spoken of in the second Booke As much may be said of Pomegranat kernels and Bay-berries as you may vnderstand by the second Booke Pistaces doe require greater diligence and delight to be sowne as well the male as the female in a verie fat ground and vvell â—ared the backe turned to the East and this abouâ— the first day of Aprill and at the same time of the yeare you may graâ—â— them vpon themselues notwithstanding that some doe graft them vpon the almond-tree The peach stone would be set presently after that the fruit is eaten there remayning still some small quantitie of the â—lesh of the peach about the stone and for the longer lasting and keeping of it it loueth to be grafted vpon the Almond-tree CHAP. IIII. Of the nurcerie for stockes IF you vvould haue a beautifull and pleasant fruit of your trees it is not ynough that you should onely sow or set your seeds or stones in a good soyle but it standeth you as much vpon to remoue them after one yeare into another place for this translating of them doth so delight them and reuiue their vigour and spirits as that they yeeld more pleasant leaues and a 〈◊〉 â—ed and liking fruit For and if you will bestow this fauour vpon vvild 〈◊〉 you shall find them to become of a gentler nature and farre more excâ—â—ling 〈◊〉 Wherefore when the Trees which shall haue sprung vp of seeds or stones 〈◊〉 or sowne shall haue come by some little nourishment and grow in the seed 〈◊〉 take them vp vpon a new Moone at night with as many roots as possibly may be and if it happen that any of them be spoyled or broken cut it looke vnto it alâ—â— that you doe not pull it vp when the Northerne wind bloweth for this wind is an enemie vnto new set plants and set them againe presently least the roots should spend themselues it must not be in a hot or cold vveather nor in an excessiue vvind nor in raine but at such time when it is calme and verie faire chusing rather a cloudie day than when the Sunne breaketh out hot and the Moone being in her 〈◊〉 but and if you should not haue the leisure to remoue them so soone or and if you would send or carrie them somewhat farre bind them vp in their owne earth mingled vvith dung and make it fast thereto with vvoollen cloth or leaues When as you take them vp marke what part standeth vpon this or that quarter to the end that you may set them downe againe vpon the same quarter and coast of the heauens for and if in remouing them you set them in a contrarie â—oyle and situation in respect of the heauens they will not thriue so vvell and that is the cause why those that buy new plants most diligently inquire in what manner of ground they stood and what aspect of the Sunne they were most open vnto that so they may set them downe againe in such like ground and in the same aspect True it is that this obserâ—â—tion seemeth too ceremoniall vnto me and exceeding hard continually to be kâ—pt seeing vve buy trees at Paris sometimes to plant whose first situation we doe not know neither can vve learne and yet notwithstanding being planted they cease not to thriue and prosper And againe what cause is there of any such ceremonie seeing the Sunne vvhich is the nursing father of all plants doth visit euerie day all the sides of the Tree and that the ground wherein it is planted is no lesse nouâ—â—shing vpon the one side than vpon the other These things weighed about the third of December you must lay flat another plot and make a furrowed quarter where you shall lodge according to the order of a hundred the small wildings which you shall haue taken vp out of the â—eed nurcerie cutting off the end and beards of all their roots and which may be in any place about their slender little stockes and that in a good ground yea much better if it be possible than that is of the seed nurcerie It is true that the furrowes must be made according to the goodnesse of the ground the nature of the tree for in a clayie or hard ground you must make your furrows the depth of three cubites in a watrie and marshie place of three feet 〈◊〉 Some plants as the Ash and Oliue tree grow better in the vpper face and top of the earth than in the depth and lower parts of the same Set in order your young â—â—â—dings in the said furrows halfe a foot one from another and there couer them and leaue the space of a foot betwixt one furrow and another that there you may make paths to goâ— about vveeding with â—ase and passe betwixt euerie two furrows When thus your wildings are set you must cut off their stockes close by the earth and fil vp the paths with dung without euer going about to hide or couer the plaâ—â—â— in the earth and so soone as they grow they must be well wed round about and 〈◊〉 from vveeds and vnderdigged or lightly digged sometimes in Sâ—mmer round about not comming ouer neere the rooâ—s in any â—ase and they must be vvaâ—â—â—d also on euenings when it hath beene a verie hot day and when they haue put forth â—â—â—ces for one or two yeares then going ouer them all leaue not moe than one 〈◊〉 to euerie plant and let it be the â—â—eekest best liking tallest and comâ—liest of all the rest cutting the other off close by the stocke As these â—â—â—nces shall grow on so 〈◊〉 picke off cleane from them the small superfluous wood growing vpon them vpward and euen close also vnto the stocke and this must be done in March or Aprill and then must some small prop or stay be prickt downe at the foot of euerie wilding for to â—â—rect and guide it by tying them both together with wreaths of graâ—â—e but 〈◊〉 moâ—â—e or some soft thing betwixt them that so the hardnesse of the prop may not gal it when it shall be growne thicke And thus you shall order and husband then til the time come when you must remoue them if rather you make not choice to grâ—â—â— them vpon the place as they stand When through forgetfulnesse you shall haue 〈◊〉 your wildings or planes growne vp of feeds for two or three yeares vntaken vp 〈◊〉 must furrow them as hath already bin said but with deeper digged furrows and thâ—â— you shall not breake the roots so much and it will be â—it and conuenient to cut off their branches vpward as occasion shall require There are found kernels of peares or garden apples that haue beene gathered 〈◊〉 trees that vvere sometimes wild ones or growne vpon trees which haue alreadie 〈◊〉 oftentimes grafted vvhich bring forth verie streight trees and also of comely wood as if they had beene grafts from the beginning not hauing any prickes or 〈◊〉 to argue them â—uer to haue beene wild Such young trees if
ripe vvhen they begin to cast the huskes If you vvash them in salt brine you shall make them vvhite and to indure long but yet the more if you drie them also if you see that it cannot cast his huske lay it vpon some straw a certaine time and shortly after it vvill cast it to keepe it long lay it in a drie place where the South vvind bloweth not Chesnuts vvill be good to keepe vnto the Spring time if you first drie them in the shadow and after lay them in drie places vpon heapes or in vessells couered vvith sand or and if you mingle them amongst common nuts for by this medley they will be robbed of their excrementous humour But chiefely to keepe them long you most gather them vvhen they are reasonâ—ble ripe in the old of the Moone and lay them in sand in some coole place or in some vessell vvell stopt Some doe spread them vpon hurdles or burie them so in sand as that one of them touch not another Othersome set them in rankes in baskets or panniars full of straw You may trie if they be â—ound by casting them into cold vvater for if they go to the bottome then they are sound but and if they swim aboue the vvater they are corrupted and naught Cherries vvill keepe long if you gather them from off the Tree before the Sun rise and afterward lay them orderly in a vessell hauing in the bottome of it a bed of Sauorie and that by laying a bed of Sauorie and a bed of Cherries and a bed of Sauorie and a bed of Cherries and lastly a bed of Sauorie watering them vvith sweet vinegar In like manner they vvill last long if you order them alter the said manner couering them vvith Rose leaues in a barrell they are likewise either dried in the Sunne or stewed in their owne juice and preserued with sugar to keepe a long time If you annoint your Citrons gathered with the leaues vpon their boughes with well tempered plaster you may keepe them sound a whole yeare and if you hide them and couer them with barly they will not rot or if you doe but close them vp close in anie vessell whatsoeuer or else if you doe but couer them with small straw The Corneile-berrie commonly so called must be put in a bottle of glasse which hath a wide throat and when they are in the bottle must be filled vp with very good and liquid honey or else with sugar in stead of honey after this the iuice rising of this sugar wherein they are preserued is a sâ—ngular thing for the staying of the flux of the belly and the procuring of appetite To keepe Quinces dippe them in the lees of wine or which is better make them vp in new earthen pots close shut and put the same into vessels full of wine or else dippe them in the wine and by this meanes the Quinces will remaine fresh and the wine a great deale more pleasant Some keepe them in Straw or Barly or the saw-dust of Wood or Figge-tree leaues Othersome couer them with leaues and loame made of potters clay and afterward drie them in the Sunne and when they would vse them they breake the clay and taking out the quinces find them such as they put them in Some put them all whole in honie But note by the way that you must not keepe quinces in a house where there is other fruit for what by their sowernesâ—e and what through their smel they spoyle and corrupt the other fruits which are their neighbours or neere vnto them yea the verie grapes which one would keepe Figges will be alwaies greene and new if you put them in a pot full of honie well couered in such sort as that they doe not touch one another nor yet the pot it selfe or else if you put them in gourds euery one by it selfe and hang the gourd in a shadowed place where the fire or smoake cannot come or if you put them in a glasse pot well stopt with Wax Drie figs will not corrupt if you lay them vpon hurdles in an ouen after the bread is drawne out and after put them in a new earthen pot that is not glased Walnuts will continue a long time sound if they be couered with straw or with their drie leaues or shut vp in a coffer made of the wood of Walnut-tree or if they be mingled amongst Omons whereunto they doe this pleasure as that they take from them the greatest part of their acriâ—onie or sharpenesse Some sâ—y likewise that they will be kept greâ—ne a whole yeare if when they are gathered greene they haue their coat taken from them and be dipt in honie and thereupon also such honie becommeth singular for them vvhich haue vlcers in their mouth or throat to make gargarismes of for the same Pomegranats will keepe if at such time as when they are ripe or almost ripe you writh the little stalke by which they hang vpon the tree or â—f presently as soone as they be gathered they be couered all ouer with potâ—ers clay tempered in water and afterward set out to the Sunne in sweet oyle in a broad mouthed pot couered and hung at the floore of some chamber in a close place where the frost cannot come or else set in some caue vnder the earth but see that they grow not mouldie there In the meane time for the gathering of them you must touch them softly with your hand that so you may not crush them they keepe verie well also in saw-dust of â—ake woad in alt vvater or salt brine Or else you must dip them all ouer in boyling water pulling them out againe presently afterward drying them vpon sand or small grauell or in the Sunne for the space of eight daies Some hide them ouer head and eares in a heape of corne in the shadow vntill that their rind be hardened Apples after they haue beene gathered in weather not rainie or cloudie but faire must be kept spred vpon their eyes not vpon their tailes vpon a table couered with corne straw in a cold place but not in a caue for in such a place they would look their sauour and where the windows are turned toward the North which likewise must in faire weather be set open or vpon straw or in barlie or in a pot done ouer with Waxe within and close couered or in an â—arthen pot not pitched but hauing a hole in the bottome and yet close couered aloft and â—o hung vp in a tree all Winter in vvhich case the apples will continue such as they were put in Some warp them euâ—rie one by themselues in figge-leaues and after couer them with lome of vvhite potters clay and with drie lome and set them in the Sunne Some after they haue gathered and made choyce of the soundest heauiest and fairest apples not being yet altogether ripe doe set a hogshead in the ground round about
mistaken and thought to forget that woman was made for a helper hee hath called her to her taske and that neither little nor consisting of a few or base things hauing committed vnto her besides many other matters the cure and charge of families health But leauing to speake any more of her charge in particular I could wish all such of that sexe as are religious to looke before they leape and to bee wise according to sobrietie and grauitie Sobrietie not medling aboue their place and reach in matters of Physicke and Grauitie as not hauing any thing to doe in the matter of Fukes either for vsing or preparing of them seeing they argue if not plainely proue a light a loose and very sinfull life And finally seeing that the whole earth was once a Tempe an Eden that is a place of all pleasures and delights and the assigned possession and naturall inheritance of man and woman to labour and liue in with exceeding great ioy and felicitie and that through their sinne it was cursed and they were cast out of the most pleasant commodious and beneficiall part thereof I could wish them iointly to record such their former felicitie and the losse thereof to the end that they may applie their hearts vnto wisedome and learne that although they doe continually labour yet if they wallow in sinnes they doe but throw downe twice as much as they build vp destroy and marre mare they make driue farre away the creatures of meate and maintenance which they labour so greedily to scrape and pull vnto them and euen bereaue the earth if it were possible of all manner of fruits and increase that so it might not any more either feede or cloth them For knowledge skill toyle paine rising early lying downe late with euery other helpe doth loose his vertue and come short of his end if delight of sinne bee ioyned as a companion therewithall it being the heauie load and burthen vnder which all creatures doe grone the burning ague that drieth all sappe and moisture and that cursed seede which causeth them as a vaporous brood not onely to fret out their mothers bowels and bring a curse vpon her bodie but thereby also to curse and crosse themselues in all that wherein they would most gladly thriue and prosper You must sowe in March the Moone being New Garlicke Borage Buglosse Cheruile Coriander Gourds Marierome White Poppie Purslane Radish Sorrell Double Marigolds Tyme Violets Full Musked Annise Blites Skirwoorts Succorie Fennell Apples of loue Maruellous Apples Old Artichokes Basill Thistles Blessed Thistle Cole Cabbage White Cole Greene Cole Citrons Cucumbers Harts-home Sampier Dyers graine Spinage Gilliflowers Hyssope Cabbage-Lettuce Melons Muguets Onions Flower Gentile Burnet Leekes Sauorie You must sowe in Aprill the Moone being New Marâ—erome Flower gentle Thyme Violets Full Apples of loue Maruellous Apples Old Artichokes Thistles Cabbage Cole Citrons Harts-horne Sampire Gilliflowers Muguets Parsneps In May in the old of the Moone Blessed thistle In Iune the Moone being New Gourds Radishes Old Cucumbers Melons Parsneps In Iuly the Moone being Full White Succorie Old Cabbage-Lettuce In August the Moone being Full White Succorie Hearbes growing of â—eedes that are sowne may bee transplanted at all times except Cheruile Arrage Spinage and Parsley which are nothing worth when they are transplanted euer obserued That such transplantation bee in a moist or rainie weather for otherwise you must looke to them to water them Vnderstand and know that the choice and age of seedes is double for after you haue chosen them ripe full heauie corpulent grosse of a good colour and that they fall not into powder eyther through rottennesse or bruisednesse Some doe grow better of new seeds as Leekes and Cucumbers Othersome doe grow better of old seedes as Coriander Parsley Sauorie Beets Origanum Crosses Spinach Poppie Know further that you must preserue from the cold Lettuces Artichokes Basill Thistles Cabage Cole Dyers graine Melons fifteene dayes after they put foorth of the earth Know that seedes doe thriue and prosper a great deale better when they are sowne vpon such daies as are but warme and not verie hot or cold than in hot cold or drie daies Note that seedes must be Gathered in Faire weather The wane of the Moone Kept Some in Boxes of wood Bags of Leather Vessels of earth And after to be well cleansed and dried in the Sun or shadow Othersome as Onions Chibbols Leekes in their huskes Note that it doth well to Plant in the last Gather grifts in the last but one Grift two daies after the change of the Moone Note that they which are growne vp to the knowledge of the Planets and Signes may exactly obserue the aspects of the Moone vnto the rest of the Planets how long it abideth in anie of them for shee aspecting â™ by a â–³ or âš¹ in the signe ♉ ♋ ♠♎ ♑ â™’ it is good to Plant Vines Sow all things generally Sow the fields generally Sow Gardens Sow euery where and all things generally Plant Trees and Vines ♂ or ♃ by a â–³ or â–¡ in the signe â™’ maketh it good to plant and set Trâ—es and Vines being in the 7 1 28 7 15 28 11 24 7 28 11 7 degree 15 57 40 15 49 40 31 3 14 40 2 15 minuts of ♈ ♉ ♉ ♋ ♌ ♌ ♠♠♎ ♠♠♑ Astrologians commaund vs to sowe and plant because of a well tempered state and condition in them THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE COVNTRIE FARME CHAP. I. What manner of Husbandrie is entreated of in the Discourse following EVen as the manner of building vsed at this day for the couering and rest of men is nor like vnto that of old time so we see the manner of the labouring of the earth for the nourishment and sustenance of the same to differ greatly according to the Countries Soyle Grounds and Situation of the Places wherein they are seated yea there is not so much as their language apparrell or household-stuffe and working tooles but they change after the fashions of Countries which notwithstanding doe not hinder but that in euerie thing wee may be as well fitted as they which went before vs. By this we may see our late kinde of Husbandrie to attaine and bring with it the like issue and effects which that of the Auncients did which is nothing else but to liue of the encrease of the Earth well husbanded and tilled by vs. Wherefore I haue thought it impertinent and vnseemely to tie my self to the seuerall sorts of labour vsed of men in times past and that because that Countries inhabited by diuers sorts of people haue according to the seuerall varietie of them euerie one affoorded many particular and seuerall sorts of liuing as also for that it hath alwaies beene the custome of men to the end they might the more easily fit and apply themselues to the good liking of others to compose and frame themselues according to the manners of the Countrey without affecting either by the
the nosthrils mingled with Hennes grease it dryeth vp the Kibes applyed with a linnen cloth vnto burnings it easeth and take◠〈◊〉 the paine being mixt with strong vineger it stayeth bleeding at the nose if it be dropt and put into the nose with a feather An Onion rosted vpon hot coales and eaten with Sugar Oyle and a little Vineger doth cure the Cough and is good for them that are stopped or stuffed in their Lungs and such as are short breathed Take away the heart of an Onions 〈◊〉 it with Cummin seed powdred stop the hole and rost the Onion thus prepared â—â—der hot ashes when it is rosted strayne it out this iuice is singular good for the noyses and deafenesse of the eares being dropped into them The thicke riâ—de of the Onion burned or rosted vnder hot ashes assuageth old Head-ach and Megrams if you put in little morsell moistened or besprinkled with Oyle of Roses and Bayes within the eare of that side of the head that aketh An Onion stamped with fresh Butter easeth the paines of the Hemorrhoids stamped with Honey and Salt it is a soueraigne remedie for the biting of a mad dogge and other such like beasts mingled with Hennes grease it taketh away the red and blew spots of the face boyled in Wine or in Water and afterward stamped and fried in common Oyle and applyed in forme of a Cataplasme vnto the Nauell it assuageth the throwes of Women newly brought in bed rosted vpon hot coales and mixed with Leauen and Oyle of Lillies it ripeneth Imposâ—umes Take away the heart of the Onion fill the hollow place with Tracle or Mithridate dissolued and beat with the iuice of Citrons stoppe vp the hole againe with the Cap or vpper Crust which you cut ofâ— rost all together vnder the hot ashes and that so long as vntill all be well incorporated and drencht in afterward strayne the Onion so rosted and giue that which shall be strayned to drinke to him that is infected with the Plague and cause him by and by to lye downe and to be well couered to the end that he may sweat This Medicine hath not his match against the Plague prouided that the sweat breake forth by and by As for Chibols and Chyues they come more neere vnto the nature of Onions as by the smell one may well perceiue than vnto the nature of Leekes which they nothing resemble saue onely in the blade or stalke and in that they haue no head They must be sowne in the Spring as other hearbes in the same ground with the Onion They are verie pleasant in Salads to temper the coldnesse of other cold hearbes CHAP. XXIIII Of Garlicke GArlicke as is well knowne vnto the inhabitants of Gascoine Aquitaine Limosin and those about Burdeaux would be planted at the same time that Onions are and in the new of the Moone that so they may be great and it must not be set in whole heads but in those little â—loues and parts which may be diuided and taken off from the head They shall be set all along vpon beds diuided by ridges like vnto ridged grounds of the Countrey of Beaux to the end that the water may not destroy them in Winter For this hearbe desireth a drie ground and but a little moist verie white and not much dunged or verie fat When they shall haue put forth three leaues you must weed them as oft as you can for so they will become fairer and their seed will be the greater Who so is desirous to haue it great headed must take away the tops of it or else tread it downe with his feet before it put forth his stalke for by this meanes the iuice will returne into the head It groweth likewise of Seed but more slowly for it hath no better a head for the first yeare than a Leeke the second yeare it beginneth to be better headed and more like it selfe but is not perfect and absolute vntill the third yeare If you sow it in the wane of the Moone and take them vp in like manner when the Moone is vnder the earth you shall haue Garlicke that will not smell so strong but contrariwise if you sow in the new or growth of the Moone Likewise it will haue a sweet sauour if when you sow it you set in the middest thereof the kernels of Oliues as likewise if in planting it you set by the side thereof a Cloue ioyned verie close thereunto it will retaine the smell and taste thereof In like manner it will be of a better taste if you steepe it in good sweet Wine a day before that you sow it And if you steepe it in Milke two dayes before you sowe it it will become both greater and better The fit and conuenient time to gather and take it vp is in the wane of the Moone and in drie and faire weather when the stalke will no longer stand vpright It is kept well vpon straw lying bare or hung vp in the smoake of the chimney or being steept a little in salt water And to keepe it long you must let it ripe well and when it is gathered to lay it in the Sunne that it may drie throughly and afterward to lay it vp in a place that is not moist and whereas notwithstanding the Sunne commeth not for so it would continue but a while It is true that if you meane to sow and set it afterward that then you must not hang it vp in the smoakâ— nor steepe it in salt water for such kind of keeping doth make it barren and not fit to grow anie more Garlicke eaten bringeth a verie vnpleasant smell vnto the mouth and for the taking away of the same you must eat a raw Beane by and by after or the ribbe of a Beet rosted in ashes or some Smallage or greene Parsley or which is better if you loue Garlicke and hate the stinking breath that it yeeldeth then vse vineger wherein it hath beene steeped or else cause the Dishes and Vessels whereon your meat is to be serued to be rubbed therewith for by this 〈◊〉 you shall haue the taste thereof in your mouth and yet your breath shall not smell anie thing ill Garlicke eaten fasting is the Countrey mans Treacle in the time of the Plague and other dangerous diseases as also against all manner of Venime and Poyson It is true that it causeth thirst and heat throughout the bodie and head-ach when it is ofâ— vsed but all these inconueniences will be easily corrected if you eate some Smallage or Parsley presently after Verie manie men but especially the people of Aquitaine in the beginning of the Spring time namely the first day of May doe eat euerie morning Garlicke with fresh butter by this meanes they hope to continue sound and strong all the yeare Garlicke applyed in forme of a Cataplasme vnto the stingings of Serpenâ—s or biting of a mad Dogge is a soueraigne medicine against the same
commoditie haue we as the vvaxe which we enjoy by 〈◊〉 Bees yea what say you to honie it selfe that their admirable worke and no 〈◊〉 profitable and pleasant for the vse of man Let it not then seeme strange vnto you if we aduise the housholder to giue care and be carefull to keepe Bees about his 〈◊〉 and therewithall teach him in a few words what should be the ordering and goâ—â—â—ning of them and their hiues and withall at what time and houre it is good â—â—â—â—ther honie and vvaxe The housholder therefore shall first make choyce for the keeping of Beâ—â— of some fit and secret place in his Garden of Pleasure in the bottome of some 〈…〉 it be possible to the end they may the more easily rise on high to flie abroad to 〈◊〉 their food as also for that when they be laden they dâ—â—cend the more easily dowâ—ward with their load But let vs see to it especially that the place be open to 〈◊〉 South Sunne and yet notwithstanding neither exceeding in heat not in cold 〈◊〉 temperate and that the same by hill wall or some other rampart be defended 〈◊〉 winds and tempests and so also at that they may flie their sundrie and 〈…〉 for to get diuerâ—â—â—ie of pastures and so againe may returne to their little cottages laden with their composition of honie and againe in such a place as wherein 〈…〉 great quantitie of Thyme Organie Sauorie Iuie Winter Sauorie vvild 〈◊〉 Rosemarie Sage Corneflag or Gladdon Gilloflowres Violets white 〈◊〉 â—â—ses flowre-gentill Basill Saffron Beanes Poppie Melilot Milfoile and 〈◊〉 sweet hearbes and flowers wherein there is no bitternesse and in like 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—cient good â—â—ore of trees of good smell as Cypresse trees Cedar-trees 〈…〉 Pine-trees Turpentine-trees Iuie-trees Masticke-trees and also fruit-trees as â—â—mond-trees Peach-trees Peare-trees Apple-trees Cherrie-trees and other 〈◊〉 besides all this maruellous great store of hearbes and those of the rarest and 〈◊〉 knowne and withall such as grow in well tilled grounds and pastures for these 〈◊〉 them to grow rich in good vvaxe as the wild Radish the wild Bell flowre 〈◊〉 Succorie and blacke Pionie and besides these wild Parseneps and garden â—â—â—â—neps and Carots Broome and the Strawberrie-tree are not altogether good 〈…〉 make honie the Elme-tree causeth them to haue the flux of the bellie as also the 〈◊〉 males or spurges Box maketh honie of a bad smell and which troubleth their 〈◊〉 that eat it and yet notwithstanding profitable for them which haue the Falling 〈◊〉 But if at any time you shall chaunce to haue any of your stockes to 〈◊〉 or to dye by what chaunce soeuer it shall be you shall then by no meanes 〈…〉 combeâ— more than cleansing them from all manner of filth and take of the 〈…〉 honie you can get damaâ—ke Rose-water and the juice of Fenell and 〈◊〉 veâ—e well together then with a bunch of Fennell dipt in the same first 〈…〉 combes verie well and also rubbe the hiue within therewith lastly rubbe the 〈◊〉 whereon the standeth with the same that you did the hiue and you shall be 〈…〉 â—ured that the first swarme that riseth either in your own or in any other mans 〈◊〉 if it be not aboue a mile or two from you will knit without any other 〈◊〉 king in that stocke The place must be closed in with a verie strong hedge or else with good 〈◊〉 for feare both of beasts and theeues for kine and sheepe doe eat vp their flowres and â—eat the dew off from the flowres whereof the Bees should load them and which is so well beloued of the little prettie birds yea and that also which falleth downe at the breake of the day in faire weather and is purified on the leaues and flowers of the plants hearbes and wild trees but of all tame beasts there is none that doth so damnifie these little pretties vvretches as Swine and Goats for the Goats wast their food and jumpe against their houses yea and oftentimes beat them downe the Swine besides the wasting and eating vp of their food rubbing themselues against the hiues doe ouerturne them and the seats whereon they be set sheepe in like manâ—er loosing some of their lockes of Wooll vpon the hedges are cause that the â—illie poore Bees now and then become intangled therein when they labour to get their â—â—od and so leaue their carcases for a pledge hennes likewise haue a gluttonous apâ—â—â—tite towards them Serpents also doe sometimes take vp their Innes in their hiues 〈◊〉 to take away this casualtie at once and for euer you must plant Rue round about 〈◊〉 in good quantitie in as much as venimous beasts cannot by any meanes abide â—â—his hearbe Callamint also is verie good to be planted for the same purposes neere vnto the â—â—ues so is also the heaâ— be â— Angelica or Gentiana but aboue all things you must be â—â—â—â—full to make your hiues exceeding warme that is to say of what stuffe soeuer â—â—â—ey be made you shall on the out-side daube them better than two fingers thicke with 〈◊〉 and Cows dung mixt together and ouer them a vvarme coat of long Ryeâ—â—aw couering the hiue from the top to the bottome and hanging some what below 〈◊〉 stone Their place also must be farre off from the dunghill common draughts or issues 〈◊〉 marshes fennes dropping dirtie and myrie places which might hurt them 〈◊〉 ill smells and for that thâ—â—e prettie beasts are deadly enemies to all filthinesse â—â—d vncleannesse but rather let their place of abode be neere some â—â—all brooke of â—â—ter naturall and of it selfe continually running or by art in some chanell that will 〈◊〉 along the water drawne out of some vvell or fountaine and this rundle must 〈◊〉 by the edges stones or boughes of trees for the bees to light vpon But whatsoeuer the place is whether in the garden of Pleasure or elsewhere alâ—â—it we haue assigned this to be one of the fruits of pleasure to be gâ—thered in the garâ—â—n of Pleasure it must not be hemmed in with high walls on euerie side and yet if 〈◊〉 feare of theeues you were disposed to raise them the higher then you must pearse 〈◊〉 wall some three feet from the ground and worke it with small holes for the bees 〈◊〉 through at and some twentie or thirtie paces off to build some little house if 〈◊〉 be so disposed for him to dwell in who hath the charge of looking to them and 〈◊〉 also to put his tooles CHAP. LXII Of the fashion of the Hiues and the manner of setting them for Bees A Place and standing for Bees being thus appointed the next thing is according to that fashion which may be most conuenient for the Countrie to make hiues Some thinke the best are those which are made of quarters of sawne boards vvide ynough but not verie long others you must haue 〈◊〉 long and narrow that so you may haue two sorts of hiues that is to say great 〈◊〉 small ones the great ones for such as
to sucke out venime 740 A Henne crowing like a Cock ouet-fat enraged 68 Water Hennes 78 How Hennes must be sed and loâ—ked to 67 68 Herâ—d caused the children to be slaine the 29. day of the Moone 34 The Heron wandering and whiâ—ling about a signe of raine 25 The Heromie and the ordering of Herâ—nt 671 Certaine obseruations concerning the Heron. 672 Hiacâ—â—th 239 Hissope 164. distilled 453 The Hobbâ—e a Hawke 711 Tame Hogges 18 Hogges better burnt than sealded 107 Hogges-troughs of Tamariske wood 290 Hogâ—hes where they must be placed 18 Holâ—-bocks 196 Honie of all sorts 330 The notes of good Honie 329 To make Hoâ—e 329. The vertues thereof ibidem To gathâ—r Hâ—â—ie 327 To make viuers compositions of Honâ—e 330 Honie distilled 456 Hops and the vertues thereof 287 Hoâ—e-hound 247 A Horse at his growth in fiue yeres but a man not before fiue and twentie 6â—6 Horses 〈◊〉 to drinke troubled water 129 61 63 Horses 〈…〉 how they must be 〈…〉 and trained 124. 12â— 131. 〈…〉 129. 〈◊〉 Horses 146. 〈◊〉 winded 149 hauing their backes broken 129. pricked with a 〈◊〉 114. bâ—witâ—hed 121. how to be handeld being 〈◊〉 and to what diseases they be subiect 137. the means to help the 139 The markeâ— of a good Horse 125 The know the age of a good horse perfectly ibidem Horses find â—eet to go well vpon when they haue to â—eed well vpon 129. a Prouerbe A leane Horse 147 Horses are 〈◊〉 by the Maisters eie a Prouerbe 1â— Horse mint 244 Horse taile 209 Hâ—and 〈◊〉 207 The House must not be to seâ—ke for 〈◊〉 nor ground for 〈◊〉 18. what is meant by the countrie House and 〈◊〉 it comp chendeth â— The 〈◊〉 Lodging 16. where the Farme-house must be 〈◊〉 4 of the inclosure thereof 13 The entrance of the Master of the familie his House 14 A â—umptuâ—uâ— House canteth ones better to enuie 13 We must purchase peace and a hoose readie made ibidem A House-holder must for ecast to haue more to sell than to buy 14 The Husbandrie of these times agreeth with the Husbandrie of the auncient times â— The Husbandrie of the vine both young and old 60â— of men of auncient times according to their countries 1 of grounds diuers and variable according to the soile and the scituation of places 〈◊〉 of the aâ—bor and vine is a like 157 Husbandmen must know the signes foreshewing raine windes c. 24 The Husbandmans clothes 22 The worke that the Husbandman must do euery moneth throughout the yeare 35 The Husbandmans tooles 532 The manner of Husbandrie entreated of 1 Hunting a thing that a good Husband may lacke 2 The profit of Hunting foure footed beaâ—â—es 672 Three sorts of Hunting ibidem The Hunting of the Hare more pleasant than any other 693 Hunting of the Wild Bore dangerous 690 A wine like Hydrome and the vertues thereof 330 I IAcob borne the sixteenth of the Mâ—one a good daie 33 Iapheth borne the 24. day of the Moone 34 Iâ—samine 286 Inclosure of the Orchard 333 The Indies discoured by the Spaniards 83 Insâ—sions 448. two things to be câ—sidered in Insusions ibid. 〈…〉 mâ—de in mans goats or swines bloud 449 〈…〉 must helpe oâ— augment the force and veâ—tue of 〈…〉 ibidem 〈◊〉 the Pâ—ophâ—t born the twentieth day of the Moone day somewhat indifferent 33 〈…〉 a â—ind of cheese and the mannes of making of â—â—â—em 65 〈◊〉 bâ—ne the 18. day of the Moone a prosperous day 33 〈◊〉 or ground pine 205 〈◊〉 â—â—es are tare in France 396. their nature ibidem 〈◊〉 planted 338 〈◊〉 â—â—per 285 causeth wine to run out of the vessell 286 K 〈◊〉 He principall Keyes of all the house 46 〈◊〉 â—lesh well accounted of 117. their skins how greatly profitable 119 〈◊〉 niâ— beanes or 〈◊〉 560 〈◊〉 Kâ—â—ching the first roome to be built in a good house where the Kitching must be seated 17 〈◊〉 â—is of dâ—â—â—rs fashions 253 254 â—â—â—ple Knot 258 〈…〉 and Câ—lâ—es how they must be sed and handled 62 〈◊〉 â—e â—â—â—king into the skie and drawing in the aire a 〈◊〉 of â—ame 25 L â—An through Labour doth â—ame euerie thing 10 〈◊〉 reqâ—â—sit in a Farmer 4 The gardens Labirâ—â—th 158 〈◊〉 â—wto handle and seed â—ambes 18 111 〈…〉 of Lâ—mbes and their remedies 116 〈…〉 â—mbes to make flocks 112 〈◊〉 boâ—ne the 〈◊〉 of the Moone a dangerous day 32 〈…〉 venomous sithes in the sea 507 〈◊〉 dâ— driue men to contention and law 4 〈…〉 maâ—uelous fruitfull 12 〈…〉 a kind of Hawke 714 〈◊〉 â— distâ— led 474. in what places it must be kept 17 〈◊〉 â—â—der 251 disâ—illed 463 〈◊〉 of the ashes of Cabages good to wasâ—â— the head 166 〈…〉 great and small their virtues and properâ—â—es 175 〈…〉 at what time they must be sowen 160 〈…〉 trees 296. what earth Lemons require 376 〈…〉 in what season they must be sowen 560â— to haue â—â—y good Lenâ—â—s 569 〈◊〉 of all kindes their husbandrie nature and speciall obseruations 167 when they must be sowne 160 they put forth the fourth day after they are sowne 152. they procuâ—e sleepe â—68 how to be preserued 279 〈◊〉 how it must be dressed 575 〈…〉 how distilled 455. and what is meant by 〈◊〉 〈…〉 place ibidem 〈◊〉 â—ighting in faire weather a signe of raine 24 〈…〉 and what they presage 26 〈…〉 238 〈…〉 of diuers sorts and colours 239. their vertues 240 〈◊〉 â—ater Lillies 239 〈◊〉 Inhabitants of Lymosin painefull sparing procuring 〈…〉 their owne profit than any others 23 den-trees and others of such like wood 665. 667. 〈…〉 and diseases 923. their food ibidem 〈◊〉 hutting the vine and how to kill them 607 Lice and other vermine haunting Hens 69 Lice of Calues 63 Lice of Bees 326 Line the husbanding thereo 368. when to be sowne 36. in what quarter of the Moone and when to bee pulled 31 Loches and how to fish for them 516 Locusts come euery third yeare and what harme they doe to trees 649 Locusts eating vines how they may be driuen away 607 Lâ—â—-tree 306 Lâ—pines and their husbandrie 560. and whereto they are good ibidem when they must bee sowne before they bloome caâ—â—ell must be put into them 570. â—at the earth 10 M MAdnesse of Dogs 147 Maine a rich countrie 12 The people of Maine are subtile craftie and very painefull for profit 23 Mallowes 196 Man will not be woon by rough handling 21 Mandraages 253 Maple tree 662 Marâ—h corne 554 Marchpanes what manner of pastrie 585 Mares how they must be handled â—â—5 The couering of Mares and taking of the horse 124. their amoâ—ous rage 147 Maâ—â—â—ome 250 Marigolds and their faculties 172 Marigolds in conserue 280. distilled 454 Marishes huâ—tfull to the Farme-house 5 Market matters would not be left vndone till after drinking 22 Maâ—le in what grounds necessarie 6 Marqâ—ots a sort of Vine necessarie 597 Beefe Marrâ—w 104 Maisters must know the natures of their seruants 23 Maisters must keepe more amongst their seruants than at the towne â—3
that so the Rammes may not goe vnto the Ewes nor the Lambes vnto the diseased Sheepe He shall be carefull to make his Ewes take Ramme after the first two yeares for the space of the next fiue after ensuing for when the seuenth yeare is once past they begin to faile and wither away and againe the female taking Ramme before she be two yeare old bringeth forth a feeble and a weake brood without anie strength but and if shee bring forth before that age you must sell her Lambes The Ramme that is to blesome Ewes must not be vnder three nor aboue eight One Ramme will serue to blesome fiftie Ewes The time most fit to couple and put them together is about the Winter Solstice which is in the moneth of Nouember to the end that the Ewe which goeth with Lambe fiue moneths may Lambe in the Spring in which time she shall find the grasse beginning to spring and so shall returne home with her Vdder well filled to suffice for the feeding oâ— her yong which will be growne to good perfection by Easter at which time the Butchers will be readie to buy them Furthermore for some daies before that the Ramme and the Ewe be coupled together you must giue them to drinke salt water so the Ewe will hold better and the Ramme will be the more lustie but after that the Ewe is with Lambe you must not let her drinke anie such water because it would cause her to Lambe before her time If the Farmer desire to haue manie Weather Lambes it will be good according to the counsell of Aristotle to obserue and spie out a drie time when the Northerne wind bloweth and then to cause the flock to feed drawing directly vpon the same wind and in that verie time and after that sort to make the Ewes take Ramme but and if he would haue manie Ewe Lambes he â—ust draw them to feed vpon a Southerne wind and so let the Rammes couer them When the Ewe is in Lambing care shall be had to helpe her if need require drawing the whole Lambe out of her bodie if it lie ouerthwart and cannot come forth For this poore Beast is pained in Lambing as Women be in bearing of their children and oftentimes being void of reason shee trauaileth with much greater paines The Lâ—mbe being come forth it must be lifted vp and holden right and afterward put to the teats of the Ewe thereby to vse it to sucke the damme and yet not so forthwith but that there be some of her formost milke drawne out first which otherwise might hurt the Lambe Afterward it shall be shut vp with the damme for the two first daies after that it is lambed to the end she may keepe it the warmer and it may the better learne to know her In the meane time care must be had to feed the Ewe with the best Hay that may be found and with a little â—â—anne and Salt amongst to keepe her in a house verie fast and sure and not to suffer her to goe forth of three or foure daies to carrie her water to drinke a little warme and wherein is mixed a little of the flower of Millet and of Salt to draw from her her first milke because it is not good And so soone as her Lambe shall begin to know her she may be let loose to goe feed in the fields and to keepe the Lambe fast in a warme and darke house vntill such time as it begin to play the wanton out of which house it shall be let loose morning and euening to sucke the damme at her comming home and going to the fields And after that it shall be growne a little stronger you shall giue it within house some Bran or verie small Hay and that the best that is to be gotten to keepe it occupied with all the time that the damme is in field The wise Shepheard will not keepe for to store his flock anie other Lambes than such as are the grossest most corpulent strong and which will well be able to hold out Winter and as for the rest he will learne them the way to the Towne to seekes new Master He will be alwaies sure to keepe a good round number to vphold and renew the losses that may fall by death or by sicknesse The wise Shepheard will not geld his Lambes till they be betwixt fiue and six moneths old and for to geld them he shall vse the meanes set downe in the gelding of Calues In Winter hee shall fodder them with the best sheaues of Corne in the Barne and he shall rake together the scatterings which they make from time to time which after will serue for Lâ—tter for the Kine and Horse For want of Corne-sheaues he may fodder them with the greene boughs or leaues of Elmes or else of the Ash tree gathered in their season or with Autumne Hay or the after-crop The tree called Cytisus is good for them if it may be found in this cold Countrey and being a thing so much desired and sought after of the Goats as they who by the vse thereof are made fruitfull in milke so likewise is the Fetch notwithstanding the straw of Pulse will be necessarie for them when they cannot haue anie other thing but that all other manner of Fodder is gone and not to be come by As concerning the time when they are to be led forth to feeding in Winter Autumne and Spring time you shall keepe them close in the morning and you shal not carrie them to the fields vntil the day haue taken the frost away from off the ground for at these times the frozen grasse doth beget in them a rhewme and heauinesse of the head and looseneth their bellies In Summer he shall carrie his flocke to the fresh pasture by the point of day when as the tender grasse is couered with the dew and toward noone he shall looke out either vaults and hollow places of the earth or else the couert and shadow of some thicket to keepe his Cattell from the heat of the Sunne or else some old Oke stretching forth his boughes or the Forests and placeâ— of tall Timber trees which giue a shadow And in as much as this Beast is verie tender aboue the head and is greatly offended by the Sunne he shall be carefull in Summer during the great heat to obserue when the Canicular daies begin that so before noone-tide he may draw his flocke to feed vpon the West and after noone vpon the East For this is a thing of great moment that the head of the Sheepe which are feeding be turned contrarie to the Sunne which oftentimes hutteth that kind of Cattell at such time as the Canicular daies come in In cold and moist weather as in Winter and Spring time he shall water them only once a day but in Summer twice that is to say foure houres after Sunne rise and at night after the heat is rebated and well
by nature are sowen in March and are planted farre â—ithin the yeare and couet to be oft watered When you see the leaues of Coleworts waxe bleake and pale or yellow it is a â—igne that it needeth water and you must oftentimes take from them their yellow â—â—aues as also those which are eaten thorough or rotten or dried for this would make them die If you would haue Coleworts of a good tast and pleasant take away their first â—eaues for those which come after will haue a better tast and more pleasant sauour than the first Red Coleworts grow naturally of the aboundance of dung or for that they are watered with the Lees of Wine or by being planted in a place where they are heaâ—ed continually with the heat and burning of the Sunne Doe not at any time gather or at the least vse the tops and edges of the curled Romane Colewort neither yet of any other but the rest of the leafe downe toward the stalke All sorts of Coleworts may be planted at any times prouided it be not too hot or too cold and when you plant them breake their root for feare it be not doubled againe or turned vpside-downe in the earth and that you put it not so farre in as 〈◊〉 there be nothing of the top left aboue Some men vse to water Coleworts with Salt-water to make them the more 〈◊〉 and some doe cast and sow Salt-peter amongst them vpon the vpper face of the earth or else small ashes sifted to keepe them from Locusts Palmar-vvoâ—mes 〈◊〉 and other vermine Aboue all things the Colewort may not be 〈◊〉 neere vnto the Vâ—ne nor the Vine neere vnto the Colewort for there is such 〈…〉 betwixt these two plants that being both of them planted in one ground 〈◊〉 they become to some growth they turne and grow one from another 〈…〉 will they prosper and beare fruit so well And admit it to be true which is 〈◊〉 namely that if a man doe mingle vvine be it neuer so little in the pot where Coleworts are boyling that then the Coleworts will leaue boyling by and by and 〈◊〉 boyle any more but loose their colour Likewise such as are disposed to drink 〈◊〉 wine and not to be drunke with it must eat some raw Coleworts aforehand as 〈◊〉 Almaâ—gnes are wont to doe when they meane to quaffe you off a whole pot 〈◊〉 and to ouercome â—uch as with whom they striue in drinking The 〈◊〉 also may not be planted neere vnto Organy Rue and Sow-bread for being 〈…〉 sowen neere vnto these hearbes it thriueth not at all and againe it infecteth his neighbours with some of his ill qualities The carefull Gardener must neuer abide to haue in his Garden so much as 〈◊〉 rotten cole not yet water his hearbes with the water wherein Coleworts haue 〈◊〉 steept or boyled for both the one and the other doth cause his neighbour hearbs 〈◊〉 haue an ill tast and sauour A good huswife will haue Coleworts in her garden at all times for the reliefe 〈◊〉 her familie for besides food she may comfort her people with them in the time 〈◊〉 sicknesse As thus the first decoction especially of red Coleworts with Butter of Oyle without Salt doth loosen the bellie ripen the cough and maketh the voice beâ—â—ter and if vnto this broath you put some Sugar it will be singular for such as arâ— short winded the juice also of Coleworts is good for these diseases if you put Sugaâ— to it the seed of Coleworts in broath or in powder is good against the Woâ—men 〈◊〉 liâ—â—le children Coleworts boyled in two or three waters doe stay the laske Coleworts boyled and sprinkled with Long-pepper and eaten with the broth 〈◊〉 great store of milke in nurses the juice of Coleworts drunke doth expell and kill 〈◊〉 poyson of Toad-stooles the pith of the Colewort boyled with fat and 〈◊〉 honie is singular for such as are short breathed to vse in manner of a lotion To 〈…〉 the Colewort is good for all things whereof the Romans when time was 〈◊〉 such account as that hauing expelled all other physicke out of Româ— for the space 〈◊〉 an hundred and fiftie yeares they vsed no other physicke but Coleworts in all manner of diseases The Lee made with the ashes of Coleworts is good to wash the head The breasts fomented with the decoction of Coleworts increaseth the milke of nâ—â—ses The ashes of Coleworts mixt with the white of an egge doth heale burningâ— Cataplasines made of boyled Coleworts and mingled with the lees of vinegar 〈◊〉 yolkes of raw egges and a little cleere vinegar of Roses all well beaten and 〈◊〉 together is a singular medicine presently to take away the paines comming 〈◊〉 rheume There is nothing better to make cleane a pot all ouergrowne with 〈◊〉 wherein â—lesh hath been accustomed to be boyled and water to be heated as 〈◊〉 pot brasse pot or such like and which cannot by any other meanes be 〈◊〉 scoured than to boyle Coleworts in it CHAP. XII Of Lettuce SOw your Lettuce as thicke as the Colewort in a moist ground well dunged â—at light and easie to turne ouer it must be specially in March for it cannot well endure much heat or much cold Notwithstanding if you will sow it in September yea at all times make choyce of sunâ—e 〈◊〉 warme places and such as are well stored of dung well rotted notwithstanding 〈◊〉 it will wax hard with Winter and may continue some time being planted again 〈◊〉 must be watered once in euerie two or three daies if the weather be not dropping 〈◊〉 moist And in the sowing of it you must water it for feare that the heat of the 〈◊〉 should cast out the seed it putteth forth of the earth the fiftieth day after it is 〈◊〉 Being growne aboue the bed the height of foure or fiue leaues you must 〈◊〉 it with your hand but neuer with any rake and set it againe in a fat ground and â—â—ood distance one from another and couer the roots and shankes with cows goats 〈◊〉 sheepes dung for so they will be of a better tast and water them at the foot but it 〈◊〉 not be when it is either verie hot or verie cold Some doe nourish foure sorts of Lettuces here vvith vs in France not differing 〈◊〉 from another in vertue but in tast somewhat more or lesse pleasant that is to say 〈◊〉 curled the headed cabbaged or vvhite the common and the little and small 〈◊〉 Men vse not to plant the small or common lettuce but the great one which 〈◊〉 be curled and that which will cabbage otherwise called the Romane Lettuce â—hich hath a vvhite seed and a greater than the other and is of a sweeter relish espeâ—â—ally if his first stalke be cut away which it putteth forth after it hath beene planted 〈◊〉 second time for the first stalke hauing in it verie much milke doth easily become 〈◊〉 by the heat of the
there is no need of any other labour but keeping of it cleane from hurtfull weeds vntill such time as the said Madder be readie to be gathered in September for to take the seed of it The choyce of the roots which you intend to set and plant must be out of the countrie of high Prouence being more Easterly and coole and as for the sight and tast of them they must be more yellow thicke and stringed comming neere vnto the colour of the true Prouence Orange-tree verie bitter in tast and in seething for the triall of it more red and full of juice that is to say not so drie and withered The time to plant is from March be ended vnto mid-May and as for the best and most profit to be expected from it it is not to be attained or come by till after the two first yeares after the first planting of it and withall you must make a sure defence about your ground against the comming in of cattell for there can no greater hurt happen vnto it In Italie they vse not to take vp the roots of Madder till after they haue continued ten yeares in the ground either set or sowne but they cut the boughes of it euerie yeare to haue the seed and after they couer the roots one after another laying two fingers depth of earth vpon euerie one the measure bâ—ing â—â—ken from his chiefe and principall to the end the frost may not hurt them and that so the roots may grow the thicker after the eight or tenth yeare they pull vp the roots drying them in the Sunne and afterward when they would grind or presse them they doe further drie them in a great Ouen made for the purpose and so presse them vnder a Mill-stone and this is called the fine Madder Thus they haue found by expâ—â—ence that looke how much the longer they delay the gathering of the root so much the more Madder haue they euerie yeare and that fine which is more than if they should take vp the roots euerie yeare You may both sow it and plant it in the samâ— place where you haue taken it vp or which is better sow that place for the nexâ— two or three yeares following with wheat because it will beare verie faire and great store thereof in as much as the field wherein Madder hath beene sowne is â—ade much fairer and better thereby as whereof it may be said this ground hath rested it selfe seeing the root hath done nothing but brought forth boughs for seed and that the leaues falling from them doe as much feed the ground as the ground doth the roots and boughes But Autumne being come and when you see that the hearbe beginneth to lookâ— yellow and to loose his naturall colour you shall draw it out or pull it vp with the spade or pickaxe and shall strip the roots from their leaues which you shall cast vpon small heapes to drie for the space of three or foure daies if the weather be such as it should or else sixe or eight daies in a rainie and moist weather then you shal cauâ—â— them to be taken vp dusted and scraped that so they may haue none of their haiâ—ie strings at them and when they are thus made cleane you shall keepe them whole or ground into powder either grosse and great or more fine and small either for your owne vse or for the sale Madder is in this one thing much to be maruelled at in that it colourâ—â—h his vrine that shall but hold it in his hands and which is more it maketh the bones and flesh of those cattell red which haue beene fed with it some certaine time some say that the powder of it is so penetratiue and so taketh vp the nosâ—hrills as that it inâ—â—nimeth and killeth many in a few yeares The decoction procureth vâ—ine and thâ— termes of women and coloureth egges red that shall be boyled with it The 〈◊〉 because they are rough and stiffe are good to scowre brasse vessell CHAP. LVI Of Woad AS concerning Woad it is tilled in a field and requireth much labour 〈◊〉 as the Nauets or Turneps though there be no part of it in request but the vppermost and that which is furthest off from flowers and stalkes it doth not feare frost raine or extraordinarie cold Indeed it doth not craue any long rested fat ground but a strong ground and such as may be said to be in good plight rather than an indifferent and light it groweth better also in groundâ— which haue layed fallow three or foure yeares before or which haue beene Medoâ—ground two yeares before than in grounds which haue beene well tilled which 〈◊〉 cleane contrarie vnto Madder which craueth as much helpe as the ground oppointed for wheat or vines yea and it craueth the rest of soyle and set from one yeare to one for otherwise the roots when they are set doe degenerate oftentimes and miâ—â—â—rie loosing their force and goodnesse And whereas Madder doth fat the groâ—â—d Woad doth make it leane and therefore it must not be sowne in a leane groâ—â—d where it euermore groweth but little and where it proueth almost nothing woâ—â—â— but rather in a ground that is well manured before it be sowne as also renewed wiâ—â— dung when it is to be sowne But the best approued ground of all other to sow woad in is that which hath laine long swarth and hath seldome beene broken vp 〈◊〉 wherein you are to obserue that in the ploughing vp of such grounds you must turne vp a great and a deepe furrow laying them broad and flat 〈…〉 that the seed may be throughly well couered and that the swatth rotting vnderneath and above the same may be as a warme and comfortable meanure to make it flourish and increase Being sowne of seed it must be diligently harrowed to the end it may be wel couered and incorporate with the earth and when the planes haue put forth their leaues the height of two fingers you must weed and digge it about mid-Aprill or somewhat later according as the time hath beene faire or rainie then shortly afterward you must gather the leaues and they being gathâ—red you must weed and diggâ— the feet of the said roots 〈◊〉 left voyd of their leaues and this must be continued â—uerie moneth that is to say Iune Iulie August and Sepâ—â—mber in such sort that 〈◊〉 as the leaues are gathered from foot to foot fiue times so they must be digged 〈◊〉 the earth cast as oft and that so soone as the gathering of the leaues is past and this labour of digging is ordinarily to be seuen â—â—mes gone ouer that is to say the fiâ—e times now spoken of and the two first which are before any gathering of the leaues doe fall The manner of gathering them is in this soâ—t When the leaues begin to be coloured about the edges and not in the middest you must take them from plant to plant in your hand and breake them off in such manner from the
sweet smels CHAP. LXXXVIII Of the gouerning of Silke-wormes THe â—arefull Huswife so soone as the Spring draweth neere and that she shall see that the Mulberrie-tree beginneth to bud shall make in readinesse egges of Wormes which shee hath kept all the Winter before to be brooded and sit vpon And if shee see that the Mulberrie-tree is â—â—ow to bud shee shall lay fresh dung vnto the rootes thereof during the new Moone of March thereby to bring it forward for otherwise for lack of theleaves of the Mulberrie-tree if it should come to passe that her Wormes should be hatched or bred she should be constrained for their food to haue recourse to the heart of the Thorne Elme leaues the tender branches of Nettles and others And as concerning making of choice of such Wormes as are to be breeders you must take the seed which is but a yeare old and which being bathed in Wine falleth to the bottome and floteth not aboue and withall hath the markes which shall be spoken of hereafter The time of brooding them is the fifteenth or twentieth of Aprill from the fourth vnto the tenth day of the Moone but neuer in the decrease for wrapping their silke round about it they wâ—ll bring it forth the fourth â—ay at such time as they are strong in such sort as that their ends and huskes will bee greater harder and more finely haired than anie other that are bred at another time for those which are bred in the decrease of the Moone are always feeble and yeeld no profit The meanes to make them breed is after that you haue watered and bathed them with white Wine rather than warme water to lay them neere the fire vntill they be a little warmed then to lay them betwixt two pillowes stuffed with feathers and made likewise somewhat warme or betwixt the breasts of women prouided that they haue not their termes at that time and so aâ— the Wormes doe breed to take them away with Mulberrie-tree leaues making choice of those which are most tender and then to lay them vpon boords or papers that haue beene rubbed ouer with Wormewood or Sothernewood or some such like hearbe When they are once bred they shall haue the leaues oâ— Mulberrie-trees giuen them euening and morning encreasing them euerie day as the Wormes shall grow greater and greater vnto the fourth change for thâ—â— also they will stand in need to be fed at noone because they eate more at that time than they were wont but you must bee admonished that when they 〈◊〉 or change you must giue them somewhat sparingly because as then they are weake and feeble And in anie case let not the leaues be rotten moist or wet but if it should fall out that they should be moist then you must wipe thâ—â— throughly with cleane Linnens and drie them at the fire They must also be gathered of Mulberrie-trees planted vpon the toppes of hills and standing open vpon the Sunne and of old trees rather than of young ones and such as beare a fruit somewhat red and blacke and not to gather the said leaues in the morning so long as they are wet with the dâ—aw or other thing vntill the Sunne haue gone ouer them and further to picke the bad from the good before you giue them vnto the Wormes to â—ate These little beasts may not be touched with your hands but as little as may be for the more they are handled the more they are hindered thereby because they are verie exceeding tender and daintie especially at such time as they doe cast or change And yet notwithstanding they must bee kept verie cleane and neat and all their little dung taken from them euerie three daies The place must likewise be perfumed with Frankincense Garlicke Onions Larde or broyled Sawsages that you may minister matter of pleasure vnto these little creatures and againe if they be weake and sicke these smells refresh and recouer them againe They must also be marked whether they sleepe or no for seeing they are wont to sleepe foure times especially when the cast and change if it happen that anie of them be still eating and sleepe not they must be put apart without hauing anie meat to eat that so they may fall to sleeping for else they would all burst and it is as true that if they be breeding of young they must be soberly dieted After that they haue cast and changed the fourth time within three daies after they will eat better than euer they did vntill such time as their bodies begin to shine and that they make manifold shew of the silke thread that is in their bellies which if it be to come white from them their head is as if it were siluer if that it be to come yellow from them their heads beare the colour of gold if greene or Orange colour their heads fore-tell the same Thus they feeling themselues well filled and fedde they seeke out some resting place for the purpose to fasten themselues vnto and there orderly to auoid their silke euerie one shuâ—ting vp himselfe in his scale or huske which they make and build vp in two daies or a little more Then you must be carefull to haue in readinesse for them round about the Tables good store of Broome Brakes branches of Vines Oake-tree boughes Chesnut-tree boughes and other things and withall let them be verie drie for moisture is their enemie and then not to giue them ouer vntill they be all fastened and hanged vpon these branches there to make their worke whereof they be so eager as that they grow madde â—â—till they be packed vp in their little clewes and bottomes and that in such sort as that a man would thinke that they would be stiâ—eled then they must haue some helpe and order must be taken that they may not fall downe vpon the earth and if they doe fall to put them vp againe into some place for the purpose They haue finished their worke in two or three dayes more or lesse and as the weather groweth hot or cold at that time And as it is easie to perceiue when they are all 〈◊〉 worke so they make it to be heard verie well when they cease and make an end of their labour They dwell thus and abide altogether for the most part in their huskes twentie dayes more or lesse according vnto the tendernesse softnesse or hardnesse of their bottomes of silke As concerning the choice of their huskes or â—ods the Orange coloured are best and not the yellow and least of all the white or greene and as concerning the taking of the single or of the double the single â—â—e more worth because that the male and the female are within the double which â—emale layeth her egges no sooner in the morning than shee coupleth with the male againe The scales or huskes being thus chosen those which are good for encreasâ— must be put into a place where no dust is and well couered the double
the grasse in the vvithering shrinketh away and falls to nothing but a soft fuzzie and vnwholesome substance which no cattell will eat and also to let it stand till it be ripe or that it haue shed it seed is as ill husbandrie for then vvill the juice be too much dried out of the stalke and that substance which should giue nourishment to your cattell will be lost Therefore to know when your grasse is truely fit to be cut you shall looke carefully vpon it and vvhen you see the tops thereof looke browne and the cocke heads bells or bottells which beare the seeds not stand vpright or looke direct into the heauens but bend their heads downeward as looking backe into the earth then you may be certainely assured it is a fit and good time to cut it for the earth hath giuen it all the due it ought to haue and this will be if it be in a most fertile and verie rich soyle such as may be cut twice in the yeare at the beginning of Iune or about a vveeke before Midsommer But if it be in a reasonable ground which hath the title of a good earth onely then it will be about the translation of S. Thomas which is the third of Iulie but if the ground be extreame cold moist and barren then it vvill be after Lammasse and sometimes in the middest of September Now for the generall cutting or mowing of Haye it would euer be done in the new of the Moone and at such time as the vveather by all conjecstures is cleare constant and likely to continue faire As soone as your Haye is mowne if there be plentie of grasse and that you see it lye thicke in the swathes so as the Ayre or Sunne cannot passe freely through it then you shall cause certaine with forkes to follow the â—ythes and as they mow it so to cast it abroad thin whereby the Sunne may vvither it and this is called tedding of hay The next day after the dew is taken from the ground you shall turne it and let it vvither on the other side then handling it and finding it to your feeling fully drie the next day you shall with â—orkes and rakes draw it together in great quantitie into long rows which rows you must draw in that way which the wind blowes most least drawing it in the contrarie way the vvind scatter it abroad and loose both your labour and profit for these rowes are called Wind-rowes and as soone as it is thus gathered together you shall forthwith thrust the haye close vp together and make those Wind-rowes into good bigge handsome cockes sharpe at the top and broad at the bottome such as six or seuen of them may make a Waine-load for howsoeuer sloth or weakenesse may say that little cockes because they aske little labour are best yet it is certaine that the great cockes are much better and keepe the haye safer from vvet if any shal fall and also makes it sweat and haye a great deale more kindly in these cockes you shal let your haye stand a day at least if more it is not amisse and then breake them open againe and let them ley in the Sunne till it haue dried vp all the sweat and moisture that was in them vvhich done you shall load it according to the maner of the soyle wherein you liue and so carrie it to the barne or elswhere according to your pleasure Now this manner of making of haye you must vnderstand is for such as is most fine cleane and the purest grasse without vveeds stumpes thicke leaues or other grosse substances for if you find your grasse to be of that rough nature as for the most part all your vvood-land-grasse is or that it is much intermixt with burnet peny-grasse and other thicke leafed weeds then you shall giue it double withering and after you haue mowed it and tedded it you shall turne it twice or thrice ere you cocke it then being put into drie cocke you shall breake it open in the morning and make it vp into drie cocke againe at night three or foure daies together before you load it and be sure that in the cocke it take a verie good sweat and then carrie it home and stacke it vp as shall please you best But if your ground be extreame barren cold moist and full of verie sowre and stubborne grasse and of that also but little plentie being thin short and hard in the cutting then you shall not need to ted that hay at all but in steed of that labour you shall as it is mowne with your forke make it into thicke little grasse-cockes as bigge as prettie little moale-hills the reason whereof is this That such sowre and harsh grasse being exceeding slow of growth must necessarilie be verie late in the yeare before it can be ripe or readie to be cut whereby wanting the kindlie heat and strength of the Sunne â—t cannot but with great difficultie vvither vvell vvherefore you must adde vnto it all the art which you may to bring it to good haye which this casting it into little heapes and cockes will doe for the grasse so layed together will heat of it selfe and then being often turned and tost that the ayre may goe through it and drie it and then made into cockes againe euerie day bigger and bigger vvill in the end by it owne heat come to as kindly hay as if it had the full benefit of the Sunne And herein you shall obserue that as at first you make them into small cockes so the second day you shall make them into bigger by putting two or three of those cockes into one and the next day you shall put two or three of those bigger cockes into one euerie day increasing the bignesse of the cockes as you find them to vvither till you bring them to so great cockes that three or foure of them will make a Waine-load and in that estate you shall let them stand foure or fiue daies before you load them but vvhilest they are in the little cockes you shall breake them open once or twice a day at least according to the fairenesse of the vveather for you must vnderstand that whilest they are in grasse or vnwithered cockes if you let them lie too long the grasse will turne yellow and begin to putrifie vvhich often stirring vvill preuent Lastly touching the making of hay you must vnderstand that the greatest enemie it hath is wet or raine and therefore you must be carefull to make it vp in the driest and fairest weather you can and if any raine shall happen to fall on it not to turne it till the vpper side be drie for to turne the wet grasse to the wet earth is the readie way to make it rot Now to speake a little touching the choyce and vse of your haye you shall vnderstand that the haye which is most long loggie and of greatest burthen is best for horses being verie drie