CHAPTER XXIII. 



WINE MAKING. 



IN this chapter we shall condense experience, 

 reading, and the memoranda of one of the most 

 accomplished connoisseurs among us. A bib 

 liography will be furnished elsewhere. 



Wine making is regarded by some as a 

 mysterious art, to be acquired only by a few 

 specially gifted for the purpose ; and by others 

 as something that follows in due course from 

 planting any kind of grapes, and treating them 

 in some fancied manner. Those who follow us 

 through this chapter will see that it partakes 

 of neither, but is a manly art, very simple in 

 its general principles, but exceedingly attract 

 ive in its comprehensive details when pursued 

 to its ultimate results. It needs no extensive 

 scientific acquirements for its successful prac 

 tice, and the following directions will carry 

 their reasons with them so obviously that no 



