310 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Mr. Carpenter. — The remarks of the gentleman has not changed my 

 opinion. I still consider there is but one variety of red clover. 



Adjourned, John W. Chambeks, Secretarij. 



March 15, 1864. 

 Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair. 



White's Improved Apple Parer. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter exhibited White's improved apple parer- 

 This machine was invented by Mr. Jonathan White, of Antrim, N. H. He 

 claims for it superiority to any apple parer now in use. 



1st. As being less liable to get out of order. 



2d. As being easier and quicker motion. The best parer now in market 

 travels 108 inches in paring an apple, while this accomplishes the same by 

 traveling 28 inches. 



3d. In that the paring does not clog up the machine, as is the case with 

 the best now in use. 



The machine was tried in the presence of the members, and was very 

 much admired for the rapid manner in which it worked. 



Rhubarb Wine. 



A. G. Nye, Libertyville, Jefferson county, Iowa, writes to inquire 

 what more the Club has to say about rhubarb wine. " Agents who are 

 selling roots assure farmers that it promises large profits to those who 

 engage in the business. I am aware that it was talked about some time 

 ago in the Farmers' Club, and I think Mr. Carpenter and others, yourself 

 among the number, spoke of it unfavorably, and said that it was a pleasant, 

 palatable wine, but weak and not of much value, and that no considerable 

 quantity could be sold at a price that would pay for the cultivation of the 

 plant and making the wine. The Farmers' Club being very good authority 

 here, the unfavorable notice of the wine by them has prevented some from 

 going into the business. Our physicians recommend it for their patients, 

 and pronounce it a stimulant and tonic fully equal to the best grape wine. 

 The question of most importance to us, who think of going into the busi- 

 ness, is^ can any considerable quantity of the wine be sold at a fair price, 

 say two dollars per gallon, in the New York market, or any other market 

 of the country? Will the Farmer's Club enlighten us ?" 



Mr. W. S. Carpenter. — I was in a cellar yesterday where I tasted a sample 

 of twenty-five barrels of rhubarb wine, just sold at eighty cents a gallon. 

 Compared with other rhubarb wine that I have tasted heretofore, I sliould 

 pronounce this second or third rate. I do not think that the best could bo 

 sold in quantity at $2 a gallon. As I have never made any of this kind of 

 wine, I cannot say what the product would be; but I have no doubt that it 

 would be large; and, except the cost of sugar, I have no doubt that the 

 wine can be made as cheap as cider, and as much produced from an acre. 

 I have drank of this kind of wine that I considered really good. As to the 

 selling price, producers must not look for two dollars a gallon, because 

 grape wine can be profitably made for much less money. 



