272 
the COTTAGE G ARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 31, 1860. 
to work and managed to produce in it that lively action fo much i 
appreciated in the summer time, by introducing a pint of the 
Esperione to a gallon of uncoloured Rhubarb n ine. I became 
aware of tlie fact from tho bottles having begun to form a rifle 
corps in the cellar. In short, I had produced a pink champagne, 
and the specimen sent had its cork replaced and wired down in the 
latter part of last July. A white champagne, by adding the 
juice of the white Grape in lieu of the red, could be made. Real 
pain by taking too much of it.—[Nos. 11 and 12. Both good.— 
Eds. C. G.] 
1859. 
I have made 10 gallons of Rhubarb this year, and added 
along with it in the barrel JSsperione wine in rather more than 
the above proportions. I await the result, and will let you know; j 
all about it. 
Apropos, as the subject of Grape culture in the open air 
is now decidedly swaying the mind of the horticultural world, 
and as wine-making follows as a natural consequence, I send you 
some interesting passages, in part bearing on our subject, from 
the letters of Orazio Busino, chaplain to the Venetian Embassy 
at the Court of King James I., extracted from No. 204, Art. IV., 
of the “ Quarterly Review,” where it says, “ On the whole he I 
appears to think move meanly of our gardens than we should ! 
have expected. The vegetables, especially the Cabbages grown ; 
in the neighbourhood of London, he extols in most glowing lan* \ 
guage; but ho speaks of the common fruit in terms which are 1 
hardly consistent with the accounts of it which are left by various 
writers of the day. He says they are seldom served at dessert, 
but that the whole population are munching them in the streets, 
and at places of public amusement all the day long. But in this 
case we beg to urge that the good health of the metropolis is a 
proof that the fruit could not be so bad as it appeared to our 
southern connoisseur. It was a frequent amusement, he tells us, 
and so we believe it was till comparatively recent times, to go to 
the orchards and eat it on the spot, and this was often done in a 
sort of competition of gourmandise between the city belles and 
their admirers ; one young woman, he avers, beating her opponent 
by two pounds and a half. We hear, without regret, that her 
victory cost this heroine a severe illness. But for the credit of 
our countrywomen, we would rather hope that the rector of 
Piazzola was hoaxed, and the whole story a fable. Busino, at 
Burleigh, was taken by Lord Exeter into his vineyard, and there, 
on tasting the Grapes, and comparing their state of forwardness 
with the time of year, he expressed his fear that they ‘ would 
never come to anything.’ Nevertheless, his noble entertainer 
told him that it was the family opinion they would make ex¬ 
cellent wine. Possibly artificial means were then used to correct 
the excessive acidity, or it may have been relished from habit, 
just as the labourers in many districts enjoy the sour cider which 
cannot be tolerated by an unpractised palate and stomach. 
When the commerce and agriculture of the country improved, it 
was probably found that the ground could be more pi'ofitably 1 
employed for other purposes.” 
Yes, the ground, possibly, but how many thousand acres of 
ugly superficial bare walls could note be made to become useful 
and ornamental, to bear excellent wine-making Grapes ? Think 
of this loss to Britannia on account of so much unproductive 
surface! If I can produce in a cold, uncongenial station, from 
520 square feet of house frontage, enough Grapes to make 
thirteen gallons of pure wine, given the congenial house front¬ 
age oi half England only for an answer. It is a sum truly 
worth working out—in casks. I would recommend the sew¬ 
age committee to establish, as soon as may be, walled vine¬ 
yards along the route of their mains on every practicable spot. 
The speculation would be sure to pay them well, and what an 
acquisition and grateful return for the expenditure of their 
money the wines would prove to the Londoners as a summer 
beverage ; particularly to the female part of the population, who 1 
are now made to come but badly off in the way of drinks. 
Ginger beer and lemonade are not very nourishing, and after 
these, Paterfamilias—let alone the spinsters—with middling 
means, liow few there are, comparatively, that can introduce 
foreign wines to their families ? Spirits and bemuddling stout 
and porter cannot be tolerated by far the greater port of the 
ladies of our land; and I have known those who visit here 
always prefer my Grape wines to sherry or port at table; though | 
to rich people the home growths may scarcely appear worth a 
consideration, upon the principle that no wines can be good which 
are not foreign, and do not cost a great deal of money. But how 
many there are who are not overburdened with the material 
called riches, yet have an inherent satisfaction in knowing and 
partaking of what their own count ry is made capable of producing. 
I myself am one of the latter class; and I intend to follow up 
this manufacture of Grape wines, as being both needful and 
convenient; and, lastly, though not least, in serving to contribute 
to the comforts of those about me.—U pwards and Onwards. 
NEW OR RARE CHOICE HARDY SHRUBS. 
Many of the readers of The Cottage Gardener have not 
the opportunity of seeing the expensive botanical periodicals : 
hence they do not know what new plants are introduced, and 
their qualities for ornamenting their gardens. To supply that 
knowledge I have already given lists of new and rare stove plants ; 
but as every one lias not a stove or a greenhouse, the following 
list of lately-introduced, worthy, hardy shrubs will, no doubt, be 
useful to a large class of our readers. A garden must be small 
indeed where there is not room for a new hardy shrub or two. 
I may remark, also, for their guidance that the following shrubs 
may be obtained at any of the London, and also at many of the 
large provincial nurseries. 
iEscrixs Indica (Indian Chestnut).—This almost approaches 
to the rank of a tree. The leaves are broad and lance-shaped. 
Flower in terminal spikes, and of a white colour; two side-petals 
pink at the base ; the two upper marked with yellow and crimson. 
Perfectly hardy. 
Amygdalys Persicafeore pleno (Double-flowering Peach). 
—There are three new varieties of double-flowering Peaches that 
are all very beautiful. They are named Camellia-flowered, Car- 
nation-flowered, and Rose-flowered—all very double and richly 
coloured. As yet they are expensive, but will soon be cheap, as 
they are easily propagated by budding. Being hardy, they may 
be planted in the open border or against a wall. I imagine, 
however, their great use will be as forcing plants for early flowers. 
Aucuba Himalaica (Himalayan Aucuba).—Leaves lance- 
shaped, shining deep green, with the toothed parts tipped with 
white. Flowers inconspicuous, purplish-green, succeeded by long 
orange-coloured berries. A hardy handsome shrub. 
Berberis Hookeri (Hooker’s Barberry).—Branches slender ; 
leaves oblong lance-sliaped, spiny-toothed like the Holly; flowers 
abundantly in pendulous umbels, and of a pale-yellow colour 
and large size. 
Berberis Jamesonii (Jameson’s Barberry).— Branches 
lengthened; leaves oval, undulated, spiny ; flowers numerous, 
produced on terminal pendulous panicles, yellow colour and very 
large for the genus. 
The Barberries are now a large class of handsome-foliaged 
shrubs, and they have the advantage of growing well under trees, 
as well os in open places. They thrive best in a deep sandy loam. 
The above two are acquisitions to our shrubberies. 
C’eanothus Yeitchiantts (Mr. Yeitcli’s Ceanothus).—Flowers 
deep mazarine-blue, produced in heads thickly massed at the ends 
of the shoots; leaves smooth, deep green, pointed, oval, and rather 
large for the g^nus. A really desirable hardy shrub, requires a 
deep, dry loam. Thrives best against a wall. Native of Cali¬ 
fornia. 
Chamcebotia EOXIALOSA (Very-leafy Chaincebotin).—This is 
also a Californian plant, a hardy evergreen shrub, sent by Mr. W. 
Lobb to the Exeter Nursery. It may be called the Fern shrub, 
the leaves being broadly oval in shape, and thrice divided. 
Flow'ers white, like in form to a Bramble or small Rose. The 
plant is compact and dwarf, erect and much branched. A desir¬ 
able addition to our list of handsome hardy shrubs. 
Clematis viticella r. yenosa (Veined Clematis).—This 
Vine Bower is a hardy, climbing, deciduous shrub of great 
beauty, possessing the following good properties The flowers 
are nearly four inches across, and of a rich purple colour veined 
with crimson. r ihe white styles are tipped with the prevailing 
colour—purple. It has the advantage of continuing a long time 
in bloom. For pillars and walks this is a decided acquisition. 
Cotoneaster EuxiEOLlA (Box-leaved Cotoneaster).—A hardy 
evergreen shrub from the Indian hills. It was sent home by Mr. 
T. Lobb to the Exeter Nursery, aud is the true species of Dr. 
Wight.. Flowers white and very numerous; habit dwarf and 
compact. A neat, desirable shrub, and perfectly hardy. 
^ Dendromecon rigid T7M (Stiff Dendromecon).—We all know 
the tribe Poppy, mostly annuals and perennials. Here we have 
a shrubby Poppy with bright yellow flowers, produced singly at 
the ends of the branches; leaves lanceolate and of a greyish 
