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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A06946	Markhams farwell to husbandry or, The inriching of all sorts of barren and sterill grounds in our kingdome, to be as fruitfull in all manner of graine, pulse, and grasse as the best grounds whatsoeuer together with the anoyances, and preseruation of all graine and seede, from one yeare to many yeares. As also a husbandly computation of men and cattels dayly labours, their expences, charges, and vttermost profits. Attained by trauell and experience, being a worke neuer before handled by any author: and published for the good of the whole kingdome.; Farewell to husbandry	Markham, Gervase, 1568?-1637.	1620 (1620)	STC 17372; ESTC S112107	100,169	168

eare or chaffe 108 Keeping corne drest 109 Of Garners ibid Of Hutches and their vses 110 To preserue wheate 111 To preserue Rye 117 To preserue Beanes 118 To preserue Pease or Fetches 120 To preserue Lentils or Lupins 123 To preserue Oates 125 To preserue Oat-meale 126 To preserue any Meale ibid The preseruing of all small Seedes 128 CHAP. XV. How to keepe Grayne either for transportation c. 129 The vse of Grayne 130 Of Pulsse ibid Of Rice and the vse ibid Of Wheate and the vse 132 Of Oat meale and the vse 133 Of Barley and the vse 135 Of Bucke and the vse ibid Of Pulsse and the vse ibid Of French Beane 136 Of the Kydney Beane ibid Of Common field Beanes ibid Of Pease and their vse 137 Seuerall sorts of Pease ibid To transport Graine ibid CHAP. XVI A generall computation of Men and cattels Labours c. 140 Of Plowing Sowing and Mowing 141 Of Reaping and gathering Graine 142 Of Ditching Hedging Plashing 143 Of Deluing and Thrashing 144 The particular expence of a day 145 The particular Labour of cattell 147 CHAP. XVII The applying of Husbandry to the seuerall Countries 148 The carters Office 150 Of cattell for the Draught 152 The Seuerall Labours of the seuerall Moneths 153 MARKHAMS FAREWELL TO HVSBANDRIE CHAP. I. The nature of Grounds in generall But particularly of the barren and Sterryll Earth CErtainely in this vnthankfull and vninst Age where greatnesse and Garments onely make vp the vertuous there is nothing of lesse esteeme then the painefull labours of those pens whose watch and indostrie haue only kept an vnwearied pace with the benesit and general good of their Countries no though the despisers thereof eate no bread but the foode of their writings so vngratefull is man to his best Teachers and so vnhappy they that in this kinde become the worlds Tutors Why me thinkes those squint-eied vneuen accusations those fooles bolts shot backward from the true marke and those manifold mouth-torturing imputations which a world of wise in their owne conceits will thunder against me for this Labour doeas it were euen now stand before me face to face and braue me Why me thinkes I heare one foole who hath better fortune then wit say writes he of Husbandry and is no husband nay I will not beleeue his rules till I see his example poore sot how Clarke like he he speakes as if no man had famously written of any thing to which he had not beene bound Prentise seauen yeares by condition I would haue him looke vpon Lybault and Steuens two of the most famous Physitians that euer liued in Fraunce men that in mine owne conscience neuer knew what belonged to the handling of a Plow or euer lifted Mattock aboue their shoulders for they were meerely Schollers and better knew how to gather Plants then set them yet in this Art of Husbandry who hath euer writ more famously or more truly and exactly Fraunce flourishing more by their Theorie then by the practise of all the pessants of that Kingdome So also Seres an excellent Scholler an excellent Hystorian a man that the State could not spare into the Countrie yet who reades his Agriculture shall finde such deepe knowledge and rich rules for Husbandry that the Kingdome will euer acknowledge him for a famous Benefactor So likewise Vinet a man of the same nature the same nurture and the same excellence And to looke downe into our owne Countrie was not Fitzharbert and Goouge gentlemen of good birth and education farre from any seruile or meane offices yet in this Art of Husbandry who hath written with greater praise or allowance Master Tuffer was meerely all Vniuersitie and outwardly profest only in Musique yet shall his books of Husbandry liue as long as there is life in any booke of that nature What shall I doe speaking of Virgil who although his fame and profession was only Po●…sie yet shall his bookes of Husbandry be as famous ouer all the World as in Italie Now for my selfe although a piece of my life was Schollar a piece Souldiour and all Horseman yet did I for nine yeares apply my selfe to the Plow followed it with earnestnesse and my nature being euermorefull of inquisition I could not indure to haue any thing hidde that practise argument or discourse could reueale vnto me nay so farre forth I must accuse mine owne ambition that I could not for beare any trauell any expence to finde out the truth of any doubt I haue in Husbandry heard related neither could euer any mans words take vp my minde till I did by proofe finde that action and discourse went euen hand in hand together whence it comes that I haue beene more darringly audatious to publish my labours then otherwise my nature or good manners would haue giuen me leaue There be some will say what can I write more then I haue written are not my two bookes of the English Husbandman extant and if they containe not all my know●…dge sure I wrong the World or the opinions of ma●…y of my Readers To this I answere who knowes not that Industrie is a mother whose wombe can neuer be discharged of her whole burthen hourely bringing forth new things drawing euery Art and Occupation to that height of excellency that the knowledge of our forefathers compared with the times now present is but meere ignorance and shall we then be confined to our first rules not daring to shew the better because we ha●…e published the good It were a tyrrannie not sufferable and a way to murther all the perfection in Art For m●…ne owne part this I must both conseffe and I●…stifie in mine owne Workes that for thosetwo parts of the English Husbandman they are tracts as casie and certaine for the ordering of our English grounds as any that haue b●…ne published of that nature within our Kingdome and doe as truly shew the manner of ordering of all sor●…s of grounds in which is any good or reasonable fertilitie as either labour or profit can wish or bring forth But this part of which I intend now to treat bath a higher aime and shootes much more neere to the marke of commoditie For the former sheweth how to make the fruitfull more fruitfull this how to make the Barren most plentifull euery good ground will of it selfe bring forth for Nature was euer a hater of Idlenesse But the Barren and Sterrill Earth to make it full of increase and plentie is Gratum opus Agricolis and such a generall benefit to all good men that the concealement can be no lesse an offence then theft robbing a mans Country of that treasure by negligence which no other industry in him can after restore I haue formerly written how by Art to keepe good Grounds good and to strengthen the weake But now I shew how to make ill Grounds excellent and to conuert that which is Barren and vnfruitfull to become rich in store and plentie whence shall ensue to all men

these particular profits following First plenty of Corne and Pulse because all grounds being made able and apt for Tillage the Kingdome may afford to sowe for one Bushell that is now hereafter fiue hundred so mightie great are the vnfruitfull and vntilled wastes of Heathes Downes Mores and such like which at this day lye vntilled and vnoccupied and to this abundance of Corne will redound an equall or greater abundance of Grasse and Pasture for besides that those men and Masters of many grounds may conuert all their best and most fruitfull Earth to Pasture and Medow and only keepe the Barren for tillage yet also this barren earth after it hath done bearing of Corne which will be in fiue or sixe yeares shall for as many yeares more beare as good Medow or Pasture either for breeding or feeding as can any way be reasonably required and then being newly made againe shall newly begin and flourish in his first Profit as shall be at large shewed and set forth hereafter as I haue seene with mine owne eies to my no small pleasure and amazement not in one butin diuers and sundry most vntruitfull and hard Countries Secondly whereas through the most parts of this Kingdome there is euery yeare a third or fourth part of all Corne grounds lost in the fallow or tylthe fields one field of three or one of foure continually lying at rest now by the vse of the Husbandry following you shall neuer keepe any fallow field at all but haue all your ground to beare you continually either Corne or Grasse in good aboundance Lastly whereas in all the generall best parts of this Nation you cannot haue any Graine of price as Wheat Barley Rye and such like vnder two three foure fiue and some sixe times plowing now you shall not plow aboue twice at the most for the tenderest and richest graine that is to be reaped whereby there shall be much paines eased in the Husbandman great trauell saued from the Cattell and a much larger limitation of time giuen for other nece●…ary houshold and forraine businesses Now some may heere aske me what true and vpright right testimonie I can giue of this my assertion or what inducements to draw men to a beliefe of my relation though I could referre such disputers to practise and the experience which shall arise from such practise yet to giue them better satisfaction if they please to ride or walke into the North parts of Deuonshire into the Barren or Mountainous parts of South Wales or North Wales or into that wildernesse of Bogges and Barrennesse I meane that colde vast Country of Exmore where is nothing but vnseasonablenesse and they shall euen there finde where the ground is industriously made and refined as good plenty of Corne and Grasse as in the fruitfullest vales in our In-land and warmer Countries Truly for mine owne part I dare boldly auow that which mine eies haue beheld for I haue seene on oneside of the hedge nothing but mosse for grasse furres go●…sse whynnes and all other tokens of Sterrill barrainnesse and on the other side as good Corne and Grasse and in as great plenty as in any fruitfull Country whatsoeuer and all this brought forth but with a little cost and some labour To proceede then to the full effect of my purpose without more preambulation or satisfaction to the curious for to the honestly vertuous are all mine indeuours directed you shall vnderstand that it is meete that euety Husbandman be skilfull in that true knowledge of the natures of Grounds as which is fruitfull which not of which in my first Bookes I haue written sufficiently nor doe I in this Booke intend to write any tittle that is in them contained for as I loue not Totologie so I deadly hate to wrong my friend Grounds then as I haue formerly written in my first Bookes being simple or compounded as simple Clayes or simple Sands or compounded of Clayes Sands or Grauels together may be all good and all fit to bring forth increase or all euill and barren and vnfit for profit for euery Earth whether it be simple or compounded whether of it selfe or of double mixture doth participate wholly with the Clime wherein it lyeth and as that is more hot or more cold more moist or more drye so is the Earth euer more or lesse fruitfull yet for the better vnderstanding of the plaine Country-man you shall know that both the fruitfull and vnfruitfull Ground hauetheir seuerall faces and charracters whereby they be as well knowne as by the Clime or situation of the Continent for that ground which though it beare not any extraordinary abundance of grasse yet will loade it selfe with strong and lusty weedes as Hemblocke Docks Mallowes Nettles Ketlocks and such like is vndoubtedly a most rich and fruitfull ground for any graine whatsoeuer also that ground which beareth Reede Rushes Clouer Daysie and such like is e●…er fruitfull in Grasse and Herbadge so that smal cost and lesse labour in such grounds will euer make good the profit of the Husbandman But with these rich grounds at this time I haue nothing to doe To come downe then to the barren vnwholesome Grounds you shall vnderstand that they are to be known three seuerall waies first by the Clyme and Continent wherein they lye next by their constitution and condition and lastly by outward faces and charracters By the Clyme and Continent as when the ground lies farre remote from the Sunne or when it lyes Mountainous and high stony and rocky or so neere vnto the skirts and borders of the Sea that the continuall Fogges Stormes Myfts and ill vapours arising from thence doe poyson and starue the Earth all which are most apparent ●…ignes of Barrennesse By the Constitution and Condition as when the ground is either too extreamely cold and moist or else to violently hot and dry either of which produceth much hardnesse to bring forth and sheweth the Earth so lying to be good for little or no profit By the outward Faces and Charracters as when you see insted of Grasse which should be greene flowrie and thicke growing a pale thinne mossie substance couer the Earth as most commonly is vpon all high Planes Heathes Downes and such like or when you see the ground couered with Heath Lynge Broome Braken Gorsse or such like they be most apparent signes of infinite great Barrennesse as may be seene in many Mores Forrests and other wilde and wooddy places And of these vnfertill places you shall vnderstand that it is the Clay ground which for the most part brings forth the Mosse the Broome the Gorsse and such like the Sand which bringeth forth Brakes Lynge Heath and the mix●… Earth which vtters Whynnes Bryars and a world of such like vnnaturall and bastardly issues Thus hauing a true knowledge of the Nature and Condition of your ground you shall then proceede to the ordering eareing and dressing of the same whereby it may not only be

with fresh sand you shall sow three bushels of Bay-salt and then plow vp againe the earth sand and salt together which would be done about thelatter end of the yeare as after Michaelmas and so let the ground rest till seed time at which time you shall first before you plow it goe downe to the low rockes on which the sea beats and from thence with dragges and other Engines gather those broad leaued blacke weeds which are called Orewood and grow in great tufcs and abundance about the shoare and these weeds you shall bring to your Hemp-land and couer it all ouer with the same and then you shall plow it againe burying the weeds within the earth And herein is to be obserued that in any wise you must lay these weeds as wet vpon the land as when you bring them out of the Sea prouided still that you adde no other wet vnto them but the salt water for so they are of all soiles or meanures whatsoeuer the only best and most fruitfullest and most especially for these seeds and breed an increase beyond expectation When you haue thus plowed ouer the ground you shall then back it againe then sow it with either Hemp or Flaxe seed which you please and after it is so sown you shall then harrow it and not before and you shall be carefull to harrow it into as fine mould as you can and this mould is likely to runne fine enough as well by reason of the fertility as also of the mixture yet what clottes you cannot breake with your Harrowes those you shall breake with your clotting beetles and such like Tooles then after the first great shower which shall fall after your sowing you shall runne ouer your Land thus sowne with your backe harrowes that is with a paire of large Harrowes the wrong side turned vpward to wit the teeth turned from the earth and the backe towards the earth and if need be you shall lay vpon the harrowes some indifferent heauy piece of wood which may keepe the backe of the harrowes closer to the ground and so goe ouer all the earth and lay it as smooth and light as is possible without leauing the smallest clot that may be vnbroken Now if the ground be sowne with Hempe you shall not thinke of weeding it at all because Hempe is so swift a grower and such a poyson vnto all weeds that it ouer-runneth choaketh and destroyeth them but if it be sowne with Flaxe or Lyne which is a much tenderer seed and bringeth forth more tender leaues and branches then you shall watch what weeds you see Spring vp and in their first growth pluck them vp and cast them away till you behold your Flaxe or Line to be growne aboue the weeds and then you may let it alone also for after it hath once gotten height it will not be ouergrowne with weeds Now touching the other soile which through the extreame barrennesse thereof refuseth to bring forth any good fruit at all you shall in all points dresse it as you drest your plaine clayes discribed in the second Chapter of this booke beginning at the same time of the yeare that is then appointed or if more necessary occasions hold you if you begin latter it shall not be amisse and then at Michaelmas you shall plow it ouer the second time and meanure it with the sea weeds and so let it lye at rest vntill March which is seed-time and then plow it againe and meanure it with the sea weeds againe and after the plowing you shall hacke it and if in the hacking you find the earth stiffe and tough then you shall harrow it before you sow it then fow it and harrow it againe breaking the earth so small and laying it so smooth as possible you can vsing the help both of the clotting beetles and all other tooles which may be auaileable for the breaking of the earth and making the mould as fine as any ashes then after the first great shower of raine perceiuing the ground to be well moystned you shall insteed of the backe harrowes which vpon this earth may be to light take the great rouler which is discribed in the booke of the English Husbandman being a great round peece of Timber of many squares drawne either by Horse or Oxen but a single Horse is the best both in respect of much treading the ground as also for the swift going away or drawing of the same for the swifter it is drawne the better it breaketh the ground and the lighter it leaueth the mould and with this Rouler you shall run ouer and smooth your ground very well leauing no clot vnbroken and so let it rest As for the weeding of this ground you shall not respect it at all for naturally it will put vp no weed the very ground of it selfe being a very great enemy therunto nor shall you need to dresse this ground in the forme beforesaid aboue once in eight or ten yeeres onely euery seed-time when you plow it as you shall not need to plow it at any time but seed-time onely you shall before the plowing couer or meanure the land with the sea weed before spoken of which will giue strength enough to the ground without any other assistance And thus much touching the inriching plowing and dressing of all manuer of barren earths of what nature or quality soeuer whereon you would sow Hempe or Flaxe CHAP. XII The manner of Stacking of all kinde of Graine or Pulse with greatest safety and least losse IN these barren and hard countreyes of which I haue formerly written all sorts of buildings are exceeding costly and scarse both in respect of the clime which is commonly most extreame cold mountainous and much subi●…ct to storme and tempest as also through the great want of Wood and Timber which in those hard soyles doth hardly or neuer prosper and therefore in such places building must be both small and deare so that it will be very hard for the Hnsbandman to haue houseroome for all his Corne but that of necessity he must be inforced to Stacke much or the most part of his Corne without the dorcs which albeit it be a thing very vsuall in this Kingdome yet is it in many places so insufficiently done that the losse which redounds thereby partly by the moisture of the ground which commonly doth rot and spoyle at least a yard thicknesse of the bottome of the Stacke next the ground and partly through myce Rats and other vermine which breeding in the Stacke doe eate and deuoure a great part thereof as also through many such like negligent causes is greater then a good Husband may with his credit be guilty of or a profitable Husband will by any meanes suffer to be los●… so negligently To shew then the manne●… how to Stacke or Moow your Corne without the dores in such sort as neither the ground shall rot it nor these vermines destroy it nor any other losse come to

all errable toyles would begin at latter seasons and the plowes and instruments would be of middle size and indifferent timbers and the labour somewhat lesse then the other but the light sandy grounds which haue also a certaine natural fruitfulnes in them as in Norfolke Suffolke most part of Lincolneshire Hampshire Surry and countries of that nature all errable toiles would begin at the latest seasons and the plowes and instruments would be of the smallest and lightest size and of the least timbers and the labour of all other is most easie Lastly for the barren and vnfruitfull carthes of which onely I haue written of in this booke as is Deuonshire Cornwall many parts of Wales Darbyshire Lancashire Cheshire Yorkeshire and many other like or worse then they the errable toiles would haue certaine set time or sit season of the yeare but onely according to the temperatnes of the yere which if it happen early then you must begin your labors early but if it fall lower in the yeere then you must begin your labours at later seasons and for your plow and instruments they must not keepe any certaine proportion but be framed euer according vnto the ground the stronger and stiffer ground hauing euer the strong and large plow with instruments of like kinde and the lighter and more easie earth a plow and instruments of more easie substance as for the labour it must be such and no other then that which hath been already declared in this booke And hence it comes that the office and duty of euery skilfull plowman or Carter is first to looke to the nature of the earth next to the seasons of the yere then to the customes and fashions of the place wherein hee liueth which customes although they be held as second natures amongst vs and that the best reasons of the best workemen commonly are that thus I doe because thus they doe yet would I wish no man to binde himselfe more strictly to custom then the discourse of reason shal be his warrant and as I would not haue him to preiudicat in his owne opinion so I would not haue him too great a slaue to other mens traditions but starding vpon the ground of reason made good by experience I would euer haue him profit in his owne iudgement Now of these matters I haue written sufficient both in this booke and in my former and also for the election ordering tempering and making of all sorts of plowes or plow yrons together with the Teames dranghts and other aduantages of which whosoeuer is ignotant let him looke into the English Husbandman and he may be satisfied Now the further office and duty of the Husbandman is with great care and diligence to respect in what sort or fashion to plow his ground for although I haue in the former Chapters shewed how he shall lay his furrowes what depth he shall plow them and how he shal be able to raise and gaine the greatest store of mould yet is there also another consideration to be had no lesse profitable to the husbandman then any of the former and that is how to lay your lands best for your own profit ease as also the ease of your cattel which shal draw within your draught as thus for instance if your erable land shall lie against the srde of any steepe or mountainous high hill as for the most part all barren earthes do if then you shall plow such land directly against the hill beginning below and so ascending straight vpright and so downe againe and vp againe this very labour and toyling against the hill wilbreed such a bitter wearisomnesse to the cattell and such a discouragement that you shal not be able to compasse one halfe part of your labour besides the danger of ouer-heating and surfetting of your beasts whence will spring many mortal diseases Therefore when you shal plow any such ground be sure euer to plow it side-wayes ouerthwart the hil where your beasts may euer tread on the leuel ground and neuer directly vp and downe so shal your cattel be better able to endure the draught and you with much case and comfort be able to compasse and finish your labors Besides the compasse and meanure which you shall lay vpon the ground shall not be so soone washt away from the top or vpper part of the ground because the furrowes not lying straight downe in an euen and direct discent but turned crosse-wise vpward against the hil it must necessarily hold the soyle within it and not let it wash away as it were through liberall channels as I haue oft seene in diuers places where the corne hath been as ranke as might be at the bottome and not any growing at the top only for want of well ordering of the Lands and knowledge how to prepare both for a mans owne ease and his cattels Againe it is the office duty of euery good Plowman to know what cattle are meetest for his draught as whether Oxen or Horse or both oxen and horse wherein is be vnderstood that although of all draughts whatsoeuer within this kingdome there is none so good to plow withall both in respect of the strength stabilitie indurance and fitnes for labour as the oxen are in whom there is seldome or neuer any losse because whensocuer his seruice faileth in the draught his flesh wil be of good price in the shambles yet not withstanding in this case a man must necessarily bind himselfe much to the custome of the Countrey and fashion of his neighbours for if you shall liue in a place where fuel is scarse and far to be fetcht as commouly it is in all barren Countries which for the most part are stony Champaines or cold Mountaines and your neighbours as wel for the speed of their Iourneis as for the length keepe Horse draughts in this case you must also doe the like or else you shall want their companies in your Iourney which is both discomfort and disprofit if any mischance or casualty shall happen or being inforst to driue your Oxen as fast as they doe their Horse you shal not onely ouerheate tire bruise and spoile them but also make them vtterly vnfit either for feeding or labour and therefore if your estate be mean that you haue no more but what necessitie requires then you shal sort your plow or Teeme according to the fashion of your Countrey and the vse of your neighbours but if God haue blest you with great blenty then it shal not be amisse for you to haue euer an Oxe draught or two to till your Land and a Horse draught to do all your forraine and abroad businesses so shall your worke at home euer goe constantly forward and your outward necessary prouisions neuer be wanting Now for the mixture of Oxen and Horse together it falleth out oftentimes that the plowman must of force be prouided with cattell of both kind as if he happen to liue in a mountanous and rocky