The Republican journal., 1869-04-22
THE CURR ANT.

cost, will pay a family SO well to cultivate as
this old friend. 1t is a native of the north Of
Europe; hence its hardness. Corinh, Greece,
produces small grape or raisin which, in the
dried state, are sold by our grocers under the
name of cHyUatS-being a corruption Of the
word C0rjnth. Our berry, much resembling
this takes its name, currant.
Nothing is easier of, and more benefited by,
cultivation; but as generally left to struggle
aong, it amounts to but little.
1t has two modes of cutivaton-the tree or
single stalk FORM and the bush Of .lany stalks !;
and from good trials with both, we think the
Advantages about equal.
The single stalk is made by cutting out all
The eyes or buds which go below ground; for
II is these underground buds which make all
Ine suckers or sprouts that come up. so
take strong last years sprout, cut out all the
buds from the lower end for six inches, and
stick that end three four inches into the
ground, and it can never grow into ything
but a single stalk bush. The advantages OF
this form are, there being no sackers to ex-
haust the nourishmcnt, it will bear more and
better fruit, and ahOrding cleaner cultivation,
icing able to hoe around it as around stake; ;
while. in the bush form, grass and weeds defy
all labor. If in the full flush of its fruit, any
desire TO see n greater show than horse-race
or al elephant, they will hnd it in the garden
of our neighb0r, MIR =. |. Beals, Scarsport, -
in the shape Of 4 single stalk currant bush, -
The stalk four inches in diameter; the top coy
-ring surface of 80 square feet, and produc-
, rtn .Ix lf lug rrio
form has one disadv antage, the currant being
short lived, dying in abont ten years, their fire.
lnent renewal must be PROV ided for, though
This is very little trouble, as above shown.
The bush form, the one almost universally
cultivated, rcnews itself too much, and so is
nearly worthless through lacl. of pruning The
most productive stalks are those three or four
years old. Hence the proper pruning is this :
In the fall, or, if then neglected, early in the
spring as possible, cut out all the old looking
wood, leaving to each hill three or four strong
healthy looking stalks, Older than last years
growth; for this does not bear till the third
year,-a from last years shoots, or suckers
cut out all the small, feeble ones leaving three
or four OF the largest and best to each HILL in
this way always giving only young and good
bearers, and providing Il sufficient number of
new ones to take their places. When the bear
ing stalks arc tall and spindlng, cut off three
or four inches of the tops, to throw the sap
into the lower branches where the largest and
best fruit grows.
Whichever method is adopted, good clean
cultivation is necessary the gronnd well stirred
we'd early in the spring; a fair supply of old
7arn-dressing, in stiff sod chip manure IS ex~
oeleut- although tle warm soap-suds old
Brine, s., viii do good service. As the cur
rant loves cool and moist conditions, mulching
the ground under the bushes with sawdust,
heap hay or straw, adds greatly to the guam
atty aud quality Of the fruit.
There is great choice in the tii4dS Most
people raise only the old fashioned little reds;
bnt this bears about the same relation to the
better kinds As the wild cherry of the woods
does to the luscious garden ones There are
many fancy and so dearer sorts, but the Red
and White Dutch varieties are good enough
the latter especially are twice as sweet as the
red, nearly as large and as good small
grapes hardy and great bearers. II You can
not get them hereabouts, send to J. T. Wells
liawey St, Boston, Mass, who will send
yo0 the Red Dutch, ~ cts. each; 1925 a doz-
en-White Dutch II cts. each 81 80 q dozen.
Half dozen bushes would supply whole
neighborhood in few years. SO rapidly do they
multiply Mr.. Beals' large bush above spoken
OF, is the Red Dutch, aud is the best kind for
iellies and wine making; but for table use, and
tor eating purposes, give us the White Dutch.