t$0 On the Cultivation of the Vine, 



This clarification is effected fpontancoufly by time and re- 

 pofe ; ami ihere is gradually formed a depofit at the bottom 

 of the calk and on the fides, which frees the wine from every 

 thing not in abfolute folution in it, or which is in it in excefs. 

 This depofit, called the lees, faces, is a confuted mixture of 

 tartar principles, analogous to fibrous matter and colouring 

 matter. 



But thefe matters, though deposited in the cafk, and pre- 

 cipitated from the wine, are fufceptible of being (till mixed 

 with it by agitation, change of temperature, &c. ; and in 

 that cafe, betides injuring the quality of the wine, which 

 they render turbid, they may communicate to it a new fer- 

 mentation, which makes it degenerate into vinegar. 



To obviate this inconvenience, the wine is drawn off into 

 other veflels at different periods ; all the lees which have been, 

 precipitated are carefully feparated ; and every thing exifting 

 in it in a ltate of incomplete folution is di fen gaged from it by 

 Ample precedes, which we fit all hereafter detail. By means 

 of thefe operations it is cleanfed and purified, and deprived of 

 all thole matters which might determine acetification. 



Every thing that relates to the art of preferving wines may 

 be reduced to fulphuring and clarification. 



Sulphuring of Wine, 



ift, To fulphur wine is to impregnate it with a fulphurous, 

 vapour obtained by the com bull ion of fulphured matches. 



The method of comppfing thefe matches varies confiderably 

 in different places ; fome mix with the fulphur aromatic fub- 

 ftanccs, fuch as powder of cloves, cinnamon, ginger, Flo- 

 rentine iris, flowers of thyme, lavender, marjoram, &c. and 

 melt the mixture in an earthen veiTel over a moderate fire. 

 In this melted mixture, rags of cotton cloth are dipped in 

 order to be burnt in the calks. Others employ fulphur alone, 

 which they melt over the fire, and dip rags in it in the fame 

 manner. 



In the method of fulphuring cafks there is alfo confi- 

 derable variety. Sometimes the match is mfpended at the 

 end of an iron wire; it is then lighted, and put into the calk 

 intended to be filled with wine ; the calk is then flopped, and 

 the match is left to burn : the internal air becomes dilated, 

 and is expelled, with a hifling noife, by the fulphurous gas : 

 two, three, or more matches are burnt in this manner, ac- 

 cording as may be thought neeeffary. When the combuftion 

 is 'ermtnated, the fides of the cafk are fcarcely acid; the 

 wine is then poured into it. In other countries, two or 

 three pailfuls of wine are poured into a good cafk; a ful- 

 phured 



