59 



these departments, where strong fires are kept 

 for such a length of time ; likewise, let the old 

 tan be sifted in the common way, with a pretty 

 coarse sieve or riddle : some gardeners throw 

 it entirely away, but I prefer sifting, or at least, 

 if this is considered too much labour, to have 

 some of the best and warmest preserved, which, 

 by being mixed with the new, prevents its heat- 

 ing so violently as it otherwise would, when 

 first put in ; it also tends to preserve a more 

 regular heat in the other, longer than it natu- 

 rally would, if used by itself; as it would be 

 very violent at first, and consequently, like most 

 other things, that are worked up above their 

 pitch, liable to be the sooner exhausted, in pro- 

 portion to the first fermentation. 



Having sifted and got away all the refuse of 

 the old tan, let the fresh, if well dried, be im- 

 mediately carried in, and both well mixed toge- 

 ther in the pit; still adding, until the bed is 

 raised to the proper height ; this done, let the 

 wood and glass work, kirbs, passages, &c. &c. 

 in short every part of the house, be diligently 

 washed ; for the two-fold purpose of endeavour- 

 ing to clear it as much as possible from insects, 

 as well as to give it a cleanly appearance : 



