Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/346

314] to the purpose of mercantile accuracy.  BOORCOLE, is a species of the Brassica, L. and generally cultivated in the open fields like turnips, cabbages, or the turnip-rooted cabbage.

It is one of those hardy plants, the leaves of which may be cut without detriment to its growth, and will produce a new crop in the course of a month or six weeks.

According to an experiment made by Mr. in the year 1763, an Irish acre of fallow ground, which was planted with boorcole, at the distance of two feet, and hoed in the Tullian method, produced plants which weighed about five pounds ten ounces each on an average, and the whole produce of an Irish acre was 40,096 pounds.

It should be observed, that the land must be well manured, and in a high state of tillage, for the cultivation of this plant, which, if kept constantly hoed, will grow very luxuriantly, and, in the hottest weather, be infinitely more brittle in the leaves than any other cultivated in gardens; which is a certain indication of its being a healthy plant. It is worthy of the attention of the farmer or grazier, on account of the rapidity of its growth, and the property of withstanding the effect of severe frosts, while it affords an excellent vegetable for the table, and may be used with advantage for feeding sheep.

Mr. farther observes, that sheep should not be suffered to depasture so long upon a crop of boorcole, as to injure the stalks; because its future growth will be checked by depriving it of the sprouting leaves.  BOOT, a cover or defence for the leg and foot, made of leather, and generally worn by horsemen. The boot is by no means a modern invention, as it was worn in the Roman army by the infantry as well as the cavalry. It was originally made of leather, but afterwards of brass or iron, that it might be proof against the sword.

There are various kinds of boots, as hunting-boots, fishing-boots, jack-boots, &c. The fishermen of New England preserve their boots water proof by the following composition: One pint of boiled lint-seed oil, half a pound of mutton suet, six ounces of pure bees-wax, and four ounces of rosin. These ingredients are melted together over a slow fire, and the boots or shoes, when new and quite clean, are warmed, and rubbed with the composition till the leather is completely saturated.

There is an improved composition for preserving leather, the good effects of which are sufficiently ascertained. One pint of drying oil, two ounces of yellow wax, two ounces of spirit of turpentine, and half an ounce of Burgundy pitch, should be carefully melted together over a slow fire. With this mixture new shoes and boots are rubbed either in the sun, or at some distance from a fire, with a sponge or brush: the operation is to be repeated as often as they become dry, until they be fully saturated. In this manner, the leather becomes impervious to wet; the shoes or boots made of it last much longer than those made of common leather; acquire such softness and pliability that they never shrivel nor grow hard or inflexible; and, in that state, are the most effectual preservatives against cold and chilblains. It is, however, necessary to