There may also many new Works, belonging to Weaving and the Smith’s Art, be thence made, which may be communicated to neighbouring Countries, whereby Money may be brought in lieu thereof to a Countrey impoverish’d by War.
If Vine-dressers, or Keepers of Vineyards, pour a little of this subject to the Roots of their Vines, they will have ripe Grapes, and Must, or new Wine sooner than their Neighbours; of which they may make a good advantage.
Nevertheless, Must and Wine also may be ripened after another manner, in the Hogshead, without this Art; so that they who understand the way, may have alwaies good Wine, when others have it sowre. A Secret very profitable to cold Climates, which for the most part produce sowre or tart Wines. It is also agreeable to Countries abounding with Wine, when through a want of the heat of the Sun the Grapes do not ripen well; which may be helped by this Art, so that it may be readily sold.
But because the greater part of men, especially of the meaner sort, cannot be perswaded to things which they have never seen nor heard of, I well know, that if I should in plain words describe the reason and manner of meliorating Wines, scarce one man in a Hundred would believe me, but would rather say, Our fore-Fathers were wise men, and got great Estates by Wine, without the knowledge of this Art, nor did they desire it. If Nature will not ripen our Wines, let them be sowre; yet notwithstanding, if sometimes they will not serve the Master, they may be drank by the Servants.
Men of this sort are incurable, neither are they (being old) easily tamed; and young men take little care how prudently they manage their Affairs. Hence it comes to pass, that Antiquity obtains upon all men. But that the Vine-dresser may see that the present Age is more skilful than the former, I will set before him only one demonstrative Example, by which he may plainly see how much they differ.
Our fore-Fathers knew not how to make any thing of the fæces or dreggs of Wine, but a burning Spirit or Brandy, which being extracted, the remainder they threw away, or sometimes mixed it with the Fodder of Cattel, very rarely dried them in the Sun, and burnt them into Pot-ashes; but by my invention, there may be thence drawn a far greater quantity of burning Spirit, then also a large quantity of Tartar, and at last the Pot-ashes, which is a threefold profit. Which if you manage the matter well, from a Pipe of Lees, you will have at the least seven or eight Urns (which will be about a Fifth part, an Urn being four Gallons) of good Wine, from the residue, you will have the burning Spirit, and Tartar, at the last the clavellated Ashes, the profit being four times as much as heretofore, which thing was altogether unknown to our Ancestors. How many Thousand weight of Tartar is every year thrown away in Franconia, Suevia, Alsatia, the Palatinate, upon the Rhine, Mosell, and Danube, which would be very profitable to those Countries, if the men were Artists.
But what doth it signifie to teach, if there be none to hear or learn: for it is more adviseable to sit still and do nothing, than to be largely imployed to no purpose. But I am perswaded, that after my death, there will be some who will understand my good will to the World, and search out the truth out of my Writings, to their own great profit. There is an opportunity or season for every thing; Trees first bring forth Budds, then follow Blossoms and Leaves, and last of all, Fruit.
There remains yet another thing very profitable to Country-men; the juice of Apples or Pears being pressed out, by the help of this subject, such an Effervescency (or working) is promoted, as Wines may be thence made, having the relish of the natural, and but little inferiour in durability and strength: and although the beating of the Apples be somewhat tedious, (which is now done much quicker by Mills) that labour is recompensed with a good profit, by the Wine arising from the juice; a Secret very necessary for cold Countries, which cannot ripen Wines, and yet abound much in Apples, but by this way may save much in the price of Wines, for which they usually pay dear.
I have indeed many Arts relating to Wines, but they belong not to this place, my purpose here being to treat of those only, which are administred by my Universal Menstruum: Arts (as I think) hitherto known to none, or at least not divulged, that it may be manifest to the Reader what proficiency the World hath made in good things. Whether the matter be credited, or not, signifies little to me, I my self also might have doubted, if I had not learned by experience; but Judgment ought not to be given rashly; we are to know, that God doth wonderfully dispense his benefits to those who are his Servants, and whom he hath appointed to be his Instruments, to bring his wonders to light.
If Husbandmen moisten their seed with this Menstruum, it will sooner be ripe, and have larger, fatter grains than ordinary: Which being done, I will shew by what means they may make great profit of their grain. The grain being whole, not ground, pour to it warm water, impregnated with this Menstruum, in a Hogshead well stopped, let it stand and ferment or work for a time, the water will extract all the strength of the grain, the remaining husks serving to feed Hogs: If you ferment Hops with this Liquor, or extract, it will be good Beer: If you will not do this, you may thence draw a very good spirit, the residue, in a short time, will be Vinegar; and if you be wise, you may put this burning Spirit or Wine to many uses, by which you shall have more profit than by selling it; a Secret not to be despised where grain is cheap. I have yet one thing to add among my Wine-Arts, concerning grain, and the Fruits of Trees and Shrubs, which is to be received with thankfulness, as a great Gift of God to Mankind. Viz. It is found by industry and manifold experience, that from Rye, Wheat, Oats, Rice, Millet, also from Apples, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, Plumbs, Sloes, Damascens, Quinces, Figgs; as also from Goose-berries, Mulberries, Barberries, Black-berries, Elder-berries, and other-like Fruits of Trees and Shrubs; from all these, I say, may be prepared, with little labour and cost, a Drink very like to Wine, both in taste, smell, and strength, being grateful, wholesome, and durable. For which large bounty, the Inhabitants of cold Climates (which never see Grapes) cannot render to God sufficient Thanks.