173 
open sheds in several parts of England, only that I conceive 
some improvement might be made in their construction so 
as not so much to press out and waste the sap which con¬ 
tains the very essence of the dying principle. These mills 
grind or cut the leaves small and then they are cast into 
heaps where they ferment and gain an adhesive consistence ; 
they are there formed into balls as compact as possible and 
placed on hurdles lying horizontally in a shed one over the 
other, with room for air between, to receive from the atmos¬ 
pheric air a principle which is said to improve them as a dye 
as well as to dry them to a degree proper to be fermented, 
but in summer these balls are apt to crack in drying and be¬ 
come flyblown when thousands of a peculiar maggot gen¬ 
erate and eat or destroy all that is useful to the dyer.— 
Therefore they require attention as soon as they are observ¬ 
ed to crack to look them all over well, close them again so 
as to render them as compact and solid as possible, and if 
the maggot or worm has already generated, some fine flour 
lime strewed over it will destroy them and be of much ser¬ 
vice in the fermentation. These balls, if properly preserv¬ 
ed, will be very heavy, but if worm eaten very light and of 
little value. They are then to be replaced on the hurdles 
and turned, not being suffered to touch each other, until a 
month or more after the whole that is intended for one fer¬ 
menting couch is gathered in, ground and balled, and often 
until the hot weather of summer is past, to render the offen¬ 
sive operation of turning it less disagreeable and not so apt 
to overheat, and though temperature herein is necessary yet 
a certain degree of heat must be attained before it is in pro¬ 
per condition for the dyer’s use. This is easily distinguish¬ 
ed by a change of smell from that which is most putrid and 
offensive to one which is more agreeable and sweet (if I 
may be allowed the term) for few people at first can either 
approve of the smell of Woad or a Woad vat; though 
when in condition they become quite agreeable to those 
whose business is to attend them. Woad is in this state of 
R 
