PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 2l6 



August 27, 1860. 

 Present, 60 members. Dr. Trimble, of New Jersey, in the 

 chair. 



DOMESTIC WINE MAKING. 



Three weeks since, Geo. H. Hite presented to the Club some 

 samples of domestic wine, which were tasted and highly approv- 

 ed by the ladies and gentlemen present. They were also sub- 

 mitted to a committee to report upon, and the following is their 

 report : 



The committee on wines exhibited by Mr. Hite, report — 



1. That the Isabella wine, marked 1856, represented as pure 

 juice, without sugar, is of very superior quality. 



2. The specimens of currant wine of 1857, are also of excellent 

 quality — one bottle is sweeter than the other, but both are good, 



3. The bottle of " claret " wine of 1858, from elder-berries, has 

 some of the qualities of Port wine ; nevertheless, the flavor is 

 not agreeable to your committee. 



4. The black currant wine, 1856, may have also v-Aluable 

 medicinal qualities, but is not of agreeable flavor. Submitted. 



J. G. BERGEN, 

 R. G. PARDEE, 

 H. MEIGS, 



Committee. 



TO MAKE CURRANT AND OTHER WINES. 



Mr. G. H. Hite — The currants should be perfectly ripe when 

 gathered; they should be stemmed and washed before pressing, 

 which should be done as thoroughly as possible with a twelve- 

 inch cider press. Ascertain the amount of juice thus obtained, 

 and then add that amount of water to the same pomace, and 

 incorporate the water and pomace well together ; let it stand a 

 few hours and press it again. By this process an additional 

 quantity of juice, though not so strong, is obtained ; then mix 

 the first pressing Avith the second and weigh a gallon of it, and 

 whatever it falls short of ten pounds to the gallon, add enough 

 of good Havana sugar to make it weigh ten pounds, and so on of 

 the rest. I would here remark that an additional amount of 

 Bugar added to the above will make a sweeter wine, and perhaps 

 more suitable to the taste of many. 



It would be rather an expensive business to those who have 

 but few berries, to make currant wine from the fir^t pressing of 



