Certaine plaine and easie DEMONSTRATIONS Of divers Easie wayes and meanes for the Improving of any manner of barren Land, although the same bee not worth xij.d. the Acre. And shewing how to make the same become worth XX.s. XXX.s. or XL.s. the Acre yearely. Published for the Increasing of the Wealth and Prosperitie of the Nation, and the benefit of the Poore, and of all those as are Owners of any barren Land.
LONDON, Printed by T. F. and are to be sold by William Ley, at his Shop at Pauls Chaine neare Pauls Churchyard, 1657.
Briefe Demonstrations of Certaine, Plaine and Easie wayes, and meanes for the Improving of any manner of Barren-Land, although not worth xij.d. the Acre, and shewing how to make the same become worth xx.s. xxx.s. or xl.s. the Acre yearely.
Published for the benefit of the Nation, and for the Increasing of the wealth and Prosperity of all Nations, that shall in time Practice the same.
TO THE READER.
GEntle Reader, having many things to make publick for the good of the Nation, I shall onely at the present briefly Demonstrate some few things that may make much for the Publicke good and the Prosperity thereof; In this small and ensuing Treatise, it is intended for the good of the Poore aswell as of the rich; and therefore, I shall in briefe publish no more at one time then what the poore man may be able to purchase and attaine to, aswell as the rich, and so shall proceed in the succeeding times; Every one is bound in duty to imploy and improve those Talents that God hath endowed them with to his glory and the publick good, and I hope no man can be offended thereat: if any such there bee, they ought to know their Errour is great, and their judgement will be great at the great judgement day of the Lord: I shall Conclude only desiring the Lord to blesse and prosper all honest and lawfull Endeavours, and rest alwayes desirous of the Publick good,
CHAP. I. Concerning the use of the Manuring. Rowler.
OF all Inventions for the easie and speedy Manuring of all sorts of Ground, there is none better or more usefull then the Manuring Rowler, being rightly and seasonably used: The best season for using thereof is in the Autumne and Winter, when the ground is wet and not dry or hard frozen: Also, when the Snow beginneth to melt and the frost to thaw, the manner how to use it, is to fill it with Dung and other soyle, or with good and fertile Earth, and then to draw it up and down in your field from one end to the other, untill all the manure be vented out of the same, and then againe to fill it, and use it after the same manner, untill you have used and spent all your dung, hereby one load of Dung will do more good and improve your Land more then 3, or 4. Load laid on the ground, and spread after the accustomed manner: Also, ground that is not worth xij.d. the Acre, may in few yeares be made to become worth xx.s. or xxx.s. the Acre.
These manuring Rowlers may be made of what bigness you please; for they may be made no bigger then for a man to drive or thrust afore him, and also they may bee made so bigge as they may require one or two Horses to draw the same.
Now if the later end of the Autumne or Winter season prove dry, and the ground be too dry to Manure and improve the same then you may moysten and water the same, as is declared in the Chapter, Shewing how to water Ground in dry seasons where water is plentifull: And in moistening, or watering the same, be sure to moisten and water no more then you shall at that present manure well with your manuring Rowler, and water that well, and throughly that you would Manure.
Also, if you would Improve any barren Land speedily then you must bring in the best mould you can get, and spread the [Page 3]same all over so much of your barren Land as you desire to Improve, and after you have spread the same, then to fill your manuring Rowlers with Dung or other good soyle, and manure the same when the ground is Wet as is before prescribed.
Also, it is very expedient to Plow up your barren ground, if you have not plenty of good Earth to lay upon it and to manure it withall, and assoone as it is Plowed up, then to manure it with your manuring Rowler; And what you Plow up one day, you should Manure the day following.
CHAP. II. How to improve Barren Land not worth yearely xij.d. the Acre, and io make it become worth yearely xx.s. or xxx.s. the Acre.
ONe of the best and surest wayes to Improve any manner of barren Land both speedily and effectually is by making long Furrowes, or Trenches, eyther with the Plow or Spade 12. or 18. Inches deepe, and 12. or 18. Inches wide: these furrows and trenches should be made along frō the South to the North, & distant some 14, 15, or 16. foot each furrow or trench from the other: these furrowes being thus made should be filled up with the best, and richest Earth or soyle that may be got neare to the said barren land; and after they are thus filled, then at the season of the yeare for Planting, then to plant Quicksets, and all other small Plants of divers kinds all along in the said Trenches and furrowes; or otherwise to set or sow Acornes, Nuts, Hawes, and the seeds of other Trees in the said Trenches and furrowes that it may grow up to a Hedge-row or hedge, and so to preserve them and let them grow.
Now in the Spaces between the said furrowes you may practise severall points of Husbandry in manner following; as in one or 2, or 3. of the said Spaces between the said trenches or furrowes, if you would have Medow ground or Pasture; then when the ground is wet eyther with Raine or with Snow, [Page 4]you must manure the same with the manuring Barrow, or manuring Rowler, they being filled with the richest or fattest Earth you can get untill the said Spaces become all mire and dirt; and after that bring the best greene Turffe you can get in Lanes, or along by Hedge-sides, from whence the fame may be best spared into your said Barren ground, and spread the same all over the said spaces between the trenches covering the said barren ground therewith, that you would have to be good Medow or Pasture ground; and after that fill your manuring Rowler with good mellow Dung and manure the said spaces therewith; In the Winter seasons and a little before the Spring, and so every Winter season when the said ground is moyst, and it will become good Medow or Pasture ground worth xx.s. or xxx.s. the Acre or more, and continue so for ever.
Also, you should have a great care that no Cattle that will Crop come into the said ground before your Quicksets and Hedge-rowes be growne out of danger; and therefore you must preserve the grasse for Hay, and in the Autumne, and Winter you may put in your Lambes, Calves, and Colts, and any other cattle that will not Crop, and it will breed them up very well and yeeld you profit enough.
Now in the other Spaces you may use & practise other points or kinds of Husbandry at your pleasure, that are or hereafter shall be published; for in some of them you may set and sow Beanes, and Pease after the same manner as is declared in the following Chapters. And in the other Spaces you may plant and set young Trees; In other spaces you may sow Roots, as Turneps, Carrets and such like, having manured, prepared and fitted the said ground and spaces for the said purposes.
And in other of the said Lands and spaces having moveable Folds made for the purpose to fold your Cattle in, you may fodder any Cattle you have in the said Lands, and improve it very much, and also improve your Cattle, by defending them from wind and weather in Cold seasons.
These moveable Folds are to be made of the lightest wood and boards as is to bee obtained, as of Elme, Maple, Sallow, Willow and such like; also, those that shall desire to see the same, or onely the Modell of them, or to have them made, if they shall refort to such places, whereto they shall be directed in this Booke; they may there see the same or bee furnished with them if they please.
CHAP. III. How to Improve any Barren Land not worth xij.d. the Acre.
ANother way to Improve any manner of barren Land both easily and speedily; Is first to make long Furrowes from the South to the North and fill them up with good rich and fertile Earth, as is declared in the former Chapter, and then to set Beanes or Pease in their season all along in the said furrowes; and then all along in the Space betweene the said furrowes to make Holes eyther with a good round Stake or crow of Jron about 10, or 12. Inches deepe, the wider the holes are the better; then fill up the said holes with the best Earth or mixed mould as is before declared for the Furrowes; and set Beanes or Pease in the said Holes.
Now after you have gathered your Beanes and Pease, you may let the Stalks and hames remaine and rot upon the ground, and then in the next wet Seasons ensuing, manure the said ground with the manuring Rowlers filled with Dung, or other good Earth, or fertile mould, that may most easily bee had.
If your Barren ground be somewhat dry that you would manure, then it will be worth your labour to naile or fasten all the course old Linnen or woollen Rags doubled or twisted together you have or can have, round about on the out-side of [Page 6]your manuring Rowlers, and then powre water upon them when you manure your ground therewith, and also you must moysten eyther the Dung or the fertile Earth very much with water, when that you put it into the manuring Rowler to manure your Land therwith; and so when the Rags shall grow any thing dry to wet them well againe with water, by powring it upon them.
Also, it will be worth labour and very good to Manure your ground early in the Morning when the ground is very full of Dew, with the manuring Rowler.
The severall Benefits that will arise to all in the Nation will be many through the exercise of these points of Husbandry some whereof I will name; As first, all or most of the Poore in the Nation may be set on worke in one kind or other thorow-out the Nation, to the great profit of the Owners of the barren Lands in the Nation; some being imployed in making Trenches, Pits and holes, others in filling them up with earth, and others in Planting, Sowing, and setting Plants, or Seeds, or other things as is prescribed.
Secondly, The maintenance of the Ministers and Gentry will be amended and increased.
Thirdly, The Marchants, Tradesmen, and Handicrafts-men, will gaine hereby; for all Trading will be increased.
Fourthly, the Customes, and other revenues due to the State will be increased.
CHAP. IV. Another way whereby Barren-fields may be improved.
FIrst, you may plow Furrowes from one end or side of your Field unto the other, and fill up the same with good fertile mould of Earth, if you desire to improve your Land by sowing or setting Beanes, Pease or any other kind of graine in Furrowes, and not by planting of Wood.
Also, you may Plow the said fields very well and so Harrow them, and then manure them with the manuring Rowler, [Page 7]and after plant and set Corne in the same; making holes with a Setting-stick made for that purpose, and putting in with your Seed fine small light mould that is fifted into the said holes, filling them up therewith.
And after when you have gathered your Crop, then in wet Seasons if the ground be wet manure the said Fields with your manuring Rowlers well filled with Dung, or other good soyle, and your said fields will be extraordinarily Improved, and made fertile.
CHAP. V. Another way to improve Barren Land not worth xij.d. the Acre.
ANother way to Improve any manner of barren Land, is by Digging many holes or small Pits one foot and a half deepe, and two foot square, and then to fill up the said Pits or holes with the best Earth or mould that is to be got neere unto the said barren Land, and then at the Season of the yeare that is best for Setting and Planting to set or plant such small Trees or Plants, as will agree best with the nature of the soyle there layd, and not too much different from the nature of the soyle of the said Climate, and indeed it will be very necessary to observe what Earth, or soyle will improve best the said Barren earth; For as Oake will grow and prosper best in Clay grounds, so Elmes will grow and prosper best in rich Sandie grounds and other Dry moulds, and other sorts of wood; In other sorts of ground, as Willowes in wet grounds, and Ash, Maple, Beech; and indeed most sorts of Wood will grow in mixed moles and Loamy grounds.
Now then it is expedient that such Persons as will use those or the like wayes in Improving of these Barren grounds, doe Observe the natures of such barren ground as they desire to improve, as to observe whether it be wet Moorish grounds, or dry Sandy barren ground, or Chalkie, Gravelly, or Clay, or Loamie ground; for as there be rich Sandy grounds, so there [Page]are barren sandy grounds, and as there be rich Loamie, gravelly and Clay grounds, so there be barren loamy, gravelly and Clay grounds. Now if you make your Trenches or little Pits in dry barren Sandy ground, then to fill the said Pits and trenches with the richest Clay or loamy Earth you can get, & also to manure the said ground with the same, and if you make your said trenches and pits in wet or Moorish grounds, then to fill both the trenches and pits with the fattest Sand, or dryest rich mould well Chaulked, or you may put some Chalke into the said trenches or pits before the said Sand or Rich dry earth be layd in the same, and to manure the said wet ground with the like, spreading much Chalke or sand upon the said Moorish, o [...] wet grounds. Now by this kind of Husbandry great profit will arise to the Owners of the said barren Land, and also to the Common-wealth and Nation; for hereby all sorts of Timber will become plentifull for all uses.
These holes and Pits may be made as neere together as the Planters shall please, for as the said Trees grow up and spread some may be Cut downe and taken away to the owners profit and others left to grow and spread, and alwaies when they shall want space to spread and grow then to fell and take away some more, leaving others to continue growing untill they shall be come to their full growth; Thus may barren ground that is not worth xij.d. the Acre, be made to bring in great profit, and be Improved from generation to generation, and in the end when all or most of the Trees be felled or taken away it will become and continue good Arable or Pasture ground for ever, if it [...] yearly Manured in its season as it ought, and may easily be done.
AT the House of [...] There you may see the Exact modell and manner of the improving Inventions, and receive further Instructions for the Improving [...] any manner of Barren Land if you please, and also be directed [...] such Persons, as will eyther buy or farme any Barren Lands that you shall be desirous to Sell or Let.
HOW TO ORDER ANY LAND, SO as it may reteyne all the moysture that falleth thereon: And to Improve it thereby.
FOr asmuch as the fatnesse of the soile is washed away, when in the winter season the ground is so wet, that every showre is not received, and drunke in by the earth where upon it falleth, but passeth away, and carieth with it the Fatnesse, and Richnesse of the soyle that should remayne vpon the superficies of the earth, whereby barrennesse doeth ensue daily, although daily the Husbandman doe manure and dung the same. Therefore every one that would reteyne the Fatnesse and Richnesse of their owne soyle for their own Land, must use meanes to reteine that, that would and doth carry away the Richnesse and Fatnes of their soyle from the same. And that every man may reserve the Fatnesse of his owne soyle for his owne Land, it is accessary to use and practise these points of Husbandrie hereafter declared. As first to mound his Land with bankes in every place where the water may have vent, and Current from of the same; secondly, to turne the vent and Current of all Land-waters into his owne ground, out from the high wayes, wast-grounds, and Commons belonging to or lying neere his owne Land, and if these two shall not be found Remedies sufficient, I shall hereafter declare some other. I know the latter is practised a little by some, but it is so little that it is to little purpose; For what availeth it for a man to let the water in at one [Page]place, and to let it goe out at a thousand, but every man reteyning all the water that falleth upon his owne ground, shall in short time finde it very availeable, for if this kinde of husbandrie onely were but used halfe the time that it hath beene neglected, men should finde their Lands to bee greatly Improoved by the same, the which every one may easily doe, and that to their owne great profit and advantage and to the profit and advantage also of their farre Remote neighbours.
For if every one doe but consider how divers grounds hath beene much Improoved by watering, and overflowing the same neere unto Rivers, that in former times have beene but little worth, then they cannot deny, but that they also in high grounds may improove their Land by watering and overflowing the same, and that they may overflow it by stopping the vents and Currents of the water that shall fall upon the same, or when they shall bring the land-water vpon the same from their owne Corre Feilds, highwayes, and other wast grounds and Commons.
Also, then will not their farre Remote neighbors, that use to bee annoyed with floods, and others that liue in Fenne Countries, bee so much annoyed with water as commonly they are, nay; if every one did but truely, and duely observe and practise this kind of Husbandry, they would not be annoyed at all: and therefore it must needs bee advantagious and profitable for those that live in Fenny Countryes, and others in the vale Countryes that are annoyed with Floods, as well as for those that live upon hilles and high grounds.
Now how easily it may bee effected, may any one soone understand, that can but understand how easily mischeifes may bee prevented, when they are prevented at the first arising and beginning before they come to a head, and how [Page]easily an Inconvenience may bee helped when every man shall put to their helping hands any one may judge. Wee know that the many sparkes of fire in Towne and Citty, so long as they are kept within bounds are service able, and there is no dammage or danger susteyned by them; but if by misfortune or negligence they get out of their bounds what disasters doe they cause. Even so the many drops that doe fall in a Countrey if they should bee kept within bounds in the severall Closes and Lordships wherein they fall, they would be serviceable, and advantagious, which other wayes destroy whole Feilds of Corne, breake downe Bridges, drowne Cattle, and sometime overturne houses, and worke much other mischeifes also, for we may all very well know, it is never well with England when the Corne in the golden vales of England is destroyed through floods; now as the Husbandman may easily reteyne all the water that falleth upon his owne ground for his owne profit, and advantage, in his severall enclosures, so may he as easily open a vent for his water at any time if there be cause and let it out from one Close, wherein there is no need, or where it may be harmeful, and bring it into another wherein it may doe good, and where there may bee great need thereof: now if there be any that cannot conceyue how or which way this point of husbandry may be effected with great facility and ease: let them but repaire unto the Author, or unto his Assignes; and they will after taking view of their land show how easily it may be done.
How to prepare barraine Land that yeeldeth no profit, for the Improoving of it, and how to make it Fertill.
THe first thing to be done when you would improove your barrain dry ground, is where it is levell, or where it can be easily brought to a levell, to mound it about [Page]in square plots & Closes, or other wayes, as it shal be found most convenient with bankes. In such manner as that you may reteyac, and keepe all the water or moisture within the bounds thereof that shall fall upō it, or that may arise from Snow, or that may otherwise be brought upon the same.
Thus when it is well bounded, and mounded with bankes may you dung it well, or manure it in what sort you like best, and you shall be sure not to loose any part of your dung or manure through hastie and sudden showers, that tommonly doth wash away a great part thereof.
But when it is dunged well, and well soked with moysture, or when it is in a manner overflowen; then to manure it with dung or other Fat carth in the Manuring barrow will mightily Improove it, for the drawing of the manuring barrow up and downe, and the trampling of the ground when it is so moyst, or overflowen, will increase your manure, and dung exceedingly: For no man can be Ignorant, how trampling, Carting, and such like actions in wet weather, and when the ground is wet doth increase myre and dirt exceedingly in any place: Yet some may obiect, why then are not Foot-pathes, and High-wayes more Fertile then other places, being they are more frequently trampled, and travailed upon then other places are. Vnto whom I answere, if highwayes and Footpathes were crampled, and travailed on onely in wet weather, and when they are wet, they would be farre more Richer in soyle and more fertile then they are; for as trampling and travailing in wet weather increaseth soyle and Dirt, so in dry weather trampling and travailing wareth and wasteth away both the Dirt and soyle, and causeth Barrennesse and yet how many wayes and pathes also if they should not be yearly supplyed with gravell, and such other batten, [Page]durable materials would grow Impassable through myre & soyle. Also although trampling and trauayling is good to improove ground, yet continuall trampling, and travailing is hurtfull to ground, because it hindereth the growth of the grasse, and yet in Heathes, and Commons, where are pathes, and tracts that are but seldome trampled, is no heath, yet is there grasse, and more would there bee if they were not overlayd with sheepe, and Cattle, and trampled more in dry weather, then in wet that keepes it under, and hinders the growth thereof.
Againe, to manure ground that is dunged when it is wet, with the Manuring barrow trimmed also with dung, or other Fat earth, or soyle, will increase other manner of soyle and Dirt, then bare trampling or travailing will, and also it will improove it more. If there be any that thinke drowning and overflowing of ground will not improoue it, because in some places they are faine to cut Furrowes and trenches to draine the same, let them inquire of those who have used the overflowing of ground that lyeth by Rivers, and have improoved the same, and use it yearly. Indeed arrable ground when it is sowen should haue Furrowes, and trenches to draine the same, because too much moysture is hurtfull to most kinde of graine; and therefore they should make their Furrowes so, as that the Raine that falleth upon their Cornefields, may have vent and Current into their pasture ground and lay Feilds, and then they may there environ it so with a banke, as that it may not any wayes breake forth of the same. Thus therefore, if it be one, two, three, foure, or fiue Acres, or more that you would improoue, thus you may order and prepare it, and improove it, and unto any who willeth or desireth to learne more, I will yet shew him divers more excellent wayes.
The sewer all benefits that will arise from Mounding of ground with bankes and stopping of Currents of Land waters.
IT will mittigate the great Floods, If it caueth them not to cease altogether, that so annoyeth the Fennie Countryes and other places. It will improove high grounds, and cause plenty, and prevent dearth and scarcity:
It will Increase the old Springs, and make new springs to breake forth, and arise in divers places, and that especially, If having more Land-water in any place then can be reteyned vpon the same, they make deepe pits or wells for the same to Run into; or if they turne the Current of their water vnto their dry and thirstie Lands, that will receive and drinke in all.
Hereby also, they may store themselves with water in the dry and upland Countryes against the summer times and dry seasons, where they haue any gravelly, or Clay Ground.
Arguments shewing whither this point of Husbandry bee possible and profitable or no.
BEcause a man cannot speake of any new wayes or points in Husbandry, but divers well experienced men, doe presetly judge the same to be Impossible, or else unprofitable. I will heere breifly discusse these two Questions: that so every one that will, may conceive how possible and profitable they may bee: First, to shew the possibility thereof, let any one place a leaking vessell in the raine, where no spoutes may runne [Page]into the same, and see if it will ever be filled with the raine that shall descend therein; For all sorts of ground will not hold water, and may bee compared to leeking vessels, except onely the gravelly, and the Clay ground; so that if men doe but banke their ground a little to keepe the water that falleth thereon upon the same, It will not long abide, if it should descēd never so fast vnlesse it be in gravelly and Clay grounds. And here I know many will say they [...] not practise this point of husbandry without da [...]ifying themselves, because of necessity where there is no dry thirsty Land neere, and abundance of Clay or gravelly ground, altogether in one place must drowno some of their owne ground if they should stoppe the vent and Current of the water, and reteyne all the water that falleth there on upon the same, unto which I answere, although men in some places should drowne 3 or foure Acres in an hundred Acres, yet they cannot be damnified thereby, because those who know what a pond of an Acre, or more is worth, cannot be ignorant that 3, or 4, Acres of Land thus drowned in some places, may yeeld more commodity then ten Acres of dry Land that is worth 30. shillings the Acre.
Againe for the generall, better is it to have some hundreds of Acres drowned, and made Fish-pooles, then to have many thousands of Acres lye barraine, and unfruitfull.
And that such places will be as storehowses for water against the summer times and dry seasons, no man can deny, for whereas I have spokē of watering of ground in dry seasons where water is to be had, and some have asked how they should provide water, here is one way, whereby they may provide water in hilly Countryes, and high grounds farre off from Rivers; And although it may be impossible for any one man to reteyne the water within his owne [Page]ground that falleth in many mens Lands; yet is it possible for every one to reteyne the water that shall fall within his awne ground. And therefore not Impossible.
A breife Answere vnto what may be objected: or hath beene objected.
I Know many there bee, that will say they know many more excellent points of his bandry, then yet hath beene discovered by mee, and I must confesse, I know many particular Husbandmen that doe conceive, and understand those secrets in husbandry, that generally is not conceived, nor understood by many that use husbandry, the which I have forborne to treat of, because I would not seeme to discover, what I know to bee understood, and practized by any one already, although I am not ignorant of the same; and that divers husbandmen and others, doe know divers more excellent poynts then hath been discovered, I will beleeve. For I my selfe know many more excellent poytits then I have yet discovered, and yet I know and beleeve that divers that shalfucceed unto this generation shall know, & understand, and discover more, then shal be vnderstood, and discovered by any one in this generation. Now to avoid further Controversies; If there be any that shall thinke, or object, that any one point herein discovered, is vnpossible, unprofitable, or not worth the practizing, let them but help the Author vnto any barraine Land and they shall soone see the contrary prooved, for their satisfaction.
And whereas some I know will be apt to object, That the water lying upon the ground in the winter season, will breed Rushes, and Sedges; I answer, the Manuring barrow (if it be trimmed and used as it may bee) will keepe the ground from bearing of Rushes and Sedges; and also it will kill both Rushes and Sedges in any ground that is naturally inclined thereunto.
AN EASIE AND PROFITABLE ORDER IN TILling of Ground to improve it, and make it Fertile.
BEcause all things in this World are subject to casualtie, and Husbandry and Tillage although it be a principall stay, and supporter both in the Church and Common-wealth, yet doth it not alwayes hit according to the Husbandmans expectation, but oftentimes doth faile, unto his great losse, and the miseries of others: I shall here discover some certaine points in Husbandrie, whereby the Husbandman may easily succour his Corn after it is sown, and use such meanes and wayes that he may preserve and foster it, if need so require.
Now the most certaine way in Tillage, not to loose both your seed and labor (as many often have done in dry seasons, and are still like to doe, if they hold on in their accustomed Tillage) whe the season is like to be dry, is to Till your Ground by Lands, leaving alwayes a space untilled betweene every Land, that so you may have places whereby you may come to moysten, and succour your Seed untill it be well come forth and growne, if the season be dry, and you perceive it doth not come forth [Page 2]kindely as you would have it, this is a point of Husbandrie, that will be extraordinarie usefull where any Barraine ground lyeth neare unto any Rivers, where water may plentifully be had, and it will not be unusefull where good ground is, although there be not such plentie of water: but some Husbandmen it may be will be apt to thinke, that so much ground that yeare is lost that is left untill'd in a Field that is tilled; but it is easily answered, that better a little ground be lost, then a greater quantitie of ground, and your cost and Seed also be lost, as it may be sayd well to be, if it doth not bring forth a crop propertionable unto the place and charge bestowed thereon, but to speake the truth, the ground is not lost that is left untilled, because of it selfe it will bring forth some benefit: although it be not sowne, and that, that is not sowne the one yeare doth gather heart, and will be improved against the next yeare, for if you diligently succour your seed-plots with water, and some such other means as you shall see needfull, the Invention that you may water your tilled ground with, will also at the same time water your untilled spaces, so as that, what with the watering, and with the trampling, your untilled spaces will be well improved thereby. For watering, and trampling of ground when it is moist, will improve any ground, without any other meanes, neyther may any Husbandman sow one jot the lesse, for what quantitie of ground he leaveth unsownein one Field, he may sow for it the same quantity in another place, and in the same manner, if he thinke well, and in thus ordering, and sowing of his ground he shall finde more certaine profit then any other way.
The breadth of the Lands that in this manner are to be tilled, may be 6, 7, or 8 foot in breadth, and the space betweene each land that you are to leave untilled, may be a foot and a halfe, or more in breadth if you see cause: thus may you without doing harme to your Corne at any time as you see cause, both nourish and cherish it up, from the first sowing thereof untill it be [Page 3]past all danger that may befall it through drought, for when it is sprung up to some prettie growth, the blades will defend the rootes thereof so from the heat of the Sunne in dry seasons, that it will not take any extraordinarie harme thereby:
Also this is to be noted, that those spaces that you leave unplowed one yeare, if you sow the same Field the next yeare, you are to plow up, & leave now some part of the lands (that the last yere were tilled and sown) for to be the spaces between the Lands that you mean now to till & sow: and so every yeare you may rest some part of your Field, although every yeare you sow the greater part, and reape good crops of Corne from the same.
Now to give you some taste whether this point of Husbandrie will be advantagious or no, let every Husbandman first cast what an Acre of Corne is worth standing upon the Ground, and then how many Acres thereof may be watered in a day; unto the first question I can answere, I have knowne an Acre of Wheat to have been worth ten pounds upon the ground, when Corne hath been at an high price, but I will suppose it to bee worth now but 40 shillings, or 3 poūd the Acre: Vnto the second I will answere, where water may easily be had, a couple of men may well and easily water about some 30 Acres a day, when the dayes be long, and if it be watered well but every other day, and the ground be any thing good, or well manured, it will come forward; and by this account, two men may cherish 60 Acres and bring it forward, watering the one halfe well one day, and the other halfe another day; and 60 Acres according unto the lowest rate amounteth unto 120 pound, & at 3 pound the Acre, it will amount unto 180 pound: and how much soever an Acre of any Corne can be worth, an Acre of Corne well tilled and thus caerished, will come to be worth much more then that which is but slightly tilled, and that never after is helped or cherished any wayes. Now if a Couple with two or three Monthes labor (for I suppose in two or three Monthes [Page 4]the Corne will be indifferently able to desend it selfe against the heat of the Sunne, and will be come so forward that it will not need any further watering) can thus bring such profit out from the earth, I suppose it will recompence their labour, and be an incouragement unto any to proceed with pleasure and delight in a labour so advantagious for themselves, and so much concerning the publike good, neither will this labour fall upon the Husbandman at an unseasonable time. For alwayes after Seedtime hath the Husbandman most leisure, & after Seed-time then i [...] the most seasonable time thus to cherish your Corn, & it is not to be doubted, but that oftentimes there will fall some showers also, that will both helpe and ease the labor of the Waterers, in the driest time and season of the yeare: For I for my part am perswaded that in mens honest and good endeavours there is a silent Rethorick to perswade with GOD, and yet I would not have any man to be silent in a time of necessitie; but I leave that for Divines to teach and perswade, and stirre up men unto.
Now such Husbandmen that have not a manuring Plow o [...] Seed-barrow ready, may till their Land in this order after the old accustomed manner, if the Land be not extraordinarie barren. For if it be extraordinarie barren, then they must use the Manuring-Plow, or Manuring-Wagen in Tilling and Sowing the same, or else perhaps they may loose much of their Crop, or a least never improove it so orderly by sowing the same: Neither is there a better, nor more easie and speedy way to improve any arable ground, or to make any barren Land to become good arable Land then by thus ordering, and sowing of the same, [...] any one may quickly finde that shall but once make tryall o [...] some little parcell of barren-ground in any place.
Now if there be any that can helpe the Author unto; and reasonable quantitie of barren ground, he will further discover unto them how they shall improve both easily and speedily and barren ground, and make it to become good Medow ground, and [Page 5]be worth so much yearly, as any Medow ground is, or can be any place neare adjacent thereunto.
How to shrowd your Grasse.
IT were one excellent point in Husbandrie to set and plant, both Oakes and Elmes, all along in a row by the hedges on your Field sides, excepting those sides that joyne upon some common Roads and Highwayes, that require the Winde and Sunne to drie them, and make them passable, for hereby might you shelter the grasse a great part of the long Summer [...]ayes, from the scortching heat of the Sunne, and in the Winter [...]om the nipping blasts of the cold freezing Winde, and also [...]rovide fuell for your fire and other uses, and food for your wine, besides many other commodities that would arise from [...] same, for every Spring your grasse would be much more [...]rwarder than it is, and the leaves of the Trees would also help [...] fatten your ground; and it were to be wished that there were me Act or Statute to force this point of Husbandrie, that so [...]e Walles of the Kingdome, and the Bridges whereby such [...]oopes of our Fore-fathers were wont to passe over the Seas [...] chastise their insolent and daring enemies; might be effectually maintained; and that we might thereby become feared of [...]ose enemies, that now thinke themselves out of our danger. Surely the reason why this Husbandrie is not used, is because [...]e profit thereof would not presently arise to our selves; but [...]ery one ought to know that no man is born only for himself, [...]d that Fathers are to provide for their Children; therefore we would leave our Countrie to our Children, and have our childrens Children injoy the same, let us then providently [...]east, to provide such materials for our Grand-children, that [...]y may have wherewithall to encounter with their enemies [...]oad, rather then to suffer them to be forced to combate with [...] here at home; surely if any enemy of ours, had any kinde [Page 6]of Timber so tough and durable as our English Oake, they wou [...] not neglect so great a benefit: O then unlesse we would h [...] our Enemies to succeed us in our inheritances let us make use [...] the benefits and priviledges that our good God hath bestowe upon us above other Nations.
How to gather Wheate, Rye and Barley in late Harvests, and Wet Seasons.
IN Harvest-time when the Corne is full ripe and like to she and the season so wet that it cannot be housed so drie as should be, ought this point of Husbandrie to be practised, rather than that the Corne should be spoyl'd or lost; first therefore such seasons may the Husbandman reape or cut downe his C [...] according to the Country custome wherein he lives, and th [...] afterward whensoever it holds up; or sooner if there be cau [...] let his Harvest people (having implements accordingly) app [...] themselves to the cropping, clipping, or cutting off the Eares the Corne by handfuls at a time, little Children may gather [...] Corne into handfuls, and give them to the Harvest-man, whe [...] he cuts them off, should put them into Sackes, and then sho [...] they be carried home, and spread upon floores in Lofts, and all other places where they may lye and dry, and being dry t [...] should they be removed & other brought and should be spr [...] in their places, otherwise whensoever the Weather hol [...] little faire, there may one be assigned to follow every Rea [...] that may clip off the eares as fast as they shall reape it, into the flaskets, and so sacke them up, and carry them home as fa [...] it is reaped. Thus may men soone gather in their Wheat, th [...] Rye, and their Barley, although there should be much grasse, weeds among the straw, that doth require much time to wit [...] and dry before it can be got in. Now when they have go [...] the eares of their Corne, they may let the straw lye and d [...] while without sustaining any great hurt, and after they may ther it in and stack it up at leisure, when the season is more d [...]