if allowed to grow in
the bush form with several stems springing
f..,r > Ho hon no
thinned out and pruned at the surface in
such u manner as to afford continued succ
ession of new branches with roots, to take
the place of the older portions as they are
successfully cut out. This, therefore, al
though not so perfect a mode as the tree
form, is we'll adapted to ordinary culture,
where it may prove incOnvenient to make
new paintings frequently. But successive
pruning and good and enriching cultivation
are especially necessary
The intelligence from the Rio Grande is
that fighting was still going on between Cor
tinaS and the American forces.
On the night of the 10th, the officers in
command of the American forces, having
previously received official information from
the officer in command at Matamoras. that
COrtinas was at the Rancho dc la Mesa with
a considerable force, crossed over and march
ed towards that rancho. When they had
arrived within half a mile. they surprised
a picket guard, who Immediately gave the
alarm.
Several shots We're exchanged and two per
sons wounded.
When our forces were at breakfast, very
near the rancho, a body Of about one hun
bred and fifty Mexicans, horse and foot, made
their appearance and desired a conference,
which being granted, they stated that they
were Mexican National Guards and IN search
of Cortinas, but could give no information
respecting his wher abOuts and that the par
" surprised was a part Of their own force,
guarding their baggage.
Although they denied all knowledge Of
COrtInas' whereabouts, the women and boy
at the rancho, assert that he was there when
the alarm was given and our officers are con-
WINGED that their statements are true, and
believe that he escaped when the alarm was
first given.
Our forces are encamped on the other side,
about thirty-fye miles above this city, and
intend to remain in Mexico till tuey take
Cortinas, or are ordered back.
The statements of the Mexicans agree in
the main with those of our own forces They
state that they were ordered to cooperate
with the Americans, and were in pursuit of
Cortinas, but that our troops, by taking a
different road, unfortunately fell in with
their baggage guard.
Although we have every reason to believe
that the government Of Tamaulipas Is anx-
ious to be rid Of Cortinas, we have no idea
that they can compel the soldlery to fight
him.