7<5 The Procefs follozued at Montpelltcr in 



top of the fermented hufks, or placed under thofe which have 

 been already ufed for caufing the copper to oxydate. It has 

 been obferved, that when the operation called defafouga has 

 not been employed, the plates grow black at the firft opera- 

 tion, inftead of becoming green. 



When the plates are thus prepared, and the hulks have 

 been brought to ferment, the workmen try whether the lat- 

 ter are proper for the procefs, by placing under them a plate 

 ef copper, and leaving it buried there for twenty-four hours. 

 If the plate of copper, after this period, is found covered 

 with a fmooth green cruft, in fuch a manner that none of 

 the metal appears, they are then, thought fit for being dif- 

 pofed in layers with the copper. On the other hand, if drops 

 ©f water are obferved on the furface of the plates, the plates 

 are faid to fweat, and it is concluded that the heat of the 

 hufks has not fufficiently fiibfidcd. They confequcntly defer 

 making another trial till the next day. When they are af- 

 fured that the hufks arc in a proper fiate, they form them into 

 layers in the following manner : 



The plates are all put into a box, which, infiead of having 

 a bottom, is divided in the middle by a wooden grate. The 

 plates difpofed on this grate are fo flrongly heated by a 

 chaflng-difli placed under them, that the woman employed 

 in this labour is fometimes obliged to take them up with a 

 cloth, in order that flie may not burn her hands. As foon 

 s.'i they have acquired that heat, they are put into the jars in 

 layers with the hufks. Each jar is then clofed with a cover- 

 ing of ftravv-, and left to oxydate. This period is called collar 

 to hatch. Tiiirty or forty pounds of copper, more or Icfs ac- 

 cording to the thickncfs of tlic plates, are put into each 

 jar. At the end often, twelve, fifteen, or twenty days, the 

 jar is opened ; and if the hufks are white, it is time to take 

 out the plates. The cryflals arc then fcen detached, and of a 

 filky appearance on their furface. The hufks arc thrown back, 

 and the plates are put in v.hat is called relai.. For that pur- 



pof« 



