WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 815 



funnel, \yhich will retain the mould. But with proper care 

 this will only happen with very weak, light bodied wines. 



Then withdraw the faucet, and let the sediment run out 

 through the hole, or if your cask has a manhole or door, as 

 all over 300 gallon capacity ought to have, you can unscrew 

 it, and take the lees out. They can be used for brandy, but 

 should for that purpose either be distilled immediately, or 

 kept in air tight casks or tanks until all are ready. 



When all the lees that will run out have been emptied, put sev- 

 eral buckets of clear water into the empty cask, shaking it thor- 

 oughly, so that all parts are reached. Repeat this until the water 

 runs from the bung perfectly clear and limpid. For small 

 casks the rinsing chain is very useful (Fig. 31) as the sedi- 

 ment is very slimy, and if any remains on the sides of the 

 cask, it is apt to injure the wine. Large casks with manholes, 

 can of course be brushed clean inside. Remember that clean- 

 liness is absolutely necessary, if you want clear, pure tasting 

 wine. You cannot have it without this. 



A great many sulphur all the casks before using them, es- 

 pecially white wines. It is well enough to use sulphur to 

 keep empty casks sweet and free from mold, but they ought 

 to be rinsed with clear water before using. Unless white wine 

 is dull, and lacks spirit, I think sulphuring a positive injury, 

 which is apt to destroy or at least vitiate that delicacy which 

 should be their characteristic. If otherwise good and sound, 

 they need no sulphur to make them so. To red wines it is a 

 positive injury, as it deadens their color and decreases it. 



Having racked and cleaned one cask, we can refill it with 

 the next; and should the first not be quite full, fill it with 

 the same or a similar wine, and so go on until all is finished. 



The principal rules to observe are: 



i st. Choose bright and clear weather, and avoid damp 

 and rainy days, as well as storms. 



2d. Do not rack until your wine is clear, unless it is to re- 



