is enough, is to take a Corn end-ways between the Fingers and gently crush
it, and if it is in all parts mellow, and the husk opens or starts a
little from the body of the Corn, then it is enough: The nicety of this is
a material Point; for if it is infus'd too much, the sweetness of the Malt
will be greatly taken off, and yield the less Spirit, and so will cause
deadness and sourness in Ale or Beer in a short time, for the goodness of
the Malt contributes much to the preservation of all Ales and Beers. Then
the water must be drain'd from it very well, and it will come equal and
better on the floor, which may be done in twelve or sixteen Hours in
temperate weather, but in cold, near thirty. From the Cistern it is put
into a square Hutch or Couch, where it must lye thirty Hours for the
Officer to take his Gage, who allows four Bushels in the Score for the
Swell in this or the Cistern, then it must be work'd Night and Day in one
or two Heaps as the weather is cold or hot, and turn'd every four, six or
eight Hours, the outward part inwards and the bottom upwards, always
keeping a clear floor that the Corn that lies next to it be not chill'd;
and as soon as it begins to come or spire, then turn it every three, four
or five Hours, as was done before according to the temper of the Air,
which greatly governs this management, and as it comes or works more, so
must the Heap be spreaded and thinned larger to cool it. Thus it may lye
and be work'd on the floor in several parallels, two or three Foot thick,
ten or more Foot broad, and fourteen or more in length to Chip and Spire;
but not too much nor too soft; and when it is come enough, it is to be
turned twelve or sixteen times in twenty-four Hours, if the Season is
warm, as in _March, April_ or _May_; and when it is fixed and the Root
begins to be dead, then it must be thickned again and carefully kept often
turned and work'd, that the growing of the Root may not revive, and this
is better done with the Shoes off than on; and here the Workman's Art and
Diligence in particular is tryed in keeping the floor clear and turning
the Malt often, that it neither moulds nor Aker-spires, that is, that the