An Admonition, adjoined as an Over-plus.
In the first Chapter of this first part of the concentration of things, have I plenarily manifested, by what means, new Wines and Musts are (by the help of an Artificial condensation) to be brought into a narrow compass, that so they might be carried into far remote places wherein there are no Wines, and may there be sold to great profit. But yet I forgot to shew, by what means the savour which the winy Juices contracted in their concentration, is wholly to be taken away in the fermentation when they are again dissolved in water, that so the Wines made of those Juices may not have any untoward and unpleasant taste. ’Tis an Artifice without which no man can easily, quit himself in this Art of making Wine. But that I may certify every one hereabouts, the Medium (or Basis) necessary about the precipitation in this work is no other thing but common Sulphur excellently well purified, a little portion whereof (according to the nature and property or disposition of the Juices) is to be hereto added, which must boil up (or ferment) with the Wine, that so it may draw to it self all the filths, and all the strange odour, and savour or taste in the fermentation and by precipitation cast them down to the bottom, which being done the Wines become sweet, clear, and get a good savour. Furthermore it is to be known by what means (seeing that there are many fæces and defilements that will separate themselves out of those kinds of Wines as well as out of others, and settle to the bottom) even they are to be put to some use, that so there may not be any loss, but that the gain may be by so much the greater. Divers ways are there of making profit from them; as for instance, The remaining Wines may by pressed out in bags, or else they may be turned into Vinegar, or a spirit may be thence destilled, and the remaining gross matter be boiled in water, and the Tartar therein dissolved, and prest out in bags, that it may so shoot into Tartar. But as touching this expression I have taken care to have a peculiar Book published at Norimberg, (viz. The Treatise of the Lees of Wine.) So that it is wholly needless to make any mention of the same, in this place. The Courteous Reader may use it to his occasions, as being such a Book, in which he will find the said pressing out the Wine and Tartar, and also the making of Vinegar, clearly described, with all the circumstances thereabouts, and without all question if he rightly understands me, and sets about the work, he will do himself a great deal of good.
NB. But if so be that any shall know the Art of turning the Tartar of those Fæces into Salt-petre, (and such a thing may be done and that in a very short time) he will get twice the profit, that is to be gotten by making Tartar of them; forasmuch as he need not put himself to the inconveniency of pressing them.
In the second Chapter of this first part where mention is made of the concentration of Corn, there it has been alleadged that the remaining husks or branny parts which remain after the extraction of the Juices, may be made to yield as much yea more Moneys than will pay the costs about the Corn. But it is well known, that those reliques that are left in your boiling up of Ale, are improved to fatten Beasts with. If now a Medimnus (a measure of about some 6 bushels) of Corn doth cost half, nay even a whole Imperial, those reliques (that are left of it in working) can scarce cost less than one eighth part of that Imperial. And now out of such a Medimnus or measure of such reliques, they would very hardly when turned in the Beasts, into nutriment, have made in them two pounds growth of flesh, the price of which (said two pounds) would not amount to the eighth part of the said Imperial: Whereas now, if those reliques were handled after the afore-mentioned way of reducing Wood into Juices, they would easily yield as much, or more Salt-petre than the price of the Corn was at the beginning. So that here’s an enriching Treasure offers it self to the pious and diligent Housholder, whereby he may do good to those in need.
In the third Chapter of the first part, is mention made only of the Concentration of Wood, of the pressing the Juices out of the Wood, and of the making Nitre; But because there is not every where such great quantity of Wood, as to imploy it to the making of Salt-petre without omitting the more necessary use of it, yet notwithstanding the case may be so ordered as that a great quantity of Salt-nitre may be made of the Leaves of the Trees and the Grass that grows under the Trees, and there’s no need to cut down the Trees, if a Man has no mind so to do. Besides too, in such places where there’s but little Wood and much Corn, even the very stubble or straw (of the Corn) is fit enough to be made into Salt-petre. So that there is no place where there is not matter found for the making of Salt-petre.
And therefore I cannot forbear but must needs teach all pious Housholders (whether they have their Houses in Cities or in Villages) a certain easie Artifice, by the help of which they may gather a Treasure for their Children, without any labour and costs, and such a one as Thieves can never rob them of.
And now, seeing I have revealed in this small Book, for the benefit both of Rich and Poor, high and low, three Artifices or Workmanships by which, Wine, Corn, and Wood may be made more profitable; but yet have not brought any assisting help to such as want both Wine, Corn, and Wood, I have judged it worth the while (that so even they who have nothing, and yet nevertheless desire to provide for their Wives and Children in some honest way) to bestow on them a secret Art, whereby they may seek their advantage or profit. And I hope the thing will redound to the Honour of God, and to all our Healths.
Besides, I will shew a way to such as have no inheritance left them from their Parents, nor have any thing come to them by Marriage, by what means they may without labour and trouble get a Treasure for their Children.
First of all, Let such a one take care to have some shade or hovel made, to join to that side of his dwelling that lies in the middle ’twixt the North and the East part of Heaven, or some other more convenient place, so as to admit the Sun and Air to it, but to keep off the Rain. Under this Pent-house or Hovel, let him dig a large Pit, and with the Earth he digs out let him make banks round the Pits-mouth that so it may keep the Rain off of every side. This done, let him each day in every year, or whensoever he can conveniently carry and throw into that Pit these following matters, so long till his necessity forceth him to dig all out again, and to see how much Treasure he hath gotten, even whilest he slept. Now these matters are, All sharp and bitter Herbs, growing in by places, amongst bushes, and in the way sides, and such as the Beasts feed not on, as Esula, Cicuta or Hemlock, Hen bane, Fumitory, the thick stalks of Tabaco that are thrown away in those places where it is planted, the hard stalks of Colwort, which the Beasts eat not of, and likewise all those things they leave in their Troughs; likewise Firr tops or Apples if you have them at hand; also the Leaves that fall from the Trees in Autumn are to be gathered; also Pigeons-dung, and Hens-dung, Birds and Hens Feathers; all the Ashes which Women usually make their Lees with, and other Ashes that are not fit for that use, as also such out of which the Lixivium or Lee is already extracted; the soot of Chimneys, Hogs hairs, the horns of Oxen and Cows, and the bones which the Dogs eat not of. All these matters may he throw into his Pit, and that he may the sooner fill it, he may gather as much as ever he can from the bordering places, and throw it therein, that so in one or two years time he may with all those things fill up his Pit. Mean while he must pour into the Pit the piss gathered in his House, and that he may have enough he must also get as much as he can from his Neighbours, so as to keep the things thrown in the Pit in a continual moisture, whereby they may the sooner putrefy. In want of Urine, common Water may be taken; if Sea-water or other Salt-water can be had, it will be the better. Also the Brine of Fishes-pickle, and the salting or salt-water that Flesh is macerated (or pickled) in are of good use in this business; likewise the Blood of Oxen, Cows, Calves, Sheep, which you may easily have at the Butchers; all these things putrefying together do put on the nature and property of Salt-petre.