March 14, 18s0. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
217 
it has taken place and the liquid is ready to be strained in from eight to 
ten days. When this is done it is ready for immediate use, and cannot 
be distinguished from ordinary light wines; it is of ruby colour, and 
possesses a strength of from 9° to 13°, according to the amount of water 
used. It is also employed in the manufacture of superior brands of 
wine by the mixture of strong and coloured Spanish, Italian, and 
Dalmatian wines. They contain nothing deleterious to the consumer, 
for the Currant in its original state is simply a small stoneless Grape, 
which produces an excellent, strong, fruity-flavoured wine. Currants 
are also consumed to a great extent during the vintage by farmers and 
proprietors of French vineyards, who produce ordinary qualities of 
wine, and who, owing to the remunerative prices paid for their wines, 
are anxious to increase their production as much as possible. Experience 
has shown that if Currants, with the usual proportion of water, are 
mixed during the vintage with the fresh Grapes and allowed to ferment 
together, the blending is much superior to that obtained by mixing a 
Currant wine with a natural wine, and the liquid obtained has every . 
attribute of a pure, natural wine. Chemical analysis has demonstrated 
this, and thus,in a small way, Currants help to make up for the ravages 
of the phylloxera. To a smaller extent Currants are employed in 
France, Germany, and Switzerland by the poorer classes, who make an 
alcoholic beverage for themselves by mixing them in a jar with water 
and allowing them to ferment. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
March 12th, 
There was a good display of plants and flowers at the meeting of 
the above Society’s Committees on Tuesdf y last, in the Drill Hall, West¬ 
minster. Several large groups added to the attractions, and ten new 
plants of exceptional interest were certificated or honoured with awards 
of merit. 
Fruit Committee.— Present—R. D. Blackmore, Esq., in the chair, 
and Dr. Robert Hogg, with Messrs. II. J. Veitch. W. Bates, J. Cheal, 
G. Cliffe, G. W. Cummins, G. Ross, P. Barr, J. Smith, W. Warren, 
J. Willard, J. Roberts, G. Wythes, J. Burnett, Wm. Denning, P. Crowley, 
F. L. Lane, W. Wildsmitb, W. Coleman, and Harrison Weir. The 
exhibits were restricted to a few Apples, and it was one of the smallest 
meetings in this respect held for some time. Mr. Peter Blair, Trenthftm 
Gardens, exhibited a dish of Calville Blanche Apples, very fine, fresh 
and solid (cultural commendation) Mr. Divers. Wierton House 
Gardens, near Maidstone, was accorded a vote of thanks for a collec¬ 
tion of thirteen dishes of well kept Apples. 
Floral Committee.— Present—W. Marshall, Esq., in the chair, 
and Messrs. R. Dean, H. Ilerbst, B. Wynne, W. C. Leach, G. Nicholson, 
James Walker, Frank Ross, William Holmes, Lewis Castle, G. Paul, 
J. Fraser, T. Baines, C. Noble, J. O’Brien, J. Douglas, J. Dominy, Harry 
Turner, T. W. Girdlestone, Edward Mawley, Shirley Hibberd, J. Laing, 
Peter Blair, E. Hill, II. M. Pollett, and R. B. Lane. 
Mr. C. Beckett, gardener to T. B. Bryant. Esq., Juniper Hill, Dorking, 
showed a specimen of Dendrobium nobile Wallichi, grown in a shallow 
pan about 18 inches in diameter and 6 inches deep, the plant itself 
being 4 feet in diameter, with scores of growths 21 to 3 feet high, and 
loaded with flowers (small silver medal). Mr. W. C. Leach, Albury 
Park Gardens, Guildford, exhibited three boxes of Violets, comprising 
the varieties De Parme, Old Neapolitan, Swanley White, and Marie 
Louise, for which a vote of thanks was accorded. Mr. F. Ross, Pendell 
Court Gardens, sent several interesting plants, such as Calliandra 
Tweediana, Canarina Campanula, Mutisia Clematitis, and Hardenbergia 
Comptoniana (vote of thanks). A very strong stem of Aralia Veitchi 
grown in a cool house, was also shown. 
Messrs. William Paul & Sons, Waltham Cross, sent a dozen boxes of 
Camellias, including all the best of the varieties in cultivation 
(silver Banksian medal). Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, had a 
group of new Amaryllises, several of which were certificated ; also a 
group of Nepenthes, for which a silver medal was awarded. Mr. B. S. 
Williams, Upper Holloway, had an interesting group of Orchids with 
stove and greenhouse plants (vote of thanks). Messrs. Paul & Son, Ches- 
hunt, showed a large and representative collection of Saxifrages, 
together with Roses in pots, standards of the Polyantha type being 
noticeable (silver Banksian medal). 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, exhibited a fine bank of Daffodils, 
Anemone fulgens, and other hardy flowers (silver Banksian medal). 
Messrs. Barr A Son, Covent Garden, had a group of Daffodils and hardy 
plants, varied and interesting fbronze Banksian medal). Mr. H. B. 
May, Upper Edmonton, showed a collection of Polyanthuses, yellow 
and crimson, some of the hose-in-hose type. The St. George’s Nursery 
Company, Hanwell, exhibited a group of well grown Cyclamens, repre¬ 
senting an excellent strain (bronze Banksian medal). Messrs. Heath 
and Son, Cheltenham, gained a cultural commendation for a plant of 
Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum crispatum having three lonsr racemes. 
A plant of Masdevallia Heathi, a hybrid between M. Veitchi and 
M. ignea rubescens, was also shown by the same firm. 
PLANTS CERTIFICATED. 
Cypripedium, Rothschildianum (Lord Rothschild, Tring Park ; 
gardener, Mr. Hill).—A magnificent and most distinct species, sugges¬ 
tive of the C. Stonei type. The sepa^ are a little over half an inch 
broad at the base, 6 inches long, and tapering to a poinr, somewhat of a 
buff colour with dark crimson spots at the base, and longitudinal 
streaks of the same colour. The dorsal sepal is oval, 2 inches Broad by 
2£ deep, buff, regularly veined with dark crimson, the lower sepals 
being similar but smaller. The lip is much like C. Stonei in form, 
large, of a dull purplish crimson hue. The leave? are broad and long, 
and the growth is strong. C. Elliottianum, like a smaller form of the 
above, was shown by the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim (gardener, 
Mr. Whillan). 
Cymbidium eburnso-Lowianum (J. Veitch & Sons).—A hybrid 
between the species, the titles of which are incorporated in the name 
given. The flowers of a pale buff, the lip creamy white, with a zone of 
purplish crimson, and a white margin. 
Amaryllis John Ruthin (J. Veitch & Sons).—A variety with finely 
proportioned flowers, the petals broad and rounded, of a deep solid 
scarlet extending nearly to the base. 
Amaryllis Acquisition (J. Veitch & Sons).—This variety received an 
award of merit. It has large flowers of good shape, bright scarlet with 
a white central bar in each petal. 
Iris Rosenbachiana (Mr. J. Douglas, gardener to Mrs. Whitbourn, 
Great Gearies, Ilford, and Messrs. Barr & Son).—A dwarf species of the 
I. persica type, the standards and stigmas mauve, the falls having the 
orange central ridge and tipped with purple. Messrs. Barr & Son’s 
plants had darker flowers than those from Mr. Douglas, and they are 
said to vary considerably. It is described as quite hardy. 
Primula Imperial White (R. Owen, Maidenhead).—A fine variety, 
with large double white fringed flowers ; pure and of good substance. 
Primrose Blue Gem (R. Dean, Ealing).—A hardy variety of the 
acaulis type, with large flowers of a deep bluish shade, having an orange 
centre. 
Olivia Lady Wolverton (Mr. P. Davidson, The Gardens, Iwerne 
Minster House, Shaftesbury). — An excellent variety, with enormous 
trusses of large flowers, bright orange red, with a yellowish centre. 
Primula pstillaris (Professor M. Foster, Shelford, Cambridge).—A 
very dwarf species, with crenated leaves and large yellowish mauve 
flowers clustered in the centre (award of merit). 
Cyclamen Prinae of Wales (St. George’s Nursery Company).—This 
was adjudged an award of merit as an example of the strain, the flowers 
crimson, of great size and substance, the habit dwarf and compact. 
In the afternoon, at 3 P.M., Mr. Baker of Kew gave an interesting 
lecture on Saxifrages, which was well attended by Fellows and visitors. 
Mr. G. Paul also contributed a short paper on the cultivation of 
Saxifrages ; and Mr. W. T. Thiselton Dyer gave an address on the 
same subject. 
EVENING NOTES. 
Oil and Sulphur as a Destroyer op Mildew.—I wish to add 
my testimony with your other correspondents to the above as a destroyer 
and preventive of mildew in houses. Last winter we applied it to the 
pipes of our Rose house where there wasmddew, and it soon disappeared 
from the trees, and we were quite free of it for some time until all the 
smell seemed gone from the pipes. When mildew again reappeared the 
pipes were again painted, with the desired effect. This year up to now 
mildew has not troubled us. I may add that in order to make it effec¬ 
tive the house should be kept closed.— Geo. Hilton, Lancashire. 
E vrly Rhubarb —Your correspondent, “ Handy Andy,” must be 
in a very favoured corner of the land to be gathering Rhubarb 
unforced daily since February 20th. Here we have to force it all the 
winter, and have to-day just put iu a fresh lot of roots, and may have to 
introduce more before we have a stalk ready out of doors. 
Vegetables and Frost.— Vegetables, such as Chou de Burghley, 
Savoys, Sprouting Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, and young Cabbages are 
dreadfully cut up this spring. I never remember them having suffered 
so much. Doubtless the mild winter we have had previous to the 
sharp frosts of the last few weeks has made its mark. 
Early Strawberries. —On Thursday last, March 7th, we gathered 
our first dish of ripe Strawberries from plants housed on January 1st. 
The variety is Vicomtesse Hericart de Thurv, which we find quite 
unequalled for early forcing. King of the Earlies grown under pre¬ 
cisely similar conditions is almost worthless ; very few berries set, and 
those are several days later in ripening than the Vicomtesse ; in 
future this variety will be solely relied upon here for eirly work unless 
Laxton’s Noble, which we hope to try next year, proves superior. For 
setting in a high temperature, and consequent earlier ripening. I am 
of opinion the good old variety first mentioned will not soon be sur¬ 
passed. On counting the berries I find they average rather more than 
five on a plant, some have but four, none more than seven, to which 
number those having more were thinned. Considering they flowered 
in a temperature of from 57° to G5°, l think the set very satisfactory. 
This is more heat than is usually recommended for Strawberries when 
in flower, but the house iu which they were grown has been utilised 
for other things, and the temperature regulated as far as possible to 
suit all. The results, not only now, but in previous years, have been so 
satisfactory that we see no necessity for making any alteration or 
departure from our present mode of culture. Is it a common occurrence 
