St. Landry democrat., 1886-08-28
THE CURRANT BUSH.
Points on the Cultivation of a Useful and
Exceedingly Healthy Fruit.


Exceedingly Healthy Fruit.
The patience of the currant is due
perhaps to its origin, for it grows wild
around the northern hemisphere, its chief
haunts being the dim, cold, damp woods
OF the high latitudes. You may tame,
modify and vastly change any thing
possessing life, but original traits are
scarcely ever wholly eradicated. There
fore the natural habitat and primal
qualities of the currant indicate the true
lines of development, its capabilities and
limitations. 1t is essentially a Northern
fruit, requiring GOODNESS, moisture and
alluvial soils. 1t begins to falter and
look homesck even in New Jersey, and
one does not have to 90 far down the
Atlantic coast to pass beyond the range
of its successful culture. | do not see
why it should not thrive much farther
south on the northern slopes of the
mountains From Philadelphia north
ward, however, except on light dry soils
and in sunny exposures, there is no
reason why it should not give ample re-
turns for the attention it requires.
shall not lay stress on the old, we'll
known uses to which this fruit is put.
but do think its value is but half APP
preciated People rush around in July
in search of health; let me recommend
the currant cure. If any one is lam
guild, depressed in spirits, inclined to
headaches and generally Tout of sorts"
let him finish his breakfast daily for
month with dish of freshly picked cur
rants He will soon Utmost doubt his
own identity, and may even begin to
think that he is becoming good man.
He will be more gallant to his wife, kinder
to his children, friendlier to his neighbors
and more open-handed to every good
cause. Work viii soon seem play, and
play fun. In brief, the truth of the
ancient pun will be verified that "the
power to live good life depends large
ly upon the Huer." Out upon the nom
sei.se of taking medicine and nostrums
during the currant season! Let it be
taught at theological seminaries that
the currant is a means of grace 1t
is corrective. and that is what average
humanity most needs.
The currant, like the raspberry, in
willing to keep shady, but only because
it is modest. 1t is one of the fruits that
thrive better among trees than in TOO
dry and sunny exposures. Therefore,
in economizing space on the home acre,
it may be grown among smaller trees,
or, better still, on the northern Or east
ern side of wall or hedge. But shade
is not essential except as we 60 south,
then the requisites of moisture and
shelter from the burning rays of the sun
should be complied with as far as posi-
BILE. In giving this and kindred fruits
partial shade they should not be COM
PEELED to contend to any extent with the
roots of trees. This will ever prove an
unequal contest No fruit can thrive in
dense shade T.: find sustenance among
the voracious roots of tree.
Select, therefore, if possible, heavy.
deep, moist, yet well-drained soil, and
do not fear to make and keep it very
rich. 1t you are restricted to sandy or
gravelly soils, correct their defects with
compost, decayed leaves and sods. muck,
manure from the constable and other
fertilizers with staying rather than slim
ulating qualities. Either by blowing or
forking, deepen as well as enrich the
soil. 1t is then ready for the plants,
which may be set out either in the fall
or in early spring. Iprefer the autumn
any time after the leaves have fallen-.-
but spring answers almost as well, while
the buds are dormant or partially so.
1t should be remembered that the cur
rant starts very early, and is in full
foliage before some people are fairly
wakened to garden interests. 1t would,
in this case, be better to wait until
October, unless the plants can be OBJ
tanned from neighbor on cloudy day;
then they should be cut back two-thirds
of their length before being rem owed,
and the transfer made as quickly as pos
sible. Under any circumstances take
off half of the wood from the plants
bought. This need not be thrown
away. Every cutting of young wood
six inches long will make a new plant
in single season. All that is needful
is to keep the wood moist until ready
to put it into the ground, or, better still,
cool, damp place in the garden can
be selected at once, and the cuttings
sunk two-thirds of their length into the
ground, and the soil pressed firmly
around them. By fall they will have a
good supply of roots, and by the follow
ing autumn be ready to be set out
wherever you wish them to fruit.-E.
2. Roe, IN Harper's Magazine.