466 FRUIT. 



paying millions tc foreigners for deleterious drinks, let us produce 

 from our own hillsides a wholesome beverage, that will be within 

 reach of us all the poor as well as the rich." 



Very few of the friends of temperance are perhaps aware of two 

 facts. First, that pure light wines, such as the Catawba of this coun- 

 try, and the Hock and Clarets of Europe, contain so little alcohol 

 (only 7 or 8 per cent.) that they are not intoxicating unless drank 

 in a most inordinate manner, to which, from the quantity required, 

 there is no temptation. On the other hand, they exhilarate the spi- 

 rits, and act in a salutary manner on the respiratory organs. We 

 do not mean to say that men could not live and breathe just as well, 

 if there were no such thing as wine known ; but that since the time 

 of Noah, men will not be contented with merely living and breath- 

 ing ; and it is therefore better to provide them with proper and 

 wholesome food and drink, than to put improper aliments within 

 their reach. 



Second, that it is universally admitted that in all countries where 

 light wines so abound that the peasant or working-man may have his 

 pint of light wine per day, drunkenness is a thing unknown. On the 

 other hand, in all countries which do not produce claret, hock, or 

 some other wholesome light wine, ardent spirits are used, and drunk- 

 enness is the invariable result. As there is no nation in the world 

 where only cold water is drank, (unless opium is used,) and since 

 large bodies of men will live in cities, instead of forests and pas- 

 tures, there is not likely to be such a nation, let us choose whether 

 it is better to have national temperance with light wines, or national 

 intemperance with ardent spirits. The question resolves itself into 

 that narrow compass, at last. 



As we think there are few who will hesitate which horn of the 

 dilemma to choose, (especially, as an Irishman would say, " where 

 one is no horn at all,") it is, we think, worth while to glance for a 

 moment at the state of the vine culture in the valley of the Ohio. 



We have before us a very interesting little pamphlet, full of 

 practical details and suggestions on the subject,* It is understood 



* A Treatise on Grape Culture in Vineyards in the vicinity of Cincin- 

 nati : By a member of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society. Sold by I. F. 

 De Silver, Main-street, Cincinnati. 



