It is not improbable that the English brewing business has already reached its culminating point. A large part of the annual product has long been exported to the colonies, and now these are beginning to brew beer for themselves and will soon have a supply of their own make, sufficient in quality and quantity to make them independent of the mother country. With us the case is different. The consumption is increasing rapidly, and brewers show a wise liberality in securing new processes and appurtenances, and spare no effort to improve the quality of their product. Those who make the best beer secure the most custom, and the fraternity are fully aware of the fact. All this rivalry cannot fail to benefit the consumer. Every year sees better ale and lager beer sent over the country, and every year something is contributed to the solution of the problem in brewing—to produce a mild beer that with more extract than is now found shall contain even less alcohol, and remain bright and refreshing. Whether full success in such an attempt is to be sooner reached by the ale or lager beer brewers remains to be seen, or it may well be that some new malt beverage may be discovered, unlike either of the others and superior to both. Such a result would be no more striking than other steps in progress already made, and brewers of large experience are to be found who believe that some such discovery is impending. In the meantime we have the satisfaction of knowing that America already produces malt liquors made from native materials that are wholesome and agreeable and at least up to the average of similar liquors made in countries where brewing has been carefully studied and extensively practiced for centuries, while with us it is chiefly a recent growth. The degree of success that is possible when we take into account the natural resources of the country and the enterprising character of the brewers is hardly to be realized. CHAPTER VII. THE CONDITIONS AND PROSPECTS OF THE BEER TRADE. I believe that Germans are destined to be really the greatest benefactors of this country by bringing to us—if we choose to accept the boon—their beer. Lager beer contains less alcohol than any of the native grape wines. This fact, with the other fact, that the Germans have not the pernicious habits of our people, would, if we choose to adopt their custom, tend to diminish intemperance in this country. DR. HENRY J. BOWDITCH, _Chairman of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts._ Geniesst im edlen Gerstensaft Des Weines Geist, des Brodes Kraft. The strength of bread, the fire of wine O noble barley juice are thine. TIVOLI. [Illustration: FREDERICK LAUER’S PARK BREWERY. READING, PA. _For historical sketch see Appendix C. Page 180._]