FRUITING CURRANTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 183, 1 May 1936, Page 18

FRUITING CURRANTS

Take Cuttings Now It is a simple matter to increase a stock of currant bushes by striking cuttings now. Young shoots cut from the bushes now (the best of the primings can be used) and planted in an out-of-the-way corner in the garden will root readily and by this time next year will have grown iuto fine little bushes for transplanting. "Where many amateurs make a mistake, however, is in the use of unsuitable growths for cuttings. In every case the growth to be used for cuttings must be healthy young shoots of the past summer’s growth. Older wood is unsuitable. The young shoots, also, must be cut from healthy, good-bearing bushes. It is no use taking shoots from diseased bushes or from those of an inferior, poor cropping variety. Bushes grown from such material' would perpetuate all the faults of tbe old ones, probably in more serious form. The shoots of red aud white currants should be 10 or 12 inches long; the black currants need 7 or 8 inches. Some people prefer to pull off the shoots with a “heel” or slip of old wood attached to the has?, but that is unnecessary and, in fact, it is best for the bush if the shoots are cut oft’ cleanly with the knife or secateurs. Having clipped the shoot from the bush, snip off the top inch or two of soft, unripened tip, and in the case of red and white currants, rub off with the fingers all but the topmost four or five buds.- With black currant cuttings do not rub off any buds at all. The cuttings are then ready for planting. They can be inserted in any good garden soil, but will root most readily in light, sandy soil. A sunny open spot is much more suitable than a shady corner for the bed of cuttings, but providing the soil is not heavy clay or badly waterlogged, they will root almost anywhere. The cuttings can be dibbled in about 21 inches apart, but a better plan is to make a narrow trench with the spade, just pushing it in and pulling it out again, and insert the cuttings in. this.