with one Horse would grind [blank space] quarters an Hour, But in the
Country I use a steel Hand-mill, that Cost at first forty Shillings;
which will by the help of only one Man grind six or eight Bushels in an
Hour, and will last a Family many Years without hardning or cutting: There
are some old-fashion'd stone Hand-mills in being, that some are Votaries
for and prefer to the Iron ones, because they alledge that these break the
Corn's body, when the Iron ones only cut it in two, which occasions the
Malt so broke by the Stones, to give the water a more easy, free and
regular Power to extract its Virtue, than the Cut-malt can that is more
confin'd within its Hull. Notwithstanding the Iron ones are now mostly in
Use for their great Dispatch and long Duration. In the Country it is
frequently done by some to throw a Sack of Malt on a Stone or Brick-floor
as soon as it is ground, and there let it lye, giving it one turn, for a
Day or two, that the Stones or Bricks may draw out the fiery Quality it
received from the Kiln, and give the Drink a soft mild Taste.




CHAP. VII.


_Of Brewing in general_.


Brewing, like several other Arts is prostituted to the opinionated
Ignorance of many conceited Pretenders, who if they have but seen or been
concern'd in but one Brewing, and that only one Bushel of Malt, assume the
Name of a Brewer and dare venture on several afterwards, as believing it
no other Task, than more Labour, to Brew a great deal as well as a little;