,transcriber's ,note3 ,this old text is preserved as printed apart from the correction of the following apparent printing errors3 ,page #ac 8,extroardinary0 changed to 8,extraordinary0 ,page #bj 8luberous0 changed to 8tuberous0 ,page #bf 8perpencular0 changed to 8perpendicular0 ,page #cd 8,veiws0 changed to 8,views0 ,page #ce 8cheifest0 changed to 8chiefest0 ,text printed in an 8,irish0 typeface is denoted like this4 ,a ,,method ,,of ,,tanning ,,without ,,bark4 ,illustration ,,dublin3 ,printed by ,a4 ,,rhames1 ,,mdccxxix ,,to ,,his ,,excellency ,william ,conolly1 ,esq2 ,,speaker ,,of ,,the ,house of ,commons of ,ireland4 ,and to the ,rest of the ,members of ,that ,,house4 ,,this ,,method ,,of ,,tanning without ,,bark ,is humbly inscribed ,by ,their most ,obedient ,servant1 ,william ,maple4 ,,the ,method of ,tanning ,,without ,,bark4 ,in ,political ,computations1 the following ,principles are universally allowed4 ,that the ,riches of every ,country arise from the ,natural ,produce of the ,earth2 and the ,labour and ,art1 imployed in improving the same4 ,that the ,quantity of ,native ,commodities1 the ,source of ,riches1 is in ,proportion to the ,number of ,people1 fully and usefully employed4 ,that every industrious ,person adds to the ,wealth1 and ,support of a ,nation2 and every ,idler1 detracts from both1 by living on the ,labour of ,others4 ,that it is the best ,policy in any ,government1 to encourage1 and provide for the full ,imployment of the ,people2 since thereby1 the ,number1 ,wealth1 ,strength1 and ,quiet of the ,inhabitants are increased4 ,that the ,gain1 or ,loss of any ,nation by ,trade1 is known1 and determined by the ,proportion1 which the ,exports bear in ,value to the ,imports4 ,on this depends the absolute ,quantity of ,money in a ,nation2 the ,relative ,quantity of the several ,species1 that composeth this ,money1 being ascertained by the ,value imposed on those ,species2 either as it agrees with1 or differs from the ,value set thereon by other ,nations4 ,a ,nation certainly loses by a ,trade1 whose ,exports are not compleatly manufactured1 and whole ,imports are fully wrought4 ,a few ,manufactures will serve to exchange for great ,quantities of the simple ,produce of the ,earth4 ,the ,value of ,manufactures1 being principally owing to ,labour and ,art4 ,if upon these ,principles1 we examine the ,state of the ,trade of ,ireland2 ,i fear we shall find it1 in a very declining1 and ruinous ,condition4 ,our ,exportations are made up of ,wool1 ,woorsted1 ,linnen1 ,yarn1 ,beef1 ,butter1 ,cheese1 ,tallow1 ,hydes1 ,skins1 and a few other ,articles4 ,we are not allowed to export our ,wool and ,woorsted1 but to a few ,ports in ,england1 and are prohibited from sending thither1 or any where else1 any other of our ,woollen ,manufacture4 ,linnen1 and some tanned ,hides are the only ,commodities we export1 compleatly ,manufactured2 ,yarn and ,woorsted may be accounted but as half-wrought2 ,almost all the other ,articles are but little removed from the ,state1 ,nature has given them to us1 and have little or no ,labour or ,art employed about them4 ,at the same ,time1 we export so liberally the ,growth of our ,country1 and so little of our ,manufactures1 we may observe all our ,importations are of such ,commodities1 as are not capable of farther ,improvement2 such as ,east-,indian and ,west-,indian ,goods1 ,druggs1 ,wines1 ,spirits1 ,manufactures of ,wool1 ,silk1 ,linnen1 ,iron1 ,brass1 ,glass1 c4 ,nay1 the common ,produce of almost all ,countries1 as ,corn1 ,timber1 and ,fireing1 are imported in great ,quantities to supply our ,necessities4 ,by this ,management of our ,trade1 we maintain many ,thousands in foreign ,countries1 and drive ,numbers of our own ,people from us1 or leave them to starve at home1 for ,want of ,imployment4 ,if to this ,view1 we add that mighty ,drain of our ,bullion1 made by those ,gentlemen1 who1 having great ,estates in this ,kingdom1 choose to spend them any where1 rather than at home3 ,we can not be at a ,loss1 how to account for the ,ballance of ,trade1 running against us1 for so many ,years past4 ,the most certain ,way left to retrieve our ,affairs1 is to lessen our ,imports1 and to encrease our ,exports1 especially of ,manufactures4 ,the ,commissioners of the ,linnen ,manufacture1 by an unwearied ,application and uncommon ,skill1 have contributed greatly to the ,value of our ,exports1 by the ,advancement of the ,linnen ,manufactury4 ,and ,i don't doubt but that in several other ,articles1 divers ,expedients and ,means1 may be thought of1 for promoting a greater ,consumption of our ,own1 and lessening that or foreign ,commodities2 and as one ,instance1 ,i shall beg ,leave to propose an ,improvement in our ,tannage1 by which ,i apprehend1 we shall be enabled to ,tan with the ,produce of our own ,country all the ,hydes that now are ,exported ,raw2 and thereby increase the ,value of our ,exports1 employ many ,thousands of our ,people1 and avoid the ,necessity of ,importing ,bark4 ,to set this ,matter in a clear ,light1 ,i shall lay down1 in the first ,place1 the ,export of ,green ,hydes1 and the ,import of ,bark1 in the seven following ,years1 for the ,whole ,kingdom1 as the same has been extracted out of the ,custom-,house ,books4 ,years4 ,gr4 ,hydes4 ,bark ,b's4 #agba #df1hdg #df1eef #agbb #hf1jjd #de1gid #agbc #abc1ead #dg1hbd #agbd #ajc1dgg #fj1gdj #agbe #fi1heh #dh1djg #agbf #fj1dda #de1bgi #agbg #eg1cgc #ej1eih ,in the next ,place it is to be observ'd1 ,that ,bark1 according to its ,goodness1 is sold from #f to #aj1 and in some ,years1 #aa ,shillings1 the ,barrel4 ,that ,cow-,hydes weigh from #ef1 to #hd ,pounds each2 ,bullock ,hydes1 weigh from #hd to #adj ,pounds each1 and both are sold from #ae to #ba ,shillings1 the hundred ,weight4 ,that ,soles1 are generally sold from #h to #h ,pence half-penny the ,pound4 ,that ,hydes generally lose about half their ,weight1 in ,tanning4 ,from these ,principles1 when thrown into mean ,proportionate ,quantities1 it is evident3 ,that the ,quantity of ,bark1 annually imported1 is #ej1jjj ,barrels1 and the ,value #ba1jjj ,pounds4 ,that the ,number of ,green ,hydes1 annually exported1 are #hj1jjj1 and their ,value #eg1jjj ,pounds4 ,that if these ,green ,hydes were tanned before ,exportation1 their ,value would be #abc1jjj ,pounds4 ,that the ,difference1 arising from the ,different ,state of these ,hydes1 on ,exportation1 is #ff1jjj ,pounds1 which ,sum added to the #ba1jjj ,pounds1 the ,value of the imported ,bark1 making in the whole #hg1jjj ,pounds1 must be accounted1 as so much gained to the ,kingdom1 should our ,tannage be effected by our own ,produce and ,labour4 ,the ,nations1 that demand this ,export of those ,green ,hydes1 are those1 whose black ,cattle are not bred1 in such ,numbers1 as to supply their indispensable ,demands2 ,nor will their dry ,hydes1 which they receive from their ,settlements abroad1 admit a thorough ,tannage2 ,they1 in hopes of putting their ,neighbours1 who have a ,redundancy of ,hydes1 under a ,necessity1 of parting with them unmanufactured1 have prohibited1 by the severest ,penalties1 the sending us any ,bark4 ,while we1 on the other ,part1 have not only complied with this detrimental ,export2 but also have been so regardless of our own ,interest1 as to permit several ,tanners1 some from this ,city1 to go1 and instruct them in an ,art1 they almost were ,strangers to4 ,the ,english1 from a true ,sense of the ,disadvantage of such a ,trade1 have subjected the ,exporter of a ,green ,hyde1 to the ,penalties of #ejj ,pounds1 and a ,disability to trade in ,leather1 ever after4 ,ann4 #ad4 ,car4 ,,ii4 ,such an ,act1 even in our present ,circumstances1 may1 by some1 be thought adviseable for us2 ,because1 such ,nations1 as now gladly receive our ,green ,hydes1 finding a ,stop1 put to their usual ,supplies1 would be under a ,necessity of receiving our tanned ,hydes1 and selling us their ,bark4 ,leather being a ,commodity1 that does not depend on the ,fancy2 but1 is absolutely requisite1 not only to the ,luxuries1 but also1 to the ,necessities of ,mankind4 ,at present1 ,our ,tanners find a great ,scarcity of ,bark1 except those residing in some considerable ,sea-,port-,town1 and are under just ,apprehensions of a greater4 ,several in the ,country have been obliged to lay aside their ,pits1 and take to other ,imployments2 the usual ,supplies failing4 ,our ,neighbours who will permit any ,bark1 to be sent us1 are in a ,manner exhausted4 ,our ,american ,plantations are too remote to find their ,account1 in sending any great ,quantity4 ,the ,produce of our ,country is scarce a twentieth ,part of what is used in ,tanning4 ,this renders our ,tannage dear1 and often imperfect1 so as not to serve a foreign ,market1 to ,advantage1 and ,reputation4 ,but if we had ,materials1 of our own ,growth1 easy of ,acquisition1 and ,propagation1 that would tan1 in every ,respect1 as well as ,bark2 were these ,materials1 as to their ,powers1 well ascertain'd1 and confirm'd by a general ,experience1 the making an ,act1 to prohibit the ,exportation of ,green ,hydes1 would be judged by all to be ,adviseable1 and ,useful to the ,kingdom4 ,when the apparent ,qualities of ,bark1 are considered2 and that by it's insinuating into the ,pores1 and incorporating with the ,substance of the ,hyde1 it produces a ,firmness1 ,strength1 and ,consolidation of the ,parts2 ,it is very surprizing1 that other ,materials1 of the same ,apparent ,qualities1 have so long remained neglected1 and unapplied to the same ,uses2 when the ,consequence is of such ,moment4 ,tormentil1 and ,cinquefoil ,roots1 are ranged in the same ,medical ,class2 have the same apparent ,qualities1 especially the first1 in a more eminent1 and evident ,degree1 than ,bark1 it self4 ,on ,tryal1 they have answered beyond ,expectation3 ,the ,cinquefoil did not give so good a ,colour1 as the ,tormentil1 which in all ,respects1 as to ,colour1 ,bloom1 ,substance1 ,solidity1 and ,weight1 in the ,tanned ,hyde1 compleatly answered1 and in much less ,time1 than when ,bark1 7even of the best ,kind1 or ,growth7 is used4 ,tho'1 what is here asserted1 is grounded on several ,years ,experience1 and confirmed by the ,opinion and ,testimony of ,mr4 ,philip ,cooley1 ,tanner1 who from the ,beginning hath been concerned in the several ,tryals1 and to whose ,skill and ,industry a ,part of the ,subsequent is owing4 ,yet to give the utmost ,satisfaction1 and as ,i think my self in the strongest ,manner bound by the ,encouragement1 hitherto given me1 by the ,house of ,commons1 to render the best ,information ,i am able1 in an ,affair of some ,consequence to the ,public1 ,i shall give a most faithful ,account of the ,progress that has been made1 and the ,success that hath attended this ,way of ,tanning with relation to the ,goodness of the ,leather1 the ,time1 and ,charge of ,tanning1 and other ,circumstances2 and shall add several ,observations1 with ,directions for finding1 and propagating these ,roots1 in great ,plenty1 that all ,persons may be encouraged to carry this ,method of ,tanning1 into a general ,practice1 which as it will be for their private ,advantage1 so it will not fail to promote the ,public ,benefit4 ,in ,order to this1 ,i shall in the first ,place beg ,leave to place this ,affair in the ,light it appeared in before the ,committee of the ,house of ,commons of ,ireland1 to whom my ,petition was referred by the ,house1 in which ,petition it was alledged1 that ,i had established a ,method of ,tanning1 without the ,use of any ,barks1 to as great ,perfection1 cheaper1 and in less ,time1 than with ,bark1 by ,vegetables of our ,natural ,produce1 and of easy ,culture4 ,the ,committee1 were pleased1 for their greater ,satisfaction1 to summon a ,great ,number of ,tanners1 ,curriers1 ,shoemakers1 and others1 to attend1 to give their ,testimony in relation to the several ,specimens1 and ,proofs1 that were to be laid before them4 ,in respect to the ,goodness of the ,leather1 so tanned1 the following ,specimens were exhibited4 ,n4 #a4 ,a ,calve's ,skin from the ,ooze4 ,n4 #b4 ,a ,calve's ,skin1 uncurryed4 ,n4 #c4 ,a ,calve's ,skin1 curried3 each of these1 when tann'd and dry'd1 weighing about three ,pounds4 ,n4 #d4 ,a ,calve's ,skin1 very strong and large1 when tanned and dryed1 weighing about ,six ,pounds4 ,n4 #e4 ,seven or ,eight ,pair of ,soles1 of a ,calve's ,skin1 rais'd4 ,n4 #f4 ,a ,bend of a ,bullock's ,hyde for ,harness4 ,these were all proved by ,thomas ,cooley and ,patrick ,shale to be tanned without ,bark1 and with the ,roots4 ,mr4 ,henderson1 ,master of the ,tanners1 said he was diffident of the ,goodness of the ,specimens1 that he should have been thoroughly satisfyed3 had he known1 how the ,leathers had proved1 if worn1 by some ,porters1 or ,chairmen4 ,that the ,colour of ,number #b1 or #c1 was not so good as some tanned with ,bark1 producing a ,calve's ,skin curried1 to compare with them1 but did own1 all the ,specimens were thoroughly struck1 and well tanned3 ,that if they were in a ,shop1 intermixt with ,skins1 tanned by ,bark1 he could not distinguish them2 and that1 what tanned ,numb4 #e and #f1 would tann1 ,time and ,quantity allowed1 the thickest ,bullock's ,hyde4 ,mr4 ,dobson1 ,tanner1 affirmed the ,specimens were not well tanned1 because they did not come up to the ,colour of the ,skin produced by ,mr4 ,henderson1 but in other ,respects1 the ,leathers appeared1 to be as good in their respective ,kinds1 as any tanned with ,bark4 ,mr4 ,nicholas ,gibson1 ,master of the ,curriers1 affirmed that the ,skin produced by ,mr4 ,henderson1 was of an ,extraordinary ,colour2 ,that there were not ten such in ,dublin2 ,that the ,difference in ,colour was but very small1 and in regard even to ,colour1 would choose those tanned by the ,vegetables1 as soon as ,mr4 ,henderson's ,skin2 ,that all the ,specimens appeared to be very well tanned1 and that he could in no wise distinguish them from ,bark-,tannage4 ,mr4 ,devereux1 ,currier1 being sent out1 returned1 producing two ,calves ,skins tanned by ,bark1 which he took indifferently1 and without choosing1 from the next ,currier's ,shop4 ,they were allowed by all1 to be of a general or common ,colour2 and being compared were much exceeded by the ,specimens1 and particularly1 as to ,colour4 ,mr4 ,edmund ,sheild1 ,currier1 said he never saw better tanned ,leather1 than the ,specimens1 that their ,colour was very good and1 that what tanned ,numb4 #e4 would tann any ,hyde1 whatsoever4 ,mr4 ,brookfield1 ,tanner1 reported the ,specimens exhibited1 were well tanned and thoroughly struck2 that neither ,he1 or any other could distinguish them1 from ,bark ,tannage2 and that what tanned ,numb4 #e1 could not fail in any ,tannage4 ,mr4 ,veckers1 ,tanner1 allowed the ,specimens to be very well tanned2 and gave it1 as his ,opinion1 that what tanned ,numb4 #e and #f1 would tann the thickest ,sole ,leather4 ,mr4 ,john ,gades1 ,shoemaker1 after giving his ,testimony1 that all the ,specimens appeared to be exceedingly well tanned1 produced a ,shoe1 made by him1 of the ,leather of this ,tannage1 affirming the ,leather1 wrought very well1 and that the ,soles exhibited1 under the ,hammer1 all the ,signs of extraordinary ,leather4 ,mr4 ,ellis1 ,shoemaker1 reported the ,specimens were very well tanned3 ,that1 ,leather either dead1 or highly tanned1 would never carry so beautiful a ,colour as ,leather otherwise tanned4 ,that1 the ,sole ,leather appeared to be very well tanned2 and that in his ,opinion this ,tannage1 would in every respect1 answer the same ,end1 or ,intentions1 as ,bark ,tannage4 ,mr4 ,james ,king1 ,shoemaker1 said all the ,specimens1 were effectually tanned4 ,mr4 ,richard ,norris1 ,shoemaker1 produced a ,sole of this ,tannage1 beaten2 asserting he never saw so good a ,sole of rais'd ,calve's ,skin1 that it beat firm1 solid1 and without spreading1 or ,fuzziness3 which are the distinguishing ,characters of good ,sole ,leather1 he desired it might be cut in several ,places1 that the ,closeness1 and ,firmness might be view'd1 which accordingly was done1 and answering ,expectation was approved4 ,there were a great many other ,tanners1 ,curriers1 and ,shoemakers1 who were of the same ,opinion4 ,but considering1 their ,testimonies1 would be but so many ,repititions2 ,i shall not recite them4 ,dr4 ,richard ,helsham1 ,professor of ,natural ,philosophy in ,trinity ,college1 said ,i had communicated to him1 what was used in this ,tannage1 which appeared to be well adapted to tanning1 and would not fail to give a sufficient ,strength1 and ,rigidity to the ,fibres4 ,adding he wore a pair of ,shoes1 the ,upper ,leathers of this ,tannage1 daily for four ,months1 and being willing to try the utmost of the ,leather1 had new ,soles put to them2 that since he had worn them about a ,month3 showing them1 without any ,cracks1 or ,defect4 ,patrick ,carrol1 produced two ,slips of curried ,calf ,skin2 the one tanned by ,bark1 the other by the ,roots1 each three tenths of an ,inch broad1 and ten ,inches long1 the first was the thickest1 and weighed1 a tenth ,part more than the other4 ,he said1 he was present with several others1 when it broke1 by a ,weight of #abi ,pounds being hung to it2 ,that the ,slip of this new ,tannage1 being tryed with the same ,circumstances1 bore #bi ,pounds more than the #abi ,pounds1 before it either yielded1 or broke4 ,in respect to ,time4 ,that the ,specimens1 ,n4 #a1 #b and #c were tanned in five ,weeks1 ,n4 #d in nine ,weeks1 ,n4 #e in four ,months1 without any ,hurry1 extraordinary1 or illegal ,methods3 was proved by ,mr4 ,thomas ,cooley1 and ,patrick ,shale2 on the other ,side1 it appeared1 that in tanning with ,bark1 from three to five ,months were required for ,calves ,skins1 from seven to nine were requisite for ,soles of rais'd ,calves ,skins1 and from ten to thirteen ,months for ,bullocks ,hydes1 which by this ,tannage1 may be effected in nine or ten4 ,in regard to ,cheapness4 ,mr4 ,philip ,cooley1 affirmed that six ,pounds of the ,dry ,roots1 added to some old expended ,ooze1 tanned ,six ,calves ,skins1 three of which were produced under the ,n4 #a1 #b1 and #c2 and that he believed sixteen ,pounds would have done as much from the first1 or without any old ,ooze4 ,in relation to the ,cheapness4 ,part of the ,roots1 ,i have used1 ,i purchased at three ,farthings1 the ,pound2 but of late ,years1 and being willing to engage the ,privacy of the ,gatherer2 ,i have given a ,penny2 they lose about a third in ,drying3 ,allowing these as ,facts and taking it at the dearest1 less than five ,shillings worth of ,roots1 will go farther1 than a ,barrel of the best ,bark4 ,as to their ,plenty and ,propagation1 ,dr4 ,helsham testified1 they grew in great ,plenty as he had observed1 in several ,counties of this ,kingdom1 and were very easily propagated4 ,dr4 ,william ,stephens1 ,botanic ,professor in ,trinity ,college1 ,dublin1 in his ,examination declared1 that they grew in great ,plenty about ,dublin1 and in several ,counties he had observed great ,quantities1 chiefly on ,mountains1 and barren ,places3 ,that1 they were easily to be propagated1 in almost any kind of ,soil1 and that he had some flourishing in the ,physick ,garden1 belonging to the ,university4 ,the ,resolutions1 that the ,house entred into ,january #aj1 might very well have sufficed to have recommended a ,general ,practice4 ,but to remove some ,prejudices and to obviate some false ,representations1 ,i have impartially recited the several ,facts and ,testimonies1 on which they were founded4 ,that all ,people may easily know and find out these ,plants1 ,i shall here give a ,description2 which though tedious1 ,i hope will be excused4 ,cinquefoil1 in ,latin1 ,pentaphyllum vulgare1 in ,irish1 ,tuigbeag 7,tuigbeag7 ,tuigvear ,muirre 7,tuigvear ,muirre7 and in some ,counties1 ,meagigh1 7,meagigh7 is a ,plant1 whose ,roots are very long1 about a ,finger's ,thickness1 of a dark brown or reddish ,colour1 and very astringent in ,taste2 the ,leaves are born at the ,extremity of a small ,stem1 five together1 deeply indented on their ,edges1 of an oblong ,form and hairy2 on the ,grand ,stem1 at the ,nodes1 shoot forth several smaller1 terminating with a small ,yellow ,flower1 composed of six small ,leaves surrounding a ,number of ,threads1 from whence ariseth a ,cluster of ,seeds4 ,it flourishes in every ,hedge1 sandy1 loose and deep ,soil3 the ,roots which are to be preferred1 are the thick1 long1 and of the darkest ,colour4 ,tormentil1 or ,septfoil1 in ,west ,meath1 called ,neauhnadis 7,neauhnadis7 in ,ulster1 ,menedin 7,menedin7 or ,neauhnid 7,neauhnid7 in ,connaught1 ,levenet 7,levenet7 in the ,county of ,mayo1 ,fenede na ,muc 7,fenede na ,muc7 this ,plant1 hath a thick1 tuberous ,root1 of a reddish brown ,colour1 sometimes covered with a black ,skin1 of a very astringent ,taste1 and shooting out many ,fibres2 the ,leaves are generally seven1 set on the ,extremity of a ,foot ,stalk1 of a dark ,green ,colour1 deeply indented on the ,edges and hairy1 from amidst them ariseth several small weak ,stalks1 of a reddish ,colour1 and hairy1 about #ab or #ah ,inches in ,height1 knotted2 at every ,knot1 or ,joint1 is a ,foliage1 and two or three ,foot ,stalks1 some bearing ,leaves1 and one longer than the rest the ,flowers consisting of four ,leaves1 of a light ,yellow ,colour1 to which succeeds the ,seeds2 the flower ,cup1 hath ,eight ,leaves1 four large and four small1 the ,root when ,vigorous sends forth several ,runners1 the ,stalks of which are of a reddish ,colour1 and hairy that spread over the ,ground2 at every ,joynt1 from one ,part ariseth two or three ,stems1 each bearing at the ,extremity five ,leaves1 from the other ,part1 descend several ,fibres that become ,roots4 ,it grows almost every where1 but chiefly delights in mountainy1 barren and shallow ,soils2 the ,roots seldom striking four or five ,inches deep4 ,it hath been observed by ,dr4 ,stephens1 to grow all along the ,banks of the ,doder1 from ,donore-,brook to ,old ,baun1 upon ,roch ,town ,hills2 it grows on the ,borders of a great ,bog for several ,miles1 by ,rathmullian in the ,county of ,meath4 ,in the ,county of ,wicklow1 ,thousands of ,cart-,loads might be with ,ease collected2 ,nor do ,i know a ,mountain or ,bog without ,plenty of it4 ,in the ,figure1 7a7 denotes the ,root1 7b7 the ,flower in the ,bud1 7c7 the ,flower expanded1 7d7 the ,knob of ,seeds1 7e7 the ,runners1 7f7 the ,flower ,cup4 ,i have exhibited but few of the ,leaves1 ,stems1 and ,runners to avoid ,confusion4 ,it is observable1 that from the ,bark of the ,stalk of this ,plant1 at its breaking forth from the ,root1 excrementitious ,tubercles or ,knots1 resembling ,oak-,galls have been often discovered1 and like them are subservient to the ,propagation of ,insects2 which1 considering the extream nice1 and distinguishing ,taste of those ,animalculas1 may well be allowed as a ,proof1 that their ,juices are similar4 ,the ,roots growing on ,mountains are small1 strong1 and often have a black ,coat2 those that grow on the ,sides of ,loughs1 and in ,bogs1 are large1 of a lighter ,colour2 some ,i have had of the ,latter1 that have weighed each above half a ,pound4 ,illustration ,when you chose the ,roots1 prefer the large1 knotty ,roots1 that when broken exhibit a blood red ,tincture intermixt with the ,brown1 and those that when cut1 leaves on the ,knife a strong purple ,colour4 ,the best ,time for collecting these ,roots is in the ,winter ,season1 or early in the ,spring1 and tho' the ,seed-bearing ,stalks1 and ,foliage are decayed1 yet there are several ,foot ,leaves1 that remain and direct the ,inquirer4 ,and tho' these ,plants grow wild all over the ,country1 in such ,plenty1 as to be more than sufficient to tann all the ,hydes1 and ,skins of the ,kingdom2 and little ,apprehension of a ,deficiency1 for in digging up the ,roots1 there will be left some broken ,parts1 some ,fibres1 which will ,vegetate and give a ,supply4 ,a common ,root1 on a moderate ,computation will produce #h or #aj hundred ,seeds1 these shedding1 and dispersed by ,winds1 and other ,accidents1 some will take ,root1 and carry on a ,succession4 ,and in regard1 it may be objected1 that the ,trouble and ,expence1 in gathering them1 when in so dispers'd a ,manner1 would be very great2 and a constant ,supply uncertain3 ,and because the ,roots1 if raised in such ,soils1 as shall be found to agree with them1 would thereby become larger1 stronger1 as well as cheaper1 ,i have endeavoured the ,culture1 especially of the ,tormentil1 and with such ,success1 as to have from each square ,yard three ,pounds weight of the ,roots4 ,an ,acre contains #g1hdj square ,yards2 but1 for ,paths1 ,wastes1 and inclosing1 ,i would allow #a1hjj ,yards1 not to be employed2 ,as the first ,year they will be little more than fibrous1 ,i would allow three ,years for their ,growth1 tho'1 if another ,year was added1 the ,crop by an ,increase would sufficiently reward1 not only as to ,quantity but ,quality2 as the best of ,lands are not required2 ,i would state the ,expence of that ,culture as follows1 ,three ,years ,rent at #es4 the ,acre1 #j #ae #j ,plowing twice and ,harrowing1 #j #ab #f ,planting1 #j #g #f ,houghing1 #a ,digging up the ,roots1 #a ------ ,total #c #ae #j ,suppose each square ,yard1 should produce but the ,moiety of what before was mentioned1 and sold but at three farthings the ,pound1 the ,amount will be #bgl4 #cs4 #f;d4 from whence a ,profit ariseth beyond most of our ,cultures1 now in general ,use1 and the ,tannage may be accomplished1 at about a ,moiety of the present ,expence4 ,probably1 this ,estimate of the ,charge and ,profit1 may not be so exact as to be strenuously defended2 but if defective1 there is ,room enough for any reasonable ,addition or ,deduction1 without much ,prejudice to the ,argument2 different ,soils1 often one and the same will be attended with different ,charges2 ,the finer1 the ,earth is made1 or the more it is broken1 before ,planting the better ,vegetation succeeds2 at first shooting up of the ,herbage1 particularly where the ,ground is foul1 houghing1 or pulling up the large ,weeds1 will be necessary1 that the ,growth of the ,tormentil may not be chequed2 in a little ,time it will clear its self4 ,as the ,roots run superficially1 not streeking at most #e or #f ,inches in perpendicular ,depth1 the ,charge of digging them up cannot be so much1 as that which attends ,potatoes4 ,the ,propagation may be effected by planting the ,crowns of the ,roots1 7that ,part1 from whence the ,herbage ariseth7 in either ,autumn or ,spring1 in the same manner as ,horse ,raddish1 splitting the ,crown1 so as to leave a ,bud on every ,slice1 then setting them in the ,ground1 about an ,inch in ,depth and allowing each ,set1 #e or #f ,inches square of ,ground4 ,when you take up a ,plantation1 you will have an ,abundance of small ,roots that arose from the shedding of the ,seed1 and from the ,runners1 that will scarce be worth the ,drying1 but very proper for ,planting3 ,if you cut from either ,extremity of the ,root1 a ,piece of about half an ,inch in ,length1 it will grow very well4 ,the whole ,root1 if cut into such ,pieces1 may be planted4 ,in all these ,i believe the ,charge of ,planting might be saved2 if you scatter them before ,harrow1 the passing of that over them1 will cover them with ,earth sufficient2 or at least1 the most ,part of them4 ,you may ,plant the ,runners1 as you do ,strawberries1 in the mention'd ,seasons and ,distances1 and considering the ,numbers of fibrous ,roots1 already shot forth1 it may be allowed the speediest ,method4 ,the ,seeds ripen about ,august or ,september1 when ripe1 they are of brownish ,colour2 as they are very apt to shed1 the ,time of ripening must be heedfully regarded2 ,it would be adviseable to cut the ,hawm or ,herbage1 a little time before the ,seeds ripen1 laying it on a ,cloth1 or winnowing ,sheet in the ,sun1 when dry1 rub the ,seeds out with your ,hands1 and separate them from the ,chaff4 ,in ,march the ,ground being prepared1 you may sow and harrow1 or rake them into the ,ground4 ,the ,cutting of the young ,stems1 if planted in ,may1 will grow4 ,the ,roots when collected1 are to be washed very clean1 from the ,earth that will remain with them1 for otherwise1 that ,dirt when in the ,layers1 settleth into the ,pores of the ,hyde or ,skin1 and causeth ,numbers of ,spots1 and ,discolourations4 ,in fair ,weather1 it not being a succulent ,root1 they will sufficiently dry if spread on a ,floor1 or a clean ,part of the ,field2 a little ,wet1 will in no case damage them4 ,in case of very wet ,weather1 and continued1 they may be ,kiln dryed1 in the same ,manner as ,bark4 ,when dryed1 they must be bruised or ground1 either more or less1 according to the ,uses design'd1 or to the ,proportion you require them to spend in4 ,in case they should not be sufficiently washt1 when they are pounded1 or ground a little1 it would be adviseable to sift the ,dirt1 or ,earth1 which by this ,means is broken1 and seperated from them4 ,when thus prepared1 you must proceed in the same ,manner1 and lay away1 intirely1 with the same ,circumstances as with ,bark4 ,it hath often been objected1 ,that if this ,method should obtain1 ,planting would be discouraged1 and so prejudice the landed ,interest4 ,that it is used in the ,canary ,islands and that though it may be done effectually there1 yet the ,produce of our ,country might have ,qualities very different1 or not exalted to such a ,degree1 as to be of a requisite ,force4 ,to these1 ,i would answer4 ,that ,bark would always bear a ,price1 in ,proportion to the ,rate of what is substituted in lieu thereof2 ,it would be far from being rendered useless1 but only suffer a ,diminution in ,value4 ,that ,diminution would be more than ballanced by the accelerated ,growth1 and ,worth of the ,timber4 ,at present we fall our ,woods so young1 and at such improper ,seasons1 on ,account of the ,bark1 that the ,timber is neither so good1 and little more than fit for ,ribberies1 and ,cabbins2 whereas otherwise1 was the present ,inducement1 the great ,price of ,bark diminished1 we should have full1 and well grown ,timber1 cut at a due ,season1 and proper for ,edifices1 and ,shipping4 ,the ,improvement of those ,lands that now are unprofitable1 or not far from such1 would be another ,ballance1 if not wholly1 yet in ,part1 to the apprehended ,injury4 ,the ,use of this ,root hath not been confined to the ,canaries4 ,the ,reverend ,mr4 ,lucas ,jacobson ,debes1 in his ,history of the ,islands of ,feroe says ,page #abj1 8,here groweth a huge ,quantity of ,tormentil1 which the ,inhabitants1 having no ,bark of ,trees to tan their ,hydes with1 make ,use of2 ,god and ,nature having revealed to them the ,dryness of that ,herb1 so that they tan their ,skins with it1 and therefore call it ,bark40 ,and ,page #bga4 8,the ,men wear ,shoes of ,neats ,leather1 tanned with the ,roots of ,tormentil40 ,the first of these ,islands1 is in the ,latitude of #bh1 the other in #fb4 ,yet we find the same ,roots used for the same ,purposes1 though probably they may differ in ,degrees of ,power4 ,a great ,degree of ,heat is not a ,quality requisite to the ,perfection of all ,vegetables4 ,saffron in ,france exceeds the ,produce of ,spain1 as much as the little we have in ,ireland excells the ,product of ,england4 ,our ,temperate ,climate seems in some ,degree1 to be more adapted to ,vegetables of this ,species of ,power1 than those that are deemed hot4 ,our ,bark is allowed to excel the ,bark of those warmer ,climates1 as also our ,timber4 ,it is a contested ,point1 whether the ,tormentil is not the ,plant1 the ,greeks called ,britanica2 probably so named from its plentiful ,growth in that ,island4 ,one great ,advantage1 arising from this ,tannage should it become general1 will be1 that it will give ,imployment to a great many ,poor ,people1 that will be set to work in gathering1 or raising such a ,quantity of those ,roots1 as will answer the present annual ,import of ,bark2 as also the ,tannage of some1 if not the ,whole of those ,hydes1 we now export unwrought2 besides the great ,numbers1 that will be employed in the encreased ,tannage4 ,thus1 with as much ,brevity1 as the ,nature of the ,subject would admit of1 ,i have given a ,narrative1 of what ,i hope will be as satisfactory1 on a candid ,perusal as ,i am assured1 it will be beneficial to the ,publick1 in all its ,consequences2 if the ,method laid down be but pursued with common ,care1 and ,assiduity4 ,it requiring no greater ,skill than what at present is used in ,bark ,tannage2 no ,alterations in ,forms1 or ,utensils4 ,if the ,instructions1 laid down1 should appear to ,any insufficient1 or imperfect2 ,i shall always with ,pleasure be ready to render them1 if in my ,power otherwise4 ,i have made a ,plantation1 very near this ,city1 that if the ,curiosity of ,any should prompt them to a farther ,information1 in that ,particular1 they there may meet with it4 ,as this ,tannage is constantly carried on2 it is open to the ,view of ,any that desire it4 ,i have several ,thousands of ,pounds weight of these ,roots by me2 ,i never refusing the buying of any brought to me4 ,if any ,tanner wants1 he may have it at the ,price1 ,i gave to the ,countryman1 or be directed where1 or how to be supply'd1 until a ,demand makes it a ,market ,commodity4 ,our ,necessities1 and those daily encreasing1 first prompted to this ,essay4 ,the ,authority of ,books1 ,i have not relied on1 but a ,series of ,experiments that employed several ,years in the ,pursuit4 ,if ,i have pointed out1 or cleared from ,incumbrances1 an advantageous ,path that may lessen the ,import of ,bark1 extend our ,tannage by our own ,produce1 and give a ,support to any ,number of ,poor2 ,i regard it in no other ,sense1 than having done ,part of that ,duty1 ,i owe to a ,country1 which in ,gratitude1 ,i would call mine4 ,i might justly incur a severe ,censure1 if ,i should conclude1 without testifying with all due ,acknowledgements1 a grateful ,sense of my ,obligations1 to the ,honourable ,house of ,commons1 for the ,vote they were pleased to pass in my ,favour1 on the ,report of the ,committee2 that ,i had1 after a full ,enquiry1 answered the ,allegations of my ,petition2 and for the ,resolution1 they entred into1 of giving all proper ,encouragement to so useful a ,proposal4 ,far from being insensible1 that all new ,attempts of this ,kind1 are apt to subject the ,author of them1 to the ,name of a ,projector1 and render him the ,object of ,reproach and ,suspicion2 when ,i was fully satisfied in the ,facts1 on which this ,method is grounded2 ,i communicated it to some ,persons1 who are as little liable to be impos'd on themselves1 as they are above all ,suspicion of imposing on others2 under the ,sanction of whole ,characters1 such an ,imputation would at once be removed4 ,by their ,directions ,i preferred my ,petition1 and notwithstanding the ,success was not altogether such as they desired2 ,i hope they will not deny me the indulging a sincere ,gratitude1 in particulary owning the ,obligations to them1 who so warmly espoused my ,interest1 grounded upon that of the ,nation4 ,i shall venture to say no more1 than as ,i flatter my self they can clear me from any ,imputations of ,sinister or ,mercenary ,views2 ,so ,i can promise my ,endeavours shall always tend to hinder a ,blush1 for the ,kind ,representations1 they have been pleased to make in my ,favour2 and that ,i shall always study to approve my self what is my chiefest ,ambition to be1 and what only intitles me to their ,patronage2 a ,pretender to no other merit1 but ,plain dealing4 ,i should have published this sooner1 but that ,i waited the ,success of some repeated1 as well as new ,experiments2 all which on the best ,examination ,i am capable of making1 have tended to an intire ,confirmation2 ,that the ,tormentil ,roots ,tan all ,hydes and ,skins as effectually1 cheaper1 and in less ,time than ,bark1 and is easily propagated4 ,,finis4