The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-10
Currant Culture.

j. E. w. of Shelburne, Vt, and others,
have written requesting us to give some
directions in regard to growing the cur
rant for market. We cannot, perhaps, do
better than to reprint here The substance
of an article on the subject recently con.
tributed by us to the Mirror and Farmer;
1 will begin by brief directions for
the propagation and culture of the cur
rant. 1t is better to grow the plants from
cuttings than to divide old bushes which
have lost their early vigor. These cut
tings should be made about ten inches
long, from new wood of the current years
growth. Make a trench in the garden
with the spade, throwing out the soil so
as to leave one side firm and sloping.
Then along this side lay your cuttings,
three or four inches apart, with the tops
so that when the earth is replaced two or
three buds will be above ground. Then
fill in, firmly stamping the earth while the
filling is in progress. This frming, es-
pecially at the bottom of the cuttings, is
essential to success. 1t is best to do this
planting as soon after the leaves have
fallen in autumn as possible, in order that
some degree of roofing may take place
before winter sets in. If the soil is of
such nature as to "heave" by freezing
and thawing, the row of cuttings should
be covered by mulch of some kind of
light litter or strawy manure, to prevent
this. The next fall most of them will be
large enough to transplant, if the soil was
good, though some leave them two years.
Transplant to the permanent rows as soon
as most of the leaves have dropped, so
that the young bushes may take hold Of
the ground before hard freezes. The
richer the soil the better. The distance
apart should be five or six feet. The
second year after planting there will be
small crop, which will rapidly increase
until the sixth year, when the bushes will
be at their best. Judicious pruning, by
taking out the oldest and weakest shoots,
will keep the plantation thrifty for ten or
twelve years. They must be kept free
from weeds, and MANFRED frequently, and
it is great benefit to keep them mulched
with straw, which keeps the roots moist
and the fruit clean. 1t is sometimes ad-
vised to grow the currsnt in tree form,
and this gives them a very neat look. But,
unfortunately, the currant-borer makes
frequent attacks, and where there is but q
single stem he kills the bush.
As regards varieties, the Red Dutch is by
far the most productive sort, and, when
properly grown, is large enough. Extreme
size is chiefly desirable as matter of looks
This can be had by planting the Versailles
or cherry.currants-pretty much the same
thing, but they are poor bearers, except
upon strong, rich soil, and utterly value
less on dry, sandy land. A new large
variety, Fay's Prolific, that promises tc
be productive, has lately been introduced
but the plants are yet costly. The Vic
toria is recommended as late currant, bu
/ have not found it much later than the
Dutch. The best white currant is tn,
White Grape, which is as large and pro
ductive as the Red Dutch. The bes
black is probably the Black Naples
but there is little call for black sor
in this country, although it is grea
favorite with the English.
And now for the worms. The eggs ar
laid by a fly much like house fly, bu
called by naturalists "saw.hy." TIL
eggs are laid, in May, on the lower side o
the lower leaves, along the ribs of eacl
leaf. They are white and look like yer
short snippings of white thread. Loo
for them before the currants are in bloom
and you will always find them. The
hatch quickly, and for nearly week tn
young ones remain on the same leaf, ea
ing holes in it, but not separating. 70