456 



tartar, with dead cells of yeast and of other ferments, and with an 

 excess of colouring matter, which make its use unpalatable as well 

 as unwholesome. Such wines produce dizziness, headaches; they 

 check digestion, and, worst of all, when taken in excess, they lead to 

 kidney troubles. Some constitutions can stand them better than 

 others. When buying for immediate /consumption, ask for a wine 

 at least two or three years old, whether it is a wine of the claret, 

 burgundy, chablis, port, or sherry type you require. 



BE READY FOB BOTTLING. The cask having reached the cellar, 

 place it on a small stand, at a height of 15 to 18 inches from the 

 ground. Collect bottles or buy them. For home use, it is immaterial 

 what shape or colour the bottles are. French claret bottles are 

 expensive, but brandy or whisky bottles answer just as well, or 

 even beer bottles. The bottles are easily cleaned. It of ten happens 

 that they have a cork inside ; this is easily removed by using a 

 special cork drawer made of wires armed with a spike or hook at 

 the end, and costing Is. or thereabouts. The bottles are placed in 

 soak in water containing a small handful of washing soda for each 

 gallon ; they are then cleaned of stains and crust by using small 

 shot or coarse sand and water. It is important that no shot be left 

 in the bottle, as the action of the acid in wine on the shot would 

 result in the wine containing in solution salts of lead, which are 

 highly poisonous. When cleaned, the bottles are rinsed in fresh 

 water and placed in cases, in baskets, or on crates to drain. 



CORKS are also required ; these vary in texture and in shape. 

 If a powerful corking machine is available, a larger cork is prefer- 

 able ; if not, tapered corks should be procured ; they cost from 3s. 

 to 4s. per gross. Beer corks, which are cheaper, are unsuitable ; 

 they are too porous, and not lasting enough. 



A SYPHON is 

 much more prefer- 

 able than taps for 

 drawing the wine 

 from the cask and 

 running it into 

 the bottles. The 

 best syphon is a 

 flexible piece of 

 indiarubber tub- 

 ing at out fin. 

 inside diameter. 

 Gas piping ans- 

 wers the purpose 

 very well ; two 

 yards, costing 

 Is. 6d. a yard, are 

 sufficient. 



Bottling by Syphon. 



