Terek (arrived at Dakar Dec. 16).
29 there about Dec. 1; supposed to have already joined the ain squadron).
(arrived at Suda Dee. 14). (arrived at Suda Dec.
11). Rezviyi (arrived at ivy, Algiers Dec. 6 and subsequently dook-
Special service ship Irzash (whereabouts unknown ably en route to join Okean the the main squadron).
Great Bolt _southward Dec. 15).
We have received from Messrs. Cutler, Palmer & Ca. their Annual Report on this- year's Vintage now concluded. In entire distinction to last year the weather has on the whole been most propitious, and as a consequence the reports from most of the wine-growing districts have been extremely favourable. Subjoined are the particulars France.
Bordeaux.—Aided by the favourable temperature during May, the budding took place under most advantageous conditions, albeit occasional damp intervals caused a partial dropping of the. grains, this toa certain extent diminishing the quantity; but during the gathering of the grapes the most perfect weather prevailed, and, thanks to this fortunate ciroumstance, the product will be of really superior quality, and we are convinced that the present Vintage will be an extremely good one, yielding fine, well-coloured, stout, and fruity wines. The French Government have not yet given out the number of hi reduced, but it ie certain that the figures of 1903, viz., 932,224 hogsheads, will be largely exceeded.
Burgundy.—The wines of 1904 possess excellent colour, and are rich in vinosity, joed by some they are compared with the finest wines of last century; without doubt there is reason to believ their ultimate development. The quantity will be equal to that of " good year.
Champagne—We have much pleasure in recording a fine Vintage this year, probably a very fine one, though that will be impossible to determine for certain until after the first fermentation. We have never seen the vines in better ce: dition, and the quantity of grapes is nearly as large as in 1893, while there is an entire absence of disease of any sort. There is every prospect that the Winos of the Champagne district of 1904 will rank among the best Vintages.
Saumur.—Phe present Vintage has proved a most successful one in every respect. From the early spring the vines made steady and unchecked pro-gross, and the grapes benefited immes-surahly by the warm and even tempersture, producing a wine of perfect maturity, richness, and fine flavour.
Cognac.—Having been favoured with very fine weather the gathering of the grapes has taken place under the most satisfactory conditions, therefore the wines are'of splendid quality for dis-filiation of first-class Brandies. The floreecence, ripeness, vintage, fermentstion, have all been made under excellent conditions, the. temperature the whole time having kept very high. The quality is superior to that of 1900, in fact we are confident that this year's Vintage is one of the best we have had during the last thirty years.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.