Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.14694

    How to draw birch sap

    Date
    1669
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Manuscript page number
    p297
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (page): 322mm
    width (page): 199mm
    Subject
    Description
    A diagram showing how to insert a hollow pipe diagonally near the lower joint of the branch of a birch tree (ab indicates the upright trunk of the tree) in order to collect the sap. From an extract of a letter (EL/B1/52/007) by John Beale, who also had an interest in orchards and cider-making.

    This figure is copied in LBC/27/297.
    Transcription
    Ab is the upright body of the Birch, c is an arm or branch growing out of its side: di is the end of a faucet or other hollow pipe inserted into the orifice of an Augur-hole made through an arm or body of the tree from c to f; the larger this is made the more plenty of sap is expected: the little Lip at e, bending down under the arm, is intended to be so much barked, pilled [=peeled] off from the place, where the Augur enters, as may serve to direct the sap into the Bottle, to be tied up to the arm, so as it may fall directly into the bottle.
    Transcribed by the Making Visible project
    Related fellows
    John Beale (1608 - 1687, British) , Clergyman
    Associated place
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          > United Kingdom
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