PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 263 



be recommended as likely to discourage llie use of drug-ged and poisonous 

 liquors ? Is not the fact indisputable that its merits incite a demand equal 

 to the constantly and rapidly-increasing manufacture, at prices leaving a 

 munificent margin of profit to the producer, and will it not be some time 

 before people familiar with the whole matter will believe it a speculative 

 juggle ? 



"It seems to me the best practical test of quality is that tlie consumer 

 is satisfied. But it may be urged that, to the educated palate of the best 

 wine judges, compared to the best qualities of grape-wine, it is a nauseous, 

 worthless compound. 



" The question may arise, however, whether they are the best judges of 

 the general want. There are other considerations than mere taste, which 

 go far to decide the choice of the public, even if all possessed a like accu- 

 rate discrimination. 



"The difference of cost of grape and rhubarb wine is an item to which 

 no American is insensible. Add to this the not infrequent depravity and 

 morbidity of taste which enables a large class of people to endure the pre- 

 parations called lager-beer, ale, &c., and grape-wine is put at an exceed- 

 ingly embarrassing discount in the common market. 



" Now, I have no pecuniary interest in the matter — not having engaged 

 in its manufacture or sale; neither am I interested in grape-wine manufac- 

 ture pecuniarily. I say this, because the seeming haste used in the Club in 

 condemning it tends to excite a suspicion that jealousy of a rival business, 

 rather than sound judgment, was paramount. 



" I cannot think, however, that any just ground for jealousy exists, but 

 rather the contrary." 



Mr. John G. Bergen. — I recollect that Mr. Robinson was one of the ear- 

 liest advocates of the culture of rhubarb for wine, and that he presented a 

 bottle to the Club as American sherry, which was drank by several who 

 professed to be good judges, and pronounced excellent, and that he then 

 astonished them with the assurance that it had not a drop of grape juice 

 in its composition. I should like to know if he has changed his opinion. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — No. And, so far as I am concerned, Mr. Seeley is 

 mistaken in supposing that I have condemned it. I have only condemned 

 the dishonest representations of knaves who sell roots of " the wine plant," 

 representing it as something peculiar, and the only variety that will 

 make wine. All of the cultivated varieties of the common garden 

 " pie-plant" (rhubarb) will make this kind of wine, and one about 

 as good as another. One sort may afford more juice than some 

 other, and for this it is pro jable that Gaboon's seedling, which is a coarse, 

 strong-growing sort, would give the greatest yield per acre. And, speak- 

 ing of seedlings, reminds me that it is not necessary to go to the expense 

 of getting roots to establish a rhubarb plajitation for wine-making. Buy 

 the seed and grow the plants, and if you do not get "Linmeus" or "Victo- 

 ria," you may get a seedling equal to either, or better than Cahoon's or 

 Downing's seedlings, or at any rate you will get cheap plants that will 

 afford juice and save you from being cheated in buying " wine plants," 

 which, perhaps, you already have growing in your garden. 



