Bob
You are totally right -- but the oxygen bit is a real need. It just so
happens that there is enough around in normal circumstances.
I have done exactly the same thing ( well very nearly). I have never covered
with just a muslin/cheese cloth but always with a"sealing"type lid or a very
tight lid with a fermentation lock. There is enough oxygen in the water
added to "fruit" wines inherently and if you are punching down a fruit cap
daily there is another source of oxygen.and in any case the header space has
a lot of it too!
I have always thought that the main reason for covering with a "cloth" was
to stop the fruit flies getting to my must and that the vigorous initial
fermentation kept a substantial "blanket" of CO2 over the must anyway

--
Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire, England
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"Bob" > wrote in message
...
>
> "scott f" > wrote in message
> news:CTEDd.57$ig7.23@trnddc04...
>> I use a primary which has a tight fitting lid and a airlock. This
>> allows
>> me to ferment my must to dry before I tranfer to the glass carboy for
>> clearing. Most people I have come across that transfer before its dry,
>> either do because they have been taught that way, or they drape a cloth
>> or
>> cheese cloth over the top of their primary for the yeast to get oxygen.
>
> OK, hold it right there!!!!
> I have never heard of "yeast needing oxygen" to get started as being
> the
> reason why people begin fermentation in buckets covered with cheesecloth.
> I
> have been making wine since 1977. Today is the first time I have =ever=
> heard that yeastie-beasties needed O2 to get going. I always assumed that
> the reason people fermented in buckets to start with was because of the
> difficulty of keeping foam under control and not overloading the
> carboy/airlock combo's ability to bubble w/o splashing purple foam all
> over
> the walls (been there, done that).
> So what gives? How have I been making good wine for 28 years by putting
> the juice in the carboy and slapping an airlock on it from the word
> go?????
> I have even done this when using pureed fruit, such as
> blueberries......
> Someone please explain this to me.
> TIA,
> Blobert!
> --
> --
> "Honey, would you get me a beer?!"
> - Adam's first words to Eve-
>
>
>