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A 
 
 METHOD 
 
 O F 
 
 TANNING 
 
 WITHO Jf 
 
 DU & LIN; 
 
 Printed by A. Rhames* Mice 
 
T O 
 
 His Excellency 
 
 fVilliam Conotty, Efq; 
 
 SPEAKER 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Houfe of Commons of Ireland. 
 
 And to the Reft of the 
 
 Members of That HOUSE. 
 
 THIS 
 
 METHOD 
 
 O F 
 
 Tanning without BARK 
 
 Is humbly infcribed 
 By Their moH 
 Obedient Servant^ 
 
 William Maple. 
 
C I ] 
 
 THE 
 
 Method of Tanning 
 
 WITHOUT 
 
 BARK- 
 
 N Political Computations, the 
 following Principles are uni- 
 verlally allowed. 
 
 That the Riches of eve- 
 ry Country arife from the Na- 
 tural Produce of the Earth; 
 and the Labour and Art, imployed in im- 
 proving the fame. 
 
 That the Quantity of Native Com- 
 modities, the Source of Riches, is in Pro- 
 portion to the Number of People, fully 
 and ufefully employed. 
 
 That every induftrious Perfon adds to 
 the Wealth, and Support of a Nation ; and 
 every Idler, detracts from both, by living 
 on the Labour of Others, That 
 
C 1 ] 
 
 That it is the belt Policy in any Go- 
 vernment, to encourage, and provide for 
 the full Imployment of the People; fince 
 thereby, the Number, Wealth, Strength, 
 and Quiet of the Inhabitants are increafed. 
 
 That the Gain, or Lot's of any Nation 
 by Trade, is known, and determined by the 
 Proportion, which the Exports bear in Va- 
 lue to the Imports. On this depends the 
 abfolute Quantity of Money in a Nation; 
 the Relative Quantity of the feveral Speci- 
 es, that compofeth this Money, being afcer- 
 tained by the Value impcied on thole Speci- 
 es, either as it agrees with, or differs from 
 the Value fet thereon by other Nations. 
 
 A Nation certainly loles by a Trade, 
 whole Exports are not compleatly manufac- 
 tured, and whole Imports are fully wrought. 
 
 A few Manufactures w'ill ferve to ex-? 
 change for great Quantities of the limple 
 Produce of the Earth. The Value of Ma- 
 nufactures, being principally owing to La- 
 bour and Art. 
 
 If upon thefe Principles, we examine 
 the State of the Trade of Ireland ; 1 fear 
 we fhall find it, in a very declining, and 
 ruinous Condition, Our 
 
Our Exportations are made up of 
 Wool, Woorfted, Linnen, Yarn, Beef, But- 
 ter, Cheele, Tallow, Hydes, Skins, and a 
 few other Articles. 
 
 We are not -allowed to export our Wool 
 and Woorfted, but to a few Ports in Eng- 
 land, and are prohibited from fending thi- 
 ther, or any where elfe, any other of our 
 Woollen Manufacture. Linnen, and fome 
 tanned Hides are the only Commodities 
 we export, compleatly Manufactured ; Yarn 
 and Woorfted may be accounted but as half- 
 wrought; Almoft all the other Articles are 
 but little removed from the State, Nature 
 has given them to us, and have little or no 
 Labour or Art employed about them. 
 
 At the fame Time, we export fo libe- 
 rally the Growth of our Country, and fo 
 little of our Manufactures, we may obferve 
 all our Importations are of fuch Commo- 
 dities, asare not capable of farther Improve- 
 ment; fuch as Eajl-Indian and JVefi'Indian 
 Goods, Druggs, Wines, Spirits, Manufac- 
 tures of Wool, Silk, Linnen, Iron, Brafs, 
 Glafs, Iste. Nay, the common Produce of 
 almoft all Countries, as Corn, Timber, and 
 
C 4 ] 
 
 Fireing, are imported in great Quantities 
 to fupply our Neceflities. 
 
 B y this Management of our Trade, we 
 maintain manyThoufands in foreign Coun- 
 tries, and drive Numbers of our own Peo- 
 ple from us, or leave them to ftarve at 
 home, for Want of Imployment. 
 
 If to this View, we add that mighty 
 Drain of our Bullion, made by thofe Gen- 
 tlemen, who, having great Eftates in this 
 Kingdom, choofe to Ipendthem any where, 
 rather than at home: We can not be at a 
 Lofs, how to account for the Ballance of 
 Trade, running againft us, for fo many 
 Years path 
 
 The moft certain Way left to retrieve 
 our Affairs, is to leflen our Imports, and 
 to encreale our Exports, efpecially of Ma- 
 nufactures. 
 
 T h e Commiffioners of the Linnen Ma- 
 nufacture, by an unwearied Application 
 and uncommon Skill, have contributed 
 greatly to the Value of our Exports, by 
 the Advancement of the Linnen Manufac- 
 tory. A nd 1 don’t doubt but that in feveral 
 other Articles, divers Expedients and Means, 
 
 may 
 
may be thought of, for promoting a great* 
 er Confumption of our Own, and leflen- 
 ing that of foreign Commodities - 3 and as 
 one Inftance, I (hall beg Leave to propofe 
 an Improvement in our Tannage, by which 
 I apprehend, we fhall be enabled to Tan 
 with the Produce of our own Country all 
 the Hydes that now are Exported Raw* 
 and thereby increafe the Value of our Ex- 
 ports, employ many Thoufands of our Peo- 
 ple, and avoid the Neceffity of Importing 
 Bark. 
 
 T o fet this Matter in a clear Light, I 
 fhall lay down, in the firft Place, the Export 
 of Green Hydes* and the Import of Bark* 
 in the feven following Years, for tl le Whole 
 Kingdom, as the fame has been extracted 
 out of the Cuftom-Houfe Books. 
 
 Tears* 
 
 Qr.Hydes« 
 
 BarkB's. 
 
 1721 
 
 46,847 
 
 46,556 
 
 1732 
 
 86,004 
 
 45)7^4# 
 
 1723 
 
 I23j5*4 
 
 47i 8 M* 
 
 1724 
 
 IO 3*477 
 
 60,7404 
 
 <7 2 5 
 
 69,858 
 
 48,407 
 
 *726 
 
 60*441 
 
 45*279 
 
 *7*7 
 
 57s 373 
 B 
 
 50,588 
 
In the next Place it is to be obferv’cj, 
 
 T h at Bark, according to its Goodnefs, 
 is fold from 6 to io, and in fome Years, 1 1 
 Shillings, the Barrel. 
 
 That Cow-Hydes weigh from 5 6, to 
 84 Pounds each; Bullock Hydes, weigh 
 from 84 to 140 Pounds each, and both are' 
 fold from 15 to 21 Shillings, the hundred 
 Weight. 
 
 That Soles, are generally fold from 8 
 to 8 Pence half-penny the Pound. 
 
 That Hydes generally lofe about half 
 their Weight, in Tanning. 
 
 From thefe Pi inciples, when thrown 
 into mean Proportionate Quantities, it is 
 evident : 
 
 That the Quantity of Bark, annually 
 imported, is 50,000 Barrels, and the Va- 
 lue 2 % ,000 Pounds. 
 
 That the Number of Green Hydes, 
 annually exported, are 80,000. and their 
 Value 57,000 Pounds. 
 
 T h a t if thefe Green Hydes were tan- 
 ned before Exportation, their Value would 
 be 823,000 Pounds. 
 
 That 
 
That the Difference, arifing from the 
 Different State of thefe Hydes, on Expor- 
 tation, is d 6,000 Pounds, which Sum ad- 
 ded to the 2 i,ooo Pounds, the Value of 
 the imported Bark, making in the whole 
 87,000 Pounds, muft be accounted, as fo 
 much gained to the Kingdom, fhould our 
 Tannage be effected by our pwn Produce 
 and Labour. 
 
 The Nations, that demand this Export 
 of thofe Green Hydes, are thofe, whole 
 black Cattle are not bred, in fuch Num- 
 bers, as to fupply their indilpenfable De- 
 •mands; Nor will their dry Hydes, which 
 they receive from their Settlements abroad, 
 admit a thorough Tannage ; They, in hopes 
 of putting their Neighbours, who have a 
 Redundancy of Hydes, under a Neceffity, 
 of parting with them unmanufactured, have 
 prohibited, by the fevereft Penalties, the 
 fending us any Bark. While we, on the 
 other Part, have not only complied with 
 this detrimental Export; but all'o have been 
 fo regardlefs of our own lntereft, as to per- 
 mit leveral Tanners, fome from this City, 
 to go, and inftrudt them in an Art, they 
 almoft were Strangers to. The 
 
T h e Englijh , from a true Senfe of the 
 Disadvantage of fuch a Trade, have fut> 
 jeded the Exporter of a Green Hyde, to 
 the Penalties of ^oo Pounds, and a Difa- 
 bility to trade in Leather, ever after. Ann. 
 14. Car. II. 
 
 SupH an Ad, even in our prefentCir- 
 cumftances, may, by fome, be thought ad- 
 vifeable for us; Becaule, fuch Nations, as 
 now gladly receive our Green Hydes, find- 
 ing a Stop, put to their ufual Supplies, 
 would be under a Neceffity of receiving 
 pur tanned Hydes, and felling us their 
 Bark. Leather being a Commodity, that 
 does not depend on the Fancy ; but, is ab- 
 folutely requifite, not only to the Luxuries, 
 but allp, to the Neceffities of Mankind. 
 
 At prefent, Our Tanners find a great 
 Scarcity of Bark, except thofe refiding in 
 fome confiderable Sea-Port-Town, and are 
 under juft Apprehenfions of a greater. Se- 
 veral in the Country have been obliged to 
 lay afide their Pits, and take to other Im- 
 ployments ; the ufual Supplies failing. Our 
 Neighbours who will permit any Bark, to 
 be lent us, are in a Mariner exhaufted. Our 
 American 
 
[ 2 3 
 
 , American Plantations are too remote to find 
 their Account, in fending any great Quan- 
 tity. The Produce of our Country is fcarce 
 a twentieth Part of what is ufed in Tan- 
 king. This renders our Tannage dear, and 
 often imperfect, fo as not to ferve a foreign 
 Market, to Advantage, and Reputation. 
 
 But if we had Materials, of our own 
 Growth, ealy of Acquifition, and Propaga- 
 tion, that would tan, in every Refpedf, as 
 well as Bark; were thele Materials, as to 
 their Powers, well afcertain’d, and confirm’d 
 by a general Experience, tfie making an 
 A$, to prohibit the Exportation of Green 
 Hydes, would be judged by all to be Ad- 
 visable, and Ufeful to the Kingdom. 
 
 When the apparent Qualities of Bark, 
 are confidered; and that by it’s infinuating 
 into the Pores, and incorporating with the 
 Subftance of the Hyde, it produces a Firm-* 
 nefs, Strength, and Coniolidation of the 
 Parts ; It is very furprizing, that other Mat 
 terials, of the fame Apparent Qualities, 
 have fo long remained neglected, and un- 
 applied to the fame Ufes; when the Coni 
 fequence is of fuch Moment. 
 
 Tormentil % 
 
[ IO J 
 
 Tormentily and Cinquefoil Roots, are ran- 
 ged in the fame Medical Oafs; have the 
 fame apparent Qualities, efpecially the firft, 
 iij a more eminent, and evident Degree, 
 than Bark, it felf. 
 
 On Tryal, they have anfwered beyond 
 Expectation : The Cinquefoil did not give 
 fo good a Colour, as the Tormentil , which 
 in all RefpeCts, as to Colour, Bloom, Sub- 
 Ranee, Solidity, and Weight, in the Tan- 
 ned Hyde, compleatly anfwered, and in 
 much lefs Time, than when Bark, ( even of 
 the bed: Kind, or Growth) is ufed. 
 
 Tho’, what is here affected, is ground- 
 ed oil feveral Years Experience, and con-? 
 firmed by the Opinion and Teftimony of 
 Mr. ‘Philip Cooley y Tanner, who from the 
 Beginning hath been concerned in the fe- 
 veral Tryals, and to whole Skill and In- 
 duftry a Part of the Subfequent is owing. 
 "Yet to give the utmolt Satisfaction, and as 
 I think my felf in the ftrongeft Manner 
 bound by . the Encouragement, hitherto 
 given me, by the Houfe of Commons , to ren- 
 der the belt Information I am able, in an 
 Affair of fome Cojifeciuence to the Public, 
 
 Tlhall 
 
I {hall give a moft faithful Accotmt of the 
 Progrefs that has been made, and the Suo 
 cefs that hath attended this Way of Tan- 
 ning with relation to the Goodnefs of the 
 Leather, the Time, and Charge of Tan- 
 ning, and other Circumffances; and {hall 
 add feveral Obfervations, with Directions 
 for finding, and propagating thefe Roots^ 
 in great Plenty, that ail Perfons may be 
 encouraged to carry this Method of Tan- 
 ning, into a general Practice, which as it 
 will be for their private Advantage, fo it 
 will not fail to promote the Public Benefit. 
 
 I n Order to this, I {hall in the firft Place 
 beg Leave to place this Affair in the Light 
 it appeared in before the Committee of the 
 Houje of Commons of Ireland , to whom my 
 Petition was referred by the Houfe , in 
 which Petition it was alledged, that I had 
 eftablilhed a Method of Tanning, without 
 the Ufe of any Barks, to as great Perfecti- 
 on, cheaper, and in lefs Time, than with 
 Bark, by Vegetables of our Natural Pro- 
 duce, and of eafy Culture. 
 
 The Committee, were plea fed, for their 
 greater Satisfaction, to fummon a Great 
 
 Number 
 
i ] 
 
 Number of Tanners, Curriers, Shoemakers, 
 and others, to attend* to give their Tefti- 
 mony in relation to the feveral Specimens, 
 and Proofs, that were to be laid before 
 
 i 
 
 them. 
 
 I n refpedf to the Goodnefs of the Lea-* 
 ther, fo tanned, the following Specijmens 
 were exhibited. 
 
 N°. i. A Calve’s Skin from the Ooze; 
 
 N°. 2. A Calved Skin, uncurryed. 
 
 N°. 3. A Calve’s Skin, curried: each 
 of thefe, when tann’d and dry’d, weighing 
 about three Pounds. 
 
 N°. 4. A Calve’s Skin, very ftrong and 
 large, when tanned and dryed, weighing 
 about Six Pounds. 
 
 N Q . 5, Seven or Eight Pair of Soles, of 
 a Calve’s Skin, rais’d. 
 
 N°. 6 . A Bend of a Bullock’s Hyde for 
 Harnefs. 
 
 These were all proved by Thomas Coo * 
 ley and Tatrick Shale to be tanned without 
 Bark, and with the Roots. 
 
 M r. Henderfon , Mafter of the Tanners, 
 Paid he was diffident of the Goodnefs of 
 the Specimens, that he iliould have been 
 
 thoroughly 
 
C I? ] 
 
 thoroughly fatisfyed ; had he known, how 
 the Leathers had proved, if worn, by fome 
 Porters, or Chairmen. That the Colour 
 of Number 2, or 3, was not fo good as 
 fome tanned with Bark, producing a Calve’s 
 Skin curried, to compare with them, but 
 did own, all the Specimens were thorough- 
 ly ftruck, and well tanned; That if they 
 were in a Shop, intermixt with Skins, tan- 
 ned by Bark, he could not diftinguifh them; 
 and that, what tanned Numb. 5 and < 5 , 
 would tann^ Time and Quantity allowed, 
 the thickeft Bullock’s Hyde. 
 
 Mr. ! Dobfon j Tanner, affirmed the Spe- 
 cimens were not well tanned, becaufe they 
 did not come up to the Colour of the Skin 
 produced by Mr. Henderfon , but in other 
 Refpe&s, the Leathers appeared, to be as 
 good in their relpe&ive Kinds, as any tan- 
 ned with Bark. 
 
 Mr. Nicholas Gibton , Mafter of the 
 Curriers, affirmed that the Skin produced 
 by Mr. Henderfon , was of an Extroardinary 
 Colour ; That there were not ten fuch in 
 ! Dublin ; That the Difference in Colour was 
 but very fmall, and in regard even to Co- 
 
 C lour* 
 
lour, Would choofe thofe tanned by the Ve- 
 getables, as foon as Mr. Henderfons Skin * 
 That all the Specimens appeared to be very 
 well tanned, and that he could in no wife 
 diftinguifh them from Bark-Tannage. 
 
 Mr. Bevereux , Currier, being lent out, 
 returned, producing two Calves Skins tan- 
 ned by Bark, which he took indifferently, 
 and without chooling, from the next Cur- 
 rier’s Shop* They were allowed by allj 
 to be of a general or common Colour; and 
 being compared were much exceeded by 
 the Specimens, and particularly, as to Co- 
 lour. 
 
 Mr . Edmund Sbeildj Currier, faid he 
 never faw better tanned Leather, than the 
 Specimens, that their Colour was very good 
 and, that what tanned Numb. 5. would 
 tann any Hyde, whatfoeven 
 
 M r. Brookfield , Tanner, reported theSpe- 
 cimens exhibited, were well tanned and 
 thoroughly ftruck; that neither He, or any 
 other could diftinguifh them, from Bark 
 Tannage; and that what tanned Numb. 5, 
 Could not fail in any Tannage. 
 
M r. Veckers y Tanner, allowed the Spe? 
 cimens to be very well tanned ; and gave 
 it, as his Opinion, that what tanned Numb. 
 *> and 6y would tann the thickeft Sole Lea- 
 ther. 
 
 Mr, John QadeSy Shoemaker, after giv- 
 ing his Teftimony, that all the Specimens 
 appeared to be exceedingly well tanned, 
 produced a Shoe, made by him, of the 
 Leather of this Tannage, affirming the 
 Leather, wrought very well, and that the 
 Soles exhibited, under the Hammer, all 
 the Signs of extraordinary Leather, 
 
 Mr. Ellis., Shoemaker, reported the Spe- 
 cimens were very well tanned : That, Lea- 
 ther either dead, or highly tanned, would 
 never carry fo beautiful a Colour as Lea- 
 ther other wife tanned. That, the Sole 
 Leather appeared to be very well tanned * 
 and that in his Opinion this Tannage, 
 would in every refpedd, anfwer the fame 
 End, or Intentions, as Bark Tannage. 
 
 Mr. James Kingy Shoemaker, laid alf 
 the Specimens, were effe&ually tanned. 
 
 M r. Richard Norrisy Shoemaker, pro-, 
 dueed a Sole of this Tannage, beaten ; af- 
 
ferting he never faw fo good a Sole of rais’d 
 Calve’sSkin, that it beat firm, l'olid, and 
 without fpreading, or Fuzzinefs: wljich 
 are the diftinguilhing Characters of good 
 Sole Leather, he defired it might be cut 
 in feveral Places, that the Clofenefs, and 
 Firmnefs might be view’d, which accor- 
 dingly was done, and anfwering Expecta- 
 tion was approved. 
 
 There were a great many other Tan- 
 ners, Curriers, and Shoemakers, who w 7 ere 
 of the fame Opinion. But confidering, 
 their Teftirnonies, would be but fo many 
 Repititions; I Shall not recite them. 
 
 D r. Richard Heljham, Profeffor of Na- 
 tural Philofophy in Trinity College , fa id I 
 had communicated to him, w r hat was ufed 
 in this Tannage, which appeared to be well 
 adapted to tanning, and w T ould not fail to 
 give a fufficient Strength, and Rigidity to 
 the Fibres. Adding he wore a pair of 
 Shoes, the Upper Leathers of this Tan- 
 nage, daily for four Months, and being 
 willing to try the utmoft of the Leather, 
 had new Soles put to them that fince he 
 r had 
 
[ 17 ] 
 
 had worn them about a Month; Showing 
 them, without any Cracks, or Defeat. 
 
 Tatrick Carrol , produced two Slips of 
 curried Calf Skin; the one tanned by Bark, 
 the other by the Roots, each three tenths 
 of an Inch broad, and ten Inches long, the 
 firft was the thickeft, and weighed, a tenth 
 Part more than the other. He faid, he 
 was prefent with feveral others, when it 
 broke, by a Weight of 129 Pounds being 
 hung to it; That the Slip of this new Tan- 
 nage, being tryed with the fame Circum- 
 ftances, bore 29 Pounds more than the 1 29 
 Pounds, before it either yielded, or broke. 
 
 I n refped to Time. 
 
 That the Specimens, N°. 1, 2 and 3 
 were tanned in five Weeks, N°. 4 in nine 
 Weeks, N°. 5 in four Months, without 
 any Hurry, extraordinary, or illegal Me- 
 thods: was proved by Mr. Thomas Cooley > 
 and Tatrick Shale ; on the other Side, it 
 appeared, that in tanning with Bark, from 
 three to five Months were required for 
 Calves Skins, from feven to nine were re- 
 quisite for Soles of rais’d Calves Skins, and 
 from ten to thirteen Months for Bullocks 
 
 Hydes, 
 
[ i8 ] 
 
 Hydes, which by this Tannage, may be 
 effected in nine or ten. 
 
 I n regard to Cheapnefs. 
 
 Mr. Thilip Cooley^ affirmed that fix Pounds 
 of the Dry Roots, added to fome old ex- 
 pended Oqze, tanned Six Calves Skins, 
 three of which were produced under the 
 N c . i, 2 , and 3 ; and that he believed fix- 
 teen Pounds would have done as much from 
 the firft, or without any old Ooze. 
 
 I n relation to the Cheapnefs. 
 
 Part of the Roots, 1 have ufed, I pur- 
 chafed at three Farthings, the Pound ; but 
 of late Years, and being willing to engage 
 the Privacy of the Gatherer ; 1 have given 
 a Penny; they lofe about a third in Dry- 
 ing: Allowing thefe as Fa fits and taking it 
 at the deareft, lefs than five Shillings worth 
 of Roots, will go farther, than a Barrel 
 of the beft Bark. 
 
 As to their Plenty and Propagation, 
 Dr. Heljham teftified, they grew in great 
 Plenty as he had obferved, in feveral Coun- 
 ties of this Kingdom a and were very eafily 
 propagated. 
 
 Dr.: 
 
[ 1 9 ] 
 
 Dr. William Stephens , Botanic Profeflor 
 in Trinity College , 'Dublin , in his Examina- 
 tion declared, that they grew in great Plen- 
 ty about Dublin , and in feveral Counties he 
 had obferved great Quantities, chiefly on 
 Mountains, and barren Places : That, they 
 were eafily to be propagated, in almoft any 
 kind of Soil, and that he had fome flou- 
 rifhing in the Phyfick Garden, belonging 
 to the Univerfity. 
 
 The Refolutions, that the Houfe entred 
 into January i o, might very well have fuf- 
 ficed to have recommended a General Prac- 
 tice. But to remove fome Prejudices and 
 to obviate fome falfe Reprefentations, I 
 have impartially recited the feveral Fails 
 and Teitimonies, on which they were 
 founded. 
 
 T hat all People may eafily know and 
 find out thefe Plants, 1 lhall here give a 
 Defcription ; which though tedious, I hope 
 will be excufed. 
 
 Cinquefoil , in Latin , ‘PentaphyUum vulgare , 
 in Iri/h, (Tuigheag) (£Mj$tear 
 
 U&uirre ( iuigvear Muirre) and in fome 
 Counties, ( Meagigh) is a Plant, 
 
 whofe 
 
whofe Roots are very long, abodt a Finger’s 
 Thicknefs, of a dark brown or reddifh Co- 
 lour, and very aftringent in Tafte; the 
 Leaves are born at the Extremity of a 
 fmail Stem, five together, deeply indented 
 on their Edges, of an oblong Form and 
 hairy; on the Grand Stem, at the Nodes, 
 flioot forth feveral fmaller, terminating 
 with a fmail Yellow Flower, eompofed of 
 fix fmail Leaves furrounding a Number 
 of Threads, from whence arifeth a duller 
 of Seeds. 
 
 It flourilhes in every Hedge, bandy, 
 loole and deep Soil: the Roots which are 
 to be preferred, are the thick, long, and 
 of the darkeft Colour. 
 
 Tormentil , or Septfoil , in Weft Meath , 
 called ( Neauhnadis ) in Ul- 
 
 fier t Jjfeenthm ( Menedin) or 
 (Neauhnid) in Connaught , (Leve* 
 
 net) in the County of Mayo, 
 
 ^iI0UC (Fenede na Muc) this Plant, hath a 
 thick, luberous Root, of a reddifh brownCo- 
 lour, lometimes covered with a black Skin, 
 of a very aftringentTafte, and fhootingout 
 many Fibres; the Leaves are generally fe- 
 
 ven, 
 
ven, fet on the Extremity of a Foot Stalky 
 of a dark Green Colour, deeply indented 
 on the Edges and hairy, from amidft them 
 arifeth federal lmall weak Stalks, of a red- 
 difh Colour, and hairy, about 12 or 18 
 Inches in Height, knotted; at every Knot, 
 or Joint, is a Foliage, and two or three 
 Foot Stalks, fome bearing Leaves, and 
 one longer than the reft the Flowers con- 
 fiding of four Leaves, of a light Yellow 
 Colour, to which fucceeds the Seeds; the 
 flower Cup, hath Eight Leaves; four large 
 and four final!; the Root when Vigorous 
 fends forth feveral Runners, the Stalks of 
 which are of a reddilh Colour, and hairy 
 that fpread over the Ground; at every 
 Joynt, from one Part arileth two or three 
 Stems, each bearing at the Extremity five 
 Leaves, from the other Part, defcend fe- 
 veral Fibres that become Roots; 
 
 It grows almoft every where, but chief- 
 ly delights in mountainy, barren and fhal- 
 low Soils; the Roots feldom ftriking four 
 or five Inches deep. It hath been obferv- 
 ed by Dr. Stephens , t6 grow all along the 
 Banks of the 'Doder. from Donore^Brook to 
 
 D Old 
 
[ H] 
 
 Old Bam , upon Roch Town Hills; it grows 
 on the Borders of a great Bog for feveral 
 Miles, by Ratbmullian in the County of 
 Meath. In the County of Wicklow , Thou- 
 fands of Cart-Loads might be with Eafe 
 collected ; Nor do I know a Mountain or 
 Bog. without Plenty of it. 
 
 In the Figure, ( a) denotes the Rootj 
 (b) the Flower in the Bud, (c) the Flower 
 expanded, ( d ) the Knob of Seeds, (e) the 
 Runners, (f) the Flower Cup. 1 have ex- 
 hibited but few of the Leaves, Stems, and 
 Runners to avoid Confufion. 
 
 1 f is obfervable, that from the Bark of 
 the Stalk of this Plant, at its breaking forth 
 from the Root, excrementitious Tubercles 
 or Knots, refembling Oak-Galls have been 
 often difcovered, and like them are fub- 
 fervient to the Propagation of In lefts; 
 which, confidering the extream nice, and 
 diftinguifhing Tafte of thole Animalculas, 
 may well be allowed as a Proof, that their 
 Juices are fimilar. 
 
 The Roots growing on Mountains are 
 ftnall, ftrong, and often have a black Coat; 
 thole that grow on the Sides of Loughs, 
 
 and 
 
[*J ] 
 
 and in Bogs, are large, of a lighter Colour; 
 fome I have had of the Latter, that have 
 weighed each above half a Pound. 
 
 When you chofe the Roots, prefer the 
 large, knotty Roots, that when broken 
 exhibit a blood red TinCture intermixt 
 with the Brown, and thofe that when cut, 
 leaves on the Knife a ftrong purple Co- 
 lour. 
 
 The beft Time for collecting thefe Roots 
 is in the Winter Seafon, or early in the 
 Spring, and tho’ the Seed-bearing Stalks, 
 and Foliage are decayed, yet there are fe- 
 veral Foot Leaves, that remain and di- 
 rect the Inquirer. 
 
 And tho’ thefe Plants grow wild all o- 
 ver the Country, in fuch Plenty, as to be 
 more than fufficient to tann all the Hydes, 
 and Skins of the Kingdom; and little Ap- 
 prehenfion of a Deficiency, for in digging 
 up the Roots, there will be left fome bro- 
 ken Parts, fome Fibres, which will Vege- 
 tate and give a Supply. A common Root, 
 on a moderate Computation will produce 
 8 or io hundred Seeds, thefe (hedding. and, 
 difperfed by Winds, and other Acciaents, 
 
 D 2 fome 
 
t 24 ] 
 
 fome will take Root, and carry on a Suc- 
 ceffion. 
 
 An d in regard, it may be objected, that 
 the Trouble and Expence, in gathering 
 them, when in fo difpers’d a Manner, would 
 be very great; and a conftant Supply un- 
 certain: And becaufe the Roots, if raifed 
 in luch Soils, as lhall be found to agree 
 with them, would thereby become larger, 
 ftronger, as well as cheaper, I have endea- 
 voured the Culture, efpecially of the Tor- 
 ment'll 3 and with fuch Succefs, as to have 
 from each fquareYard three Pounds weight 
 of the Roots. 
 
 An Acre contains 7,840 fquare Yards; 
 but, for Paths, Waftes, and inclofing, f 
 would allow 1,800 Yards, not to be em- 
 ployed; As the firft Year they will be little 
 more than fibrous, I would allow three 
 Years for their Growth, tho’, if another 
 Year was added, the Crop by an Increafe 
 would fufficiently reward, not only as to 
 Quantity but Quality; as the beft of Lands 
 are not required; 1 would ftate the Ex- 
 pence of that Culture as follows, 
 
 Three 
 
un 
 
 Three Years Rent at 5 x. the Acre, 0150 
 Plowing twice and Harrowing, o n 6 
 
 Planting, o 7 6 
 
 Houghing,— 1 
 
 Digging up the Roots,— — — -1 
 
 Total 3150 
 
 Suppose each fcjuare Yard, fhould 
 produce but the Moiety of what before 
 was mentioned, and fold but at three far- 
 things the Pound, the Amount will be 27/. 
 3 s. 6 d. from whence a Profit arifeth be- 
 yond moft of our Cultures, now in general 
 Ufe, and the Tannage may be accomplifh- 
 ed, at about a Moiety of the prefent Ex- 
 pence. 
 
 Probably, this Eftimate of the Charge 
 and Profit, may not be fo exadt as to be 
 ftrenuoufly defended ; but if defective, there 
 is Room enough for any reafonable Additi- 
 on or Deduction, without much Prejudice 
 to the Argument; different Soils, often one 
 and the fame will be attended with different 
 Charges; The finer, the Earth is made, or 
 the more it is broken* before Planting the 
 
 better 
 
[ 26 ] 
 
 better Vegetation fucceedsj at firft {hoot- 
 ing up of the Herbage, particularly where 
 the Ground is foul, houghing, or pulling 
 up the large Weeds, will be neceffary, that 
 the Growth of the Tormentil may not be 
 chequed ; in a little Time it will clear its 
 felf. As the Roots run fuperficially, not 
 ftreeking at moft 5 or 6 Inches in perpen- 
 cular Depth, the Charge of digging them 
 up cannot be lb much, as that which at* 
 tends Potatoes. 
 
 The Propagation may be effected by 
 planting the Crowns of the Roots, (that 
 Part, from whence the Herbage arifeth) in 
 either Autumn or Spring, in the fame man- 
 ner as Horfe Raddifh, fplitting the Crown, 
 fo as to leave a Bud on every Slice, then lett- 
 ing them in the Ground, about an Inch in 
 Depth and allowing each Set, 5 ; or 6 Inches 
 fquare of Ground. When you take up a 
 Plantation, you will have an Abundance 
 of fmall Roots that arofe from the fhed- 
 ding of the Seed, and from the Runners, 
 that will fcarce be worth the Drying, but 
 very proper for Planting: If you cut from 
 either Extremity of the Root, a Piece of 
 
 about 
 
 i 
 
-about half an 'Inch in Length, it will grow 
 very well. The whole Root, if cut intd 
 fuch Pieces, may be planted. In all thefe 
 I believe the Charge of Planting might be 
 faved j if you lcatter them before Harrow, 
 the palling of that over them, will cover 
 them with Earth fufficient; or at leaft, the 
 moft Part of them. 
 
 You may Plant the Runners, as you do 
 Strawberries, in the mention’d Seafons and 
 Diftances, and confidering the Numbers of 
 fibrous Roots, already (hot forth, it may 
 be allowed the fpeedieft Method. 
 
 The Seeds ripen about Augujl or Sepem - 
 her-, when ripe, they are of brownilh Co- 
 lour 3 as they are very apt to fhed, the Time 
 of ripening muft be heedfully regarded 3 It 
 would be advifeable, to cut the Hawm or 
 Herbage* a little time before the Seeds ri- 
 pen, laying it on a Cloth, or winnowing 
 Sheet in the Sun, when dry, rub the Seeds 
 out with your Hands, ana feparate them 
 from the Chaff. In March the Ground 
 being prepared, you may fow and harrow* 
 or rake them into the Ground, 
 
 The 
 
[ 28 ] 
 
 The Cutting of the young Stems, if 
 planted in May^ will grow. 
 
 The Roots when collected, are to be 
 wafhed very clean, from the Earth that 
 will remain with them, for otherwife, that 
 Dirt when in the Layers, fettleth into the 
 Pores of the Hyde or Skin, and caufeth 
 Numbers of Spots, and Difcolourations. 
 
 I n fair Weather, it not being a fucculent 
 Root, they will fufficiently dry if fpread 
 on a Floor, or a clean Part of the Field 3 
 a little Wet, will in no cafe damage them. 
 In cafe of very wet Weather, and continu- 
 ed, they may be Kiln dryed, in the fame 
 Manner as Bark. 
 
 When dryed, they rnuft be bruifed or 
 ground, either more or lefs, according to 
 the Ufes defign’d, or to the Proportion you 
 require them to Ipend in. In cafe they 
 ftiould not be fufficiently walht, when they 
 are pounded, or ground a little, it would 
 be advifeable to lift the Dirt, or Earth, 
 which by this Means is broken, and fe- 
 perated from them. 
 
 When thus prepared, you mull pro- 
 ceed in the fame Manner, and ‘ 
 
 y away, 
 
I 
 
 ' 
 
 intirely, with the fame Gircumftances ai 
 with Bark. 
 
 It hath often been objected, That if 
 this Method foould obtain, Planting would 
 be dilcouraged, and fo prejudice the landed 
 Intereft. That it is ufed in the Canary If- 
 lands and that though it may be done ef- 
 fectually there, yet the Produce of our 
 Country might have Qualities very diffe- 
 rent, or not exalted to fuch a Degree, as 
 to be of a requifite Force. 
 
 T o thefe, I would anfwer. 
 
 That Bark would always bear a Pricey 
 in Proportion to the Rate of what is fub- 
 ftituted in lieu thereof; It would be far 
 from being rendered ulelefs^ but only fuffer 
 a Diminution in Value; 
 
 That Diminution would be more than 
 ballanced by the accelerated Growth, and 
 Worth of the Timber. At prefent we fall 
 our Woods fo young, and at fuch improper 
 Seafons, on Account of the Bark, that the 
 Timber is neither fo good, and little more 
 than fit forRibberies, and Cabbins; where- 
 as otherwife, was the prefent Inducement, 
 the great Price of Bark diminilhed, we 
 
 E fhould 
 
ftiould have fuH, and well grown Timber, 
 cut at a due Sea fon, and proper for Edifi- 
 ces, and Shipping. 
 
 The Improvement of thofe Lands that 
 now are unprofitable, or not far from fuch, 
 would be another Ballance, if not wholly, 
 yet in Part, to the apprehended Injury. 
 
 The Ufe of this Root hath not been 
 confined to the Canaries. The Reverend 
 Mr. Lucas Jacobfon Debes , in his Hiftory of 
 the lllands of Feroe fays Page i 20, “ Here 
 lC groweth a huge Quantity of Tormentil, 
 tC which the Inhabitants, having no Bark 
 “ of Trees to tan their Hydes with, make 
 tc Ufe of; God and Nature having reveal- 
 u ed to them the Drynefs of that Herb, 
 u fo that they tan their Skins with it, and 
 tc therefore call it Bark. And Page 271. 
 tc The Men wear Shoes of Neats Leather, 
 “ tanned with the Roots of Tormentil. 
 
 The firft of thefe Iflands, is in the La-' 
 titude of 28, the other in 6 a. Yet we 
 find the fame Roots ufed for the fame 
 Purpofes, though probably they may differ 
 in Degrees of Power. 
 
 A great 
 
[ 3i 1 
 
 A great Degree of Heat is not a Qua- 
 lity requifite to the Perfe&ion of all Ve- 
 getables. Saffron in France exceeds the Pro- 
 duce of Spain , as much as the little we 
 have in Ireland excells the Product of Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Our Temperate Climate feems in Tome 
 Degree, to be more adapted to Vegetables 
 of this Species of Power, than thole that 
 are deemed hot. Our Bark is allowed to 
 excel the Bark of thofe warmer Climates, 
 as alfo our Timber. 
 
 It is a contefted Point, whether the Tor- 
 mentil is not the Plant, the Greeks called 
 Britanica'y probably fo named from its plen- 
 tiful Growth in that Bland. 
 
 One great Advantage, arifing from this 
 Tannage Ihould it become general, will 
 be, that it will give Imployment to a great 
 many Poor People, that will be let to work 
 in gathering, or railing fuch a Quantity 
 of thofe Roots, as will anfwer the prefent 
 annual Import of Bark; as alfo the Tannage 
 of fome, if not the Whole of thofe Hydes, 
 \ve Row export unwrought; belides the 
 
 E 2. great 
 
[ V- ] 
 
 great Numbers, that will be employed in 
 the encreafed Tannage. 
 
 Thus, with as much Brevity, as the 
 Nature of the Subject would admit of, I 
 have given a Narrative, of what I hope 
 will be as fatisfa&ory, on a candid Perul’al 
 as I am allured, it will be beneficial to the 
 Publick, in all its Confequences ; if the Me- 
 thod laid down be but purfued with com- 
 mon Gare, and Affiduity. It requiring no 
 greater Skill than what at prefent is ufed 
 in Bark Tannage; no Alterations in Forms, 
 or Utenfils. 
 
 If the Inftru&ions, laid down, Ihould 
 appear to Any infufficient, or imperfect ; I 
 lhall always with Pleafure be ready to ren- 
 der them, if in my Power otherwife. I 
 have made a Plantation, very near this 
 City, that if the Curiofity of Any Ihould 
 prompt them to a farther Information, in 
 that Particular, they there may meet with 
 it. As this Tannage is conftantly carried 
 on; it is open to the View of Any that de- 
 lire it. I have feveral Thoufands of Pounds 
 weight of thele Roots by me; I never 
 refufing the buying of any brought to me. 
 
 to 
 
[ 33 ] 
 
 If any Tanner wants, he may have it at 
 the Price, I gave to the Countryman, or be 
 directed where, or how to be fupply’d, 
 until a Demand makes it a Market Com- 
 modity. 
 
 Our Neceffities, and thofe daily encrea- 
 fing, firft prompted to this Efl'ay. The 
 Authority of Books, I have not relied on, 
 but a Series of Experiments that employ- 
 ed feveral Years in the Purfuit. If 1 have 
 pointed out, or cleared from Incumbrances, 
 an advantageous Path that may leflen the 
 Import of Bark, extend our Tannage by 
 our own Produce, and give a Support to 
 any Number of Poor; 1 regard it in no 
 other Senfe, than having done Part of that 
 Duty, I owe to a Country, which in Gra« 
 titude, I would call mine. 
 
 I might juftly incur a fevere Cenfure, if 
 I Ihould conclude, without teftifying with 
 all due Acknowledgements, a grateful Senfe 
 of my Obligations, to the Honourable Houfe 
 of Commons, for the Vote they were plea- 
 fed to pafs in my Favour, on the Report 
 of the Committee ; that I had, after a full 
 Enquiry, anfwered the Allegations of my 
 
 Peti- 
 
[ 34 ] 
 
 Petition ; and for the Refolution, they en-* 
 tred into, of giving all proper Encourage- 
 ment to fo uleful a Propofal. 
 
 Far from being infenfible, that all new 
 Attempts of this Kind, are apt to fubjeCt 
 the Author of them, to the Name of a 
 Projector, and render him the ObjeCt of 
 Reproach and Sufpicion ; when I was ful- 
 ly latisfied in the Fails, on which this Me- 
 thod is grounded ; I communicated it to 
 fome Perlbns, who are as little liable to be 
 impos’d on themfelves, as they are above 
 all Sufpicion of impofing on others; under 
 the Sanction of whole Characters, fuch an 
 Imputation would at once be removed. 
 By their Directions 1 preferred my PetitK 
 on, and notwithftanding the Succefs was 
 not altogether fuch as they defired; I hope 
 they will not deny me the indulging a fin- 
 cere Gratitude, in particulary owning the 
 Obligations to them, who fo warmly ef- 
 poufed my Intereft, grounded upon that of 
 the Nation. I fhall venture to fay no more, 
 than as 1 flatter my felf they can clear me 
 from any Imputations of Sinifter or Mer- 
 cenary Veiws; So I can promife my En- 
 deavours 
 
£ 3 ? ] 
 
 Endeavours fhall always tend to hinder a 
 Blufli, for the Kind Reprefentations, they 
 have been pleafed to make in my Favour; 
 and that 1 (hall always ftudy to approve my 
 felf what is my cheifeft Ambition to be, and 
 what only intitles me to their Patronage; a 
 Pretender to no other merit, but Plain deal- 
 ing. 
 
 1 (hould have publifhed this fooner, but 
 that 1 waited the Succefs of fome repeat- 
 ed, as well as new Experiments; all which 
 on the beft Examination I am capable of 
 making, have tended to an intire Confir- 
 mation ; That the Tormentil Roots Tan all 
 Hydes and Skins as effe&ually, cheaper * 
 and in lefs Time than Bark, and is eafily 
 propagated. 
 
 FINIS. 
 

 
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 I 
 
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$m&i %1~B. 
 
 2m 
 
 MfiOTY CENTER 
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