243 



make 12^ centesimal tlieliue of deinarkation between weak and strong 

 wines, instead of 11°, tlie standard now recof^nized. This wonld bring 

 a larger number of the French brands within the denomination of strong- 

 wines. The former are charged with a duty of 27.51 francs per hecto- 

 liter ; the hitter, G8,7G francs. The proposed change would then bring a 

 larger number within the range of high-tarifl" charges, and render tiieir 

 competition with the Peninsular wines difficult, if not impossible. 



Horticultural prizes. — The Massachusetts Horticultural Society 

 offers a prize of $25 for the best essay upon the culture and varieties of 

 roses, to be read at tlie rose exhibition, June 17. Also similar prizes 

 on grape-culture in gardejis, «&c., to be read October 9 ; on the culture 

 of the cauliflower, &c., to bo read November 6 ; on the principles of laud- 

 scape gardening, &c., November 27. The essay on rose-culture must 

 be subuiitted by the first Saturday in June; the others a month before 

 the time of reading : essays unsigned, but accompanied by the name 

 of the writer, must be sent to the committee on publication. Horticul- 

 tural Hall, Boston. General competition invited. 



Wine production and consumption in France. — TheMoniteur Ag- 

 ricole, from a study of official statistics, estimates the average annual yield 

 of wine, in France, at 55,000,000 hectoliters, about equal to 1,453,000,000 

 gallons, wine measure. Of this amount, nearly 80,000,000 gallons are 

 exported. The import from foreign countries amounts to about two- 

 thirds of the export, making the amount of wine available for consump- 

 tion in the country about 1,427,000,000 gallons. The average annual 

 consumption of wine as a beverage was estimated at one hectoliter, or 

 nearly 26^ gallons per capita, in 1860, when the Anglo-French treaty of 

 commerce was signed. It is supposed to have increased 10 per cent, 

 since that time, and now amounts to over 29 gallons per capita, making 

 an aggregate total consumptiou of nearly 88,000,000 gallons. Leakage 

 is estimated at 80,000,000 gallons, or about equal to the amount ex- 

 ])orted. About 265,000,000"of gallons are devoted to the distillation of 

 brandy, and a considerable quantity used for miscellaneous purposes iu 

 the arts. Production and consumption are seen to balance each other 

 with remarkable regularity upon a comparison of periods of twenty or 

 thirty years, as these periods are generally sufficient to embrace the ex- 

 treme vicissitudes of pi-oduction, and to furnish a closely approximate 

 annual medium. The outlook for the future seems to indicate no marked 

 differences from the past. 



French agriculture in 1875. — A leading French agricultural 

 writer demands greater progress during the coming year in the agri- 

 cultural production of France, in order to secure an increased population 

 and an enlargement of the stock of effective labor, of home consumption, 

 and of foreign commerce ; iu fine, an increase of power all around. Leav- 

 ing out the fruit and wine cultures of the center and south of France 

 for future consideration, he directs special attention to the production of 

 cereals and of foreign and industrial plants, occupying about 75,000,000 

 acres of the 125,000,000 within the French territorial dominion. 



In the north are found the model agricultural regions of France. Here 

 lands worth from 5,000 to 6,000 francs per hectare ($100 to $480 per acre) 

 yield from 25 to 30 hectoliters of wheat per hectare, (28 to 34J bushels 

 per acre.) These lands are never fallowed, but subjected to a continuous 

 rotation. The sugar-beet is the pivotal point in this system of culture, 

 and some apprehension is exi)ressed in regard to its excessive production. 

 The increase of the sugar product of Germany and other countries is pre- 

 occupying foreign markets, and narrowing the scope of profitable expor- 



