for it maketh a fine Gentile wine with a curious colour In Germany when their Grapes are green they make fire in their Sellars in Stoves by the which means their wines work extraordinarily and do digest themselves the better This course we must also take here in England some years for it helpeth the rawnesse of all liquours very much There is an Ingenious Dutchman who hath a Secret which as yet he will not reveal how to help Maturation by a Compost applyed to the roots The Compost which I have spoken of before made of Brimstone Pigeons-dung is very excellent for that purpose as also Lâ—es of wine blood lime used with moderation He also knoweth how to make sour Grapes produce good wine I suppose his way to be this First all juice of Grapes newly expressed is sweet and which may by it selfe alone be made into a sweet syrup by boiling which the French call Racineè Further in the Evaporation of liquors which have not fermented or wrought the watery part goeth away first 3. Fermentation giveth a vinous taste and maketh a liquour full of spirits You may then easily guess at the way and perhaps he may adde also sugar and spices as the Vintuers do when they make Hippocras I know a Gentleman who hath made excellent wine of Raisins well boiled in water and afterward fermented by it self or with Barm it 's called usually Meade I likewise know that all sweet and fatty Juices will make sine vinous liquours as Damsins if they be wrought or fermented ingeniously but whosoever goeth about such experiments let him not think that any thing is good enough for these purposes but let him use the best he can get for of naughty corrupt things who can expect that which is excellent and delicate The Deficiency of us in this kind is so obvious that all the world takes notice of it and it is next the neglect of fishing the greatest shame to this Nation for all know that we have as good land for these seeds as any can be found in Europe and that the sowing of them requireth neither more labour cost or skill then other seeds And further that the Materials made from these are extreamly necessary for how miserable should we be without Linnen Canvases Cordage Nets How can we put our ships to Sea which are the bulwarks of this Isle And yet we are necessitated to have these Commodities from those who would destroy I will not say the Nation but I may boldly say our Shipping and Trade I hope that this will more seriously be considered by those at the Helme of our State I will freely and plainly relate how this Deficiency may easily be remedied according to my judgment 1. To compel by a Law that all Farmers who plough and sow 50 or 100 Acres of Land should sow half an Acre or an Acre of Hemp or Flax. or to pay 5 s. or 10 s. to the poor of the Parish where they live or some Law to this purpose for there is no man but hath land fit for one of these Hemp desiring a stiff deep rich land Flax that which is light For there is so much irrationality in some professions that they must be forced even like Bruits to understand their own good· In King Edward the sixth days something was enacted to this purpose as I am informed In Henry the eighth days there was a Law enacted that every man should sow his lands and that no man should enclose his lands lest he should turn it to Pasture for we have had great dearth in England through the neglect of Tillage which Laws even as yet stand in force yet there is not nor needeth there be any force to compel men to till and sow their lands for they have at length found the sweetnesse and willingly go about it for their own profits sake and now we suppose and not without cause that Enclosing is an Improvement and so concerning Hemp and Flax I say if they were once accustomed to sow them they would never leave it as I see Farmers do in East-Kent scarce a man but he will have a considerable plot of ground for Hemp and about London far greater quantities of Flax is sown then formerly 2. It were convenient that every Parish through the Nation should have a stock to set their poor to work that the young children and women might not run up and down idle and begging or stealing as they do in the Country of Apples Pease Wood Hedges and so by little and little are trained up for the Gallows 3. That a severe Law should be enacted against those who run up and down and will not work for if all know that they may have work at home and earn more within doors honestly then by running roguing up and down why should they not compel them to it And though some may think the Parishes will lose much by this way because that the stock wrought will not be put off but with losse as perhaps 10 l. will be brought to 8 l. yet let them consider how much they shal save at their doors how many inconveniences they are freed from their hedges in the Countrey shall not be pulled their fruits stoln nor their Corn purloined and further that the poor will be trained up to work and therefore fit for any service yea and in their youth learn a calling by the which they may get an honest livelyhood and I dare say their Assessements for the poor would not be so frequent nor the poor so numerous and the benefit which redounds to the Nation would be very great 4. The charitable deeds of our forefathers ought to be enquired after that they be not misplaced as usually they are but be really bestowed for the good of the poor that are laborious as in London is begun and if there be any that will not work take Saint Pauls rule who best knew what was best for them I dare not advise to take it in part of Commons Fens c. and to improve them for this use lest I should too much provoke the rude mercilesse multitude But to return to my discourse I say that sowing Hemp and Flax will be very beneficial 1. To the Owners of Land for men usually give in divers places 3 l. per Acre to sow Hemp and Flax as I have seen at Maidstone in Kent which is the only place I know in England where thread is made and though nigh an hundred bands are imployed about it yet they make not enough for this Nation and yet get good profit How advantageous will this be to those who have drained the Fens where questionlesse Hemp will flourish and exsiccate the ground for Hemp desireth stiff moist land as Flax light and dry and likewise to those in the North of England where land is very cheap I hope in a little time Ireland will furnish us with these commodities if we be idle for there land is very cheap and those
it is probable he did use all possible means both to the Ground and Seed to make them both fruitful which I did not at all but quite contrarily I chose the worst seed I could procure and my ground was as barren as any whatsoever in the parts adjacent I added nothing to either all I did was after the blade was sprung up And whereas your friend mentions 600. out of 80. ears those ears contained one with the other at the least thirty single Corns which 2400. That besides that Wheat is no whit inferiour to Barley but rather more inclined to its proper nature to branch and spread it is also allowed as long time again to grow and therefore may better spread to many â—ars then Barly That my ears of Barley rated at thirty one with the other which they were at least some having 38 a thing I suppose rarely if ever seen in England before are full as high as his Wheat ears rated at 52. And the seeming great difference between 2400 and 6000. when looked into will prove not to be in the number of ears which differ no more then as fourteen to ten but in the nature of the Grains there being universally as many more in an ear of Wheat as in an ear of Barley That if as it is most like he in France did only try conclusions to what height Nature might possibly be scrued by Art and that what is here related was the effect of that trial that holds not comparison with mine which is generally practicable without any considerable expence of time or stock more then in the common-way Lastly I affirm in all possible humble reverence and submission to Gods good pleasure power and providence that when I shall make use of good Seed rightly prepared good Land in right condition and all other helps which I know and can use I shall not doubt for smaller numbers of the same Grain viz. Wheat to produce 200 or 300 ears and in them 10000. 12000. or 15000. Corns and somewhat like that for whole fields together and that here in England howsoever let us alwayes remember to give all possible praise to God whose blessing only makes rich SIR I am your faithful Friend and Servant C. D. Another Letter from Paris discovering the Secret of the fore-named French Husbandry SIR I Do with much impatience desire the Treatise or Discourse published by you about the Braband-Husbandry and do very much admire the industry of that English Gentleman your Friend who hath found out the wayes of making Corn multiply so prodigiously The Parisian Experimenter of Corns multiplication I know not but a friend of mine very well acquainted with him assureth me to have had the following description of his secret from himselfe and to have seen the experience of it very fully in the year 1649. not in any great quantity but in a Garden onely for trials sake Pour into quick oâ— unslack't Lime as much water as sufficeth to make it swim four inches above the water and unto 10 l. of the said water poured off mix one pound of Aqua vitae and in that liquour steep or soak Wheat or Corn 24. hours which being dried in the Sun or in the Air steep again in the said liquour 24 hours more and do it likewise the third time Afterward sow them at great distances the one from the other about the distance of a foot between each grain So one Grain will produce 30.36.38.42.52 ears and those very fruitful with a tall stalk equalling the stature of a man in height Another Extract of a Letter from the Low-Countries SIR THese are to give you special thanks for communication of the Parisian Experimentors Secret Water if he means cold water poured into quick and unslackt Lime cannot work much in one hour upon the Lime but if it be boyled with it and that the water be poured alwayes a fresh upon the Lime then it will come to be strong at last that an Egge may swim in it as I learn'd by tradition from Doctor Hartmannus but could never make any trial of it for want of unslackt Lime in the place where I live This perhaps may be yet better but experience goes beyond reason in those cases The often macerating or steeping and drying of Grains I like very well I have only according to Master Gab. Platts direction steeped them 24. hours â—n turned or tainted Rain-water and Cow-dung and afterwards sown them thus wet which on sandy grounds hath produced such goodly Corn as if it had been very good Land Some here use Salt-Peter which also doth much good but is found likewise in Sheeps-Dung as may appear by its fertility I have lost the Book of Husbandry of Mr. Plats which was called A Discovery of infinite Treasure hidden since the Worlds beginning Whereunto all men of what degree soever are friendly invited to be sharers with the Discoverer For having lent the same to a friend that it might be translated into High-Dutch I could never see it again I am told it is out of Print But if you could help me to another you would do me a pleasure I have nothing to adde for the present but that the Gâ—nius of this Age is very much bent to advance Husbandry and that in all Countries I hear there are found Gentlemen that study professedly these improvements more then in former time I rest alwayes SIR Yours c. Another Letter expressing the reasons why the Experiment of the Barley-Corn thinks it not fit or expedient to part with his secret as yet for a more common use SIR J Find daily more and more that it is too true that most men love money that they even worship it in their hearts as the only Summum Bonâ—m I need not go far for proof since they have brought one to my hand That having so fair just offers made in order to the Corn-business as I have presented to them by your hands will by no means though so very much to their own profit and the Publick Good part with their monies and yet stick not to demand in effect the discovery from me of that talent of knowledge which God hath made mine by his free-gift as the reward of my industry and faithful love to my Native Countrey An estate if I mistake not better gotten them by any of the common means by which men grow rich daily Surely the commodities cannot be lesse then equal The most wise and vertuous men that ever lived have preferred Art Industry and Ingenuity far before money Money especially the abuse of it is become the very poyson of the world against which Art and Industry is an Antidote or Cordial Mony is counted and enjoyed by a thousand thousands Art and Industry but a few And things of excellent use are accounted Jewels especially when rare and scarce The Professors of Art and Industry besides their private aim also at a Publick Good these prefer their private gain too often before the
report for I know they are apt to make Molchils Mountames c. in the Interim I shall acquiesce in my own opinion Animadversor England hath a perfect Systeme of Husbandry viz. Markham He speaketh more of Markham than ever I heard before or as yet have seen In general he is accounted little more than a Translator unless about Cattle and yet I cannot but in that question his skill Considering how grosly he mistaketh the names of Plants The works which I have seen of his are first the great book translated out of French which whether well or ill done I will not declare but I am sure our Husbandmen in England profit little by it Secondly I have seen five several bookes bound up together two or three of which he acknowledgeth to be anothers as The Improvement of the Wild of Kent also his Houswifery he acknowledgeth to have had from a Countess also part of his Farewell is borrowed and what he owneth if I have seen all are very short in many particulars as it will easily appear by my former discourse and Blithes book of Husbandry lately augmented and printed Yea if I understand any thing he setteth down many gross untruths which every Countryman will contradict viz. That Flax is ripe after Hemp That Corn sleept in Brine encreaseth fivefold more than ordinarily That Lupin must be steeped when they were never sown in England He wisheth Husbandmen to let long Grass grow amongst their Corn for saith he it keepeth it warm Fullers earth as profitable as Marle A sack or a sack and a half of Rags for an Acre Corn reapt in the wane nought Hops not to be planted in too rich a ground One Teame in one day to plough in stiffe land two Acres and a half in light four Also one to man to mow two Acres of Grass in a day to reap and bind five rood of Wheat of Fetches and Pease two Acres Also one man to dig rake and level one rood the day c. And such like which cannot be done But I have said and doe confirme it again that he hath done well in divers things and is to be commanded for his industry Animadversor The Romane Law was onely for sining c. My expression doth not necessarily conclude that ill husbandry is Crimen Lesâ— Majestatis or Treason but that the punishment was inflicted on them because the publick received damage by their ill husbandry being averse or contrary to the common good Animadversor Holy Land not barren Royer Our Sands reporteth it such and so it is commonly voted but whether through a peculiar curse of God or for want of Cultivation for we know that many hils would be very excellent for Vines and Olives which notwithstanding are little worth for Corn or Pasture c. I will not here dispute Concerning Fish-ponds Angling c. I could wish we had a good Treatise in English Vaughan was commended to me for them but I have not read him and therefore will not speak much for him c. Thus at length I have run over all if any thing be impertinent as I fear divers things are I desire you to expunge it An Observation concerning a Fish-Calender imparted from Zurich 11. Nov. 1654. There is an exact Fish-Calender printed in the Low-Country but whether it be reprinted every year I cannot tell I was enquiring here whether they had no such curiosity One told me that there is a Catalogue extant of all the sorts of Fish ever taken in their Lake or Sea as they call it When I asked whether their seasons were not added he could not tell But said that in their Stat-house they have the twelve Months painted and that under every Month are expressed in picture without any names set by them the several sorts of Fish fit to be then eaten I have not since had leisure to go see those pictures If any think this a needless or an Epicurean Curiosity let them read Doctor Bâ—ates Natural History of Ireland where he imputes the Irish Leprosie to their brutish eating of Salmons when the very eye would have made them know they were unwholsom But saith he the English having discovered it did under a penalty forbid the selling or taking of Salmons at that time of the yeare whereupon in a few years after it was as rare to finde a Leper in Ireland as in any other Country A Copy of the Letter wherein the following Discourse entituled Mercurius Laetisicans was sent enclosed to Mr. Samuel Hartlib SIR YOur cordial love to the kingdoms good being so clearly expressed to the world not onely by your pen but also by your constant practise in promoting of all good designes which tend to the general good of the Commonwealth hath emboldened me to send you this enclosed Copy desiring that you will be pleased to take care that it may be forthwith printed and published together with this Letter Neither need you fear any dishonour by promoting of this laudable design for I have shewed the Copy to the Learned as well as the unlearned to the rich as well as the poor and all approve of it and desire to have it as soon as it shall be published They think it is a fine experiment to make good bread of an old shooe And though they differ in opinion concerning other affairs yet they all love to eat bread with one consent and if they shall agree to practise according to their profession which is to doe their best endeavours to further the good of the publick then certainly the cards will turn and we shall win our money again by concord which we have lost by discord yea and twice as much more And though many of these things which I would have to be put to the best uses seem to be trivial that is for want of understanding in the Readers for in Genoa as I have been credibly informed it is an usual practise to buy barren land for little or nothing and to carry good earth to it and cover it so deep as a spade or a plough may work upon it but this practise would never counter vail the first charge unless they did usually practise another strange work which is so common there that if an horse or a beast doe dung in any street or high-way it is a marvel if some boy or girle doe not take it up before it he cold so carefull are they that the fertility of the Kingdom should not be diminished And though these boyes and girles get nothing but sinnes and points or some other trifles yet in the general the whole Countrey is made rich and plentifull Even as we see in a Bee-hive though every Bee bring but a drop of honey at a time yet it maketh up a weighty mass and many of those masses put together do make up the great masse which I have seen at Sturbridge Fayre which is able to amaz a man that beholdeth it When this Book is published then I desire you to
her other labour I mean extraordinary labour If young poor Maid-servants will imitate her industry I will tell them the whole Secret to the intent that besides the benefit to the publick every one may get her self a considerable portion and to the end that many may be industrious in this laudable way and that many thousands may remember me in their good wishes I will first speak a good word for them to all generations to come to wit that such an one which by her wit industry and providence getteth her self a portion of twenty or forty pounds which she may easily doe in a certain number of years not very many deserveth as good a marriage as one that hath an hundred pounds given her by her parents and friends And to the end that this may not seem to be a ridiculous relation I will shew the reasons of it and also the experience and lastly declare the several materials which I taught her to reserve As for the reasons they are thus discovered viz. the vegetable spirit of the world by which all things do encrease and multiply is sometimes cloathed with a gross and earthly foeculencie as in dung and more in some dung than in other somtimes it is more purified from its earthly foeculency and then it is far more effectual as we see by experience in London that a load of shavings of horn is sold for shillings or three pound a load wollen rags is sold for thirty or forty shillings when as a load of common dung is sold for a penny and many times for nothing but carriage away Now I proceed to declare the several materials which I taught her to reserve As for the linnen rags she reserved those before I knew her and sold them yearly to the Paper-Mils and I seeing her industry thought it a good deed to advise her to reserve all the shreads and rags of woollen cloath as well old as new all the shreads and pieces of leather of all kinds as well old as new all the horns and hoofs of beasts of beasts of all kinds whether shaven or not that came in her way all the hair either in Barbers shops or Tanners yards or at the houses of Butchers and Cooks where they scalde many hogs and pigs and fondly cast away the hair and to take up all the old shooes and peeces of leather which happened in her way as she went about her ordinary occasions and to work as often as she could at the houses of Taylors Shoomakers Sadlers c. For I have found by experience that a load of the best common dung will not produce corn worth above twenty shillings at three crops unlesse corn be very dear and if it be far carried then the labour rent and seed will consume the gains whereas a load of any of these materials formerly mentioned will produce Wheat and other corn worth above ten pound though the price be reasonable These things being well considered there is a great reason why these materials should not be fondly cast away to the common dunghill in great Cities or other places whereas the greatest part thereof is utterly lost and though some of them goe to the dunghill yet they serve onely to enrich land which lieth near to great Cities where there is no need of them whereas being reserved by themselves they will quit the cost to be carried twenty or thirty miles and so make land fertile which beareth not halfe the quantitie for want of dung And whereas I have found by experience that a load of any manner of seeds whatsoever doth contain as much of the vegetable spirit of the world as ten loads of common dung I could wish that all such young men-servants as have no Stocks nor Trades should get them services in great Innes or to be Bayliffs of Husbandry to great men and to reserve all the hay seeds that come within their reach and all the soot that is swept down out of the chimneys that they can get and once in a year to get so much blood at any Butchers or Poulterers houses as will make them into a paste and then to adde so much Cow-dung dryed to them as being tempered with urine will be sufficient to make the whole masse apt to be formed into the form of bricks loaves or cheeses and then they are to be layd up in a dry place till they be throughly rotten and that a small quantity thereof being made into powder will not produce any thing suddenly being spread in a garden or other open place where the rain may fall upon it without the help of new seed and then though their common dung will yeeld no price at all in that place but rather they are forced to pay money to have it carryed away yet this will give them a large price after that the virtue thereof is known And if any such men-servants have meanes to farm certain Acres of barren land which lieth so remote from dung that the annual rent thereof is little then by setting of Wheat or other Grain by my directions in my book formerly mentioned they may make one quarter or one pounds worth of corn to yeeld forty quarters or forty pounds worth of corn in lesse time than one year and as much over and above as shall pay all charges and workmen nobly and also as much rent as any ordinary Farmer can afford to give yearly for it by which means he may in a few yeares get a considerable Stock and be as likely to thrive as he that hath twice so much given him by his parents or friends And I could wish all such men to marry with such women as by their wit industry and providence have gotten themselves portions by my directions in this lâ—ttle Book and let others which have portions given do the like and try conclusions whether of them thriveth better If â—ny one should be seen to cast away good bread when so many poor people want it then all the world would cry shame upon him but why should not the casting away of any of these materials fondly be reputed a more heynous sin when as they will produce divers times their weight of as good bread as any Prince eateth I have seen by experience that Salt-peter is the most rich compost in the world to multiply Corn and I have seen fifty pounds worth of Salt-peter extracted out of a vault at Dowgate not very spacious which was formerly an house of office and not emptied till the matter was throughly rotten why may not the same thing be done by Art which was formerly done by Nature and Accident I have been credibly informed that such a work is ordinarily done in the Kingdome of China and also at the City of Paris in France and I see no reason why English men should not have as much wit they If any man hath convenient room to build two houses of office and to close up the one whilst he useth the other then there
inches depth and six inches distance and it yeelded more than twice as much as other Corn of the same kind being not steeped at all in any thing and being set at the same depth and distance and in the same ground on purpose to see the difference The fifth Experiment or Improvement wherein is shewed how the difference of the nature of land may be found out thereby to fit it with an apt Compost It is found by experience that where vegetables dumb as Ferne Whinnes Broom and the like have long grown and dyed upon the ground and have continued in this course of husbandry or rather ill husbandry for many years there the earth doth abound with the vegetable salt or juice for the cure whereof it is likewise found by experience that Lime Bay-salt and Ashes and Pidgeons dung and such like things of hot and binding nature doe poyson it and decrease the fertility It is likewise found by experience that in such grounds which have been long occupied in good Husbandry there dung is the best Compost in the world the cause is for that by long continuance in such husbandry the nature of the land is quite changed by the yearly carving of the Corn Hay or other crops whereby the vegetable salt or juice is diminished and contrariwise the hot and binding nature doth predominate which require for cure salt-peter dung blood and such things wherein the vegetable salt or juice predominateth The middle of these natures of ground require Sheeps dung as of all other most temperate being neither so hot and dry as Lime Bay-salt Ashes or Pidgeons dung nor so cold and moyst as the dung of beasts in the room whereof Lime putrified with dung or more earth as aforesaid may supply the want thereof very exceedingly The use of these Observations and Experiences may teach us that all books heretofore written for this purpose are frivolous for they prescribe such a Compost for such an earth of such a colour or of such a mixture as sand clay hasel earth white clay red clay white sand red sand black sand c. whereas it is found by good experience that where Lime was the most excellent Compost in the world about a hundred yeares agoe there about fifty yeares agoe they were forced to change their Compost and to lay upon the same ground half Lime and half Dung and now the same ground requires the Dung onely or else it will yeeld no Corn for Lime poysoneth it yet is not the colour or quality of the same ground in outward visibility to the eyes corporal but by the intellectual eyes beholden of all men of good understanding Therefore that all men may obtain their desire in this worke my counsel is that the more skilful men if they take in hand to improve twenty Acres or more or lesse of such land which they have not formerly tryed fully that they goe the best known way with nineteen Acres the first year or two and make divers several tryals in the odde Acres till they have hit the mark punctually And as for the more unskilfull my counsel is that they doe make divers several trials in the odde Acre the first year and let the other be used as aforetime till by experience they have learned to improve all the best way By this meanes many notable Improvements may be found out of inestimable benefit both to the Farmer Parson and Landlord and also to the whole Common-wealth plenty without any sensible or considerable losse to the undertaker And for the better instruction then is contained in any book formerly printed or written of this subject for the Adaptation of Compost let this suffice for brevitie viz. where the earth is subject in the heat of summer to chap much if it be clay or to burn much if it be sand there if you apply Lime Salt Ashes or Pidgeons dung or any thing of like hot and dry nature there you poyson it Also where the earth is not apt to chap or burn in the heat of summer there it you apply any other thing except Lime Salt Ashes or Pidgeon dung or other things of hot and dry nature there you poyson that also for as it is a foolish thing for a Cook to put more salt into the pot when the pottage were too salt before so is it as fond a trick in Husbandry to adde a Compost to land wherein that quality predominateth which doth also predominate in the land for Corn and Seeds are as nice in their diet and nutriment as any Lady in the world and will not prosper nor draw the nourishment if it be never so little distastful and this is the cause why so many times so little a quantity of Compost doth work such wonderful effects by the exquisite adaptation to the land or seed Men might easily find out an apt Compost for such land as hath been Devonshired and hath spent its fertility which it will do in three years and then it is reputed nothing worth I assure my self that Lime and combustible earth putrified together will doe the feat yea and that with a small quantity if it be dispersed by my Invention The sixth Experiment or Improvement wherein is shewed how Farm-houses Mannors or Towns may be builded upon high grounds and plentifully furnished with water It is found by experience that in some places Townes are builded upon high grounds where Springs or Wels are easily had and there a thousand Acres of land near to the Town are made worth a thousand pounds in the year and that a mile off a thousand Acres of the same land for want of Improvement are not worth above a thousand shillings so that there is lost to the Owners and to the Common-wealth nine hundred and fifty pounds yearly For the prevention of which loss let every Farmer have a Court paved like a Tennis-court and let the Barns Stables and other Edifices be so builded that all the Rain-water that they yeeld may run into the said Court and from thence into a vault or well out of which it may be pumped up or run into your kitchins or other houses of Office which rain water will keep sweet in the close vault and will serve for all uses whatsoever This is commonly practised in Spain where they have no other water throughout the whole year for all uses and their Gentlemen do chuse to build upon high grounds for the benefit of the goodness of the air which is more wholsome in all Countries in the Mountains than in the Vallies Also in Venice and Amsterdam and in other places where other waters are usually brackish they keep rain water in Sellars for all uses Also it is found by experience in Rumney Marshes that they use to gather rain water from Churches and other Edifices and never have so good and wholsom drink as when they brew with such water And where Tarris is wanting there you may make use of good clay which is of the nature of
fatnesses is gratefull to humane nature the other is offensive for the avoyding of which inconvenience I know none better than to let the dung be fully putrified and turned into earth without stnking before it be mingled with the Corn or Seeds And this may be done by my former Inventions in such sort that there may be above forescore pounds in the hundred saved in the Compost of all the Arable land in England There are three causes why people in the Country live longer and have better health than those that live in great Cities The first is the aire is more pure and wholsome The second is their food doth not abound so much with the fatness and sulphur which is apt to putrifaction and to contaminate the blood The third is their much exercise doth evacuate that part of their nutriment which is ungrateful to humane nature The contrary to all these is in great Cities where the aire dyet and exercise are so much different the effect doth shew the cause very clear so that there need no other or further philosophation concerning the same If any man doubt whether vegetables draw the corruptible or stinking sulphur or fatness which lyeth within the reach of their attractive virtue let him behold the places where beasts have lately dunged in Pastures and he shall finde that there the grasse is more sowre and gistastfull to the Beasts and Cattle The eleventhâ— Experiment wherein is shewed how rich Compost may be made in great Cities of things formerly cast away The water wherein Fishmongers water their Fish being made as salt as it will bear with the foul salt in the sweeping of ships salt Lime great Larders and other such places being boyled in Butchers slaughter-houses when their beasts are to be killed and the blood let run warm unto it being likewise hot it will not clodder but will be admirable good liquor to imbibe good Wheat earth whereby it may be made the richest Compost in the world to fill the holes where Wheat or Barley is set for that one bushel of this earth is sufficient to be mingled with three or four bushels of the earth of the land it self by which means great charge is saved in the carriage it selfe by reason that a little quantity will work a great effect Saltpeter for some grounds is more apt and cheaper though the price be greater for a little quantity will work a great effect especially where the land is hot and dry by nature Saw-dust is excellent to mingle with earth to fill the holes where Corn is set in strong binding clay ground Also shavings of horn hoofs of all beasts hair of beasts woollen rags chapped small are admirable Shavings of horn are now usually sold in London for three shillings and six pence a sack for the same purpose also woollen rags for two shillings a sack As for hoofs of beasts hair and Tanners horns may be putrified in good Arable wheat earth being kept dry from rain and then the earth and all together is the richest Compost in the world to be used for the filling of the holes where Wheat is set Also all other composts whatsoever mentioned in this book are the most wholsomest for mans body and most effectual for producing of great encrease if they be thus ordered The twelfth Experiment wherein is shewed how any Kingdom may live in great prosperity with half the trouble and charge which now they sustain and yet live in adversity It is found by experience that where there is a good Council of War there the kingdom is well defended and where there is good regularity in Divinity there the soul is preserved from sickness Why should it not be so for the state temporal if a council of Husbandry was erected whereupon the happiness of all kingdoms doth depend Surely if a certain number of the best experienced men were deputed for this purpose who might regulate the rest it would produce a great perfection in that knowledge which as it is the most ancient of all Sciences so it is the most excellent and honourable for that by it all Princes live and no Inferiour person can possibly live without it The Plebeans are like those in Ireland who will not lay aside their old custom to draw their horses by the tayls though an Act be made against it nor lay aside the burning their Corn in the straw to save the labour of thrashing though their houses lye unthatched I have known some Parsons in Parishes which have been skilful in Agriculture and have been excellent Improvers of land and some that were good physitians and have done much good in their Country that way I have also known some Landlords qualified with the same skils and certainly if all were so it would conduce greatly to the prosperity of a Kingdome for the greatest profit would redound to those two sorts of men yet may the marter be easily ordered so that the rest might live in twice as much prosperity as now they do and though they were doubled in number for I have known many men to live better with 30. acres of land than others have done with an hundred of acres and if need require I can shew where one acre of land hath been worth two hundred pound per an by being planted with Mellons and a whole family have lived well upon it and gathered riches If the course of Husbandry were regulated in this manner viz. That no man should occupy any land in Pasture whose fertility may perpetually be encreased by the means of water though the hay growing thereupon were totally spent to produce dung for the fertilizing of high grounds Also that no man should occupy any land in Tillage whose fertility may be perpetually increased in Pasture by having the same dung spent upon them which they yeeld naturally Also that no man should Till any other land but such high and barren land as is not able to fertilize it selfe and should make use of my several Inventions for the enriching of the same Then would there be left but little barren land in England in a short space whereby all the premises in this twelfth Experiment might be easily performed A friend of mine did search divers Register books in several Parishes in England he also searched the Parsons bookes of Tythes and found that where Arable land as turned into Pasture there were fewer Christnings and many more tyth Lambs and tyth Calves whereby he discovered a kinde of Witchcraft which is to turn men into beasts To dissolve this Witchcraft there is no other way but to goe the contrary way and whereas the Landlord found more gain in the increasing of sheep and beasts than formerly he found in the increasing of people to shew a way how more gain may accrew to the Landlord by the increase of people than formerly he found in the increase of beasts and surely this is no hard task for if the peoples employments be well regulated there will come more
will make it work as well as yest will having done so 9. They let it work very well before they Tun it and afterwards when it hath done working in the vessel they stop it very close with salt and clay and so ordered it will last seven yeers but because with long standing it doth wast they in the heat of Summer do fill it up with new ale which will both make it work and quicken it How to make Wine out of Corn. TAke your Alewort as it is fit to barrel up put it into a vessel that will contain about twice as much and into it put of good Honey despumed to every Gallon of Ale a pound and a half and of good Yest as much as will serve to set it on work Cover then the bung not close and the vessel lay over with clothes and once a day for about a quarter of an hour stir it well and be sure you stir all the Honey and Yest well when you put it in so it will work well for several daies together and when it hath done working almost renew the working with new Yest quickned with a small quantity of fine i. e. the fine flour that is in grinding Malt Malt dust this doe three times and at last before the working be quite over stop the bung leaving onely a quill hole for about two dayes then stop it close and let it stand coole in a cellar in two Months it takes the natural taste and smel of Wine and will keep accordingly Another Processe to make Wine of Corn. TAke good Malt ground as it is to be brewed put to it as much water as the vessel will hold when it is full of Malt adde Yest to it equally in every part and let it work what it will in a barrel the bung open Then take to each Gallon of the matter half a pound of good Honey dissolve it in warm water and put it in warm and more Yest Let it the second time work with not a fourth of the vent it had at first and when the working is almost abated take half as much Honey more and dissolve it and warm it and let it work by putting in Yest the third time onely a peg-hole open and when this third Fermentation ceaseth let it stand open about six houres to let out the wild spirit then stop it up close and in four Months it will be clear and fine which then may be racked from the Lees for all but the husk of the grain will be liquor and this Wine is not inferiour in taste and goodnesse to the richest Canaries Because it is hard to hit right upon the knack at first and few processes of this nature perfectly understood without a few tryals it 's advised that these Experiments be made in many and little vessels for that 's much the safer way till we are Masters of the Mechanick of them Some Animadversions upon the foregoing Process of making Wine of Corn. J See no defect in this Processe if by thrice fermenting the tast of the hony will be taken away It is no matter what quantities of Water and Yest you use provided there be Yest enough to make it work which every Brewer knowes and experience will easily shew it And for your Water you may take as much as will make it either strong or small as you desire it for the quantity of water will no way spoyle the businesse But I am not of their mind who think it may best be brewed in small vessels for they are not fit for the purpose For my part I would never try it in a lesse vessel than a barrel for experience shews that drink will work best in great vessels Glanber knows how to precipitate Raisins and Honey so as to take away the tast of them and to make the liquor tast like Wine but I could never get it from him yet I guesse he doth it with Tartar or Lees of Wine Glauberus's Promise or Undertaking for making Wine out of Corn. OUr friend Glauber is desirous once again to draw unto us he is at present with his family at Franckfort being minded to come down again into Holland desiring my advice herein and to hold some discourse with me being also to come with the first opportunity in his own person to the Elector of Colen He doth fully apprehend that it can no longer faile him but that he shall obtain in a short space of time a good summe of money for the support of his family in regard he hath a great and weighty peece of businesse in hand which proceedeth out of Corn and is affirmed to have such a property that it will be acceptable to the whole world so as thereby a quarter of Corn shall be advanced to a great value He is intended shortly to put forth a small Treatise being an Explication upon his Miraculum mundi wherein he will endeavour to reveal some of the chiefest matters therein contained to those that desire it and to demonstrate it to their sight And he doubts not but that many great Lords and Princes will strive accordingly to bring profit and advantage to their coâ—ntries as being a work of great importance Now the reason why he will communicate is this because that it is endeavoured after already by false pretenders and that much mischief may easily be effected by it neither can it much longer be kept secret together with the Communication of the Corn and Wine Traffique He will make Wine out of Corn which in all respects shall be answerable unto the natural wine He hath likewise such a compendious way of melting the Sun and Moon Earth or Mines which will be necessary and acceptable unto the whole world whereby he is in hope not only to raise a good summe of money but also to procure an immortal fame to his posterity for they are unheard of things profitable and necessary for the whole world to know These are all his own formalia dated the 6 th of October at Franck-fort The aforesaid Treatise shall speedily be translated into Latine whereby it may be transported into forraign parts An Advertisement concerning the Mystery of making Wine according to Glaubers undertaking ALL ingenious and industrious experiments that desire further satisfaction in this matter till Glauber shal have performed his promises relating to his Corn-wine undertakings are faithfully advised to study and practise the several hints and directions which are given in a Treatise called The Reformed Commonwealth of Bees Printed in the yeer 1655. and is to be sold by Giles Calvert at the Black Spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls How a Meadow about the end of May or beginning of June before the Seeds of Grasse are ripe may be used Llâ—t Weeders hired by the day cut of the heads of all sorts of Grasse but such as of which the seed is desired This being done the Meadow will be ready to cut before the grasse that hath lost its head can put forth
being and well being of the whole world nay of their own souls These are ever ready to part with invaluable treasures upon easie conditions Those will not upon any conditions whatsoever but such as please themselves or are full of oppression part with their monies no not to save a Brothers or hardly a Fathers or a Childs life And finally if they judg it improvidence to part with a little of their estates onely of a time to return again to them shortly like Noah's Dove with an Olive branch a double branch of Peace and Prosperity I desired to be excused if I upon better grounds hold it prophane to sell a better right then a birth-right for lesse then a Messe of pottage even for just nothing and for ever I can never forget the exceeding great ingenuity to the world shewed and given by Mr. Gab. Platts as will more fully appear when you shall have printed those writings of his which he left to your trust and custody and the World 's base ingratitute that let such a man fall down dead in the street for want of food without a shirt to his back none but your self that want not an enlarged heart but a fuller hand to supply the words defects being found with some few others to administer any relief to a man of so great merit In a word that God that hath forbid to muzzle Oxe that treads out the fodder hath appointed every man to use his blessings next to his glory for the providing for and preservation of his family which he that can do and doth not is worse then an Infidel I dare not give away this means of obtaining outward blessings to my self and family till I have found way to make it instrumental to that end and that end once effectually attained to I dare not deny Gods mercy and bounty to me nor longer restrain the publick use of his universal good I remain SIR Yours C. D. A Secret practised with very good successe in England concerning sowing of Wheat to prevent it from being Smutty FIrst take your Wheat pour the same into a tub of water and stir it about take off all the Corn that swimmeth upon the water and pour the rest upon a floor letting the water run off Then make a strong brine of Bay-salt and pour some of the brine on the Corn upon the floor and take to halfe a quarter of Corn half a peck of Salt and strow it on the Corn and stir and mix it continually as you pour thereon the brine and strow the salt thereon until the Corn be all wet and overstrowed with Salt Then take to a half quarter of Corn half a bushel of unslack'd lime and strow that likewise over the Corn mingling it well together which done you may sow the same the next day The brine must be cold when you pour it on the Corn and you must prepare no more Wheat then you intend to sow next day Another Secret practised in Germany for the enriching of Meadowes A Meadow yeilds six times more Hay when it is turned up with a plough and sown thick with ashes burnt out of the substance thereof but the rain must fall first Afterwards sow your Meadow with the seed of Tresoil and plough and harrow them in The first grasse which groweth thereon let it be very ripe that the seed may fall off it self then let some go over it and with rakes stir it that it fall out Afterwards let it be mown off and carried to a certain place where it may be dried so the Grasse will grow presently again and may be mown again in three weeks How to make Rushy Ground to bear Grasse BReak the Rushy Ground and rake roots and the rushes together and burn them or carry them away then spread upon that ground Turffe-Ashes or Pigeons-Dung Chalk or Lime according to your ground Try of every one of these upon a little plot of your ground you may use other Ashes Marle or Dung for experiments and that which you find doth kill the Rushes and other Weeds best use it you are to make Gutters or Drains to carry away the water from the ground you may destroy Rushes or Fern if you will but cut or mow them down in the beginning of June and so use to do it two or three years together at that time For planting or sowing Walnuts IN the season when they are full ripe on the trees a few days before they would fall as near as can be guessed let them be gathered or beaten off and in the green husk or without it put them into good ordinary earth in a barrel or basket So let them continue until the beginning of March following as soon as that month begins get as much warm Milk from the Cows as will steep them 24 hours after they are steeped set them in ground well digged and judged natural for such fruit with their little end or their prickled sharp end upwards about three or four inches deep in the earth and not one of 28. will fail as hath appeared by experience This may make dry Walnuts also prove trees the Nuts used as above-said as far as may be set them near one foot asunder and in a right line to weed them The Walnut breeds good Timber good shadow good smell good fruit At four years growth transplant them Mr Lanyon's Description of the usual manner of planting and transplanting according to that of Flaunders of those Trees called Abeales imparted for Publick Good THey are first planted from any even the least part of the Root of the same Tree you must devide the root by slipping each part from the other and not by cutting it in sunder you may take those parts from those trees whilest they grow and without danger to them rob them of all the small sprigs of the root and leave onely the Master-Roots but the most usual way is to multiply them when they are transplanted which time is at their growth of five years their season is in March They are first planted in the way of a Nursery in loose earth moist and sandy or inclining to it their distance is ten inches one from another the earth being first prepared as for a Gardâ—n you are to make holes with a stick the depth of the length of the part you have to set setting him so that you may onely see a part of it above ground the earth being closed about them they are to be kept weeded as any other plants The second year in February you are to prune off all from the Master or Middle-shoot and so to the third and fourth year the fifth you may transplant them so as they like the ground of their Nursery Their usual distance one from another is ten foot you may drive a stake with them when you transplant them to secure them stift against the wind for that they will grow very tall in those years and so be much exposed to the winds They may without