There are Marshy tracts which are covered over (or swerded only with Moss) which neither afford Turf, or nourishment for Cattel, inasmuch as the growth of Grass, and Turf fit for burning, is hindred, either by too much Sand, or large Moss. And yet those very tracts being pressed by Fire, yield a fertile juice, by which the neighbouring Fields (especially the Sandy) may be rendered fruitful. For those Moors or Marshes contain nothing but that fatness which the Rain-water hath collected from the neighbouring, high, and sandy grounds, and washed down with it self into the Valleys, where it concreteth into Moss; whence of right it should be restored to those barren sandy grounds, to fatten them. And by this means it may be brought to pass, that great fruitfulness may be conferred on much desert and waste Land, which brings no profit at all to Mankind. What I say, is agreeable to the Truth it self, and perhaps in Process of time, will be found most true, and come into use in very many places. But at this time, these things seem to Country-men, meer Dreams, and far exceed the Capacity of their maulted Brains. But as every fat Marsh is able to fatten the adjacent, barren, high, sandy grounds; so the Ocean is the Universal Medicine, and nutriment of all high and barren Regions, through which it passeth, and by the salt contained in it, bestows upon them fruitfulness. [Vid. Nat. Salium.] Whence the incredible Providence of the Divine Goodness manifestly appeareth, for which uncessant Thanks are to be given to the Almighty by all men, for His Fatherly Care, and great benefits never to be forgotten. But how the Sea-salt fatteneth, and maketh fruitful sandy-ground, which is destitute of all fatness, shall afterwards be exactly demonstrated. Here, by the way, in the Description of my Press, for the pressing of wood, I was willing to mention this thing. How much better therefore is this my Art and Invention of preserving the juice, and almost the whole pondus or weight of the wood (the unprofitable Phlegm only excepted) in that transmutation, than the invention of reducing it to Pot-ashes? For any man of Understanding may easily see, That in that open burning of the wood the noble Sulphur is consumed by the Fire, and can be of no benefit. But if the business may be so ordered, that the wood shall burn, and not consume it self in burning, but be converted into a sulphureous Salt, it will be a thing of great moment. He that knoweth how to perform this, hath indeed attained the scope, and arrived to the desired end. Although a Coal be deprived of its juice, nevertheless it retains almost the same quantity that the wood had, whereof it was made. One pound of such Coals being burnt, scarce yields an ounce and an half of ashes, which ashes afford but a third or fourth part of Salt, fit to be changed into Salt-Petre, or to fatten the Earth. Therefore it is no small Art to preserve the Sulphur of the Coals (whose Virtues are great) and to convert it into so noble a Salt.
For the acid juice of wood being pressed out, and reduced to sweetness, will effect far more in the manuring and fattening of Fields, than any one can easily believe. Hereafter, if I shall see it necessary, I shall publish yet more and greater things; but I shall yet for some time suspend the publication of the [Third Part of The Prosperity of Germany], till I see how things will prove; being assured that my Writings for time to come will be more grateful, than to this present Age. I will now enter upon the description and use of the Press so often mentioned, for the expressing and again coagulating the juice of Wood.
Of the Figure, Use, and Utility of the Press, by whose help the Juice is plentifully pressed out of Wood, without great labour, fit for the making of Salt-Petre.
The Form or Figure.
First, Let a round Furnace be built with Bricks of the same form with that in the first Figure, noted with the Letter A. It must be like a Glassmaker’s Furnace, large at the bottom, and rising round by degrees to a small point at the top; in the top must be a round hole, opening about a foot broad, by which the Wood may be put into the Furnace. To the hole is to be fitted a Cover or Stopper, made of the same matter, with the Bricks, and burnt as they are, to shut up the hole. On one side of the lower part of the Furnace, is to be a door, by which the Coals may be taken out. On the other side is to be a little hole, to which an earthen Channel or Pipe of about three or four cubits long, is to be fitted, in which the smoak or fume of the wood, forced out by the fire, may be condensed into an acid juice, and may destil into a wooden Vessel or Barrel, which is to be fitted to the Pipe, to receive the destilling acid juice. See the first Figure noted with pag. 13. at the beginning of this Treatise.
A is the Furnace or Oven wherein the Wood is char’d.
B, The Cover of the Furnace.
C, The Door at which the Coals are taken out.
D, The Canes or Pipes wherein the sap or juice of the Wood is condensed, and from thence runs into the Receiver.
E is the Vessel or Receiver into which the Vinegar of Wood runs.