The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-05-10
ALL ABOUT CURRANTS.
The Currant as a Crop.
IT IS A NEGLECTED FRUIT.
Philadelphia Record.

that can be grown, considering the va
rious uses to which it may be applied,
and yet 1t is the most neglected of all.
Currants are grown only on limited
areas, while the strawberry may be seen
on plantations, some fields containing
over a hundred acres. In favor of the
currant bush it may be claimed that it
thrives almost everywhere, even where
the temperature reaches 80 degrees be-
low zero, and 1t requires no "lsyering"
to protect the vines, and when once
established it remains for years. It
demands no greater cost for harvesting
the fruit than raspberries, and it is sub
ject to fewer drawbacks than the rasp-
berry. 1t brings four times as much
in market as either the raspberry or
blackberry, because the supply Is linn
the demand would increase, as large
number OF buyers would become edu-
Gated to their value. There are many
who know but little of currants and
their uses, but there is an excellent Op-
portunity for those who do not believe
that there is "any money in fruit" to
give the currant their attention as
crop. Once plot is in currants there
is little to do for it the greater portion
of the year, and such crop should pay
much better than some that require
more attention from early spring to
late fall. The difficulty with those
who grow the fruit is that they obtain
crops 60 easily, and at such little cost.
that they give 1t no consideration.
Growing along some fence or out-of-the
way location, it is considered only
"catch crop" that is usually always
sure, but not worthy of marketing.
The soil best suited for currants is a
deep, rich, mellow loan, but i: will
grow almost any where IT we'll manur-
ed. The fruit is early on sandy soils,
but the crop IS not so large as on heavy
land. The currant bush is grown from
cuttings, which should be planted this
month, just as the buds begin to push
and placed six inches apart on shady
border. They should be about one
foot long, OF the preceding years wood
and cut off directly below joint. II
the bushes are to be grown in the man
ner of small trees. with one main stem,
all the eyes should be cut out but the
two top ones. They should remain un
til next year, when they will then be
large plants, and may be transplanted
to the location desired. They may be
planted either early in the spring or in
the fall after the leaves begin to drop.
The plants should be six or eight feet
apart each way, so as to allow Tor cul-
ovation. They will become thicker In
time. Or they may be placed in rows
elk to eight feet apart in each row, but
when so planted they can be cultivated
but one way with hoe after they are
large. The soil must be kept loose and
weeds and grass m ust not be allowed to-
grow among the bushes. The red vari-
eties are preferred, and selection for
novice should be made bv some seeds
man or hortlculturist, as the soil for
HN0 FOL
as for others. Ii preferred, those who
desire to save time may put out currants
in April without the necessity of begin
ming with cuttings, as nurserymen will
supply them by the hundred at moder-
ate prices. Any variety procured may
then be propagated by cuttings after
the plants are established and vel,
grown.
There are but few obstacles with cur
rants compared with some small fruits.
The borer does not damage, but yigor-
GUS bushes escape to a certain extent,
while the borer may he bept in check
by judicious pruning and burning OF
the nom producing old wood, which
should be removed. There is also some
danger from hreakage of the bushes
when they are heavily overloaded with
fruit, which often occurs, as the cur
rant worm feeds upon the leaves, but
is easily destroyed with helebore. The
green leaf hopper also does damage and
is Kept in check with pyrethrum or to-
bacco dust. The four-striped plant bug
Is also an enemy, but succumbs to kero-
sene emulsion. These enemies may not
appear as if tqere are no careless neigh
boring growers, and they entail no
more labor than would be required for
! other fruits that do not bring such
| prices in market as currents. It may
be added that at the present day grow
| SUMNER HEAT.-This is the season
for summer complaints. Green apples
and cucumbers produce them and
Perry Davis Pain-Killer cures them.
I nv III - b a