PART II.

The _Sweet-Maker's_ Assistant.


Of RAISIN WINES.


These wines are made of various kinds of fruit; of _Malaga's,
Belvederes, Smyrna's, Raisins of the Sun_, &c. But the fruit that
produces the best wines is black _Smyrna's_, their juice being the
strongest, and the fruit clearest from stalks: for the stalks in
_Malaga's_ and _Belvideres_ are apt to give the wine a bad flavour,
and will always throw an acid on it; for the stalks of all fruits are
acid; but the stalks of _Smyrna's_ are so trifling, that after rubbing
the fruit between your hands, they will easily sift out. Wine made
from this fruit is the colour of Madeira, and has very much the
flavour of it. Malaga is the colour and flavour of foreign malaga, but
nothing near so strong. Wine made from belvideres is strong and very
sweet; and after keeping it four or five years is very little inferior
to old mountain.

In order to succeed in making these wines, you ought never to set your
steeps in hot weather, because the heat will put the fruit in a fret
which will injure its fermenting kindly. The best time for making is
in January or February. Set your steeps in the coldest part of the
cellar, still remembering to keep them from the frost.

To every gallon of water put five pounds of fruit, if good; if but
indifferent, put six pounds, into the steep. Keep stirring them three