308 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 10. 
For any other Distinct Breed. —Class 49*—90/. First prize, 
Mr. John Taylor, jun., Cressy House. (Andalusian.) 918. Second 
1 prize, Mr. John Fairlie, Cheveley Park. (Scotch Bakies.) 924. First 
prize, Mr. H. A. Davies. Spring Grove, Hounslow. (Rangoon.) 929- 
Second prize, Mr. W. G. Vivian, Swansea. (Frizzled.) 932. Second 
prize, Mr. W. G. Vivian, Swansea. (Normandy.) 93/. First prize, Mr. 
I H. B. Higgs, Hill Lodge, Southampton. (Ghou Kook.) 939 . Second 
prize, Mr. J. C. Mold, Wingfield Park, Belper. (Rumpless.) 940. 
First prize, Rev. T. L. Fellows, Beighton. (Moss Pheasant.) 
For Cross Breed.— Class 50.—949- Ten shilling prize, Mr. Thomas 
Sheen, Aylesbury. (Muffled Dorking and Cochin.) 
Bantams (Gold-laced).—Class 51. —Cock and two Hens.— 973 . First 
prize, Mr. U. Spurev, Market-street, Dunstable 9/0. Second prize, 
Mr. G. C. Adkins, Birmingham. Class 52.—Silver-laced—Cock and 
two Hens.— 989 . First prize, Mr. Uriah Spurey, Market-street, Dun¬ 
stable. 9^8. Second prize, Mr. James Monsey, Norwich. Class 53.— 
White.—Cock and two Hens.—1000. Firstprize, Mr. W. Cottis, Witham, 
Essex. 999- Second prize, Mrs. Caroline Brace, Abingdon. Class 54.— 
Black.—Cock and two Hens.—100/. First prize, Mr. James Monsey, 
Norwich. 1013. Second prize, F. S. Astley, Esq., Burgh Hall, Thetford. 
Class 55.—Any other variery.—Cock and two Hens.—1025, First prize, 
Mr. W. Sidney Forrest, Greenhithe. 1029. Second prize, Mr, W. G. 
Vivian, Singleton, Swansea. 
Geese. —Class 56.—Gander and two Geese.—1050. First prize, Mr. 
A. Williams, Reading. 1051. Second prize, Mr. A. Williams, Reading. 
Ducks (White Aylesbury).—Class 57-—Drake and two Ducks.— 
1056. Firstprize, Mr. E. Terry, Aylesbury. 1058. First prize, Mr. W. 
G. K. Brcavington, Sutton, near Hounslow. 1077* Second prize, Mr. 
A. Williams, Reading. Class 58.—(Rouen).—Drake and two Ducks. 
—1088. First prize, Mr. R. Green, Westcrham. 1095. Second prize, 
Mr. B. H. Brooksbank, Tickhill, Rotherham. Class 59 .—Any other 
variety.—1098. First prize, Mr. John Fairlie, Cheveley Park. 1105. 
Second prize, Mr. G. Botham, Wexliam Court, Slough. Class 60 .— 
(Muscovy).—Drake and two Ducks.— J118. First prize, Mr. John Fairlie, 
Cheveley Park. 1120. Second prize, Mr. I. Taylor, Cressy House. 
Turkeys. —Class 6l.—Cock and two Hens.—1123. First prize, Mr. 
John Fairlie, Cheveley Park. 1124. Second prize, Mr. John Fairlie, 
Cheveley Park. 1130. Third prize, Mr. A. Williams, Reading. 
Guinea Fowl.—C lass 62.—Pair.—1137. First prize, Mr. F. Edwards, 
Bulstrode Park. 
ORCHARDS IN KENT.—No. 3. 
BLACK CURRANTS. 
Amongst tlie individual fruits to which the public taste of 
late years has directed more than ordinary attention the 
Black Currant stands pre-eminent. Useful alike at the time 
it is in season, and in a preserved condition, the demand 
for it has been such as to induce growers to extend their 
plantations considerably, and as it is well known to he 
hardy, of easy culture, and speedily comes into a bearing 
condition, it is probable the supply hereafter may fully 
equal the demand, but as that business more especially 
concerns the speculator than the cultivator, I will at once 
leave the caterer for the public to his own conjectures as to 
their future wants, and proceed to detail the process by 
which the fruit is grown so extensively as astonishes some 
provincial gardeners when they first get a sight of the 
supplies which our metropolitan markets present during the 
season. 
Commencing, first, with the situation, it is necessary to 
observe that this fruit is but seldom allowed to reign para¬ 
mount master of the premises it occupies, for it generally 
is planted underneath some other crop to which it is sub¬ 
ordinate, as Apples, Pears, or Filberts, but more generally 
the two first-named, for the latter prefers a drier soil than 
j suits the Black Currant in a usual way; however, where 
I the wants or wishes of the owner influences his decision, lie 
plants it with the last-named crop as well, otherwise it must 
be observed that the Black Currant prefers a damp soil, and 
I seems to derive really less injury from shelter than any 
j other fruit we know of. In forming a new plantation of 
j permanent standard fruit-trees, it is usual to plant something 
. as nurses to them, or rather to occupy the ground in a 
| profitable way while the larger trees are progressing, and, 
| not unusually, these temporary trees remain long after the 
branches of the trees above them have united so as to 
i deprive the undergrowth of all chance of seeing the sun, 
j and yet we frequently see good, useful fruit gathered in 
! such places, though certainly not in the abundance it would 
: have been had it been allowed the unopposed possession of 
the whole ground, but even under such disadvantages its 
| importance often tells to the grower’s benefit as much as 
its exalted superiors. 
When carefully pruned and attended to it bears well in 
seasons when other fruits are often scanty, and it is seldom 
that a total failure in this crop takes place, unless under 
extraordinary circumstances. Certainly, the past season 
exhibited the Black Currant in a different light than it 
usually had been seen in before, for at the time when the 
fruit had beefi fairly set, and partly grown, a disease, 
under the incomprehensible title of '‘a blight,” attacked J 
them, and quantities of the berries fell off, leaving the 
bunches much lessened, in many cases more than half ; 
this disease having much of the mystery of the Potato 
disease about it, conjectures as to its cause were rife enough, 
but attempts at its cure or prevention another season were 
but little attended to. Now, as this disease may make its 
appearance again, it is only right here to mention it as pre¬ 
senting no features to indicate want of health or vigour in 
the plant; neither is it confined to those who may be 
suffering from poverty or weakness, for the healthiest plan¬ 
tations were attacked as well as the neglected or indifferent 
ones. However, the disease did no farther damage than 
lessening the crop, for the remaining portion ripened very 
well, and at gathering time the quantity was not so much 
below the average as was expected, yet it could not be called 
more than half a crop. 
As I have said, the Black Currant forms a very im¬ 
portant undergrowth to plantations of Apples, Plums, (fee., 
its produce is not always the only source of revenue the cul¬ 
tivator relies on, for the other fruits may be abundant, 
although the present season this was far from being the 
case; however, there is every reason for believing that the 
short crop of the past year will in no wise prevent fresh 
plantations being made, and, like everything else (which 
there is a remunerative demand for), ground not exactly 
adapted for Black Currants is likely to be planted with them, 
and, in fact, has been planted already, but so hardy and 
accommodating is this production, that it does not seem to 
refuse to grow anywhere; even in places where nothing else 
will thrive, it will accommodate itself wonderfully well—on 
the cliffs of a rock, or the recesses of a dell—on light soil, 
or on heavy; yet it is only on the latter kind of soil that the 
quantity and quality of the fruit is according to the standard 
of excellence we would like to see adopted; only in one 
respect this fruit differs from most others,for wldlethey are 
injured by being grown in close contact with trees of another 
kind, struggling with, and depriving them of much of the 
nourishment they so much require, this fruit seems to 
thrive better under the shade of trees than it does alone, 
provided these trees he not too numerous or encroaching. 
However, as we have said enough on its general habits, let 
us turn to the details of its cultivation, which are few and 
easily understood. 
In the first place, it is understood by all not confined all 
their lives in the recesses of city or factory, that the Black 
Currant strikes root freely when slips of the current year 
are put into the ground in the autumn, after they have 
ripened and shed their leaves; these slips are usually 
planted in rows about two feet apart, and six or eight inches 
are allowed in the row; the shoots made the first season are 
usually cut back the ensuing winter, which cutting back is 
called heading-in; the growth of the second season is 
generally sufficient to form a tolerable “head,” and the 
plant might then with advantage he taken up and planted 
in its place, as it is advisable it should not he too stunted. 
At this planting no cutting takes place, except any very 
disorderly shoot may he cut out, but none are shortened; 
neither is it common to shorten any shoot of the Black 
Currant at any time, for the wood-buds being generally 
sparingly scattered, it is better to leave the end one, which 
is always present. In planting, the Black Currant is usually 
inserted deeper in the ground than other fruits of its size, 
and ns it is usually furnished with abundance of roots of a 
fibrous kind its removal is not much check to it. The 
growth of the first season after planting is looked over and 
thinned a little, cutting awny all horizontal or dependant 
shoots, as these, when loaded with fruit, hang on the 
ground and get dirtied. Some care must also be taken 
that the plant does not hang on one side ; this must he 
remedied by stamping it up with the foot, or when the 
plant gets large it is cut away on the heavy side, preserving 
the other to assist in maintaining something like a balance. 
