136 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



ELDERBERRY WINE. 



Mr. Robinson read a letter inquiring how to make wine from 

 the elderberry without putting spirits in it. 



Prof. Mapes said that the proper way Avould be to change the 

 nature of the sugar at the outset. If we melt the sugar and add 

 a very small quantity of sulphuric acid, half a gill to 100 lbs of 

 sugar, and boil it four or five hours, we may then add common 

 chalk which will take up the sulphuric acid and go to the bottom 

 in the form of gypsum. The supernatant fluid, poured off, would 

 not afterward give an article resembling rum, but would give an 

 article resembling brandy. If the sugar be so treated we may 

 make the best of elderberry wine with it. 



Mr. Carpenter read a receipt from a lady — " One quart elder- 

 berry juice, to three quarts Avater, and three pounds sugar. Let 

 it ferment and then cork up." 



Mr. Robinson said that the juice of apples would make better 

 wnne than anything else excepting grapes. Next comes .the juice 

 of peaches and pears. They are all far superior to berries. 

 Elderberry wine he did not consider worth making. 



Mr. Fuller said that apple juice was decidedly better than 

 anything excepting grape juice for wine. 



DROUGHT. 



Mr. Robinson read an extract from the " Boston Cultivator/' 

 stating that Mr. E. L. Metcalf, of Franklin, Mass., is preparing to 

 irrigate forty acres of his land. 



Prof Mapes explained the importance of underdraining land to 

 prevent drought. The primary function of the drains is the 

 aeration of the soil, and both ends should be left open. The cur- 

 rent of air en ering charged with moisture is cooled sufficiently 

 to deposit a portion of that moisture in the soil with which it 

 comes in contact, and this moisture is taken up by capillary 

 attraction within reach of the roots of the plants. The air 

 escaping from the outlet of the drain will be several degrees 

 colder than when it entered, and this heat, as well as a portion 

 of its moisture has been taken up by the soil. . Hence, under- 

 drained lands, properly subsoiled and surface plowed, will be two 

 weeks earlier in the spring and tAvo weeks later in the fall than 

 other lands. lie desired that the subject be continued for another 

 week. 



Subject, " Drought and Flowers." 



Adjourned. 



