under vessel, and contains the liquor to be evaporated. The under vessel is every where inclosed, except at an aperture communicating with the boiler, and at another aperture communicating with the conducting tubes; and is constructed so as not to allow any part of the vapour condensed into drops within it to escape, except back again into the boiler: it is not so extensive as to act as a common refrigeratory, and yet is capacious enough to prevent the liquor boiling over. The aperture communicating with the boiler, is large enough to freely admit the vapour from the boiler into the under vessel; and the aperture communicating with the conducting tubes, is of a proper size to allow of the vapour in the under vessel being compressed, to a degree capable of transmitting to the liquor to be evaporated a proper heat, and at the same time to serve as a passage for more heat than is necessary to keep up that degree of compression. The conducting tubes are to convey this superfluous heat or vapour, to be used for farther purposes, or immediately out of the building.
Those of our readers who are desirous of farther information on the subject, may consult the last edition of "Philosophical Principles of Brewing," by Mr. Richardson, of Hull; a work of acknowledged merit, and practical utility.
BRIAR, the Sweet, or Rosa rubiginosa, L.; by Hudson and Duroi called Rosa eglanteria, is a well known indigenous plant, found in hedges and on heaths. It grows to the height of five or six feet, having green branches, armed with prickles. See With. 466.—The varieties of this species are the common single-flowered, semi-double-flowered, double-flowered, blush double-flowered, and yellow-flowered. This shrub deserves to be cultivated in every garden, on account of the odoriferous property of its leaves. The best places for planting it, are the borders contiguous to walks, where it will profusely emit its refreshing fragrance. The young branches of the sweet-briar are a rich addition to the odour of nose-gays and bough-pots. The blossoms of this shrub are constantly visited by bees, and the leaves are used on the Continent, in tanning soft leather.
Wild Briar, or Hep-Tree. See the more general name of Dog-Rose.
BRICK, a mass of clay formed into oblong squares, and dried in the open air, or burnt in proper kilns, to serve the various purposes of building.
English statute-bricks ought, when burnt, to be nine inches long, four and a quarter broad, and two and a half thick: they are commonly used for paving cellars, sewers, sinks, hearths, &c. There is, however, a great variety of bricks, in consequence of their different forms, dimensions, uses, and the method of making them.
On comparing the strength and durability of modern bricks with those of the ancients, it is evident that the former are in every respect inferior; and that we are either unacquainted with the exact materials of which those admirable productions of art are composed, as well as with the proper manner of preparing them; or that this useful manufacture has been shamefully neglected, while our masons and brick-makers are little concerned about the quality of their materials, if they can obtain them
