Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-03-04

The CULTIVATION OF CURRANTS.-A
correspondent of the Americau Aqri-
cuiturist says:
We were not aware, until recent visit
to Gree's Farms in Connecticut. that the
cultivation of the currant filled so large a
place among the small fruits Here it
is made Il speciality by several of the fruit
growers, and is found to pay better than
any other of the small fruits. The varieties
relied upon for the main crop are the
Versailles and the Cherry The plants
are grown from cuttings. These are taken
from the present years growth, cut into
pieces six inches long and planted in drills
about 10 inches apart and four inches
apart in the drill. The soil is made rich,
kept clean by frequent cultiva ion, and
these cuttings make strong root, and
throw up a stem from one to two feet
high the first season. A part of the profit
of the business lies in the sales of cuttings
and bushes, which are sold at whole
sale, the cuttings at So per NJ. and the
plants at $50 per NJ. In making a plan
tatiOn the young plants are set in rows
five feet apart and four feet in the row.
The plants are set in rich soil, and kept
clean by frequent cultivation through the
entire season. They are allowed to throw
out side-shoots and to grow in the bush
form. They receive no trimming except
the annual cutting back for the supply of
wood for the market Some of the plan
tatiOns are made in the pear orchard. in
line with the trees and in rows between,
and where the ground is rich enough they
bear quite abundantly in the shade. 4
small crop is Looked for the third year. A
fnll from tn t1xr< -,
acre, which brings three or four hundred
dollars according to the state of the market.
The demand for the wood and plants
among nurserymen is so lively, that these
pay quite as we'll us the fruit. The chief
enemies are the currant-worm and the
borer. The worm is easily DESTROYED bv
the timely application of white hellebore
No time is lost in using this remedy when
the enemy makes its appearance. Carbolic
soap Is also used with good results, and is
a much cheaper remedy. About a pound
is dissolved in five gallons of water, and
the liquid is applied by Il portable force
pump. Every worm is destroyed that the
liquid touches. The shoots in which the
borer makes his first appearance are i'm
mediately cut away, and these remedies
keep the plants remarkably clean and
thrifty. The sales from three acres on one
of the fruit farms was five and a half tons.
at an average price of three and hall
cents a pound, net, OF S1375. They are
packed III nice fruit boxes and sent to New
York and Boston markets The fertilizers
mostly relied upon after the thorough prep
aration of the soil are oone-dust, super.
phosphate of lime, and leached ashes
These are not applied in very large guam
titles. Much dependence is placed upor
thorough cultivation and the timely appli
cation of remedies for insects Some ,o
these plantations have been in bearing
ten years, and apparently in as good condi
ton as ever.
BY the removal of old wood and the ap
plication of fertilizers they may be indeii
nttely continued. 1t is found to be yer,
much less trouble to take care of currant:
than strawberries; they are more easily
picked. reach market in good condition
and keep better. The demand for them i.
r1pidly increasing 1t is a popular crol
with the growers and the sugar dealers.