By Layers

The young branches being laid in autumn, winter, or spring, will readily strike root, and next autumn be fit to transplant.

In the general propagation of these shrubs we would observe, that as they naturally throw out many suckers from the root, so as often to become troublesome, it is proper, previous to planting the cuttings and suckers, etc., to rub off close all the buds or prominent eyes from the lower part, as far as they are to be put into the ground, which will in some measure diminish their tendency in the production of suckers; likewise, when transplanting the young plants, if they discover any tendency to the production of suckers, let all such parts be also carefully rubbed off close. - Abercrombie.

Grafting

An anonymous writer in the Gardener's Chronicle observes, that "standard currants have a pretty appearance, and this is increased if they are grafted with opposite colours, such as black and white, and red, or red and white. Allow the stock to reach four feet in height, then let it be stopped so as to make a bushy compact head.

"For standards or espaliers, train either horizontally or by the fan method, about six shoots or more, according to the space you wish to cover on either side, leaving one for the centre to be grafted. Train the same number of shoots of the worked variety. Each leading shoot, if kept and spurred in, will bear abundantly, and the fruit will also be of finer quality, and of a sweeter flavour, by being fully exposed to the sun and air, which is better attained by this method than if the plants were grown in the usual way.

Training As Espaliers

Mr. Snow, gardener at Swinton Gardens, for this purpose gives the following directions: "Procure stakes four feet in length, and three or three and a half inches in circumference. To these, disposed after this manner, XXXXX, train the trees in the fan method, and tie the shoots to the stakes with matting. Independent of being secure from the wind, there are other advantages to be gained by this mode of training; the space taken up is less, the pruning is more easily performed, and the whole surface is regularly exposed to the action of the sun and air. The wood is also equally and properly ripened, and better crops of well-flavoured fruit ensue.

"By this means the late kinds are likewise much more easily and more securely protected from the depredation of birds and wasps, and from injury by frost or wet.

"A single mat thrown over the bushes is sufficient to preserve the fruit until Christmas, or later. And moreover, by this system the trees in matting up arc not disfigured or crushed, the wet is more effectually kept off, as it does not fall on the mat and soak through to the fruit; but from no flat surface being presented the rain runs off the mat as it falls; the fruit is kept perfectly dry, and there is little or no injury done to the mat. The stakes never want renewing, as the bushes, when once in a regular shape, support themselves." - Gard. Chron.

After-Culture

"Never allow the branches to be too crowded, or to interfere with one another. The shoots which spring up in the centre are to be cut away very close, as well as the small shoots on the main branches, leaving only the external one, which must be shortened for about a third of its length. If this is done, the bush will have the form of a cup, with the branches ranged regularly round the stem. Red and white currants require the same treatment, as they produce their fruit on spurs. The black currant must be managed differently, as it bears chiefly on the shoots of the preceding year. Instead, therefore, of spurring and otherwise shortening the branches, all that is necessary is to thin them, and keep the bushes compact." - Gard. Chron.

Forcing

Red and white currant3 may be in our desserts during nine months of the twelve. Pot some threeyear-old plants during the first week of January, and place half of them in the peach-house, and the other moiety on the upper shelf of the green-house. The first will come into bearing early in April, and the remainder at the end of May. The open ground crop is fit for gathering before June closes, and some of these, if matted over at the end of July, may be kept good until December terminates.