300 GKAPE CULTURE AND 



or one hour at 60 3 F., previous to fermentation, may answer; 

 in other cases, one fourth to one half hour preliminary vigorous 

 action, and subsequent gentle treatments during fermentation, 

 several times for one or two days, or once every day, may do 

 the work. It must necessarily be left to the discretion of 

 those qualified to do the work, and inclined to systematical 

 experiments, to ascertain the best modes applicable to the 

 varying conditions that exert their influences during fermenta- 

 tion. It seems essential to accelerate the fermentation, so a 

 to earn- the musts as quickly as possible through the fermenting 

 rooms, which are frequently but poorly protected against cold, 

 generally not arranged for heating, and of limited capacity. 

 Proper air treatment performs this; abler men may develop 

 more. 



R. D'HEUREUSE. 



The last remarks were evidently written as applicable to the 

 Eastern industry. Here we have to guard more against ex- 

 cessive heat during fermentation than against cold. It will 

 be easy for the intelligent reader to form his own conclusions, 

 and vary his practice accordingly. Aeration, no matter by 

 what means, or how applied, underlies all sound fermenta- 

 tion, and while we must aerate our must during fermentation 

 to bring about a perfect fermentation, and deposit the gluten 

 and albumenous substances, we must also exclude the air, as 

 near as possible, as soon as the wine is thoroughly fermented 

 and finished. I cannot think of any better simile to illustrate 

 this, than to compare the must to a living organism, constant- 

 ly omitting and exhaling noxious substances. When it has 

 become wine, it inhales ; and is apt to be affected by all out- 

 ward influences. There is no absolute period of quietude, 

 but a constant change for better or worse, according to the 

 treatment it receives ; so it behooves us to see that we treat it 

 well. In this climate, we need not resort to the practices of 

 Dr. Gall, and Petiot, so necessary in Europe and even in the 



