356 GRAPE GUI/TURK AND 



local consumption, will be greatly promoted by substitution of 

 grape spirits for cheaper poisonous spirits. 



Several have already indicated their intention of using the 

 State stamp on small packages. On bottles, particularly,, 

 will the practice be adopted, and here it will be of use. 

 When the public demand the pure wine stamp on the bottles, 

 as they will do when knowing its value and finding some mer- 

 chants who employ it; the trade will be forced to supply them 

 pure wine, and that under a California label. A large por- 

 tion of the native wine sold in bottles, goes today to the pub- 

 lic with a ficticious label of foreign import. The presence of 

 the stamp will bring to public recognition the name and trade 

 mark of California producers, where heretofore the bottle has 

 been branded " Chateaux La Rose," " Chateau Margaux "or 

 "St. Julien." 



Whether the use of the stamp on large packages going out 

 of the State will be harmful or otherwise, the use of the same 

 on bottled wines must certainly result in good. 



It has been suggested that the Controller's list of those 

 dealers making application for the stamp will prove a valuable 

 directory for the use of purchasers. It is to be hoped it may. 



Dealers have now had ample time for working off their sus- 

 picious products, and every opportunity has been given those, 

 who perhaps with honest motives at first have been forced 

 into the use of cheapening processes by harmful competition, 

 to start anew on a fair, square basis with an easy redress from 

 others competing by dishonest means. 



Whatever effect this law may have, it will aid in forming 

 a standard of excellence founded on quality and not alone on 

 price.' The latter has proved the ruinous measure by which 

 our wines have been gauged and marketed, a measure by 

 which they have been caused to degenerate rather than ad- 

 vance. Good wine continues to improve and will pay to keep. 

 Poor wine will rapidly deteriorate, and if not allowed to be 



