156 [Assembly 



vine under ordinary circum stances. Th^ treatment here employed by 

 nature to bring to perfection the fruit of the vine, may be imitated," 

 &c., &c. 



Humboldt says, " that, in order to procure potable wine, it is re- 

 quisite that the mean annual heat should exceed 49°, that the winter 

 temperature should be upward of 33°, and the mean summer tempera- 

 ture upward of 64°." His remarks on this subject are deeply inte- 

 resting See his ^sie Centrale^ torn. 3, p. 159. 



Some may think it impolitic to encourage the production of wine, 

 because of the apprehension of a demoralising effect which may arise 

 from its use. It has, however, been asserted, and remains uncontra- 

 dicted, that the inhabitants of the wine producing districts of Europe 

 are, as a whole, the most temperate people on earth ; (hough they 

 constantly use as a beverage the cheap wines of their country with 

 decided benefit. The mass of laborers in those countries are said to 

 enjoy almost uninterrupted health. 



Some wines contain a much larger quantity of alcohol than others, 

 and the quantity which is contained in all kinds of wine varies with 

 the varying seasons. Experiments which have been made with great 

 care by the most celebrated chemist, taking forty-two different kinds 

 of wine, show that it varies from 24 to 8 per cent ; Port wine con- 

 taining the greatest, and Hock the smallest quantity. The cheap 

 wines of Europe, which enter so largely into the consumption of 

 those countries, contain less alcohol than the cider of our own country. 

 The use of cider as a common beverage, it is said, has materially 

 diminished in the northern sections of the United States, in conse- 

 quence of a belief, prevalent to a large extent, that its use is pro- 

 ductive of, and extremely injurious to, persons afflicted with chronic 

 diseases. Its disuse, if it be so. may with greater propriety be attri- 

 buted to Ihe negligent manner in which it is prepared, as a general 

 thing. 



The consumption of wine in the United States appears to be on the 

 inaease j the importation of 1S48 being nearly double that of 1844. 

 The amount imported annually, falls very fer below the whole quantity 



