284 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The good wine grapes raised on the Ozarks will create a l^o. 1 

 market for themselves just as soon as they are raised and it becomes 

 known to the wine-makers of the country that the grapes can be had; 

 they will be eagerly on hand (more so than they were after the peaches 

 this year) to buy the grapes of those who are unable to make it into 

 wine because it requires more capital, and of those whose conscien- 

 tious scruples deter them from doing so, at prices that will defy com- 

 petition with the Labrusca. 



Let it be borne in mind that the wines stand in the same relation 

 to each other for quality and value as the metals do. Iron and gold 

 are both metals, yet what would the grape-grower think of the man 

 who mines iron on his premises when he could mine gold with less 

 trouble and expense? 



The fermented pure juice of the grape, called wine, is not only a 

 beverage, but medicine and food also. It is that universal oldest rem- 

 edy against human alflictions, that elixir which invigorates man as no 

 other stimulant or medicine can. . 



While wine will intoxicate if used to excess, nevertheless is in 

 itself an aid to temperance. 



After becoming accustomed to wine-drinking, the amount it takes 

 to satisfy one's thirst will have no effect as far as intoxication is con- 

 cerned and, after one's thirst is satisfied, he does not crave more (unless 

 he be a glutton who drinks it, because it is wine and not because he 

 thirsts for it) ; and distilled spirits become so distasteful that even 

 their gcent is objectionable ; consequently wine cures the thirst for 

 distilled spirits, instead of exciting it. 



Our temperance societies, with their aim of absolute prohibition* 

 virtually assist and uphold the use of whisky, as the whisky element is 

 fighting the American wine as much as the temperance societies do, 

 knowing that whenever the people take to the use of wine their busi- 

 ness will go to the wall. 



Wine-drinking is a benefit even to the drunkard, as he retains his 

 senses in his drunken state, and it does not turn him wild, and a cup 

 of strong hot coffee will sober him in 15 to 20 minutes, unlike being 

 drunk on poisonous distilled spirits, which is likely to give him the 

 delirium tremens. 



I have reference to the pure juice of the grape as stated above, 

 and not the abominable adulterated wines made by some of the grape- 

 growers in the rural districts. First, they usually and principally raise 

 the Labrusca family of grapes, which is so poor in saccharine that they 

 have to add sugar in order to create the necessary amount of alcohol 

 to keep it when made into wine (otherwise it would turn into vinegar) 



