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CHAPTER XVIIt. 
How to prepare Cashs — The Danger of cleaning them with an Iren 
Chain-—The Manner of Burning Brimstone into them. 
\ r , 
It is well known, that the vessels which are to contain cider 
should be properly seasoned, as, without this circumstance, 
all the trouble which has already been, or which might after¬ 
wards be taken, would be to no purpose. 
When a cask is new, it is proper to prepare it, previous to 
any cider being poured out into it; the way of doing it is, after 
it has been washed with cold water, to throw a little salt wa¬ 
ter into it, and to shake it in every direction, and then draw it 
out; a few quarts of new cider must afterwards be boiled and 
poured hot into the cask, w hich must be bunged, then shaken, 
and let to get cool in it. 
The best way to keep casks which have been used well 
tasted, is to work them as soon as they are empty. Such as are 
to be laid by, must be rinced clean, have brimstone burnt in 
them, and then bunged. It is easy to ascertain if they are 
clean, by holding a lighted candle down the bung-hole, while 
one looks alternately through holes made at each end ; it is 
thus that the inside is perfectly seen. If they have been 
neglected to be washed at the time I have mentioned, a few 
buckets full of water must be thrown into them, along with a 
few pebbles, and then shaken in the ordinary manner. These 
pebbles operate in a cask like small shot in a bottle. 
By using an iron clwin, there is a risk of spoiling the cider; 
the friction not only detaches a great number of particles from 
it, but it is very possible that it should break. This is what 
happened to a certain grower, who, after having tried to no 
purpose to get it out of the cask, lost the liquor which lie 
poured into it, through the inky colour which was communi¬ 
cated to it by the iron. A strong I y<• of wood ashes thrown in 
boiling hot, takes off a vinegar taste. The cask is then bunged 
immediately, and violently shaken, and it is afterwards set on 
one end for hall an hour, and suffered to get cool on the other. 
Quick lime and water may abo be applied to the same pur~« 
pose. * 
If 
