Sometimes it happens, that when the Ashes are not good, there’s no salt at all gathered in the Liquor, in which case there is no presenter Remedy, than to mix such a Lixivium stronger than is fit, with another, and so pour it again upon new, and good Ashes, and then let the boiling be again perfected after the afore-prescribed manner.
Likewise, when in the boiling you find the Lixivium very muddy, whereby the Collection of the Salt is oft-times hindred, it must be taken away, and let the Washer-Women, or Lawndresses have it, and other must be substituted in its room, and be farther purified by the help of Ashes.
The Figure signed (Numb. 2.) shews the manner of preparing the Liquor by boiling, and of extracting and gathering the Salt thereout of.
A Long narrow Tubs, or Vessels, in which the decocted Liquor of the Lixivium is cooled.
B The Furnace wherein the Copper stands.
C The Man that manageth the boiling, and extracts, or draws out the salt with a Ladle, the which he lays in a Withy Basket placed on the Copper, that so the Lixivium (in it) may again run down into the Copper.
D The little Basket.
E The little Tub out of which the strong Lixivium runs (by little and little) into the Copper.
F Coolers, or Vessels, in which the Crude Salt-petre shoots.
G Four Brass Pans put in the Earth, hollowed for the purpose, in which likewise the Salt-petre is generated (or shoots.)