The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-12
SOME LONDON VINEYARDS.


4
Today is the day OF the wine fal<ir
Never before in the history Of the trade
have his devices been so numerous and
his connections SO villainous- Never De-
fore. too, have his profits been more sat
fsfaetory. So long as there is a demand
for fuIl-bodied f'Burgundies'' and "clar-
ets'' at. say. SIS. a dozen. that demands
will be supplied
bricated and adulterated wine Inc
latter is generally pretty easy to deal
with Fabricated wine is Tar more Diff
cult OF detection.
Here we have q concoctfou Of a more
or less chemical nature, which IS de-
signed with the express Idea Of closely
Initiating the genuine vine, IN color
bouquet" and taste One favorite fab
ricatiou consists Of 90 per cent Of water.
51z per cent Of alcohol, and AZ per cent
Of tannin- The two latter ingredients are
obtained from the cheapest form OF i'm
ported raisius-
Very frequently these raising con-
siSt of squeezed grape husixs which
have already done genuine service IN
to nothing to import. are referuenred
/ here IN England, and their juice IS
eked out with the aid Of tartartc acid
and u1oIaS Ses- Consequently their maker
is enabled to sell his connection at tn
ridtculOusly low price OF about Is. I'd
per gallon, and at the same time to
make an excellent profit upon the trans
action Much Of his beverage first sees
the light IN or near London
The retailer sells it again at about 8.
Sd. per gallon: or. If bottled and beauti-
fully sealed and cobwebbed. at the con-
siderably enhanced price of. say. six
pence per pint bottle-"Our famous S.
c1aret''
A particularly pungent revelation Of
the beauties Of certain British light
wines was afforded the food preserva-
tives committee by Prof ". H Corheld-
This scientist, who is consulting SAM
tary adviser to H NJ office Of works,
stated that he commonly found saIicylic
acid in these 'vtntages-" Salicylic acid,
added he, for the benefit Of his nom
scientific hearers, was a slightly acrtd,
irritating substance which was much
IN demand among afflicted people as a
corn solvent
A fabricated sherry, which can be
sold at a good profit for Is a bottle. Is
prepared from cider-and more obnox-
fous things Champagne" which is also
better left untouched, is prepared by the
willy fabricator.
whatever the shortcomings Of the
British wine tax1r, and they are many
it is certain that for sheer audacity he
must yield the palm to his TeutOnic
competitors In the city Of Hamburg
alone it is possible to purchase imita-
lions OF practically every wine and spirit
under the sun at prices before which the
British wine fakir must stand aghast-
With spirits, however. the palate is
a better guide A British East Indian
house was recently offered by Hamburg
exporters whisky at IS. ND per dozen
cases, and brandy at IS. 1od- This is the
sort Of poison Of which Germany an
uualIy supplies upward Of a millions
worth to the Niger Coast PrOtectorate-
The liquor IS the most vilIainous potato
spirit, carefully disguised by strong es-
sences and sham labels
France IS not less culpable She only
I produces about 40, 600 hectOlitres OF gem
ufne French brandy, yet she exports
about $50, 900 hectolitres in addition to
the 1000 600 consumed in her own land /.
During the past few months. however,
the consumer Of alcohol has been
| brought face to face with yet another
fearful source for his favOrite beveF-
ages. Thanks to the energetic research
( IS Of DR.. SIuonsen Of Christfania, it is
I now possible to produce alcohol from
/ both paper and sawdust.