288 
ON COLONIAL WINES. 
essentially, and therefore the results are shown in different 
terms. In England, Fahrenheit's thermometer and Sykes' 
hydrometer are used ; in France, the Centigrade thermometer 
and Gay-Lussac's hydrometer. These thermometers differ in 
the fact, that the range between the temperature of frozen 
and boiling water is divided in the latter (Centigrade) into 
100 parts or degrees, and in the former into 180. Gay-Lussac's 
hydrometer is graduated to show 100 divisions or degrees 
between absolute alcohol of *796 specific gravity, at 15*5 Cen- 
tigrade or 60° Fahrenheit, and pure water ; while the scale of 
Sykes' hydrometer starts from a definite mixture of water and 
pure alcohol, nearly in equal volumes, having a specific gravity 
of -920 at 60° Fahrenheit, and called proof spirit, and the 
instrument shows whether the spirit under test is of greater 
or less strength than such proof. In various scientific works 
tables are given of the equivalent degrees of these two scales, 
but none of them exactly correspond. The following figures 
are very nearly exact : — 
Sykes. 
Gay-Lussac. 
Sykes. 
Gay-Lussac. 
Sykes. 
Gay-Lussac. 
1 
0-5 
9-5 
6-5 
21-5 
13 
2 
1 
11 
7 
23 
14 
3 
2 
13 
8 
24 
15 
4 
3 
15 
9 
25 
16 
4-5 
3-5 
16-5 
9-75 
26-5 
17 
5 
4 
! 18 
10-5 
28 
18 
6-5 
5 
; 19 
11-5 
30 
19 
8 
6 
20 
12 
1 32 
20 
Under the excise laws of France, wine generally is not 
allowed to be fortified for home consumption ; but, under 
certain limitations, spirit to the extent of 5 per cent, may be 
added to the produce of the eastern Pyrenees, the Aude, the 
Tarn, the H6rault, the Gard, and the Rhone. All wines for 
•exportation may be fortified without restriction, and most 
vintages are so strengthened before being shipped — Roussillon 
•wines for Brazil to the extent of 10 per cent., and for 
England from 5 to 8 per cent. 
