OF THE VINE. 77 



particularly excellent or valuable, by those who 

 understand what constitutes s^ood wine. 



About thirty years ago, a currant plantation of 

 about forty acres was- set out near Providence, 

 R. I., and the wine from it sold mostly in the West 

 Indies. The proprietor expressed his confidence 

 that he would soon be able to make it produce two 

 hundred pipes per annum. But as nothing has 

 since been said about it, mobt likely the enterprise 

 has been abandoned. 



ELDERBERRY WINE, 



This berry, as well as the bark of the bush, is a 

 mild cathartic, and is sometimes used in syrups to 

 cleanse the blood, and as an alterative and diuretic, 

 has been adminis'teredincases of dropsy. In Ger- 

 many, a very pure and strong spirit is distilled from 

 this fruit, after it has been sweetened by night 

 frosts. "Wine can easily be made from it, and by 

 some it is considered as being very agreeable. The 

 following recipe for its manufacture was written by 

 a medical friend, and has been tested favorably, 



Recipe for ten gallons. Select dead-ripe berries, 

 and let them stand two or three days after picking ; 

 then press out the juice ; and for every three gallons 

 of juice use seven gallons of water, and three and 

 a half pounds of sugar for every gallon of liquid thus 

 formed. For the whole quantity add one gill of 

 yeast, and when fermented, skim, and add one ounce 

 of root-ginger^ — two ounces of cloves — ^three ounces 

 8 



