of hops, at the end of eighteen months, have been found sound, and in a drinkable state; and at this degree we find the middling brown.—From these two extremes, and on these principles, the following table is formed, exhibiting the length of time drinks made from malt, impressed with each respective degree of heat, properly brewed, in the most favourable season, will require, before they come to their due perfection to be used. Equally as with hot extracting waters, low dried pale malt may be made to yield beers which will long continue in a sound state; so high dried malt, acted upon by cooler and low extracting water, may be made to furnish a wort soon fit for use, though less agreeable and more inelegant. It might here be asked, why, then, at any time, is malt dried with heats exceeding 120 degrees? In answer to this, it might justly be said, it would be very difficult for the malster exactly to hit this point of drying, without deviating from it either on the one side or on the other; and suppose this difficulty removed, still he could not be certain every individual grain was equally affected: if the drying was less than 120 degrees, the malt, by receiving the moist impressions of the air, would regerminate, and be spoiled. Before the use of hops, malt was high dried, as a means to keep the extracts sound. To eradicate an ancient custom or prejudice requires a long time. This, and the conveniency of keeping malts, was the reason why, for many years, it was in general dried to excess; an error which for some time past has been losing ground, as no reason at present subsists, why malts should exceed in color a light amber. A TABLE, _shewing the age beers will require, before being used, when brewed from malts, which, in drying and extracting, have been impressd with a medium heat corresponding to the following degrees_. Degrees. Shortest time Longest time Shortest time with the with 12 lb. with 12 lb. fewest quantity of of hops. of hops. hops possible. 119 2 Weeks 124 1 Month 3 Months } Brewed { 2 Weeks 129 3 Months 6 Months } in the { 4 Weeks 134 4 Months 9 Months } proper { 6 Weeks 138 6[10] Months 12 Months } season { 6 Weeks 143 7 Months 12 Months } Brewed { 4 Weeks 148 9 Months 12 Months } in { 2 Weeks } summer { 152 10 Months 18 Months 157 18 Months 2 Years 162 2 Years 167 171 176