426 European Agriculture and Rural Economy. 



more even temperature, and the absence of that intense heat which, with us, 

 often follows rain and dampness. The black currant is almost as much cul- 

 tivated as the red and white, and quite commonly eaten. Raspberries are 

 cultivated ; but I have seen none to be compared with the fine kinds com- 

 mon in the United States. Blackberries I have not seen cultivated. I have 

 met with them in the southern parts of England, but ripening so late in the 

 season, that they have no richness of flavor. 



Of plums, there are several kinds : damsons are common ; the Orleans 

 plum, the large egg plum, resembling what I think, is called, with us Bol- 

 mar's Washington, are the most esteemed ; but they are not abundant, and 

 I cannot say that those which I have seen are equal to those seen in the 

 best markets of the United Slates, and especially of all other places, at Al- 

 bany, in New York, where this fruit is found in a degree of perfection and 

 abundance which I have seen nowhere else. Cherries are plenty in the mar- 

 ket and in great perfection ; the Tartarian, the bigarreau, and the large 

 black-heart and mazard, predominate. 



Peaches, nectarines, and appricots, are seen occasionally at private ta- 

 bles ; and in great perfection, though in very small quantities, at the great 

 market, and at some of the splendid fruit shops in London. Peaches are 

 grown in favorable situations on open walls, but in general under glass, and 

 early in the season are forced by an artificial climate. They are brought to 

 great perfection in appearance, and command, when first they appear in the 

 market, two guineas, or about ten dollars and a half per dozen, as pine apples 

 cultivated here, at some times of the year, bring a guinea or thirty shillings 

 sterling apiece, — that is, from five and a quarter to seven and a half dollars 

 each. 



The following hint on the spiir-pruning system of grapes 

 was given to Mr, Colman by one of the best gardeners : — 



" With regard to the best way to manage the vine, when fruiting, I in- 

 variably stop the shoot one eye above the bunch ; and it is the practice of 

 the best gardeners in England. 1 generally leave one shoot not stopped 

 without fruit, and to fruit next season, and cut the shoots out that have 

 borne fruit this year. On the short-spur system, every shoot is stopped 

 an eye above the bunch, except the top one, and then it must be managed 

 like the rest ; all the lateral shoots must be stopped one eye above another, 

 until they cease growing, as the more leaves you get, the fruit will swell 

 larger." 



Some of the principal vegetables, cultivated to great per- 

 fection in the English climate, are thus noticed : — 



There are four species of plants, or edible vegetables, in which, it must 

 be admitted, the English markets cannot be surpassed, at least in the size 

 of their products. They are asparagus, rhubarb, cauliflowers, and cabbages. 

 The asparagus and rhubarb are gigantic, the rhubarb more especially, 

 which is often brought to market three and four feet in length, and of the 

 size of a woman's arm — some women, of course, excepted. The early as- 



