I find, that by the common way, some Saffron is scorch'd,
and some unequally dry'd, for which reason I have contriv'd such a Kiln as
must necessarily answer the end which is proposed in the drying of Saffron;
that is, to put it into a state of keeping with its Virtue in it, and to
put it out of the danger of being scorch'd in the drying. This I shall
publish in my _Natural History of_ Cambridgeshire _and_ Essex, which will
soon appear in the World.
As for the way which is now commonly practised in the drying of Saffron, it
is, when you have provided a Kiln, such as I have described in my _Farmer's
Monthly Director_, with a Cloth made of Horse-hair on the top, strain the
Hair-cloth tight, and lay on two Sheets of Saffron-paper, that is, a sort
of Paper made on purpose for that Use, which is very large; and prepare a
little Vessel with some Small beer, and as many Chives of Saffron as will
make it of a deep Colour to stand by you; sprinkle over the Paper with a
Brush or Feather dipt in this Liquor, and spread your Saffron upon it,
either in a square or a round Figure, about three Inches thick, and cover
the Saffron with two Sheets more of the same kind of Paper, and lay a
woollen Cloth upon them, and over that a Board, which will cover the top of
the Kiln: view this now and then, till you see that the Steam of the
Saffron comes through the upper Papers.
Pages:
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172