TARAXACUM CANNOT BE USED LEGALLY TO MAKE WINE FOR FAMILY USE
Newark, New Jersey (JFK+50) On May 17, 1922, a ruling of the Federal Prohibition Commissioner stating that "dandelions* are not fruit, and hence cannot be used legally in the manufacture of wine for family use" was made public.
Collector of Internal Revenue Ferguson made the announcement following "constant inquiries" about the matter. Mr. Ferguson said while Commissioner Roy Haynes** ruled what "a dandelion is not," he did not say "what a dandelion is--vegetable, flower or weed."
*Dandelion (taraxacum) from French 'dent-de-lion' meaning lion's tooth. A widely distributed weed of the daisy family with bright yellow flowers followed by globular heads of seeds.
**Roy Asa Haynes (1882-1940) was editor of the Hillsboro (Ohio) Dispatch & active in banking & insurance. RAH served as Federal Prohibition Commissioner under Presidents Harding & Coolidge.
SOURCES
"'Dandy Lion' Cast Out From Ye Old Homestead E'en Tho Lion's Dandy," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 17, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"Roy Haynes Dies; Aide of Harding, 58, The New York Times, October 21, 1940, www.nytimes.com/
