^26 On tJie Uses of Leaves and Pru?ii?igs of Vines, 



to some of the local bleachers in this part of the country, 

 they never had their colours in the same perfection which 

 they now have, and which they attribute entirely to the 

 superior effect of the steam. 



It occurs to me, that steam might be appHcd for warming 

 buildings in I-.ondon, in many instances, with great advan- 

 tage. For instance, the bed-rooms of large inns and hotels ; 

 as also large warehouses or shops, where a number of neigh- 

 bouring buildings might be warmed from one boiler, which 

 would save much in attendance and fuel, as well as in the 

 cost of the apparatus. It is also well adapted to the pur- 

 pose of warming churches, hospitals, and other large pub- 

 lic buildings. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, 



Robertson Buchannan. 



Glasgow, , 



April 2, 1808. 



XLVII. On the ceconomlcal Uses to which the Leaves and. 

 Prunifigs of Fines may le applied in tins Country, 



To Mr. Tilloch, 



SIR, 



X* ROM experiments which I have made, I find that, on 

 being dried, which should be done in the shade, and infused 

 in a tea-pot, the leaves of the vine make an excellent sub- 

 stitute for tea. I have also found that, on being cut small, 

 bruised, and put into a vat., or mashing-tub, and boiling water 

 poured on them, in the same way as is done with malt, the 

 prunings of the vine produce a liquor of a fine vinous quali- 

 ty ; which, on being fermented, makes a very fine beve- 

 rage, either strong or weak, as yoii please; and, on being 

 distilled, produces an excellent spirit of the nature of brandy. 

 In the course of my experiments I found that the fer- 

 mented liquor from the prunings, particularly the tendril$> 

 when allowed to pass the vinous and to run into the acctoua 

 fermentation^ makes uncommonly fine vinegar. If not in- 

 tended to be distilled soon after they are lopped off, or if it 

 should not be convenient to do so at the time, they should 



be 



