NB. But now if any be desirous of making his wine better and more noble than it would have been afore the Concentration, then he must not put five, but only 4 parts of water; for should he add but three Hogsheads or parts, it would be yet better and nobler by one degree than the others: Hence is it manifest, That it is in the hands of the Artist to make and alter these wines at his pleasure, and to render them strong, stronger, and middling, and by the addition of water to give them even what efficacy and what virtues you list. But now, to all the mixtures he may add the soul of wine, if he has it, that the wines may thereby be the sooner clear and pure. For the Quintessence of any wine being conjoined with new Musts, and working with them, brings them in a short space of time to clarity and purity, so that they become transparent, but principally when they are tartarized, or full of Tartar, for the spirit of Wine brooks not any Tartar, but precipitates it in the fermentation to the bottom, or drives it away from it self, and so by consequence makes the Wine clear and transparent. But as concerning, what means the Tartarized (Spirit or) Essence of Wine is to be artificially prepared by, ’tis needless to repeat here, forasmuch as it is already described in divers of my Writings hitherto published, but especially in the Vegetable Work.
Besides, it is not so convenient, that every one should know, by what means the concentrated Musts may be prepared with water, and the Tartarized Quintessence. It is sufficient in this place, to know how the Musts are to be concentrated, or brought into a narrow compass, that so they may be transported and sold. Let this be the care of the Merchants to know how to use them when they have bought them. For the Brains of the Vineyard keepers are incapable of these things. Yet nevertheless, there will be some Men who will know how to make a due use of such boiled and condensed Musts, if they can but get them, and every one may be Master of this Affair, if he has but Coppers and Kettles, necessary for such an Operation; whereby he may make store enough of Juice. But yet every Countryman can’t get such Kettles, neither will it be worth while, forasmuch as a small Portion of Wine, will not be able to quit the Costs. But whosoever bestows his Study and Moneys in exercising this Artifice, will reap thence from a great deal of Utility and Advantage. But whether he does these things, or does them not, he neither benefits, nor injures me. ’Tis sufficient, that I have evidently demonstrated to the Vineyard Masters, by what means they may always sell their Wines, whether they be ripe, or have come short of their Maturity.
But for the better instruction of the Courteous Reader, I will compute the Charges of this Operation, and show, what gain is to be expected from the Condensation of these Musts.
In the first place therefore, let us buy some Musts in those places, in which they are thin, and are sold for a mean price, viz. twelve Urnes, or six Hogsheads, or Oma’s, for xij. Imperials; [an Imperial is about 4 s. 6 d.] this Must we will condense to the Consistency of Honey, so that there may be but one Hogshead, or Oma remaining. Let the Costs requisite to this Concentration (always provided you are furnished with the Copper Vessel) be valued at half a Dollar, or thereabouts; and the charge of the Wood we’ll count an Imperial for. The Wine Cask which is to be filled with this condensate Juice, we will value at half an Imperial, its carriage forty Miles, we’ll reckon six Imperials for. All which Charges being summed up, make nineteen Imperials and an half. And so much will be the Charges of one Hogshead, or one Oma of this Condensate Must, and its Carriage forty Miles. This Must now being brought into such a place where Wines are dear, you may at any time of the year, by the addition of Water, and by Fermentation, transmute into good Wine. And that one only Hogshead being the condensate Juice of six Hogsheads of Must, will yield thee so many Hogsheads of such Wine as the Must would have been afore its Concentration. And if thou desirest to have thy Wine stronger and nobler, than as it comes out of the Press, and than it could be afore this Condensation, you may omit the putting thereunto so much water as it lost in the Condensation, and lessen it proportionably, that so those six may make no more than four Hogsheads, and they will be the more generous; the which thou shalt far better have by this means, if viz. You know how thereunto to adjoin a Quintessence.
If now, that one Hogshead of juice, which afore its Condensation was six Hogsheads, doth again yield four [and no more] it must of necessity be much better, and more noble than otherwise it would have been, had it been made after a Natural manner, (viz. just as it came from the Press.) And by this means too, it will last the better, and may be the easilier transported and sold.
So then, if in such a place as is 40 Miles distant from Wine-making Countrys, an Hogshead, or Oma, is sold but for twelve Imperials, and you have of six Hogsheads of thin Wine, made four of better, and each of these you sell for but 12 Imperials, yet you shall have 48 Imperials, out of which substract your 19 and ½ Charges, you shall have clear Gains 28 Imperials, and ½. But I have set a most low price on this Wine, for in such places which are about some 40 Miles from those Countries, in which abundance of Wines grow, an Hogshead, or an Oma, is not usually sold at the Rate of 12, but of 24 Imperials. The gain therefore of about a Wayn-load of such a thin Wine, which haply would have corrupted with lying, and never yielded any profit, doth at the least yield above fifty Imperials.
Every one now may easily see how much Gains this Artifice of the Concentration of Musts doth bring. For besides this Commodity arising from this Labour, viz. That the Musts being presently sold, yield ready Money; there is this also, that the Money being again presently disburst, opens the way for the next years profit. The Merchant also has this benefit by this Labour, that he is not enforced to pay so much Water’s carriage so long a Journey; and that he may even at his pleasure make his Wine more or less strong and efficacious; for what a deal of profit is this, for to have all the Wine of six Hogsheads, carried in one Hogshead.
Besides, the Merchant doth not only gain the price of the carriage of those five Hogsheads, but also is quitted of the fear of the Carter’s corrupting, or spoiling that Juice by the way, as is usual with them to do with Wine, drawing it out, and filling up the Vessels again with Water. This danger these Juices are not subject unto; and may be kept in great plenty in fruitful years of Wine, until you need them. For they are not wont to be corrupted, if they are but kept in pure, and well shut Vessels. By this means every Vintner may in such exceeding plentiful years, furnish himself with a great Treasure, and store of Wines, and so afterwards, when a dear year comes, reduce his Juices into Wine, and enjoy a great deal of profit.
I have to this end described this so famous an Art, that the common Vine-Masters, may have present sale for their Musts, and not be enforced so long to keep them, till some Carrier comes and enquires after Wine, but may presently get their Moneys, and may profit themselves by bestowing them to the use of their Family. So then, it fares not only well, which the Vine-Masters, and the Merchants, but also with all such as dwell in those places which yield no Wine, because by the benefit of this Medium (or Artifice) they may also drink Wine at a cheaper rate. For if any Honest Citizen provides himself with an whole Hogshead, or half an Hogshead of this Juice, he may turn it into stronger, and weaker Wines, and all times of the Year make new, and as yet fermenting sweet Musts, whensoever he pleaseth, and as oft as his need requires; and may by the apposition of Spices, or Herbs, make Aromatical, or Physical Wines; which thing cannot be effected without these Condensate Juices; forasmuch as Sweet Musts, cannot be carried by Land to any other place, for that they presently ferment, and boil up, and will either break out of the Vessels, or rend the Cask, and be lost, which (by having these Juices) is not at all to be feared. I do therefore think that I deserve exceedingly well of very many, by the faithful manifestation of this Artifice; which deed of mine, whether it be praised, or dispraised, yet will it not be despised by such men as shall apprehend, and perceive the benefit and Commodity of so great an Artifice.
It remains now, that we also describe, and set afore your Eyes the Instruments and Vessels serving to this Condensation, (without which, this Concentration cannot be effected) and withal shew the manner of proceeding, which is to be thus ordered.