391 
If the lees, by being kept in too long, have become putrid, 
and infected the cask, the inside of it must be burned with 
Straw. The coal, which is formed by the wood being burned 
too much, far from being at all prejudicial to cider, tends, as I 
shall soon show, to keep it pleasant. When a cask is thus 
become infected, it would be in vain to attempt to cleanse it 
with lye or lime, as those ingredients would not have any ef¬ 
fect upon it. There is no room to expect any thing from 
muriatic acid gas impregnated with oxygen, as it does not 
succeed in such a case ; at least, it has failed in the experi- 
ments I have made at different intervals, with a view to ascer¬ 
tain the fact. 
In some parts of Notrnandy, it is the custom to take off the 
heads of their casks, and sweep them as soon as they have been 
drunk out. This is the best means to make sure of their being 
clean ; and the advantage which the subsequent liquor derives 
from it, amply indemnifies for the additional expense. 
They will be fit for use at any time they may be wanted, by 
washing them again, unless previously it be thought desirable 
to burn brimstone into them. This operation only affects the 
taste of cider for a short time, and the vapour of the brim¬ 
stone, by its property of absorbing a great deal of carbonic 
acid, diminishes fermentation.* 
It is done by setting fire to a rag, an inch wide, and-from 
eight to ten long, daubed over with brimstone for three- 
fourths of its length. It is then let down the bung, from 
which it remains suspended, and is stopped up irtj the cask in 
stich a manneras to prevent the vapour from escaping, an hour 
or two after the bung is removed, and the liquor pouted in. 
— ■ ' ■ - —-- — - - - — - . . , . . . - , .. . .. „ 
* Fvvrcroy, Elcm. of Chem. Yol. 1* 2d, Part. Ch, IV. • 
CHAPTER 
I 
