122 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 8, 1861. 
imported to a limited extent. For the production of this liquor 
the planting of Black Currant bushes has been extending annu¬ 
ally during the last nineteen years, these bushes now occupying 
a considerable portion of land formerly raising Vines in the south 
of France. The demand for the plants has been so great that 
almost fabulous prices hare been given for them—£3 up to 
£4 10*. per thousand. The price has now fallen to from 16*. to 
24*. The number planted near Dijon alone is estimated at 
between one and two millions. It is highly probable that the 
alterations in the wine duties will interfere with the extended 
cultivation of Black Currants in France, and perhaps also check 
the cultivation of Currants and other fruits in this country for 
the production of wines, and liquors for adulterating wines, the 
produce of the Grape. There may be a portion of the juice of 
Black Currants used to increase the quantity of low-class clarets 
or vin cVordinaire, as well as of Burgundy, or to give more body 
to such wines to meet the vitiated tastes of wine-drinkers in this 
country. But this will depend partly upon the demand and 
supply of Grape wines, with the consequent alterations in the 
prices. Should such admixtures take place quality will not be 
maintained, and some of the most delicious Burgundies and Bor- 
deux wines may be so changed in character as no longer to 
occupy the first place. It may, however, be inferred that the 
higher classes of French wines will also be obtained pure, if a 
corresponding price be given. 
We learn from a highly interesting and valuable work, pub¬ 
lished in Paris, “Le Jardin Fruitier du Museum,” edited by 
Professor Decaisne, that the cultivation of Black Currants for 
the manufacture of liqueur is at present confined chiefly to three 
departments, of which the Cote d ’ Or may be taken as the centre. 
The cultivation extends from Chagny to Dijon, a distance of 
eighteen to twenty miles in length, and from one to three miles 
in breadth. The zone of Currant bushes partly occupies lands 
on which the Yine is still cultivated, between the rows of which 
they are planted, and partly lands not suitable for the Vine. If 
the quality of the liqueur is to be taken as the future guide in 
devoting lands to the growth of Currants, the better descrip¬ 
tions of lands for the production of vins ordinaires will be 
selected. There is a great difference in the quality of the liqueur, 
but as a rule, where the wine is good the liqueur de Cassis is 
also good. The best sells at 2s. 9 d. per quart wholesale. The 
most common practice now is to plant the Currant bushes in 
trenches four feet three inches apart, and fifteen inches deep, the 
plants being placed at a like distance from each other in the 
rows. This has been found to be the best distance between the 
bushes. The most suitable soils are the chalky with a portion of 
clay. The yield of Currants varies with the age of the planta¬ 
tion, the soil, the cultivation, and the character of the season. 
The produce appears to be more uniform than that of the Vine; 
and each bush is calculated to yield from 2 lbs. to 5 lbs. of 
Currants. The price paid by the manufacturers has varied con¬ 
siderably. The proximate average price during 1841, when the 
fabrication of the liquor first commenced, was 8f. per 100 kilos., 
or about 3*. 3 d. per cwt.; next two years, 4*.; next two years, 
above 8s.; next ten years the average was 12s. 2d .; in 1856 and 
1857 it was 16s. 3d.; while in the year 1858 it rose to 30s. 6d. 
Last year the prices fell to 20s. 3d. to 28s. 6 d. The manufac¬ 
ture is in the hands of a few persons. It appears from the 
statement communicated by Dr. Maillard that in the depart¬ 
ment of Cote d’ Or the trade is rapidly increasing. In the town 
of Dijon there are three manufactories producing 88,000 gallons, 
six producing 66,000 gallons, and upwards of twenty other 
manufactories producing considerable quantities. Besides these, 
there are other establishments at Beaunne and Chalon-sur-Saone, 
and other villages in the environs. 
It is expected that the manufacturers will receive higher 
profits, as several have contracted with cultivators to furnish 
Currants at much lower prices than have been ruling for several 
years. These contracts are for periods of ten or twelve years, at 
prices about 12*. per cwt., the grower to give the whole produce 
to the person with whom the contract has been entered upon. 
Tire demand for the liquors has hitherto overtaken the supply. 
The profits of the grower are very considerable, the average 
sums obtained per acre being from £22 to £40. After the 
plantation is formed, the outlay is comparatively small, the 
pruning of the bushes and the keeping down of weeds being the 
chief items of expense. 
The question arises whether, if Black Currants can be grown 
in France for the production of a liqueur which leaves handsome 
returns, they cannot be raised in a similar manner in this country. 
None of our garden fruits are more easily grown, and our Black 
Currants are larger and of equal quantity and quality with those 
produced in France. The variety cultivated for the liquor is the 
Gros Cassis de Naples ; but it appears to be the same variety as 
is cultivated in our gardens. Indeed, the climate of the western 
islands, or the Shetland Islands, is admirably suited for the 
production of Black Currants, the crops being large and the 
berries plump and finer coloured. If the manufacturing of the 
liqueur was commenced, it is not at all impossible that the pro¬ 
duction would rapidly extend. A supply of Currants could be 
produced to meet any demand, and at lower prices than those 
which rule in the south of France. 
At present, Black Currants are grown in this country for 
making preserves, Black Currant jam, and Black Currant jelly. 
Hitherto, the Black Currant bushes have been planted without 
much regard to exposure to the sun—indeed, in many gardens 
they are planted on back walls, or in confined situations. It 
appears, however, from the experience gained in the south of 
France that the quality of the fruit is very much improved by 
planting the bushes in trenches, and with considerable distances 
between the plants. Planting in trenches raises the temperature 
of the soil and atmosphere surrounding the bushes, and it may 
thus be inferred that high temperature and exposure to sunlight 
are conditions favourable to the quality of the fruit. This being 
held established by experience in France, it should lead to an 
entire change of practice in this country. The sugar which goes 
to form the preserves is said to qualify inferiority in the fruit, 
but this may be questioned. With more attention to the culti¬ 
vation of the Black Currant, it is not improbable that preserves 
from it will be more generally appreciated, and that disagreeable 
acid taste which characterises most preserves made from Black 
Currants be got rid of.— (Scotsman.) 
[We may add that Currants are extensively grown in France 
for the manufacture of jellies, which frequently form part of the 
dessert at dinner. The fruit is also sometimes used along with 
wlieaten bread, forming the mid-day repast of the working 
classes. The varieties grown consist of, beside the Black Cur¬ 
rant, the White, termed Grosseillier de Hollande; G. a Fruits 
Carnes—an intermediate variety between the Red and the White- 
and the Red, G. Yersaillais—a variety said to be superior to the 
White, and one of the oldest varieties in France .]—(Scottish 
Gardener.) 
TABLE OF MONTHLY TEMPERATURE, AND 
AMOUNT OF RAIN IN 1859 AND 1860. 
Taken at Culford, near Bury St. Edmunds. 
Mean Max. 
Tem. 
Mean.Min. 
Tem. 
Highest 
Tem. 
Lowest 
Tem. 
Rain. 
1850 
1860 
1859 
1860 
1859 
1860 
1859 
1860 
1859 
1860 
January. 
43 
42'5 
34 
32-5 
53 
54 
24 
25 
0-68 
2-3S 
February . 
48 
40-5 
36 
29-5 
56 
49 
26 
20 
1-04 
1-23 
March. 
53 
47 
40 
35 
63 
58 
22 
26 
1-30 
2 93 
April . 
54 
52 
38 
35-5 
71 
64 
27 
28 
2-49 
0-93 
May. 
62 
64 
44 
46 
79 
73 
32 
32 
3-32 
3-93 
June. 
72 
65-5 
53 
49 
85 
73 
42 
41 
3-40 
4-69 
July. 
79 
68-5 
58 
50-5 
89 
76 
45 
40 
3-37 
1-81 
August . 
73 
66-5 
54 
51-5 
86 
72 
46 
46 
1-72 
5-40 
September. 
64 
58-5 
49 
45-5 
73 
67 
41 
33 
2-29 
2-67 
October . 
56 
56 
44 
45 
73 
64 
25 
30 
3-34 
1 
November . 
47 
44 
35 
35 
57 
50 
25 
28 
1-56 
2-38 
December . 
39 
39 
30 
30 
55 
51 
5 
0-3 
2-66 
3-2G 
Amount of rain during 1859, 27-07 inches; 1860, 32 20 
inches. 
Highest temperature of 1859, on July 18th, 89°. 
Highest temperature of 1860, on July 15th, 76°. 
Lowest temperature of 1859, on December 18th, 5°, 
Lowest temperature of 1860, on December 24th, 3° below zero. 
—P. Grieve. 
PUTTERIDGE BURY AND ITS FLOWER 
GARDENING. 
(Continued from page 102.) 
Tiie avenue of beds here described were only a part of the 
flower garden at Pntteridge; for, independent of these, there 
were several other large beds scattered over the lawn. Some 
near the mansion, and not far from the Italian garden, were 
I arranged in order and uniform in size. These beds were raised 
