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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

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

Markhams farwell to HVSBANDRY OR The inriching of all sorts of Barren and Sterrill 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 LONDON Printed by I. B. for Roger Iackson and are to be sold at his Shop neere Fleete-Streete Conduit 1620. TO THE RIGHT WORshipfull and his most worthy friend Mr. BONHAM NORTON Esquire Worthy Sir KNowledge which is the diuine mother of certaine Goodnesse neuer came vnwelcome to a knowing Iudgement no more I hope Shall this my Labour to your worthy Selfe since doubtlesse you shall finde in it many things New somethings necessary and nothing which ●…th not in it some particular touch of profit It is a worke your former incouragements to my other labours did create in me and the wants you worthily found I hope shall bring you supplies both wholesome and becomming The experience I assuer your Goodnesse was the expence of a bitter and tedious Winter but the contentme●… in gaining my wish made it more pleasant then all the three other Seasons What euer it be it comes to you full of loue full of seruice And since I know Vertue measureth all things by its owne goodnesse it is enoughto me that I know you are that Vertue In you is power to iudge in you is Authoritie to exercise Mercy lth them both flye from your Goodnesse with that mildnesse that in them my hopes may be Crowned and my Selfe rest euer at your ser●…ice GERVASE MARKHAM To the Reader DId not the beginning of the worke it selfe sufficiently pleade an excuse for euery part of the Worke I should Gentle Reeder trouble thee with a tedious tale of the manner matter and cause of this Building and therein begge that cha●…itable Almes which the honestie of thine owne Nature will giue me without any troublesome acclamation Let it suffice I haue written no more then I haue seene nor added a benefit which I haue not knowne liberally bestowed vpon the industrious of which if you will be a pertaker follow their Imitation and to good labours adde a good life and there is no feare of a Blessing if any man be costiue or hard of beliefe I know not how to purge him except it be with the bitter ayres of those barren places where these Sterrill Grounds are on which if he liue and haue no foode but his owne labour doubtlesse he will not only belee●…e but loue and admire what is written for a generall profit and to that I leaue those The rest that are of more equall indifferencie to the Blessings and Increase which shall come by worthy knowledge and experience Farewell G. M. The Table and generall Contents of the whole Booke CHAP. I. THe nature of Grounds in generall Page 1 The Authors preamble ibid The profit of the Worke 4 A satisfaction for the truth of the Work 6 The nature of barren Grounds ibid CHAP. II. The Ordering Tilling and Dressing of all barren Clayes simple or compound 9 The first Inriching of barren Grounds ibid The manner of Plowing 10 The hacking of grounds ibid The Sanding of grounds 11 The Lyming of grounds 12 The Meanuring of grounds ibid The times for all labours 13 The second plowing 14 The second hacking ibid The first Harrowing ibid Of Sowing the Seede ibid The second Harrowing 15 Falts in the Earth ibid The Clotting of grounds 16 Another manner of Clotting 17 An Obiection and Answere 20 The ordering of Earthes where Sand wanteth 21 Sowing of Salt ibid The excellency of Salt ibid Of Steeping Seede in Brine 22 CHAP. III. Of the ordering tillying and dressing of all rough barren clay as simple or compound being ouer-runne with Gorse Brome c. 24 The destroying of Weedes 26 Burning of Baite ibid The breaking of the burnt Earth 27 The causes of vnfruitfulnesse ibid An excellent Meanure ibid The Plowing 28 Of diuers Meanures ibid Mixture of Meanures ibid Of Weeding 29 The time for Weeding 30 The gathering of Stones 31 CHAP. IIII. Of the Ordering Tylling ●…nd Dressing of barren Clayes that are ouer-runne with Whinnes 32 What Whinnes are ibid Paring of grounds 33 Making of Baites ibid Breaking of Baites 34 Plowing 35 Harrowing Weeding and the profits 37 CHAP. V. Of Ordering Tylling and Dressing all barren Clayes which are ouer-runne with Ling and Heath 38 Destroying of Heath 39 Another burning of Baite 40 Of Weeding 42 CHAP. VI. Of the Ordering Trimming and Dressing of all barren Sands bearing no thing but mo●…ie Grasse 44 Of Plowing 46 Of Marling 47.53 What Marle is ibid Of ●…kalke and the vse 49 The Profit 51 CHAP. VII Of the Plowing Tilling and Dressing of all barren Sands that are ouerrun with Braken Ferne or Heath 52 Of Sanding and Liming 54 Of Plowing and Sowing ibid Labours after Sowing 55 Of Weeding 56 CHAP. VIII The Flowing Tisting and Ordering of all barren Sands laden with Twitch and wilde Bryar 57 The destroying of Twitch and Bryar ib Of Meanures 58 Of Harrowing and other labours 59 Of Weeding 60 CHAP. IX The Plowing Tilling and Ordering of Sands laden with morish stinking grasse 61 Grounds for Fish-ponds 62 The Draining of Wet grounds 64 The Harrowing 67 The Weeding 66 CHAP. X. How to inrich and make the most barre soyle to beare excellent good Pasture or Meadow 69 Two waies to inrich Earthes ibid Of watering Grounds 71 The belpes in watering 72 When and how to Water ibid The best season for Watering 73 CHAP. XI The i●…iching barren Grounds for Hemp or Flaxe 75 Black Clay for Hemp 76 The Weeding 78 The making ill Earth beare Hemp ib The Weeding 79 CHAP. XII The manner of Stacking all kinde of Graine with least losse 80 CHAP. XIII The diseases and impersections which happen to all manner of Graine 84 Crowes or Birds and the cuer 85 Pigeons and the cuer 87 To saue Corne ready to reape 88 Of Dors and the cuer 90 Of Pismiers and the cuer 91 Of field Rats and Mice ibid Of wormes and the cuer 92 Of Rye not to be wet ibid Of snailes ibid Of Grashoppers 94 Of Moales and the cuer 95 Offences from the influences of Heauen 96 Of Smuttinesse or Mildew and the cuer 97 Of Hale and the cuer ibid Of Lightning and the cuer ibid Of Frosts 99 Of Mysts and Fogges and the cuer 100 Of Blastings and the cuer ibid Corne reapt wet and the cuer 102 Of Washt Corne 104 To know washt corne 105 CHAP. XIIII How to keepe all manner of Graine thrasht or unthrasht the longest time and how to preserue it c. 106 The needfull vse of preseruing corne ib The keeping corne in the

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

twice or thrice in the yeere or oftner as you shall thinke meete in the most conuenientest places of the medow ditch stoppe the same and make the water to rise aboue his bounds and to ouerflow and couer your medow ground all ouer and if it be a flat leuel ground if you let the water thus couering it to lie vpon the same the space of 4. or 5. daies or a week it shall not be amisse then you may water it the seldomer But if it lie against the side of a hill so that the water cannot rest vpon the same then you shall wash it all ouer leauing no part vnmoystned this you shal do the ofner according as the weather shalfal out your water grow more or lesse plentiful Now for the best season or time of the yeere for this watering of medowes you shall vnderstand that from Alhallontide which is the beginning of Nouember and at which time all after-growth of meddowes are fully eaten and cattel for the most part are taken vp into the house vntill the end of April at which time grasse beginneth to spring and arise from the ground you may water all your medowes at your pleasure without danger if you haue water enough at your pleasure and may spend or spare at your will yet to doe it in the best perfection and whereby your ground may receiue the greatest benefit you shall vnderstand that the onely time for watering of your medowes is immediately after any great Fluxe of raine falling in the Winter any time before May when the water is most muddy foule and troubled for then it carryeth with it a soyle or compasse which being left vpon the ground wonderfully inricheth it and makes it fruitfull beyond expectation as daily is seen in those hard countreys where almost no grasse growes but by this industry And here you must obserue that as you thus water one ground so you may water many hauing euer respect to begin with the highest and so to let the water passe out of one ground into another vntil it come vnto the lowest which commonly is euer the most flat and leuell and there you may let the water remaine so long as you thinke good as was before shewed and then let it out into other waste ditches or riuers And here you shall know that this lowest ground will euer be the most fruitfull as well because it lyeth the warmest moystest and safest from stormes and tempests as also because what soyle or other goodnesse this ouerflow of water or the raine washeth from other grounds it leaueth vpon this and so daily increaseth the fertility from whence you shall gather that at the first making of these medow grounds you may bestow lesse cost of meanure and other charges vpon this lowest flat leuell ground then on the higher and so by that rule also obserue to bestow on the highest ground and the highest part of the highest ground euer the greatest abundance of meanure and so as you shall descend lower lower to lay your meanure thinner and thinner yet not any part vtterly vnfurnished voyd of compasse yet as before I said you are to remember that these medow grounds need not this much vse of meanure hauing this benefit of water and the first yeares dressing as was shewed in the beginning of this Chapter aboue once in twenty yeares nay it may be not aboue once in a mans life time And here also is to be considered that the water which commeth from clay or marle grounds being thicke muddy and pudly is much better and richer then that which commeth from sand grauell or pibble and so runneth cleare and smooth for that rather doth washe away and consume the goodnesse of the ground then any way adde strength thereunto And thus much touching the dressing and inriching of all sorts of barraine medow or pasture grounds CHAP. XI Of the inriching and dressing of barraine grounds for the use of Hempe or Flaxe HAuing shewed you thus how to better and inrich all sorts of barren grounds of what temper soeuer they be as whether they be claies or sands or whether mixed or vnmixed and that as well for Corne as for Grasse It resteth now that I shew you how to inrich and make any soyle whatsoeuer fit to beare abundance either of Hempe or Flaxe a thing of no meane or small vse in this our Kingdome as witnesseth the abundance of all manner of cordage daily vsed for ships and other purposes the infinit store both of course and fine linnen cloth and a world of other things without which families cannot be sustained You shall then first vnderstand that there are two sorts of grounds which out of their owne natures vtterly refuse to beare Hempe or Flaxe that is the rich stiffe blacke clay of tough solyd and fast mould whose extreamefertility and fatnesse giueth such a surcharge to the increase of the seed that either with the rankenesse it runneth all into Bunne and no Rinde or else the seed being tender and the mould sad and heauy it burieth it so deepe therein that it can by no meanes get out of the same but lies choaked and consumed without profit the other is the most vilde and extream barren ground which by reason of the climat wherein it lyes is so exceeding sterrile and vnfruitfull that it wil neither beare these seeds nor any other good seed and of these two soyles onely I purpose in this place to intreate for with such soiles as will naturally and commodiously beare these seeds I haue nothing to doe in that I haue sufficiently written of them in mine English Husbandman and English Huswife which are books onely for good grounds but this for all such grounds as are vtterly held without cure To begin then with the stiffe blacke clay which albeit be very rich for Corne is most poore for these seeds when you would reduce and bring it to beare Hempe or Flaxe which neare vnto the sea-coaste is of greater price and commodity then Corne any way can be especially adioyning vnto any place of fishing in respect of Nettes and other Engines which is to be made of the same and which being daily washed and consumed must likewise be daily replenished You must first with astrong plow fit for the nature of such land plow vppe so much ground as you intend to sow Hempe or Flaxe vpon about the middest of May if the weather be seasonable and the ground not o hard if otherwise you must stay till a shower doe fall and that the earth be moystened then shall you hacke it and breake the clottes in small pieces then with the salt Sea sand you shall sand it very plentifully but if that be not to be gotten and that you be very well assured of the naturall richaesse of the earth you shall then sand it with the best red sand you can get or find neare vnto you and vpon euery aker of ground you thus sand