Interposition of the Earth's Shadow between her and the Sun-beams for rising like a Pyramid it reaches her opacous part and she being a Body of herself without Light can give no Reflection of the Sun-beams till passing on she recovers the refreshing of its Light And though many from these Contingencies make strange Prognosticks yet proceeding from Natural Causes I think they signifie no great matter as to Transactions on the Globe of the Earth Of Whirlwinds A Whirlwind is a Wind bursting out of a Cloud breaking or rowling round about often overthrowing that which standeth in its way by reason of its innate Violence carrying things not exceeding ponderous aloft with it in the Air. The Matter of a Whirlwind is not much differing from the Matter of Storm and Lightning that is an Exhalation hot and dry breaking out of a Cloud in divers parts of it which occasions the blowing about also it causes the Air to imbody against its Violence and so breaking through it comes with the greater Force Of the Rainbow THE Ground or Reason of the Rainbow is only the Sun's Reflection on a hollow Cloud which the Edge being repelled and beaten back against the Sun from thence ariseth the so great Variety of Colours by reason of the mixture of Clouds Air and Fiery Light together Thunder and Lightning are caused when hot and dry Vapours mixt with Moisture are exhaled up into the middle Region and there exhaled into the Body of a Cloud These two Contraries not agreeing together break forth with great Violence so that the Fire and Water break forth of the Clouds making a roaring Noise which we call Thunder and the Fire lâ—ghting the Thunder is first made but the Lightning first seen in regard the Sight is quicker than the Hearing Which to prove observe at some distance when a Man is cleaving of â—locks or a Carpenter hewing a Log and you shall see the Fall of the Beetle or Ax some little Distance of Time before you hear the Noise of the Blow Now of Lightning there are many sorts that which is dry burneth not at all but dissipateth and diâ—perseth itself Likewise the moist burneth not but blasts and changeth the Colour But the clear is of a strange Property for it melteth the Sword and singeth not the Scabbard it draweth Vessels dry without hurt to the Vessels Some rich Misers have had their Silver melted in their Bags or Purses and yet neither Bag nor Purse hurt nay not so much as the Wax that sealed the Bag stirred It breaketh the Bones and hurteth not the Flesh and killeth the Child in the Mother's Womb not hurting of the Mother What great Cause have we then to pray as it is in the Litany From Thunder and Lightning good Lord deliver us Sundry things are not hurt by the Lightning it entereth not above five Foot into the Earth it hurteth not the Lawrel-tree Such are freed as are shadowed with the Skins of Seals or Sea-Calves The Eagle likewise is Lightning free Pliny saith Scithia by reason of Cold and Aegypt by reason of Heat are seldom molested with Lightning Of the Nature and Properties of the Seven Planets SAturn the highest of the Seven being well affected is grave with Authority studious of great Matters a Lover of Secrets full of Labour and Toil covetous and studious for his own Benefit unconstant in his Word solitary and a Lover of Husbandry a great Scraper together of Wealth being ill affected he is fearful sad envious superstitious deceitful sloathful thoughtful of base things malignant dull and a great Liar Jupiter the only Signifier being well affected stirreth up Men to Honesty maketh them religious just heroick faithful and magnificent famous Governours grave and wise studious in their Business careful of their own liberal upon discreet occasions without Dissimulation but being ill affected unfortunate and weak he is given to Pride and Prodigality Mars well affected is valiant strong unfearful desirous of Revenge impatient of Wrong generous fit for Government boasting and not regarding Riches being contrarily affected he is unjust cruel a Tyrant proud rash turbulent a Blood-shedder and an Author of all Dissentions and Discords The most noble Planet is Sol being well affected signifieth Kings Princes Poâ—entates he is heroick industrious provident and ambitious delighting in Wealth valiant secret quiet and honest He giveth long Life and a sprightful Body a judicious Mind he giveth Honours Dignity and Riches and which is most of all he maketh Men famous and desirous of Honour Venus being fortunately affected maketh one beautiful pleasant fair-spoken delighting in gorgeous Apparel eloquent pitiful apt for to please sociable excelling in Musick impatient reserved but being ill affected she is libidinous a Lover of Lovers idle jealous sluggish regardless of Fame fearful and prone to all Evil. Mercury well seated maketh one wise studious and apt to all Learning cunning subtile and wary skilful in Poetry Geometry and the Mathematicks given to Law desirous of Differences and Eloquence in Disputation but being unfortunate he is malicious subtâ—le crafty forsworn and a desperate Liar Luna or the Moon causeth one to be unstable faint-hearted fearful a Vagabond and prodigal she delighteth in the Study of Romances to walk from place to place to travel far Countries and to plant Herbs and Trees she also signifieth Messengers Sea-men Ladies Fishers and all such as be in continual Motion The Vnfortunate and Fatal Days in the Year THE ancient Astronomers have observed certain Days in every Month to be held fatal and unfortunate in which they accounted it ominous to begin or undertake any Affairs which Days are these January 1 2 4 5 10 15 17 19. February 8 10 and 17. March 15 16 and 21. April 16 and 21. May 7 11 and 20. June 4 and 7. July 15 and 20. August 19 and 20. September 6 and 7. October 5. November 15 and 19. December 6 7 and 9. Furthermore they will have in the Change of every Moon two unfortunate Days in which they recount whatsoever thing is begun late or ever done it shall come to no good In January the 3 and 4 Days of the New Moon In February the 5 and 7. In April the 5 and 9. In March the 6 and 7. In May the 8 and 9. In June the 5 and 15. In July the 3 and 13. In August the 8 and 13. In September the 8 and 13. In October the 5 and 12. In November the 5 and 9. In December the 3 and 13. Again there are some that prick out of the whole Year six most unfortunate Days above all other wherein they advise no Man for to bleed or take any Drink because the Effects of the Constellations work mightily to Death and in other Respects that they might be unfortunate They are January the 3d April the 30th July the 1st August the 1st October the 2d and December the 31st Moreover there are certain unfortunate Days in the Year call'd Dog-Days which are accounted very prejudicial to
Heat and Vigour yet Excess imbitters and utterly wasts the Strength of it eating and spoiling the Roots of Grass Trees or any thing of natural Growth and therefore the salt-Salt-water being drawn off and stayed from any more flowing in the Ground by lying low is capable of having fresh Water brought upon it from higher places which lying sometime will take out the Saltness of the Earth the other left behind it to a great degree it need not exceed above four or six Inches on the Surface if the Land be level let it lie two or three days and then by the help of Ditches or Sluces drain it away or by the help of Engins which I shall have particular occasion to speak of it may be thrown off into convenient places as over the Banks into the Sea if it be near or on other waste Ground where it may dry up and between whiles flow it often till the fresh Water has in a great measure taken the Saltness out of the Earth The Ground being drained and pretty dry about the latter end of March plough it up as deep as well you can turn up a large Furrow and laying it into Lands raise them up as much as you can lay them round and observe if they be simple or mixed if it be Sand whether red or brown then take such clear Earth as is free from the Washings of the Salt Water being of a small and mean Stiffness and Richness digged out of some Pits or Banks where the least Miss or Spoil may be made lay it in little Heaps and spread it over the Land and when dry clot it and break it as finely as possible and this Earth will suck and draw the Salt into it taking off much of the evil quality in the sandy Ground and also stiffning the Sand makes it apt for Fruitfulness If this Ground damaged by Salt Water be rough hard gravelly Earth then spread in like manner the best and richest Clay that can be had or for want of that blue Marle which will not only suck up the Saltness but cool and much refresh the Ground adding new Nourishment whereby the Seed that is cast in will be fed and nourished But if the spoiled Earth be a tough stiff Clay though seldom found so near the Overflowings of Salt Water cover it over with the finest fresh Sand which will separate the Sand from the Clay and take away the naughty Stiffness of it that will otherwise oppose the rising of the tender Sprouts it will also give a gentle Warmth and abate the Coldness of the Clay and make it bring forth plentifully If it be a mixed Earth observe whether it be binding or loose if the former Sand it as before if the latter spread it with the richest Clay you can get When you have thus ordered your Land plough it a second time before Midsummer so that the new-layed Earth may be well mixed with the old then take the Mud of dried bottoms of Lakes Ponds or Ditches of Waters that were fresh or Woollen Rags chopped small or with both together cover it over lightly then immediately plough it Land after Land lest by long lying the Sun attracts the strength out of the Manure then let it rest till Michaelmas and so give it the last ploughing and sow it with the hardest and largest Wheat and for this Land that which is called the White Pollard is the best and if the Salt Water be kept out you will have a very good Crop the second Year sow it with very good Hemp-seed and it will prove very gainful the next Year lay it flat for Oats and then lay it down and it will prove good Meadow or Pasture However the first Year after laying down let Sheep graze on it whose cropping it and Dung will fertilize it and then you may use it as you please either keep it for Grazing for it will produce extraordinary good Grass or for Meadow and in a few Years you may plough it again to produce good Corn especially Wheat for by this time the Saltness is very much taken out of it And thus you may reduce all sorts of Ground overflowed by Salt Water where there are no Salt Water Springs to feed and float it for if there be and they cannot be drained turned away or otherwise remedied your Labour is lost Where fresh Water cannot be brought on these Grounds to float them add to your former Manure Moorish Earth the Soil of Streets and High-ways the Earth dug up where Dunghils have lain a considerable time Rubbish and Sweepings of the House Barns or Yard and having spread them on the Land take a large Hawthorn-bush rough and prickly plash other Bushes and fasten to it To make it lie flat and pressing on the Ground tye on the upper part of it wooden Rowlers and lay other Weights on it to fasten it to the Horses Drawing-geer by the Stem or great Stalk and draw it over the Ground in the nature of a Harrow to break all the Clumpers and lay the Earth very smooth after every ploughing then sprinkle Soap-Ashes moderately on it and it will lose its Saltness in a little time and become good producing Ground either of Corn Meadow or Pasture CHAP. XVII Good Pasture and Meadow to be made of Barren Soil of any sort of Earth simple or mixed WAys of enriching the Earth are two-fold viz. By Water and Manure and for this use the lower the Ground lies so it be subject to Overflowings or much Wet it is the better and is sooner made good and brought to Profit Then consider what sort of Grass it naturally produces whether clean and entire or mixed with that of worser growth and of these the first is most promising and if the Growth be intermixed with Thistle Broom or the like or burthened with offensive Weeds grub and pluck them up by the Roots clearing the Ground of them as well as you can dry them mix them with Straw and burn them upon the Swarth of the Ground and spread the Ashes then fold your Sheep upon the Ground for several Nights that their Dung may strengthen it and their Feet trample up the Grass then scatter it over with good Hay-Seeds and go over them with a Rowler or beat them with a flat Shovel that they may be the better pressed into the Ground to take Root then over these scatter Hay or the Rotting of Hay under the Stacks or the Sweepings of the Barn or moist Bottoms of any Hay that has been good and is moist and of no other use then spread on your Manure as Horse-dung Man's Ordure or the Dung of any Beast and being thinned and the Clots well broken let it lie till the new Grass springs through it and the first Year do not graze it lest not having taken very good Root the Cattel tread it up but mow it while it come to Perfection And although the first Year it may prove short and coarse yet the second
to Pasture Meadow or Arable Ground for of this Land a vast deal in the Kingdom lies waste and turns to no Advantage unless to a very few and that inconsiderable but to do this it is not only taking away the Water from the Surface or over part of the Turf or Swarth for then might all Quagmires and Bogs be easily recovered nor is it taking off the Downfalls as the Fen-men call them for then that might be easily done and yet no perfect Draining for continuance no nor the Land-falls Land-floods nor great Waters from off the Ground nor doing all these in a way or usual customary manner that may deserve the right and proper Name of Effectual Draining You must then to do it go to the bottom of the Cause if you would perform the Cure and take away that which is the Source and feeds the Fen or Moor making it barren and useless by corrupt and unwholsom Waters and when that is done it may be properly said to be a Perfect Draining and not before yet the other is not to be discommended nor discouraged where they are already done or may be made hereafter but the Perfection is in reducing it to Soundness or Perfectness of Mould that the Wet may not follow the Plough or it only bearing course Grass in the Summer be overflowed in the Winter but this is well done whether the Earth is Sand Clay Gravel or mixed Earth when it returns to a perfect Swarth pure Turf producing the small Thistle Crowflower Clover and Honeysuckle then is the Quintessence of the Earth properly prepared and in feeding and corning they will naturally return to be the richest of all your Lands as appears by many already brought to this Perfection lying near Rivers and under the Level of the Sea and most of the Ground in Holland has been improved this way to a considerable enriching of those People by fat Pastures and good Arable Lands But waving some Objections that may be made to no purpose by such as are not desirous such publick Works should go forward because perhaps they have a Cow a Horse or a few Sheep to feed as Commoners which can graze sufficiently about the Edges of these overflowed Lands I shall come to the Point and give an Essay of this matter which well put in practice may turn to great Advantage Consider then that the greater the Overflowing is the heavier it lies on the Land and for the passing off these the Water-cuts and Works must be proportionable and the Labourers in it the more for this Work must be done speedily a little neglect setting it frequently a great way backwards if the Works be considerable and therefore going about this necessary Improvement raise such Banks on the outsides of the Fens as may keep out the Land-Floods coming from higher Grounds and Ditches to carry them away on the outside into some adjacent River or Water-course that carries them to the Sea or some convenient River by which means you may have nothing to do with any thing but the proper Water in the Fens then consider how to draw your middle Trench which is the main to the best Advantage that the Waters may pass from others into it Take notice of the Advantage of the Ground in all its Particulars as to its ascending and descending its Level and Hollow so that having truly cast every thing well in your Mind drain the Water off by Trenches or Engins that will cast it a pretty way in great abundance from the lower parts that lie beneath the Level also by the help of Men where they are to be had with Scoups and Buckets When a Driness appears on the Surface and it is visible yet there are some Springs search for them and when you have found them do in all respects as by the boggy Ground mentioned in the foregoing Chapter and as for the smaller Hollows if they dry not it matters not greatly if they have no Springs in them to cause an Overflowing in Winter for they will serve to Water and Bathe your Cattle in the Heat of Summer or produce a numerous Fry of Fish for storing other Ponds As likewise keep Game there to your Advantage by alluring the Wild-Ducks Geese and other Water-Fowl of which considerable Advantage may be made but be very careful after this that your outward Banks break not to let in the Land-Floods from the Hills or high Grounds If the Trenches are necessarily to be many endangering your Cattle falling into them you may fill the smaller that come from the Springs to the greater with Pebbles and Flint about two Foot laying them as light as you can and over them Flags Rushes and Turf and upon them Earth to the Level and the Water will find a Passage among the Stones as in a Vault CHAP. XXII Tools and Instruments proper and useful in the working part and order of Draining Land c. THE first thing necessary is a good Line about 32 Yards in length made of the best Water-wrought Hemp about double the thickness of Whipcord and a Hand-Reel to wind it on that you may draw your Works by it as near unto the Streightness of the Line as possible and by the Length you may measure your Work by the Rod or Pearch to know how it goes on You must also have an exact Water-level near or altogether 5 Foot in length which Instrument many have essayed and made some open with a Channel for the Water to run all along upon a three Inch Board with Sights true to the Water placed at each end each at a just Proportion from the VVater to direct the Level but it lies so open to the VVind and is so troublesom in removing that I approve not of it Then make one for the more easie Carriage and true Performance of this VVork to fold into another square Staff about 5 Foot or 5 and a half made of the best young seasoned Oak the Level or Barrel 4 Foot and a half which Barrel in the midst of it is to be planted into the top of the Staff and so much of the one part of the Staff and just half the length of the Barrel take away with a Rabuting-Plain or Moulding till both join together and with these Joints make one compleat streight Staff and formable only about a quarter of an Inch taper upwards from the bottom to the top that it may not be too heavy and the Sights are to be fixed into both ends of the Level-Barrel that so they may stand firm and hold VVater and yet become very little Annoyance either to Sight or Practice and in carrying it it is a streight Staff with a strong Pike in the bottom of it to stick into the Ground when they use it not and in Exercise being unfolded not much unlike a Surveyor's Cross-Staff The next useful thing in this VVork is a Trenching-Plough and Coulter whose particular Use is to cut the Trench on both sides with great
remain which will be in hard tough Earth subject to barrenness which the Rain cannot dissolve so that the Grain in vain may labour to get through them to crumble these then take a Clotting-Beetle made of sound Wood very hard after the form of a Carpenter's Mallet but with a much longer Handle and heavier Head and with it go over the Ground in a dry Season and dash them to pieces or to spread them the more you may take a flat Board much about two Inches in thickness and a Foot broad fastned to a strong Handle that on necessity you may use with the force of both your Hands in the manner of a flat Shovel CHAP. VII Of Weeding and Destroying the Weeds with Directions to Order the Corn in Sowing c. WEeds are very offensive and destructive to Corn in hindering its Growth and therefore having brought you to bestow your Corn in barren Ground it is but reasonable I should tell how to preserve it that it prosper to answer your Expectation When the Corn is sprung up about a foot above the Ground these sorts of Soil whose nature it is to produce Weeds will require your Industry and they must be taken out if Thistles or such as are great and offensive with Hooks or Nippers by cutting them off close by the Roots or rather pulling them up by the Roots if that by breaking the Ground will not drag up the Roots of the Corn with them The Nipper may be made with two long Pieces of hard Wood riveted to be opened like a Pair of Pincers with Saw-teeth closing into one another that they may take the surer and firmer hold without slipping and these may be much hindred in their Growth by Soweing about two Bushels of Bay-Salt to an Acre of Land as you do your Wheat after the Grain is Sowed which is also of so excellent a Nature in barren Lands that it heats them to a degree and makes what is Sowed prosper and multiply manifold As also will Steeping your Grain in sea-Sea-Water or being at too great a distance Brine especialâ—y so that you Sowe it presently after As for the Sand you sand Ground withal it must be Sea-Sand if possible to be gotten but if the Ground lie so Inland that it cannot be done without vast Trouble and Cost of Carriage more than the Advantage may be supposed to recompense dig up the saltest loosest Sand or Earth you can light on and make that supply its place the Saltness may be known by trying it in Water for a Quantity being steeped there if it make the Water brackish you may be assured it is proper for your use also Wood-Ashes Sea-coal-Ashes and Sutt are extraordinary Manurers of Land being scattered over them or ploughed in so that being wetted they diffuse their Quality of Heat to temporize with the Coldness of the E rth and cherish what is Sowed But as for Rye it must not be wetted for among all Grain it grows best with the least wet and will as the Country say drown in the Hopper in a Rainy Day yet where Salt Ashes Sâ—t or Sea Sand have been sprinkled and ploughed in it will prosper very well on barren Ground so Manured whereon you may Sowe Barley Oats Beans Peas Lupins Fetches c. As for Wheat the wetter it 's sowed the more firmly it sticks in the Earth takes Root and prospers CHAP. VIII To Dress and Manure barren Ground over-run with Goss Broom Furs Weeds c. relating to Ground dry and wet HAving given some Insight into the Improvement of barren Ground a thing exceeding necessary to be known in a great many parts of this Kingdom I shall proceed in it to the other Particulars and especially to the Filling and Dressing rough and barren Clays encumbred or over-run with Goss Broom and such-like things of Nature's Product which hinders Land by keeping it lean and out of Heart from being easily brought to produce any thing else Now I must suppose these kinds of Clayey Ground whether simple or mixed to lie a little lower than those before discoursed on not so subject to heat to burn up what grows on them in the scorching Summer nor to nipping Frosts to wither and blast in the Extremities of Winter yet these Grounds as they are will neither properly bear Corn nor Grass There is another sort of Ground not differing in barrenness to this viz. such as are infected with noysome Weeds which cause Diseases in the Cattel feeding there as likewise thick and overgrown with Broom for altho' these for Fuel Thatching or Covering of Out-Houses c. may be some advantage to the Husbandman it makes nothing near a Recompence for the loss of so much Ground as may be turned by a little Cost and Labour to good Improvement To destroy these Incumbrances cut them as near as possible may be to the Ground then make them up in Bundles as big as Bavins dry them first in the Sun and then carry them home and Stack them in a place where the Wet cannot fall upon them for if it do it will soon rot them then stub up all the Roots you can find in the Ground and lay them in little heaps to dry after which they will become good Fuel or burnt upon the Land and the Ashes scattered will much strengthen it when soaked in by the Rain or ploughed in the proper time for this is about the latter end of April and beginning of May. Thus having thoroughly cleared the Ground take the Refuse with some Roots well dried and pile them hollow pare up Roots of Grass and Earth and pile on them leaving only a Vent and then give Fire with Straw or Stubble and the Earth keeping in the Smoak and receiving it will as it were burn with the Roots and receive the Fatness and be very mellow This in some Countries is called burning of Bail and when it is well burnt and cooled with Shovels and Beetles break and disperse it over the Land and it will be a very good Dung or Manure then with a very long Plough breaking up the Ground and by broad deep Furrows lay it into Lands as large as you think the Nature of it will bear higher or flatter according to the like conveniency as it lies more or less subject to the Water or overflowing of Neighbouring Brooks Rivers or great Ditches or Waters occasioned from Showers descending from Hills or higher Grounds for these Inundations greatly hinder Fruitfulness by chilling or rotting the Corn or other Grain in the Ground when sowed so that if it spring up it comes to no advantage But first of those Grounds that lie not within the Danger of Overflowings by reason of their height and so of the rest in their Order But to the purpose The Bail burnt cast abroad and the Land broke up then if you can come by it Salt it with Sea-Sand after Lime it as has been directed or for want of Sea-Sand scatter as you do Grain Bay-Salt
it will be fine and very long and in great Plenty and once in twenty or more Years Dressing will continue it for good Meadow or Pasture if in dry Seasons you have Water to relieve it which may be gathered by bringing Springs or the violent Fallings of Rains into a Ditch on the other side of it or by any other Conveniency according to the Situation of the Ground on the ascending part to overflow it so long that it soak deeper than the Roots of the Grass to continue Moisture for the Nourishment of it a considerable time The best Season in general for watering Meadows is from the beginning of November to the end of April and the muddier or more troubled the Water is the better for then it brings a Soil upon the Ground and this is properly after hasty Showers and great Fluxes of Rain and you may make a Conveniency if you have many Fields lying together especially in a Descent to pen up the Water in one till very well soaked and then by a Sluce or breaking down of a Dam let it into the next and so by a small addition of Water transmit it to many This may be done likewise after Mowing in drowthy Weather or if you Graze the Land it may be done at any convenient time CHAP. XVIII Several Vseful Engins described for the Watering of Meadow Pasture c. THere is great Advantage to be found in watering of Lands on several occasions as the Nature of them or the Climate they lie in requires but then there is some Difficulty in doing it where the Conveniency of Rivers and Land-floods are wanting and without the help of Engins many times exceeding Toil and Labour is required which induces me to describe some of the most material And first The Persian Wheel so named from its Use and the great Advantage it brings to the Kingdom of Persia on this occasion This Wheel is made after the manner of an Undershot Mill viz. with a double Ring into which two Pins pass and on them the Floats are fastned which Floats are to be hollow and the half most remote from the Wheel holds the Water raken in at the open place about the middle of the back of the Float and as the Wheel turns so the Water is raised by degrees and tends towards the part of the Float that is next to the Wheel and as it surmounts the Receiver the Water empties into it one Float succeeding the other so that at one turning round of the Wheel 30 Gallons of Water may be delivered This Wheel ought to be about 15 Foot Diameter and the Floats at 18 Inches distance and so it will deliver the Water at about 10 11 or 12 Foot above the Stream it takes it from and may be carried four times round in a Minute so that in one Hour it will distribute about 120 Hogsheads of Water with 12 or 18 Inches penning or stopping but an ordinary Current of Water will very well water about 30 or 40 Acres of Land according as it may lie disposed to receive as to Level or Descent When you do this consider the Nature of your Land If it be a cold Clay too much Water injures it if light warm or sandy then a little Water greatly refreshes it It is also to be observed that this Motion well set a going is constant and will last some Years with little Charge of Repairing and the slower it moves the better it delivers the Water and a small Stream will carry it It may also be used in Draining of Lands if a Current can be made to carry the Wheel about and as the Land lies higher or lower so lesser or greater Wheels may be used and they will exceedingly superabound the Charge and Trouble by making of Grass grow in great Plenty where otherwise little or none would appear and by Troughs or Trenches the Water may be carried from one Ground to another a very great Distance if not hindred by steep Ascents There is another sort of an Engin used which is called a Wind Engin and may be used on still Waters where there is no Current to carry the Wheel about or a Dam cannot be conveniently made to force it and this serves indifferently for watering or drawing Several have been the Inventions of Ingenious Men to accomplish this some have designed it by Horizontal Windmils and by a Wheel with Scoops or Buckets fixed to Chains also by a Wheel carrying up the Water in Buckets fixed thereto and by the Swiftness of the Motion casting it a great way forcibly from it But that I most approve on as the best and least chargeable is the Vertical Sails like the ordinary Windmils only they are not so long though more in number placed in an Axis of a length proportionable to the length of the Veins the one end resting on the moveable hollow piece of Timber that is to move round over the Pump as you have occasion to turn the Reins the other resting on a Semicircle in which there are several Notches and Stays that it may be placed as you please So let the Wind stand any way yet by the Motion of the Semicircle you may have it at one end of the Veins or the other and let the Pump on which the one end of the Axis rests be placed over the place you are to draw your Water out of at the Nose or Mouth at such a height as is convenient to conveigh it into a Trough and this Pump may be made of a Diameter according to the strength of the Windmil and observe so to order the Bucket that it may always dip into the Level of the Water which prevents much Injury and Trouble to the Work This Pump may be round or square according to the smallness or largeness of it Let the Handles of the Pump extend in length to the Axis of the Windmil which must to receive and move the same be made crooked like the Axis of a Cutler's Grinding-stone or Dutch Spinning-wheel turned with the Foot or the end of the Axis of the Windmil may rest upon a Cylinder or Box made moveable on the top of the Pump with the crooked Neck or End within the Cylinder so that when it is turned any way the end of the Axis is perpendicular over the Pump And moreover you must take care that the Handle or Rod of your Bucket may turn Swivel-wise to answer the Shiftings of the Wind as the Sails are changed and these kind of Mills are of excellent use and to be made or manured at a small rate and are easily to be repaired when out of order or taken to pieces and removed from one place to another carrying off abundance of Water if kept in continual Motion which a scanty Wind will do CHAP. XIX Further Rules and Directions for Watering Meadow and Pasture for the Improving and Fertilizing of it HAving spoken of conveying Water to the Ground I now come to direct how it ought to be
Expedition To make this take a piece of tough VVillow Timber about the bigness of a Spades Stale somewhat streight only at the nether end it must look a little up with a Neck like a Foot to run on the Ground and just above the Neck must be placed a little Coulter to shear or cut the Ground first on one side the Trench and then on the other and where this Coulter is wedged in the Stale must be plated with Iron to hold it the firmer and having cast your Trench by Line then use this to cut out the sides of the Trench which it will do almost as fast as a Man can follow it cutting it out to the end by running along the Line and when one side is done place it to the other and do it in the same manner and this is called the plain Trenching-Plough But if you would have this done with more exactness then place in the Foot of the Staff and in the middle of the Foot a little Brazen Wheel about 4 Inches high that the Foot bearing itself lightly on the Wheel may bear itself with more ease but this Wheel must be well planted in the Foot upon Plates and a little Iron Axle-tree and these you may use to cut Turf overthwart and Trenches 18 or 20 Inches broad or such a proportion as is required to carry off the Water And this Turf and Earth taken up by a trenching-Spade will be of good use to Swarth bare Ground or fill up low Places The turning-Spade must be made with a Bitt looking up twice so much as is requisite for an ordinary Spade with a fine thin Shooing also looking up the Bitt of it very well Steeled and more broad at the Point or nether-end of the Bitt than at the over-end by half an Inch so that by this means it will take up Turf all of one thickness just ar a Natural height as a Man stands when he usually Shovels and one of the same Form a little less may be used with Advantage in cleansing the bottom of Trenches and are very useful in Banking and Levelling high Ant-hills The trenching Spade is another Instrument very useful in this great Work which ought to be between 4 or 5 Inches broad The Tree must be made more of Compass and looking up by far than your ordinary Spades so that it may carry a Trench level in a direct Line move by the strength of Arm and guided by the bottom of the Belly The Spade Shooe must be made with two Sides or Lâ—ngets up from the end of the Bitt as if two broad Knive blades were placed on a common Spade to look uâ—ward with their Points from the end of your Spade Bitt but they must be made a little stronger yet not above 2 inches broad at the very Bitt as thin as the Work will bear and narrower and narrower upwards till it come to half an Inch and 5 Inches long made very true and exact sharp and smooth or it will not work forâ—h its Coâ—r and Furrow clearly and easily but exceed the strength of a Man to manage it in making good Work This Tool cuts out its Furrow and Coar so well that within a Week if your turn be served you may lay it down again in the same evenness and it will be no ways prejudicial to the Grass and when it is a little setled it will become of its former evenness with the other Ground The paring-Spade is another Tool useful in this Work The Bitt of this may be made all of Iron being a strong Iron Plate having a convenient Socket to put a straight Helve or Stale into that it may be fastened not easie to come forth again but when you please The Bitt must be made 20 Inches long the nether-end and two sides well Steeled the nether-part of the Bitt a little bellied or squared and the sides a little compassed or hollowed and the sides and end as sharp as they can be made for the proper use of it is now and then to cut a Trench in Valleys and low Places where the trenching-Plough either Wheel'd or Plain cannot conveniently come at it yet principally to pare off Trenches after the first Year whose Edges will grow so thick with Grass that the Water as to its Currency in passing will be obstructed and to dig it will break the Trench and cut it too thick but with this as with a cutting-Knife you may take it off all along the Trench Line The trenching-Gauge is another Instrument made like a long Shovel with a sharp Shooe semicirled at the end the Stale a little bending upward and this is to be used as the trenching-Spade in a round bottomed Trench CHAP. XXIII The best way to Improve Drained Fen-Lands to great Advantage c. HAving already given Directions for Draining and how to procure Materials in order to perfect so necessary a Work it will be proper now for me to speak something of the Advantages accruing thereby As for that which is mostly dry Fen-land and sometimes but partly under Water and that not always I consider it according to the quality of the Soil to be the best capable of raising present Profit and if you have enough other Ground for Grazing and Meadow you may Plough it up and it will prove excellent Hemp and Oad-land produce great Crops of Cole and Rape-seed which will indeed grow on worse Land so that by a little Marling Liming Ashing and Dunging you may Improve it to bear excellent Wheat Barley or Rye ordering it as has been directed for Barren-land upon the Account of those sorts of Grain There is a Second sort subject only to be drowned by up-Land Floods and great Rains and dry when they are gone or in a dry Season this I count worse than the former and is proper to be Ploughed up raising it as high as your Drains will carry off the Water in the Lands 3 Yards over that will bear two Casts of Seed changing your Furrows in Ploughing to stir up the Mould the better that the Water may soak out of it into the drain-Furrows and be careful not to make your last Furrow always in one place As for the Manuring it let it be with Lime Chalk Ashes hot Dungs as Horse-dung Cow-dung or the like so in the usual Plowing it will bear excellent Wheat Oats Pease and hold good so for three Years but over Ploughing this kind of Land takes the Heart out of it therefore I conclude it the most convenient after three Years Sowing to lay it down for Meadow or Pasture or a fourth Year you may Sow it with Clover though it will bear Corn much longer but not a considerable Crop till it has rested two or three Years to recover its Spirits and when you lay it down scatter it lightly over with good Hay-seeds The Third sort of this kind of Land is that which lyeth very low and deep and has been long under Water before recovered that it was
keep your Meadows indifferently moist but not with deep Overflowings provide good store of Houshold-Provisions and rejoice in the Labour of your Hands And for Health eat Meats that are hot and nourishing and comfortable Liquors and so you may bring the Year about with Profit and Satisfaction CHAP. XXX Vtensils and Tools necessary for the Husband-man for Arable-Land the Barn Stable Meadows and Pastures c. HAving proceeded to speak of Day-labour I think it not amiss to say something of Carts Waggons c. that may facilitate some part of this Labour in being well ordered and rightly applied And to have these in good condition observe the Ground and Ways they are to be usâ—d in and the Weight proper to be drawn and make them stronger or lighter grosser or slenderer and observe the more upright or square the Spoaks are from the Nave or Center the heavier the Weight leaning on that side presses on them and therefore to evade that as much as may be they must be placed boughing in outward that the Wheel may appear somewhat concave which will prevent it from any Slip or Wrench in Stoney or other rough Ground that may occasion any easie breaking and the larger the Wheel is the easier it moves because the Bond being more flat with greater facility it passes over any Stones or Hardness where Jumpings when laded may endanger and a Wheel of eighteen foot circumference rids as much Ground in one Turning as one of nine does in twice moving slowly on the Axletree so that it rarely wears it as the lesser do and carry the Load with much more ease though the lower the bed of the Cart is placed the better the Load is secured from over-turning Besides Carts and Waggons there are Tools and Utensils proper to be inserted though not unknown to those that trade in Agriculture c. yet I shall here insert them in their proper places to be the more ready at hand As first Belonging to Arable and Field-Land Harrows Drags Forks Sickles Reap-Hooks Weed-Hooks Pitch-Forks Rakes Plough-Staff and Beetle Sledges Rowlers Mold-Spears and Traps Cradle-sides Seed-Lips Belonging to the Barn and Stable Ladders Flales Winnowing-Fans Corn-Measures Sieves and Rudders Brooms Sacks Sekeps or Scutles Bins Pails Curry-Combs Main-Combs Whips Goads Harness for Horses and Yoaks for Oxen Pannels Wanteys Pack-Saddles Sirsingles Cart-Lines Skreens for Corn. Belonging to Pastures and Meadows Rakes Scythes Pitch-Forks Prongs Fetters Clogs and Shackles Cutting-Spades and Hooks Horse-Locks with others of lesser note with which a Husband-man ought to be furnished at need CHAP. XXXI To preserve your Grain when sown from all sorts of Vermin who are apt to destroy or annoy it HAving said somewhat of bringing Ground to bear good Corn as also the Methods of Sowing especially barren Grounds for that which is fertil has not any occasion to be treated of but in some particular respects which in the course of this Book will be laid down apart it will now be highly necessary to instruct you how to preserve your Grain and in the first place from the Destroyers of it before it springs up c. Rooks Crows and Daws are great Devourers of Grain to keep these from your Land shoot some of them and hang them on Poles in divers Angles of your Field stick their Feathers along the Ridges of the Land lay Trains of Gunpowder and blow the Powder up or let it lye scattering in the most frequented places and the Scent of it will make them with a little Shooting forsake the Field You may also take great numbers of them by placing strong thick brown Papers twisted taper-wise like those on Sugar-Loaves in holes of the Farth the broad top coming even with the Ground Bird-lime the inside and scatter some Grain in it and then the Fowl putting in its Head to take it out the Paper so limed will stick close and rise with him when being blind-folded in amaze he will fly up a great height and fall down again so that if you be at hand he may be easily taken The scattering Nuxvomica mingled with Paste if taken by them as it seldom misses will make them so sick that they will forsake the Field if you Lime your Corn they will forsake it if it be steeped in Water wherein Wormwood has been much boiled or infused or sprinkle it wiâ—h the Dregs of the bitterest 〈◊〉 it will do the like by making them cast it up sick and not covetous of any more and these with hanging Bunches of Feathers on Lines or Sticks that they may dangle and twirl in the Wind may in a great measure preserve your Grain and this latter may be as well when the Corn is ripe as before And these I give you as general Rules for Pigeons and all other Devourers of Grain relating to Birds tho do what you can they will come in for some share with you Pismires are another great Devourer of Corn and will carry or bite off Chits or Sprouts so that it will never grow but rot in the Ground a great quantity To prevent this search your Corn-fields well especially under the Hedges and the Roots of old hollow Trees or on the Tops of Hills cast up and if you find them there pour limed-Limed-water strong and hot amongst them presently after Sun-setting and it will destroy them for want of Lime make a Lye of Wood-ashes and it will do the same though not so effectually There are another sort of Corn-Devourers called Dores great black Clocks or Beetles which lye under the Clods and in Sprouting-time do great mischief To destroy these make great Smoaks in your Fields in a still Night or a little breathing Wind that may carry it over the Surface of the Ground with wet Rubbish or moldy Pease-straw Hay or the like and it will either kill them or chase them from your Ground for they are the greatest Enemies of all others to Smoak and can least endure it and if your Ground be Limed or you sow Lime among your Corn you may spare this for if they biâ—e where the Lime has touched it kills them Field-Rats and Mice also Water-Rats destroy much Grain To prevent this and ruin them find out their round holes when the Field is bare and put Hemlock-Seed into them and eating it will kill them the spinkling of the Juice of Hellebore in them will do the like but above all I approve to beat the common Grass very small mix it with a little Coperas Vetriol and Coarse Honey make it up in Pellets and scatter it in their Haunts in the mouths of their holes or the most likely places and the Scent will greedily draw them to it from all parts and once eating it they will die This may be also used in Granaries or Barns for other Rats and Mice with good success Slugs and Snails do much harm to Corn and Pease just sprouting up To kill these the best thing is Soot or Lime sprinkled thinly over the Ground for touching
thrives better upon Land that is moderately manured with Dung Marl or Chalk and when it has grown seven Years the Root so spreads that being ploughed in it becomes excellent Manure to prepare the Land for Corn. The Seed of it is mostly like a Parsnip-seed only a little browner rounder and fuller you must by reason it is bigger sow more in quantity than that of Claver for the smaller the Seed is the further it spreads in the Ground so that a Pound and a half of this or somewhat more will go no further than a Pound of the other for the thicker and closer it grows the better it stocks the Ground The manner of sowing it may be with Barley or Oats and being mowed with them may be used as good feed but the separating I hold the best it may the first sowing be mowed the latter end of the Year and so preserved for a good Crop five or six Years after and then the Spirit decaying the common Grass will overcome it and by that time it has prepared the Earth fit for Corn again There is also another Grass by the French called the La-Lucein which is exceeding good Fodder and this will well grow on dry and barren Lands but this is not very common nor has any considerable improvement been made of it in this Kingdom however it may be proper for barren Lands of little value for any thing else and an Experiment would not be amiss to improve it for by Industry through the blessing of God all the Improvements we have have been brought to pass to the enriching and plentifully feeding the Nation whilst Sloth would have brought Poverty and Want CHAP. XLII Improvement of Land by Sowing and Well-ordering Turnips TUrnips are a great improvement of Land for beside the advantage they yield in selling for the Kitchen and the feeding Cattle and Swine the Roots and Leaves may be brought to rot on the Ground and become good Manure besides they hinder not the first Crop especially of Pease Beans or Barley but being sown when they are taken off grow and flourish in the Winter and are properly drawn defore Barley or Oats Seed-time though you may sow two Crops the early and the latter The Seed being small may for the better and more even spreading of it be mixed with fine Mould or to prevent the Bugs or Worms eating it in the Ground with Wood-ashes they require if the Ground has been well broke up but a light plowing but to be well harrowed that the Birds destroy not the Seed which if you perceive to have been done by the barrenness of one place more than another when they come up you may sow that again and there will be little difference in their coming to perfection They delight in and prosper best in a mellow Ground or a mixture of Sand and Clay a black Mould is exceeding good to produce them for if the Ground be hard their roots will not spread or come to their full natural perfection Of these very useful Roots there are two sorts both of one kind that is the round or bulbous and the long Parsnip Turnip but the first is the most numerous and usualest sown in Fields When you have sowed and harrowed the Seed laying the Land as even and level as may be go over it with a Rowler of weighty Wood to press it in and break the remaining Clods that the growing Seed may the easier put through it and when they are pretty well come up and the leaves begin to spread they must be diligently hoed over and the underlings culled out by cutting them off even with the Ground or somewhat lower that the principal Plants may receive the Sun and Air more freer and thrive the better and when they are grown larger if they appear too thick they must have a second hoing and then the tops will spring up amain and the roots have more Earth to spread in If you find a black sort of a Caterpiller to light on them when they come up first green or grow a little height which poyson and eat up their leaves by that means hindering their growth if you cannot flow them for a time with Water to drown these Insects go over them with a great heavy wooden Rowler taking care that the Horse with his Feet spoil as few as may be and the weight of this Rowler bearing the tops hard to the Ground will crush the Insects to death and if this be done in a dry time when they are in this manner mostly infected the tops with the heat of the Sun and a little sprinkling of Rain will rise again and flourish more than ever To preserve the best Seed for the next Year 's sowing take a considerable number of the fairest and largest Turnips free from Worm-eaten Stringyness rough-Rinds or Warts and transplant them to a good Soil when they are growing to Seed co ering them pretty high with Earth that is about four Inches above the Root setting them a Foot and a half distance and water them a little if the Weather be very dry and so let them run to Seed then cut of the Stalks when the Seeds loosens and begins to tussle in the Pods and having well dryed them in the Sun put them into a large Hop-sack and by beating them with Staves that the Seed will come out which you may Sift or Winnow from the Husks and lay it up in a moderate dry place for your next Year's use sowing it as before and ordering in all particulars where required as directed and you will have Winter-stores for yourself plenty for your Cattle and the like for the Market if you live near any good Towns this being a very wholsom moist cooling and nourishing Root good against Feavers and all hot Diseases allaying the acrimony of the Blood CHAP. XLIII Improvement of Land by Sowing of Carrots and how to well order them c. CArrots are very wholsom nourishing Roots and by them Land may be well improved but in every Soil they will not prosper as mostly delighting in warm Sandy-ground mixed with a moderate fruitful light Mould and if you sow them in any other it must be well stirred and manured but where you find a natural light and warm Ground if it be but indifferently fertil they will however thrive therein you may sow them in intervals between Beans or Pease laid in Furrows and so reap two advantages with a little more labour and cost the one not hindering the other for as much as the Carrots are ready to draw the others will be taken off the Ground and though in doing it some of the tops may be bruised in trampling they will recover and spring up again The Land these are sowed in should be rather digged than ploughed or if the latter it must be very deep to give the Roots leave to grow to a full length and bigness When you have sowed the Seed about the middle of March or much sooner if the
and the Skips which she makes before she quats then with your Pole beat the places where she is most likely to shelter for being reduced to these necessitous Shifts she is at her last Cast and has but a little time to hold out nor can be long out of your Possession And thus much for all that is material in Hunting the Hare as far as Directions can be given in Print Of the Fox Badger and Wild-Goat THE taking the Fox Badger and Wild-Goat are other Recreations in some places of this Kingdom highly in Esteem and there is very good Sport to be found in it though the Quarreys are of no Value except their Skins As for the Fox he is a subtile cunning Creature not easily to be circumvented his Resting-place is generally in the Ground or some hollow Tree but mostly in the former and when once he 's unkennel'd stop up the Hole and cast in your Fox-dogs who by reason of the strong or burning Scent he leaves behind him cannot miss if once they have taken it to follow him in the right Track keep him if you can from getting into the Woods mark his Mocks Wiles and Leaps that so you may be the abler to deal with him though he be a strong one He will lead you a weary Journey over Plains and Hills before you can run him down and if he earths you must send in your Tarrier after him if the Hole be wide enough or else dig him out His Haunts are so uncertain when he is a roaming that Directions cannot well be given about it and you may sooner light on him by chance out of his Hole than when you go purposely to look for him and that will be by the Dogs happening to light on the Scent which is very strong The Badger is a kind of Wild-dog living in Ground like the Fox but not so hurtful to Cattel and Poultrey His Haunts and Coverts are usually in Woods or bushy places The Dogs must be hardy and bold that venture on him for he is strong and a very shrewd Biter and for the last Refuge when almost run down hasts to his Hole but finding it stopped as it must be if you intend to take him he will set himself against it and fight very couragious even to Death He is a Heavy Creature and by the Unevenness of his Legs as some allow it of no swift Flight and therefore soon overtaken in the Pursuit As for hunting the Wild-Goat it is much used in Wales on the Mountains but a very dangerous Exercise to pursue among those scraggy Rocks This is a Creature that is not in those steep places easily taken for neither Dogs nor Men in some places can follow her where she will run on the sides of the Rocks like a Cat so that hallowing and making a noise with Horns they watch at her Bolting-places or steep comings down and so sieze her with the Dogs and if it be a young She-Goat this hunting will render her as tender as Venison Of the Otter THis Otter is a Creature that lives as well by Water as Land and is a great Devourer of Fish Having set her from her Holes in the Banks if you can keep her on the Land she is presently taken but upon any Fright if possible she will take the Water especially being pursued and if the Dogs be good they will pursue her there and dive after her till she comes to vent and then her best is past for then if the Water be not too deep for Horses to enter she may be easily struck with an Otter-spear and taken As to the taking of other Creatures that are great Enemies to the industrious Husbandman Farmer c. in their Corn Underwoods Fish-ponds Rivers and other things I for Brevity's sake refer you to my Vermin-killer in my approved Book treating of Domestick Cattle and many other profitable things THE Countryman's Almanack SHEWING Many things necessary and profitable to be known in relation to Weather c. And what is proper to be done in Rural Affairs in many Particulars throughout the Twelve Months c. Signs of Weather And First Of Rain THis is to be observed by the Face of the Heavens and divers Creatures viz. When the Sun shews broad in rising as through a Mist and has a Circle about it When it sets in a black or dusky Cloud and scatters pale and watery Beams When the Moon is pale and blunt-horned near the Change When a red Morning changes to grey or marble-coloured Clouds suddenly being overcast When the Wind often shifts and changes and holds long in the South When the Stars are dull and Circles seem to appear about them through the thickness or grossness of the Air when little scattering Clouds appear at Northwest in the Evening When the Crow flies low casting his Head often upwards and makes an unusual Noise when Cattle often look upward and snuff the Air sometimes lowing heavily and making towards Shelter When the Sea-Pies fly low and dip as it were into the marshy Waters or Rivers making a great Noise Signs of Fair Weather WHen the Sun rises bright and Mists are on the Water and the Rain-bow appearing after a Shower shews very light in the Azure or bleuish part When the Sun sets red and casts direct Beams and there are Webs flying in the Air or contracted by the Vapours on the Grass When the New Moon is sharp pointed and shines very clear when the Clouds look clear and are tinctured about the Edges with a golden Colour the Sun being skreened behind them When Birds of Prey fly very high and Cattle graze freely without looking up or seeming to be disturb'd When Owls cry clear in the Night and have no kind of Stammering in the Noise they make If in Summer observe the business of the Bees and how far they fly from their Hives for if they apprehend either Rain or Storm they ever keep near about heir Homes Signs of Windy Weather EXpect Winds to arise when Sea-fowl begin to flock to the Shoar When there is a rushing Noise heard in Woods without any feeling of Wind for that is a Sign the Vapour is arising out of the Earth and the Air is already seized with it that soon will create strong Winds if not violent When a dusky Redness appears in the Moon and Sun and Meteors by Night thwart the Skies expect the Approach of great Winds When the Sea-Waves beat with a hollow Noise against the Rocks and sounds as it were at a distance and the swelling seems high and bright then Winds are gathering When a Red Morning suddenly changes and the Wind thereupon shifts its Quarter or Point then expect the Wind will suddenly arise Signs of Frosty Weather IT signifies Frost when the Sun sets red in the Winter and the Air is clear or misty at a distance When the Stars shine bright and twinkle much seeming to send Darts and Rays to the Earth When the Moon in Winter is sharp-pointed