Aphorifms concerning Cider. 2?j 



then ordinary) and then at a tap before prepared in the Vejjel three 

 or four inches from the bottonn I drew it into pails^ and from 

 thence filled the Hogfiead (or lefler Ve/fel) and left the grcateft - 

 part of the Lee behind ^ and during this time that the Cz^er ftood 

 in they at, I kept it as clofe covered with hair-clothes ox facks as 

 I could 5 that fo too much of the Jpirits might not Evaporate. 



Now poffibly I might be alked why I did not, iince I kept it 

 fo clofe in the Vat, put it at firft into the Fe/fel ."? To which I anfwer, 

 that had I put it at firft into the VeJJel, it would poflibly (efpecially 

 if the vpeather had chanced to prove wet and warm) have begun to 

 ferment before that time had been expired , and then there 

 would have been no poffibility to have feparated any part of the 

 grofLee, before thefermentatton had been wholly finiftied ; which 

 keeping it only covered with thele clothes was not in danger ; 

 For, though I kept it warm in fbme degree, yet fome of the jpi- 

 rits had ftill liberty to evaporate ; which had it been in the Hogf- 

 head with th° Bung only open, they would not fo freely have 

 done 3 but in the firft lOf hours it would have begun to /erwe»f, 

 and lb my defign had been fully loft : For thoCe Jpirits if they had 

 been too ftrongly reverberated into the Liquor, would have caufed 

 a fermentation before I could have taken away any part of the 

 gro^ Lee. For the great myjiery of the whole thing lyes in this, 

 to let fo many of the jptrits evaporate, that the liquor (hall not 

 fermentbe€orethegroj^ Leebe taken away 5 andyetto keepj^'/r/^/ 

 enough tocaufe a fermentation when you would have it. For if 

 you put it up as foon as it is jirained, and do not let fome of the 

 jpirits evaporate, and the groJ^Lee by its weight only to be fepara- 

 ted without fermentation, it will ferment too much and lofe its 

 fweetnefs , and if none be left, it will not ferment at allj and then 

 the Cider will be dead, fiat and fowre. 



Then after it is put into the yejfel, and the Fejfel fill'd all but a 

 little (that is,about a Gallon or thereabout) I let it ftand (the Bung^ 

 Afl/e being left only covered with a/^-st/jer, to keep out any duft or 

 filth that might fall in) for 24 A<?«r/ more 5 in which time the ^r^ 

 ye/^ part of the lee being formerly left in the Vat, it will not fer- 

 ment, but you may draw it off by a Tap fome two or three inches 

 from the bottom of the Vefjel, and in that fecond Vefjel you may 

 ftop it up, and let it ftand fafely till it be fit to Bottle ^ and poffi- 

 bly that will be within a day or more : but of this time there is no 

 certain meafure to be given ; there being fo many things that will 

 make it longer, or lefs while before it be fit to bottle. As for Ex- 

 ample, If the Apples were over-ripe when you ftamped them, or 

 ground them in the Mill, it will be the longer before it will be 

 clear enough to Bottle 5 or if the reeather\^xoye to be warmer or 

 moiftcr then ordinary : or that your -^p/?/ex were of fuch kinds, as 

 with the fame force in the ftamping or grinding they are broken in- 

 to fmallerp^r^/V/e/ then other Apples \X\zt were of harder kinds. 



Now, for knowing when it is fit to Bottle, I know no certain 

 Kule that can be given, but to Woacht!ne Vefjel with a fmall fiercer, 

 and in that hole fit a peg, and now and then ("two or time* in a 



day) 



