PLANTS. 245 



Brandy and alcohol are made from the lees, and the tar- 

 trate of potash found on the sides of the fermenting ves- 

 sels is used for medical purposes. If the wine is left 

 exposed to the air, it undergoes a new fermentation, and 

 becomes vinegar. As the saccharine matter has much 

 to do in determining the strength of the wine, it is very 

 common to dry the grapes partially before pressing in 

 order to free them of the watery properties ; this is done 

 by spreading them out in the sun or in ovens slightly 

 warm. This prevents the sugar from changing the wine 

 into alcohol, and in the manufacture of sack and other 

 sweet wines, is generally observed. In Italy, Greece, 

 and Spain, grapes are dried and sent abroad as raisins ; 

 many are entirely without seeds. The wood of the stem 

 and small branches, burnt into charcoal, is much used 

 in the manufacture of printer's ink and black crayons. 

 Zante Currants or Corinthian Raisins are made from 

 a remarkably small grape called the Black Corinth. 

 There are incredible varieties of grapes, in France alone 

 are fourteen hundred ; the different kinds are used for 

 making different wines. Rhenish wine is made from the 

 Risling Champagne from the Clevner / the Burgundy, 

 Traminer, and Muscadine are much esteemed as the best 

 European wines. The American species are Vitis La- 

 brusca, Isabella, Catawba, Kaccoon, etc. The Labrusca 

 or Fox Grape is a native of the Northern States, has 

 been cultivated in Europe ; the fruit has the flavor of 

 the Muscatel, h. 



The American Ivy or Woodbine (ampelopsis heder- 

 acea), Michx., is easily distinguished by its five-fingered 

 dentate leaves, and, as autumn approaches, its beautiful 

 red foliage. It has long been cultivated as a covering 

 for walls and arbors; its radiating tendrils fastening 



