SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



229 



square, and a yard apart, filled with sulphur to prevent mildew. 

 The rays of the sun, it was said, cause it to act upon the vine- 

 I often saw powdered sulphur sprinkled upon the leaves of the 

 vine in Italy to prevent the disease which has been so fatal to 

 the grape for seven years past, but this was the only place 

 ^vhere I saw it used thus, that is, placed around the roots. As 

 the house was completely filled by the vino trained overhead 

 and down at the sides, the gardener was asked why it was not 

 enlarged, to which he replied that " it was thought best not to 

 let the vine bear any more than that would hold." 



In another part of the grounds 

 there is what is called the Maze, 

 or Labyrinth, covering about a 

 third of an acre, and so arranged 

 that it would puzzle the most 

 skilful engineer to find his way 

 out. It is formed of growing 

 beech cut down to six feet high 

 and about a foot thick, trimmed 

 up perfectly square on the sides 

 and top. It was formed in the 

 reign of King William III., and 

 is still in perfect preservation. 

 Men, women and children were 

 trying to navigate their way in 

 and out, and it was a source of 

 no small amusement both to 

 them and the lookers-on. 



Windsor Castle is about 

 twenty miles above London, on 

 the banks of the Thames. It 

 was built by William the Con- 

 queror soon after he mounted 

 the throne, and Edward the 

 Third having been born there, 

 and having a peculiar love for 

 the place, erected a magnificent 

 new palace, which still remains, the most complete and perfect 

 and, in many respects, the most interesting specimen of a royal 

 feudal castle of the middle ages to be found in Europe. 



