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The Jewel House of Art and Nature: Containing Divers Rare and Profitable Inventions, Together with Sundry New Experiments in the Art of Distillation, and the Rare Practises and Uses Thereof.
Whereunto is added, a rare and excellent discourse of minerals, stones, gums, and rosins with the vertues and use thereof by D. B. gent. London: Printed by Elizabeth Alsop and are to be sold at her house, 1653. "Discourse of several sorts of stones," by D. B. gent. (p. 217-232) and the editorship of the entire work are attributed to Arnold de Boate--Cf. Dict. Nat. Biog. References: Wing (2nd ed.) 2391.
Sir Hugh Plat was knighted by James I for his inventions and experiments in agriculture, many of which can be seen in this work. It is also a how to book with sections on such varied subjects as How to steal bees, How to prevent drunkeness, How to keep oysters good ten to twelve days, etc. The author presents "divers new and conceited experiments from the which there may be sundry both pleasing and profitable uses drawn, by them that have either wit, or will, to apply them." The author's advice is practical at times, such as the description of how to make a portable pump, which can then be used by those people who "dwell near the river of Thames, to force up water for the service of their Kitchens, which may be performed in a most reasonable manner." The work has a detailed table of contents.
Subjects: Industrial arts; Agriculture; Recipes; Agricultural machinery.
PAT-87