94: THE AMERICAN VINE-DRESSER'S GUIDE. 



stick of sulphur two or three inches long in 

 each one. See, above all things, that the 

 hoops be well fitted on these vessels, with- 

 out which you would be exposed to a total 

 loss. 



If you do not wish to sell your wines im- 

 mediately, put them into foudres, that is to 

 say, large casks capable of containing at least 

 twenty-five hundred or three thousand gal- 

 lons ; the larger the foudre the better, pro- 

 vided it be quite full ; wine keeps cooler in 

 them and ripens better. Nevertheless, in 

 particular years, when wine could only be sold 

 at a low price, and to avoid the expense of 

 foudres and casks, I have seen wine put into 

 ordinary tubs, the opening being closed with 

 boards covered with earth to prevent the air 

 from getting in and injuring the wine. By 

 this means the purchase of casks may be dis- 

 pensed with until the time of sale ; and, be- 



