NATIVE  WINE  FROM  THE  GARDEN  RHUBARB  PLANT.  69 
The  crop  for  1865  promises  to  be  still  smaller  than  for  1864. 
Much  of  the  mint  was  winter- killed ;  there  was  less  new  mint 
set  than  usual,  and  a  worm  has  made  its  appearance  which  de- 
stroys it. 
The  growth  of  corn  and  other  great  staple  products  yielding 
more  profit,  afford  indication  that  the  growth  of  acres  of  mint 
is  gradually,  year  by  year,  becoming  less. 
I  have  not  obtained  the  average  number  of  acres  under  mint 
growth  for  the  four  years  named,  otherwise  the  pro  rata  value 
could  be  given ;  but  while  the  crop  of  1863  was  a  large  yield 
at  a  fair  price,  the  crop  for  1864  was  less  than  half,  at  far 
greater  cost  for  labor,  and  was  spread  over  almost  as  much  land. 
New  lands  in  St.  Joseph's  County  have  nearly  doubled  in 
value  in  five  years.  Labor  that  was  plenty  at  $15  per  month 
previous' to  the  rebellion,  is  now  scarce  at  $30. 
The  best  of  the  oil  of  peppermint  of  Michigan  finds  it  way  into 
market  through  the  Messrs.  Hotchkiss,  under  their  brand  ;  the 
balance  is  sold  in  the  New  York  market,  through  the  commis- 
sion merchants  and  brokers. 
Detroit,  Sep.  1st,  1865. 
— Arner.  Pharm .  Assoc.,  1865. 
NATIVE  WINE  FROM  THE  GARDEN  RHUBARB  PLANT. 
Br  Frederick  Stearns. 
An  enterprising  gentlemen,  of  Belvidere,  Illinois,  Mr.  J.  R. 
Mudge,  having  introduced  into  market,  during  the  last  four  or 
five  years,  a  new  native  wine,  made  from  the  garden  rhubarb,  I 
offer  the  following  in  regard  to  its  culture  and  manufacture,  as 
obtained  from  him. 
The  growth  of  the  plant  for  wine  making  was  commenced  in 
1858,  from  what  is  termed  the  "strawberry  variety,"  and  has 
been  continued  ever  since  with  continually  increasing  crop.  The 
first  crop  was  1500  gallons,  from  that  to  4000  gallons  in  1864, 
while  this  season's  crop  is  over  10,000  gallons. 
When  mature,  the  plant  being  cut,  the  juice  is  expressed,  just 
as  corn  juice  is  obtained,  and  an  equal  bulk  of  water  being  ad- 
ded, with  seven  pounds  of  sugar  to  each  gallon,  is  passed  through 
