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. Then take off the Board and
Woollen-cloth, and taking the Papers on each side with your Hands, turn the
Saffron in the Papers, so that the under-side be uppermost; taking off
presently after the Papers which were first the undermost, and then smooth
down the side of the Saffron that was first next the Fire with a Knife, so
that it lie all equal. Then cover it as it was at first, and after a little
time turn the Saffron as you did before, and spread then the upper-side
even with a Knife, as you did at first; then sprinkle your Saffron with the
Brush dipt in the prepared Liquor upon the dry part's of the Cake, and
cover it as before; let it lie then a little, and turn it as occasion
requires, which may be sooner or later, as the Fire in the Kiln is quick or
slow, minding every time, as you turn it, to sprinkle the dry parts with
the Liquor; the more it shrinks, the oftner you must turn your Cake of
Saffron, minding still to sprinkle the dry parts; and when it has shrunk
about three fourths of the first thickness, lay a Stone or Weight upon the
Board at the top of the Kiln, of about seven or eight Pound weight, the
Board already being about ten or a dozen Pounds; when it is dry enough,
take it off the Kiln, and the Paper it was dried in will be of good use;