But in making manifest this Artifice to the whole World, my intention is not that the World should thereby be inriched with great profit, as I have endeavoured by describing the manner of Dunging poor Sandy Land, by the acid juice of Wood. My Scope or end is only this, That every man may see and consider how many wonderful things may be effected with wood and shrubs, which are every where found in great quantity, and nevertheless are of no use or profit.
Who would credit any man, affirming, that it might be effected, that not only Grain, but all sorts of Trees, and excellent Vines should grow in any hard and naked Rock, without the addition of any Earth or Dung? Truly, I believe that there is no man in the World, to whom this will seem likely. This will more amaze Farnner, with his whole Crew, than my Miraculum Mundi did. Yet because the thing may be done, I cannot forbear to divulge the Artifice, only to this end, that I may subject the Divine Wonders to the eyes of the blinded World. But yet it cannot be, but that it will be profitable in many places, in those especially which lie near Rivers, and afford Wine; such are those which lie upon the Mœne, Mosell, Necker, Rhine, Danube, and other the like Rivers, where great and craggy Mountains frequently occurr; in which having the heat of the Sun all the day, Vines might be commodiously planted, if Earth and Dung could be carried thither. Certainly Vines grow no where better than in Rocks and Craggs, into whose clefts and cracks they insinuate their roots, that they may thence attract to themselves nourishment, which few other Plants are wont to do: And because for the most part much Wood grows about such Rocks, it would be worth while to press out its juice, by which the hard Rocks might be reduced into a soft Dust, fit for the Reception of Vines, which might be performed by this operation; which nevertheless would not be necessary to undertake, but for the manifesting of the wonders of God to the unskilful, and shewing that such things may be done. If any desireth to plant in a place of this sort, in which Vines or Trees growing freely in rocky and stony places, as Cherry-trees, Plumb-trees, Service-trees, and others, bearing Fruits which have Stones; at the beginning, a little hole is to be cut in the Rock by the help of Masons Tools, which is to be filled with the Vinegar of Wood; which being done, the hole is to be covered to keep off the Rain. After some daies, let him see whether the Vinegar hath insinuated it self into the Rock, and again fill up the hole with fresh Vinegar, and cover it with a Stone, as before. And this Labour is to be repeated in the Summer time so often, till the Rock hath drunk up much Vinegar, and be thereby so softned for the space of an Ell in length, breadth, and depth, that it may be easily dug up with a sharp Instrument, and become a great hole; the matter digged out is again to be cast into the hole, and to be again filled with the Vinegar of Wood, and covered with stones, and so left till all the matter grows so soft, that it may be crumbled to pieces with the fingers. And in the Autumn, when Trees have lost their Leaves, or in the Spring, before the Leaves come forth, viz. in the Month of March, Vines or Trees are to be planted in the matter contained in the hole, and the matter to be trampled close down about their Roots, then all to be wetted by the pouring on of Water, and the event to be committed to God. So the Vines or Trees grow as well as if they had been planted in other manured ground. The reason is this; Because the Rocks consisting not of Sand, but of stones, fit for the making of Lime, do contain much Salt-Petre, as also the acid juice of Wood, partaketh of the same nature, this, by corroding the Rock, dissolveth the Salt-Petre in the stone, and setteth it free, and at the same time loseth its own corrosive Acrimony, so that it cannot hurt the Roots of Vegetables, but is like to Cow-dung or rather better, for it fatteneth and nourisheth the Roots better. Therefore a Tree or Vine planted after this manner in a Rock, if it shall once put forth, afterwards dieth not, but the Roots insinuating themselves into the Clefts of the Rock, seek their own nourishment. Nevertheless every Winter when the Leaves are fallen off, some of that acid juice is to be poured to the Trunk of the Tree or Vine, that during the Winter, it may again soften some Portion of the stone, which will afford new matter of nourishment to the Roots. And by thus affusing of fresh juice every year, there will be no need of Earth or Dung, seeing that the Stone is changed into earth and dung by the juice of the wood.
Although this Arcanum will seem a thing impossible to many, yet it is most true, of which, if any will make trial, he may easily do it in this manner: Let him get a stone which doth not consist of sand, but of such of which Lime is made, which being exposed to the Sun, let him pour upon it the acid Liquor of Wood; which when the stone shall have well imbibed or drank in, let him pour on more, and repeat this labour so often, till the stone be rendered so soft, as it may be rubbed to powder between the fingers. In this matter, rubbed or ground small, let him sow any Seed, which will sprout forth thence, as if it had been sowed in any good earth: The reason we have already declared, viz. because the stone is converted into earth, having its own Salt-Petre, or proper Dung in it self, and moreover, changing the juice of wood into Salt-Petre. He who rightly understandeth and followeth my Doctrine, and shall set about the Work with diligence, will without doubt attain his end. But if he tries with a Sandy stone, he will effect nothing. For stones of this sort want a nourishing Salt, and they wholly refuse solution by the Liquor of Wood, so far are they from imbibing, coagulating, and changing it into a Dungy Salt. But after the following manner any one may prove, that natural Salt-Petre may be made of the stones of which Lime is made, and the juice of Wood. Let him take some pieces of this sort of Lime-stone, not yet burnt (for when burnt, it is much more facile, as I have taught) and immerge or dip them all over in the Vinegar of Wood, and dry them in the heat of the Sun, or some other warm place, and let him repeat this labour so often until they be so soft that they may be rubbed or ground to pieces like Earth. From this ground matter extract the Salt with Rain-water, which will be plainly like to Salt-Petre. So of the Stone is made Earth; of the Salt of that Stone, and the Vinegar of Wood, Salt-Petre; or a salt equally Serving with the Dung of Cows or Sheep, for the dunging of all Vegetables.
Nevertheless we have not written these things to that end, as if it were necessary to plant Rocks with Vines, by the help of the Vinegar of Wood. Our purpose is only to set forth how the great efficacy of the juice of Wood may be known, and how by its help, fertility may be procured even to the hardest Rocks, which being hitherto unknown and unheard of, my diligent search and enquiry hath now brought to light. Let it not seem absurd to any, that I ascribe so great power to the Vinegar of Wood; for common Vinegar doth the same thing in softening of hard Rocks: Why then should not this acid juice of Wood do it, which far exceeds the common in strength and sharpness? It is said, that Hannibal made a passage through the Alps, for himself and his Army, softening the Rocks by the benefit of Vinegar; what Vinegar that was, Histories do not mention. Perhaps it was the Vinegar of Wine; but if he had had the Vinegar of Wood, he might sooner have attained his desire.
This Arcanum, without doubt, will give occasion of finding out many other profitable things, by the help of this Vinegar. I have opened the way, let another come, who by searching further may enlarge it, that thereby some perfection may the sooner be acquired. There are many things lie hidden in Nature, which through our sloth and negligence not being sought after, yield no profit to Mankind. But I doubt not but time will produce sedulous men, who will make a further progress in this Vinegar, so that much profit may redound from it.
There is found another kind of stones, which for the most part is used for the building of Houses, which being soft, is easily cut, so that steps or stairs, and Window-frames are made of it. It is to be reduced by the help of Fire into a Calx of a white, ashy, and reddish colour; it also refuseth to be melted; nor is it like to Sandy stones, but is Partaker of both natures, and contains much Salt-Petre. But neither by its reduction into a Calx, nor by the pouring on of water, can it be extorted from them, except it be first prepared after a singular manner, for then it yields to water; concerning which thing I have written a peculiar Treatise, which God willing shall shortly come forth. There are whole Mountains of this sort of stone, containing a great Treasure of Salt-Petre, which hath hitherto been known to none.
These few things I was willing to offer to Country-men, concerning the pressing of wood, and the utility thereof. The Circulatory Vessels in which the juice of the wood, and all the salts of the Air are animated by an uncessant motion, and converted into Salt-Petre, I will not divulge at this time, but reserve them for my self and my Friends. [These are described in the [Third Part of The Prosperity of Germany].]
In the mean time this excellent Art will not sleep, but will be exercised in many places. Now whosoever shall need the same, he will know what is to be done. For I have determined to bestow the same for the good of my Neighbour, lest it should be buried with me in oblivion.
I have also an Artificial Invention (which is taught in The Prosperity of Germany) of turning common salt in the space of a few hours, so that it shall be plainly like Salt-Petre, for the enriching of poor, lean fields; and yet an hundred weight of it will scarce cost a Doller (which is about 4 s. 6 d.) Which is indeed a singular Gift of God in these last times, which will be highly profitable both to the Rich and Poor, in all places of the World. For if the Culture of Wine and Corn shall every where become better, and more profitable, by the help of this Art, it cannot be, but that all men will receive profit, and obtain a more commodious way of living.
For by this Art, not only all Fields, whether they have lately brought forth Fruit, or whether they have lain fallow, and for some time brought forth nothing, are brought to that condition, that they may bear Fruit every year: but also barren places, which would never bring forth any Fruit, are rendered fertile, and fit to bear Fruit; so that no place can be found in the world, how barren soever it be, which by this medium may not be rendered fertile. Moreover, this Art is to be greatly esteemed, because by it ground may be fattened in those places where no Cattel are found, and therefore afford no dung; seeing that hitherto no other than the ordinary way of dunging hath been known.