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CHAP. XIIII. Of drying, and not drying of Hoppes, and of packing them when they are dried.
ALthough there be much curiositie in the drying of Hoppes as well in the tempe∣rature of heate (which hauing any extre∣mitie, as either of heate, or his contrary, bréedeth disorder in the worke) as also in the framing of the Ost or furnace after many new moulds and fashions, as variable as mens wits and experiences, yet because innouations and incertainty doth rather perplexe then profit, I will shunne, as much as in me lyeth, from loading the memory of the studi∣ous Husbandman with those stratagems which disable his vnderstanding from the attaining of better perfection, not disalowing any mans approued knowledge, or think∣ing that because such a man can mend smoking Chimnyes, therefore none but hée shall haue license to make Chim∣nyes, or that because some men can melt Mettall without winde, therefore it shall be vtterly vnlawfull to vse bel∣lowes: these violent opinions I all together disacknow∣ledge, and wish euery one the liberty of his owne thoughts, and for mine English Husband, I will shew him that way to dry his Hoppes which is most fit for his profit, safe, easie, and without extraordinary expences.
First then to speake of the time which is fittest for the drying of your Hoppes, it is immediately as soone as they are gotten, if more vrgent occasions doe not delay the busi∣nesse, which if they happen, then you haue a forme before prescribed how to preserue them from mouldinesse and putrifaction till you can compasse fit time to effect the worke in. The manner of drying them is vpon a Kilne, of which there be two sorts, that is to say, an English Kilne, and a French Kilne: the English Kilne being composed of woode,