112 THE AMERICAN VINE-DRESSER'S GUIDE. 



that is to say, change the wine into other and 

 well-cleaned casks, in which a stick of brim- 

 stone one or two inches in length has been 

 burned beforehand. In drawing off, do not 

 allow the dregs to get into the new cask, stop- 

 ping as soon as the wine begins to run in the 

 least degree turbid. You may afterward put 

 the dregs into other casks, and let them rest 

 until the wine which they contain becomes 

 clear. It will not, however, be nearly so good 

 as that of the first draft. When you have 

 changed casks, be sure to fill the new ones 

 completely, but never with wine of a lower 

 grade, and then to bung tightly, and renew 

 the operation every week, especially through- 

 out the summer. In the month of September, 

 when the grape is about to grow ripe, draw 

 off anew as in the month of March preceding ; 

 for, although the cause is unknown, wines al- 

 ways experience certain crises simultaneously 

 with the vine. Draw off again twice in the 

 second and third years, and at the same time 

 of the year as before ; after the third change 



