USEFUL PROJECTS. 



841 



a sufficient quantity of flotir, salt, 

 and yeast. The flour amounted to 

 two pounds, the yeast to two ounces, 

 and the salt to eighty grains. The 

 loaf when baked was remarkably 

 well fermented, and weighed three 

 pounds two ounces. Anotlier loaf, 

 made with the same quantity of Hour, 

 &c. weighed two pounds and twelve 

 ounces : from which it appears that 

 the salep, though used in so small a 

 proportion, increased the gravity 

 of the loaf six ounces, by absorbing 

 and retaining more water than the 

 flour alone was capable of.' Half a 

 pound of flour and an ounce of sa- 

 lep were mixed together, and the 

 water added according to the usual 

 method of preparing bread. The 

 loaf, when baked, weighed thirteen 

 ounces and a half; and would pro- 

 bably have been heavier, if the salep 

 had been previously dissolved in 

 aboutapint of water. Butit should 

 be remarked, that the quantity of 

 flour used in this trial was not suffi- 

 cient to conceal the peculiar taste of 

 the salep. 



The restorative, mucilaginous, and 

 demulcent qualities of the orchis 

 root render it of considerable use in 

 various di'^eases. In the sea-scurvy 

 it powerfully obtunds the acrimony 

 of the fluids, and at the same time 

 is easily assimilated into a mild at>d 

 nutritious chyle. In diarrha^as and 

 the dysentery, it is highly service- 

 able, by sheathing the internal coat 

 of the intestines, by abating irrita- 

 tion, and gently corredting putre- 

 fa(^ion. In the symptomatic fever, 

 which arises from the absorption of 

 pns, from ulcers in the lungs, from 

 wounds, or from amputation, sale]) 

 used plentfuily, is an aduiirabK' de- 

 mulcent, and well adapted to resist 

 that dissolution of the crasis of (he 

 blood, which is so evident jn these 



cases. And by the same mucilagi- 

 nous quality, it is equally efficacious 

 in the strangury and dysury; espe- 

 cially in the latter, w hen arising from 

 a venereal cause; because the dis- 

 charge of urine is then attended 

 with the most exquisite pain, from 

 the ulcerations about the neck of 

 the bladder, and through the course 

 of the urethra. I have found it 

 also an useful aliment for patients 

 who labour under the stone or gra- 

 vel. 



From these observations, short 

 and imperfect as they are, I hope it 

 will sufficiently appear that thu cul- 

 ture of the orchis root is an object 

 of considerable importance to the 

 public, and highly worthy of en- 

 couragement from all the patrons of 

 agriculture. That taste for experi- 

 ment, which characl:erises the pre- 

 sent age, and which has so amazingly 

 enlarged the boundaries of science, 

 now animates (he RATIONAL farmer, 

 who fears .not to deviate from the 

 beaten track whenever improvements 

 are suggested, cr useful projefts 

 pointed out to him. Much });is been 

 already done for the advancement of 

 agriculture; but the earth still teems 

 with treasures which remain to be 

 explored. The bounties of Nature 

 are inexhaustible, and will for ever 

 employ the art, and reward the in- 

 dustry of man. 



Mtfnas:emetit of Orchards; and the 

 PruceM of ni(tl:i/ig Cjjdc/' and Pcrri/. 

 From Duiicombii's Historic (>J Ilerc- 

 furdshire. 



The apple and pear-trees which 

 form the orchards of Hereford- 

 shire, arc well known not to be the 

 rialural produi^lion of any soil or 

 climate ; the one beinj a variety of 



the 



