,transcriber's note  ,spellings are     
inconsistent1 especially the use of ee  
and ee4 ,notes of changes that have been
 made for obvious misprints1 and of     
other anomalies1 are at the end of this 
etext4  ,there are many sidenotes in the
 original4 ,they are indicated thus3    
,,sn3 1 and have been grouped together  
at the start of the paragraph in which  
they appear4       ,,the   ,,english    
,,hvsbandman4         99       99       
99       99       99    ,the first      
,part3      ,,contayning   the          
,knowledge of the true ,nature   of     
euery ,soyle within this ,kingdome3     
how to ,plow it2 and the manner of the  
,plough1 and other ,instruments         
belonging thereto4    ,,together ,,with 
,,the   ,art of ,planting1 ,grafting1   
and ,gardening   after our latest and   
rarest fashion4    ,a worke neuer       
written before by any ,author3   and now
 newly compiled for the benefit   of    
this ,,kingdome4    ,by ,g4 ,m4         
,bramo assai1 poco1 spero nulla         

chieggio4  ,,london3 ,printed by ,t4 ,s4
 for ,iohn ,browne1 and are to be sould 
at his shop in ,saint ,dunstanes        
,church-yard4  #afac4       ,,to ,,the  
,,right   ,,honovrable1   and his       
singular good ,lord1   the ,lord        
,clifton1 ,baron of   ,layton4   ,it was
 a custome 7right ,honorable1 and my    
most singular good ,lord7 both amongst  
the auntient ,romans1 and also amongst  
the wise ,lacedemonians1 that euery idle
 person should giue an account of the   
expence of his howers3 ,now ,i that am  
most idle1 and least imployed in your   
,familie1 present here vnto your        
,lordships hands an account of the      
expence of my idle time1 which how well1
 or ill1 it is1 your ,noble wisedome    
must both iudge and correct2 onely this 
,i am acertain'd1 that for the generall 
rules and ,maximes of the whole worke1  
they are most infallibly true1 and      
perfectly agreeing with our ,english    
climate4 ,now if your ,lordship shall   
doubt of the true tast of the liquor    

because it proceedeth from such a       
vessell as my selfe1 whom you may       
imagine vtterly vnseasoned vvith any of 
these knowledges1 beleeue it 7my most   
best ,lord7 that for diuers yeeres1     
wherein ,i liued most happily1 ,i liued 
a ,husbandman1 amongst ,husbandmen of   
most excellent knowledge2 during all    
which time ,i let no obseruation        
ouer-slip me3 for ,i haue euer from my  
,cradle beene naturally giuen to        
obserue1 and albe ,i haue not that oylie
 tongue of ostentation which loueth euer
 to be babling all1 and somewhat more   
then it knoweth1 drawing from ignorance 
admiration1 and from wisedome laughter1 
filling meale-times with much           
vnprofitable noyse2 yet ,i thanke my    
maker ,i haue a breast which containeth 
contentment inough for my selfe1 and ,i 
hope much benefit for the whole         
,kingdome2 how euer or whatsoeuer it is1
 it is all your ,lordships1 vnder the   
couert of whose fauourable protection if
 it may finde grace it is the vttermost 

aime whereunto my wishes aspire1 nor    
shall ,i feare the malignitie of the    
curious1 for it is not to them but the  
honest plaine ,english ,husbandman1 ,i  
intend my labours1 vvhose defender you  
haue euer beene1 and for whose          
,honorable prosperitie both they and ,i 
will continually pray4    ,your honours 
in all   seruiceable humblenesse1    ,g4
 ,m4     ,the ,epistle to the generall  
and gentle ,reader4   ,although         
7generall reader7 the nature of this    
worst part of this last age hath        
conuerted all things to such vildnesse  
that whatsoeuer is truely good is now   
esteemed most vitious1 learning being   
derided1 fortitude drawne into so many  
definitions that it consisteth in meere 
words onely1 and although nothing is    
happy or prosperous1 but meere fashion  
ostentation1 a tedious fustian-tale at a
 great mans table1 stuft with bigge     
words1 with out sence1 or a mimicke     
,iester1 that can play three parts in   
one2 the ,foole1 the ,pandar and the    

,parasit1 yet notwithstanding in this   
apostate age ,i haue aduentured to      
thrust into the world this booke1 which 
nothing at all belongeth to the silken  
scorner1 but to the plaine russet honest
 ,husbandman1 for whose particular      
benefit1 and the kingdomes generall     
profit1 ,i haue with much paine1 care1  
and industry1 passed through the same4  
,now for the motiues which first drew me
 to vndertake the worke1 they were      
diuers3 as first1 when ,i saw one man   
translate and paraphrase most           
excellently vpon ,virgils ,georgickes1 a
 worke onely belonging to the ,italian  
climbe1  nothing agreeable with ours    
another translates ,libault  ,steuens1 a
 worke of infinit excellency1 yet onely 
proper and naturall to the ,french1 and 
not to vs3 and another takes collections
 from ,zenophon1 and others2 all        
forrainers and vtterly vnacquainted with
 our climbes3 when this ,i beheld1 and  
saw with what good liking they were     
entertained of all men2 and that euery  

man was dumbe to speake any thing of the
 ,husbandry of our owne kingdome1 ,i    
could not but imagine it a worke most   
acceptable to men1 and most profitable  
to the kingdome1 to set downe the true  
manner and nature of our right ,english 
,husbandry1 our soyle being as delicate1
 apt1 and fit for increase as any       
forraine soyle whatsoeuer1 and as farre 
out-going other kingdomes in some       
commoditie1 as they vs in other some4   
,hence1 and from these considerations1  
,i began this worke1 of which ,i haue   
here sent thee but a small tast1 which  
if ,i finde accepted1 according to mine 
intent1 ,i will not cease 7,god         
permitting mee life7 to passe through   
all manner of ,english ,husbandry and   
,huswifery whatsoeuer1 without omission 
of the least scruple that can any way   
belong to either of their knowledges4   
,now gentle reader whereas you may be   
driuen to some amazement1 at two titles 
which insue in the booke1 namely1 a     
former part before the first1 and the   

first part1 you shall vnderstand that   
those first sheetes were detained both  
from the ,stationer and me1 till the    
booke was almost all printed2 and my    
selfe by extreame sicknesse kept from   
ouer-viewing the same1 wherefore ,i must
 intreate your fauour in this impression
 and the rather in as much as there     
wanteth neither any of the words or     
matter whatsoeuer3 ,farewell4    ,thine 
,g4 ,m4       ,a   ,,former ,,part1     
before the first ,part3 ,being an       
absolute perfect ,introduction into     
all the ,rules of true ,husbandry2 and  
must first of all be read1 or   the     
,readers labour will be frustrate4      
,,chap4 ,i4  ,the ,proem of the ,author4
 ,what a ,husbandman is3 ,his ,vtilitie 
and ,necessitie4   ,it is a common      
,adage in our ,english speech1 that a   
man generally seene in all things can   
bee particularly perfect or compleate in
 none3 ,which ,prouerbe there is no     
question will both by the curious and   
enuious be heauily imposed vpon my      

backe1 because in this1 and other       
workes1 ,i haue delt with many things of
 much importance1 and such as any one of
 them would require a whole liues       
experience1 whereas neither my ,birth1  
my ,education1 nor the generall course  
of my life can promise no singularitie  
in any part of those ,artes they treate 
of3 but for suggestions 7the liberty    
whereof the wisedome of ,kings could    
neuer bridle7 let them poison themselues
 with their owne gall1 they shall not so
 much as make me looke ouer my shoulder 
from my labour3 onely to the curteous   
and well meaning ,i giue this           
satisfaction1 ,i am but onely a publique
 ,notary1 who record the most true and  
infallible experience of the best       
knowing ,husbands in this land4         
,besides1 ,i am not altogether vnseene  
in these misteries ,i write of3 for it  
is well knowne ,i followed the          
profession of a ,husbandman so long my  
selfe1 as well might make mee worthy to 
be a graduate in the vocation3 wherein  

my simplicitie was not such but ,i both 
obserued well those which were esteemed 
famous in the profession1 and preserued 
to my selfe those rules which ,i found  
infallible by experience4 ,virgill was  
an excellent ,poet1 and a seruant1 of   
trusty account1 to ,augustus1 whose     
court and study-imployments would haue  
said he should haue little knowledge in 
rurall businesse1 yet who hath set downe
 more excellently the manner of ,italian
 ,husbandry then himselfe1 being a      
perfect lanthorne1 from whose light both
 ,italie and other countries haue seene 
to trace into the true path of profit   
and frugallitie8 ,steuens and ,libault1 
two famous ,phisitions1 a profession    
that neuer medleth with the ,plough1 yet
 who hath done more rarely6 nay1 their  
workes are vtterly vncontrolable        
touching all manner of french ,husbandry
 whatsoeuer2 so my selfe although by    
profession ,i am onely a horse-man1 it  
being the predominant outward vertue ,i 
can boast of1 yet why may not ,i1 hauing

 the sence of man1 by the ayde of       
obseruation and relation1 set downe all 
the rules and principles of our ,english
 ,husbandry in as good and as perfect   
order as any of the former8 there is no 
doubt but ,i may and this ,i dare       
bouldly assure vnto all ,readers that   
there is not any rule prescribed through
 this whole worke1 but hath his         
authoritie from as good and well        
experienced men1 in the ,art of which   
the rule treateth1 as any this kingdome 
can produce3 neither haue ,i beene so   
hasty1 or willing1 to publish this part 
as men may imagining1 for it is well    
knowne it hath laine at rest this many  
yeeres1 and onely now at the            
,instigation of many of my friends is   
bolted into the world1 to try the       
censure of wits1 and to giue aide to the
 ignorant ,husbandman4 ,wherefore to    
leaue off any further digression1 ,i    
will fall to mine intended purpose3 and 
because the whole scope of my labour    
hath all his aime and reuerence to the  

,english ,husbandman1 ,i will first shew
 you what a ,husbandman is4  ,,sn3 ,the 
definition of a ,husbandman4 ,a         
,husbandman is he which with discretion 
and good order tilleth the ground in his
 due seasons1 making it fruitfull to    
bring forth ,corne1 and plants1 meete   
for the sustenance of man4 ,this        
,husbandman is he to whom ,god in the   
scriptures giueth many blessings1 for   
his labours of all other are most       
excellent1 and therefore to be a        
,husbandman is to be a good man2 whence 
the auntients did baptise1 and wee euen 
to this day doe seriously obserue to    
call euery ,husbandman1 both in our     
ordinary conference and euery particular
 salutation1 goodman such a one1 a title
 7if wee rightly obserue it7 of more    
honour and vertuous note1 then many     
which precede it at feasts and in gaudy 
places4  ,,sn3 ,the ,vtillitie of the   
,husbandman4 ,a ,husbandman is the      
,maister of the earth1 turning          
sterillitie and barrainenesse1 into     

fruitfulnesse and increase1 whereby all 
common wealths are maintained and       
upheld1 it is his labour which giueth   
bread to all men and maketh vs forsake  
the societie of beasts drinking vpon the
 water springs1 feeding vs with a much  
more nourishing liquor4 ,the labour of  
the ,husbandman giueth liberty to all   
vocations1 ,arts1 misteries and trades1 
to follow their seuerall functions1 with
 peace and industry1 for the filling and
 emptying of his barnes is the increase 
and prosperitie of all their labours4   
,to conclude1 what can we say in this   
world is profitable where ,husbandry is 
wanting1 it being the great ,nerue and  
,sinew which houldeth together all the  
ioynts of a ,monarchie8  ,,sn3 ,of the  
necessitie of a ,husbandman4 ,now for   
the necessitie1 the profit inferreth it 
without any larger amplification3 for if
 of all things it be most profitable1   
then of all things it must needs be most
 necessary1 sith next vnto heauenly     
things1 profit is the whole aime of our 

liues in this world3 besides it is most 
necessary for keeping the earth in      
order1 which else would grow wilde1 and 
like a wildernesse1 brambles and weeds  
choaking vp better ,plants1 and nothing 
remayning but a ,chaos of confusednesse4
 ,and thus much of the ,husbandman his  
vtillity and necessitie4     ,,chap4    
,,ii4  ,of the situation of the         
,husbandmans house2 the necessaries     
there to belonging1 together with the   
modell thereof4   ,since couerture is   
the most necessariest thing belonging   
vnto mans life1 and that it was the     
first thing that euer man inuented1 ,i  
thinke it not amisse first to beginne1  
before ,i enter into any other part of  
,husbandry1 with the ,husbandmans house1
 without which no ,husbandry can be     
maintained or preserued4 ,and albeit the
 generall ,husbandman must take such a  
house as hee can conueniently get1 and  
according to the custome and abillitie  
of the soyle wherein he liueth1 for many
 countries are very much vnprouided of  

generall matter for well building3 some 
wanting timber1 some stone1 some lime1  
some one thing1 some another3 yet to    
that ,husbandman whom ,god hath enabled 
with power both of riches and euery     
other necessary fit to haue all things  
in a comely conuenientnesse about him1  
if he desire to plant himselfe decently 
and profitable1 ,i would then aduise him
 to chuse for his situation no high     
hill1 or great promontary 7the seate of 
,princes ,courts7 where hee may be gazed
 vpon by the eye of euery traueller1 but
 some pretty hard knole of constant and 
firme earth1 rather assending then      
descending1 free from the danger of     
water1 and being inuironed either with  
some pretty groues1 of tall young       
spiers1 or else with rowes of greater   
timber1 which besids the pleasure and   
profit thereof 7hauing wode so neare a  
mans dore7 the shelter will be most     
excellent to keepe off the bleaknesse of
 the sharpe stormes and tempests in     
winter1 and be an excellent wormestall  

for cattell in the summer4 ,this house  
would be planted1 if possible1 neare to 
some riuer1 or fresh running brooke1 but
 by no meanes vpon the verge of the     
riuer1 nor within the danger of the     
ouerflow thereof3 for the one is subiect
 to too much coldnesse and moisture1 the
 other to danger4 ,you shall plant the  
face1 or forefront1 of your house vpon  
the rising of the ,sunne1 that the vigor
 of his warmth may at no time depart    
from some part thereof1 but that as he  
riseth on the oneside so he may set on  
the other4 ,you shall place the vpper or
 best end of your house1 as namely1     
where your dining ,parlor and cheifest  
roomes are1 which euer would haue their 
prospect into your garden1 to the       
,south1 that your buttery1 kitching and 
other inferiour offices may stand to the
 ,north1 coldnesse bringing vnto them a 
manifold benefit4 ,now touching the     
forme1 fashion1 or modell of the house1 
it is impossible almost for any man to  
prescribe a certaine forme1 the world is

 so plentifull in inuention and euery   
mans minde so much adicted to nouelty   
and curiouity1 yet for as much as it is 
most commended by the generall consent  
of all the auntients1 and that from the 
modell of that proportion may be        
contracted and drawne the most curious  
formes that are almost at this day      
extant1 ,i will commend vnto you that   
modell which beareth the proportion of  
the ,roman ,h4 which as it is most      
plaine of all other1 and most easie for 
conuaiance1 so if a man vpon that plaine
 song1 7hauing a great purse7 will make 
descant1 there is no proportion in which
 he may with best ease show more        
curiositie1 and therefore for the plaine
 ,husbandmans better vnderstanding ,i   
will here shew him a facsimile 7for to  
adde a scale were needlesse in this     
generall worke1 all men not being       
desirous to build of one bignesse7  this
 it is3  ,illustration  ,here you       
behould the modell of a plaine country  
mans house1 without plaster or          

imbosture1 because it is to be intended 
that it is as well to be built of studde
 and plaster1 as of lime and stone1 or  
if timber be not plentifull it may be   
built of courser woode1 and couered with
 lime and haire1 yet if a man would     
bestow cost in this modell1 the foure   
inward corners of the hall would be     
conuenient for foure turrets1 and the   
foure gauell ends1 being thrust out with
 bay windowes might be formed in any    
curious manner3 and where ,i place a    
gate and a plaine pale1 might be either 
a tarrisse1 or a gatehouse3 of any      
fashion whatsoeuer1 besides all those   
windowes which ,i make plaine might be  
made bay windowes1 either with          
battlements1 or without1 but the scope  
of my booke tendeth onely to the vse of 
the honest ,husbandman1 and not to      
instruct men of dignitie1 who in        
,architecture are able wonderfully to   
controle me2 therefore that the         
,husbandman may know the vse of this    
facsimile1 he shall vnderstand it by    

this which followeth4  ,a4 ,signifieth  
the great hall4  ,b4 ,the dining ,parlor
 for entertainment of strangers4  ,c4   
,an inward closset within the ,parlor   
for the ,mistrisses vse1 for            
necessaries4  ,d4 ,a strangers lodging  
within the ,parlor4  ,e4 ,a staire-case 
into the roomes ouer the ,parlor4  ,f4  
,a staire-case into the ,good-mans      
roomes ouer the ,kitchin and ,buttery4  
,g4 ,the ,skreene in the hall4  ,h4 ,an 
inward cellar within the buttery1 which 
may serue for a ,larder4  ,i4 ,the      
,buttery4  ,k4 ,the ,kitchin1 in whose  
range may be placed a bruing lead1 and  
conuenient ,ouens1 the bruing vessels   
adioyning4  ,l4 ,the ,dairy house for   
necessary businesse4  ,m4 ,the ,milke   
house4  ,n4 ,a faire sawne pale before  
the formost court4  ,o4 ,the great gate 
to ride in at to the hall dore4  ,p4 ,a 
place where a ,pumpe would be placed to 
serue the offices of the house4         
,illustration3 ,this figure signifieth  
the dores of the house4  ,illustration3 

,this figure signifieth the windowes of 
the house4  ,illustration3 ,this figure 
signifieth the ,chimnies of the house4  
,now you shall further vnderstand that  
on the ,south side of your house1 you   
shall plant your ,garden and ,orchard1  
as wel for the prospect thereof to al   
your best roomes1 as also because your  
house will be a defence against the     
,northerne coldnesse1 whereby your      
fruits will much better prosper4 ,you   
shall on the ,west side of your house1  
within your inward dairy and kitchin    
court1 fence in a large base court1 in  
the midst whereof would be a faire large
 ,pond1 well ston'd and grauelled in the
 bottome1 in which your ,cattell may    
drinke1 and horses when necessitie shall
 vrge be washt3 for ,i doe by no meanes 
alow washing of horses after instant    
labour4 ,neere to this ,pond you shall  
build your ,doue-coate1 for ,pigions    
delight much in the water3 and you shall
 by no meanes make your ,doue-house too 
high1 for ,pigions cannot endure a high 

mount1 but you shall build it           
moderately1 cleane1 neate1 and close1   
with water pentisses to keepe away      
vermine4 ,on the ,north side of your    
base-court you shall build your         
,stables1 ,oxe-house1 ,cow-house1 and   
,swine-coates1 the dores and windowes   
opening all to the ,south4 ,on the      
,south side of the base-court1 you shall
 builde your ,hay-barnes1 ,corne-barnes1
 pullen-houses for ,hennes1 ,capons1    
,duckes1 and ,geese1 your french ,kilne1
 and ,malting flowres1 with such like   
necessaries3 and ouer crosse betwixt    
both these sides1 you shall build your  
bound houels1 to cary your ,pease1 of   
good and sufficient timber1 vnder which 
you shall place when they are out of vse
 your ,cartes1 ,waynes1 ,tumbrels1      
,ploughs1 ,harrowes1 and such like1     
together with ,plough timber1 and       
axletrees3 all which would very         
carefully be kept from wet1 which of all
 things doth soonest rot and consume    
them4 ,and thus much of the ,husbandmans

 house1 and the necessaries there to    
belonging4     ,,chap4 ,,iii4  ,of the  
seuerall parts and members of an        
ordinarie ,plough1 and of the ioyning of
 them together4   ,if a workeman of any 
trade1 or mistery1 cannot giue          
directions how1 and in what manner1 the 
tooles where with he worketh should be  
made or fashioned1 doubtlesse hee shall 
neuer worke well with them1 nor know    
when they are in temper and when out4   
,and so it fareth with the ,husbandman1 
for if hee know not how his ,plough     
should be made1 nor the seuerall members
 of which it consisteth1 with the vertue
 and vse of euery member1 it is         
impossible that euer hee should make a  
good furrow1 or turne ouer his ground in
 ,husbandly manner3 ,therefore that     
euery ,husbandman may know how a well   
shaped ,plough is made1 he shall        
vnderstand that the first member        
thereof1 as being the strongest and most
 principallest peece of timber belonging
 to the same1 is called the             

,plough-beame1 being a large long peece 
of timber much bending1 according to the
 forme of this figure4  ,illustration   
,this beame hath no certaine length nor 
thicknesse1 but is proportioned         
according to the ground1 for if it be   
for a clay ground the length is almost  
seauen foote1 if for any other mixt or  
lighter earth1 then fiue or sixe foote  
is long inough4  ,the second member or  
part of the ,plough1 is called the      
skeath1 and is a peece of woode of two  
foote and a halfe in length1 and of     
eight inches in breadth1 and two inches 
in thicknesse3 it is driuen extreamly   
hard into the ,plough-beame1 slopewise1 
so that ioyned they present this figure4
  ,illustration  ,the third part is     
called the ,ploughes principall hale1   
and doth belong to the left hand being a
 long bent peece of woode1 some what    
strong in the midst1 and so slender at  
the vpper end that a man may easily     
gripe it1 which being fixed with the    
rest presenteth this figure4            

,illustration  ,the fourth part is the  
,plough head1 which must be fixed with  
the sheath  the head all at one instant 
in two seuerall mortisse holes3 it is a 
flat peece of timber1 almost three foote
 in length if it be for clay ground1    
otherwise shorter1 of breadth seauen    
inches1 and of thicknesse too inches and
 a halfe1 which being ioyned to the rest
 presenteth this figure4  ,illustration 
,the fift part is the ,plough spindels1 
which are two small round pieces of     
woode1 which coupleth together the      
hales1 as in this figure4  ,illustration
  ,the sixt part is the right hand hale1
 through which the other end of the     
spindels runne1 and is much slenderer   
then the left hand hale1 for it is put  
to no force1 but is onely a stay and    
aide to the ,plough houlder when hee    
cometh to heauy1 stiffe1 and strong     
worke1 and being ioyned with the rest   
presenteth this figure4  ,illustration  
,the seauenth part is the ,plough-rest1 
which is a small peece of woode1 which  

is fixt at one end in the further nicke 
of the ,plough head1 and the other end  
to the ,ploughs right-hand hale1 as you 
may see by this figure4  ,illustration  
,the eight part is called the shelboard1
 and is a broad board of more then an   
inche thicknesse1 which couereth all the
 right side of the ,plough1 and is      
fastned with two strong pinnes of woode 
through the sheath1 and the right-hand  
hale1 according to this figure4         
,illustration  ,the ninth part is the   
coulture1 which is a long peece of      
,iron1 made sharpe at the neather end1  
and also sharpe on one side and being   
for a stiffe clay it must be straight   
without bending1 which passeth by a     
mortisse-hole through the beame1 and to 
this coulture belongeth an ,iron ring1  
which windeth about the beame and       
keepeth it in strength from breaking as 
may appeare by this figure4             
,illustration  ,the tenth part of a     
compleate ,plough1 is the share2 which  
is fixed to the ,plough head1 and is    

that which cutteth and turneth vp the   
earth3 if it be for a mixt earth then it
 is made without a wing1 or with a very 
small one1 but if it be for a deepe1 or 
stiffe clay1 then it is made with a     
large wing1 or an outward point1 like   
the figure following4  ,illustration    
,the eleuenth part of a perfect ,plough 
is called the ,plough foote1 and is     
through a mortisse-hole fastned at the  
farre end of all the beame with a wedge 
or two1 so as the ,husbandman may at his
 discretion set it higher or lower1 at  
his pleasure3 the vse of it is to giue  
the ,plough earth1 or put it from the   
earth1 as you please1 for the more you  
driue it downeward1 the more it raiseth 
the beame from the ground1 and maketh   
the ,irons forsake the earth1 and the   
more you driue it vpward the more it    
letteth downe the beame1 and so maketh  
the ,irons bite the sorer2 the figure   
whereof is this4  ,illustration  ,thus  
haue you all the parts and members of a 
,plough1 and how they be knit and ioyned

 together1 wherein ,i would wish you to 
obserue to make your ,plough-wright euer
 rather giue your ,plough land then put 
her from the land1 that is1 rather      
leaning towards the earth and biting    
sore1 then euer slipping out of the     
ground3 for if it haue two much earth   
the ,husbandman may help it in the      
houlding1 but if it haue too little1    
then of necessitie it must make foule   
worke3 but for as much as the error and 
amends lye both in the office of the    
,plough-wright1 ,i will not trouble the 
,husbandman with the reformation        
thereof4  ,now you shall vnderstand that
 there is one other thing belonging to  
the ,plough1 which albe it be no member 
thereof1 yet is it so necessary that the
 ,husbandman which liueth in durty and  
stiffe clayes can neuer goe to ,plough  
without it1 and it is called the        
,aker-staffe1 being a pretty bigge      
cudgell1 of about a yarde in length1    
with an ,iron spud at the end1 according
 to this figure3  ,illustration  ,this  

,akerstaffe the ,husbandman is euer to  
carry within his ,plough1 and when at   
any time the ,irons1 shelboard1 or      
,plough1 are choaked with durt1 clay1 or
 filth1 which will cling about the ould 
stubble1 then with this ,akerstaffe you 
shall put the same off 7your ,plough    
still going7 and so keepe her cleane and
 smooth that your worke may lye the     
handsomer2 and this you must euer doe   
with your right hand3 for the ,plough   
choaketh euer on the shelboard side1 and
 betweene the ,irons4 ,and thus much    
touching the perfect ,plough1 and the   
members thereof4     ,,chap4 ,,iiii4    
,how the ,husbandman shall temper his   
,plough1 and make her fit for his worke4
   ,a ,plough is to a ,husbandman like  
an ,instrument in the hand of a         
,musition1 which if it be out of tune   
can neuer make good ,musicke1 and so if 
the ,plough1 being out of order1 if the 
,husbandman haue not the cunning to     
temper it and set it in the right way1  
it is impossible that euer his labour   

should come to good end4  ,it is very   
necessary then that euery good          
,husbandman know that a ,plough being   
perfectly well made1 the good order or  
disorder thereof consisteth in the      
placing of the ,plough-,irons and the   
,plough-foote4 ,know then1 that for the 
placing of the ,irons1 the share would  
be set to looke a little into the       
ground3 and because you shall not       
bruise1 or turne1 the point thereof1 you
 shall knocke it fast vpon the head1    
either with a crooked ,rams-horne1 or   
else with some piece of soft ,ash woode3
 and you shall obserue that it stand    
plaine1 flat1 and leuell1 without wrying
 or turning either vpward or downeward3 
for if it runne not euen vpon the earth 
it will neuer make a good furrow1 onely 
as before ,i said1 the point must looke 
a little downeward4  ,now1 for the      
coulture1 you must place it slopewise   
through the beame1 so as the point of it
 and the point of the share may as it   
were touch the ground at one instant1   

yet if the coulture point be a little   
thought the longer it shall not be      
amisse3 yet for a more certaine         
direction and to try whether your ,irons
 stand true ,i or no1 you shall take a  
string1 and measure from the            
mortisse-hole through which the coulture
 passeth1 to the point of the coulture1 
and so keeping your vpper hand constant 
lay the same length to the of point your
 share1 and if one measure serue them   
both right1 there being no difference   
betweene them1 then the ,irons stand    
true for their length1 otherwise they   
stand false4  ,now your coulture albe it
 stand true for the length1 yet it may  
stand either too much to the land1 or   
too much from the land1 either of which 
is a great errour1 and will keepe the   
,plough from going true3 your coulture  
therefore shall haue certaine wedges of 
ould dry ,ash woode1 that is to say1 one
 before the coulture on the vpper side  
the beame1 and another on the land side1
 or left side1 the coulture on the vpper

 side the beame also2 then you shall    
haue another wedge behinde the coulture 
vnderneath the beame1 and one on the    
furrow side1 or right side1 the beame   
vnderneath also4 ,now1 if your coulture 
haue too much land1 then you shall driue
 in your vpper side wedge and ease the  
contrary3 if it haue too little land1   
then you shall contrarily driue in your 
right side vnder wedge and ease the     
other3 ,if your coulture stand too      
forward1 then you shall driue in your   
vpper wedge which standeth before the   
coulture2 and if it stand too backward  
and too neere your share1 then you shall
 driue in your vnder wedge which        
standeth behinde the coulture3 if your  
coulture standeth awry any way1 then are
 either your side wedges too small1 or  
else not euen and plaine cut1 which     
faults you must amend1 and then all will
 be perfect4 ,now1 when your ,irons are 
iust and truely placed1 then you shall  
driue in euery wedge hard and firme1    
that no shaking or other straine may    

loosen them3 as for the ,plough foote it
 also must haue a wedge or two1 which   
when your ,plough goeth right and to    
your contentment 7for the foote will    
keepe it from sinking or rising7 then   
you shall also driue them in hard1 that 
the foote may not stirre from the true  
place where you did set it4 ,and that   
these things when a man commeth into the
 field may not be to seeke1 it is the   
office of euery good ,husbandman neuer  
to goe forth with his ,plough but to    
haue his ,hatchet in a socket1 fixt to  
his ,plough beame1 and a good piece of  
hard wedge woode1 in case any of your   
wedges should shake out and be lost4    
,,sn3 ,of holding the ,plough4 ,when    
your ,plough is thus ordered and        
tempered in good manner1 and made fit   
for her worke1 it then resteth that you 
know the skill and aduantages in holding
 thereof1 which indeed are rules of much
 diuersitie1 for if it be a stiffe1     
blacke clay which you ,plow1 then can   
you not ,plow too deepe1 nor make your  

furrowes too bigge3 if it be a rich     
hassell ground1 and not much binding1   
then reasonable furrowes1 laid closse1  
are the best3 but if it be any binding1 
stony1 or sandy ground1 then you cannot 
make your furrowes too small4 ,as       
touching the gouerning of your ,plough1 
if you see shee taketh too much land1   
then you shall writh your left hand a   
little to the left side and raise your  
,plough rest somewhat from the ground3  
if shee taketh too little earth1 then   
you shall raise vp your left hand1 and  
carry your ,plough as in a direct line3 
,if your ,plough-,irons forbeare and    
will not bite on the earth at all1 then 
it is a signe that you hang too heauy on
 the ,plough hales1 raising the head of 
the ,plough from the ground1 which      
errour you must amend1 and of the two   
rather raise it vp behind then before1  
but to doe neither is best1 for the     
,plough hale is a thing for the hand to 
gouerne1 and not to make a leaning      
stocke of3 ,and thus much touching the  

tempring of the ,plough and making her  
fit for worke4     ,,chap4 ,v4  ,the    
manner of ,plowing the rich1 stiffe1    
blacke ,clay1 his ,earings1 ,plough1 and
 other ,instruments4   ,of all soyles in
 this our kingdome there is none so rich
 and fruitfull1 if it be well handled   
and ,husbanded1 as is that which we call
 the stiffe1 blacke1 ,clay1 and indeed  
is more blacker to looke on then any    
other soyle1 yet some times it will     
turne vp very blewish1 with many white  
vaines in it1 which is a very speciall  
note to know his fruitfulnesse2 for that
 blewish earth mixt with white is       
nothing else but very rich ,marle1 an   
earth that in ,cheshire1 ,lanckashire1  
and many other countries1 serueth to    
,manure and make fat their barrainest   
land in such sort that it will beare    
,corne seauen yeeres together4 ,this    
blacke clay as it is the best soyle1    
well ,husbanded1 so it is of all soyles 
the worst if it be ill ,husbanded3 for  
if it loose but one ardor1 or seasenable

 ,plowing1 it will not be recouered in  
foure yeeres after1 but will naturally  
of it selfe put forth wilde ,oates1     
,thistels1 and all manner of offensiue  
weedes1 as ,cockle1 ,darnell1 and such  
like3 his labour is strong1 heauy1 and  
sore1 vnto the cattell that tilleth it1 
but to the ,husbandman is more easie    
then any other soyle1 for this asketh   
but foure times ,plowing ouer at the    
most1 where diuers other soyles aske    
fiue times1 and sixe times1 as shalbe   
shewed hereafter4 ,but to come to the   
,plowing of this soyle1 ,i hold it meete
 to beginne with the beginning of the   
yeere1 which with ,husbandmen is at     
,plow-day1 being euer the first ,munday 
after the ,twelft-day1 at which time you
 shall goe forth with your draught1     
begin to plow your ,pease-earth1 that   
is1 the earth where you meane to sow    
your ,pease1 or ,beanes3 for ,i must    
giue you to vnderstand1 that these      
,clayes are euer more naturall for      
,beanes then ,pease1 not but that they  

will beare both alike1 only the         
,husbandman imployeth them more for     
,beanes1 because pease  fitches wil grow
 vpon euery soyle1 but ,beanes wil grow 
no where but on the clayes onely4 ,this 
,pease-earth is euer where barley grew  
the yeere before1  hath the stubble yet 
remayning thereon4 ,you shal plow this  
,pease-earth euer vpward1 that is1 you  
shall beginne on the ridge of the land1 
turne all your furrowes vp1 one against 
another1 except your lands lye too high 
7which seldome can be seene7 and then   
you shall begin at the furrow1  cast    
downe your land4  ,now1 when you haue   
plowed all your ,pease-ground1 you shall
 let it so lye1 till it haue receiued   
diuers ,frosts1 some ,raine1 and then a 
fayre season1 which betwixt plow-day and
 ,saint ,valentines day you shalbe sure 
to inioy3 and this is called1 ,the      
letting of ,land lye to baite3 for      
without this rest1 and these seasons1 it
 is impossible to make these ,clayes    
harrow1 or yeelde any good mould at all4

 ,after your ,land hath receiued his    
kindely baite1 then you shall cast in   
your seede1 of ,beanes1 or ,pease3 but  
in my conceit1 an equall mixture of them
 is the best seede of all1 for if the   
one faile1 the other will be sure to    
hit3 and when your land is sowne you    
shall harrow it with a harrow that hath 
woodden teeth4  ,the next ,ardor after  
this1 is the sowing of your ,barley in  
your fallow field3 the next is the      
fallowing of your ground for ,barley the
 next yeere3 the next ,ardor is the     
,summer-stirring of that which you      
fallowed3 the next is the foyling of    
that which you ,summer-stirde3 and the  
last is the ,winter rigging of that     
which you foil'd3 of all which ,ardors1 
and the manner of ,plowing them1 with   
their seasons1 ,i haue written          
sufficiently in the first ,chapter of   
the next part2 where ,i speake of simple
 earths vncompounded4  ,now whereas ,i  
told you before that these clayes were  
heauy worke for your ,cattell1 it is    

necessary that ,i shew you how to ease  
them1 and which way they may draw to    
their most aduantage1 which onely is by 
drawing in beare-geares1 an inuention   
the skilfull ,husbandman hath found out1
 wherein foure horses shall draw as much
 as sixe1 and sixe as eight1 being geard
 in any other contrary fashion4 ,now    
because the name onely bettereth not    
your knowledge1 you shall heare behould 
the figure and manner thereof4          
,illustration  ,now you shall vnderstand
 the vse of this ,figure by the figures 
therein contayned1 that is to say1 the  
figure  7#a7 presenteth the             
plough-cleuisse1 which being ioyned to  
the plough-beame1 extendeth1 with a     
chaine1 vnto the first ,toastree3 and   
touching this ,cleuisse1 you shall      
vnderstand1 that it must be made with   
three nickes in the midst thereof1 that 
if the ,plough haue too much land giuen 
it in the making1 that is1 if it turne  
vp too much land1 then the chaine shall 
be put in the outwardmost nicke to the  

land side1 that is1 the nicke towards   
your right hand3 but if it take too     
little land1 then it shall be put in the
 nicke next the furrow1 that is1 towards
 the right hand3 but if it goe euen and 
well1 then you shall keepe it in the    
middle nicke1 which is the iust guide of
 true proportion4 ,and thus this        
,cleuisse is a helpe for the euill      
making or going of a plough4  7#b7 ,is  
the hind-most ,toastree1 that is1 a     
broad piece of ,ash woode1 three inches 
broad1 which going crosse the chaine1   
hath the ,swingletrees fastned vnto it1 
by which the horses draw4 ,now you shall
 vnderstand that in this ,toastree is   
great helpe and aduantage3 for if the   
two horses which draw one against the   
other1 be not of equall strength1 but   
that the one doth ouer-draw the other1  
then you shall cause that end of the    
,toastree by which the weaker horse     
drawes1 to be longer from the chaine    
then the other1 by at least halfe a     
foote1 and that shall giue the weaker   

horse such an aduantage1 that his       
strength shall counterpoyse with the    
stronger horse4 ,now there be some      
especiall ,husbandmen that finding this 
disaduantage in the ,toastree1 and that 
by the vncertaine shortening1 and       
lenthening of the ,toastree1 they haue  
sometimes more disaduantaged the strong 
horse1 then giuen helpe to the weake1   
therefore they haue inuented another    
,toastree1 with a double chaine1 and a  
round ring1 which is of that excellent  
perfection in draught1 that if a ,foale 
draw against an olde horse1 yet the     
,foale shall draw no more then the      
abilitie of his owne strength1 each     
taking his worke by himselfe1 as if they
 drew by single chaines4 ,now because   
this ,toastree is such a notable        
,implement both in ,plough1 ,cart1 or   
,waine1 and so worthy to be imitated of 
all good husbands1 ,i thinke it not     
amisse to shew you the figure thereof4  
,illustration3 ,the ,toastree with      
double chaines4  7#c7 ,the              

,swingletrees1 being pieces of ,ash wood
 cut in proportion afore-shewed1 to     
which the ,treates1 by which the horses 
draw1 are fastned with strong loopes4   
7#d7 ,the ,treates by which the horses  
draw1 being strong cords made of the    
best ,hempe4  7#e7 ,the place betweene  
the ,treats1 where the horses must      
stand4  7#f7 ,the ,hames1 which girt the
 ,collers about1 to which the other end 
of the ,treats are fastned1 being       
compassed pieces of wood1 eyther cleane 
,ash1 or cleane ,oake4  7#g7 ,the round 
,withes of wood1 or broad thongs of     
leather1 to put about the horses necke1 
to beare the maine chayne from the      
ground1 that it trouble not the horses  
in their going4  7#h7 ,the              
,single-linckes of ,iron1 which ioyne   
the ,swingle-trees vnto the ,toastrees4 
7#i7 ,the ,belly-bands1 which passe     
vnder the belly of the horse1 and are   
made fast to both sides of the ,treates1
 keeping them downe1 that when the horse
 drawes1 his coller may not choake him3 

being made of good small line or coard4 
7#aj7 ,the ,backe-bands1 which going    
ouer the horses backe1 and being made   
fast to both sides of the ,treates1 doe 
hold them1 so as when the horses turne1 
the ,treates doe not fall vnder their   
feete4  ,,sn3 ,how many beasts in a     
plough4 ,thus ,i haue giuen you the     
perfect portraiture of a well yoakt     
,plough1 together with his ,implements1 
and the vse of them1 being the best     
which hath yet beene found out by any of
 our skilfullest ,english ,husbandmen1  
whose practise hath beene vpon these    
deepe1 stiffe1 blacke clayes4 ,now you  
shall vnderstand1 that for the number of
 ,cattell to be vsed in these ploughes1 
that in fallowing your land1 and plowing
 your ,pease-earth1 eight good ,cattell 
are the best number1 as being the       
strongest1 and within the compasse of   
gouernment1 whereas more were but       
troublesome1 and in all your other      
,ardors1 sixe good beasts are           
sufficient1 yet if it be so1 that eyther

 want of abilitie1 or other necessity   
vrge1 you shall know that sixe beasts   
will suffice eyther to fallow1 or to    
plow ,pease-earth1 and foure beasts for 
euery other ,ardor or earing3 and lesse 
then this number is most insufficient1  
as appeares by daily experience1 when   
poore men kill their ,cattell onely by  
putting them to ouer-much labour4 ,and  
thus much touching the plowing of the   
blacke clay4     ,,chap4 ,,vi4  ,the    
manner of plowing the white or gray     
,clay1 his ,earings1 ,plough1 and       
,instruments4   ,now as touching the    
white or gray clay1 you shall vnderstand
 that it is of diuers and sundry        
natures1 altering according to his      
tempers of wet or drynesse3 the wet     
being more tough1 and the dry more      
brittle3 his mixture and other          
characters ,i haue shewed in a former   
,chapter1 wherefore for his manner of   
plowing 7obseruing my first methode1    
which is to beginne with the beginning  
of the yeere1 ,i meane at ,christmas7 it

 is thus3  ,,sn3 ,of sowing of ,pease   
and ,beanes4 ,if you finde that any of  
this white or gray clay1 lying wet1 haue
 lesse mixture of stone or chaulke in   
it1 and so consequently be more tough1  
as it doth many times fall out1 and that
 vpon such land1 that yeere1 you are to 
sow your ,pease and ,beanes3 for as in  
the former blacke clay1 so in this gray 
clay you shall begin with your          
,pease-earth euer3 then immediately     
after ,plow-day1 you shall plow vp such 
ground as you finde so tough1 in the    
selfe-same manner as you did plow the   
blacke clay1 and so let it lye to baite 
till the frost haue seasoned it1 and    
then sow it accordingly4 ,but if you    
haue no such tough land1 but that it    
holdes it owne proper nature1 being so  
mixt with small stones and chaulke1 that
 it will breake in reasonable manner1   
then you shall stay till the latter end 
of ,ianuary1 at what time1 if the       
weather be seasonable1 and inclining to 
drynesse1 you shall beginne to plow your

 ,pease-earth1 in this manner3 ,first1  
you shall cause your seedes-man to sow  
the land with single casts1 as was      
shewed vpon the blacke clay1 with this  
caution1 that the greater your seede is1
 7that is1 the more ,beanes you sow7 the
 greater must be your quantitie3 and    
being sowne1 you shall bring your       
plough1 and beginning at the furrow of  
the land1 you shall plow euery furrow   
downeward vpon the ,pease and ,beanes3  
which is called sowing of ,pease vnder  
furrow3 and in this manner you shall sow
 all your ,pease and ,beanes1 which is  
cleane contrary to your blacke clay4    
,besides1 whereas vpon the stiffe clay  
it is conuenient to take as large       
furrowes as you please1 vpon this kinde 
of gray clay you shall take as small    
furrowes as is possible4 ,now the reason
 for this manner of plowing your        
,pease-earth1 is1 because it is a light 
kinde of breaking earth1 so that should 
it be sowne according to the stiffe     
blacke clay1 it would neuer couer your  

,pease1 but leaue them bare1 both to be 
destroyed by the ,fowles of the ayre1   
and the bitternesse of the weather4 ,as 
soone as your ,pease and ,beanes are    
risen a fingers length aboue the earth1 
then if you finde that any of your lands
 doe lye very rough1 and that the clods 
be great1 it shall not be amisse1 to    
take a payre of woodden ,harrowes1 and  
harrow ouer all your rough lands1 the   
benefit whereof is this1 that it will   
both breake the hard clots1 and so giue 
those ,pease leaue to sprout through the
 earth1 which before lay bound in and   
drowned1 and also lay your lands smooth 
and cleane1 that the ,mowers when they  
come to mowe your ,pease and ,beanes1   
shall haue better worke1 and mowe them  
with more ease1 and much better to the  
owners profit4 ,for you must vnderstand 
that where you sow ,beanes1 there it is 
euer more profit to mowe them with      
,sythes1 then to reape them with        
,hookes1 and much sooner1 and with lesse
 charge performed4 ,the limitation of   

time for this ,ardor of earing1 is from 
the latter end of ,ianuary vntill the   
beginning of ,march1 not forgetting this
 rule1 that to sow your ,pease and      
,beanes in a shower1 so it be no beating
 raine is most profitable3 because they1
 as ,wheat1 take delight in a fresh and 
a moyst mould4  ,,sn3 ,of sowing of     
,barley4 ,after the beginning of ,march1
 you shall beginne to sow your ,barley  
vpon that ground which the yeere before 
did lye fallow1 and is commonly called  
your tilth1 or fallow field3 and if any 
part of it consist of stiffe and tough  
ground1 then you shall1 vpon such       
ground1 sow your ,barley vnder furrow1  
in such manner and fashion as ,i        
described vnto you for the sowing of    
your stiffe blacke clay3 but if it be   
7as for the most part these gray and    
white clayes are7 of a much lighter1 and
 as it were1 fussie temper1 then you    
shall first plow your land vpward1      
cleane and well1 without baukes or      
stiches3 and hauing so plowed it1 you   

shall then sow it with ,barley1 that is 
to say1 with double casts1 ,i meane1    
bestowing twise so many casts of        
,barley1 as you would doe if you were to
 sow it with ,pease4 ,and as soone as   
you haue sowne your ,barley1 you shall  
take a payre of woodden ,harrowes1 and  
harrow it as small as is possible3 and  
this is called sowing aboue furrow4     
,,sn3 ,of sowing ,oates4 ,now if you    
haue any land1 which eyther through the 
badnesse of the soyle1 or for want of   
manure1 is more barrayne1 and hard to   
bring forth then generally the rest of  
your land is1 then you shall not bestow 
,barley thereupon1 but sow it with      
,oates1 in such manner and fashion as is
 appointed for the sowing of ,pease1    
that is to say1 if it be stiffe ground  
you shall sow it aboue furrow1 if it be 
light ground1 then you shall sow it     
vnder furrow1 knowing this for a rule1  
that the barraynest ground will euer    
beare indifferent ,oates1 but if the    
ground haue any small hart1 then it will

 beare ,oates in great abundance3       
neither neede you to be very precise for
 the oft plowing of your ground before  
you sow your ,oates1 because ,oates will
 grow very well if they be sowne vpon   
reasonable ground1 at the first plowing3
 whence it comes to passe that many     
,husbandmen doe oft sow their ,oates    
where they should sow their ,pease1 and 
in the same manner as they doe sow their
 ,pease1 and it is held for a rule of   
good husbandry also3 because if the     
ground be held any thing casuall for    
,pease1 it is better to haue good ,oates
 then naughty ,pease3 besides1 your     
,oates are both a necessary graine in   
the house1 as for ,oate-meale1 for the  
pot1 for ,puddings1 and such like1 and  
also for the stable1 for ,prouender1 and
 the feeding of all manner of ,poultry4 
,the time for sowing of your ,barley and
 ,oates1 is from from the first of      
,march till the first of ,aprill1       
obseruing euer to sow your ,oates first1
 and your ,barley after1 for it being   

onely a ,summer graine1 would           
participate as little as may be with any
 part of the ,winter4  ,,sn3 ,of        
,fallowing4 ,,sn3 ,of sleighting        
,barley4 ,about the middest of ,aprill  
you shall beginne to fallow that part of
 your ground1 which you entend shall    
take rest that yeere1 and so become your
 fallow or tilth-field4 ,and in         
fallowing this gray or white clay1 you  
shall obserue all those rules and       
ceremonies1 which are formerly described
 for the fallowing of the stiffe blacke 
clay1 knowing that there is in this     
worke no difference betweene the blacke 
clay1 and the gray clay1 but both to be 
plowed after one manner1 that is to say1
 to haue all the furrowes cast          
downeward1 and the ridges of the lands  
laid largely open1 and of a good depth1 
onely the furrowes which you turne vpon 
this gray clay must be much smaller and 
lesse then those which you turne vpon   
your stiffe blacke clay1 because this   
earth is more naturally inclined to     

binde and cleaue together then that of  
the blacke clay4 ,the time for fallowing
 of this ground1 is from the middest of 
,aprill vntill the middest of ,may3 at  
what time you shall perceiue your       
,barley to appeare aboue the ground1 so 
that then you shall beginne to sleight  
and smooth it3 but not with backe       
,harrowes1 as was described for the     
blacke clay1 because this gray clay     
being not so fat and rich1 but more     
inclined to fastnesse and hardnesse1    
therefore it will not sunder and breake 
so easily as the other3 wherefore when  
you will smooth or sleight this ground1 
you shall take a round piece of wood1   
being in compasse about at least thirty 
inches1 and in length sixe foote1 hauing
 at each end a strong pinne of ,iron1 to
 which making fast two small poales1 by 
which the horse shall draw1 yet in such 
sort that the round piece of wood may   
roule and turne about as the horse      
drawes it3 and with this you shall roule
 ouer all your ,barley1 and by the      

waight of the round piece of wood bruise
 and breake all the hard clots asunder4 
,this is called amongst ,husbandmen a   
,rouler1 and is for this purpose of     
sleighting and smoothing of grounds of  
great vse and profit4 ,now you shall    
vnderstand that you must not at any time
 sleight or smooth your ,corne1 but     
after a shower of ,raine1 for if the    
mould be not a little moistned the      
rouler will not haue power to breake it4
  ,now for as much as this rouler is of 
so good vse and yet not generally vsed  
in this kingdome1 ,i thinke it not      
amisse to shew you the figure thereof4  
,illustration3 ,the great ,rouler4  ,as 
soone as you haue roulled ouer your     
,barley1  laid it so smooth as you can  
with your rouler1 if then you perceiue  
any hard clots1 such as the rouler      
cannot breake1 then you shal send forth 
your seruants with long clotting        
beetels1 made broad and flat1 and with  
them you shall breake asunder all those 
hard clots1 and so lay your ,barley as  

smooth and cleane as is possible3 the   
profit whereof you shall both finde in  
the multiplying of your ,corne and also 
in the sauing of your sithes from       
breaking1 at such time as you shall come
 to mowe your ,corne1 and gather in your
 ,haruest4  ,,sn3 ,of ,summer-stirring4 
,,sn3 ,of weeding4 ,,sn3 ,of stone      
gathering4 ,your ,barley being thus     
laide smooth1 you shall then follow your
 other necessary businesses1 as         
preparing of your fewell1 and other     
needements for houshould1 vntill the    
beginning of ,iune1 at which time you   
shall beginne to ,summer-stirre your    
fallow field1 which shalbe done in all  
points after the same manner as you did 
,summer-stirre your blacke ,clay1 that  
is to say1 you shall beginne in the     
ridge of the land1 and as when you      
fallowed your land you turned your      
furrowes downeward1 so now in           
,summer-stirring1 you shall turne your  
furrowes vpward and close the ridge of  
you land againe4 ,as soone as this      

,ardor is finished1 or when the         
vnseasonablenesse of the weather1 as    
either too much wet1 or too much        
drynesse shall hinder you from ,plowing1
 you shall then looke into your         
,cornefields1 that is to say3 first into
 your ,wheate and ,rye field1 and if    
there you shall finde any store of      
weedes1 as ,thistell1 ,darnell1         
,tare-,cockle1 or such like1 you shall  
with weede-hookes1 or nippers of woode1 
cut1 or plucke them vp by the rootes2   
and also if you finde any annoyance of  
stones1 which hinders the growth of your
 ,corne1 as generally it happens in this
 soyle1 you shall then cause some ,boyes
 and ,girles1 or other waste persons1 to
 gather them vp and lay them in heapes  
at the lands ends1 to be imployed either
 about the mending of high wayes or     
other occasions1 and for this purpose   
their is a generall custome in most     
,villages1 that euery houshoulder is    
bound to send out one seruant to be     
imployed about this businesse3 whence it

 comes to passe1 that it is called      
common worke1 as being done at the      
generall charge of the whole ,parish4   
,after you haue weeded your ,wheate and 
,rye1 you shall then weede your ,barley 
also1 which being finished about the    
midst of ,iuly1 you shall then beginne  
to looke into your medowes and to the   
preparing of your ,hay haruest4  ,,sn3  
,of foyling4 ,now at such time as either
 the vnseasonablenesse of the weather1  
or the growth of your grasse shall      
hinder you from following that businesse
 of ,haruest1 you shall then looke into 
your fallow or tilth field againe1 and  
whereas before at your ,summer-stirring 
you ,plowed your land vpward1 now you   
shall beginne to foile1 that is to say1 
you shall cast your land downe againe1  
and open the ridge3 and this ,ardor of  
all other ,ardors you must by no meanes 
neglect vpon the gray1 white clay1      
because it being most subiect vnto      
weede1 and the hardest to bring to a    
fine mould1 this ,ardor of all others1  

doth both consume the one and makes     
perfect the other1 and the drier season 
you doe foile your land in1 the better  
it is1 and the more it doth breake and  
sunder the clots in pieces3 for as in   
,summer-stirring the greater clots you  
raise vp1 and the rougher your land lies
 the better it is1 because it is a token
 of great store of mould1 so when you   
foile1 the more you breake the clots in 
pieces the better season will your land 
take1 and the richer it wilbe when the  
seede is sowne into it3 ,and the season 
for the foiling of this soile is from   
the midst of ,iuly till the midst of    
,september4  ,,sn3 ,of ,manuring4 ,now  
albe ,i haue omitted the ,manuring of   
this land in his due place1 as namely1  
from the midst of ,aprill1 till the end 
of ,may1 yet you shall vnderstand that  
of all other things it is not in any    
wise to be neglected by the carefull    
,husbandman1 both because the soyle     
being not so rich as the blacke ,clay1  
will very hardly bring forth his seede  

without ,manure1 and also because it is 
for the most part subiect vnto much wet1
 and stones1 both which are signes of   
cold and barrainenesse4 ,now for those  
,manures1 which are best and most proper
 for this soile1 you shall vnderstand   
that all those which ,i formerlie       
described for the blacke ,claies1 as    
namely1 ,oxe or ,cowes dung1 ,horse dung
 and ,sheepes dung1 are also very good  
for this soile1 and to be vsed in the   
same manner as is specified in the      
former ,chapter3 but if you haue not    
such store of this ,manure as will serue
 to compasse your whole land1 you shall 
then vnderstand1 that the blacke mud1 or
 durt which lies in the bottome of olde 
ponds1 or else standing lakes1 is also a
 very good manure for this soile1 or    
else straw which is spread in           
high-wayes1 and so rotted by the great  
concourse or vse of much trauelling1 and
 after in the ,spring-time shouelled vp 
in great heapes1 is a good manure for   
this earth3 but if you finde this soile 

to be subiect to extraordinary wet and  
coldnesse1 you shall then know that the 
ashes eyther of wood1 coale1 or straw1  
is a very good manure for it4 ,but aboue
 all other1 and then which there is no  
manure more excellent for cold barraine 
clayes of this nature1 the ,pigions     
dung1 or the dung of houshold ,pullen1  
as ,capons1 ,hennes1 ,chickens1         
,turkies1 and such like1 so there be no 
,goose-dung amongst it1 is the best of  
all other3 but not to be vsed in such   
sort as the other manures1 that is to   
say1 to be laid in great heapes vpon the
 land1 or to be spread from the ,cart   
vpon the land1 for neyther is there such
 abundance of such manure to be gotten1 
nor if there were1 it would not be held 
for good husbandrie to make lauish      
hauocke of a thing so precious4  ,,sn3  
,the vse of ,pigion or ,pullen-dung4    
,you shall then know that for the vse of
 ,pigion or ,pullen-dung1 it is thus3   
you shall first with your hand breake it
 as small as may be1 and then put it    

into the ,hopper1 in such sort as you   
put your corne when you sow it3 and then
 looke how you sow your corne1 in such  
sort you shall sow your ,pigion or      
,pullen-dung3 which done1 you shall     
immediately put your ,barley into the   
same ,hopper1 and so sow it after the   
,pigions or ,pullen-dung3 by which you  
are to vnderstand that this kinde of    
manuring is to be vsed onely in         
,seede-time1 and at no other season4    
,this manure is of the same nature that 
sheepes manure is1 and doth last but    
onely for one yeere1 onely it is much   
hotter1 as being in the greatest        
extremitie of heate4 ,now if it happen  
that you cannot get any of this ,pigions
 or ,pullen-dung1 because it is scarce1 
and not in euery mans power1 if then you
 take ,lime and sow it vpon your land in
 such sort as is before said of the     
,pigions-dung1 and then sow your corne  
after it1 you shall finde great profit  
to come thereon1 especially in colde wet
 soiles1 such as for the most part1     

these gray white clayes are4  ,,sn3 ,of 
sowing ,wheate4 ,after your land is     
foild1 which worke would be finished by 
the middest of ,september1 then you     
shall beginne to sow your ,wheate1 ,rye1
 and ,maslin1 which in all things must  
be done as is before set downe for the  
blacke clay1 the choice of seede1 and   
euery obseruation being all one3 for    
,wheate not taking delight in a very    
rich ground1 doth prosper best vpon this
 indifferent soile4 ,whence it comes    
that in these gray white clayes1 you    
shall for the most part1 see more       
,wheate sowne then any other ,graine    
whatsoeuer4 ,but as touching your ,rye  
and ,maslin1 that euer desires a rich   
ground and a fine mould1 and therefore  
you shall make choise of your better    
earth for that ,seede1 and also obserue 
to helpe it with manure1 or else sheepes
 folding1 in such manner as is described
 in the former ,chapter1 where ,i spake 
of the sowing of ,wheate1 ,rye1 and     
,maslin4  ,,sn3 ,of winter-ridging4 ,as 

soone as you haue sowne your ,wheate1   
,rye1 and ,maslin1 you shall then about 
the latter end of ,october1 beginne to  
,winter ridge1 or set vp your land for  
the whole yeere3 which you shall doe in 
all points1 as you doe vpon the blacke  
clay1 without any change or alteration4 
,and the limitation for this ,ardor is1 
from the latter end of ,october vntill  
the beginning of ,december1 wherein your
 yeeres worke is made perfect and       
compleate4  ,,sn3 ,obseruations4 ,now   
you shall vnderstand1 that although ,i  
haue in this generall sort passed ouer  
the ,ardors and seuerall ,earings of    
this white or gray clay1 any of which   
are in no wise to be neglected3 yet     
there are sundry other obseruations to  
be held of the carefull ,husbandman1    
especially in the laying of his land3 as
 thus1 if the soile be of good temper1  
fruitfull1 drie1 and of a well mixed    
mould1 not being subiect to any naturall
 spring or casting forth of moisture1   
but rather through the natiue warmth    

drying vp all kinde of fluxes or colde  
moistures1 neyther binding or strangling
 the ,seede1 nor yet holding it in such 
loosenesse1 that it loose his force of  
increasing1 in this case it is best to  
lay your lands flat and leuell1 without 
ridges or furrowes1 as is done in many  
parts of ,cambridge-shire1 some parts of
 ,essex1 and some parts of              
,hartford-shire3 but if the clay be     
fruitfull and of good temper1 yet either
 by the bordering of great hils1 the    
ouer-flow of small brookes1 or some     
other casuall meanes it is subiect to   
much wet or drowning1 in this case you  
shall lay your lands large and high1    
with high ridges and deepe furrowes1 as 
generally you see in ,lincolne-shire1   
,nottingham-shire1 ,huntington-shire1   
and most of the middle ,shires in       
,england4 ,but if the land be barraine1 
colde1 wet1 subiect to much binding1 and
 doth bring forth great store of weedes1
 then you shall lay your land in little 
stiches1 that is to say1 not aboue three

 or foure furrowes at the most together1
 as is generally seene in ,middlesex1   
,hartford-shire1 ,kent and ,surrey3 for 
by that meanes neither shall the land   
binde and choake the ,corne1 nor shall  
the weede so ouer-runne it1 but that the
 ,husbandman may with good ease helpe to
 strengthen and clense it1 the many     
furrowes both giuing him many passages1 
whereby he may correct those enormities1
 and also in such sort conuaying away   
the water and other moistures1 that     
there cannot be made any land more      
fruitfull4  ,,sn3 ,of the ,plough4 ,now 
to speake of the ,plough which is best  
and most proper for this gray or white  
clay1 of which we now speake1 you shall 
vnderstand that it differeth exceeding  
much from that of which we spake        
concerning the blacke clay3 ,i1 and in  
such sort1 that there is but small      
alliance or affinitie betweene them3 as 
thus for example3  ,first1 it is not so 
large and great as that for the blacke  
clay3 for the head thereof is not aboue 

twentie inches in length1 and not aboue 
one inch and a halfe in thicknesse1 the 
maine beame thereof is not aboue fiue   
foot long1  the rest is broader by an   
inch and more then that for the blacke  
clay3 this ,plough also hath but one    
hale1  that is onely the left hand      
,hale3 for the ,plough-staffe1 or       
,aker-staffe serueth euer in stead of   
the right hand ,hale1 so that the       
,rough-staues are fixed1 the vpper vnto 
the shelboard1 and the neather vnto the 
,plough-rest1 as for your better        
vnderstanding you may perceiue by this  
figure4  ,illustration3 ,the ,plough    
with one ,hale4  ,now you shall         
vnderstand that the especiall care which
 is to be held in the making of this    
,plough1 is1 that it be wide and open in
 the hinder part1 that it may turne and 
lay the furrowes one vpon another3      
whereas if it should be any thing       
straitned in the hinder part1           
considering that this clay naturally is 
somewhat brittle of it selfe1 and that  

the furrowes which you plow must of     
necessitie be very narrow and little1 it
 were not possible so to lay them1 but  
that they would fall downe backe againe1
 and inforce the ,plow-man to lose his  
labour4 ,also you shall vnderstand that 
whereas in the former plough1 which is  
for the blacke clay1 you may turne the  
shelboard1 that is1 when the one end is 
worne1 you may eftsoones turne the      
other1 and make it serue the like       
season3 in this ,plough you must neuer  
turne the shelboard1 because the rising 
wing of the ,share will so defend it1   
that it will euer last as long as the   
,plough-head1 without change or turning4
  ,now for the ,irons belonging vnto    
this ,plough1 which is the ,share and   
,coulture1 there is more difference in  
them then in the ,plough3 for to speake 
first of the ,share1 whereas the former 
,share for the blacke clay1 was made    
broad1 plaine1 and with a large wing1   
this ,share must be made narrow1 sharpe1
 and small1 with no wing at all1 hauing 

from the vpper part thereof1 close by   
the shelboard1 a certaine rising wing1  
or broad piece of ,iron1 which comming  
vp and arming that part of the shelboard
 which turnes ouer the land1 defends the
 wood from the sharpe mould1 which      
hauing the mixture of pible stone in it1
 would otherwise in lesse then one dayes
 worke consume the shelboard vnto       
nothing1 forcing the ,plow-man to much  
trouble and double cost4 ,the fashion of
 the ,share is presented in this ,figure
 following4  ,illustration3 ,the ,share4
  ,this ,share is onely made that it may
 take a small furrow1 and so by breaking
 the earth oftner then any other ,share1
 causeth the land to yeeld a good and   
plentifull mould1 and also keepe it from
 binding or choaking the seede when it  
is cast into it4  ,now for the          
,coulture1 it differeth from the former 
,coulture both in breadth and           
thicknesse1 but especially in compasse3 
for whereas the former ,coulture for the
 blacke clay1 was made straight1 narrow1

 and thicke1 this must be compassed like
 an halfe bent bow3 it must be broader  
then three fingers1 and thinner then    
halfe an inche1 according to this       
,figure4  ,illustration3 ,the ,coulture4
  ,now when these ,irons1 the           
,shelboard1 and other implements are    
fixed vnto the ,plough1 you shall       
perceiue that the ,plough will carry the
 proportion of this ,figure following4  
,illustration3 ,the ,plough for the gray
 ,clay4  ,hauing thus shewed you the    
substance1 difference1 and contraries of
 these two ,ploughs1 which belong to    
these two seuerall clayes1 the blacke   
and gray1 you shall vnderstand that     
there is no clay-ground whatsoeuer1     
which is without other mixture1 but one 
of these ,ploughs will sufficiently     
serue to eare and order it3 for all     
clayes are of one of these tempers4     
,,sn3 ,the vse and handling4 ,now for   
the vse and manner of handling or       
holding this ,plough1 it differeth      
nothing in particular obseruation from  

the vse and handling of the ,plough     
formerly described1 more then in the    
largenesse and smalnesse of the         
furrowes3 for as before ,i said1 whereas
 the blacke clay must be raised with a  
great furrow1 and a broad stitch1 this  
gray clay must be raised with a small   
furrow1 and a narrow stitch3 and        
although this plough haue nothing but a 
left hand ,hale1 yet considering the    
,plough-staffe1 vpon which the ,plow-man
 resteth his right hand1 it is all one  
as if he had a right4 ,and indeede1 to  
make your knowledge the more perfect1   
you shall know that these gray clayes   
are generally in their owne natures so  
wet1 tough1 and slimy1 and doe so       
clogge1 cleaue1 and choake vp the       
,plough1 that hee which holds it shall  
haue enough to doe with his right hand  
onely to clense and keepe the ,plough   
from choaking1 insomuch that if there   
were another ,hale1 yet the ,plow-man   
should haue no leasure to hold it4      
,,sn3 ,of the draught or ,teame4 ,now   

for the ,draught or ,teame which should 
draw this ,plough1 they ought in all    
points1 as well in strength as tryuing  
to be the same with those before shewed 
for the vse of the blacke clay3 as      
namely1 eyther ,oxen or ,horse1 or      
,horse and ,oxen mixt together1         
according to the custome of the soile   
wherein the ,plow-man liues1 or his     
abilitie in prouision1 obseruing euer to
 keepe his number of beasts for his     
,plough certaine1 that is to say1 for   
fallowing1 and ,pease-earth1 neuer vnder
 sixe1 and for all other ,ardors foure  
at the least4 ,and thus much for the    
plowing of this gray or white clay4     
,,chap4 ,,vii4  ,the manner of plowing  
the red-,sand1 his ,earings1 ,plough1   
and ,implements4   ,next vnto these     
,clayes1 which are soiles simple and    
vncompound1 as being perfect in their   
owne natures1 without the helpe of other
 mixtures1 ,i place the ,sand soiles1 as
 being of like qualitie1 not borrowing  
any thing but from their owne natures1  

nor breeding any defects more then their
 owne naturall imperfections3 and of    
,sands1 sith the red ,sand is the best  
and most fruitfull1 therefore it is fit 
that it take prioritie of place1 and be 
here first spoken of4  ,you shall then  
vnderstand that this red ,sand1 albeit  
it is the best of ,sands1 yet it is the 
worst of many soiles1 as being of it    
selfe of such a hot and drie nature1    
that it scorcheth the seede1 and dryeth 
vp that nutriment and fatnesse which    
should occasion increase3 whereby it    
comes to passe1 that the ,barley which  
growes vpon this red ,sand is euer more 
yealow1 leane and withered1 then that   
which growes vpon the clayes or other   
mixt earths4 ,this ,sand especially     
taketh delight in ,rye1 because it is a 
,graine which loues warmth aboue all    
other1 and yet notwithstanding1 if it be
 well ordered1 manured and plowed1 it   
will bring forth good store of ,barley1 
albeit the ,barley be not so good as    
,clay-,barley1 either for the colour1 or

 for the yeeld1 whether it be in meale  
or in ,malt4  ,,sn3 ,of ,fallowing4 ,now
 for the manner of ,earing or plowing   
this redde ,sand1 it differeth much from
 both the former soyles1 insomuch that  
for your better vnderstanding1 ,i must  
in many places alter my former methode1 
yet so little as may be1 because ,i am  
loath to alter or clogge the memory of  
the ,reader3 wherefore to pursue my     
purpose4 ,as soone as ,christmas is     
ended1 that is to say1 about the middest
 of ,ianuary1 you shall goe with your   
,plough into that field where the       
,haruest before did grow your ,rye1 and 
there you shall in your plowing cast    
your lands downe-ward1 and open the     
ridges well1 for this yeere it must be  
your fallow field3 for as in the former 
soiles1 wee did diuide the fields either
 into three parts1 that is1 one for     
,barley and ,wheate1 another for ,pease1
 and the third fallow1 which is the best
 diuision3 or into foure parts1 that is1
 one for ,wheate and ,rye1 another for  

,barley1 a third for ,pease1 and a      
fourth fallow1 which is the worst       
diuision and most toilesome1 so in this 
red ,sand soile1 we must euer diuide it 
into three parts1 that is1 one for      
,barley1 another for ,rye1 and a third  
fallow4 ,for this ,sand-soile being hot1
 drie1 and light1 will neither bring    
forth good ,beanes nor good ,pease1 and 
therefore that ,ardor is in this place  
but onely to be spoke of by way of      
discourse in vrgent necessitie4         
,wherefore 7as before ,i said7 about the
 middest of ,ianuary you shall beginne  
to lay fallow that field1 where formerly
 did grow your ,rye1 the manner of      
plowing whereof differeth nothing from  
the manner of plowing the clayes before 
written of1 onely that the discretion of
 the ,plow-man must thus farre forth    
gouerne him1 that in as much as this    
soile is lighter1 dryer1 and of a more  
loose temper1 by so much the more he    
must be carefull to make his furrowes   
lesse1 and to lay them the closer       

together3  also in as much as this      
soile1 through his naturall warmth and  
temperate moisture1 is exceeding apt to 
bring forth much weede1 especially      
,brakes1 ,ling1 ,brambles1 and such     
like1 therefore the ,plow-man shall be  
very carefull to plow all his furrowes  
very cleane1 without baukes or other    
impediments by which may be ingendred   
any of these inconueniences4  ,,sn3 ,of 
,spring-foyling4 ,after you haue thus   
broke vp and fallowed your fallow or    
tilth-field1 the limitation of which    
time is from the middest of ,ianuary    
vntill the middest of ,february1 you    
shall then at the middest of ,february1 
when the clay-men begin to sow their    
,beanes and ,pease1 goe with your plough
 into your other fallow-field1 which all
 the yeere before hath laine fallow and 
already receiued at your hands at least 
foure seuerall ,ardors2 as ,fallowing1  
,summer-stirring1 ,foyling1 and         
,winter-rigging2 and there you shall    
plow all that field ouer the fift time1 

which is called the ,spring-foyling3 and
 in this ,ardor you shall plow all your 
lands vpward1 in such sort as when you  
,winter-ridge it1 by which meanes you   
shall plow vp all those weedes which    
haue sprung forth in the ,winter season4
 ,for you must vnderstand that in these 
light1 hot1 sandy soiles1 there is a    
continuall spring 7though not of good   
fruits7 yet of weeds1 quicks1 and other 
inconueniences3 for it is a rule amongst
 ,husbandmen1 that warme soiles are     
neuer idle1 that is1 they are euer      
bringing forth something4  ,,sn3 ,of    
,sowing ,march-,rye4 ,now the limitation
 for this ,ardor is from the middest of 
,februarie vntill the middest of ,march1
 at which time you shall1 by comparing  
former experience with your present     
iudgement1 take into your consideration 
the state1 goodnesse1 and powerfulnesse 
of your land1 ,i meane especially of    
this fallow-field1 which hath laine     
fallow the yeere before1 and hath now   
receiued fiue ,ardors3 and if you finde 

any part of it1 either for want of good 
ordoring in former times1 or for want of
 manure in the present yeere1 to be     
growne so leane and out of hart1 that   
you feare it hath not strength enough to
 beare ,barley1 you shall then at this  
time1 being the middest of ,march1 sow  
such land with ,rye1 which of           
,husbandmen is called the sowing of     
,march-,rye3 and this ,rye is to be     
sowne and harrowed in such sort as you  
did sow it vpon the clay soiles1 that is
 to say1 aboue furrow1 and not vnder    
furrow1 except the land be very full of 
quickes1 that is1 of ,brakes1 ,ling1    
,brambles1 ,dockes1 or such like1 and   
then you shall first with a paire of    
,iron harrowes1 that is1 with harrowes  
that haue ,iron teeth1 first of all     
harrow the land ouer1 and by that meanes
 teare vp by the rootes all those       
quickes1 and so bring them from the     
land3 which done1 you shall sow the land
 ouer with ,rye1 and then plow it       
downeward which is vnder furrow3  as    

soone as it is plowed1 you shall then   
with a paire of ,iron ,harrowes harrow  
it all ouer so exceedingly1 that the    
mould may be made as fine1 and the land 
lie as smooth as is possible4  ,,sn3 ,of
 the harrow4 ,now because ,i haue in the
 former ,chapters spoke of ,harrowes and
 harrowing1 yet haue not deliuered vnto 
you the shape and proportion thereof1   
and because both the woodden harrow and 
the ,iron harrow haue all one shape1 and
 differ in nothing but the teeth onely1 
,i thinke it not amisse before ,i       
proceede any further to shew you in this
 ,figure the true shape of a right      
,harrow4  ,illustration3 ,the ,harrow4  
,the parts of this ,harrow consisteth of
 buls1 staues1 and teeth3 of buls1 which
 are broad thicke pieces eyther of well 
seasoned ,willow1 or ,sallow1 being at  
least three inches euery way square1    
into which are fastned the teeth3 of    
staues1 which are round pieces of well  
seasoned ,ash1 being about two inches   
and a halfe about1 which going thorow   

the buls1 holde the buls firmely in     
equall distance one from the other3 and 
of teeth1 which are either long pinnes  
of wood or ,iron1 being at least fiue   
inches in length1 which are made fast1  
and set slope-wise through the buls4    
,,sn3 ,the diuersitie of ,harrowes4 ,now
 you shall vnderstand that ,harrowes are
 of two kindes1 that is1 single and     
double3 the single ,harrow is called of 
,husbandmen the ,horse-harrow1 and is   
not aboue foure foote square3 the double
 ,harrow is called the ,oxe-harrow1 and 
it must be at least seauen foote square1
 and the teeth must euer be of ,iron4   
,now whereas ,i spake of the            
,horse-harrow and the ,oxe-harrow1 it is
 to be vnderstood that the single       
,harrow doth belong to the ,horse1      
because ,horses drawing single1 doe draw
 each a seuerall ,harrow by himselfe1   
albeit in the common vse of harrowing1  
we couple two horses euer together1 and 
so make them draw two single ,harrowes3 
but ,oxen not being in good ,husbandry  

to be separated1 because euer two must  
draw in one yoake1 therefore was the    
double ,harrow deuised1 containing in   
substance and worke as much as two      
single ,harrowes4  ,,sn3 ,the vse of    
,harrowes4 ,now for the vse of          
,harrowes4 ,the woodden ,harrow which is
 the ,harrow with woodden teeth1 is euer
 to be vsed vpon clay grounds and light 
grounds1 which through drynesse doth    
grow loose1 and fals to mould of it owne
 nature1 as most commonly ,sand grounds 
doe also3 and the ,iron ,harrow which is
 the ,harrow with ,iron teeth1 is euer  
to be vsed vpon binding grounds1 such as
 through drynesse grow so hard that they
 will not be sundered1 and through wet  
turne soone to mire and loose durt4 ,now
 whereas there be mingled earths1 which 
neither willingly yeeld to mould1 nor   
yet bindes so sore1 but small industry  
breaks it1 of which earth ,i shall      
speake hereafter1 to such grounds the   
best ,husbands vse a mixture1 that is to
 say1 one woodden ,harrow1 and one ,iron

 ,harrow1 that the woodden ,harrow      
turning ouer and loosening the loosest  
mould1 the ,iron ,harrow comming after1 
may breake the stiffer clots1 and so    
consequently turne all the earth to a   
fine mould4 ,and thus much for          
,harrowes4  ,,sn3 ,of the sowing of     
,pulse4 ,,sn3 ,of ,pease1 ,lentles1 and 
,lupines4 ,now to returne to my former  
purpose touching the tillage of this red
 ,sand3 if 7as before ,i said7 you finde
 any part of your fallow-field too weake
 to beare ,barley1 then is your         
,march-,rye1 a graine which will take   
vpon a harder earth3 but if the ground  
be too weake either for ,barley or ,rye1
 7for both those ,seedes desire some    
fatnesse of ground7 then shall you spare
 plowing it at all vntill this time of  
the yeere1 which is mid-,march1 and then
 you shall plow it1 and sow it with     
either the smallest ,pease you can get1 
or else with our true ,english ,fitches1
 which by forraine ,authors are called  
,lentles1 that is1 white ,fitches1 or   

,lupines1 which are red ,fitches3 for   
all these three sorts of ,pulse will    
grow vpon very barraine soiles1 and in  
their growth doe manure and make rich   
the ground3 yet your ,pease desire some 
hart of ground1 your ,lentles1 or white 
,fitches1 lesse1 and your ,lupines1 or  
red ,fitches1 the least of all1 as being
 apt to grow vpon the barrainest soile3 
so likewise your ,pease doe manure      
barraine ground well1 your ,lentles     
better and your ,lupines the best of    
all4  ,now for the nature and vse of    
these graines1 the ,pease as all        
,husbandmen know1 are both good for the 
vse of man in his bread1 as are vsed in 
,leicester-shire1 ,lincolne-shire1      
,nottingham-shire1 and many other       
,countries3 and also for ,horses in     
their ,prouender1 as is vsed generally  
ouer all ,england3 for ,lentles1 or     
white ,fitches1 or the ,lupines which   
are redde ,fitches1 they are both       
indifferent good in bread for man1      
especially if the meale be well scalded 

before it be knodden 7for otherwise the 
sauour is exceeding rancke7 or else they
 are a very good foode being sodden in  
the manner of ,leaps-,pease1 especially 
at ,sea1 in long iourneyes where fresh  
meate is most exceeding scarce3 so that 
rather then your land should lye idle1  
and bring forth no profit1 ,i conclude  
it best to sow these ,pulses1 which both
 bring forth commoditie1 and also out of
 their owne natures doe manure and      
inrich your ground1 making it more apt  
and fit to receiue much better ,seede4  
,for the manner of sowing these three   
sorts of ,pulse3 you shall sow them euer
 vnder furrow1 in such sort as is       
described for the sowing of ,pease and  
,beanes vpon the white or gray clay     
which is of indifferent drinesse and apt
 to breake4  ,,sn3 ,of ,manuring4 ,now  
the limitation for this ,ardor or seede 
time1 is from the middest of ,march1    
till the middest of ,aprill3 then from  
the middest of ,aprill1 till the middest
 of ,may1 you shall make your especiall 

worke1 to be onely the leading forth of 
your ,manure to that field which you did
 fallow1 or lay tilth that present yeere
 immediatelie after ,christmas1 and of  
which ,i first spake in this ,chapter4  
,and herein is to be vnderstood1 that   
the best and principallest ,manure for  
this redde-sand1 is the ouldest ,manure 
of beasts which can be-gotten1 which you
 shall know by the exceeding blacknesse 
and rottennesse thereof1 being in the   
cutting both soft and smooth1 all of one
 substance1 as if it were well compact  
morter1 without any shew of straw or    
other stuffe which is vnrotted1 for this
 dung is of all the fattest and coolest1
 and doth best agree with the nature of 
this hot sand4 ,next to the dung of     
beasts1 is the dung of ,horses if it be 
old also1 otherwise it is somewhat of   
the hottest1 the rubbish of old houses1 
or the sweepings of flowres1 or the     
scowrings of old ,fish-ponds1 or other  
standing waters where beasts and horses 
are vsed to drinke1 or be washt1 or     

wherevnto the water and moisture of     
dunghills haue recourse are all good    
,manures for this redde-sand3 as for the
 ,manure of ,sheepe vpon this           
redde-sand1 it is the best of all in    
such places as you meane to sow ,rie1   
but not fully so good where you doe     
intend to sow your ,barley3 if it be a  
cold moist redde-sand 7which is seldome 
found but in some particular low        
countries7 then it doth not amisse to   
,manure it most with ,sheepe1 or else   
with ,chaulke1 ,lime1 or ,ashes1 of     
which you can get the greatest plentie3 
if this soile be subiect to much weede  
and quickes1 as generally it is1 then   
after you haue torne vp the weedes and  
quickes with ,harrowes1 you shall with  
rakes1 rake them together1 and laying   
them in heapes vpon the land1 you shall 
burne them and then spreading the ashes 
they will be a very good ,manure1 and in
 short space destroy the weedes also2   
likewise if your land be much ouergrowne
 with weedes1 if when you sheare your   

,rie you leaue a good long stubble1 and 
then mowing the stubble burne it vpon   
the land1 it is both a good ,manure and 
also a good meanes to destroy the       
weedes4  ,,sn3 ,of sowing ,barley4      
,after your ,manure is lead forth and   
either spread vpon the lands1 or set in 
great heapes1 so as the land may be     
couered ouer with ,manure 7for it is to 
be obserued that this soile must be     
throughly ,manured7 then about the      
middest of ,may1 which is the time when 
this worke should be finished1 you shall
 repaire with your ,plough into the     
other fallow field1 which was prepared  
the yeere before for this yeeres        
,barley1  there you shall sow it all    
ouer with ,barley aboue furrow1 that is 
to say1 you shall first ,plough it1 then
 sow it1 and after ,harrow it1 making   
the mould as fine and smooth as may be1 
which is done with easie labour1 because
 this sand of it owne nature is as fine 
as ashes4  ,,sn3 ,of ,summer-stirring4  
,,sn3 ,of sleighting4 ,now the          

limitation for this seede time1 is from 
the middest of ,may1 till the middest of
 ,iune1 wherein if any man demand why it
 should not be sowne in ,march and      
,aprill1 according as it is sowne in the
 former soiles1 ,i answere1 that first  
this redde-sand cannot be prepared1 or  
receiue his full season in weather1 and 
earings1 before this time of the yeere1 
and next that these redde-sands1 by how 
much they are hotter and drier then the 
other claies1 by so much they may wel   
stay the longer before they receiue     
their seede1 because that so much the   
sooner the seede doth sprout in them1   
also the sooner ripen being kept warmer 
at the roote then in any could soile    
whatsoeuer4 ,as soone as the middest of 
,iune approacheth1 you shall then       
beginne to ,summer-stirre your fallow   
field1 and to turne your ,manure into   
your land1 in such sort as you did vpon 
your clay soiles1 for this ,ardor of    
,summer-stirring altereth in no soile1  
and this must be done from the middest  

of ,iune1 till the middest of ,iuly1 for
 as touching sleighting1 clotting1 or   
smoothing of this ,barley field1 it is  
seldome in vse1 because the finenesse of
 the sand will lay the land smooth      
inough without sleighting3 yet if you   
finde that any particular land lieth    
more rough then the rest1 it shall not  
be amisse1 if with your backe ,harrowes 
you smooth it a little within a day or  
two after it is sowne4  ,,sn3 ,of       
,foiling4 ,,sn3 ,of sowing ,rye4 ,from  
the middest of ,iuly vntill the middest 
of ,august1 you shall foile and throw   
downe your fallow field againe1 if your 
lands lie well and in good order1 but if
 any of your lands doe lie in the danger
 of water1 or by vse of ,plowing are    
growne too flat1 both which are         
hinderances to the growth of ,corne1    
then when you foile your lands you shall
 ,plow them vpward1 and so by that      
meanes raise the ridges one furrow      
higher4 ,after you haue foiled your     
land1 which must be about the middest of

 ,august1 then will your ,barley be     
ready to mowe1 for these hot soiles haue
 euer an earely haruest1 which as soone 
as it is mowne and carried into the     
,barne1 forthwith you shall with all    
expedition carry forth such ,manure as  
you may conueniently spare1 and lay it  
vpon that land from whence you receiued 
your ,barley1 which is most barraine3   
and if you want cart ,manure1 you shall 
then lay your fould of ,sheepe          
thereupon1 and as soone as it is        
,manured1 you shall immediately ,plow   
both it  the rest1 which ,ardor should  
be finished by the middest of           
,september1 and so suffered to rest     
vntill the beginning of ,october1 at    
which time you shall beginne to sow all 
that field ouer with ,rye in such sort  
as hath beene spoken of in former       
places4  ,,sn3 ,obiection4 ,now in as   
much as the ignorant ,husbandman may    
very easiely imagine that ,i reckon vp  
his labours too thicke1 and therein     
leaue him no leasure for his necessarie 

businesses1 especially because ,i       
appoint him to foile his land from the  
middest of ,iuly1 till the middest of   
,august1 which is both a busie time for 
his ,hay haruest1 and also for his ,rye 
shearing4  ,,sn3 ,answere4 ,to this ,i  
make answere1 that ,i write not         
according to that which poore men are   
able 7for it were infinit to looke into 
estates7 but according as euery good    
,husband ought1 presupposing that he    
which will liue by the ,plough1 ought to
 pursue all things belonging vnto the   
,plough1 and then he shall finde that   
there is no day in the yeere1 but the   
,saboth1 but it is necessarie that the  
,plough be going3 yet to reconcile the  
poore and the rich together1 they shall 
vnterstand1 that when ,i speake of      
,plowing in the time of ,haruest1 ,i doe
 not meane that they should neglect any 
part of that principall ,worke1 which is
 the true recompence of their labour3   
but because whilst the dew is vpon the  
ground1 or when there is either raine or

 mizling there is then no time for      
,haruest ,worke1 then my meaning is that
 the carefull ,husbandman shall take    
those aduantages1 and rising earelier in
 the mornings1 be sure to be at his     
,plough two howers before the dew be    
from the ground1 knowing that the       
getting but of one hower in the day     
compasseth a great worke in a month1    
neither shall hee neede to feare the    
ouer toiling of his cattell1 sith at    
that time of the yeere ,grasse being at 
greatest plenty1 strongest and fullest  
of hart1 ,corne scattered almost in     
euery corner1 and the mouth of the beast
 not being muzeld in his labour1 there  
is no question but he will indure and   
worke more then at any other season4    
,,sn3 ,of ,winter ridging4 ,in the      
beginning of ,nouember1 you shall       
beginne to ,winter-ridge your fallow1 or
 tilth-field1 which in all points shalbe
 done according to the forme described  
in the former soiles3 for that ,ardor of
 all other neuer altereth1 because it is

 as it were a defence against the latter
 spring1 which else would fill the lands
 full of weedes1 and also against the   
rigor of ,winter1 and therefore it doth 
lay vp the furrow close together1 which 
taking the season of the frost1 winde1  
and weather makes the mould ripe1       
mellow1 and light3 and the limitation   
for this ,ardor1 is from the beginning  
of ,nouember1 vntill the middest of     
,december4  ,,sn3 ,of the ,plough4 ,,sn3
 ,of the coulture4 ,now as touching the 
,plough which is best and most proper   
for this redde-sand1 it differeth       
nothing in shape and composure of       
members from that ,plough which is      
described for the blacke ,clay1 hauing  
necessarily two hales1 because the      
ground being loose and light1 the       
,plough will with great difficulty hold 
land1 but with the least disorder be    
euer ready to runne into the furrow1 so 
that a right hand hale is most          
necessarie for the houlding of the      
plough euen1 onely the difference of the

 two ,ploughes consisteth in this1 that 
the plough for this red-sand1 must be   
much lesse then the plough for the      
blacke ,clay houlding in the sizes of   
the timber the due proportion of the    
plough for the white or gray clay1 or if
 it be somewhat lesse it is not amisse1 
as the head being eighteene inches1 the 
maine beame not aboue foure foote1 and  
betweene the hinder part of the rest1   
and the out-most part of the plough head
 in the hinder end not aboue eight      
inches4 ,now for the ,plough-,irons     
which doe belong vnto this plough1 the  
,coulture is to be made circular1 in    
such proportion as the coulture for the 
gray1 or white clay1 and in the placing1
 or tempering vpon the ,plough it is to 
be set an inch at least lower then the  
share1 that it may both make way before 
the share1 and also cut deeper into the 
land1 to make the furrow haue more easie
 turning4  ,,sn3 ,of the share4 ,now for
 the share1 it differeth in shape from  
both the former shares1 for it is       

neither so large nor out-winged1 as that
 for the gray ,clay1 for this share is  
onely made broad to the ,plough ward1   
and small to the point of the share1    
with onely a little peake and no wing   
according to this figure4               
,illustration3 ,the share4  ,,sn3 ,of   
the plough-slip4 ,these ,plough-irons1  
both coulture and share1 must be well   
steeled and hardned at the points1      
because these sandy soiles being full of
 moisture and greete1 will in short     
space weare and consume the ,irons1 to  
the great hinderance and cost of the    
,husbandman1 if it be not preuented by  
steele and hardning1 which              
notwithstanding will waste also in these
 soiles1 so that you must at least twise
 in euery ,ardor haue your ,irons to the
 ,smith1 and cause him to repaire them  
both with ,iron and steele1 besides     
these ,irons1 of coulture and share1 you
 must also haue a long piece of ,iron1  
which must be iust of the length of the 
,plough head1 and as broad as the       

,plough head is thicke1 and in          
thicknesse a quarter of an inch3 and    
this piece of ,iron must be nailed vpon 
the outside of the ,plough head1 next   
vnto the land1 onely to saue the ,plough
 head from wearing1 for when the ,plough
 is worne it can then no longer hould   
the land1 and this piece of ,iron is    
called of ,husbandmen the ,plough-slip  
and presenteth this figure4             
,illustration3 ,the ,plough-slip4  ,,sn3
 ,of ,plough clouts4 ,ouer and besides  
this ,plough-slip1 their are certaine   
other pieces of ,iron which are made in 
the fashion of broad thinne plates1 and 
they be called ,plough clouts1 and are  
to be nailed vpon the shelboard1 to     
defend it from the earth or furrow which
 it turneth ouer1 which in very short   
space would weare the woode and put the 
,husbandman to double charge4  ,,sn3    
,the houlding of the ,plough4 ,thus     
hauing shewed you the parts1 members1   
and implements1 belonging to this       
,plough1 it rests that ,i proceede vnto 

the teame or draught3 for to speake of  
the vse and handling of this ,plough1 it
 is needelesse1 because it is all one   
with those ,ploughes1 of which ,i haue  
spoken in the former ,chapters1 and he  
which can hould and handle a ,plough in 
stiffe clayes must needes 7except he be 
exceeding simple7 hould a ,plough in    
these light sands1 in as much as the    
worke is much more easie and the ,plough
 a great deale lesse chargeable4  ,,sn3 
,of the draught4 ,now for the ,draught  
or ,teame1 they ought to be as in the   
former ,soiles1 ,oxen or ,horses1 yet   
the number not so great3 for foure      
,beasts are sufficient to plow any      
,ardor vpon this soile1 nay1 three      
,horses if they be of reasenable        
strength will doe as much as sixe vpon  
either of the ,clay-soiles3 asfor their 
attire or ,harnessing1 the              
,beare-geares1 before described1 are the
 best and most proper4 ,and thus much   
concerning this red ,sand1 wherein you  
are to take this briefe obseruation with

 you1 that the ,graines which are best  
to be sowne vpon it1 are onely ,rye1    
,barley1 small ,pease1 ,lentles and     
,lupines1 otherwise called ,fitches1 and
 the graines to which it is aduerse1 are
 ,wheat1 ,beanes and ,maslin4           
,,chap4 ,,viii4  ,the manner of plowing 
the white ,sand1 his ,earings1 ,plough1 
and ,implements4   ,next vnto this red  
,sand1 is the white sand1 which is much 
more barraine then the red ,sand1 yet by
 the industry of the ,husbandman in     
plowing1 and by the cost of ,manure it  
is made to beare corne in reasonable    
plentie4 ,now of white ,sands there be  
two kindes1 the one a white ,sand mixt  
with a kinde of ,marle1 as that in      
,norffolke1 ,suffolke1 and other such   
like places butting vpon the ,sea-coast3
 the other a white ,sand with ,pible1 as
 in some parts of ,surrey1 about        
,ancaster in ,lincolne shire1 and about 
,salisbury in ,wil-shire4  ,,sn3 ,of the
 white ,sand with ,pible4 ,now for this 
white ,sand with ,pible1 it is the      

barrainest1 and least fruitfull in      
bringing forth1 because it hath nothing 
but a hot dustie substance in it4 ,for  
the manner of ,earing thereof1 it       
agreeth in all points with the redde    
,sand1 the ,ardors being all one1 the   
,tempers1 ,manurings and all other      
appurtenances3 the ,seede also which it 
delights in is all one with the red     
,sand1 as namely1 ,rye1 ,barley1 ,pease 
and ,fitches4 ,wherefore who so shall   
dwell vpon such a soile1 ,i must referre
 him to the former ,chapter of the red  
,sand1 and therein he shall finde       
sufficient instruction how to behaue    
himselfe vpon this earth3 remembring    
that in as much as it is more barraine  
then the red ,sand1 by so much it       
craueth more care and cost1 both in     
plowing and manuring thereof1 which two 
labours onely make perfect the ill      
ground4  ,,sn3 ,of the white ,sand with 
,marle4 ,now for the white ,sand which  
hath as it were a certaine mixture1 or  
nature of ,marle in it1 you shall       

vnderstand that albeit vnto the eye it  
be more dry and dustie then the red     
,sand1 yet it is fully as rich as the   
red ,sand3 for albe it doe not beare    
,barley in as great plenty as the red   
,sand1 yet it beareth ,wheate           
abundantly1 which the red ,sand seldome 
or very hardly bringeth forth4  ,,sn3   
,of ,fallowing4 ,wherefore to proceede  
to the ,earings or tillage of this white
 ,marly sand1 you shall vnderstand that 
about the middest of ,ianuary is fit    
time to beginne to fallow your field    
which shall be tilth and rest for this  
yeere3 wherein by the way1 before ,i    
proceede further1 you shall take this   
obseruation with you1 that whereas in   
the former soiles ,i diuided the fields 
into three  foure parts1 this soile     
cannot conueniently1 if it be well      
husbanded1 be diuided into any more     
parts then two1 that is to say1 a fallow
 field1 and a ,wheat-field3 in which    
,wheate-field if you haue any land      
richer then other1 you may bestow       

,barley vpon it1 vpon the second you may
 bestow ,wheat1 vpon the third sort of  
ground ,rye1 and vpon the barrainest1   
,pease or ,fitches3 and yet all these   
must be sowne within one field1 because 
in this white sand1 ,wheate and ,rye    
will not grow after ,barley or ,pease1  
nor ,barley and ,pease after ,wheate or 
,rye4 ,your fields being then diuided   
into two parts1 that is1 one for corne1 
the other for rest1 you shall as before 
,i said1 about the middest of ,ianuary  
beginne to fallow your ,tith-field1     
which in all obseruations you shall doe 
according as is mentioned for the red   
sand4  ,,sn3 ,of sowing ,pease4 ,about  
the middest of ,march1 if you haue any  
barraine or wasted ground within your   
fallow field1 or if you haue any        
occasion to breake vp any new ground1   
which hath not beene formerly broake vp1
 in eyther of these cases you shall sow 
,pease or ,fitches thereupon1 and those 
,pease or ,fitches you shall sow vnder  
furrow as hath beene before described4  

,,sn3 ,of ,spring-fallowing4 ,about the 
middest of ,aprill you shall plow your  
fallow-field ouer againe1 in such manner
 as you plowed when you fallowed it     
first3 and this is called               
,spring-fallowing1 and is of great      
benefit because at that time the weedes 
and quickes beginning to spring1 nay1 to
 flowrish1 by reason that the heate of  
the climbe puts them forth sooner then  
in other soyles1 if they should not be  
plowed vp before they take too strong   
roote1 they would not onely ouer-runne1 
but also eate out the hart of the ,land4
  ,,sn3 ,of sowing ,barley4 ,about the  
middest of ,may you shall beginne to sow
 your ,barley vpon the richest part of  
your old fallow-field1 which at the     
,michaelmas before1 when you did sow    
your ,wheate1 and ,rye1 and ,maslin1 you
 did reserue for that purpose3 and this 
,barley you shall sow in such sort as is
 mentioned in the former ,chapter of the
 red ,sand1 in so much that this ,ardor 
being finished1 which is the last part  

of your ,seede-time1 your whole field   
shall be furnished eyther with ,wheate1 
if it hold a temperate fatnesse1 or with
 ,wheate and ,barley1 if it be rich and 
richer1 or with ,wheate1 ,barley and    
,pulse1 if it be rich1 poore or extreame
 barraine3 and the manner of sowing all 
these seuerall seedes is described in   
the ,chapters going before4  ,,sn3 ,of  
,summer-stirring4 ,about the middest of 
,iune you shall beginne to              
,summer-stirre your fallow-field1 in    
such sort as was spoken of in the former
 ,chapters concerning the other soiles3 
for in this ,ardor there is no          
alteration of methode1 but onely in     
gouernment of the ,plough1 considering  
the heauinesse and lightnesse of the    
earth4 ,during this ,ardor you shall    
busily apply your labour in leading     
forth your ,manure1 for it may at great 
ease be done both at one season1 neyther
 the ,plough hindering the ,cart1 nor   
the ,cart staying the ,plough3 for this 
soile being more light and easie in     

worke then any other soile whatsoeuer1  
doth euer preserue so many ,cattell for 
other imployment that both workes may   
goe forward together1 as shall be shewed
 when wee come to speake of the ,plough1
 and the ,teame which drawes it4  ,,sn3 
,of ,manuring4 ,now as touching the     
,manures most fit for this soyle1 they  
be all those of which we haue formerly  
written1 ashes onely excepted1 which    
being of an hot nature doe scald the    
,seede1 and detaine it from all         
fruitfulnesse1 being mixt with this hot 
soile1 so is likewise ,lyme1 and the    
burning of stubble3 other ,manures are  
both good and occasion much fertilitie1 
as being of a binding and coole nature1 
and holding together that loosenesse    
which in his too much separation taketh 
all nutriment from the earth4  ,,sn3 ,of
 ,weeding4 ,after you haue ledde forth  
your ,manure1 and ,summer-stird your    
,land1 you shall then about the         
beginning of ,iulie looke into your     
,corne-field1 and if you perceiue any   

,thistles1 or any other superfluous     
weedes to annoy your ,corne1 you shall  
then 7as is before said7 either cut1 or 
plucke them vp by the rootes4  ,,sn3 ,of
 ,foyling4 ,about the middest of ,august
 you shall beginne to foile or cast     
downe your fallow-field againe1 and in  
that ,ardor you shall be very carefull  
to plow cleane and leaue no weedes vncut
 vp3 for in these hot soiles if any     
weedes be left with the least roote1 so 
that they may knit and bring forth      
seede1 the annoyance thereof will       
remaine for at least foure yeeres after1
 which is a double fallowing4 ,and to   
the end that you may cut vp all such    
weedes cleane1 although both your ,share
 and ,coulture misse them1 you shall    
haue the rest of your ,plough in the    
vnder part which strokes alongst the    
earth filled all full of dragges of     
,iron1 that is1 of olde crooked nailes  
or great tenter-hookes1 such as vpon the
 putting downe of your right hand when  
you come neere a weed shall catch hold  

thereof and teare it vp by the rootes1  
as at this day is vsed be many          
particular ,husbands in this kingdome1  
whose cares1 skils1 and industries are  
not inferiour to the best whatsoeuer4   
,,sn3 ,of ,sowing ,wheate and ,rye4     
,,sn3 ,the choise of ,seede4 ,about the 
middest of ,september1 you shall beginne
 to sow your ,wheate and ,rye vpon your 
fallow field1 which ,graine vpon this   
soile is to be reckoned the most        
principall3 and you shall sow it in the 
same manner that is described in the    
former ,chapters1 wherein your          
especiallest care is the choise of your 
seede3 for in this soile your           
whole-straw ,wheate1 nor your great     
,pollard taketh any delight1 neither    
your ,organe1 for all those three must  
haue a firme and a strong mould3 but    
your ,chilter-wheate1 your              
,flaxen-wheate1 your ,white-pollard1 and
 your ,red-wheate1 which are the        
,wheates which yeeld the purest and     
finest meale1 7although they grow not in

 so great abundance7 are the seedes     
which are most proper and naturall for  
this soile4 ,as for ,rye or ,maslin1    
according to the goodnesse of the ground
 so you shall bestow your seede3 for it 
is a generall rule1 that wheresoeuer    
your ,wheate growes1 there will euer    
,rye grow1 but ,rye will many times grow
 where ,wheate will not prosper2 and    
therefore for the sowing of your ,rye1  
it must be according to the temper of   
the earth1 and the necessitie of your   
houshold3 for ,wheate being a richer    
graine then ,rye1 if you be assured that
 your ground will beare ,wheate well1 it
 is small ,husbandrie to sow more ,rye  
or ,maslin then for your house3 but if  
it be too hot for ,wheate1 and kindly   
for ,rye1 then it is better to haue good
 ,rye1 then ill ,wheate4 ,now for the   
sowing of your ,rye or ,maslin in this  
soile1 it differeth nothing from the    
former soiles1 either in plowing or any 
other obseruation1 that is to say1 it   
must be plowed aboue furrow3 for ,rye   

being the most tender graine1 it can    
neither abide the waight of earth1 nor  
yet moisture2 the one1 as it were1      
burying1 and the other drowning the     
vigour and strength of the seede4  ,,sn3
 ,of ,winter-ridging4 ,about the        
beginning of ,nouember you shall        
,winter-ridge your fallow field1 ,i     
meane that part which you doe preserue  
for ,barley 7for the other part is      
furnished with seede7 and this          
,winter-ridging differeth nothing from  
the ,winter ridging of other soiles1    
onely you shall a little more precisely 
obserue to set vp your lands more       
straight and high then in other soiles1 
both to defend them from wet1 which this
 soile is much subiect vnto1 because    
commonly some great riuer is neare it1  
and also for the preseruing of the      
strength and goodnesse of the ,manure   
within the land which by lying open and 
vnclosed would soone be washt forth and 
consumed4  ,,sn3 ,of the clensing of    
lands1 or drawing of water-furrowes4    

,now sith ,i haue here occasion to      
speake something of the draining of     
lands1 and the keeping of them from the 
annoyance of superfluous wet1 whether it
 be by invndation or otherwise1 you     
shall vnderstand that it is the         
especiall office and dutie of euery good
 ,husbandman1 not onely in this soile1  
but in all other whatsoeuer1 to haue a  
principall respect to the keeping of his
 land dry1 and to that end hee shall    
diligently 7as soone as he hath         
,winter-rigged his land7 take a carefull
 view how his lands lie1 which way the  
descent goes from whence annoyance or   
water may possibly come1 and so         
consequently from those obseruations1   
with a ,spade or strong ,plough1 of     
extraordinary greatnesse1 draw certaine 
deepe furrowes from descent vnto        
descent1 by which meanes all the water  
may be conuayed from his lands1 eyther  
into some common ,sewer1 ,lake1 ,brooke1
 or other maine ,riuer3 and to this end 
it is both a rule in the common ,lawes  

of our ,land1 and a laudable custome in 
the ,common-wealth of euery ,towne1 that
 for as much as many ,townes haue their 
lands lie in common1 that is to say1    
mixed neighbour with neighbour1 few or  
none hauing aboue two or three lands at 
the most lying together in one place1   
therefore euery man shall ioyne1 and    
make their water-furrowes one from      
another1 vntill such time as the water  
be conuayed into some common issue1 as  
well hee whose lands be without all     
danger1 as he that is troubled with the 
greatest annoyance1 and herein euery one
 shall beare his particular charge3     
which is an ,act of great vertue and    
goodnesse4  ,,sn3 ,of the ,plough4 ,now 
for the ,plough which is to plow this   
white sand it doth differ nothing in    
size1 proportion1 and vse of handling   
from the ,plough described for the red  
,sand1 onely it hath one addition more1 
that is to say1 at the further end of   
the maine ,beame of the ,plough1 where  
you fixe your ,plough-foote1 there you  

shall place a little paire of round     
wheeles1 which bearing the ,beame vpon a
 loose mouing ,axletree1 being iust the 
length of two furrows and no more1 doth 
so certainly guide the ,plough in his   
true furrow that it can neither lose the
 land by swaruing 7as in these light    
soiles euery ,plough is apt to doe7 nor 
take too much land1 eyther by the       
greedinesse of the plough or sharpnesse 
of the ,irons1 neither can it drownd    
through the easie lightnesse of the     
earth1 nor runne too shallow through the
 fussinesse of the mould1 but the       
wheeles being made of a true proportion1
 which should not be aboue twelue inches
 from the centre1 the ,plough with a    
reasonable hand of gouernment shall     
runne in a direct and euen furrow3 the  
proportion of which ,plough is contained
 in this ,figure4  ,illustration3 ,the  
,plough with ,wheeles4  ,this plough of 
all others ,i hold to be most ancient1  
and as being the modell of the first    
inuention1 and at this day is preserued 

both in ,france1 ,germany1  ,italy1 and 
no other proportion of ,ploughes knowne1
 both as we perceiue by our experience  
in seeing them plow1  also by reading of
 their writings3 for neither in ,virgil1
 ,columella1 ,xenophon1 nor any olde    
,writer3 nor in ,heresbachius1 ,steuens1
 nor ,libault1 being later ,writers1    
finde wee any other ,plough bequeathed  
vnto our memories4 ,yet it is most      
certaine1 that in many of our ,english  
soiles1 this ,plough is of little       
profit1 as we finde by daily experience 
both in our clayes1 and many of our mixt
 earths3 for in truth this ,plough is   
but onely for light1 sandy1 or grauelly 
soiles1 as for the most part these      
forraine ,countries are1 especially     
about the sea-coast1 or the borders of  
great ,cities1 from whence these        
,writers most generally tooke the       
presidents for their writings4  ,,sn3   
,of the plough-,irons4 ,now for the     
parts of this ,plough1 it consisteth of 
the same members which the former       

,ploughs doe1 onely that in stead of the
 ,plough-foote it hath a paire of       
wheeles4 ,it hath also but one ,hale1 in
 such sort as the ,plough for the gray  
or white clay4 ,the beame also of this  
,plough is much more straight then the  
former1 by which meanes the ,skeath is  
not full so long4 ,the ,irons belonging 
vnto this ,plough are of the fashion of 
the former ,irons1 onely they be        
somewhat lesse1 that is to say1 the     
,coulture is not so long1 neyther so    
full bent as that for the red ,sand1 nor
 so straight as that for the blacke     
clay1 but as it were holding a meane    
betweene both3 so likewise the ,share is
 not fully so broad as that for the red 
sand1 nor so narrow as that for the gray
 clay1 but holds as it were a middle    
size betweene both1 somewhat leaning in 
proportion to the shape of that for the 
blacke clay4 ,as for the ,plough-slip1  
,plough-clouts1 and other implements    
which are to defend the wood from the   
hardnesse of the earth1 they are the    

same1 and in the same wise to be vsed as
 those for the red ,sand4  ,,sn3 ,of the
 draught4 ,now for the ,draught or      
,teame which drawes this ,plough1 they  
are as in all other ,draughts1 ,oxen or 
,horses1 but for the number thereof they
 differ much from those which are       
formerly written of3 for you shall      
vnderstand that in this white sandy     
soile1 which is of all soiles the       
lightest1 eyther two good ,horses1 or   
two good ,oxen are a number sufficient  
to plow any ,ardor vpon this soile      
whatsoeuer1 as by daily experience we   
may see in those countries whose soile  
consists of this white light ,sand1 of  
which wee haue now written3 neyther     
shall the ,plow-man vpon this soile     
neede any person to driue or order his  
,plough more then himselfe3 for the     
soile being so light and easie to cut1  
the ,plough so nimble1 and the ,cattell 
so few and so neare him1 hauing euer his
 right hand at libertie 7because his    
plough hath but onely a left hand ,hale7

 he hath liberty euer to carry a goade  
or whip in his right hand1 to quicken   
and set forward his ,cattell1 and also a
 line which being fastned to the heads  
of the ,beasts1 hee may with it euer    
when hee comes to the lands end1 stop   
them and turne them vpon which hand he  
pleases4 ,and thus much for the tillage 
and ordering of this white ,sand4       
,,chap4 ,,ix4  ,the manner of plowing   
the ,grauell with ,pible stones1 or the 
,grauell with ,flint1 their ,earings1   
,plough1 and implements4   ,hauing in   
the plainest manner ,i can written      
sufficiently already of the foure simple
 and vncompounded soiles1 to wit1 two   
,clayes1 blacke and gray1 and two       
,sands1 red and white1 it now rests that
 ,i also giue you some perfect touch or 
taste of the mixt or compounded soiles1 
as namely1 the grauell which is a kinde 
of hard sand1 clay and stone mixt       
together3 and of ,grauels there be two  
kindes1 that is to say1 one that is mixt
 with little small ,pible stones1 as in 

many parts of ,middlesex1 ,kent1 and    
,surry3 and the ,grauell mixt with broad
 ,flints1 as in many parts of           
,hartford-shire1 ,essex1 and sundry such
 places4 ,these ,grauels are both1 in   
generall1 subiect to much barrainnesse1 
especially if they be accompanied with  
any extraordinary moisture1 yet with the
 good labour of plowing1 and with the   
cost of much ,manure1 they are brought  
to reasonable fruitfulnesse1 where it   
comes to passe that the ,plow-man which 
is master of such a soile1 if either he 
liue not neare some ,citie or           
,market-towne1 where great store of     
,manure1 by the concourse of people1 is 
daily bred1 and so consequently is very 
cheape1 or else haue not in his owne    
store and breede1 meanes to raise good  
store of ,manure1 hee shall seldome     
thriue and prosper thereupon4 ,now      
although in these grauell soiles there  
is a diuersity of mixture1 as the one   
mingled with small ,pibles1 which       
indeede is the worst mixture1 the other 

with broad ,flints1 which is the better 
signe of fruitfulnesse3 yet in their    
order of tillage or ,earings1 in their  
weeding and cleansing1 and in all other 
ardors and obseruations1 they differ    
nothing at all1 the beginning and ending
 of each seuerall worke being all one4  
,now for the manner of worke belonging  
vnto these two soiles1 it altereth in no
 respect nor obseruation eyther in      
,plough1 plowing1 manuring1 weeding1 or 
any other thing whatsoeuer1 from that of
 the white sand1 the same times of the  
yeere1 the same ,seedes1 and the same   
,earings being euer to be obserued1     
wherefore it shall be needlesse to write
 so amply of these soiles as of the     
former1 because being all one with the  
white ,sand1 without alteration1 it were
 but to write one thing twice1 and      
therefore ,i referre the ,reader to the 
former ,chapter1 and also the           
,husbandman that shall liue vpon either 
of these soiles1 onely with these few   
caueats3 ,first1 that for the laying his

 lands1 hee shall lay them in little    
small stitches1 that is1 not hauing     
aboue foure furrowes laid together1 as  
it were for one land1 in such sort as   
you see in ,hartford-shire1 ,essex1     
,middlesex1 ,kent and ,surry3 for this  
soile being for the most part subiect to
 much moisture and hardnesse1 if it     
should be laid in great lands1 according
 to the manner of the ,north parts1 it  
would ouer-burden1 choake and confound  
the seed which is throwne into it4      
,secondly1 you shall not goe about to   
gather off the stones which seeme as it 
were to couer the lands1 both because   
the labour is infinite and impossible1  
as also because those stones are of good
 vse1 and as it were a certaine         
,manuring and helpe vnto the ground3 for
 the nature of this ,grauell being colde
 and moist1 these stones doe in the     
winter time1 defend and keepe the       
sharpnesse of the ,frosts and bleake    
windes from killing the heart or roote  
of the seedes1 and also in the ,summer  

it defends the scorching heate of the   
,sunne from parching and drying vp the  
,seede1 which in this grauelly soile    
doth not lie so well couered1 as in     
other soyles1 especially if this kinde  
of earth be inuironed with any great    
hils 7as most commonly it is7 the       
reflection whereof makes the heate much 
more violent4 ,and lastly1 to obserue   
that there is no manure better or more  
kindly for this kinde of earth then     
,chaulke1 white ,marle1 or ,lyme3 for   
all other matters whatsoeuer the former 
,chapter of the white ,sand1 will giue  
you sufficient instructions4     ,,chap4
 ,x4  ,the manner of plowing the blacke 
,clay mixt with red ,sand1 and the white
 ,clay mixt with white ,sand1 their     
,earings1 ,plough and ,implements4      
,next to these grauelly soiles1 there be
 also two other compounded earths1 as   
namely1 the blacke ,clay mixt with red  
,sand1 and the white ,clay mixt with    
white sand1 which albe they differ in   
composition of mould1 yet they hold one 

nature in their ,tillage and ,husbandry3
 wherefore first to speake of the blacke
 ,clay mixt with red ,sand1 which 7as   
before ,i said7 is called of ,husbandmen
 an hassell earth1 you shall vnderstand 
that it is a very rich and good soile1  
very fruitfull both for ,corne and      
,grasse3 for ,corne1 being apt to beare 
any seede whatsoeuer3 and for ,grasse1  
as naturally putting it forth very      
earely in the yeere1 by which your      
,cattell shall get reliefe sooner then  
in other soiles of colder nature3 for   
both the blacke and white claies doe    
seldome flowrish with any store of      
,grasse before ,iune1 which is the time 
of wood-seare1 and this soile will boast
 of some plenty about the beginning of  
,aprill at the furthest3 but for ,grasse
 we shall speake in his proper place4   
,,sn3 ,of fallowing4 ,now for his       
tillage it is thus3 you shall about the 
middest of ,ianuary1 beginne to fallow  
that field which you intend that yeere  
shall lye at rest or tilth1 and you     

shall fallow it in such sort as is      
specified in the ,chapter of the blacke 
clay3 onely you shall raise small       
furrowes and ,plow the land cleane1     
being sure to open and cast the land    
downeward if the land lie high and      
round1 otherwise you shall neuer at any 
time cast the land downe but ridge it   
vp1 that is to say1 when you fallow it1 
you shall cast the first furrow         
downeward1 and so likewise the second1  
which two furrowes being cleane         
ploughed1 will lay the land open inough1
 that is1 there wilbe no part of the    
ridge vnploughed3 which done1 by        
changing your hand and the gate of your 
,plough1 you shall plough those furrowes
 backe againe and lay them vpward1 and  
so plough the whole land vpward1 also   
laying it round and high3 the reason for
 this manner of plowing being this1 that
 for as much as this land being mixt of 
clay and sand1 must needes be a sore    
binding land1 therefore if it should be 
laid flat1 if any great raine or wet    

should fall1 and a present drought      
follow it1 neither should you possibly  
force your ,plough to enter into it and 
breake it1 or being broken should you   
get so much mould as to couer your      
,corne and giue the seede comfort1      
whereas vpon the contrary part1 if it be
 laid high and vpright1 it must         
necessarily be laid hollow and light1 in
 so much that you may both ,plough it at
 your pleasure1 and also beget so       
perfect a mould as any other soile      
whatsoeuer1 both because the wet hath   
liberty to auoide through the           
hollownesse1 and also because the ,sunne
 and weather hath power to enter and    
season it1 wherefore in conclusion you  
shall fallow this field downeward if it 
lye high and vpright1 otherwise you     
shall fallow it vpward as the meanes to 
bring it to the best ,ardor4  ,now for  
this fallow field it must euer be made  
where the yeere before you did reape    
your ,pease1 in case you haue but three 
fields1 or where you did reape your     

,wheate1 ,rye1 and ,maslin1 in case you 
haue foure fields1 according to the     
manner of the blacke clay4  ,,sn3 ,of   
sowing ,pease4 ,about the middest of    
,february1 which is within a day or two 
of ,saint ,valentines day1 if the season
 be any thing constant in fairenesse and
 drinesse1 you shall then beginne to sow
 your ,pease1 for you must vnderstand   
that albeit this soile will beare       
,beanes1 yet they are nothing so        
naturall for it as ,pease1 both because 
they are an hungry seede and doe much   
impaire and wast the ground1 and also   
because they prosper best in a fat1     
loose1 and tough earth1 which is        
contrary to this hard and drie soile3   
but especially if you haue foure fields1
 you shall forbeare to sow any ,beanes  
at all1 least you loose two commodities1
 that is1 both quantitie of graine      
7because ,beanes are not so long and    
fruitfull vpon this earth1 as vpon the  
clayes7 and the ,manuring of your       
ground1 which ,pease out of their owne  

natures doe1 both by the smoothering of 
the ground and their owne fatnesse1 when
 your ,beanes doe pill and sucke the    
hart out of the earth4  ,now for the    
manner of sowing your ,pease1 you shall 
sow them aboue furrow1 that is1 first   
plough the land vpward1 then immediately
 sow your ,pease1 and instantly after   
,harrow them1 the ,plough1 the          
,seedes-man1 and the ,harrower1 by due  
course1 following each other1 and so    
likewise you may sow ,oates vpon this   
soile4  ,,sn3 ,of sowing ,barley4 ,about
 the middest of ,march1 which is almost 
a fortnight before our ,lady day1 you   
shall beginne to sow your ,barley1 which
 ,barley you shall sow neither          
vnder-furrow nor aboue1 but after this  
order3 first1 you shall plow your land  
downeward1 beginning at the furrow and  
so assending vpward to the ridge of the 
land1 which as soone as you haue opened1
 you shall then by pulling the plough   
out of the earth1 and laying the        
shelboard crosse the ridge1 you shall   

fill the ridge in againe with the same  
mould which you plowed vp3 this done1   
your seedes-man shall bring his ,barley 
and sow the land aboue furrow3 after the
 land is sowne1 you shall then ,harrow  
it as small as may be1 first with a     
paire of woodden ,harrowes1 and after   
with a paire of ,iron ,harrowes1 or else
 with a double ,oxe ,harrow1 for this   
earth being somewhat hard and much      
binding1 will aske great care and       
dilligence in breaking4  ,,sn3 ,of      
sleighting4 ,after your ,barley is      
sowne1 you shall about the latter end of
 ,aprill beginne to smooth and sleight  
your land1 both with the backe ,harrowes
 and with the rouler1 and looke what    
clots they faile to breake1 you shall   
with clotting beetles beate them        
asunder1 making your mould as fine and  
laying your land as smooth as is        
possible4  ,,sn3 ,of ,summer-stirring4  
,about the middest of ,may1 you shall1  
if any wet fall1 beginne to             
,summer-stirre your land1 or if no wet  

fall1 you shall doe your indeauour to   
,summer-stirre your land1 rather        
aduenturing to breake two ploughes1 then
 to loose one day in that labour1       
knowing this1 that one land             
,summer-stird in a dry season1 is better
 then three ,summer-stird in a wet or   
moist weather1 both because it giues the
 earth a better temper1 and kils the    
weedes with more assurednesse1 and as ,i
 speake of ,summer-stirring1 so ,i      
speake of all other ,ardors1 that the   
drier they are done the better they are 
euer done3 and in this season you shall 
also gather the stones from your ground4
  ,,sn3 ,obiection4 ,now it may be      
obiected1 that if it be best to plough  
in drie seasons1 it is then best to     
fallow also in a dry season1 and by that
 meanes not to beginne to fallow vntill 
the beginning of ,may1 as is prescribed 
for the blacke clay1 and so to deferre  
the ,summer-stirring till the next month
 after1 sith of necessitie ,ianuary must
 either be wet or else vnkindely4  ,,sn3

 ,answere4 ,to this ,i make answere1    
that most true it is1 that the land     
which is last fallowed is euer the best 
and most fruitfull1 yet this mixt earth 
which is compound of sand and clay1 is  
such a binding earth1 that if it be not 
taken and fallowed in a moist-time of   
the yeere1 as namely1 in ,ianuary or    
,february1 but suffered to lye till     
,may1 at which time the drought hath so 
entered into him1 that the greatest part
 of his moisture is decaied1 then ,i    
say1 the nature of the ground is such   
and so hard1 that it wilbe impossible to
 make any plough enter into it1 so that 
you shall not onely aduenture the losse 
of that speciall ,ardor1 but also of all
 the rest which should follow after1 and
 so consequently loose the profit of    
your land3 where contrary wise if you   
fallow it at the beginning of the yeere1
 as in ,ianuary1 and ,february1 albe    
they be wet1 yet shall you lay vp your  
furrowes and make the earth more loose1 
by which meanes you shall compasse all  

the other ,earings which belong to your 
soile3 for to speake briefely1 late     
fallowing belongs vnto claies1 which by 
drought are made loose and light1 and   
earely fallowings vnto mixt soiles1 such
 as these which by drinesse doe ingender
 and binde close together4  ,,sn3 ,of   
weeding4 ,about the middest of ,iune1   
you shall beginne to weede your ,corne1 
in such sort as hath beene before       
described in the former ,chapters3 and  
although this soile naturally of it     
selfe 7if it haue receiued his whole    
,ardor in due seasons1 and haue beene   
,ploughed cleane1 according to the      
office of a good ,husband7 doth neither 
put forth ,thistle or other weede1 yet  
if it want either the one or the other1 
it is certaine that it puts them forth  
in great abundance1 for by ,thistles and
 weedes1 vpon this soile1 is euer knowne
 the goodnesse and dilligence of the    
,husbandman4  ,,sn3 ,of ,foiling4 ,about
 the middest of ,iuly1 you shall beginne
 to foile your land1 in such sort also  

as hath beene mentioned in the former   
,chapters1 onely with this obseruation  
that if any of your lands lie flat1 you 
shall then1 in your foiling1 plough     
those lands vpward and not downeward1   
holding your first precept that in this 
soile1 your lands must lie high1 light1 
and hollow1 which if you see they doe1  
then you may if you please in your      
foiling cast them downeward1 because at 
,winter ridging you may set them vp     
againe4  ,,sn3 ,of ,manuring4 ,now for  
as much as in this ,chapter ,i haue     
hitherto omitted to speake of ,manuring 
this soile1 you shall vnderstand that it
 is not because ,i hold it so rich that 
it needeth no ,manure1 but because ,i   
know there is nothing more needfull vnto
 it then ,manure1 in so much that ,i    
wish not the ,husbandman of this ground 
to binde himselfe vnto any one          
particular season of the yeere for the  
leading forth of his ,manure1 but to    
bestow all his leasurable houres and    
rest from other workes onely vpon this  

labor1 euen through the circuit of the  
whole yeere1 knowing this most          
precisely1 that at what time of the     
yeere so euer you shall lay ,manure vpon
 this earth it will returne much profit4
  ,as for the choise of ,manures vpon   
this soile they are all those           
whatsoeuer1 of which ,i haue formerly   
intreated in any of the other ,chapters1
 no ,manure whatsoeuer comming amisse to
 this ground3 prouided that the         
,husbandman haue this respect to lay    
vpon his moystest and coldest ground his
 hottest ,manures1 and vpon his hottest 
and driest earth his coolest and        
moistest ,manures3 the hot ,manures     
being ,sheepes-dung1 ,pigions-dung1     
,pullen-dung1 ,lyme1 ,ashes1 and such   
like3 the coole being ,oxe-dung1        
,horse-dung1 the scowrings of ,ponds1   
,marle1 and such like4  ,,sn3 ,of       
,winter-ridging4 ,about the middest of  
,september you shall beginne to         
,winter-ridge your ,land1 which in all  
points you shall doe according as is    

mentioned in the former ,chapters of the
 ,clayes3 for in this ,ardor there is   
neuer any difference1 onely this one    
small obseruation1 that you may         
aduenture to ,winter-ridge this mixt    
earth sooner then any other3 for many of
 our best ,english ,husbandmen which    
liue vpon this soile doe hold this      
opinion1 that if it be ,winter-ridged so
 earely in the yeere1 that through the  
vertue of the latter spring it put forth
 a certaine greene weede like mosse1    
bring short and soft1 that the land is  
so much the better therefore1 being as  
they imagine both fed and comforted by  
such a slender expression which doth not
 take from the land any hart1 but like a
 warme couering doth ripen and make     
mellow the mould1 and this cannot be    
effected but onely by earely            
,winter-ridging4  ,,sn3 ,of ,sowing of  
,wheate1 ,rye1 and ,maslin4 ,at the end 
of ,september you shall beginne to sow  
your ,wheate1 ,rye1 and ,maslin1 all    
which ,graines are very naturall1 good1 

and profitable vpon this soile1 and are 
to be sowne after the same manner1 and  
with the same obseruations which are    
specified in the former ,chapter of the 
blacke clay1 that is to say1 the ,wheate
 vnder furrow1 and vnharrowed1 the ,rye 
and ,maslin aboue furrow1 and well      
harrowed4 ,and herein is also to be     
remembred all those precepts mentioned  
in the ,chapter of the blacke ,clay1    
touching the diuision of the fields1    
that is to say1 if you haue three       
fields1 you shall then sow your ,wheate1
 ,rye and ,maslin in your fallow-field1 
and so saue both the ,foyling and double
 manuring of so much earth3 but if you  
haue foure fields1 then you shall sow   
those graines vpon that land from whence
 the same yeere you did reape your      
,pease2 your ,wheate hauing no other    
,manure then that which came by the     
,pease1 your ,rye hauing1 if possible1  
eyther ,manure from the ,cart1 or from  
the ,folde1 in such sort as hath beene  
shewed in the ,chapter of the blacke    

,clay1 and this of ,husbandmen is called
 ,inam-wheate or ,inam-rye1 that is1    
white-corne sowne after white-corne1 as 
,barley after ,barley1 or hard-corne    
after hard-corne1 which is wheate after 
,pease4  ,,sn3 ,of the plough4 ,now for 
the ,plough which is most proper for    
this soile it is to be made of a middle 
size betwixt that for the blacke ,clay1 
and that for the red ,sand1 being not   
all out so bigge and vnwieldy as the    
first1 nor so slender and nimble as the 
latter1 but taking a middle proportion  
from them both1 you shall make your     
,plough of a competent fitnesse4  ,,sn3 
,of the plough-,irons4 ,as for the      
,irons1 the ,share must be of the same  
proportion that the ,share for the red  
,sand is1 yet a little thought bigger1  
and the ,coulture of the fashion of that
 ,coulture1 onely not full so much bent1
 but all-out as sharpe and as long3 and 
these ,irons must be euer well          
maintained with steele1 for this mixt   
earth is euer the hardest1 and weareth  

both the ,plough and ,irons soonest1 and
 therefore it is agreed by all          
,husbandmen that this ,plough must not  
at any time want his ,plough-slip1      
except at the first going of the ,plough
 you shall finde that it hath too much  
land1 that is to say1 by the crosse     
setting on of the beame1 that it runneth
 too greedily into the land1 which to   
helpe1 you shall let your ,plough goe   
without a plough-slip1 till the         
plough-head be so much worne1 that it   
take no more but an ordinary furrow1 and
 then you shall set on your             
,plough-slips and ,plough clouts also3  
but ,i write this in case there be      
imperfection in the ,plough1 which if it
 be otherwise1 then this obseruation is 
needlesse4  ,,sn3 ,of the ,teame4 ,now  
for the ,teame or ,draught which shall  
draw this ,plough1 they are as the      
former1 ,oxen or ,horses1 and their     
number the same that is prescribed for  
the blacke ,clay1 as namely1 eight or   
sixe ,beasts for ,pease-earth1 for      

,fallowing1 and ,summer-stirring1 and   
sixe or foure for all other ,ardors3 for
 you must vnderstand that this mixt and 
binding soile1 through his hardnesse1   
and glutenous holding together1 is as   
hard to plow as any clay-soile          
whatsoeuer1 and in some speciall seasons
 more by many degrees4  ,,sn3 ,of the   
white clay with white ,sand4 ,now for   
the white clay mixt with white sand1 it 
is an earth much more barraine1 then    
this former mixt earth1 and bringeth    
forth nothing without much care1        
diligence1 and good order3 yet1 for his 
manner of ,earings1 in their true       
natures euery way doe differ nothing    
from the ,earings of this blacke clay   
and red ,sand1 onely the ,seede which   
must be sowne vpon this soile differeth 
from the former3 for vpon this soile in 
stead of ,barley you must sow most      
,oates1 as a ,graine which will take    
much strength from little fertilitie3   
and in stead of ,rye you shall sow more 
,wheate and more ,pease1 or in stead of 

,pease then you shall sow ,fitches of   
eyther kinde which you please1 and the  
increase will be 7though not in         
abundance1 yet7 so sufficient as shall  
well quit the ,plow-mans labour4  ,,sn3 
,of ,manuring4 ,now for the ,manuring of
 this ground1 you shall vnderstand that 
,marle is the chiefest3 for neyther will
 any man suppose that this hard soile   
should bring vp cattell sufficient to   
manure it1 nor if it would1 yet that    
,manure were not so good3 for a barraine
 clay being mixt with a most barraine   
sand1 it must consequently follow that  
the soile must be of all the barenest1  
insomuch that to giue perfect strength  
and life vnto it1 there is nothing      
better then ,marle1 which being a fat   
and strong clay1 once incorporated      
within these weake moulds1 it must      
needes giue them the best nourishment1  
loosening the binding substance1 and    
binding that weaknesse which occasioneth
 the barrainnesse3 but of this ,marle ,i
 shall haue more occasion to speake     

hereafter in a particular ,chapter1     
onely thus much ,i must let you         
vnderstand1 that this soile1 albe it be 
not within any degree of praise for the 
bringing forth of ,corne1 yet it is very
 apt and fruitfull for the breeding of  
grasse1 insomuch that it will beare you 
corne for at least nine yeeres together 
7without the vse of any fallow or       
,tilth-field7 if it be well marled1 and 
immediately after it will beare you very
 good breeding grasse1 or else          
reasonable ,medow for as many yeeres    
after1 as by daily experience we see in 
the ,countries of ,lancaster and        
,chester4 ,so that the consequence being
 considered1 this ground is not but to  
be held indifferent fruitfull3 for      
whereas other soiles afore shewed 7which
 beare abundance of ,graine7 are bound  
to be manured once in three yeeres1 this
 soile1 albe it beare neither so rich   
graine1 nor so much plenty1 yet it      
needes marling not aboue once in        
sixteene or eighteene yeeres3 and albe  

,marle be a ,manure of the greatest     
cost1 yet the profit by continuance is  
so equall that the labour is neuer spent
 without his reward1 as shall more      
largely appeare hereafter4  ,,sn3 ,of   
the ,plough4 ,as touching the ,plough1  
it is the same which is mentioned in the
 other soile of the blacke ,clay1 and   
red ,sand1 altering nothing eyther in   
quantitie of timber1 or strength of     
,irons3 so that to make any large       
description thereof1 is but to double my
 former discourses1 and make my writings
 tedious4  ,for to conclude briefely1   
these two soiles differ onely but in    
fatnesse and strength of nature1 not in 
,earing1 or plowing1 so that the labours
 of tillage being equall there is not   
any alteration more then the true       
diligence of much manuring1 which will  
breede an affinitie or alyance betwixt  
both these soiles4 ,and thus much for   
this blacke ,clay and red ,sand1 or     
white ,clay and white ,sand4            
,illustration    ,,the   ,,first ,,part 

,,of ,,the ,,english   ,husbandman3     
,contayning1 the manner of plowing and  
,manuring all sorts of ,soyles1         
together with the manner of planting and
 setting of ,corne4     ,,chap4 ,i4  ,of
 the manner of plowing all simple       
,earths1 which are vncompounded4   ,that
 many famous and learned men1 both in   
,fraunce1 ,spaine1 ,italy and ,germany1 
haue spent all their best time in       
shewing vnto the world the excellencie  
of their experiences1 in this onely     
renowned ,arte of ,husbandry1 their     
large and learned ,volumes1 most        
excellently written1 in that kinde1 are 
witnesses3 from whence we by            
translations haue gotten some           
contentment1 though but small profit2   
because those forraine clymates1        
differing much from ours1 both in nature
 of earth1 and temper of ,ayre1 the     
rules and obseruations belonging vnto   
them can be little auailable to vs1 more
 then to know what is done in such      
parts1 a thing more appertaining to our 

conference then practise4 ,but now1 that
 other kingdomes may see though wee     
write lesse yet wee know as much as     
belongeth to the office of the ,english 
,husbandman1 ,i1 though the meanest of  
many millions1 haue vndertaken to       
deliuer vnto the world all the true     
rudiments1 obseruations and knowledges  
what soeuer1 which hath any affinitie or
 alliance with ,english ,husbandry4 ,and
 for as much as the best and            
principallest part of ,husbandry        
consisteth in the plowing and earring of
 the ground 7for in that onely ,adam    
began his first labours7 ,i thinke it   
not vnmeete1 first to treate of that    
subiect1 proceeding so from braunch to  
braunch1 till ,i haue giuen euery one   
sufficient knowledge4  ,to speake then  
first of the ,tilling of ,grounds4 ,you 
shall well vnderstand1 that it is the   
office of euery good ,husbandman before 
he put his plough into the earth1 truly 
to consider the nature of his ,grounds1 
and which is of which quallitie and     

temper4 ,to proceede then to our        
purpose2 all soyles what soeuer1 in this
 our kingdome of ,england1 are reduced  
into two kindes onely1 that is to say1  
,simple or ,compound4 ,simple1 are those
 which haue no mixture with others of a 
contrary quallitie1 as are your stiffe  
clayes1 or your loose sands3 your stiffe
 clayes are likewise diuers1 as a blacke
 clay1 a blew clay1 and a clay like vnto
 ,marble4 ,your sands are also diuers1  
as a red sand1 a white sand1 a yellow   
sand1 and a sand like vnto dust4 ,your  
mixt earths are where any of these      
clayes and sands are equally or         
vnindifferently mixed together1 as      
shalbe at large declared hereafter4 ,now
 as touching the tilling of your simple 
clayes1 it is to be noted1 that the     
blacke clay1 of all earth1 is the most  
fruitfull1 and demandeth from the       
,husbandman the least toyle1 yet        
bringeth forth his increase in the      
greatest abundance3 it will well and    
sufficiently bring forth three crops1   

eare it desire rest3 namely1 the first  
of ,barly1 the second of ,pease1 and the
 third of ,wheate3 ,it doth not desire  
much ,manure1 for it is naturally of it 
selfe so fat1 rich1 and fruitfull1 that 
if you adde strength vnto his strength1 
by heaping ,manure or ,compasse         
thereupon1 you make it either blast1 and
 mildew the ,corne that growes1 with the
 too much fatnesse of the earth1 or else
 through his extreame rankenesse1 to    
bring it vp in such abundance that it is
 not able to stand vpright when it is   
shot vp1 but falling downe flat to the  
ground1 and the eares of ,corne         
smothering one another1 they bring forth
 nothing but light ,corne1 like an      
emptie huske1 without a kirnell4 ,the   
best ,manure or ,compasse therefore that
 you can giue such ground1 is then to   
plow it in orderly and dew seasons1 as  
thus3 you shall begin to fallow1 or     
breake vp this soyle1 at the beginning  
of ,may1 at which time you shall plow it
 deepe1  take vp a large furrow1 and if 

your ,lands lye any thing flat1 it      
shalbe meete that you begin on the ridge
 of the land1 and turne all your        
furrowes vpward1 but if your ,lands lye 
high and vpright1 then shall you begin  
in the furrow and turne all your        
furrowes downeward1 which is called of  
,husbandmen1 the casting downe of ,land4
 ,this first plowing of ground1 or as   
,husbandmen tearme it1 the first ardor1 
is called fallowing3 the second ardor1  
which we call stirring of ground1 or    
sommer stirring1 you shall begin in     
,iuly1 which is of great consequence1   
for by meanes of it you shall kill all  
manner of weedes and thistells that     
would annoy your ,land4 ,in this ardor  
you must oft obserue that if when you   
fallowed you did set vp your ,land1 then
 now when you stirre you must cast downe
 your ,land1 and so contrarily1 if      
before you did cast downe1 then now you 
must set vp3 your third ardor1 which is 
called of ,husbandmen1 winter ridgeing1 
or setting vp ,land for the whole yeere1

 you shall begin at the latter end of   
,september1 and you must euer obserue   
that in this third ardor you doe alwaies
 ridge vp your ,land1 that is to say1   
you most turne euery furrow vpward and  
lay them as close together as may be1   
for should you doe otherwise1 that is to
 say1 either lay them flat or loosely1  
the winter season would so beat and bake
 them together1 that when you should sow
 your seede you would hardly get your   
plough into the ground4  ,now your      
fourth and last ardor1 which must be    
when you sow your seede1 you shall begin
 euer about the midst of ,march1 at     
least one weeke before our ,ladies day1 
commonly called the ,annunciation of    
,mary1 and this ardor you shall euer    
plow downeward1 laying your ridges very 
well open1 and you shall euer obserue in
 this ardor1 first to sow your seede1   
and then after to plow your ground1     
turning your seede into the earth1 which
 is called of ,husbandmen1 sowing       
vnderfurrow3 as soone as your ground is 

plowed you shall harrow it with an      
harrow whose teeth are all of wood1 for 
these simple earths are of easie temper 
and will of themselues fall to dust1    
then after you haue thus sowne your     
ground1 if then there remaine any clots 
or lumpes of earth vnbroken1 you shall  
let them rest till after the next shower
 of raine1 at which time you shall      
either with a heauie rouler1 or the     
backside of your harrowes1 runne ouer   
your ,lands1 which is called the        
sleighting of ground1 and it will not   
onely breake such clots to dust1 but    
also lay your ,land plaine and smoth1   
leauing no impediment to hinder the     
,corne from sprouting and comming forth4
 ,in this same ordor as you are         
appointed for this blacke clay1 in this 
same manner you shall ordor both your   
blew clay  your clay which is like vnto 
marble4 ,now as touching the plough     
which is fittest for these clayes1 it   
must be large and strong1 the beame long
 and well bending1 the head thicke and  

large1 the skeeth broad1 strong1 and    
well sloaping1 the share with a very    
large wing1 craueing much earth1 and the
 coulter long1 thicke and very straight4
  ,now touching those lands which are   
simple and vncompounded1 you shall      
vnderstand that euery good ,husbandman  
must begin his first ardor 7which is to 
fallow them7 at the beginning of        
,ianuary1 hee must sooner stirre them1  
which is the second ardor1 at the latter
 end of ,aprill1 he shall cast them     
downe againe1 which is called foyling of
 ,land1 at the beginning of ,iuly1 which
 is the third ardor1 and wherein is to  
be noted1 that how soeuer all other     
ardors are plowed1 yet this must euer be
 cast downward3 the fourth ardor1 which 
is winter-stirring or winter-ridgeing1  
must euer begin at the end of           
,september1 and the fift and last ardor 
must be performed when you sow your     
ground1 which would be at the middest of
 ,may1 at the soonest1 and if your      
leasure and abilitie will giue you      

leaue1 if you turne ouer your ground    
againe in ,ianuary1 it will be much     
better1 for these sands can neuer haue  
too much plowing1 nor too much ,manure1 
and therefore for them both1 you shall  
apply them so oft as your leasure will  
conueniently serue1 making no spare when
 either the way or opportunitie will    
giue you leaue4 ,now for as much as all 
sands1 being of a hot nature1 are the   
fittest to bring foorth ,rye1 which is a
 graine delighting in drynesse onely1   
you shall vnderstand1 that then you     
shall not need to plow your ground aboue
 foure times ouer1 that is1 you shall   
fallow1 sommer stirre1 foyle1 and in    
,september sow your ,corne3 and as these
 ardors serue the red sand1 so are they 
sufficient for your white sand1 and your
 yealow sand also4 ,as touching the     
ploughes fit for these light earths1    
they would be little and strong1 hauing 
a short slender beame and a crooked2 a  
narrow and thinne head1 a slender       
skeeth1 a share without a wing1 a       

coulter thinne and very crooked1 and a  
paire of hales much bending forward     
towards the man2 and with this manner of
 plough you may plow diuers mixt and    
compounded earths1 as the blacke clay   
and red sand1 or the red sand and white 
grauell3 and thus much as touching      
earths that are simple and vncompounded4
     ,,chap4 ,,ii4  ,of the manner of   
plowing the blacke clay mixt with white 
sand1 and the white clay mixt with red  
sand3 their ,earrings1 ,plough1 and     
,implements4   ,as touching the mixture 
of these two seuerall soyles1 that is to
 say1 the blacke clay with white sand1  
and the white clay with red sand1 they  
differ not in the nature of plowing1    
sowing1 or in ,manuring1 from the soyle 
which is mixt of a blacke clay and red  
sand1 of which ,i haue sufficiently     
intreated before3 onely thus much you   
shall vnderstand1 that the blacke clay  
mixt with white sand is so much better  
and richer then the white clay mixt with
 red sand1 by as much as the blacke clay

 is better then the white clay3 and     
although some ,husbandmen in our ,land1 
hould them to be both of one temper and 
goodnesse1 reasoning thus1 that by how  
much the blacke clay is better then the 
white1 by so much the red sand is better
 then the white sand1 so that what the  
mixture of the one addeth1 the mixture  
of the other taketh away1 and so maketh 
them all one in fruitfulnesse and       
goodnesse3 but in our common experience 
it doth not so fall out1 for wee finde  
that the blacke clay mixt with white    
sand1 if it be ordered in the forme of  
good ,husbandry1 that is to say1 be     
plowed ouer at least foure times1 before
 it come to be sowne1 and that it be    
,manured and compassed in ,husbandly    
fashion1 which is to allow at least     
eight waine-load to an ,aker1 that if   
then vpon such ,land you shall sow      
either ,organe ,wheat 7in the south     
parts called red ,wheat7 or flaxen1 or  
white ,pollard ,wheat1 that such ,wheat 
will often mildew1 and turne as blacke  

as soote1 which onely showeth too much  
richnesse and fatnesse in the earth1    
which the white clay mixt with red sand 
hath neuer beene seene to doe1          
especially so long as it is vsed in any 
,husbandly fashion1 neither will the    
white clay mixt with red sand indure to 
be deuided into foure fields1 that is to
 say1 to beare three seuerall crops1 one
 after another1 as namely1 ,barly1      
,pease1 and ,wheat1 without rest1 which 
the blacke clay mixt with white sand    
many times doth1 and thereby againe     
showeth his better fruitfulnesse3       
neuerthelesse1 in generalitie ,i would  
not wish any good ,husbandman1 and      
especially such as haue much tillage1 to
 deuide either of these soyles into any 
more then three fields1 both because hee
 shall ease himselfe and his ,cattell of
 much toyle1 shall not at any time loose
 the best seasons for his best workes1  
and make his commodities1 and fruit of  
his hands labours1 by many degrees more 
certaine4  ,you shall also vnderstand1  

that both these soyles are very much    
binding1 especially the white clay with 
red sand1 both because the clay1        
proceeding from a chaukie and limie     
substance1 and not hauing in it much    
fatnesse or fertillitie 7which          
occasioneth seperation7 being mixt with 
the red sand1 which is of a much more   
hardnesse and aptnesse to knit together1
 with such tough matter1 it must        
necessarilie binde and cleaue together1 
and so likewise the blacke clay1 from   
whence most naturally proceedeth your   
best limestone1 being mixt with white   
sand1 doth also binde together and      
stifle the seede1 if it be not preuented
 by good ,husbandry4  ,you shall        
therefore in the plowing and earring of 
these two soyles1 obserue two especiall 
notes2 the first1 that by no meanes you 
plow it in the wet1 that is1 in any     
great glut of raine3 for if you either  
lay it vp1 or cast it downe1 when it is 
more like morter then earth1 if then any
 sunshine1 or faire weather1 doe        

immediately follow vpon it1 it will so  
drie and bake it1 that if it be sowne1  
neither will the seede haue strength to 
sprout thorrow it1 nor being in any of  
your other summer ardors1 shall you by  
any meanes make your plough enter into  
it againe1 when the season falleth for  
other plowing4 ,the second1 that you    
haue great care you lay your ,land high 
and round1 that the furrowes1 as it were
 standing vpright one by another1 or    
lying light and hollow1 one vpon        
another1 you may with more ease1 at any 
time1 enter in your plough1 and turne   
your moulde which way you please1 either
 in the heate of ,sommer1 or any other  
time of the yeere whatsoeuer4  ,now as  
touching the plough1 which is most best 
and proper for these soyles1 it would be
 the same in sise which is formerly     
directed for the red sand1 onely the    
,irons must be altered1 for the ,coulter
 would be more long1 sharpe1 and        
bending1 and the share so narrow1       
sharpe1 and small as can conueniently be

 made1 according as is formerly         
expressed1 that not hauing power to take
 vp any broad furrow1 the furrowes by   
reason of there slendernesse may lye    
many1 and those many both hollow1 light 
and at any time easily to be broken4    
,as for the ,teame which is best to     
worke in this soyle1 they may be either 
,horses or ,oxen1 or ,oxen and ,horse   
mixt together1 according to the         
,husbandmans abillitie1 but if hee be a 
,lord of his owne pleasure and may      
commaund1 and haue euery thing which is 
most apt and proper1 then in these two  
soyles1 ,i preferre the ,teame of       
,horses single1 rather then ,oxen1      
especially in any winter or moist ardor1
 because they doe not tread and foyle   
the ground making it mirie and durtie as
 the ,oxe doth1 but going all in one    
furrow1 doe keepe the ,land in his      
constant firmenesse4  ,as touching the  
clotting1 sleighting1 weeding1 and      
dressing of these two soyles1 they      
differ in nothing from the former mixt  

earths1 but desire all one manner of    
dilligence3 and thus much for these two 
soyles the blacke clay mixt with white  
sand1 and the white clay with white red 
sand4     ,,chap4 ,,iii4  ,a comparison 
of all the former soyles together1 and  
most especiall notes for giuing the     
ignorant ,husbandman perfect            
vnderstanding1 of what is written       
before4   ,the reason why ,i haue thus  
at large discoursed of euery seuerall   
soyle1 both simple and compounded1 is to
 show vnto the industrious ,husbandman1 
the perfect and true reason of the      
generall alteration of our workes in    
,husbandry1 through this our ,realme of 
,england3 for if all our ,land1 as it is
 one kingdome1 were likewise of one     
composition1 mixture1 and goodnesse1 it 
were then exceeding preposterous to see 
those diuersities1 alterations1 ,i1 and 
euen contrary manners of proceedings in 
,husbandry1 which are daily and hourely 
vsed3 but euery man in his owne worke   
knowes the alteration of clymates4 ,yet 

for so much as this labour of           
,husbandry1 consisteth not for the most 
part in the knowing and vnderstanding   
breast1 but in the rude1 simple1 and    
ignorant ,clowne1 who onely knoweth how 
to doe his labour1 but cannot giue a    
reason why he doth such labour1 more    
then the instruction of his parents1 or 
the custome of the ,countrie1 where it  
comes to passe 7and ,i haue many times  
seene the same to mine admiration7 that 
the skillfullest ,clowne which is bred  
in the clay soyles1 when hee hath beene 
brought to the sandy ground1 hee could  
neither hould the plough1 temper the    
plough1 nor tell which way in good order
 to driue the ,cattell1 the heauinesse  
of the one labour being so contrary to  
the lightnesse of the other1 that not   
hauing a temperance1 or vnderstanding in
 his hands1 hee hath beene put euen vnto
 his wittes ends2 therefore ,i thinke it
 conuenient1 in this place1 by a slight 
comparison of soyles together1 to giue  
the simplest ,husbandman such direct    

plaine rules that he shall with out the 
study of his braines1 attaine to        
absolute knowledge of euery seuerall    
mixture of earth3 and albeit hee shall  
not be able distinctly to say at the    
first that it is compounded of such and 
such earths1 yet hee shall be very able 
to deliuer the true reason and manner   
how such ground 7of what nature soeuer7 
shall be ,husbanded and tilled4         
,therefore to begin the ,husbandman1 is 
to vnderstand1 that generally there are 
but two soyles for him to regard1 for in
 them consisteth the whole ,arte of     
,husbandry3 as namely1 the open and     
loose earth1 and the close and fast     
binding earth1 and these two soyles     
being meare opposites and contraries1   
most necessarily require in the         
,husbandman a double vnderstanding1 for 
there is no soyle1 of what simplicitie  
or mixture soeuer it be1 but it is      
either loose or fast4  ,now to giue you 
my meaning of these two words1 loose and
 fast1 it is1 that euery soyle which    

vpon parching and dry weather1 euen when
 the ,sunne beames scorcheth1 and as it 
were baketh the earth1 if then the      
ground vpon such exceeding drought doe  
moulder and fall to dust1 so that       
whereas before when it did retaine      
moisture it was heauie1 tough1 and not  
to be seperated1 now hauing lost that   
glewinesse it is light1 loose1 and euen 
with a mans foote to be spurnd to ashes1
 all such grounds are tearmed loose and 
open grounds1 because at no time they   
doe binde in or imprison the seede 7the 
frost time onely excepted1 which is by  
accidence1 and not from the nature of   
the soyle37 and all such grounds as in  
their moisture or after the fall of any 
sodaine raine are soft1 plyable1 light1 
and easie to be wrought1 but after when 
they come to loose that moistnesse and  
that the powerfulnesse of the ,sunne    
hath as it were drid vp their veynes1 if
 then such earths become hard1 firme1   
and not to be seperated1 then are those 
soyles tearmed fast and binding soyles1 

for if there ardors be not taken in     
their due times1 and their seede cast   
into them in perfect and due seasons1   
neither is it possible for the ,plowman 
to plow them1 nor for the seede to      
sprout through1 the earth being so      
fastned and as it were stone-like fixt  
together4 ,now sithence that all soyles 
are drawne into these two heads1        
fastnes1 and loosenesse1 and to them is 
annexed the diuersitie of all tillage1  
,i will now show the simple ,husbandman 
which earths be loose1 and which fast1  
and how without curiositie to know and  
to distinguish them4  ,breifely1 all    
soyles that are simple and of themselues
 vncompounded1 as namely1 all claies1 as
 blacke1 white1 gray1 or blew1 and all  
sands1 as either red1 white1 or blacke1 
are open and loose soyles3 the claies   
because the body and substance of them  
being held together by moistnes1 that   
moisture being dryed vp1 their strength 
and stifnesse decayeth1 and sands by    
reason of their naturall lightnesse1    

which wanting a more moist and fixt body
 to be ioyned with them doe loose all   
strength of binding or holding together4
 ,now all mixt or compound earths       
7except the compositions of one and the 
same kinds1 as clay with clay1 or sand  
with sand7 are euer fast and binding    
earths3 for betwixt sand and clay1 or   
clay  grauell1 is such an affinitie1    
that when they be mixt together the sand
 doth giue to the clay such hardnesse   
and drynesse1 and the clay to the sand  
such moisture and coldnesse1 that being 
fixt together they make one hard body1  
which through the warmth of the ,sunne  
bindeth and cleaueth together4 ,but if  
it be so that the ignorance of the      
,husbandman cannot either through the   
subtiltie of his eye sight1 or the      
obseruations gathered from his          
experience1 distinguish of these soyles1
 and the rather1 sith many soyles are so
 indifferently mixt1 and the colour so  
very perfect1 that euen skill it selfe  
may be deceiued3 as first to speake of  

what mixture some soyles consist1 yet   
for as much as it is sufficient for the 
,husbandman to know which is loose and  
which is binding1 hee shall onely when  
he is perplext with these differences1  
vse this experiment1 hee shall take a   
good lumpe of that earth whose          
temperature hee would know1 and working 
it with water and his wet hands1 like a 
peece of past1 he shall then as it were 
make a cake thereof1 and laying it      
before an hot fire1 there let it lye1   
till all the moisture be dried  backt   
out of it1 then taking it into your     
hands and breaking it in peeces1 if     
betweene your fingers it moulder and    
fall into a small dust1 then be assured 
it is a loose1 simple1 and vncompounded 
earth1 but if it breake hard and firme1 
like a stone1 and when you crumble it   
betweene your fingers it be rough1      
greetie1 and shining1 then be assured it
 is a compounded fast-binding earth1 and
 is compounded of clay and sand1 and if 
in the baking it doe turne red or       

redish1 it is compounded of a gray clay 
and red sand1 but if it be browne or    
blewish1 then it is a blacke clay  white
 sand1 but if when you breake it you    
finde therein many small pibles1 then   
the mixture is clay and grauell4 ,now   
there be some mixt soyles1 after they   
are thus bak't1 although they be hard   
and binding1 yet they will not be so    
exceeding hard and stone-like as other  
soyles will be1 and that is where the   
mixture is vnequall1 as where the clay  
is more then the sand1 or the sand more 
then the clay4  ,when you haue by this  
experiment found out the nature of your 
earth1 and can tell whether it be simple
 or compounded1 you shall then looke to 
the fruitfulnesse thereof1 which        
generally you shall thus distinguish4   
,first1 that clayes1 simple and of      
themselues vncompounded1 are of all the 
most fruitfull1 of which1 blacke is the 
best1 that next to clayes1 your mixt    
earths are most fertill1 and the mixture
 of the blacke clay and red sand1 called

 a hasell earth1 is the best1 and that  
your sands are of all soyles most       
barraine1 of which the red sand for     
profit hath euer the preheminence4  ,now
 for the generall tillage and vse of    
these grounds1 you shall vnderstand that
 the simple and vncompounded grounds1   
being loose and open 7if they lye free  
from the danger of water7 the ,lands may
 be layd the flattest and greatest1 the 
furrowes turned vp the largest and      
closest1 and the plough and             
plough-,irons1 most large and massie1   
onely those for the sandy grounds must  
be more slender then those for the      
clayes and much more nimble1 as hath    
beene showed before4 ,now for the mixt  
earths1 you shall lay your ,lands high1 
round1 and little1 set your furrowes    
vpright1 open1 and so small as is       
possible1 and make your plough and plow 
,irons most nimble and slender1         
according to the manner before          
specified3 and thus ,i conclude1 that   
hee which knoweth the loose earth and   

the binding earth1 can either helpe or  
abate the strength of the earth1 as is  
needfull1 and knowes how to sorte his   
ploughes to each temper1 knowes the     
ground and substance of all tillage4    
,,chap4 ,,iiii4  ,of the planting or    
setting of ,corne1 and the profit       
thereof4   ,not that ,i am conceited1 or
 carried away with any nouelty or       
strange practise1 vnusually practised in
 this kingdome1 or that ,i will ascribe 
vnto my selfe to giue any iudiciall     
approbation or allowance to things      
mearely vnfrequented1 doe ,i publish1   
within my booke1 this relation of the   
setting of ,corne1 but onely because ,i 
would not haue our ,english ,husbandman 
to be ignorant of any skill or obscure  
faculty which is either proper to his   
profession1 or agreeable with the       
fertillitie and nature of our clymates1 
and the rather1 since some few yeeres   
agoe1 this 7as it then appeared secret7 
being with much admiration bruted       
through the kingdome1 in so much that   

according to our weake accustomed       
dispositions 7which euer loues strange  
things best7 it was held so worthy1 both
 for generall profit and perticular     
ease1 that very fein 7except the        
discreet7 but did not alone put it in   
practise1 but did euen ground strong    
beleifes to raise to themselues great   
common-wealthes by the profits thereof2 
some not onely holding insufficient     
arguments1 in great places1 of the      
invtilitie of the plough1 but euen      
vtterly contemning the poore cart ,iade1
 as a creature of no necessitie1 so that
 ,poulters and ,carriers1 were in good  
hope to buy ,horse-flesh as they bought 
egges1 at least fiue for a penie2 but it
 hath proued otherwise1 and the         
,husbandman as yet cannot loose the     
,horses seruice4 ,but to proceede to the
 manner of setting or planting of       
,corne1 it is in this manner4  ,,sn3 ,of
 setting ,wheate4 ,hauing chosen out an 
aker of good ,corne ground1 you shall at
 the beginning of ,march1 appoint at    

least sixe diggers or laborers with     
spades to digge vp the earth gardenwise1
 at least a foote and three inches deepe
 7which is a large spades graft7 and    
being so digged vp1 to rest till ,iune1 
and then to digge it ouer againe1 and in
 the digging to trench it and ,manure   
it1 as for a garden mould1 bestowing at 
least sixteene ,waine-load of ,horse or 
,oxe ,manure vpon the aker1 and the     
,manure to be well couered within the   
earth1 then so to let it rest vntill the
 beginning of ,october1 which being the 
time for the setting1 you shall then    
digge it vp the third time1 and with    
rakes and beetells breake the moulde    
somewhat small1 then shall you take a   
board of sixe foot square1 which shalbe 
bored full of large wimble holes1 each  
hole standing in good order1 iust sixe  
inches one from another1 then laying the
 board vpon the new digged ground1 you  
shall with a stick1 made for the        
purpose1 through euery hole in the      
board1 make a hole into the ground1 at  

least fore inches deepe1 and then into  
euery such hole you shall drop a ,corne 
of ,wheate1 and so remouing the board   
from place to place1 goe all ouer the   
ground that you haue digged1 and so set 
each seuerall ,corne sixe inches one    
from another1 and then with a rake you  
shall rake ouer and couer all the holes 
with earth1 in such sort that they may  
not be discerned4 ,and herein you are to
 obserue by the way that a quarte of    
,wheate will set your aker3 which       
,wheate is not to be taken as it falles 
out by chance when you buy it in the    
market1 but especially culd and pickt   
out of the eare1 being neither the      
vppermost ,cornes which grow in the     
toppes of the eares1 nor the lowest1    
which grow at the setting on of the     
stalke1 both which1 most commonly are   
light and of small substance1 but those 
which are in the midst1 and are the     
greatest1 fullest1 and roundest4  ,,sn3 
,of setting ,barly1 or ,pease4 ,now in  
the selfe-same sort as you dresse your  

ground for your ,wheate1 in the selfe   
same manner you shall dresse your ground
 for ,barly1 onely the first time you   
digge it shalbe after the beginning of  
,may1 the second time and the ,manuring 
about the midst of ,october1 wherein you
 shall note that to your aker of ,barly 
earth1 you shall alow at least foure and
 twentie ,waine-load of ,manure1 and the
 last time of your digging and setting  
shalbe at the beginning of ,aprill4     
,now for the dressing of your earth for 
the setting of ,pease1 it is in all     
things answerable to that for ,barly1   
onely you may saue the one halfe of your
 ,manure1 because a dosen ,waine-load is
 sufficient1 and the time for setting   
them1 or any other pulse1 is euer about 
the midst of ,february4  ,,sn3 ,of the  
profit of setting ,corne4 ,now for the  
profit which issueth from this practise 
of setting of ,corne1 ,i must needs     
confesse1 if ,i shall speake simply of  
the thing1 that is1 how many foulds it  
doubleth and increaseth1 surely it is   

both great and wonderfull3 and whereas  
ingenerall it is reputed that an aker of
 set ,corne yeeldeth as much profit as  
nine akers of sowne ,corne1 for mine    
owne part ,i haue seene a much greater  
increase1 if euery ,corne set in an aker
 should bring forth so much as ,i haue  
seene to proceede from some three or    
foure ,cornes set in a garden1 but ,i   
feare me the generalitie will neuer     
hould with the particular3 how euer1 it 
is most certaine that earth in this sort
 trimmed and inriched1 and ,corne in    
this sort set and preserued1 yeeldeth at
 least twelue-fold more commoditie then 
that which by mans hand is confusedly   
throwne into the ground from the        
,hopper3 whence it hath come to passe   
that those which by a few ,cornes in    
their gardens thus set1 seeing the      
innumerable increase1 haue concluded a  
publique profit to arise thereby to the 
whole kingdome1 not looking to the      
intricacie1 trouble1 and casualtie1     
which attends it1 being such and so     

insupportable that almost no ,husbandman
 is able to vndergoe it3 to which we    
need no better testimony then the       
example of those which hauing out of    
meare couetousnesse and lucre of gaine1 
followed it with all greedinesse1 seeing
 the mischiefes and inconueniences which
 hath incountred their workes1 haue euen
 desisted1 and forgotten that euer there
 was any such practise1 and yet for mine
 owne part ,i will not so vtterly       
condemne it1 that ,i will depriue it of 
all vse1 but rather leaue it to the     
discretion of iudgement1 and for my     
selfe1 onely hould this opinion1 that   
though it may very wel be spared from   
the generall vse of ,wheat and ,barly in
 this kingdome1 yet for hastie-,pease1  
,french ,beanes1 and such like pulse1 it
 is of necessary imployment1 both in    
rich and poore mens gardens4 ,and thus  
much for the setting of ,corne4         
,,chap4 ,v4  ,of the choice of          
seede-,corne1 and which is best for     
which soyle4   ,hauing thus showed vnto 

you the seuerall soyles and temperatures
 of our ,english land1 together with the
 order of ,manuring1 dressing and       
tillage of the same1 ,i thinke it meete 
7although ,i haue in generall writ      
something already touching the seede    
belonging to euery seuerall earth7 now  
to proceede to a particular election and
 choice of seede-,corne1 in which there 
is great care and diligence to be vsed3 
for as in ,men1 ,beasts1 ,fowle1  euery 
mouing thing1 there is great care taken 
for the choice of the breeders1 because 
the creatures bred doe so much          
participate of the parents that for the 
most part they are seene not onely to   
carry away their outward figures and    
semblances1 but euen their naturall     
conditions and inclinations1 good       
issuing from good1 and euill from euill3
 so in the choise of seede-,corne1 if   
their be any neglect or carelessenesse1 
the crop issuing of such corrupt seede  
must of force bring forth a more corrupt
 haruest1 by as much as it exceedeth in 

the multiplication4  ,,sn3 ,the choise  
of seede ,wheate4 ,to proceede therefore
 to the choise of seede-,corne1 ,i will 
begin with ,wheate1 of which there are  
diuers kindes1 as your whole straw      
,wheate1 the great browne ,pollard1 the 
white ,pollard1 the ,organe or red      
,wheate1 the flaxen ,wheate1 and the    
chilter ,wheate4 ,your whole straw      
,wheate1 and browne ,pollard1 are       
knowne1 the first1 by his straw1 which  
is full of pith1 and hath in it no      
hollownesse 7whence it comes that       
,husbandmen esteeme it so much for their
 thacking1 allowing it to be as good and
 durable as reede37 the latter is knowne
 by his eare1 which is great1 white1 and
 smooth1 without anes or beard vpon it3 
in the hand they are both much like one 
to another1 being of all ,wheates the   
biggest1 roundest and fullest3 they be  
somewhat of a high colour1 and haue vpon
 them a very thicke huske1 which making 
the meale somewhat browne causeth the   
,baker not all together to esteeme them 

for his purest manchet1 yet the yeeld of
 flower which cometh from them is as    
great and greater then any other ,wheate
 whatsoeuer4 ,these two sortes of       
,wheate are to be sowne vpon the fallow 
field1 as crauing the greatest strength 
and fatnesse of ground1 whence it comes 
that they are most commonly seene to    
grow vpon the richest and stiffest      
blacke clayes1 being a graine of that   
strength that they will seldome or neuer
 mildew or turne blacke1 as the other   
sortes of ,wheate will doe1 if the      
strength of the ground be not abated    
before they be throwne into the earth4  
,now for the choise of these two        
,wheates1 if you be compelled to buy    
them in the market1 you must regard that
 you buy that which is the cleanest and 
fairest1 being vtterly without any      
weedes1 as darnell1 cockell1 tares or   
any other foulnesse whatsoeuer3 you     
shall looke that the ,wheate1 as neare  
as may be1 hould all of one bignesse and
 all of one colour1 for to beholde it   

contrary1 that is to say1 to see some   
great ,cornes1 some little1 some high   
coloured1 some pale1 so that in their   
mixture they resemble changeable        
taffata1 is an apparant signe that the  
,corne is not of one kinde but mixt or  
blended1 as being partly whole-straw1   
partly ,pollard1 partly ,organe1 and    
partly ,chelter4 ,for the flaxen1 it is 
naturally so white that it cannot be    
mixt but it may easily be discerned1 and
 these mixt seedes are neuer good1      
either for the ground or the vse of man4
 ,againe you shall carefully looke that 
neither this kinde of ,wheate1 nor any  
other that you buy for seede be blacke  
at the ends1 for that is a signe that   
the graine comming from too rich a soyle
 was mildewed1 and then it will neuer be
 fruitfull or proue good seede1 as also 
you shall take care that it be not too  
white at the ends1 showing the ,corne to
 be as it were of two colours1 for that 
is a signe that the ,wheate was washt   
and dried againe1 which vtterly         

confoundeth the strength of the ,corne  
and takes from it all abilitie of       
bringing forth any great encrease4 ,now 
if it be so that you haue a crop of     
,wheate of your owne1 so that you haue  
no need of the market1 you shall then   
picke out of your choisest sheafes1 and 
vpon a cleane floare gently bat them    
with a flaile1 and not thresh them      
cleane1 for that ,corne which is        
greatest1 fullest1 and ripest1 will     
first flie out of the eare1 and when you
 haue so batted a competent quantitie   
you shall then winnow it and dresse it  
cleane1 both by the helpe of a strong   
winde and open siues1 and so make it fit
 for your seede4  ,i haue seene some    
,husbands 7and truely ,i haue accounted 
them both good and carefull7 that haue  
before ,wheate seede time both          
themselues1 wiues1 children1 and        
seruants at times of best leasure1 out  
of a great ,wheate mow or bay1 to gleane
 or pull out of the sheafes1 eare by    
eare1 the most principall eares1 and    

knitting them vp in small bundells to   
bat them and make their seede thereof1  
and questionlesse it is the best seede  
of all other3 for you shall be sure that
 therein can be nothing but the cleanest
 and the best of the ,corne1 without any
 weedes or foulnesse1 which can hardly  
be when a man thresheth the whole       
sheafe1 and although some men may thinke
 that this labour is great and          
troblesome1 especially such as sowe     
great quantities of ,wheate1 yet let    
them thus farre encourage themselues1   
that if they doe the first yeere but    
gleane a bushell or two 7which is       
nothing amongst a few persons7 and sowe 
it vp on good ,land1 the encrease of it 
will the next yeere goe farre in the    
sowing the whole crop3 for when ,i doe  
speake of this picking of ,wheate1 eare 
by eare1 ,i doe not intend the picking  
of many quarters1 but of so much as the 
increase thereof may amount to some     
quarter4  ,now there is also another    
regarde to be had 7as auailable as any  

of the former7 in chusing of your seede 
,wheate1 and that is to respect the     
soyle from whence you take your seede1  
and the soyle into which you put it1 as 
thus4  ,if the ground whereon you meane 
to sowe your ,wheat be a rich1 blacke1  
clay1 stiffe and full of fertillitie1   
you shall then 7as neare as you can7    
chuse your seede from the barrainest    
mixt earth you can finde 7so the ,wheate
 be whole-straw or ,pollard7 as from a  
clay and grauell1 or a clay and white   
sand1 that your seede comming from a    
much more barraine earth then that      
wherein you put it1 the strength may be 
as it were redoubled1 and the encrease  
consequently amount to a higher         
quantitie1 as we finde it proueth in our
 daylie experience2 but if these        
barraine soyles doe not afforde you     
seede to your contentment1 it shall not 
then be amisse 7you sowing your ,wheate 
vpon fallow or tilth ground7 if you take
 your seede-,wheate either from an earth
 of like nature to your owne1 or from   

any mixt earth1 so that such seede come 
from the niams1 that is1 that it hath   
beene sowne after ,pease1 as being the  
third crop of the ,land1 and not from   
the fallow or tilth ground1 for it is a 
maxiome amongst the best ,husbands      
7though somewhat proposterous to common 
sence7 bring to your rich ground seede  
from the barraine1 and to the barraine  
seede from the rich1 their reason 7taken
 from their experience7 being this1 that
 the seede 7as before ,i said7 which    
prospereth vpon a leane ground being put
 into a rich1 doth out of that          
superfluitie of warmth1 strength and    
fatnesse1 double his increase2 and the  
seede which commeth from the fat ground 
being put into the leane1 hauing all the
 vigour1 fulnesse and iuyce of          
fertilnes1 doth not onely defend it     
selfe against the hungrinesse of the    
ground but brings forth increase        
contrary to expectation2 whence         
proceedeth this generall custome of good
 ,husbands in this ,land1 that those    

which dwell in the barraine woode       
,lands1 heathes and high mountaine      
countries of this kingdome1 euer 7as    
neere as they can7 seeke out their seede
 in the fruitfull low vales1 and very   
gardens of the earth1  so likewise those
 in the vales take some helpes also from
 the mountaines4  ,now for your other   
sortes of ,wheate1 that is to say1 the  
white ,pollard and the ,organe1 they are
 graines nothing so great1 full1 and    
large1 as the whole straw1 or browne    
,pollard1 but small1 bright1 and very   
thinly huskt3 your ,organe is very red1 
your ,pollard somewhat pale3 these two  
sorts of ,wheate are best to be sowne   
vpon the third or fourth field1 that is 
to say1 after your ,pease1 for they can 
by no meanes endure an ouer rich ground1
 as being tender and apt to sprout with 
small moisture1 but to mildew and choake
 with too much fatnesse1 the soyles most
 apt for them are mixt earths1          
especially the blacke clay and red sand1
 or white clay and red sand1 for as     

touching other mixtures of grounds1 they
 are for the most part so barraine1 that
 they will but hardly bring forth       
,wheate vpon their fallow field1 and    
then much worse vpon a fourth field4    
,now for any other particular choise of 
these two seedes1 they are the same     
which ,i shewed in the whole straw1 and 
great ,pollard4 ,as for the flaxen      
,wheate1 and chilter ,wheate1 the first1
 is a very white ,wheate both inward and
 outward1 the other a pale red or deepe 
yellow3 they are the least of all sorts 
of ,wheate1 yet of much more hardnes and
 toughnesse in sprouting1 then either   
the ,organe or white ,pollard1 and      
therefore desire somewhat a more richer 
soyle1 and to that end they are for the 
most part sowne vpon fallow fields1 in  
mixt earths1 of what natures or         
barrainenesse soeuer1 as is to be seene 
most generally ouer all the ,south parts
 of this ,realme3 and although          
vncompounded sands out of their owne    
natures1 doe hardly bring forth any     

,wheate1 yet vpon some of the best sands
 and vpon the flintie grauels1 ,i haue  
seene these two ,wheates grow in good   
abundance1 but being seldome it is not  
so much to be respected4  ,,sn3 ,the    
choise of seede ,rye4 ,after your       
,wheate you shall make choise of your   
,rie1 of which there is not diuers      
kindes although it carrie diuers        
complections1 as some blackish1 browne1 
great1 full and long as that which for  
the most part growes vpon the red sand1 
or red clay1 which is three parts red   
sand mixt with blacke clay1 and is the  
best ,rie3 the other a pale gray ,rie1  
short1 small1 and hungry1 as that which 
growes vpon the white sand1 or white    
clay and white sand1 and is the worst   
,rie4 ,now you shall vnderstand that    
your sand grounds are your onely        
naturall grounds for ,rie1 as being     
indeede not principally apt for any     
other graine1 therefore when you chuse  
your ,rie for seede1 you shall chuse    
that which is brownest1 full1 bould1 and

 longest1 you shall haue great care that
 it be free from weedes or filth1 sith  
your sand grounds1 out of their owne    
naturall heat1 doth put forth such store
 of naughtie weeds1 that except a man be
 extraordinarily carefull1 both in the  
choise and dressing of his ,rie1 he may 
easily be deceiued and poyson his ground
 with those weedes1 which with great    
difficultie are after rooted out againe4
 ,now for your seedes to each soyle1 it 
is euer best to sow your best sand-,rie 
vpon your best clay ground1 and your    
best clay-,rie vpon your best sand      
ground1 obseruing euer this generall    
principle1 not onely in ,rie1 but euen  
in ,wheat1 ,barly1 ,pease and other     
graine of account1 that is1 euer once in
 three yeeres1 to change all your seede1
 which you shall finde both to augment  
your encrease and to returne you double 
profit4  ,,sn3 ,the choise of           
seede-,barly4 ,now for the choise of    
your seede-,barly1 you shall vnderstand1
 that for as much as it is a graine of  

the greatest vse1  most tendernesse1    
therefore there is the greatest         
diligence to be vsed in the election    
thereof4 ,know then that of ,barly there
 be diuers sorts1 as namely1 that which 
wee call our common ,barly1 being long  
eares with two rankes of ,corne1 narrow1
 close1 and vpright3 another called     
spike or batteldore-,barly1 being a     
large eare with two rankes of ,corne1   
broad1 flat1 and in fashion of a        
batteldore3 and the third called        
beane-,barly1 or ,barly big1 being a    
large foure-square eare1 like vnto an   
eare of ,wheate4  ,of these three       
,barlyes the first is most in vse1 as   
being most apt and proper to euery      
soyle1 whether it be fruitfull or       
barraine1 in this our kingdome1 but they
 haue all one shape1 colour and forme1  
except the soyle alter them1 onely the  
spike-,barly is most large and          
plentifull1 the common ,barly hardest   
and aptest to grow1 and the beane-,barly
 least1 palest1  tenderest1 so that with

 vs it is more commonly seene in gardens
 then in fields1 although in other      
,countries1 as in ,fraunce1 ,ireland1   
and such like1 they sowe no other ,barly
 at all1 but with vs it is of no such   
generall estimation1 and therefore ,i   
will neither giue it precedencie nor    
speake of it1 otherwise then to referre 
it to the discreation of him who takes  
delight in many practises3 but for the  
common ,barly1 or spike-,barly1 which   
our experience findes to be excellent   
and of great vse1 ,i will knit them in  
one1 and write1 my full opinion of them1
 for their choise in our seede4 ,you    
shall know then that when you goe into  
the market to chuse ,barly for your     
seede1 you shall to your best power     
elect that which is whitest1 fullest1   
and roundest1 being as the ploughman    
calles it1 a full bunting ,corne1 like  
the nebbe or beake of a ,bunting1 you   
shall obserue that it be all of one     
,corne1 and not mingled1 that is1 clay  
,barly1 and sand ,barly together1 which 

you shall distinguish by these          
differences3 the clay ,barly is of a    
palish1 white1 yellow colour2 smoth1    
full1 large1 and round1 and the sand    
,barly is of a deepe yellow1 browne at  
the neather end1 long1 slender1 and as  
it were1 withered1 and in generall no   
sand ,barly is principall good for      
seede3 but if the ,barly be somewhat of 
a high colour1 and browne at the neather
 end1 yet notwithstanding is very full1 
bould1 and bigge1 then it is a signe    
that such ,barly comes not from the     
sand1 but rather from an ouer fat soyle1
 sith the fatnesse of the earth doth    
euer alter the complection of the       
,barly2 for the whiter ,barly euer the  
leaner soyle1 and better seede3 you     
shall also obserue1 that there be not in
 it any light ,corne1 which is a kinde  
of hungry graine without substance1     
which although it filleth the seeds-mans
 hand1 yet it deceiueth the ground1 and 
this light ,corne will commonly be      
amongst the best ,barly3 for where the  

ground is so rich that it bringeth forth
 the ,barly too rankely1 there the      
,corne1 wanting power to stand vpon     
roote1 falleth to the ground1 and so    
robde of kindly ripening1 bringeth forth
 much light and insufficient graine4    
,next this1 you shall take care that in 
your seede-,barly there be not any      
,oates1 for although they be in this    
case amongst ,husbandmen accounted the  
best of weede1 yet are they such a      
disgrace1 that euery good ,husband will 
most diligently eschew them1 and for    
that cause onely will our most          
industrious ,husbands bestow the tedious
 labour of gleaning their ,barly1 eare  
by eare1 by which gleanings1 in a yeere1
 or two1 they will compasse their whole 
seede1 which must infallibly be without 
either ,oates or any weede whatsoeuer3  
and although some grounds1 especially   
your richest blacke clayes1 will out of 
the abundance of their fruitfulnesse 7as
 not induring to be ,idle7 bring forth  
naturally a certaine kinde of wilde     

,oates1 which makes some ignorant       
,husbands lesse carefull of their seede1
 as supposing that those wilde ones are 
a poisoning to their graine1 but they   
are infinetly deceiued3 for such wilde  
,oates1 wheresoeuer they be1 doe shake  
and fall away long before the ,barly be 
ready1 so that the ,husbandman doth     
carry of them nothing into the ,barne1  
but the straw onely4 ,next ,oates1 you  
must be carefull that there be in your  
,barly no other foule weede3 for        
whatsoeuer you sow1 you must looke for  
the increase of the like nature1 and    
therefore as before ,i said in the      
,wheate1 so in the ,barly1 ,i would wish
 euery good ,husband to imploy some time
 in gleaning out of his ,mow the        
principall eares of ,barly1 which being 
batted1 drest1 and sowne1 by it selfe1  
albeit no great quantitie at the first1 
yet in time it may extend to make his   
whole seede perfect1 and then hee shall 
finde his profit both in the market1    
where hee shall 7for euery vse7 sell    

with the deerest1 and in his owne house 
where he shall finde his yeeld          
redoubled4  ,now for fitting of seuerall
 seedes to seuerall soyles1 you shall   
obserue1 that the best seede-,barly for 
your clay field1 is ninam ,barly1 sowne 
vpon the clay field1 that is to say1    
,barly which is sowne where ,barly last 
grew1 or a second crop of ,barly3 for   
the ground hauing his pride abated in   
the first croppe1 the second1 though it 
be nothing neere so much in quantitie1  
yet that ,corne which it doth bring     
forth is most pure1 most white1 most    
full1 and the best of all seedes        
whatsoeuer1 and as in case of this      
soyle1 so in all other like soyles which
 doe hould that strength or             
fruitfulnesse in them that they are     
either able of themselues1 or with some 
helpe of ,manure in the latter end of   
the yeere1 to bring forth two croppes of
 ,barly1 one after the other3 but if    
either your soyle deny you this         
strength1 or the distance of place      

bereaue you of the commoditie thereof1  
then you shall vnderstand that ,barly   
from a hasell ground is the best seede1 
for the clay ground1 and ,barly from the
 clay ground is the best seede1 not     
onely for the hasell earth1 but euen for
 all mixt earths whatsoeuer1 and the    
,barly which proceedes from the mixt    
earths is the best seede for all simple 
and vncompounded sands or grauells1 as  
wee finde1 both by their increasings and
 dayly experience4  ,,sn3 ,the choise of
 seede-,beanes1 ,pease1 and ,pulse4 ,now
 for the choise of seede-,beanes1       
,pease1 or other ,pulse1 the scruple is 
nothing neere so great as of other      
seedes1 because euery one that knowes   
any graine1 can distinguish them when   
hee sees them3 besides they are of that 
massie waight1 and so well able to      
indure the strength of the winde1 that  
they are easie to be seuered from any   
weede or filth whatsoeuer3 it resteth   
therefore that ,i onely giue you        
instruction how to imploy them4  ,you   

shall vnderstand therefore1 that if your
 soyle be a stiffe1 blacke1 rich1 clay1 
that then your best seede is cleane     
,beanes1 or at the least three partes   
,beanes1 and but one part ,pease3 if it 
be a gray1 or white clay1 then ,beanes  
and ,pease equally mixt together3 if the
 best mixt earths1 as a blacke clay and 
red sand1 blacke clay and white sand1 or
 white clay and red sand1 then your     
seede must be cleane ,pease onely3 if it
 be white clay and white sand1 blacke   
clay and blacke sand1 then your seede   
must be ,pease and ,fitches mixt        
together3 but if it be grauell or sand  
simple1 or grauell and sand compounded1 
then your seede must be either cleane   
,fitches1 cleane ,bucke1 or cleane      
,tares1 or else ,fitches1 ,bucke and    
,tares mixt together4  ,,sn3 ,the choise
 of seede-,oates4 ,now to conclude with 
the choise of your ,oates4 ,you shall   
vnderstand that there be diuers kindes  
of them1 as namely1 the great long white
 ,oate1 the great long blacke ,oate1 the

 cut ,oate1 and the skegge3 the two     
first of these are knowne by their      
greatnesse and colours1 for they are    
long1 full1 bigge1 and smooth1 and are  
fittest to be sowne vpon the best of    
barraine grounds1 for sith ,oates are   
the worst of graine1 ,i will giue them  
no other prioritie of place4 ,the next  
of these1 which is the cut ,oate1 it is 
of a pale yealow colour1 short1 smooth1 
and thicke1 the increase of them is very
 great1 and they are the fittest to be  
sowne vpon the worst of best grounds1   
for most commonly where you see them1   
you shall also see both good ,wheate1   
good ,barly1 and good ,beanes and ,pease
 also4 ,now for the skegge ,oate1 it is 
a little1 small1 hungry1 leane ,oate1   
with a beard at the small end like a    
wilde ,oate1 and is good for small vse  
more then ,pullen onely3 it is a seede  
meete for the barrainest and worst      
earth1 as fit to grow but there where   
nothing of better profit will grow4 ,and
 thus much for those seedes which are   

apt and in vse in our ,english soyles3  
wherein if any man imagine me guiltie of
 errour1 in that ,i haue omitted        
particularly to speake of the seede of  
blend-,corne1 or ,masline1 which is     
,wheate and ,rye mixt together1 ,i      
answere him1 that sith ,i haue shewed   
him how to chuse both the best ,wheate  
and the best ,rye1 it is an easie matter
 to mixe them according to his owne     
discretion4     ,,chap4 ,,vi4  ,of the  
time of ,haruest and the gathering in of
 ,corne4   ,,sn3 ,the getting in of     
,masline4 ,,sn3 ,the getting in of      
,wheate4 ,next vnto plowing1 it is      
necessary that ,i place ,reaping1 sith  
it is the end1 hope1 and perfection of  
the labour1 and both the merit and      
incouragement which maketh the toyle    
both light and portable3 then to        
proceede vnto the time of ,haruest4 ,you
 shall vnderstand that it is requisite  
for euery good ,husband about the latter
 end of ,iuly1 if the soyle wherein he  
liueth be of any hot temper1 or about   

the beginning of ,august1 if it be of   
temperate warmth1 with all dilligence   
constantly to beholde his ,rye1 which of
 all graines is the first that ripeneth1
 and if he shall perceiue that the hull 
of the eare beginneth to open1 and that 
the blacke toppes of the ,corne doth    
appeare1 he may then be assured that the
 ,corne is fully ripe1 and ready for the
 ,sickle1 so that instantly he shall    
prouide his ,reapers1 according to the  
quantitie of his graine3 for if hee     
shall neglect his ,rye but one day more 
then is fit1 it is such a hasty graine1 
that it will shale forth of the huske to
 the ground1 to the great losse of the  
,husbandman4 ,when hee hath prouided his
 shearers1 which he shall be carefull to
 haue very good1 he shall then looke    
that neither out of their wantonnesse   
nor emulation1 they striue which shall  
goe fastest1 or ridd most ground1 for   
from thence proceedeth many errors in   
their worke1 as namely1 scattering1 and 
leauing the ,corne vncut behind them1   

the cutting the heads of the ,corne off 
so that they are not possible to be     
gathered1 and many such like            
incommodities1 but let them goe soberly 
and constantly1 and sheare the ,rye at  
least fourteene inches aboue the ground4
 ,then he must looke that the gatherers 
which follow the ,reapers doe also      
gather cleane1  the binders binde the   
,sheafes fast from breaking1 then if you
 finde that the bottomes of the ,sheafes
 be full of greenes1 or weedes1 it shall
 not be amisse to let the ,sheafes lye  
one from another for a day1 that those  
greenes may wither1 but if you feare any
 ,raine or foule weather1 which is the  
onely thing which maketh ,rye shale1    
then you shall set it vp in ,shockes1   
each ,shocke containing at least seauen 
,sheafes1 in this manner3 first1 you    
shall place foure ,sheafes vpright close
 together1 and the eares vpwards1 then  
you shall take other three ,sheafes and 
opening them and turning the eares      
downeward couer the other foure ,sheafes

 that stoode vpwards1 and so let them   
stand1 vntill you may with good         
conueniencie lead them home1 which would
 be done without any protraction4 ,next 
after your cleane ,rye1 you shall in the
 selfe-same sort reape your             
blend-,corne1 or ,masline3 and albeit   
your ,wheate will not be fully so ripe  
as your ,rye1 yet you shall not stay    
your labour1 being well assured that    
your ,rye is ready1 because ,wheate will
 harden of it selfe after it is shorne1 
with lying onely4 ,after you haue got in
 your ,rye and blend-,corne1 you shall  
then looke vnto your cleane ,wheate1 and
 taking heare and there an eare thereof1
 rubbe them in your hand1 and if you    
finde that the ,corne hath all          
perfection saue a little hardning onely1
 you shall then forthwith set your      
,reapers vnto it1 who shall sheare it in
 all things as they did sheare your     
,rye1 onely they shall not put it in    
,shockes for a day or more1 but let the 
,sheafes lye single1 that the winde and 

,sunne may both wither the greenes1 and 
harden the ,corne3 which done1 you shall
 put the ,sheafes into great ,shockes1  
that is to say1 at least twelue or      
foureteene ,sheafes in a ,shocke1 the   
one halfe standing close together with  
the eares vpward1 the other halfe lying 
crosse ouerthwart those eares1 and their
 eares downeward1 and in this sort you  
shall let your ,wheate stand for at     
least two dayes before you lead it4     
,now it is a custome in many ,countries 
of this kingdome1 not to sheare their   
,wheate1 but to mow it1 but in my       
conceit and in generall experience1 it  
is not so good3 for it both maketh the  
,wheate foule1 and full of weede1 and   
filleth vp a great place with little    
commoditie1 as for the vse of thacking1 
which is the onely reason of such       
disorderly cutting1 there is neither the
 straw that is shorne1 nor the stubble  
which is left behinde1 but are both of  
sufficiencie inough for such an         
imployment1 if it passe through the     

hands of a workman1 as we see in dayly  
experience4  ,,sn3 ,the getting in of   
,barly4 ,next to your ,wheate1 you shall
 haue regard to your ,barly1 for it     
sodainely ripeneth1 and must be cut     
downe assoone as you perceiue the straw 
is turned white1 to the bottome1 and the
 eares bended downe to the groundward4  
,your ,barly you shall not sheare1      
although it is a fashion in some        
,country1 both because it is painefull  
and profitlesse1 but you shall ,mowe it 
close to the ground1 and although in    
generall it be the custome of our       
kingdome1 after your ,barly is mowen and
 hath lyne a day or two in swathe1 then 
with rackes to racke it together1 and   
make it into great cockes1 and so to    
leade it to the ,barne1 yet ,i am of    
this opinion that if your ,barly be good
 and cleane without thistles or weedes1 
that if then to euery sitheman1 or      
,mower you alot two followers1 that is  
to say1 a gatherer1 who with a little   
short rake and a small hooke shall      

gather the ,corne together1 and a       
binder1 who shall make bands and binde  
vp the ,barly in smale ,sheafes1 that   
questionlesse you shall finde much more 
profit thereby3 and although some thinke
 the labour troublesome and great1 yet  
for mine owne part1 ,i haue seene very  
great croppes inned in this manner1 and 
haue seene two women1 that with great   
ease1 haue followed and bound after a   
most principall ,mower1 which made me   
vnderstand that the toyle was not so    
great as mine imagination2 and the      
profit ten-fold greater then the labour3
 but if your ,corne be ill ,husbanded1  
and full of thistles1 weedes1 and all   
filthinesse1 then this practise is to be
 spared1 and the loose cocking vp of    
your ,corne is much better4 ,assoone as 
you haue cleansed any ,land of ,barly1  
you shall then immediatly cause one with
 a great long rake1 of at least thirtie 
teeth1 being in a sling bound           
bauticke-wise crosse his body1 to draw  
it from one end of the ,land to the     

other1 all ouer the ,land1 that he may  
thereby gather vp all the loose ,corne  
which is scattered1 and carry it where  
your other ,corne standeth1 obseruing   
euer1 as your cheifest rule1 that by no 
meanes you neither leade ,barly1 nor any
 other graine whatsoeuer1 when it is    
wet1 no although it be but moistned with
 the dew onely3 for the least           
dankishnesse1 more then the sweate which
 it naturally taketh1 will soone cause  
it to putrifie4  ,,sn3 ,the getting in  
of ,oates4 ,now for the gathering in of 
your ,oates1 they be a graine of such   
incertaintie1 ripening euer according to
 the weather1  not after any setled or  
naturall course1 that you are to looke  
to no constant season1 but to take them 
vpon the first show of ripenesse1 and   
that with such diligence that you must  
rather take them before1 then after they
 be ripe1 because if they tarry but     
halfe a day too long1 they will shed    
vpon the ground1  you shal loose your   
whole profit4 ,the time then fittest to 

cut your ,oates is1 assoone as they be  
somewhat more then halfe changed1 but   
not altogether changed1 that is1 when   
they are more then two parts white1 and 
yet the greene not vtterly extinguished1
 the best cutting of them is to mow them
 7albeit ,i haue seene them shorne in   
some places7  being mowen to let them   
dry and ripen in the swathe1 as         
naturally they will doe1 and then if you
 bind them vp in ,sheafes1 as you should
 binde your ,barly1 it is best3 for to  
carry them in the loose cocke1 as many  
doe1 is great losse and hindrance of    
profit4  ,,sn3 ,the getting in of       
,pulse4 ,after you haue got in your     
white ,corne1 you shall then looke vnto 
your ,pulse1 as ,beanes1 ,pease1        
,fitches1 and such like1 which you shall
 know to be ready by the blacknesse of  
the straw3 for it is a rule1 whensoeuer 
the straw turnes1 the ,pulse is ripe4   
,if then it be cleane ,beanes1 or       
,beanes and ,pease mixt1 you shall mowe 
them1 and being cleane ,beanes rake them

 into heapes1 and so make them vp into  
cockes1 but if they be mixt you shall   
with hookes fould the ,beanes into the  
,pease1 and make little round reapes    
thereof1 which after they haue beene    
turned and dryed1 you may put twenty    
reapes together1 and thereof make a     
cocke1 and so lead them1 and stacke     
them3 but if they be cleane ,pease1 or  
,pease and ,fitches1 then you shall not 
mowe them1 but with long hookes cut them
 from the ground1 which is called       
,reaping1 and so foulding them together 
into small reapes1 as you did your      
,pease and ,beanes1 let them be turned  
and dryed1 and so cocked1 and carried   
either to the ,barne1 stacke1 or houell4
  ,now hauing thus brought in1 and      
finished your ,haruest1 you shall then  
immediately mowe vp the stubble1 both of
 your ,wheate1 ,rye1 and ,masline1 and  
with all expedition there-with thacke1  
and couer from ,raine and weather1 all  
such graine as for want of house-roome1 
you are compeld to lay abroad1 either in

 stacke1 or vpon houell3 but if no such 
necessitie be1 and that you haue not    
other more necessary imployment for your
 stubble1 it shall be no part of ill    
,husbandry to let the stubble rot vpon  
the ,land1 which will be a reasonable   
,manuring or fatting of the earth4  ,now
 hauing brought your ,corne into the    
,barne1 it is a lesson needlesse to giue
 any certaine rules how to spend or     
vtter it forth1 sith euery man must be  
ruled according to his affaires1 and    
necessitie1 yet sith in mine owne       
experience ,i haue taken certaine setled
 rules from those who haue made         
themselues great estates by a most      
formall and strickt course in their     
,husbandry1 ,i thinke it not amisse to  
show you what ,i haue noted from them1  
touching the vtterance and expence of   
their graine3 first1 for your expence in
 your house1 it is meete that you haue  
euer so much of euery seuerall sort of  
graine thresht1 as shall from time to   
time maintaine your family3 then for    

that which you intend shall returne to  
particular profit1 you shall from a     
fortnight before ,michaelmas1 till a    
fortnight after1 thresh vp all such     
,wheate1 ,rye1  ,masline1 as you intend 
to sell for seede1 which must be        
winnowed1 fand1 and drest so cleane as  
is possible1 for at that time it will   
giue the greatest price2 but as soone as
 seede-time is past1 you shall then     
thresh no more of those graines till it 
be neare ,midsummer1 but begin to thresh
 vp all such ,barly as you intend to    
conuert and make into ,malt1 and so from
 ,michaelmas till ,candlemas1 apply     
nothing but ,malting1 for in that time  
graine is euer the cheapest1 because    
euery ,barne being full1 some must sell 
for the payment of rents1 some must sell
 to pay seruants wages1 and some for    
their ,christmas prouisions3 in which   
time ,corne abating and growing scarse1 
the price of necessitie must afterwards 
rise3 at ,candlemas you shall begin to  
thresh all those ,pease which you intend

 to sell for seede1 because the time    
being then1 and euery man1 out of       
necessitie1 inforced to make his        
prouision1 it cannot be but they must   
needes passe at a good price and        
reckoning4  ,after ,pease seede-time1   
you shall then thresh vp all that ,barly
 which you meane to sell for seede1     
which euer is at the dearest reckoning  
of any graine whatsoeuer1 especially if 
it be principally good and cleane4      
,after your seede-,barly is sould1 you  
may then thresh vp all such ,wheate1    
,rye1 and ,masline1 as you intend to    
sell3 for it euer giueth the greatest   
price from the latter end of ,may vntill
 the beginning of ,september4 ,in       
,september you shall begin to sell your 
,malt1 which being old and hauing lyne  
ripening the most part of the yeere1    
must now at the latter end of the yeere1
 when all old store is spent1 and the   
new cannot be come to any perfection1 be
 most deare1 and of the greatest        
estimation3 and thus being a man of     

substance in the world1 and able to put 
euery thing to the best vse1 you may by 
these vsuall obseruations1 and the helpe
 of a better iudgement1 imploy the      
fruits of your labours to the best      
profit1 and sell euery thing at the     
highest price1 except you take vpon you 
to giue day and sell vpon trust1 which  
if you doe1 you may then sell at what   
vnconscionable reckoning you will1 which
 because such vnnaturall exactions      
neither agree with charitie1 nor        
humanitie1 ,i will forbeare to giue     
rules for the same1 and referre euery   
man that is desirous of such knowledge1 
to the examples of the world1 wherein he
 shall finde presidents inough for such 
euill customes4 ,and thus much for the  
first part of this worke1 which         
containeth the manner of ,plowing and   
tillage onely4       ,,the ,,second     
,,part   ,,of ,,the ,,first ,,booke ,,of
   the ,english ,husbandman1            
,contayning the ,art of ,planting1      
,grafting and ,gardening1 either for    

pleasure or profit2 together with the   
vse and ordering of ,woodes4     ,,chap4
 ,i4  ,of the ,scyte1 ,modell1 ,squares1
 and ,fashion of a perfect ,orchard4    
,although many authors which ,i haue    
read1 both in ,italian1 ,french1 and    
,dutch1 doe make a diuersitie and       
distinguishment of ,orchardes1 as       
namely1 one for profit1 which they      
fashion rudely and without forme1 the   
other for delight1 which they make      
comely1 decent1 and with all good       
proportion1 deuiding the quarters into  
squares1 making the alleyes of a        
constant breadth1 and planting the      
fruit-trees in arteficiall rowes3 yet   
for as much as the comelinesse and well 
contriuing of the ground1 doth nothing  
abate1 but rather increase the          
commoditie1 ,i will therefore ioyne them
 both together1 and make them onely but 
one ,orchard4 ,now for the scyte and    
placing of this ,orchard1 ,i haue in the
 modell of my ,country house1 or        
,husbandmans ,farme1 shewed you where if

 it be possible it should stand1 and    
both what ,sunne  ayre it should lye    
open vpon3 but if the scyte or          
ground-plot of your house will not giue 
you leaue to place your ,orchard        
according to your wish1 you shall then  
be content to make a vertue of          
necessitie1 and plant it in such a place
 as is most conuenient1 and nearest     
alyed to that forme before prescribed4  
,illustration  ,now when you haue found 
out a perfect ground-plot1 you shall    
then cast it into a great large square1 
which you shall fence in either with a  
stone or bricke wall1 high1 strong pale1
 or great ditch with a quicke-set hedge1
 but the wall is best and most durable1 
and that wall would haue vpon the inside
 within twelue or fourteene foote on of 
another1 ,iames or outshoots of stone or
 bricke1 betweene which you may plant   
and plash those fruit-trees which are of
 greatest tendernesse1 the ,south and   
,west ,sunne hauing power to shine vpon 
them4  ,when you haue thus fenc'st in   

this great square1 you shall then cast  
foure large alleyes1 at least fourteene 
foote broad1 from the wall round about1 
and so likewise two other alleyes of    
like breadth1 directly crosse ouerthwart
 the ground-plot1 which will deuide the 
great square into foure lesser squares1 
according to the figure before set      
downe4  ,the figure #a4 sheweth the     
alleyes which both compasse about1 and  
also crosse ouer the ground-plot1 and   
the figure #b4 sheweth the foure        
quarters where the fruit-trees are to be
 planted4  ,now if either the true      
nature and largnesse of the ground be   
sufficient1 or your owne abilitie of    
pursse so great that you may compasse   
your desires in these earthly pleasures1
 it shall not be amisse1 but a matter of
 great state1 to make your ground-plot  
full as bigge againe1 that is to say1 to
 containe eight large quarters1 the     
first foure being made of an euen       
leuell1 the other foure being raysed at 
least eight foote higher then the first1

 with conuenient stayres of state for   
ascending to the same1 to be likewise   
vpon another euen leuell of like forme1 
and if in the center of the alleyes1    
being the mid-point betweene the        
squares1 might be placed any quaint     
fountaines or any other antique         
standard1 the platforme would be more   
excellent and if vpon the ascent from   
one leuell to another there might be    
built some curious and arteficiall      
banquetting house1 it would giue luster 
to the ,orchard4  ,now for the planting 
and furnishing of these quarters3 you   
shall vnderstand that if your ,orchard  
containe but foure quarters1 then the   
first shalbe planted with ,apple-trees  
of all sorts1 the second with ,peares   
and ,wardens of all sorts1 the third    
with ,quinces  ,chesnutes1 the fourth   
with ,medlars  seruices4 ,against the   
,north side of your ,orchard wall       
against which the ,south sunne reflects1
 you shall plant the ,abricot1          
,verdochio1 ,peach1 and ,damaske-plumbe3

 against the ,east side of the wall1 the
 whit ,muskadine ,grape1 the            
,pescod-plumbe1 and the                 
,emperiall-plumbe3 against the ,west    
side the grafted ,cherries1 and the     
,oliue-tree3 and against the ,south side
 the ,almond1  ,figge tree4 ,round about
 the skirts of euery other outward or   
inward alley1 you shall plant1 the      
,wheate-plumbe1 both yealow  redde1 the 
,rye-plumbe1 the ,damson1 the           
,horse-clog1 ,bulleys of all kindes1    
ordinary french ,cherryes1 ,filberts1   
and ,nuts of all sorts1 together with   
the ,prune-plumbe1 and other such like  
stone fruits4 ,but if your ,orchard be  
of state and prospect1 so that it       
containe eight quarters or more         
7according to the limitation of the     
earth7 then you shall in euery seuerall 
quarter plant a seuerall fruit1 as      
,apple-trees in one quarter1 ,peares in 
another1 ,quinces in another1 ,wardens  
in another1 and so forth of the rest4   
,also you shall obserue in planting your

 ,apples1 ,peares1 and ,plumbes1 that   
you plant your summer or early fruit by 
themselues1 and the ,winter or long     
lasting fruit by themselues4 ,of        
,apples1 your ,ienitings1 ,wibourns1    
,pomederoy1 and ,queene-,apples are     
reckoned the best earely fruits1        
although their be diuers others1 and the
 ,pippin1 ,peare-maine1 ,apple-,iohn1   
and ,russetting1 your best ,winter and  
long lasting fruit1 though there be a   
world of other3 for the tastes of       
,apples are infinite1 according to there
 composition and mixture in grafting4   
,of ,peares your golden ,peare1 your    
,katherine-,peare1 your ,lording1 and   
such like1 are the first1 and your      
stone-,peare1 ,warden-,peare1 and       
choake-,peare1 those which indure       
longest4 ,and of ,plumbes the rye-plumbe
 is first1 your ,wheate-plumbe next1 and
 all the other sorts of plumbes ripen   
all most together in one season1 if they
 haue equall warmth1 and be all of like 
comfortable standing4  ,illustration    

,now for the orderly placing of your    
trees1 you shall vnderstand that your   
,plumbe-trees 7which are as it were a   
fence or guard about your great         
quarters7 would be placed in rowes one  
by one1 aboue fiue foote distance one   
from another1 round about each skirt of 
euery alley3 your ,apple-trees  other   
greater fruit which are to be planted in
 the quarters1 would be placed in such  
arteficiall rowes that which way soeuer 
a man shall cast his eyes yet hee shall 
see the trees euery way stand in rowes1 
making squares1 alleyes1 and deuisions1 
according to a mans imagination1        
according to the figure before1 which ,i
 would haue you suppose to be one       
quarter in an ,orchard1 and by it you   
may easily compound the rest3 wherein   
you shall vnderstand that the lesser    
prickes doe figure your ,plumbe-trees1  
the greater prickes your ,apple trees1  
and such other large fruit4  ,now you   
shall vnderstand that euery one of these
 great trees which furnish the maine    

quarter1 shall stand in a direct line1  
iust twelue foote one from another1     
which is a space altogether sufficient  
inough for there spreading1 without     
waterdropping or annoying one another2  
prouided that the ,fruiterer1 according 
to his duty1 be carefull to preserue the
 trees vpright and to vnderprope them   
when by the violence of the winde they  
shall swarue any way4 ,vpon the ascent  
or rising from one leuell to another1   
you may plant the ,barberry-trees1      
,feberries1 and ,raspberries1 of all    
sorts1 which being spreading1 thorny and
 sharpe trees1 take great delight to    
grow thicke and close together1 by which
 meanes often times they make a kinde of
 wall1 hedge1 or fencing1 where they    
stand4  ,hauing thus shewed you the     
ground-plot and proportion of your      
,orchard1 with the seuerall deuisions1  
ascents1 and squares1 that should be    
contained therein1 and the fruits which 
are to furnish euery such square and    
deuision1 and their orderly placing1 it 

now rests that you vnderstand that this 
,orchard-plot1 so neare as you can bring
 it to passe1 doe stand most open and   
plaine1 vpon the ,south and ,west sunne1
 and most defended from the ,east and   
,north windes and bitternesse1 which    
being obserued your plot is then perfect
 and absolute4  ,now forasmuch as where 
nature1 fruitfulnesse1 and situation doe
 take from a man more then the halfe    
part of his industrie1 and by a direct  
and easie way doth lead him to that     
perfection which others cannot attaine  
to without infinit labour and trauell3  
and whereas it is nothing so commendable
 to maintaine beautie1 as to make       
deformitie beautifull1 ,i will speake   
something of the framing of             
,orchard-plots there where both nature1 
the situation1 and barrainnesse1 doe    
vtterly deny the enioying of any such   
commoditie1 as where the ground is      
vneuen1 stonie1 sandy1 or in his        
lownesse subiect to the ouerflow of     
waters1 all being apparant enemies to   

these places of pleasure and delight4   
,first1 for the vneuennesse of the      
ground1 if that be his vttermost        
imperfection1 you shall first not onely 
take a note with your eye1 but also     
place a marke vpon the best ascent of   
the ground to which the leuell is       
fittest to be drawne1 and then plowing  
the ground all ouer with a great common 
plough1 by casting the furrowes         
downward1 seeke to fill in and couer the
 lesser hollownesses of the ground1 that
 their may not any thing appeare but the
 maine great hollowes1 which with other 
earth which is free from stones1        
grauell1 or such like euils1 you shall  
fill vp and make leuell with that part  
where your marke standeth1 and being so 
leuelled1 forthwith draw the plot of    
your ,orchard3 but if the ground be not 
onely vneuen but also barraine1 you     
shall then to euery loade of earth you  
carry to the leuelling adde a loade of  
,manure1 either ,oxe ,manure1 or ,horse 
,manure1 the rubbish of houses1 or the  

clensings of olde ditches1 or standing  
pooles1 and the earth will soone become 
fertill and perfect2 but if the ground  
be stonie1 that is1 full of great       
stones1 as it is in ,darbishire about   
the ,peake or ,east ,mores1 for small   
pibbles or small lime-stones are not    
very much hurtfull1 then you shall cause
 such stones to be digd vp1 and fill vp 
the places where they lay either with   
marle1 or other rich earth1 which after 
it hath beene setled for a yeere or two 
you shall then plough1 and leuell it1   
and so frame forth the plot of your     
,orchard4 ,if the ground be onely a     
barraine sand1 so that it wanteth       
strength either to maintaine or bring   
forth1 you shall then first digge that  
earth into great trenches1 at least     
foure foote deepe1 and filling them vp  
with ,oxe ,manure1 mixe it with the     
sand1 that it may change some part of   
the colour thereof and then leuelling it
 fashion out your ,orchard4 ,but lastly1
 and which is of all situations the     

worst1 if you haue no ground to plant   
your ,orchard vpon1 but such as either  
through the neighbourhood of riuers1    
descent of ,mountaines1 or the earths   
owne naturall quallitie in casting and  
vomiting out water and moysture1 is     
subiect to some small ouerflowes of     
water1 by which you cannot attaine to   
the pleasure you seeke1 because         
fruit-trees can neuer indure the        
corruption of waters1 you shall then in 
the dryest season of the yeere1 after   
you haue marked out that square or      
quantitie of ground which you intend for
 your ,orchard1 you shall then cast     
therein sundry ditches1 at least        
sixteene foote broad1 and nine foote    
deepe1 and not aboue twelue foote       
betwixt ditch and ditch1 vpon which     
reserued earth casting the earth that   
you digged vp1 you shall raise the      
banckes at least seauen foote high of   
firme earth1 and keepe in the top the   
full breadth of twelue foote1 with in a 
foote or little more3 and in the casting

 vp of these bankes you shall cause the 
earth to be beaten with maules and broad
 beetels that it may lye firme1 fast1   
and leuell1 and after these bankes haue 
rested a yeere or more1 and are         
sufficiently setled1 you may then at the
 neather end of the banke1 neare to the 
verge of the water plant store of       
,osyers1 which will be a good defence to
 the banke1 and vpon the top and highest
 part of the banke you shall plant your 
,orchard and fruit-trees1 so that when  
any inundation of water shall happen1   
the ditches shalbe able inough to       
receiue it2 or else making a passage    
from your ,orchard into some other      
sewer1 the water exceeding his limits   
may haue a free current or passage3     
besides these ditches being neatly kept1
 and comforted with fresh water1 may    
make both pleasant and commodious       
fish-ponds4 ,also you must be carefull  
in casting these bankes that you doe not
 place them in such sort that when you  
are vpon one you cannot come to the     

other1 but rather like a maze1 so that  
you may at pleasure passe from the one  
to the other round about the ground1    
making of diuers bankes to the eye but  
one banke in substance1 and of diuers   
ponds in appearance1 but one in true    
iudgement4 ,and thus much for the plot  
or situation of an ,orchard4     ,,chap4
 ,,ii4  ,of the ,nurserie where you     
shall set all manner of ,kernels1 and   
,stones1 for the furnishing of the      
,orchard4   ,although great persons1 out
 of their greatnesse and abilitie1 doe  
buy their fruit trees ready grafted1 and
 so in a moment may plant an ,orchard of
 the greatest quantitie1 yet sith the   
,husbandman must raise euery thing from 
his owne indeauours1 and that ,i onely  
write for his profit1 ,i therefore hould
 it most conuenient to beginne with the 
nursery or store-house of fruits1 from  
whence the ,orchard receiueth his beauty
 and riches4  ,this ,nursery must be a  
piece of principall ground1 either      
through ,art or ,nature1 strongly       

fenced1 warme1 and full of good shelter3
 for in it is onely the first infancy   
and tendernesse of fruit-trees1 because 
there they are first kernells1 or       
stones1 after sprigs1 and lastly trees4 
,now for the manner of chusing1 sowing1 
and planting them in this nursery1 ,i   
differ some thing from the french       
practise1 who would chuse the kernells  
from the cider presse1 sow them in large
 bedds of earth1 and within a yeere     
after replant them in a wilde ,orchard3 
now for mine owne part1 though this     
course be not much faulty1 yet ,i rather
 chuse this kinde of practise1 first3 to
 chuse your kernells either of ,apples1 
,peares1 or ,wardens1 from the best and 
most principallest fruit you can taste1 
for although the kernell doe bring forth
 no other tree but the plaine stocke    
vpon which the fruit was grafted1 as    
thus1 if the graft were put into a      
,crab-stocke the kernell brings forth   
onely a ,crab-tree1 yet when you taste a
 perfect and delicate ,apple1 be assured

 both the stocke and graft were of the  
best choise1 and so such kernells of    
best reckoning4 ,when you haue then a   
competent quantitie of such kernells1   
you shall take certaine large pots1 in  
the fashion of milke-boules1 all full of
 hoales in the bottome1 through which   
the raine and superfluous moysture may  
auoyde1 and either in the ,months of    
,march or ,nouember 7for those are the  
best seasons7 fill the pots three parts 
full of the finest1 blackest1 and       
richest mould you can get1 then lay your
 kernells vpon the earth1 about foure   
fingars one from another1 so many as the
 vessell can conueniently containe1 and 
then with a siue sift vpon them other   
fine moulds almost three fingars thicke1
 and so let them rest1 filling so many  
pots or vessells as shall serue to      
receiue your quantitie of kernells of   
all sorts4 ,now if any man desire to    
know my reason why ,i rather desire to  
set my kernells rather in vessells then 
in beds of earth1 my answere is1 that ,i

 haue often found it in mine experience1
 that the kernell of ,apples1 ,peares1  
,quinces1 and such like1 are such a     
tender and dainty seede that it is great
 oddes but the wormes will deuoure and  
consume them before they sprout1 who    
naturally delight in such seedes1 which 
these vessels onely doe preuent3 but to 
proceede4  ,after your kernells are     
sprouted vp and growne to be at least   
seauen or eight inches high1 you shall  
then within your nursery digge vp a     
border about two foote and an halfe     
broad1 more then a foote deepe1 and of  
such conuenient length as may receiue   
all your young plants1 and hauing made  
the mould fine and rich with ,manure1   
you shall then with your whole hand     
gripe as much of the earth that is about
 the plant as you can conueniently      
hould1 and so take both the plant and   
the mould out of the vessell1 and       
replant it in the new drest border3 and 
you shall thus doe plant after plant1   
till you haue set euery one1 and made   

them firme and fast in the new mould3   
wherein you are to obserue these two    
principles1 first that you place them at
 least fiue foote one from another1 and 
secondly1 that such kernells as you set 
in your vessels in ,march1 that you     
replant them in borders of earth in     
,nouember following1 and such as you set
 in ,nouember to replant in ,march      
following1 and being so replanted to    
suffer them to grow till they be able to
 beare grafts1 during which time you    
shall diligently obserue1 that if any of
 them chance to put forth any           
superfluous branches or cyons1 which may
 hinder the growth of the body of the   
plant1 that you carefully cut them away1
 that thereby it may be the sooner      
inabled to beare a graft3 for it is euer
 to be intended that whatsoeuer         
proceedeth from kernells are onely to be
 preserued for stockes to graft on1 and 
for no other purpose4  ,now for the     
stones of ,plumbes1  other stone fruit1 
you shall vnderstand that they be of two

 kindes1 one simple and of themselues1  
as the ,rye-plumbe1 ,wheate-plumbe1     
,damson1 ,prune-plumbe1 ,horse-clogge1  
,cherry1 and such like1 so that from the
 kernells of them issueth trees of like 
nature and goodnesse3 the other         
compounded or grafted plumbes1 as the   
,abricot1 ,pescod1 ,peach1 ,damaske1    
,verdochyo1 ,emperiall1 and such like1  
from whose kernells issueth no other    
trees but such as the stockes were vpon 
which they were grafted4 ,now1 for the  
manner of setting the first1 which are  
simple and vncompounded1 you shall digge
 vp a large bedde of rich and good earth
 a month or more before ,march or       
,nouember1 and hauing made the mould as 
fine as is possible1 you shall flat-wise
 thrust euery stone1 a foote one from   
another1 more then three fingars into   
the mould1 and then with a little small 
rake1 made for the purpose1 rake the    
bedde ouer and close vp the holes1 and  
so let them rest till they be of a      
yeeres groath1 at which time you shall  

replant them into seuerall borders1 as  
you did your ,apple-tree plants and     
others4  ,now for the kernells of your  
compounded or grafted ,plumbes1 you     
shall both set them in beddes and       
replant them into seuerall borders1 in  
the same manner as you did the other    
kernells of ,plumbes1 onely you shall   
for the space of eight and forty houres 
before you set them steepe them in new  
milke1 forasmuch as the stones of them  
are more hard1 and with greater         
difficulty open and sprout in the earth1
 then any other stone whatsoeuer3 and   
thus hauing furnished your ,nursery of  
all sorts of fruits and stockes1 you    
shall when they come to full age and    
bignesse graft them in such order as    
shalbe hereafter declared4     ,,chap4  
,,iii4  ,of the setting or planting of  
the ,cyons or ,branches of most sorts of
 ,fruit-trees4   ,as you are to furnish 
your nursery with all sorts of kernells 
and stones1 for the breeding of stockes 
where on to graft the daintiest fruits  

you can compasse1 so shall you also     
plant therein the cyons and branches of 
the best fruit trees3 which cyons and   
branches doe bring forthe the same fruit
 which the trees doe from whence they   
are taken1 and by that meanes your      
nursery shall euer afford you perfect   
trees1 wherewith either to furnish your 
owne grounds1 or to pleasure your       
neighbours4 ,and herein by the way you  
shall vnderstand that some trees are    
more fit to be set then to be sowne1 as 
namely1 the ,seruice-tree1 the ,medler1 
the ,filbert and such like4 ,now for the
 ,seruice-tree1 hee is not at all to be 
grafted1 but set in this wise3 take of  
the bastard cyons such as be somewhat   
bigger then a mans thumbe1 and cutting  
away the branches thereof1 set it in a  
fine loose moulde1 at least a foote     
deepe1 and it will prosper exceedingly1 
yet the true nature of this tree is not 
to be remoued1 and therefore it is      
conuenient that it be planted where it  
should euer continue3 in like manner to 

the ,seruice-tree1 so you shall plant   
the bastard cyons of the ,medlar-tree   
either in ,march or ,october1 and at the
 waine of the moone4  ,now for the      
,filbert1 or large ,hassell-nut1 you    
shall take the smallest cyons or wands1 
such as are not aboue two yeeres groath1
 being full of short heauie twigges1 and
 grow from the roote of the maine tree1 
and set them in a loose mould1 a foote  
deepe1 without pruning or cutting away  
any of the branches1 and they will      
prosper to your contentment4 ,now for   
all sorts of ,plumbe-trees1 ,apple-trees
 or other fruit-trees which are not     
grafted1 if you take the young cyons    
which grow from the rootes cleane from  
the rootes1 and plant them either in the
 spring1 or fall1 in a fresh and fine   
mould1 they will not onely prosper1 but 
bring forth fruit of like nature and    
qualitie to the trees from whence they  
were taken4  ,now for your grafted      
fruit1 as namely1 ,apples1 ,plumbes1    
,cherryes1 ,mulberries1 ,quinces1 and   

such like1 the cyons also and branches  
of them also will take roote and bring  
forth fruit of the same kinde that the  
trees did from whence they were taken3  
but those cyons or branches must euer be
 chosen from the vpper parts of the     
trees1 betwixt the feast of all-,saints 
and ,christmas1 they must be bigger then
 a mans finger1 smooth1 straight1 and   
without twigges3 you shall with a sharpe
 chissell cut them from the body or     
armes of the tree with such care1 that  
by no meanes you raise vp the barke1 and
 then with a little yealow waxe couer   
the place from whence you cut the cyon3 
then hauing digged and dunged the earth 
well where you intend to plant them1 and
 made the mould easie1 you shall with an
 ,iron1 as bigge as your plant1 make a  
hoale a foote deepe or better1 and then 
put in your cyon and with it a few      
,oates1 long steept in water1 and so    
fixe it firme in the mould1 and if after
 it beginneth to put forth you perceiue 
any young cyons to put forth from the   

root thereof1 you shall immediatly cut  
them off1  either cast them away or     
plant them in other places1 for to      
suffer them to grow may breede much hurt
 to the young trees4 ,now where as these
 cyons thus planted are for the most    
part small and weake1 so that the       
smallest breath of winde doth shake and 
hurt their rootes1 it shalbe good to    
pricke strong stakes by them1 to which1 
fastning the young plant with a soft hay
 rope it may the better be defended from
 stormes and tempests4  ,next to these  
fruit-trees1 you shall vnderstand that  
your bush-trees1 as ,barberryes1        
,gooseberryes1 or ,feberryes1           
,raspberryes1 and such like1 will also  
grow vpon cyons1 without rootes1 being  
cut from their maine rootes in          
,nouember1  so planted in a new fresh   
mould4 ,and here by the way ,i am to    
giue you this note or caueat1 that if at
 any time you finde any of these cyons  
which you haue planted not to grow and  
flourish according to your desire1 but  

that you finde a certaine mislike or    
consumption in the plant1 you shall then
 immediatly with a sharpe knife cut the 
plant off slope-wise vpward1 about three
 fingars from the ground1 and so let it 
rest till the next spring1 at which time
 you shall beholde new cyons issue from 
the roote1 which will be without        
sicknesse or imperfection2 and from the 
vertue of this experiment ,i imagine the
 gardners of antient time found out the 
meanes to get young cyons from olde     
,mulberry-trees1 which they doe in this 
manner3 first1 you must take some of the
 greatest armes of the ,mulberry-tree   
about the midst of ,nouember1 and with a
 sharpe sawe to sawe them into bigge    
truncheons1 about fiueteene inches long1
 and then digging a trench in principall
 good earth1 of such depth that you may 
couer the truncheons1 being set vp on   
end1 with ,manure and fine mould1 each  
truncheon being a foote one from        
another1 and couerd more then foure     
fingars aboue the wood1 not fayling to  

water them whensoeuer neede shall       
require1 and to preserue them from weeds
 and filthinesse1 within lesse then a   
yeeres space you shall behold those     
truncheons to put forth young cyons1    
which as soone as they come to any      
groath and be twigged1 then you may cut 
them from the stockes1 and transplant   
them where you please1 onely the        
truncheons you shall suffer to remaine  
still1 and cherish them with fresh      
dunge1 and they will put forth many moe 
cyons1 both to furnish your selfe and   
your friends4 ,and thus much for the    
planting and setting of cyons or        
branches4     ,,chap4 ,,iiii4  ,of the  
ordinary and accustomed manner of       
,grafting all sorts of ,fruit-trees4    
,,sn3 ,the mixing of ,stockes and       
,grafts4 ,as soone as your nursery is   
thus amply furnished of all sorts of    
stockes1 proceeding from kernells and of
 all sorts of trees proceeding from     
cyons1 branches or vndergrowings1 and   
that through strength of yeeres they are

 growne to sufficient abilitie to       
receiue grafts1 which is to be intended 
that they must be at the least sixe or  
eight inches in compasse1 for although  
lesse many times both doth and may      
receiue grafts1 yet they are full of    
debilitie and danger1 and promise no    
assurance to the worke-mans labour1 you 
shall then beginne to graft your stockes
 with such fruits as from art and       
experience are meete to be conioyned    
together1 as thus3 you shall graft      
,apples vpon ,apples1 as the ,pippin    
vpon the great ,costard1 the            
,peare-maine vpon the ,ienetting1 and   
the ,apple-,iohn or blacke annet vpon   
the ,pomewater or ,crab-tree3 to        
conclude1 any ,apple-stocke1 ,crab-tree1
 or wilding1 is good to graft ,apples   
vpon1 but the best is best worthy4 ,so  
for ,peares1 you shall graft them vpon  
,peare stockes1 ,quinces vpon ,quinces  
or ,crab-trees1 and not according to the
 opinion of the frenchman1 vpon white   
thorne or willow1 the ,medlar vpon the  

,seruice-tree1 and the ,seruice vpon the
 ,medlar1 also ,cherryes vpon ,cherryes1
  ,plumbes vpon ,plumbes1 as the greater
 ,abricots vpon the lesser ,abricots1   
the ,peach1 the ,figge1 or the          
,damson-tree1 and to speake generally   
without wasting more paper1 or making a 
long circumstance to slender purpose1   
the ,damson-tree is the onely principall
 best stocke whereupon to graft any     
kinde of ,plumbe or stone fruit         
whatsoeuer4  ,,sn3 ,the choise of       
,grafts4 ,after you haue both your      
stockes ready1 and know which grafts to 
ioyne with which stockes1 you shall then
 learne to cut and chuse your grafts in 
this manner3 looke from what tree you   
desire to take your grafts1 you shall   
goe vnto the very principall branches   
thereof1 and looke vp to the vpper ends1
 and those which you finde to be        
fairest1 smoothest1 and fullest of      
sappe1 hauing the little knots1 budds1  
or eyes1 standing close and thicke      
together1 are the best and most perfect1

 especially if they grow vpon the ,east 
side of the tree1 whereon the ,sunne    
first looketh2 these you shall cut from 
the tree in such sort that they may haue
 at least three fingars of the olde     
woode ioyning to the young branch1 which
 you shall know both by the colour of   
the barke1 as also by a little round    
seame which maketh as it were a         
distinction betwixt the seuerall        
growths4 ,now you shall euer1 as neere  
as you can1 chuse your grafts from a    
young tree1 and not from an olde1 and   
from the tops of the principall         
branches1 and not from the midst of the 
tree1 or any other superfluous arme or  
cyon2 now if after you haue got your    
grafts you haue many dayes ,iourneys to 
carry them1 you shall fould them in a   
few fresh mouldes1 and binde them about 
with hay1 and hay ropes1 and so carry   
them all day1 and in the night bury them
 all ouer in the ground and they will   
containe their goodnesse for a long     
season4  ,,sn3 ,how to graft in the     

,cleft4 ,hauing thus prepared your      
grafts1 you shall then beginne to graft1
 which worke you shall vnderstand may be
 done in euery month of the yeere1      
except ,nouember and ,october1 but the  
best is to beginne about ,christmas for 
all earely and forward fruit1 and for   
the other1 to stay till ,march3 now     
hauing all your implements and          
necessaryes about you1 fit for the      
,grafting1 you shall first take your    
grafts1 of what sort soeuer they be1 and
 hauing cut the neather ends of them    
round and smoth without raysing of the  
barke1 you shall then with a sharp      
knife1 made in the proportion of a great
 pen-knife slice downe each side of the 
grafts1 from the seame or knot which    
parts the olde woode from the new1 euen 
to the neather end1 making it flat and  
thinne1 cheifely in the lowest part1    
hauing onely a regardfull eye vnto the  
pith of the graft1 which you may by no  
meanes cut or touch1 and when you haue  
thus trimmed a couple of grafts1 for moe

 ,i doe by no meanes alow vnto one      
stocke1 although sundry other skilfull  
workmen in this ,art alow to the least  
stocke two grafts1 to the indifferent   
great three1 and to the greatest of all 
foure1 yet ,i affirme two are           
sufficiently inough for any stocke      
whatsoeuer1 and albeit they are a little
 the longer in couering the head1 yet   
after they haue couered it the tree     
prospereth more in one yeere then that  
which contayneth foure grafts shall doe 
in two1 because they cannot haue sap    
inough to maintaine them1 which is the  
reason that trees for want of           
prosperitie grow crooked and deformed3  
but to my purpose4 ,when you haue made  
your grafts ready1 you shall then take a
 fine thinne sawe1 whose teeth shalbe   
filed sharpe and euen1 and with it 7if  
the stocke be exceeding small7 cut the  
stocke round off within lesse then a    
foote of the ground1 but if the stocke  
be as bigge as a mans arme1 then you may
 cut it off two or three foote from the 

ground1 and so consequently the bigger  
it is the higher you may cut it1 and the
 lesser the nearer vnto the earth3 as   
soone as you haue sawne off the vpper   
part of the stocke1 you shall then take 
a fine sharpe chissell1 somewhat broader
 then the stocke1 and setting it euen   
vpon the midst of the head of the stocke
 somewhat wide of the pith1 then with a 
mallet of woode you shall stricke it in 
and cleaue the stocke1 at least foure   
inches deepe1 then putting in a fine    
little wedge of ,iron1 which may keepe  
open the cleft1 you shall take one of   
your grafts and looke which side of it  
you intend to place inward1 and that    
side you shall cut much thinner then the
 out side1 with a most heedfull         
circumspection that by no meanes you    
loosen or rayse vp the barke of the     
graft1 cheifly on the out side1 then you
 shall take the graft1 and wetting it in
 your mouth place it in one side of the 
cleft of the stocke1 and regard that the
 very knot or seame which goes about the

 graft1 parting the olde woode from the 
new1 do rest directly vpon the head of  
the stocke1 and that the out side of the
 graft doe agree directly with the out  
side of the stocke1 ioyning barke vnto  
barke1 and sappe vnto sappe1 so euen1 so
 smooth1 and so close1 that no ioyners  
worke may be discerned to ioyne more    
arteficially3 which done1 vpon the other
 side of the stocke1 in the other cleft1
 you shall place your other graft1 with 
full as much care1 diligence1 and euery 
other obseruation3 when both your grafts
 are thus orderly and arteficially      
placed1 you shall then by setting the   
haft of your chissell against the       
stocke1 with all lenitie and            
gentlenesse1 draw forth your wedge1 in  
such sort that you doe not displace or  
alter your grafts1 and when your wedge  
is forth you shall then looke vpon your 
grafts1 and if you perceiue that the    
stocke doe pinch or squize them1 which  
you may discerne both by the straitnesse
 and bending of the outmost barke1 you  

shall then make a little wedge of some  
greene sappy woode1 and driuing it into 
the cleft1 ease your grafts1 cutting    
that wedge close to the stocke4 ,when   
you haue thus made both your grafts     
perfect1 you shall then take the barke  
of either ,apple-tree1 ,crab-tree or    
,willow-tree1 and with that barke couer 
the head of the stocke so close that no 
wet or other annoyance may get betwixt  
it and the stocke1 then you shall take a
 conuenient quantitie of clay1 which    
indeede would be of a binding mingled   
earth1 and tempering it well1 either    
with mosse or hay1 lay it vpon the      
barke1 and daube all the head of the    
stocke1 euen as low as the bottome of   
the grafts1 more then an inch thicke1 so
 firme1 close1 and smooth as may be1    
which done1 couer all that clay ouer    
with soft mosse1 and that mosse with    
some ragges of wollen cloath1 which     
being gently bound about with the inward
 barkes of ,willow1 or ,osyar1 let the  
graft rest to the pleasure of the       

highest3 and this is called grafting in 
the cleft4  ,,sn3 ,notes4 ,now there be 
certaine obseruations or caueats to be  
respected in grafting1 which ,i may not 
neglect3 as first1 in trimming and      
preparing your grafts for the stocke3 if
 the grafts be either of ,cherry1 or    
,plumbe1 you shall not cut them so      
thinne as the grafts of ,apples1        
,quinces1 or ,medlars1 because they haue
 a much larger and rounder pith1 which  
by no meanes must be toucht but         
fortefied and preserued1 onely to the   
neather end you may cut them as thinne  
as is possible1 the pith onely          
preserued4  ,secondly1 you shall into   
your greatest stockes put your greatest 
grafts1 and into your least1 the least1 
that there may be an equall strength and
 conformitie in their coniunction4      
,thirdly1 if at any time you be inforced
 to graft vpon an olde tree1 that is    
great and large1 then you shall not     
graft into the body of that tree1       
because it is impossible to keepe it    

from putrifaction and rotting before the
 grafts can couer the head1 but you     
shall chuse out some of the principall  
armes or branches1 which are much more  
slender1 and graft them1 as is before   
shewed1 omitting not dayly to cut away  
all cyons1 armes1 branches1 or          
superfluous sprigs which shall grow     
vnder those branches which you haue     
newly grafted3 but if there be no       
branch1 small or tender inough to graft 
in1 then you shall cut away all the     
maine branches from the stocke1 and     
couering the head with clay and mosse1  
let it rest1 and within three or foure  
yeeres it will put forth new cyons1     
which will be fit to graft vpon4        
,fourthly1 if when you either sawe off  
the top of your stocke1 or else cleaue  
the head1 you either raise vp the barke 
or cleaue the stocke too deepe1 you     
shall then sawe the stocke againe1 with 
a little more carefulnesse1 so much     
lower as your first errour had committed
 a fault4  ,fiftly1 you shall from time 

to time looke to the binding of the     
heads of your stockes1 in so much that  
if either the clay doe shrinke away or  
the other couerings doe losen1 by which 
defects ayre1 or wet1 may get into the  
incission1 you shall presently with all 
speede amend and repaire it4  ,lastly1  
if you graft in any open place where    
cattell doe graze1 you shall not then   
forget as soone as you haue finisht your
 worke to bush or hedge in your graft1  
that it may be defended from any such   
negligent annoyance4 ,and thus much for 
this ordinary manner of grafting1 which 
although it be generall and publike to  
most men that knoweth any thing in this 
art1 yet is it not inferiour1 but the   
principallest and surest of all other4  
,,chap4 ,v4  ,of diuers other wayes of  
grafting1 their vses and purposes4      
,although for certainty1 vse1 and       
commodity1 the manner of grafting       
already prescribed is of sufficiency    
inough to satisfie any constant or      
reasonable vnderstanding1 yet for       

nouelty sake1 to which our nation is    
infinitly addicted1 and to satisfie the 
curious1 who thinke their iudgements    
disparaged if they heare any authorised 
traueller talke of the things which they
 haue not practised1 ,i will proceede to
 some other more quaint manners of      
grafting1 and the rather because they   
are not altogether vnnecessary1 hauing  
both certainety in the worke1 pleasure  
in the vse1 and benefit in the serious  
imploying of those howers which else    
might challenge the title of idlenesse1 
besides they are very well agreeing with
 the soyles and fruits of this ,empyre  
of great ,brittaine and the             
vnderstandings of the people1 for whose 
seruice or benefit1 ,i onely vndergoe my
 trauell4  ,you shall vnderstand        
therefore1 that there is another way to 
graft1 which is called grafting betweene
 the barke and tree1 and it is to be put
 in vse about the latter end of         
,february1 at such time as the sappe    
beginnes to enter into the trees3 and   

the stockes most fit for this manner of 
grafting are those which are oldest and 
greatest1 whose graine being rough and  
vneuen1 either through shaking or       
twinding1 it is a thing almost          
impossible to make it cleaue in any good
 fashion1 so that in such a case it is  
meete that the grafter exercise this way
 of grafting betwixt the barke and the  
tree1 the manner whereof is thus4  ,,sn3
 ,grafting betweene the barke4 ,first1  
you shall dresse your grafts in such    
sort as was before discribed when you   
grafted in the cleft1 onely they shall  
not be so long from the knot or seame   
downeward by an inch or more1 neither so
 thicke1 but as thinne as may be1 the   
pith onely preserued1 and at the neather
 end of all you shall cut away the barke
 on both sides1 making that end smaller 
and narrower then it is at the ioynt or 
seame1 then sawing off the head of the  
stocke1 you shall with a sharpe knife   
pare the head round about1 smooth and   
plaine1 making the barke so euen as may 

be1 that the barke of your grafts and it
 may ioyne like one body1 then take a   
fine narrow chissell1 not exceeding     
sharpe1 but somewhat rebated1 and thrust
 it hard downe betwixt the barke and the
 tree1 somewhat more then two inches1   
according to the iust length of your    
graft1 and then gently thrust the graft 
downe into the same place1 euen close   
vnto the ioynt1 hauing great care that  
the ioynt rest firme and constant vpon  
the head of the stocke1 and thus you    
shall put into one stocke not aboue     
three grafts at the most1 how euer      
either other mens practise1 or your owne
 reading doe perswade you to the        
contrary4 ,after your grafts are fixt   
and placed1 you shall then couer the    
head with barke1 clay1 and mosse1 as    
hath beene formerly shewed3 also you    
shall fasten about it some bushes of    
thorne1 or sharpe whinnes1 which may    
defend and keepe it from the annoyance  
of ,pye-annats1 and such like great     
birds4  ,there is another way of        

grafting1 which is called grafting in   
the scutchion1 which howsoeuer it is    
esteemed1 yet is it troublesome1        
incertaine1 and to small purpose3 the   
season for it is in summer1 from ,may   
till ,august1 at what time trees are    
fullest of sappe and fullest of leaues1 
and the manner is thus3 take the highest
 and the principallest branches of the  
toppe of the tree you would haue        
grafted1 and without cutting it from the
 olde woode chuse the best eye and      
budding place of the cyon1 then take    
another such like eye or budde1 being   
great and full1 and first cut off the   
leafe hard by the budde1 then hollow it 
with your knife the length of a quarter 
of an inch beneath the budde1 round     
about the barke1 close to the sappe1    
both aboue and below1 then slit it downe
 twice so much wide of the budde1 and   
then with a small sharpe chissell raise 
vp the scutchion1 with not onely the    
budde in the midst but euen all the     
sappe likewise1 wherein you shall first 

raise that side which is next you1 and  
then taking the scutchion betweene your 
fingars1 raise it gently vp without     
breaking or brusing1 and in taking it   
off hould it hard vnto the woode1 to the
 end the sappe of the budde may abide in
 the scutchion1 for if it depart from   
the barke and cleaue to the woode1 your 
labour is lost1 this done you shall take
 another like cyon1 and hauing taken off
 the barke from it1 place it in the     
others place1 and in taking off this    
barke you must be carfull that you cut  
not the woode1 but the barke onely1 and 
this done you shall couer it all ouer   
with redde waxe1 or some such glutenous 
matter2 as for the binding of it with   
hempe and such trumpery it is vtterly   
dissalowed of all good grafters3 this   
manner of grafting may be put in        
practise vpon all manner of cyons1 from 
the bignesse of a mans little fingar to 
the bignesse of a slender arme4  ,,sn3  
,grafting with the ,leafe4 ,not much    
vnlike vnto this1 is the grafting with  

the ,leafe1 and of like worth1 the art  
whereof is thus3 any time betwixt midst 
,may1 vntill the midst of ,september1   
you shall chuse1 from the toppe of the  
sunne-side of the tree1 the most        
principall young cyon you can see1 whose
 barke is smoothest1 whose leaues are   
greatest1 and whose sappe is fullest1   
then cutting it from the tree note the  
principall leafe thereof1 and cut away  
from it all the woode more then about an
 inch of each side of the leafe1 then   
cutting away the vndermost part of the  
barke with your knife1 take peece meale 
from the barke all the woode and sappe1 
saue onely that little part of woode and
 sappe which feedeth the leafe1 which in
 any wise must be left behind1 so that  
the graft will carry this figure4       
,illustration  ,then goe to the body1   
arme1 or branch of that tree which you  
intend to graft1 which is to be         
presupposed must euer haue a smooth and 
tender barke1 and with a very sharpe    
knife slit the barke1 two slits at      

least1 two inches long a peece1 and     
about halfe an inch or more distance    
betweene the two slits3 then make       
another slit crosse-wise ouerthwart1    
from long slit to long slit1 the figure 
whereof will be thus3  ,illustration    
,then with your knife raise the barke   
gently from the tree1 without breaking1 
cracking1 or brusing3 then take your    
graft1 and putting it vnder the barke   
lay it flat vnto the sappe of the tree1 
so as that little sappe which is left in
 the leafe1 may without impediment      
cleaue to the sappe of the tree1 then   
lay downe the barke close againe and    
couer the graft1 and with a little      
vntwound hempe1 or a soft wollen list1  
binde downe the barke close to the      
graft1 and then couer all the incisions 
you haue made with greene waxe3 by this 
manner of grafting you may haue vpon one
 tree sundry fruits1 as from one        
,apple-tree1 both ,pippins1             
,peare-maines1 ,russettings and such    
like1 nay1 you may haue vpon one tree1  

ripe fruit all summer long1 as          
,ienettings from one branch1 ,cislings  
from another1 ,wibourns from another1   
,costards and ,queene-,apples from      
others1 and ,pippens and ,russettings1  
from others1 which bringeth both delight
 to the eye1 and admiration to the      
sence1 and yet ,i would not haue you    
imagine that this kinde of grafting doth
 onely worke this effect1 for as before 
,i shewed you1 if you graft in the cleft
 7which is the fastest way of all       
grafting7 sundry fruits vpon sundry     
armes or bowes1 you shall likewise haue 
proceeding from them sundry sorts of    
fruits1 as either ,apples1 ,plumbes1    
,peares or any other kind1 according to 
your composition and industry2 as at    
this day we may dayly see in many great 
mens ,orchards4  ,,sn3 ,grafting on the 
toppes of trees4 ,there is yet another  
manner of grafting1 and it is of all    
other especially vsed much in ,italy1   
and yet not any thing disagreeable with 
our climate1 and that is to graft on the

 small cyons which are on the toppes of 
fruit trees1 surely an experience that  
carryeth in it both dificulty and       
wonder1 yet being put to approbation is 
no lesse certaine then any of the other1
 the manner whereof is thus3 you shall  
first after you haue chosen such and so 
many grafts as you doe intend to graft1 
and trimd them in the same manner as you
 haue beene taught formerly for grafting
 within the cleft1 you shall then mount 
vp into the toppe of the tree1 vpon     
which you meane to graft1 and there make
 choise of the highest and most         
principallest cyons 7being cleane barkt 
and round7 that you can perceiue to grow
 from the tree1 then laying the graft1  
and the cyon vpon which you are to      
graft1 together1 see that they be both  
of one bignesse and roundnesse3 then    
with your grafting knife cut the cyon   
off betweene the olde woode and the new1
 and cleaue it downe an inch and an     
halfe1 or two inches at the most3 then  
put in your graft 7which graft must not 

be cut thinner on one side1 then on the 
other1 but all of one thicknesse7 and   
when it is in1 see that the barke of the
 graft both aboue and below1 that is1   
vpon both sides1 doe ioyne close1 euen1 
and firme with the barke of the branch  
or cyon1 and then by foulding a little  
soft towe about it1 keepe them close    
together1 whilst with clay1 mosse1 and  
the in-most barke of ,osyars you lappe  
them about to defend them from ayre1    
winde1 and tempests4 ,and herein you    
shall obserue to make your graft as     
short as may be1 for the shortest are   
best1 as the graft which hath not aboue 
two or three knots1 or buddes1 and no   
more4 ,you may1 if you please1 with this
 manner of grafting graft vpon euery    
seuerall cyon1 a seuerall fruit1 and so 
haue from one tree many fruits1 as in   
case of grafting with the leafe1 and    
that with much more speede1 by as much  
as a well-growne graft is more forward  
and able then a weake tender leafe4 ,and
 in these seuerall wayes already        

declared1 consisteth the whole ,art and 
substance of ,grafting3 from whence     
albeit many curious braines may1 from   
preuaricating trickes1 beget showes of  
other fashions1 yet when true iudgement 
shall looke vpon their workes1 he shall 
euer finde some one of these experiments
 the ground and substance of all their  
labours1 without which they are able to 
doe nothing that shall turne to an      
assured commoditie4  ,,sn3 ,the effects 
of ,grafting4 ,now when you haue made   
your selfe perfect in the sowing1       
setting1 planting and grafting of trees1
 you shall then learne to know the      
effects1 wonders1 and strange issues    
which doe proceede from many quaint     
motions and helpes in grafting1 as thus3
 if you will haue ,peaches1 ,cherryes1  
,apples1 ,quinces1 ,medlars1 ,damsons1  
or any ,plumbe whatsoeuer1 to ripen     
earely1 as at the least two months      
before the ordinary time1 and to        
continue at least a month longer then   
the accustomed course1 you shall then   

graft them vpon a ,mulberry stocke3 and 
if you will haue the fruit to tast like 
spice1 with a certaine delicate perfume1
 you shall boyle ,honey1 the powder of  
,cloues and ,soaxe together1 and being  
cold annoynt the grafts there-with      
before you put them into the cleft1 if  
you graft ,apples1 ,peares1 or any fruit
 vpon a ,figge-tree stocke1 they will   
beare fruit without blooming3 if you    
take an ,apple graft1  a ,peare graft1  
of like bignesse1 and hauing clouen     
them1 ioyne them as one body in         
grafting1 the fruit they bring forth    
will be halfe ,apple and halfe ,peare1  
and so likewise of all other fruits     
which are of contrary tastes and        
natures3 if you graft any fruit-tree1 or
 other tree1 vpon the ,holly or vpon the
 ,cypresse1 they will be greene1 and    
keepe their leaues the whole yeere1     
albeit the winter be neuer so bitter4   
,if you graft either ,peach1 ,plumbe1 or
 any stone-fruit vpon a ,willow stocke1 
the fruit which commeth of them will be 

without stones4  ,if you will change the
 colour of any fruit1 you shall boare a 
hole slope-wise with a large auger into 
the body of the tree1 euen vnto the     
pith1 and then if you will haue the     
fruit yealow you shal fill the hole with
 ,saferne dissolued in water3 if you    
will haue it redde1 then with ,saunders1
 and of any other colour you please1 and
 then stoppe the hole vp close1 and     
couer it with red or yealow waxe3 also  
if you mixe the coulour with any spice  
or perfume1 the fruit will take a       
rellish or tast of the same3 many other 
such like conceits and experiments are  
practised amongst men of this ,art1 but 
sith they more concerne the curious1    
then the wise1 ,i am not so carefull to 
bestow my labour in giuing more         
substantiall satisfaction1 knowing      
curiosity loues that best which         
proceedes from their most paine1 and am 
content to referre their knowledge to   
the searching of those bookes which haue
 onely strangnesse for their subiect1   

resolued that this ,i haue written is   
fully sufficient for the plaine ,english
 husbandman4     ,,chap4 ,,vi4  ,of the 
replanting of ,trees1 and furnishing the
 ,orchard4   ,as soone as your seedes1  
or sets1 haue brought forth plants1     
those plants1 through time1 made able1  
and haue receiued grafts1 and those     
grafts haue couered the heads of the    
stockes and put forth goodly branches1  
you shall then take them vp1 and replant
 them1 7because the sooner it is done   
the better it is done7 in those seuerall
 places of your ,orchard which before is
 appointed1 and is intended to be       
prepared1 both by dungging1 digging1 and
 euery orderly labour1 to receiue euery 
seuerall fruit4 ,and herein you shall   
vnderstand1 that as the best times for  
grafting are euery month 7except        
,october and ,nouember7 and at the      
change of the moone1 so the best times  
for replanting1 are ,nouember and ,march
 onely1 vnlesse the ground be cold and  
moist and then ,ianuary1 or ,february   

must be the soonest all wayes1 excepted 
that you doe not replant in the time of 
frost1 for that is most vnholsome4      
,,sn3 ,the taking vp of trees4 ,now when
 you will take vp your trees which you  
intend to replant in your ,orchard1 you 
shall first with a spade bare all the   
maine branches of the roote1 and so by  
degrees digge and loosen the earth from 
the roote1 in such sort that you may    
with your owne strength raise the young 
tree from the ground1 which done1 you   
shall not1 according to the fashion of  
,fraunce1 dismember1 or disroabe the    
tree of his beauties1 that is to say1 to
 cut off all his vpper branches and     
armes1 but you shall diligently preserue
 them3 for ,i haue seene a tree thus    
replanted after the fall of the leafe to
 bring forth fruit in the summer        
following3 but if the tree you replant  
be olde then it is good to cut off the  
maine branches with in a foote of the   
stocke1 least the sappe running vpward1 
and so forsaking the roote too sodainely

 doe kill the whole tree4  ,when you    
haue taken your tree vp1 you shall      
obserue how1 and in what manner1 it     
stoode1 that is1 which side was vpon the
 ,south and receiued most comfort from  
the sunne1 and which side was from it   
and receiued most shadow and bleaknesse1
 and in the same sort as it then stoode1
 so shall you replant it againe3 this   
done you shall with a sharpe            
cutting-knife1 cut off all the maine    
rootes1 within halfe a foote of the     
tree1 onely the small thriddes or       
twist-rootes you shall not cut at all3  
then bringing the plant into your       
,orchard1 you shall make a round hole in
 that place where you intend to set your
 tree 7the rankes1 manner1 distance and 
forme whereof hath beene all ready      
declared1 in the first ,chapter37 and   
this hole shalbe at least foure foote   
ouerthwart euery way1 and at least two  
foote deepe1 then shall you fill vp the 
hole againe1 fifteene inches deepe1 with
 the finest blacke mould1 tempered with 

,oxe dunge that you can get1 so that    
then the hole shalbe but nine inches    
deepe1 then you shall take your tree and
 place it vpon that earth1 hauing care  
to open euery seuerall branch and thrid 
of the roote1  so to place them that    
they may all looke downe into the earth1
 and not any of them to looke backe and 
turne vpward3 then shall you take of the
 earth from whence your tree was taken1 
and tempering it with a fourth part of  
,oxe dunge and slekt sope-asshes 7for   
the killing of wormes7 couer all the    
roote of your tree firmely and strongly3
 then with greene soddes1 cut and ioyned
 arteficially together1 so sodde the    
place that the hole may hardly be       
discerned4 ,lastly take a strong stake1 
and driuing it hard into the ground     
neare vnto the new planted tree1 with   
either a soft hay rope1 the broad barke 
of ,willow1 or some such like vnfretting
 band1 tye the tree to the stake1 and it
 will defend it from the rage of winde  
and tempests1 which should they but     

shake or trouble the roote1 being new   
planted1 it were inough to confound and 
spoyle the tree for euer4  ,now1        
although ,i haue vnder the title and    
demonstration of replanting one tree    
giuen you a generall instruction for the
 replanting of all trees whatsoeuer1    
yet1 for as much as some are not of that
 strength and hardnesse to indure so    
much as some others will1 therefore you 
shal take these considerations by the   
way1 to fortefie your knowledge with4   
,first1 you shall vnderstand that all   
your dainty and tender grafted ,plumbes1
 and fruits1 as ,abricots1 ,peaches1    
,damaske-,plumbes1 ,verdochyos1         
,pescods1 ,emperialls1 and diuers such  
like1 together with ,orrenges1 ,cytrons1
 ,almonds1 ,oliues1 and others1 which   
indeede are not familiar with our       
soyles1 as being nearer neighbours to   
the sunne1 doe delight in a warme1 fat1 
earth1 being somewhat sandy1 or such a  
clay whose coldnesse by ,manure is      
corrected1 and therefore here with vs in

 the replanting of them you cannot      
bestow too much cost vpon the mould3 as 
for the ,damson1 and all our naturall   
english ,plumbes1 they loue a fat1 cold1
 earth1 so that in the replanting of    
them if you shall lay too much dunge    
vnto their roote1 you shall through the 
aboundant heate1 doe great hurt vnto the
 tree4 ,the cherry delighteth in any    
clay1 so that vpon such soyle you may   
vse lesse ,manure1 but vpon the contrary
 you cannot lay too much4 ,the ,medlar  
esteemeth all earths alike1 and         
therefore whether it be ,manured or no  
it skilles not1 sunne and shadow1 wet   
and drinesse1 being all of one force or 
efficacy4 ,the ,peare and ,apple-tree   
delights in a strong mixt soyle1 and    
therfore indureth ,manure kindly1 so    
doth also the ,quince and ,warden3      
lastly the ,filbert1 the ,hasell1 and   
the ,chesnut1 loue cold1 leane1 moist1  
and sandy earths1 in so much that there 
is no greater enimy vnto them then a    
rich soyle3 so that in replanting of    

them you must euer seeke rather to      
correct then increase fertillity4  ,you 
shall also vnderstand that all such     
fruit-trees as you doe plant against the
 walles of your ,orchard 7of which ,i   
haue spoken already  deciphered out     
their places7 you shall not suffer to   
grow as of themselues1 round1 and from  
the wall1 but at the times of pruning   
and dressing of them 7which is euer at  
the beginning of the spring and         
immediately after the fall7 you shall as
 it were plash them1 and spread them    
against the wall1 foulding the armes in 
loopes of leather1 and nayling them vnto
 the wall3 and to that end you shall    
place them of such a fit distance one   
from another1 that they may at pleasure 
spread and mount1 without interruption3 
the profit whereof is at this day seene 
almost in euery great mans ,orchard3 and
 although ,i haue but onely appointed   
vnto the wall the most quaint fruits of 
forraine nations2 yet there is no fruit 
of our owne1 but if it be so ordered it 

will prosper and bring forth his fruit  
better and in greater abundance4 ,and   
thus much for the replanting of trees   
and furnishing of a well proportioned   
,orchard4     ,,chap4 ,,vii4  ,of the   
,dressing1 ,dungging1 ,proyning1 and    
,preseruing of ,trees4   ,sith after all
 the labour spent of ingendring by      
seede1 of fortefying and inabling by    
planting1 and of multiplying by grafting
 it is to little or no purpose if the   
trees be not maintained and preserued by
 dressing1 dungging and proyning1 ,i    
will therefore in this place shew you   
what belongs to that office or duty1 and
 first1 for the dressing of trees3 you  
shall vnderstand that it containeth all 
whatsoeuer is meete for the good estate 
of the tree1 as first1 after your tree  
is planted1 or replanted1 if the season 
shall fall out hot1 dry1 and parching1  
insomuch that the moisture of the earth 
is sucked out by the atraction of the   
,sunne1 and so the tree wanteth the     
nutriment of moisture1 in this case you 

shall not omit euery morning before the 
rising of the sunne1 and euery euening  
after the set of the sunne1 with a great
 watring-pot filled with water1 to water
  bath the rootes of the trees1 if they 
be young trees1 and newly planted1 or   
replanted1 but not otherwise3 for if the
 trees be olde1 and of long growth1 then
 you shall saue that labour1 and onely  
to such olde trees you shall about the  
midst of ,nouember1 with a spade1 digge 
away the earth from the vpper part of   
the rootes and lay them bare vntill it  
be midde-,march1 and then mingling such 
earth as is most agreeable with the     
fruit and ,oxe-dunge and sope-ashes     
together1 so couer them againe1 and     
tread the earth close about them3 as for
 the vncouering of your trees in summer 
,i doe not hold it good1 because the    
reflection of the sunne is somewhat too 
violent and dryeth the roote1 from      
whence at that time the sappe naturally 
is gone3 you shall also euery spring and
 fall of the leafe clense your fruit    

trees from mosse1 which proceeding from 
a cold and cankerous moisture1 breedeth 
dislike1 and barrainenesse in trees3    
this mosse you must take off with the   
backe of an olde knife and leaue the    
barke smooth1 plaine1 and vnraced3 also 
if you shall dunge such trees with the  
dunge of ,swine1 it is a ready way to   
destroy the mosse4  ,,sn3 ,proyning of  
,trees4 ,after you haue drest and       
trimmed your trees1 you shall then      
proyne them1 which is to cut away all   
those superfluous branches1 armes1 or   
cyons1 which being either barraine1     
bruised or misplaced1 doe like drones1  
steale-away that nutriment which should 
maintaine the better deseruing sinewes1 
and you shall vnderstand that the best  
time for proyning of trees1 is in ,march
 and ,aprill1 at which time the sappe   
assending vpward1 causeth the trees to  
budde3 the branches you shall cut away  
are all such as shall grow out of the   
stocke vnderneath the place grafted1 or 
all such as by the shaking of tempests  

shall grow in a disorderly and ill      
fashioned crookednesse1 or any other1   
that out of a well tempered iudgement   
shall seeme superfluous and burdensome  
to the stocke from whence it springs1   
also such as haue by disorder beene     
brooken1 or maimed1 and all these you   
shall cut away with a hooke knife1 close
 by the tree1 vnlesse you haue occasion 
by some misfortune to cut away some of  
the maine and great armes of the tree1  
and then you shall not vse your knife   
for feare of tearing the barke1 but     
taking your sawe you shall sawe off     
those great armes close by the tree1    
neither shall you sawe them off         
downeward but vpward1 least the waight  
of the arme breake the barke from the   
body3 ,and herein you shall also        
vnderstand that for as much as the      
mischances which beget these            
dismembrings doe happen at the latter   
end of ,summer1 in the gathering of the 
fruit1 and that it is not fit such      
maymed and broken boughes hang vpon the 

tree till the ,spring1 therefore you    
shall cut them off in the ,winter time1 
but not close to the tree by almost a   
foote1 and so letting them rest vntill  
the spring1 at that time cut them off   
close by the tree4 ,now if you finde the
 superfluitie of branches which annoy   
your trees to be onely small cyons1     
springing from the rootes of the trees1 
as it often hapneth with all sorts of   
,plumbe-trees1 ,cherry-trees1           
,nut-trees1 and such like1 then you     
shall in the winter1 bare the rootes of 
those trees1 and cut off those cyons    
close by the roote3 but if your trees be
 broused or eaten by tame-,deare1       
,goates1 ,sheepe1 ,kine1 ,oxen1 or such 
like1 then there is no help for such a  
misfortune but onely to cut off the     
whole head and graft the stocke anew4   
,,sn3 ,of ,barke-bound4 ,next to the    
proyning of trees1 is the preseruing1   
phisicking1 and curing of the diseases  
of trees3 to which they are subiect as  
well as our naturall bodyes3 and first  

of all1 there is a disease called       
,barke-bound1 which is when the barke1  
through a mislike and leperous drynesse1
 bindeth in the tree with such          
straitnesse that the sappe being denied 
passage the body growes into a          
consumption3 it is in nature like vnto  
that disease which in beasts is called  
hide-bound1 and the cure is thus3 at the
 beginning of ,march take a sharpe      
knife1 and from the toppe of the body of
 the tree1 to the very roote1 draw downe
 certaine slits1 or incissions1 cleane  
through the barke1 vnto the very sappe  
of the tree1 round about the tree1  then
 with the backe of your knife open those
 slits and annoint them all through with
 ,tarre1 and in short space it will giue
 libertie vnto the tree to encrease     
grow3 this disease commeth by the       
rubbing of cattell against the tree1    
especially ,swine1 who are very poyson  
vnto all plants4  ,,sn3 ,of the ,gall4  
,there is another disease in            
fruit-trees1 called the ,gall1 and it   

eateth and consumeth the barke quit     
away1 and so in time kills the tree3 the
 cure is to cut and open the barke which
 you see infected1 and with a chissell  
to take away all that is foule and      
putrefied1 and then to clappe ,oxe dunge
 vpon the place1 and it will helpe it1  
and this must be done euer in winter4   
,,sn3 ,of the ,canker4 ,the ,canker in  
fruit trees is the consumption both of  
the barke and the body1  it commeth     
either by the dropping of trees one vpon
 another1 or else when some hollow      
places of the tree retaineth raine water
 in them1 which fretting through the    
barke1 poysoneth the tree3 the cure is  
to cut away all such boughes as by      
dropping breede the euill1 and if the   
hollow places cannot be smooth and made 
euen1 then to stoppe them with clay1    
waxe1 and sope-ashes mixt together4     
,,sn3 ,of worme-eaten barkes4 ,if the   
barkes of your trees be eaten with      
wormes1 which you shall perceiue by the 
swelling of the barke1 you shall then   

open the barke and lay there-vpon swines
 dunge1 sage1 and lime beaten together1 
and bound with a cloath fast to the     
tree1 and it will cure it3 or wash the  
tree with cowes-pisse and vinegar and it
 will helpe it4  ,,sn3 ,of ,pismiers and
 ,snailes4 ,if your young trees be      
troubled with ,pismiers1 or ,snailes1   
which are very noysome vnto them1 you   
shall take vnsleckt lime and sope-ashes 
and mingling them with wine-lees1 spread
 it all about the roote of the trees so 
infected1 and annoint the body of the   
tree likewise therewith1 and it will not
 onely destroy them but giue comfort to 
the tree3 the soote of a chimney or     
,oake sawe-dust spread about the roote  
will doe the same4  ,,sn3 ,of           
,caterpillers1 and ,earewigges4 ,if     
,caterpillers doe annoy your young      
trees1 who are great deuourers of the   
leaues and young buddes1 and spoylers of
 the barke1 you shall1 if it be in the  
summer time1 make a very strong brine of
 water and salt1 and either with a      

garden pumpe1 placed in a tubbe1 or with
 squirts which haue many hoales you     
shall euery second day water and wash   
your trees1 and it will destroy them1   
because the ,caterpiller naturally      
cannot indure moisture1 but if          
neuerthelesse you see they doe continue 
still vpon your trees in ,winter1 then  
you shall when the leaues are falne away
 take dankish straw and setting it on   
fire smeare and burne them from the     
tree1 and you shall hardly euer be      
troubled with them againe vpon the same 
trees3 roules of hay layd on the trees  
will gather vp ,earewigges and kill     
them4  ,,sn3 ,of the barrainenesse of   
,trees4 ,if your trees be barraine1 and 
albeit they flourish and spread there   
leaues brauely1 yet bring forth no fruit
 at all1 it is a great sicknesse1 and   
the worst of all other3 therefore you   
shall vnderstand it proceedeth of two   
causes3 first1 of two much fertillitie1 
and fatnesse of the ground1 which       
causeth the leafe to put forth and      

flourish in such vnnaturall abundance1  
that all such sappe and nutriment as    
should knit and bring forth fruit1      
turnes onely vnto leafe1 cyons1 and     
vnprofitable branches1 which you shall  
perceiue both by the abundance of the   
leaues and by the colour also1 which    
will be of a more blacker and deeper    
greene1 and of much larger proportion   
then those which haue but their naturall
 and proper rights3 and the cure thereof
 is to take away the earth from the     
roote of such trees and fill vp the     
place againe with other earth1 which is 
of a much leaner substance3 but if your 
tree haue no such infirmitie of         
fatnesse1 but beareth his leaues and    
branches in good order and of right     
colour and yet notwithstanding is       
barraine and bringeth forth little or no
 fruit1 then that disease springeth from
 some naturall defect in the tree1 and  
the cure thereof is thus3 first1 you    
shall vnbare the roote of the tree1 and 
then noting which is the greatest and   

principallest branch of all the roote1  
you shall with a great wimble boare a   
hole into that roote and then driue a   
pinne of olde dry ,ashe into the same   
7for ,oake is not altogether so good7   
and then cutting the pinne off close by 
the roote1 couer all the head of the    
pinne with yealow waxe1 and then lay the
 mould vpon the roote of the tree       
againe1 and treade it hard and firmely  
downe1 and there is no doubte but the   
tree will beare the yeere following3 in 
,fraunce they vse for this infirmitie to
 boare a hoale in the body of the tree  
slope-wise1 somewhat past the hart1 and 
to fill vp the hoale with life honey and
 ,rose-water mixt together1 and         
incorporated for at least xxiiij4       
howers1 and then to stoppe the hole with
 a pinne of the one woode3 also if you  
wash the rootes of your trees in the    
drane water which runneth from your     
,barley when you steepe it for ,malt1 it
 will cure this disease of              
barrainenesse4  ,,sn3 ,of the           

bitternesse of ,fruit4 ,if the fruit    
which is vpon your trees be of a bitter 
and sootie tast1 to make it more        
pleasant and sweet you shall wash your  
tree all ouer with ,swines dunge and    
water mixt together1  to the rootes of  
the trees you shall lay earth and       
,swines dunge mixt together1 which must 
be done in the month of ,ianuary and    
,february onely1 and it will make the   
fruit tast pleasantly4 ,and thus much   
for the dressing and preseruing of      
trees4     ,,chap4 ,,viii4  ,of the     
,vine1 and of his ordering4   ,for as   
much as the nature1 temperature1 and    
clymate1 of our soyle is not so truely  
proper and agreeing with the ,vine as   
that of ,fraunce1 ,italy1 ,spaine1 and  
such like1 and sith wee haue it more for
 delight1 pleasure1 and prospect1 then  
for any peculyar profit1 ,i will not    
vndertake ,monsiuer ,lybaults painefull 
labour1 in discribing euery curious     
perfection or defect that belongs       
thereunto1 as if it were the onely      

iewell and commoditie of our kingdome1  
but onely write so much as is fitting   
for our knowledge touching the          
maintaynance1 increase1 and preseruation
 thereof1 in our ,orchards1 ,gardens1   
and other places of recreation4  ,,sn3  
,of planting or setting the ,vine4      
,first then to speake of the planting or
 setting of the ,vine1 your greatest    
diligence must be to seeke out the best 
plants1 and if that which is most       
strange1 rare1 great and pleasant be the
 best1 then is that grape which is      
called the ,muskadine1 or ,sacke grape1 
the best1 and haue their beginning      
either from ,spaine1 the ,canary        
,ilands1 or such like places3 next to   
them is the ,french grape1 of which     
there be many kindes1 the best whereof  
is the grape of ,orleance1 the next the 
grape of ,gascoynie1 the next of        
,burdeaux1 and the worst of ,rochell1   
and not any of these but by industry    
will prosper in our ,english gardens3   
when therefore you chuse your plants1   

you shall chuse such of the young cyons 
as springing from the olde woode1 you   
may in the cutting cut at least a ioynt 
or two of olde woode with the young3 for
 the olde will take soonest1 and this   
olde woode must be at least seauen or   
eight inches long1 and the young cyon   
almost a yard1 and the thicker and      
closer the ioynts of the young cyon are1
 so much the better they are3 and the   
fit time for cutting and gathering these
 sets are in midde-,ianuary1 then hauing
 prepared1 digged1 and dunged your earth
 the winter before1 you shall at the    
latter end of ,ianuary take two of these
 sets1 or plants1 placing them according
 to this figure3  ,illustration  ,and   
lay them in the earth slope-wise1 at    
least a foote deepe1 leauing out of the 
earth1 vncouered1 not aboue foure or    
fiue ioynts1 at the most1 and then couer
 them with good earth firmely1 closely1 
and strongly1 hauing regard to raise    
those cyons which are without the earth 
directly vpward1 obseruing after they be

 set1 once in a month to weede them1 and
 keepe them as cleane as is possible3   
for nothing is more noysome vnto them   
then the suffocating of weeds3 also you 
shall not suffer the mould to grow hard 
or bind about the rootes1 but with a    
small spade once in a fortnight to      
loosen and breake the earth1 because    
there rootes are so tender that the     
least straytning doth strangle and      
confound them4 ,if the season doe grow  
dry1 you may vse to water them1 but not 
in such sort as you water other plants1 
which is to sprinckle water round about 
the earth of the rootes1 but you shall  
with a round ,iron made for the purpose 
somewhat bigger then a mans fingar1 make
 certaine holes into the earth1 close   
vpon the roote of the ,vine1 and powre  
therein either water1 the dregges of    
strong-,ale1 or the lees of ,wine1 or if
 you will you may mixe with the lees of 
,wine either ,goats-milke1 or           
,cowes-milke1 and power it into the     
holes and it will nourish the ,vine     

exceedingly1 and not the ,vine onely1   
but all sorts of dainty grafted         
,plumbes1 especially ,peaches4  ,,sn3   
,of proyning the ,vine4 ,now for        
proyning the ,vine1 you shall vnderstand
 that it is euer to be done after the   
fall of the leafe1 when the sappe is    
desended downeward1 for if you shall    
proyne1 or cut him1 either in the       
spring1 or when the sappe is aloft1 it  
will bleede so exceedingly1 that with   
great difficulty you shall saue the body
 of the tree from dying3 and1 in        
proyning of the ,vine you shall obserue 
two things1 the first1 that you cut away
 all superfluous cyons and branches1    
both aboue and below1 which either grow 
disorderly aboue1 or fruitlessely below1
 and in cutting them you shall obserue1 
neither to cut the olde woode with the  
young cyon1 nor to leaue aboue one head 
or leader vpon one branch3 secondly1 you
 shall in proyning1 plash and spread the
 ,,vine thinnely against the wall1      
giuing euery seuerall branch and cyon   

his place1 and passage1 and not suffer  
it to grow loosely1 rudely1 or like a   
wilde thorne1 out of all decency and    
proportion3 for you must vnderstand that
 your ,grapes doe grow euer vpon the    
youngest cyons1 and if of them you shall
 preserue too many1 questionlesse for   
want of nourishment they will lose their
 vertue1 and you your profit4 ,now if   
your ,vine be a very olde ,vine1 and    
that his fruit doth decay1 either in    
quantitie or proportion2 if then you    
finde he haue any young cyons which     
spring from his roote1 then when you    
proyne him you shall cut away all the   
olde stocke1 within lesse then an       
handfull of the young cyons1 and make   
them the leaders1 who will prosper and  
continue in perfection a long time      
after1 especially if you trimme the     
rootes with fresh earth1 and fresh      
dunge4 ,againe1 if you be carefull to   
looke vnto your ,vine1 you shall        
perceiue close by euery bunch of grapes 
certaine small thridde-like cyons1 which

 resemble twound wyars1 curling and     
turning in many rings1 these also take  
from the grapes very much nutriment1 so 
that it shall be a labour very well     
imployd to cut them away as you perceiue
 them4  ,,sn3 ,experiments of the ,vine4
 ,now from the ,vine there is gathered  
sundry experiments1 as to haue it tast  
more pleasant then the true nature of   
the grape1 and to smell in the mouth    
odoriferously1 or as if it were         
perfumed1 which may be done in this     
sort3 ,take damaske-,rose-water and     
boyle therein the powder of ,cloaues1   
,cynamon1 three graines of ,amber1 and  
one of ,muske1 and when it is come to be
 somewhat thicke1 take a round goudge   
and make a hole in the maine stocke of  
the ,vine1 full as deepe as the hart    
thereof1 and then put therein this      
medicine1 then stopping the hole with   
,cypresse1 or ,iuniper1 lay greene-waxe 
thereupon1 and binde a linnen cloath    
about it1 and the next grapes which     
shall spring from that ,vine will tast  

as if they were preserued or perfumed4  
,if you will haue grapes without stones1
 you shall take your plants and plant   
the small ends downeward and be assured 
your desire is attained4  ,the ,vine    
naturally of himselfe doth not bring    
forth fruit till it haue beene three    
yeeres planted3 but if euening and      
morning for the first month you will    
bath his roote with ,goats-milke or     
,cowes-milke1 it will beare fruit the   
first yeere of his planting4 ,lastly1   
you may if you please graft one ,vine   
vpon another1 as the sweet vpon the     
sower1 as the ,muskadine grape1 or      
greeke1 vpon the ,rochell or ,burdeaux1 
the ,spanish1 or ,iland grape1 on the   
,gascoyne1 and the ,orleance vpon any at
 all3 and these compositions are the    
best1 and bring forth both the greatest 
and pleasantest grapes3 therefore       
whensoeuer you will graft one grape vpon
 another1 you shall doe it in the       
beginning of ,ianuary1 in this sort3    
first1 after you haue chosen and trimmed

 your grafts1 which in all sorts must be
 like the grafts of other fruits1 then  
with a sharpe knife1 you shall cleaue   
the head of the ,vine1 as you doe other 
stockes and then put in your graft1 or  
cyon1 being made as thinne as may be and
 see that the barkes and sappes ioyne   
euen and close together1 then clay it1  
mosse it1 and couer it1 as hath beene   
before declared4  ,,sn3 ,the medicining 
of the ,vine4 ,if your ,vine grow too   
ranke and thicke of leaues1 so that the 
sappe doth wast it selfe in them1 and   
you thereby lose the profit of the      
fruit1 you shall then bare all the      
rootes of the ,vine1 and cast away the  
earth1 filling vp the place againe with 
sand  ashes mingled together3 but if the
 ,vine be naturally of it selfe         
barraine1 then with a goudge you shall  
make a hole halfe way through the maine 
body of the ,vine1 and driue into the   
hole a round pible stone1 which although
 it goe straitly in1 yet it may not fill
 vp the hole1 but that the sicke humour 

of the ,vine may passe thorrow thereat3 
then couer the roote with rich earth1   
and ,oxe dunge mixt together1 and once a
 day for a month water it with olde     
pisse1 or vrine of a man1 and it will   
make the tree fruitfull3 if the ,vine be
 troubled with ,wormes1 ,snailes1 ,ants1
 ,earewigges1 or such like1 you shall   
morning and euening sprinckle it ouer   
with cowes-pisse and vinegar mixt       
together  it will helpe it3  thus much  
for ordering the ,vine4     ,,chap4     
,,ix4  ,the office of the ,fruiterrer1  
or the ,gatherer1 and keeper1 of ,fruit4
   ,after you haue planted euery        
seuerall quarter1 allye1 and border     
within your ,orchard1 with euery        
seuerall fruit proper vnto his place1   
and that you haue placed them in that   
orderly and comely equipage which may   
giue most delight to the eye1 profit to 
the tree1 and commendations to the      
workeman1 7according to the forme and   
order prescribed in the first ,chapter7 
and that now the blessing of the        

highest1 time1 and your indeuours hath  
brought forth the haruest and recompence
 of your trauell1 so that you behould   
the long-expected fruit hang vpon the   
trees1 as it were in their ripenesse1   
wooing you to plucke1 tast1 and to      
deliuer them from the wombes of their   
parents1 it is necessary then that you  
learne the true office of the           
,fruiterer1 who is in due season and    
time to gather those fruits which ,god  
hath sent him3 for as in the husbanding 
of our grayne if the ,husbandman be     
neuer so carefull1 or skilfull1 in      
ploughing1 dungging1 sowing1 weeding and
 preseruing his crop1 yet in the time of
 haruest be negligent1 neither regarding
 the strength or ripnesse thereof1 or in
 the leading and mowing respects not    
whether it be wet or dry1 doth in that  
moments space loose the wages of his    
whole yeeres trauell1 getting but durt  
from durt1 and losse from his           
negligence3 so in like case houlds it   
with all other fruits1 if a man with    

neuer so great care and cost procure1   
yet if he be inrespectiue in the        
gathering1 all his former businesse is  
vaine and to no purpose2 and therefore  
,i hould nothing more necessary then the
 relation of this office of the         
,fruiterer1 which is the consummation   
and onely hope of our cost1 and         
diligence1 teaching vs to gather wisely 
what wee haue planted wearily1 and to   
eate with contentment what we haue      
preserued with care4  ,,sn3 ,of         
gathering and preseruing ,cherries4     
,know then1 that of all fruits 7for the 
most part7 the ,cherry is the soonest   
ripe1 as being one of the oldest        
children of the summer1 and therefore   
first of all to be spoken of in this    
place1 yet are not all ,cherries ripe at
 one instant1 but some sooner then other
 some1 according to the benefit of the  
,sunne1 the warmth of the ayre1 and the 
strength of sappe in the branch on which
 the ,cherry hangeth3 they are a fruit  
tender and pleasant1 and therefore much 

subiect to be deuoured and consumed with
 ,byrds of the smallest kindes1 as      
,sparrowes1 ,robins1 ,starlings1 and    
such like1 especially the ,iay1 and the 
,bull-finch1 who deuoure them stones and
 all1 euen so fast as they rypen3 for   
preuention whereof2 if you haue great   
abundance of ,cherry trees1 as maine    
holts that be either one or many akers  
in compasse1 you shall then in diuers   
places of your holts1 as well in the    
midst1 as out-corners1 cause to be      
errected vp certaine long poales of     
,fyrre1 or other woode1 which may mount 
somewhat aboue the toppes of the trees1 
and one the toppes of those poales you  
shall place certaine clappe-milles made 
of broken trenchers ioyned together like
 sayles1 which being moued and carryed  
about with the smallest ayre1 may haue  
vnderneath the sayles a certaine loose  
little board1 against which euery sayle 
may clap and make a great noyse1 which  
will afright and scare the ,byrds from  
your trees3 these milles you shall      

commonly see in ,husbandmens yards      
placed on their stackes or houells of   
,corne1 which doth preserue them from   
fowle and vermine3 but for want of these
 clap-milles you must haue some boy or  
young fellow that must euery morning    
from the dawning of the day till the    
,sunne be more then an houre high1 and  
euery euening from fiue of the clocke   
till nine1 runne vp and downe your      
ground1 whooping1 showtying1 and making 
of a great noyse1 or now and then       
shooting of some ,harquebush1 or other  
,peece3 but by no meanes to vse slings  
or throwing of stones1 least by the     
miscarriage of his hand hee either beate
 downe the fruit or bruise the trees4   
,in this sort hauing preserued your     
,cherries from destruction1 you shall   
then know there ripenesse by their      
colours1 for euer those which are most  
red1 are most ripe1 and when you see any
 that are ripe1 you shall take a light  
ladder1 made either of fyrre or sallow1 
and setting it carefully against the    

branches1 so as you neither bruise them 
nor the fruit1 you shall gather those   
you finde ripe1 not taking the fruit    
from the stalke1 but nipping the stalke 
and fruit both together from the tree3  
also you shall be carefull in gathering 
to handle or touch the ,cherry so little
 as may be1 but the stalke onely1       
especially if your hands be hot1 or     
sweaty1 for that will change the colour 
of your ,cherries1 and make them looke  
blacke3 if there be any ripe ,cherries  
which hang out of the reach of your     
hands1 then you shall haue a fine small 
gathering hooke of woode1 whose bout    
shall be made round1 and smooth1 for    
nipping the barke of the branches1 and  
with it you shall gently pull vnto you  
those branches you cannot reach3 you    
shall also haue a little round basket of
 almost a foote deepe1 made with a siue 
bottome1 hauing a handle thwarte the    
toppe1 to which a small hooke being     
fastned1 you shall with that hooke hang 
the basket by you on some conuenient    

cyon1 and as you gather the ,cherries1  
gently lay them downe into the same1 and
 when you haue filled your basket you   
shall descend and empty it into larger  
great baskets made of the same fashion1 
with siue bottomes1 and hauing          
vnderneath two broad lathes or          
splinters1 at least three fingers broad 
a peece1 within foure inches one of the 
other1 and going both one way crosse    
ouerthwart the basket1 that if either   
man or woman shall carry them vpon their
 heads1 which is the best manner of     
cariage1 then the splinters may defend  
the bottome of the basket from the head 
of the party1 and keepe the ,cherries   
from hurt or bruising1 and if you haue  
occasion to carry your ,cherries farre1 
and that the quantitie grow beyond the  
support of a man1 then you shall packe  
them in hampers or panniers made with   
false bottoms like siues1 and finely    
lyned on the out side with white straw1 
and so being closely trust on each side 
a ,horses-backe1 to carry them whether  

you please4 ,you shall by no meanes     
suffer your ,cherries to lye in any     
great or thicke heapes one vpon another1
 but vntill you sell them1 or vse them1 
lay them as thinne as may be1 because   
they are apt of themselues to sweat and 
catch heate1 and that heate doth soone  
depriue them of the glory of their      
colour4 ,when you gather any ,cherries  
to preserue1 you shall gather those     
which are the greatest1 the ripest1 you 
shall pull them from their stalkes one  
by one1 and vse them at furthest within 
xxiiij4 howers after the time they are  
gotten4  ,,sn3 ,the gathering of stone  
,fruit4 ,,sn3 ,of gathering hard        
,plumbes4 ,,sn3 ,of keeping of ,plumbes4
 ,for the gathering of ,plumbes in      
generall1 it is in the same manner as   
you did gather your ,cherries1 both with
 such a like ladder1 such a like hooke1 
and such like vessels1 onely some more  
speciall obseruations are to be obserued
 in gathering your dainty grafted       
,plumbes1 then of the others1 which are 

of a more hard and induring nature4 ,you
 shall know then that for gathering of  
,abricots1 ,peaches1 ,date-,plumbes1 and
 such like grafted ,plumbes1 you shall  
duely consider when they are perfectly  
ripe1 which you shall not iudge by their
 dropping from the tree1 which is a     
signe of ouer-much ripnesse1 tending to 
rottennesse1 but by the true mixture of 
their colour1 and perfect change from   
their first complexion3 for when you    
shall perceiue that there is no         
greenenesse nor hardnesse in their      
out-sides1 no1 not so much as at the    
setting on of the stalke1 you may then  
iudge that they are ready to be         
gathered1 and for a perfecter tryall    
thereof you may if you please1 take one 
which you thinke ripest from the tree1  
and opening it if you see the stone     
comes cleane and dry away and not any of
 the in-part of the fruit cleauing vnto 
it1 then you may assure your selfe that 
the fruit is ready to be gathered1 which
 you shall with great deligence and care

 gather1 not by any meanes laying one   
,plumbe vpon another1 but each seuerally
 by another1 for these dainty ,plumbes  
are naturally so tender that the least  
touch1 though of themselues1 doth bruise
 them1 and occasion rottennesse4 ,now   
when you haue gathered them1 if either  
you haue desire to send them any        
iourney1 as in gratulation to your      
friends1 or for other priuate           
commoditie1 you shall take some close1  
smooth1 boxe1 answerable to the store of
 fruit you are to send1 and first line  
it within all ouer with white paper1    
then lay your ,plumbes one by one all   
ouer the bottome of the boxe1 then      
couering them all ouer with white paper1
 lay as many moe vpon the toppe of them1
 and couer them likewise with paper1 as 
before1 and so lay row vpon row with    
papers betweene them1 vntill the boxe be
 sufficiently filled1 and then closing  
it vp sende it whether you please1 and  
they will take the least hurt1 whereas  
if you should line the boxe either with 

hay or straw1 the very skinnes are so   
tender that the straw would print into  
them and bruise them exceedingly1 and to
 lay any other soft thing about them1 as
 either wooll or bumbast1 is exceeding  
euill1 because it heateth the ,plumbes1 
and maketh them sweat1 through which    
they both loose their colour and rot    
speedily4 ,as touching the gathering of 
,plumbes when they are hard1 and to     
ripen them afterward by laying them vpon
 nettles1 to which consenteth the most  
of our ,london-,fruiterrers1 ,i am      
vtterly against the opinion1 because ,i 
both know ,nature to be the perfectest  
worke-,mistris1 and where she is        
abridged of her power there euer to     
follow disorders and imperfections1 as  
also that when such things are done1 as 
it were through an ouer-hasty           
constraint1 there cannot proceede any   
thing but abortiuenesse1 and a          
distastfull rellish3 from whence ,i     
thinke it comes to passe that in ,london
 a man shall very seldome tast a        

delicate or well rellisht ,plumbe1      
vnlesse it be from such as hauing fruit 
of their owne1 make no commoditie       
thereof more then their owne pleasures3 
yet thus much ,i would perswade euery   
one1 that if they haue moe ,plumbes ripe
 at once then they can vse1 or spend1   
that then after they are gathered1 to   
spread them thinnely vpon ,nettles or   
,vine-tree leaues1 and it will preserue 
them sound and well coloured a long time
 together1 but if your store be so      
superabundant that in no reasonable time
 you can spend them1 then what you doe  
not preserue1 or make ,godiniake1 or    
,maruulade of1 the rest you shall take  
and sprinkling them ouer with           
sweet-worte1 or growt1 and then laying  
them one by one 7yet so as they may not 
touch one another7 vpon hurdles or      
fleakes made of wands1 or twigges1 and  
put them into an ,ouen after bread or   
,pyes haue beene taine thereout1 and so 
leasurely dry them1 and they will not   
onely last1 but tast pleasantly all the 

yeere after3 and in this sort you may   
vse all kindes of ,plumbes1 or ,peares1 
whatsoeuer4 ,now for the gathering of   
the other ordinary sorts of vngrafted   
,plumbes1 which haue both much stronger 
rindes1 and are lesse subiect to        
rotting1 you shall gather them1 carry1  
or transport them1 in the same manner   
that you did your ,cherries1 onely in   
these1 as in all other sorts of fruit   
whatsoeuer1 you shall not omit neuer to 
gather1 or pull them from the tree1 till
 the dewe be dryed cleane both from the 
grasse and from the trees1 and that the 
day be dry1 faire1 and full of          
sunne-shine3 for the least wet or       
moisture doth canker and rot the fruit4 
,,sn3 ,of the gathering of ,peares4 ,as 
touching the gathering of ,peares1      
though sundry ,fruiterrers obserue      
sundry wayes in gathering them1 as some 
making more hast then good-speed1 as    
either to haue the first tast1 or the   
first profit1 some vsing more           
negligence1 thincking their store so    

great it will neuer be consumed1 and    
some so curious that they will not      
gather till the ,peares fall into their 
bosomes1 all which are dispraiseable    
fashions1 yet ,i for my part would euer 
aduise all diligent husbands to obserue 
a mediocritie1 and take the fittest     
season for the gathering of his fruit3  
as thus for example4 ,if because you are
 vnexperienced or vnacquainted with the 
fruit you doe not know the due time of  
his ripening1 you shall obserue the     
colour of the ,peare1 and if you see it 
doe alter1 either in part1 or in all1   
you shall be assured the fruit is neare 
ripening1 for ,peares doe neuer change  
their colours1 but when they doe desire 
to be taken from the tree3 and of all   
fruit the ,peare may be gathered the    
hardest1 because both his owne naturall 
heate and peculiar quallittie will ripen
 him best with lying3 yet to be more    
strongly fortefied in the knowledge of  
the ripenesse of your fruit1 and because
 it is better to get a day too late1    

then an hower to earely1 you shall      
before you gather your ,peares1 whether 
they be ,summer fruit or ,winter fruit1 
or whether you meane to spend them soone
 or preserue them long1 take one of them
 from the tree1 which is neither the    
ripest nor the greenest1 but betwixt    
both1 and cut it through the midst with 
your knife1 not longwise1 but           
ouerthwart1 and then looke into the     
coare where the kirnells lye1 and if it 
be hollow so as the kirnells lye as it  
were hollow therein1 the neather ends   
thereof being turned either blacke1 or  
blackish1 albeit the complexion of the  
,peare be little1 or not at all altered1
 yet the ,peares haue their full growth1
 and may very well be gathered3 then    
laying them either vpon a bedde of      
ferne1 or straw1 one vpon another1 in   
great thicknesse1 their owne naturall   
heate will in short space ripen them1   
which you shall perceiue both by the    
speedy changing of their colour1  the   
strength of their smell1 which will be  

exceeding suffocating1 which as soone as
 you perceiue1 you shall then spread    
them thinner and thinner1 vntill they be
 all ripe1 and then lay them one by one1
 in such sort as they may not touch one 
another1 and then they will last much   
the longer1 you shall also after they be
 ripe1 neither suffer them to haue straw
 nor ferne vnder them1 but lay them     
either vpon some smooth table1 boards or
 fleakes of wands1 and they will last   
the longer4  ,,sn3 ,of transporting1 or 
carrying of ,peares farre4 ,if you be to
 carry or transport ,peares farre1 you  
shall then gather them so much the      
sooner1 and not suffer any ripe one to  
be amongst them1 and then lyning great  
wicker baskets 7such as will hould at   
least quarters a peece7 finely within   
with white-straw1 fill them vp with     
,peares1 and then couer them with straw1
 and corde them aboue1 and you may      
either transport them by land or ,sea1  
whether you please1 for they will ripen 
in their cariage3 but when you come to  

your place of residence1 then you must  
needs vnpacke them and spread them      
thinner1 or else they will rot and      
consume in a sodaine4  ,,sn3 ,of        
gathering diuersly4 ,there be sundry    
wayes of gathering ,peares1 or other    
fruit1 as namely1 to climbe into the    
tree and to haue a basket with a line   
fastned thereto1 and so when it is      
filled to let it downe1 and cause it to 
be emptied1 which labour though some of 
our southerne ,fruiterers doe not much  
commend1 yet for mine owne part ,i doe  
not see much errour therein1 but that it
 is both allowable and conuenient1 both 
because it neither bruiseth the fruit1  
nor putteth the gatherer to any         
extraordinary labour1 onely the         
imaginary euill is1 that by climbing vp 
into the tree1 hee that gathereth the   
fruit may indanger the breaking1        
slipping1 and disbranching of many of   
the young cyons1 which breedeth much    
hurt and damage to the tree1 but        
iudgement1 and care1 which ought to be  

apropriate to men of this quallitie1 is 
a certaine preuenter of all such        
mischeifes4 ,now for such as in         
gathering of their fruit doe euery time 
that the basket is full bring it downe  
themselues from the tree1 and empty it  
by powring the fruit rudely1 and        
boystrously forth1 or for beating of    
fruit downe with long poales1 loggets1  
or such like1 they are both most vilde  
and preposterous courses1 the first     
being full of too much foolish and      
carelesse trouble1 the latter of too    
much disorder1  cruelty1 ruyning in a   
moment what hath beene many yeeres in   
building3 as for the climbing the tree  
with a ladder1 albeit it be a very good 
way for the gathering of fruit1 yet if  
it be neuer so little indiscreetly      
handled1 it as much hazardeth the       
breaking and bruising both of the fruit 
and the small cyons1 as either climbing 
the tree1 or any other way whatsoeuer4  
,,sn3 ,the gathering of ,apples4 ,now   
for the gathering of your ,apples3 you  

shall vnderstand that your summer fruit1
 as your ,ieniting1 ,wibourne1 and such 
like1 are first to be gathered1 whose   
ripenesse1 you may partly know by the   
change of colour1 partly by the pecking 
of ,birds1 but cheifely by the course   
formerly discribed for your knowledge of
 the ripenesse of the ,peare1 which is  
the hollownesse of coare1 and liberty of
 the kirnell onely1 and when you doe    
perceiue they are ripe1 you shall gather
 them in such wise as hath beene        
declared for the gathering of your      
,peares1 without respecting the state of
 the ,moone1 or any such like           
obseruation1 but when you come to gather
 your ,winter-fruit1 which is the       
,pippin1 ,peare-maine1 ,russetting1     
,blacke-annat1 and such like1 you shall 
in any wise gather them in the wane of  
the ,moone1 and1 as before ,i said1 in  
the dryest season that may be1 and if it
 be so that your store be so great that 
you cannot gather all in that season1   
yet you shall get so much of your       

principall fruit1 the youngest and      
fairest1 as is possible to be gotten1   
and preserue it for the last which you  
intend either to spend1 or vtter4 ,now  
for the manner of gathering your ,apples
 ,i doe not thinke you can amend or     
approue a better way then that which    
hath beene discribed for the gathering  
of ,peares1 yet some of our late        
practitioners 7who thinke themselues not
 cunning if they be not curious7 dislike
 that way1 and will onely haue a        
gathering apron1 into which hauing      
gathered their fruit1 they doe empty it 
into larger vessells3 this gathering    
apron is a strong peece of ,canuas at   
least an ell euery way1 which hauing the
 vpper end made fast about a mans necke1
  the neather end with three loopes1    
that is1 one at each corner1  one in the
 midst1 through which you shall put a   
string1 and binde it about your waste1  
in so much that both the sides of your  
apron being open you may put your fruit 
therein with which hand you please3 this

 manner of gathering ,apples is not     
amisse1 yet in my conceit the apron is  
so small a defence for the ,apples1 that
 if it doe but knocke against the       
boughes as you doe moue your selfe1 it  
cannot chuse but bruise the fruit very  
much1 which ought euer to be auoyded3   
therefore still ,i am of this opinion1  
there is no better way1 safer1 nor more 
easie1 then gathering them into a small 
basket1 with a long line thereat1 as    
hath beene before declared in the       
gathering of ,peares4 ,now you shall    
carefully obserue in empting one basket 
into another1 that you doe it so gently 
as may be1 least in powring them out too
 rudely the stalkes of the fruit doe    
pricke one another1 which although it   
doe appeare little or nothing at the    
first1 yet it is the first ground1      
cause1 and beginning of rottennesse1 and
 therefore you shall to your vttermost  
power gather your ,apples with as small 
stalkes as may be1 so they haue any at  
all1 which they must needes haue1       

because that as too bigge stalkes doth  
pricke and bruise the fruit1 so to haue 
none at all makes the fruit rot first in
 the place where the stalke should be3  
you shall also keepe your fruit cleane  
from leaues1 for they being greene and  
full of moisture1 when by reason of     
their lying close together they beginne 
to wither they strike such an heate into
 the ,apples1 that they mil-dew and rot 
instantly4  ,,sn3 ,of ,fallings4 ,,sn3  
,of carriage and keeping ,fruit4 ,as    
touching your ,fallings1 which are those
 ,apples which fall from your trees1    
either through too much ripenesse1 or   
else through the violence of winde1 or  
tempests1 you shall by no meanes match  
them1 or mixe them1 with your gathered  
fruit1 for they can by no meanes last or
 indure so long1 for the latter which   
falleth by force of winde1 wanting the  
true nourishment of the earth and the   
kindly ripening vpon the tree1 must     
necessarily shrinke wither1 and grow    
riuelled1 so that your best course is to

 spend them presently1 with all speede  
possible3 for the other which hath too  
much ripenesse from the earth1 and the  
tree1 though it be much better then the 
other1 yet it cannot be long lasting1   
both because it is in the falling       
bruised1 and also hath too much         
ripenesse1 which is the first steppe to 
rottennesse1 so that they must likewise 
be spent with all expedition4 ,for the  
carriage of your ,apples1 if the place  
be not farre whether you should carry   
them1 you shall then in those large     
baskets into which you last emptied     
them1 carry them vpon cole-staues1 or   
stangs1 betwixt two men1 and hauing     
brought them carefully into your        
,apple-loft1 power them downe gently    
vpon bedds of ferne or straw1 and lay   
them in reasonable large heapes1 euery  
sort of ,apples seuerall by themselues1 
without mixture1 or any confusion3 and  
for such ,apples as you would haue to   
ripen soone1 you shall couer them all   
ouer with ferne also1 but for such as   

you would haue take all possible leasure
 in ripening1 those you shall lay       
neither vpon ferne1 nor straw1 but vpon 
the bare boards1 nay1 if you lay them   
vpon a plaster floare 7which is of all  
floares the coldest7 till ,saint        
,andrewes tide1 it is not amisse1 but   
very profitable1 and the thinner you lay
 them so much the better4 ,now if you   
haue any farre iourney to carry your    
,apples1 either by land1 or by water1   
then trimming and lyning the insides of 
your baskets with ferne1 or wheat-straw 
wouen as it were cleane through the     
basket1 you shall packe1 couer1 and cord
 vp your ,apples1 in such sort as you   
did your ,peares1 and there is no danger
 in the transportation of them1 be it by
 shippe1 cart1 waggon1 or horse-backe4  
,if you be inforced to packe sundry     
sorts of ,apples in one basket1 see that
 betwixt euery sort you lay a diuision  
of straw1 or ferne1 that when they are  
vnpackt1 you may lay them againe        
seuerally3 but if when they are vnpackt1

 for want of roome you are compeld to   
lay some sorts together1 in any wise    
obserue to mixe those sorts together    
which are nearest of taste1 likest of   
colour1 and all of one continuance in   
lasting3 as for the packing vp of fruit 
in hogsheads1 or shooting them vnder    
hatches when you transport them by ,sea1
 ,i like neither of the courses1 for the
 first is too close1 and nothing more   
then the want of ayre doth rot fruit1   
the other is subiect to much wet1 when  
the breach of euery ,sea indangereth the
 washing of the ,apples1 and nothing    
doth more certainely spoyle them4 ,the  
times most vnseasonable for the         
transporting of fruit1 is either in the 
month of ,march1 or generally in any    
frosty weather1 for if the sharpe       
coldenesse of those ayres doe touch the 
fruit1 it presently makes them looke    
blacke1 and riuelled1 so that there is  
no hope of their continuance4  ,the     
place where you shall lay your fruit    
must neither be too open1 nor too close1

 yet rather close then open1 it must by 
no meanes be low vpon the ground1 nor in
 any place of moistnesse3 for moisture  
breedes fustinesse1 and such naughty    
smells easily enter into the fruit1 and 
taint the rellish thereof1 yet if you   
haue no other place but some low cellar 
to lay your fruit in1 then you shall    
raise shelues round about1 the nearest  
not within two foote of the ground1 and 
lay your ,apples thereupon1 hauing them 
first lyned1 either with sweet          
,rye-straw1 ,wheate-straw1 or dry ferne3
 as these vndermost roomes are not the  
best1 so are the vppermost1 if they be  
vnseeld1 the worst of all other1 because
 both the sunne1 winde1 and weather1    
peircing through the tiles1 doth annoy  
and hurt the fruit3 the best roome then 
is a well seeld chamber1 whose windowes 
may be shut and made close at pleasure1 
euer obseruing with straw to defend the 
fruit from any moist stone wall1 or     
dusty mudde wall1 both which are        
dangerous annoyances4  ,,sn3 ,the       

seperating of ,fruit4 ,now for the      
seperating of your fruit1 you shall lay 
those nearest hand1 which are first to  
be spent1 as those which will last but  
till ,alhallontide1 as the ,cisling1    
,wibourne1 and such like1 by themselues3
 those which will last till ,christmas1 
as the ,costard1 ,pome-water1           
,queene-,apple1 and such like3 those    
which will last till ,candlemas1 as the 
,pome-de-roy1 ,goose-,apple1 and such   
like1 and those which will last all the 
yeere1 as the ,pippin1 ,duzin1          
,russetting1 ,peare-maine1 and such     
like1 euery one in his seuerall place1  
in such order that you may passe from   
bed to bed to clense or cast forth those
 which be rotten or putrefied at your   
pleasure1 which with all diligence you  
must doe1 because those which are       
tainted will soone poyson the other1 and
 therefore it is necessary as soone as  
you see any of them tainted1 not onely  
to cull them out1 but also to looke vpon
 all the rest1 and deuide them into     

three parts1 laying the soundest by     
themselues1 those which are least       
tainted by themselues1 and those which  
are most tainted by themselues1 and so  
to vse them all to your best benefit4   
,now for the turning of your longest    
lasting fruit1 you shall know that about
 the latter end of ,december is the best
 time to beginne1 if you haue both got  
and kept them in such sort as is before 
sayd1 and not mixt fruit of more earely 
ripening amongst them3 the second time  
you shall turne them1 shall be about the
 end of ,february1 and so consequently  
once euery month1 till ,penticost1 for  
as the yeere time increaseth in heate so
 fruit growes more apt to rot3 after    
,whitsontide you shall turne them once  
euery fortnight1 alwayes in your turning
 making your heapes thinner and thinner2
 but if the weather be frosty then      
stirre not your fruit at all1 neither   
when the thaw is1 for then the fruit    
being moist may by no meanes be touched3
 also in wet weather fruit will be a    

little dankish1 so that then it must be 
forborne also1 and therefore when any   
such moistnesse hapneth1 it is good to  
open your windowes and let the ayre dry 
your fruit before it be turned3 you may 
open your windowe any time of the yeere 
in open weather1 as long as the sunne is
 vpon the skye1 but not after1 except in
 ,march onely1 at what time the ayre and
 winde is so sharpe that it tainteth and
 riuelleth all sorts of fruits          
whatsoeuer4  ,,sn3 ,to keepe ,fruit in  
frost4 ,if the frost be very extreame1  
and you feare the indangering your      
fruit1 it is good to couer them somewhat
 thicke with fine hay1 or else to lay   
them couered all ouer either in         
,barley-chaffe1 or dry ,salte3 as for   
the laying them in chests of ,iuniper1  
or ,cipresse1 it is but a toy1 and not  
worth the practise3 if you hang ,apples 
in nettes within the ayre of the fire it
 will keepe them long1 but they will be 
dry and withered1 and will loose their  
best rellish4  ,,sn3 ,of ,wardens4 ,now 

for the gathering1 keeping1 ordering1   
and preseruing of ,wardens1 they are in 
all sorts and in all respects to be vsed
 as you doe vse your ,peares1 onely you 
are to consider that they are a fruit of
 a much stronger constitution1 haue a   
much thicker skinne1 and will endure    
much harder season3 neither ought you to
 seeke to ripen them in hast1 or before 
the ordinary time of their owne nature1 
and therefore to them you shall vse     
neither straw1 ferne1 nor hay1 but onely
 dry boards to lay them vpon1 and no    
otherwise4  ,,sn3 ,of ,medlars and      
,seruices4 ,for your ,medlars1 you shall
 gather them about the midst of         
,october1 after such time as the frost  
hath nipt and bitten them1 for before   
they will not be ready1 or loosen from  
the stalke1 and then they will be       
nothing ripe1 but as hard as stones1 for
 they neuer ripen vpon the tree1        
therefore as soone as you haue gathered 
them1 you shall packe them into some    
close vessell1 and couer them all ouer1 

and round about1 with thicke woollen    
cloathes1 and about the cloathes good   
store of hay1 and some other waight of  
boards1 or such like vpon them1 all     
which must bring them into an extreame  
heate1 without which they will neuer    
ripen kindely1 because their ripenesse  
is indeed perfect rottennesse3 and after
 they haue layne thus1 at least a       
fornight1 you shall then looke vpon     
them1 and turning them ouer1 such as you
 finde ripe you shall take away1 the    
rest you shall let remaine still1 for   
they will not ripen all at once1 and    
those which are halfe ripe you shall    
also remoue into a third place1 least if
 you should keepe them together1 they   
should beginne to grow mouldy before the
 other were ready2 and in the selfe same
 manner as you vse your ,medlars1 so you
 shall vse your ,seruices1 and they will
 ripen most kindely3 or if you please to
 sticke them betwixt large clouen       
stickes1 and to sprinckle a little olde 
beare vpon them1 and so set them in a   

close roome1 they will ripen as kindely 
as any other way whatsoeuer4  ,,sn3 ,of 
,quinces4 ,now for ,quinces1 they are a 
fruit which by no meanes you may place  
neare any other kinde of fruit1 because 
their sent is so strong and peircing1   
that it will enter into any fruit1 and  
cleane take way his naturall rellish3   
the time of their gathering is euer in  
,october1 and the meetest place to lay  
them in is where they may haue most     
ayre1 so they may lye dry 7for wet they 
can by no meanes indure17 also they must
 not lye close1 because the smell of    
them is both strong  vnwholsome3 the    
beds whereon they must lye must be of   
sweet straw1 and you must both turne    
them and shift them very often1 or else 
they will rot speedily3 for the         
transporting or carying them any long   
iourney1 you must vse them in all things
 as you vse your ,peares1  the carriage 
will be safe4  ,,sn3 ,of ,nuts4 ,for    
,nuts1 of what sort soeuer they be1 you 
shall know they are ripe as soone as you

 perceiue them a little browne within   
the huske1 or as it were ready to fall  
out of the same1 the skill therefore in 
preseruing of them long from drynesse1  
is all that can be desired at the       
,fruiterers hands3 for as touching the  
gathering of them1 there is no scruple  
to be obserued1 more then to gather them
 cleane from the tree1 with the helpe of
 hookes and such like1 for as touching  
the bruising of them1 the shell is      
defence sufficient4 ,after they be      
gathered1 you shall shale them1 and take
 them cleane out of their huskes1 and   
then for preseruing them from either    
,wormes or drynesse1 it shall be good to
 lay them in some low cellar1 where you 
may couer them with sand1 being first   
put into great bagges or bladders3 some 
french-men are of opinion that if you   
put them into vessels made of           
,wal-nut-tree1 and mixe ,iuy-berries    
amongst them1 it will preserue them     
moist a long time3 others thinke1 but ,i
 haue found it vncertaine1 that to      

preserue ,nuts in ,honey will keepe them
 all the yeere as greene1 moist1 and    
pleasant1 as when they hung vpon the    
tree3 ,the ,dutch-men vse 7and it is an 
excellent practise7 to take the crusht  
,crabbes 7after your verdiuyce is       
strained out of them7 and to mixe it    
with their ,nuts1 and so to lay them in 
heapes1 and it will preserue them long3 
or otherwise if they be to be           
transported1 to put them into barrells  
and to lay one layre of crusht ,crabbes1
 and another of ,nuts1 vntill the       
barrell be filled1 and then to close    
them vp1 and set them where they may    
stand coole4 ,but aboue all these       
foresayd experiments1 the best way for  
the preseruing of ,nuts is to put them  
into cleane earthen pots1 and to mixe   
with them good store of salt and then   
closing the pots close1 to set them in  
some coole cellar1 and couer them all   
ouer with sand1 and there is no doubt   
but they will keepe coole1 pleasant1 and
 moist1 vntill new come againe1 which is

 a time fully conuenient4  ,,sn3 ,of    
,grapes4 ,now to conclude1 for the      
keeping of ,grapes1 you shall first     
vnderstand that the best time for their 
gathering is in the wane of the ,moone1 
and about the midst of ,october1 as for 
the knowledge of his ripenesse it is    
euer at such time as his first colour is
 cleane altered1 for all ,grapes before 
they be ripe are of a deepe1 thicke1    
greene1 colour1 but after they be ripe1 
they are either of a blewish redde1 or  
of a bright shining pale greene4 ,now   
for the preseruing them for our english 
vse1 which is but onely for a fruit-dish
 at our ,tables1 for neither our store1 
nor our soyle1 affords vs any for the   
wine-presse1 some thinke it good1 after 
they are gotten1 to lay them in fine dry
 sand1 or to glasse them vp in close    
glasses1 where the ayre cannot peirce1  
will keepe them long1 both full1 plumpe1
 and sweet1 but in my conceit the best  
course is after they are gotten to hang 
them vpon strings bunch by bunch1 in    

such places of your house as they may   
take the ayre of the fire1 and they will
 last longest1 and keepe the sweetest4  
,,chap4 ,x4  ,of the making of ,cyder1  
or ,perry4   ,cyder is a certaine liquor
 or drinke made of the iuyce of ,apples1
 and ,perrye the like1 made of ,peares1 
they are of great vse in ,france1 and   
very wholsome for mans body1 especially 
at the ,sea1 and in hot ,countries3 for 
they are coole and purgatiue1 and doe   
preuent burning agues3 with vs here in  
,england ,cyder is most made in the     
,west parts1 as about ,deuon-shire      
,cornwaile1  ,perry in ,worcester-shire1
 ,glocester-shire1  such like1 where    
indeede the greatest store of those     
kindes of fruits are to be found3 the   
manner of making them is1 after your    
fruit is gotten1 you shall take euery   
,apple1 or ,peare1 by it selfe1 and     
looking vpon them1 picke them cleane    
from all manner of filthinesse1 as      
bruisings1 rottennesse1 worme-eating1   
and such like1 neither leaue vpon them  

any stalkes1 or the blacke buddes which 
are and grow vpon the tops of the fruit1
 which done you shall put them in to    
some very cleane vessell1 or trough1 and
 with beetells1 made for the purpose1   
bruise or crush the ,apples or ,peares  
in peeces1  so remoue them into other   
cleane vessells1 till all the fruit be  
bruised3 then take a bagge of           
hayre-cloath1 made at least a yard1 or  
three quarters1 square1 and filling it  
full of the crusht fruit1 put it in a   
presse of woode1 made for the purpose1  
and presse out all the iuyce and        
moisture out of the fruit1 turning and  
tossing the bagge vp and downe1 vntill  
there be no more moisture to runne      
forth1 and so baggefull after baggefull 
cease not vntill you haue prest all3    
wherein you are especially to obserue1  
that your vessells into which you       
straine your fruit be exceeding neate1  
sweet1 and cleane1 and there be no place
 of ill fauour1 or annoyance neare them1
 for the liquour is most apt1 especially

 ,cyder1 to take any infection4 ,as     
soone as your liquor is prest forth and 
hath stoode to settle1 about twelue     
houres1 you shall then turne it vp into 
sweet hogsheads1 as those which haue had
 in them last1 either ,white-wine or    
,clarret1 as for the ,sacke vessell it  
is tollerable1 but not excellent3 you   
may also if you please make a small long
 bagge of fine linnen cloath1 and       
filling it full of the powder of        
,cloues1 ,mace1 ,cynamon1 ,ginger1 and  
the dry pils of ,lemons1 and hang it    
with a string at the bung-hole into the 
vessell1 and it will make either the    
,cyder1 or ,perry1 to tast as pleasantly
 as if it were ,renish-wine1 and this   
being done you shall clay vp the        
bung-hole with clay and salt mixt       
together1 so close as is possible4 ,and 
thus much for the making of ,perry or   
,cyder4     ,,chap4 ,,xi4  ,of the      
,hoppe-garden1 and first of the ground  
and situation thereof4   ,,sn3 ,fit     
ground for ,hoppes4 ,that the ,hoppe is 

of great vse and commoditie in this     
kingdome1 both the ,beare1 which is the 
generall and perfect drinke of our      
,nation1 and our dayly traffique1 both  
with ,france1 the low-,countries1 and   
other nations1 for this commoditie1 is a
 continuall testimony1 wherefore the    
first thing to be considered of in this 
worke1 is the goodnesse and aptnesse of 
the ground for the bringing forth of the
 fruit thereof1 wherein ,i thus farre   
consent with ,maister ,scot1 that ,i doe
 not so much respect the writings1      
opinions1 and demonstrations1 of the    
,greeke1 ,latine1 or ,french authors1   
who neuer were acquainted with our      
soyles1 as ,i doe the dayly practise and
 experience which ,i collect1 both from 
my owne knowledge1 and the labours of   
others my ,countrymen1 best seene and   
approued in this ,art3 therefore to come
 to my purpose1 you shal vnderstand that
 the light sand1 whether it be redde or 
white1 being simple and vnmixed is most 
vnfit for the planting of ,hoppes1      

because that through the barrainenesse1 
it neither hath comfort for the roote1  
nor through his seperate lightnesse1 any
 strong hould to maintaine and keepe vp 
the poales3 likewise the most fertill   
rich1 blacke clay1 which of all soyles  
is the best and most fruitfull1 is not  
to be allowed for a ,hoppe garden1      
because his fatnesse and iuyce is so    
strong that the roote being as it were  
ouer-fedde1 doth make the branches bring
 forth leaues in such infinite abundance
 that they leaue neither strength nor   
place for the fruit1 either to knit1 or 
put forth his treasure1 as ,i haue seene
 by experience in many places3 as for   
the earth which is of a morish1 blacke1 
wet nature1 and lyeth low1 although ,i  
haue often times seene good ,hoppes to  
grow thereupon1 being well trencht1 and 
the hils cast high to the best          
aduantage1 yet it is not the principall 
ground of all others1 because it is     
neuer long lasting1 but apt to decay and
 grow past his strength of bearing4 ,the

 grounds then which ,i haue generally   
seene to beare the best ,hoppes1 and    
whose natures doe the longest continue  
with such fruit1 are those mixt earthes 
which are clayes with clayes1 as blacke 
with white1 or clayes and sands of any  
sorts1 wherein the soyle is so corrected
 as neither too much fatnesse doth      
suffocate1 nor too much leannesse doth  
pine3 for ,i had euer rather haue my    
,hoppe-garden desire increase1 then     
continually labour in abatement4 ,and   
although some doe exceedingly condemne  
the chauke-ground for this vse1 yet ,i  
haue not at any time seene better       
,hoppes1 or in more plenty1 then in such
 places1 as at this day may be seene in 
many places about ,hartford-shire4 ,to  
conclude1 though your best mixt earths  
bring forth the best ,hoppes1 yet there 
is no soyle1 or earth1 of what nature   
soeuer it be 7if it lye free from       
inundation7 but will bring forth good   
,hoppes1 if it be put into the hands of 
an experienced workman4  ,,sn3 ,of the  

,situation4 ,now1 for the situation or  
site of your ,hoppe-garden3 you shall so
 neare as you can place it neare some   
couer or shelter1 as either of hils1    
houses1 high-walles1 woodes or trees1 so
 those woodes or trees be not so neare  
that they may drop vpon your ,hoppe     
hils1 for that will kill them3 also the 
nearer it is planted to your dwelling   
house it is somuch the better1 both     
because the vigilance of your owne eye  
is a good guarde thereunto1 and also the
 labours of your work-,maister will be  
more carefull and diligent4 ,a          
,hop-garden as it delighteth much in the
 pleasantnesse of the sunne1 so it      
cannot endure by any meanes1 the        
sharpenesse of the windes1 frosts1 or   
,winter weather1 and therefore your     
onely care is your defence and shelter4 
,for the bignesse of your ground1 it    
must be ordered according to your       
abillitie or place of trade for that    
commoditie1 for if you shall haue them  
but for your owne vse1 then a roode or  

two roodes will be inough1 albeit your  
house keeping match with ,nobillitie3   
but if you haue them for a more         
particuler profit1 then you may take an 
,aker1 two or three1 according to your  
owne discretion2 wherein you shall euer 
keepe these obseruations3 that one mans 
labour cannot attend aboue two thousand 
fiue hundred hils1 that euery roode will
 beare two hundred and fiftie hils1     
euery hill beare at least two pounds and
 an halfe of ,hoppes1 7which is the iust
 quantitie that will serue to brew one  
quarter of ,malt7 and that euery hundred
 waight of ,hoppes1 is at the least1 in 
a reasonable yeere1 worth foure-nobles  
the hundred3 so that euery roode of     
ground thus imployed1 cannot be lesse   
worth1 at the meanest reckoning1 then   
sixe pounds by the yeere3 for if the    
ground be principall good for the       
purpose1 and well ordered1 the profit   
will be much greater1 in as much as the 
bells of the ,hoppes will be much       
greater1 full1 and more waighty3 ,and   

thus much for the ground and situation4 
,,chap4 ,,xii4  ,of the ordering of the 
,garden1 and placing of the ,hils4   ,as
 soone as you haue chosen out your      
platforme of ground1 you shal either by 
ploughing1 or digging1 or by both1 make 
it as flat  leuell as is possible1      
vnlesse it be any thing subiect vnto    
water1 and then you shall giue it some  
small desent1 and with little trenches  
conuaye the water from annoying it3 you 
shall also the yeere before you either  
make hill or plant it with              
,hoppe-rootes1 sowe it all ouer with    
hempe1 which will not onely kill1 and   
stifle all sorts of weeds1 but also rot 
the greene-swarth1 and make the mould   
mellow1 and apt to receiue the rootes   
when they come to be planted4  ,now1 as 
soone as your ground is thus prepared1  
you shall then take a line1 and with it 
measure your ground ouerthwart1 and to  
euery hill allow at least three foote of
 ground euery way1 and betwixt hill and 
hill1 at the least sixe foote distance3 

and when you haue marked thus the number
 of thirty or forty places1 where your  
hils shall be placed1 intending euer    
that the time of yeere for this worke   
must be about the beginning of ,aprill1 
you shall then in the center1 or midde  
part of these places made for the site  
of your hils1 digge small square holes  
of a foote square each way1 and a full  
foote deepe1 and in these holes you     
shall set your ,hoppe-rootes1 that is to
 say1 in euery hole at least three      
rootes1 and these three rootes you shall
 ioyne together in such wise that the   
toppes of them may be of one equall     
height1 and agreeing with the face or   
vpper part of the earth1 you shall set  
them straight and vpright1 and not      
seperating them1 as many doe1 and       
setting at each corner of the hole a    
roote1 neither shall you twist them1 and
 set both ends vpward1 nor lay them flat
 or crosse-wise in the earth1 neither   
shall you make the hils first and set   
the rootes after1 nor immediately vpon  

the setting cast great hils vpon them1  
all which are very vilde wayes for the  
setting of ,hoppes1 but1 as before ,i   
sayd1 hauing ioyned your rootes         
together1 you shall place them straight 
and vpright1 and so holding them in one 
hand1 with the other put the moulds     
close1 firme1 and perfectly about them1 
especially to each corner of the hole1  
which done you shall likewise couer the 
sets themselues all ouer with fine      
moulds1 at least two fingers thicke1 and
 in this sort you shall plant all your  
garden quite ouer1 making the sites for 
your hill to stand in rowes and rankes1 
in such order that you may haue euery   
way betweene the hils small alleyes and 
passages1 wherein you may goe at        
pleasure from hill to hill1 without any 
trouble or annoyance1 according to that 
forme which ,i haue before prescribed   
touching the placing of your            
,apple-trees in each seuerall quarter in
 your ,orchard3 and herein you are to   
vnderstand1 that in this first yeere of 

planting your ,hoppe-garden you shall by
 no meanes fashion or make any great    
hils1 but onely raise that part of the  
earth where your plants are set1 some   
two or three fingers higher then the    
ordinary ground4  ,,sn3 ,the choise of  
,rootes4 ,now1 before ,i proceede any   
further1 ,i thinke it not amisse to     
speake some thing touching the choise1  
gathering and trimming of ,hoppe-rootes3
 wherefore you shall vnderstand that    
about the latter end of ,march is the   
best gathering of ,hoppe-rootes1 which  
so neare as you can you shall select out
 of some garden of good reputation1     
which is both carefully kept1 and by a  
man of good knowledge1 for there euery  
thing being preserued in his best       
perfection1 the rootes will be the      
greatest and most apt to take3 and in   
the choise of your rootes you shall euer
 chuse those which are the greatest1 as 
namely1 such as are at the least three  
or foure inches about1  ten inches long1
 let euery roote containe about three   

ioynts1 and no more1 and in any case let
 them be the cyons of the last yeeres   
growth3 if they be perfectly good they  
haue a great greene stalke with redde   
streakes1 and a hard1 broad1 long1      
greene1 bell2 if they be otherwise1 as  
namely1 wilde-,hoppes1 then they are    
small and slender1 like thriddes1 their 
colour is all redde1 euen when it is at 
least three yards high1 whereas the best
 ,hoppe carieth his reddish colour not  
three foote from the earth4 ,now hauing 
gotten such rootes as are good and fit  
for your purpose1 if the season of the  
weather1 or other necessitie hinder you 
from presently setting them1 you shall  
then either lay them in some puddle1    
neare to your garden1 or else bury them 
in the ground1 vntill fit time for their
 planting3 and of the two it is better  
to bury them then lay them in puddle1   
because if you so let them lye aboue    
xxiiij4 houres1 the rootes will be      
spoyled4  ,now after you haue in manner 
aforeshewed1 planted your garden with   

rootes1 it shall not be amisse1 if the  
place be apt to such annoyance1 to      
pricke vpon the site of euery hill a few
 sharpe ,thornes to defend them from the
 scratching of poultry1 or such like1   
which euer are busie to doe mischeife3  
yet of all house-fowle ,geese be the    
worst1 but if your fence be as it ought1
 high1 strong1 and close1 it will both  
preuent their harme and this labour4    
,,sn3 ,of ,poales4 ,next vnto this worke
 is the placing of ,poales1 of which we 
will first speake of the choise thereof1
 wherein if ,i discent from the opinion 
of other men1 yet imagine ,i set downe  
no ,oracle1 but referre you to the      
experience or the practise1 and so make 
your owne discreation the arbiter       
betweene our discentions4 ,it is the    
opinion of some1 that ,alder-poales are 
most proper and fit for the             
,hoppe-garden1 both that the ,hoppe     
taketh1 as they say1 a certaine naturall
 loue to that woode1 as also that the   
roughnesse of the rinde is a stay       

benefit to the growth of the ,hoppe3 to 
all which ,i doe not disagree1 but that 
there should be found ,alder-poales of  
that length1 as namely1 xvj4 or xviij4  
foote long1 nine1 or ten1 inches in     
compasse1 and with all rush-growne1     
straight1 and fit for this vse1 seemeth 
to mee as much as a miracle1 because in 
my life ,i haue not beheld the like1    
neither doe ,i thinke our kingdome can  
afford it1 vnlesse in some such         
especiall place where they are purposely
 kept and maintained1 more to shew the  
art of their maintenance1 then the      
excellency of their natures3 in this one
 benefit1 and doutlesse where they are  
so preserued1 the cost of their         
preseruation amounteth to more than the 
goodnesse of their extraordinary        
quallitie1 which mine author defends to 
the contrary1 giuing them a larger      
prerogatiue1 in that they are cheaper to
 the purse1 more profitable to the      
plant1 and lesse consumption to the     
common-wealth3 but ,i greatly doubt in  

the approbation1 and therefore mine     
aduise is not to rely onely vpon the    
,alder1 and for his preheminence imagine
 all other poales insufficient3 but be  
assured that either1 the ,oake-poale1   
the ,ashe1 the ,beeche1 the ,aspe1 or   
,maple1 are euery way as good1 as       
profitable1 and by many degrees much    
longer lasting4  ,,sn3 ,the proportion  
of the ,poale4 ,,sn3 ,of cutting and    
erecting ,poales4 ,now1 if it be so that
 you happen to liue in the champian     
,country1 as for the most part          
,northampton shire1 ,oxford-shire1 some 
parts of ,leycester and ,rutland are1 or
 in the wet and low ,countries1 as      
,holland1 and ,kesten in                
,lincolne-shire1 or the ,ile of ,elye in
 ,cambridge-shire1 all which places are 
very barraine of woode1 and yet         
excellent soyles to beare ,hoppes1      
rather then to loose the commoditie of  
the ,hoppe-garden ,i wish you to plant  
great store of ,willowes1 which will    
afforde you poales as sufficient as any 

of the other whatsoeuer1 onely they are 
not so long lasting1 and yet with       
carefull and dry keeping1 ,i haue seene 
them last full out seauen yeeres1 a time
 reasonably sufficient for any young    
woode1 for such a vse4 ,thus you see the
 curiositie is not very great of what   
woode so euer your poale be1 so it be of
 young and cleane growth1 rush-growne1  
7that is to say1 biggest at the neather 
end7 eighteene foote in length1 and ten 
inches in compasse4 ,these poales you   
shall cut and prepare betwixt the feast 
of ,al-,saints1 and ,christmas1 and so  
pile them vp in some dry place1 where   
they may take no wet1 vntill it be      
midde-,aprill1 at which time 7your      
,hoppes being shot out of the ground at 
least three quarters of a yarde1 so that
 you may discerne the principall cyons  
which issue from the principall rootes7 
you shall then bring your poales into   
the garden1 and lay them along in the   
alleyes1 by euery hill so many poales as
 shall be sufficient for the maine      

branches1 which happely the first yeere 
will not be aboue two or three poales at
 the most to a hill1 but in processe of 
time more1 as foure or fiue1 according  
to the prosperitie of the plants1 and   
the largenesse of the hils4 ,after you  
haue thus layd your poales1 you shall   
then beginne to set them vp in this     
sort3 first1 you shall take a           
gaue-locke1 or crow of iron1 and strike 
it into the earth so neare vnto the     
roote of the ,hoppe as is possible1     
prouided alwayes that you doe not       
bruise1 or touch the roote1 and so      
stroake after stroake1 cease not        
striking till you haue made a hoale at  
least two foote deepe1 and make them a  
little slantwise inward towards the     
hill1 that the poales in their standing 
may shoote outwards and hould their     
greatest distance in the toppes3 this   
done you shall place the poales in those
 hoales1 thus made with the iron crow1  
and with another peece of woode1 made   
rammer-wise1 that is to say1 as bigge at

 the neather end as the biggest part of 
the poale1 or somewhat more1 you shall  
ramme in the poales1 and beate the earth
 firme and hard about them3 alwayes     
prouided1 that you touch not any branch1
 or as little as you may beate with your
 rammer within betweene the poales1     
onely on the out-side make them so fast 
that the winde1 or weather1 may not     
disorder or blow them downe3 then lay to
 the bottome of euery poale the branch  
which shall ascend it1 and you shall see
 in a short space1 how out of their owne
 natures1 they will imbrace and climbe  
about them4  ,now1 if it happen after   
your ,hoppes are growne vp1 yet not come
 to their full perfection1 that any of  
your poales chance to breake1 you shall 
then take a new poale1 and with some    
soft greene rushes1 or the inmost greene
 barke of an ,alder-tree1 tye the toppe 
of the ,hoppe to the toppe of the new   
poale1 then draw the broken poale out of
 the ,hoppe 7,i meane that part which   
being broken lyeth vpon the ground7 and 

as you saw it did winde about the olde  
poale 7which is euer the same way that  
the sunne runnes7 so you shall winde it 
about the new poale3 then loosening the 
earth a little from the neather part of 
the broken poale1 you may with your owne
 strength pull it cleane out of the     
earth1 and place the new poale in his   
roome4 ,now1 there be some which are    
exceeding curious in pulling vp these   
olde poales1 and rather then they will  
shake the earth1 or loosen the mould1   
they will make a paire of large pincers1
 or tarriers of iron1 at least fiue     
foote long with sharpe teeth1 and a     
clasping hooke to hould the teeth       
together1 when they haue taken fast     
hould vpon the poale so neare the earth 
as is possible1 and then laying a peice 
of woode vnder the tarriers1 and poysing
 downe the other ends to rest the poale 
out of the earth without any            
disturbance1 the modell or fashion of   
which instrument is contained in this   
figure3  ,illustration  ,this instrument

 is not to be discommended1 but to be   
held of good vse1 either in binding     
grounds where the earth hardneth and    
houldeth the poale more then fast1 or in
 the strength and heate of summer1 when 
the drynesse of the mould will by no    
meanes suffer the poale to part from it3
 but otherwise it is needlesse and may  
without danger be omitted4  ,as soone as
 you haue sufficiently set euery hill   
with poales1 and that there is no       
disorder in your worke1 you shall when  
the ,hoppes beginne to climbe1 note if  
their be any cyons or branches which doe
 forsake the poales1 and rather shoote  
alongst the ground then looke vp to     
their supporters1 and all such as you   
shall so finde1 you shall as before ,i  
sayd1 either with soft greene rushes1 or
 the greene barke of ,elder1 tye them   
gently vnto the poales1 and winde them  
about1 in the same course that the sunne
 goes1 as oft as conueniently you can3  
and this you shall doe euer after the   
dew is gone from the ground1 and not    

before1 and this must be done with all  
possible speede1 for that cyon which is 
the longest before it take vnto the     
poale is euer the worst and brings forth
 his fruit in the worst season4  ,,sn3  
,of the ,hils4 ,now1 as touching the    
making of your hils1 you shall          
vnderstand that although generally they 
are not made the first yeere1 yet it is 
not amisse if you omit that scruple1 and
 beginne to make your hils as soone as  
you haue placed your poales1 for if your
 industry be answerable to the desert of
 the labour1 you shall reape as good    
profit the first yeere1 as either the   
second or the third4 ,to beginne        
therefore to make your hils1 you shall  
make you an instrument like a stubbing  
,hoe1 which is a toole wherewith        
labourers stubbe rootes out of decayed  
woode-land grounds1 onely this shall be 
somewhat broader and thinner1 somewhat  
in fashion 7though twice so bigge7 vnto 
a ,coopers ,addes1 with a shaft at least
 foure foote long3 some onely for this  

purpose vse a fine paring spade1 which  
is euery way as good1 and as profitable1
 the fashion of which is in this figure4
  ,illustration  ,with this paring      
spade1 or hoe1 you shall pare vp the    
greene-swarth and vppermost earth1 which
 is in the alleyes betweene the hils1   
and lay it vnto the rootes of the       
,hoppes1 raising them vp like small     
,mole-hils1 and so monthly increasing   
them all the yeere through1 make them as
 large as the site of your ground will  
suffer1 which is at least foure or fiue 
foote ouerthwart in the bottome1 and so 
high as conueniently that height will   
carry3 you shall not by any meanes this 
first yeere decay any cyons or branches 
which spring from the hils1 but         
maintaine them in their growth1 and     
suffer them to climbe vp the poales1 but
 after the first yeere is expired you   
shall not suffer aboue two or three     
cyons1 at the most1 to rise vpon one    
poale4 ,after your hils are made1 which 
as before ,i sayd would be at least     

foure or fiue foote square in the       
bottome1 and three foote high1 you shall
 then diligently euery day attend your  
garden1 and if you finde any branches   
that being risen more then halfe way vp 
the poales1 doe then forsake them and   
spread outward1 dangling downe1 then you
 shall either with the helpe of a high  
stoole1 on which standing you may reach 
the toppe of the poale1 or else with a  
small forckt sticke1 put vp the branch1 
and winde it about the poale3 you shall 
also be carefull that no weeds or other 
filthinesse grow about the rootes of    
your ,hoppes to choake them1 but vpon   
the first discouery to destroy them4    
,,chap4 ,,xiii4  ,of the gathering of   
,hoppes1 and the preseruing of the      
,poales4   ,touching the gathering of   
,hoppes you shall vnderstand that after 
,saint ,margarets day they beginne to   
blossome1 if it be in hot and rich      
soyles1 but otherwise not till ,lammas3 
likewise in the best soyles they bell at
 ,lammas1 in the worst at ,michaelmas1  

and in the best earth they are full ripe
 at ,michaelmas1 in the worst at        
,martillmas2 but to know when they are  
ripe indeede1 you shall perceiue the    
seede to loose his greene colour1 and   
looke as browne as a ,hares backe1      
wherefore then you shall with all       
dilligence gather them1 and because they
 are a fruit that will endure little or 
no delay1 as being ready to fall as     
soone as they be ripe1 and because the  
exchange of weather may breede change in
 your worke1 you shall vpon the first   
aduantage of faire weather1 euen so     
soone as you shall see the dewe exhaled 
and drawne from the earth1 get all the  
ayde of ,men1 ,women1 and children which
 haue any vnderstanding1 to helpe you1  
and then hauing some conuenient empty   
barne1 or shedde1 made either of boards 
or canuas1 neare to the garden1 in which
 you shall pull your ,hoppes1 you shall 
then beginne at the nearest part of the 
garden1 and with a sharpe garden knife  
cut the stalkes of the ,hoppes asunder  

close by the toppes of the hils2 and    
then with a straite forke of iron1 made 
broad and sharpe1 for the purpose1 shere
 vp all the ,hoppes1 and leaue the      
poales naked4 ,then hauing labouring    
persons for the purpose1 let them cary  
them vnto the place where they are to be
 puld2 and in any case cut no more then 
presently is caryed away as fast as they
 are cut1 least if a shower of raine    
should happen to fall1 and those being  
cut and taking wet1 are in danger of    
spoyling4 ,you shall prouide that those 
which pull your ,hoppes be persons of   
good discretion1 who must not pull them 
one by one1 but stripe them roundly     
through their hands into baskets1 mixing
 the young budds and small leaues with  
them1 which are as good as any part of  
the ,hoppe whatsoeuer4 ,after you haue  
pulled all your ,hoppes and carried them
 into such conuenient dry roomes as you 
haue prepared for that purpose1 you     
shall then spread them vpon cleane      
floares1 so thinne as may be1 that the  

ayre may passe thorrow them1 least lying
 in heapes they sweat1 and so mould1    
before you can haue leasure to dry them4
 ,after your ,hoppes are thus ordered1  
you shall then cleanse your garden of   
all such ,hoppe-straw1 and other trash1 
as in the gathering was scattered       
therein3 then shall you plucke vp all   
your ,hoppe-poales1 in manner before    
shewed1 and hauing either some dry      
boarded house1 or shed1 made for the    
purpose1 pile then one vpon another1    
safe from winde or weather1 which       
howsoeuer some that would haue their    
experience1 like a ,collossus1 seeme    
greater then it is1 doe disalow1 yet it 
is the best manner of keeping of poales1
 and well worthy the charge3 but for    
want of such a house1 it shall not be   
amisse to take first your ,hoppe-straw1 
and lay it a good thicknesse vpon the   
ground1 and with sixe strong stakes1    
driuen slant-wise into the earth1 so as 
the vppermost ends may be inward one to 
another1 lay then your ,hoppe-poales    

betweene the stakes1 and pile them one  
vpon another1 drawing them narrower and 
narrower to the top1 and then couer them
 all ouer with more ,hoppe-straw1 and so
 let them rest till the next ,march1 at 
which time you shall haue new occasion  
to vse them4  ,,sn3 ,winter businesse4  
,as soone as you haue piled vp your     
,hoppe-poales1 dry and close1 then you  
shall about mid-,nouember following     
throw downe your hils1 and lay all your 
rootes bare1 that the sharpenesse of the
 season may nip them1 and keepe them    
from springing too earely3 you shall    
also then bring into the garden olde    
,cow-dunge1 which is at least two yeeres
 olde1 for no new dunge is good1 and    
this you shall lay in some great heape  
in some conuenient place of the garden  
vntill ,aprill1 at which time1 after you
 haue wound your ,hoppes about your     
poales1 you shall then bestow vpon euery
 hill two or three spade-full of the    
,manure mixt with earth1 which will     
comfort the plant and make it spring    

pleasantly4  ,after your hils are puld  
downe1 you shall with your garden spade1
 or your hoe1 vndermine all the earth   
round about the roote of the ,hoppe1    
till you come to the principall rootes  
thereof1 and then taking the youngest   
rootes in your hand1 and shaking away   
the earth1 you shall see how the new    
rootes grow from the olde sets1 then    
with a sharpe knife cut away all those  
rootes as did spring the yeere before1  
out of your sets1 within an inch and an 
halfe of the same1 but euery yeere after
 the first you shall cut them close by  
the olde rootes4 ,now1 if you see any   
rootes which doe grow straight downward1
 without ioynts1 those you shall not cut
 at all1 for they are great nourishers  
of the plant1 but if they grow outward1 
or side-wayes1 they are of contrary     
natures1 and must necessarily be cut    
away4 ,if any of your ,hoppes turne     
wilde1 as oft it happens1 which you     
shall know by the perfect rednesse of   
the branch1 then you shall cut it quite 

vp1 and plant a new roote in his place4 
,after you haue cut and trimmed all your
 rootes1 then you shall couer them      
againe1 in such sort as you were taught 
at the first planting them1 and so let  
them abide till their due time for      
poaling4     ,,chap4 ,,xiiii4  ,of      
drying1 and not drying of ,hoppes1 and  
of packing them when they are dried4    
,although there be much curiositie in   
the drying of ,hoppes as well in the    
temperature of heate 7which hauing any  
extremitie1 as either of heate1 or his  
contrary1 breedeth disorder in the      
worke7 as also in the framing of the    
,ost or furnace after many new moulds   
and fashions1 as variable as mens wits  
and experiences1 yet because innouations
 and incertainty doth rather perplexe   
then profit1 ,i will shunne1 as much as 
in me lyeth1 from loading the memory of 
the studious ,husbandman with those     
stratagems which disable his            
vnderstanding from the attaining of     
better perfection1 not disalowing any   

mans approued knowledge1 or thinking    
that because such a man can mend smoking
 ,chimnyes1 therefore none but hee shall
 haue license to make ,chimnyes1 or that
 because some men can melt ,mettall     
without winde1 therefore it shall be    
vtterly vnlawfull to vse bellowes3 these
 violent opinions ,i all together       
disacknowledge1 and wish euery one the  
liberty of his owne thoughts1 and for   
mine ,english ,husband1 ,i will shew him
 that way to dry his ,hoppes which is   
most fit for his profit1 safe1 easie1   
and without extraordinary expences4     
,first then to speake of the time which 
is fittest for the drying of your       
,hoppes1 it is immediately as soone as  
they are gotten1 if more vrgent         
occasions doe not delay the businesse1  
which if they happen1 then you haue a   
forme before prescribed how to preserue 
them from mouldinesse and putrifaction  
till you can compasse fit time to effect
 the worke in4 ,the manner of drying    
them is vpon a ,kilne1 of which there be

 two sorts1 that is to say1 an ,english 
,kilne1 and a ,french ,kilne3 the       
,english ,kilne being composed of woode1
 lath1 and clay1 and therefore subiect  
to some danger of fire1 the ,french1 of 
bricke1 lime1 and sand1 and therefore   
safe1 close1 and without all perill1 and
 to be preferred much before the other3 
yet because ,i haue hereafter more      
occasion to speake of the nature1       
fashion1 and edifice of ,kilnes in that 
part of this ,volumne where ,i intreate 
of ,malting1 ,i will cease further to   
mention them then to say that vpon a    
,kilne is the best drying your ,hoppes1 
after this manner1 hauing finely bedded 
your ,kilne with ,wheate-straw1 you     
shall lay on your hayre cloath1 although
 some disallow it1 but giue no reason   
therefore1 yet it cannot be hurtfull in 
any degree1 for it neither distasteth   
the ,hoppes1 nor defendeth them from the
 fire1 making the worke longer then it  
would1 but it preserueth both the       
,hoppes from filthynesse1 and their     

seede from losse3 when your hayre-cloath
 is spread1 you shall cause one to      
deliuer you vp your ,hoppes in baskets1 
which you shall spread vpon the cloath1 
all ouer the ,kilne1 at the least eight 
inches thicke1 and then comming downe1  
and going to the hole of the ,kilne1 you
 shall with a little dry straw kindle   
the fire1 and then maintaining it with  
more straw1 you shall keepe a fire a    
little more feruent then for the drying 
of a kilne-full of ,malt1 being assured 
that the same quantitie of fuell1 heate1
 and time1 which dryeth a kilne-full of 
,malt1 will also dry a kilne-full of    
,hoppes1 and if your ,kilne will dry    
twenty strikes1 or bushels of ,malt at  
one drying1 then it will dry forty of   
,hoppes1 because being layd much thicker
 the quantitie can be no lesse then     
doubled1 which is a speede all together 
sufficient1 and may very well serue to  
dry more ,hoppes then any one man hath  
growing in this kingdome4  ,now1 for as 
much as some men doe not alow to dry    

,hoppes with straw1 but rather preferre 
woode1 and of woode still to chuse the  
greenest1 yet ,i am of a contrary       
opinion1 for ,i know by experience that 
the smoake which proceedeth from woode1 
7especially if it be greene woode7 being
 a strong and sharpe vapour1 doth so    
taint and infect the ,hoppes that when  
those ,hoppes come to be brewed with1   
they giue the drinke a smoakie taste1   
euen as if the ,malt it selfe had beene 
woode-dryed3 the vnpleasantnesse whereof
 ,i leaue to the iudgement of them that 
haue trauelled in ,york-shire1 where1   
for the most part1 is nothing but       
woode-dryed ,malt onely4  ,that you may 
know when your ,hoppes are dry inough1  
you shall take a small long sticke1 and 
stirring the ,hoppes too and fro with   
it1 if the ,hoppes doe russell and make 
a light noyse1 each as it were          
seperating one from another1 then they  
are altogether dry inough1 but if in any
 part you finde them heauy or glewing   
one to another1 then they haue not      

inough of the fire3 also when they are  
sufficiently and moderately dryed they  
are of a bright-browne colour1 little or
 nothing altered from that they held    
when they were vpon the stalke1 but if  
they be ouer dryed1 then their colour   
will be redde3 and if they were not well
 ordered before they were dryed1 but    
suffered either to take wet or mould1   
then they will looke blacke when they   
are dry4  ,,sn3 ,of the drying ,hoppes4 
,there be some which are of opinion that
 if you doe not dry your ,hoppes at all1
 it shall be no losse1 but it is an     
errour most grose1 for if they be not   
dryed1 there is neither profit in their 
vse1 nor safty in preseruing them4  ,as 
soone as your ,hoppes are sufficiently  
dryed1 you shall by the plucking vp of  
the foure corners of your hayre-cloath  
thrust all your ,hoppes together1 and   
then putting them into baskets1 carry   
them into such dry places as you haue   
prepared of purpose to lay them in1 as  
namely1 either in dry-fats1 or in       

garners1 made either of plaster1 or     
boards3 and herein you shall obserue to 
packe them close and hard together1     
which will be a meanes that if any of   
them be not dry1 yet the heate they     
shall get by such lying will dry them   
fully and make them fit for seruice4    
,,sn3 ,of packing ,hoppes4 ,now to      
conclude1 if your store of ,hoppes be so
 great that you shall trade or make     
,marchandize of them1 then either to    
conuay them by land or ,sea1 it is best 
that you packe them into great bagges of
 canuas1 made in fashion of those bagges
 which woole-men vse1 and call them     
pockets1 but not being altogether so    
large3 these bagges you shall open1 and 
either hang vp betweene some            
crosse-beames1 or else let downe into   
some lower floare1 and then putting in  
your ,hoppes cause a man to goe into the
 bagge and tread downe the ,hoppes1 so  
hard as is possible1 pressing downe     
basket-full after basket-full1 till the 
bagge be filled1 euen vnto the toppe1   

and then with an extraordinary          
packe-thriede1 sowing the open end of   
the bagge close together1 let euery     
hollow place be crammed with ,hoppes1   
whilst you can get one hand-full to goe 
in1 and so hauing made euery corner     
strong and fast1 let them lye dry till  
you haue occasion either to shippe or   
cart them4 ,and thus much for the       
ordering of ,hoppes1 and their vses4    
,,chap4 ,,xv4  ,the office of the       
,gardiner1 and first of the ,earth1     
,situation1 and fencing of a ,garden for
 pleasure4   ,there is to be required at
 the hands of euery perfect ,gardiner   
three especiall vertues1 that is to say1
 ,diligence1 ,industry1 and ,art3 the   
two first1 as namely1 ,diligence 7vnder 
which word ,i comprehend his loue1 care1
 and delight in the vertue hee          
professeth7 and ,industry 7vnder which  
word ,i conclude his labour1 paine1 and 
study1 which are the onely testimonies  
of his perfection7 hee must reape from  
,nature3 for1 if hee be not inclined1   

euen from the strength of his blood to  
this loue and labour1 it is impossible  
he should euer proue an absolute        
gardiner3 the latter1 which containeth  
his skill1 habit1 and vnderstanding in  
what hee professeth1 ,i doubt not but   
hee shall gather from the abstracts or  
rules which shall follow hereafter in   
this ,treatise1 so that where nature1   
and this worke shall concurre in one    
subiect1 there is no doubt to be made1  
but the professor shall in all points1  
be able to discharge a sufficient dutie4
  ,now1 for as much as all our antient  
and forraine writers 7for wee are very  
sleightly beholding to our selues for   
these indeauours7 are exceeding curious 
in the choise of earth1 and situation of
 the plot of ground which is meete for  
the garden3 yet ,i1 that am all ,english
 ,husbandman1 and know our soyles out of
 the worthinesse of their owne natures  
doe as it were rebell against forraine  
imitation1 thinking their owne vertues  
are able to propound their owne rules3  

and the rather when ,i call into my     
remembrance1 that in all the forraine   
places ,i haue seene1 there is none more
 worthy then our owne1 and yet none     
ordered like our owne1 ,i cannot be     
induced to follow the rules of ,italie1 
vnlesse ,i were in ,italie1 neither     
those of ,france1 vnlesse ,i dwelt in   
,france1 nor those of ,germany except in
 ,germany ,i had my habitation1 knowing 
that the too much heate of the one1 or  
the too much coldnesse of the other1    
must rather confound then help in our   
temperate climate3 whence it comes1 that
 our english booke-knowledge in these   
cases is both disgraced and condemned1  
euery one fayling in his experiments1   
because he is guided by no home-bredde1 
but a stranger2 as if to reade the      
english tongue there were none better   
then an ,italian ,pedant4 ,this to      
auoide1 ,i will neither begge ayde nor  
authoritie from strangers1 but reuerence
 them as worthies and fathers of their  
owne ,countries4  ,,sn3 ,of the ground4 

,to speake therefore first of the ground
 which is fit for the garden1 albeit the
 best is best worthy1 the labour least1 
and the profit most certaine1 yet it is 
not meete that you refuse any earth     
whatsoeuer1 both because a garden is so 
profitable1 necessary1 and such an      
ornament and grace to euery house and   
house-keeper1 that the dwelling place is
 lame and maymed if it want that goodly 
limbe1 and beauty4 ,besides1 if no      
gardens should be planted but in the    
best and richest soyles1 it were        
infinite the losse we should sustaine in
 our priuate profit1 and in the due     
commendations1 fit for many worthy      
workmen1 who haue reduced the worst and 
barrainest earths to as rare perfection 
and profit as if they had beene the     
onely soyles of this kingdome3 and for  
mine owne part1 ,i doe not wonder either
 at the worke of ,art or ,nature1 when  
,i behould in a goodly1 rich1 and       
fertill soyle1 a garden adorned with all
 the delights and delicacies which are  

within mans vnderstanding1 because the  
naturall goodnesse of the earth 7which  
not induring to be idle7 will bring     
forth whatsoeuer is cast into her3 but  
when ,i behould vpon a barraine1 dry1   
and deiected earth1 such as the         
,peake-hils1 where a man may behould    
,snow all summer1 or on the ,east-mores1
 whose best hearbage is nothing but     
mosse1 and iron stone1 in such a place1 
,i say1 to behould a delicate1 rich1 and
 fruitfull garden1 it shewes great      
worthinesse in the owner1 and infinite  
,art and industry in the workeman1 and  
makes me both admire and loue the       
begetters of such excellencies4  ,but to
 returne to my purpose touching the     
choise of your earth for a garden1 sith 
no house can conueniently be without    
one1 and that our ,english ,nation is of
 that great popularitie1 that not the   
worst place thereof but is abundantly   
inhabited1 ,i thinke it meete that you  
refuse no earth whatsoeuer to plant your
 garden vpon1 euer obseruing this rule1 

that the more barraine it is1 the more  
cost must be bestowed vpon it1 both in  
,manuring1 digging1 and in trenching1 as
 shall be shewed hereafter1 and the more
 rich it is1 lesse cost of such labour1 
and more curiositie in weeding1         
proyning1 and trimming the earth3 for1  
as the first is too slow1 so the latter 
is too swift1 both in her increase and  
multiplication4  ,now1 for the knowledge
 of soyles1 which is good1 and which is 
badde1 ,i haue spoken sufficiently      
already in that part which intreateth of
 ,tillage1 onely this one caueat ,i will
 giue you1 as soone as you haue markt   
out your garden-plot1 you shall turne vp
 a sodde1 and taking some part of the   
fresh mould1 champe it betweene your    
teeth in your mouth1 and if it taste    
sweetish then is the mould excellent    
good and fit to receiue either seedes or
 plants1 without much ,manuring1 but if 
it taste salt or bitter1 then it is a   
great signe of barrainenesse1 and must  
of necessitie be corrected with ,manure3

 for saltnesse sheweth much windinesse1 
which choaketh and stifleth the seede1  
and bitternesse that vnnaturall heate   
which blasteth it before it sprout4     
,,sn3 ,of the situation4 ,now1 for the  
situation of the garden-plot for        
pleasure1 you shall vnderstand that it  
must euer be placed so neare vnto the   
dwelling house as is possible1 both     
because the eye of the owner may be a   
guard and support from inconueniences1  
as also that the especiall roomes and   
prospects of the house may be adorned1  
perfumed1 and inriched1 with the        
delicate proportions1 odorifferous      
smells1 and wholsome ayres which shall  
ascend and vaporate from the same1 as   
may more amply be seene in that former  
,chapter1 where modelling forth the     
,husbandmans house1 ,i shew you the site
 and place for his ,garden1 onely you   
must diligently obserue1 that neare vnto
 this garden doe not stand any houells1 
stackes of hay1 or ,corne1 which        
ouer-pearing the walls1 or fence1 of the

 same1 may by reason of winde1 or other 
occasion1 annoy the same with straw1    
chaffe1 seedes1 or such like            
filthinesse1 which doth not onely       
blemish the beauty thereof1 but is also 
naturally very hurtfull and cankerous to
 all plants whatsoeuer4 ,within this    
garden plot would be also either some   
,well1 ,pumpe1 ,conduit1 ,pond1 or      
,cesterne for water1 sith a garden1 at  
many times of the yeere1 requireth much 
watering3  this place for water you     
shall order and dispose according to    
your abillitie1 and the nature of the   
soyle1 as thus3 if both your reputation1
 and your wealth be of the lowest       
account1 if then your garden aford you a
 plaine ,well1 comely couered1 or a     
plaine ,pump1 it shall be sufficient1 or
 if for want of such springs you digge a
 fayre ,pond in some conuenient part    
thereof1 or else 7which is much better7 
erect a ,cesterne of leade1 into which  
by pippes may discend all the           
raine-water which falls about any part  

of the house1 it will serue for your    
purpose3 but if ,god haue bestowed vpon 
you a greater measure of his blessings1 
both in wealth  account1 if then        
insteade of either ,well1 ,pumpe1 ,pond1
 or ,cesterne1 you erect ,conduits1 or  
continuall running ,fountaines1 composed
 of ,antique workes1 according to the   
curiositie of mans inuention1 it shall  
be more gallant and worthy3 and these   
,conduits or water-courses1 you may     
bring in pippes of leade from other     
remote or more necessary places of water
 springs1 standing aboue the leuell of  
your garden1 as euery ,artist in the    
profession of such workes can more amply
 declare vnto you1 onely for mee let it 
be sufficient to let you vnderstand that
 euery garden would be accompanied with 
water4  ,also you shall haue great care 
that there adioyne not vnto your        
garden-plot any common-shewers1 stinking
 or muddy dikes1 dung-hils1 or such     
like1 the annoyance of whose smells and 
euill vapors doth not onely corrupt and 

breede infection in man1 but also       
cankereth1 killeth and consumeth all    
manner of plants1 especially those which
 are most pleasant1 fragrant1 and       
odorifferous1 as being of tenderest     
nature and qualitie3 and for this cause 
diuers will not alow the moating of     
garden-plots about1 imagining that the  
ouer great moistnesse thereof1 and the  
strong smells which doe arise from the  
mudde in the ,summer season1 doe corrupt
 and putrifie the hearbes and plants    
within the compasse of the same1 but ,i 
am not altogether of that opinion1 for  
if the water be sweet1 or the channell  
thereof sandy or grauelly1 then there is
 no such scruple to be taken3 but if it 
be contrary1 then it is with all care to
 be auoyded1 because it is euer a       
,maxime in this case1 that your         
garden-plot must euer be compassed with 
the pleasantest and sweetest ayre that  
may be4  ,the windes which you shall    
generally defend from your garden1 are  
the ,easterne windes and the ,northerne1

 because they are sharpest1 coldest1 and
 bring with them tempers of most        
vnseasonablenesse1  albeit in ,italie1  
,spaine1 and such like hot ,countries1  
they rather defend away the ,westerne   
and ,southerne winde1 giuing free       
passage to the ,east and ,north1 yet    
with ,england it may not be so1 because 
the naturall coldenes of our ,climate is
 sufficient without any assistance to   
further bitternesse1 our best industry  
being to be imployed rather to get      
warmth1 which may nourish and bring     
forth our labours1 then any way to      
diminish or weaken the same4  ,this plot
 of ground also would lye1 as neare as  
you can1 at the foote or bottome of an  
hill1 both that the hill may defend the 
windes and sharpe weather from the same1
 as also that you may haue certaine     
ascents or risings of state1 from leuell
 to leuell1 as was in some sort before  
shewed in the plot for the ,orchard1 and
 shall be better declared in the next   
,chapter4  ,,sn3 ,of fencing the garden4

 ,now lastly for the fencing or making  
priuate the garden-plot1 it is to be    
done according to your abillitie1 and   
the nature of the climate wherein you   
liue3 as thus1 if your reuenewes will   
reach thereunto1 and matter be to be    
got1 for that purpose1 where you liue1  
then you shall vnderstand that your best
 fence is a strong wall1 either of      
,bricke1 ,ashler1 rough-,stone1 or      
,earth1 of which you are the best-owner1
 or can with least dammage compasse3 but
 for want either of earth to make       
bricke1 or quarries out of which to get 
stone1 it shall not then be amisse to   
fence your garden with a tall strong    
pale of seasoned ,oake1 fixt to a double
 parris raile1 being lined on the inside
 with a thicke quicke-set of            
white-,thorne1 the planting whereof     
shall be more largely spoken of where ,i
 intreate of fencing onely4 ,but if the 
place where you liue in1 be so barraine 
of timber that you cannot get sufficient
 for the purpose1 then you shall make a 

studde wall1 which shall be splinted and
 lomed both with earth and lime1 and    
hayre1 and copt vpon the toppe 7to      
defend away wet7 either with tile1      
slate1 or straw1 and this wall is both  
beautifull1 and of long continuance1 as 
may be seene in the most parts of the   
,south of this kingdome3 but if either  
your pouerty or climate doe deny you    
timber for this purpose1 you shall then 
first make a small trench round about   
your garden-plot1 and set at least foure
 rowes of quicke-set of white-,thorne1  
one aboue another1 and then round about 
the outside1 to defend the quick-set1   
make a tall fence of dead woode1 being  
either long1 small1 brushy poales prickt
 into the earth1 and standing vpright1  
and so bound together in the wast       
betweene two other poales1 according to 
the figure set downe1  ,illustration    
being so high that not any kinde of     
,pullen may flie ouer the same1 or else 
an ordinary hedge of common woode1 being
 beyrded vpon the toppe with sharpe     

,thornes1 in such wise that not any     
thing may dare to aduenture ouer it3 and
 this dead fence you shall repaire and  
maintaine as occasion shall require from
 time to time1 till your quicke-set be  
growne vp1 and1 by continuall plashing  
and interfouldings1 be made able and    
sufficient to fence and defend your     
garden1 which will be within fiue or    
seauen yeeres at the most1 and so       
continue with good order for euer4 ,and 
thus much for the situation of gardens4 
,,chap4 ,,xvi4  ,of the fashion of the  
garden-plot for pleasure1 the ,alleyes1 
,quarters1 ,digging and ,dungging of the
 same4   ,,sn3 ,the fashion4 ,after you 
haue chosen out and fenced your         
garden-plot1 according as is before     
sayd1 you shall then beginne to fashion 
and proportion out the same1 sith in the
 conuayance remaineth a great part of   
the gardiners art4 ,and herein you shall
 vnderstand that there be two formes of 
proportions belonging to the garden1 the
 first1 onely beautifull1 as the plaine1

 and single square1 contayning onely    
foure quarters1 with his large ,alleyes 
euery way1 as was discribed before in   
the ,orchard3 the other both beautifull 
and stately1 as when there is one1 two  
or three leuelled squares1 each mounting
 seauen or eight steppes one aboue      
another1 and euery square contayning    
foure seuerall ,quarters with their     
distinct and seuerall ,alleyes of equall
 breadth and proportion2 placing in the 
center of euery square1 that is to say1 
where the foure corners of the foure    
,quarters doe as it were neighbour and  
meete one another1 either a ,conduit of 
antique fashion1 a ,standard of some    
vnusuall deuise1 or else some ,dyall1 or
 other ,piramed1 that may grace and     
beautifie the garden4 ,and herein ,i    
would haue you vnderstand that ,i would 
not haue you to cast euery square into  
one forme or fashion of ,quarters or    
,alleyes1 for that would shew little    
varytie or inuention in ,art1 but rather
 to cast one in plaine ,squares1 another

 in ,tryangulars1 another in roundalls1 
so a fourth according to the worthinesse
 of conceite1 as in some sort you may   
behould by these figures1 which         
questionlesse when they are adorned with
 their ornaments1 will breed infinite   
delight to the beholders4               
,illustration3 ,the ,plaine ,square4    
,illustration3 ,the ,square ,triangular 
or circular4  ,illustration3 ,the       
,square of eight ,diamonds4  ,from the  
modell of these ,squares1 ,tryangles1   
and ,rounds1 any industrious braine may 
with little difficulty deriue and       
fashion to himselfe diuers other shapes 
and proportions1 according to the nature
 and site of the earth1 which may       
appeare more quaint and strange then    
these which are in our common vse1      
albeit these are in the truth of        
workmanship the perfect father and      
mother of all proportions whatsoeuer4   
,,sn3 ,the ordering of ,alleyes4 ,now1  
you shall vnderstand that concerning the
 ,alleyes and walkes in this garden of  

pleasure1 it is very meete that your    
ground1 being spacious and large1 7which
 is the best beauty7 that you cut       
through the midst of euery ,alley an    
ample and large path or walke1 the full 
depth of the roote of the greene-swarth1
 and at least the breadth of seauen or  
eight foote3 and in this path you shall 
strow either some fine redde-sand1 of a 
good binding nature1 or else some fine  
small grauell1 or for want of both them 
you may take the finest of your         
pit-coale-dust1 which will both keepe   
your ,alleyes dry and smooth1 and also  
not suffer any grasse or greene thing to
 grow within them1 which is             
disgracefull1 if it be suffered3 the    
,french-men doe vse1 to couer their     
,alleyes1 either with the powder of     
marble1 or the powder of slate-stone1 or
 else paue them either with ,pit-stone1 
,free-stone1 or ,tiles1 the first of    
which is too hard to get1 the other     
great cost to small purpose1 the rather 
sith our owne grauell is in euery       

respect as beautifull1 as dry1 as       
strong1 and as long lasting3 ,onely this
 heedfulnesse you must diligently       
obserue1 that if the situation of your  
garden-plot be low and much subiect to  
moisture1 that then these middle-cut    
paths or walkes must be heightned vp in 
the midst1 and made in a proportionall  
bent or compasse3 wherein you shall     
obserue that the out most verdges of the
 walke must be leuell with the          
greene-swarth which holded in each side1
 and the midst so truly raised vp in    
compasse1 that the raine which falles   
may haue a passage to each side of the  
greene-swarth4 ,now1 the lesse this     
compasse is made 7so it auoyde the      
water1 and remaine hard7 the better it  
is1 because by that meanes both the eye 
shall be deceiued 7which shewes art in  
the workman7 and the more leuell they   
are1 the more ease vnto them which shall
 continually walke vpon them4  ,,sn3    
,obiection4 ,now1 if any shall obiect1  
why ,i doe not rather couet to haue     

these ,alleyes or walkes rather all     
greene1 then thus cut and deuided1 sith 
it is a most beautifull thing to see a  
pleasant greene walke1 my answere is    
this1 that first the mixture of colours1
 is the onely delight of the eye aboue  
all other3 for beauty being the onely   
obiect in which it ioyeth1 that beautie 
is nothing but an excellent mixture1 or 
consent of colours1 as in the           
composition of a delicate woman the     
grace of her cheeke is the mixture of   
redde and white1 the wonder of her eye  
blacke and white1 and the beauty of her 
hand blewe and white1 any of which is   
not sayd to be beautifull if it consist 
of single or simple colours3 and so in  
these walkes1 or ,alleyes1 the all      
greene1 nor the all yealow cannot be    
sayd to be most beautifull1 but the     
greene and yealow1 7that is to say1 the 
vntroade grasse1 and the well knit      
grauell7 being equally mixt1 giue the   
eye both luster and delight beyonde all 
comparison4  ,againe1 to keepe your     

walkes all greene1 or grassy1 you must  
of force either forbeare to tread vpon  
them1 7which is the vse for which they  
were onely fashioned17 or treading vpon 
them you shall make so many pathes and  
ilfauored wayes as will be most vglie to
 the eye3 besides the dewe and wet      
hanging vpon the grasse will so annoy   
you1 that if you doe not select         
especiall howers to walke in1 you must  
prouide shooes or bootes of             
extraordinary goodnesse3 which is halfe 
a depriuement of your liberty1 whereas  
these things of recreation were created 
for a contrary purpose4  ,now1 you shall
 also vnderstand that as you make this  
sandy and smooth walke through the midst
 of your ,alleyes1 so you shall not omit
 but leaue as much greene-swarth1 or    
grasse ground of eache side the plaine  
path as may fully counteruaile the      
breadth of the walke1 as thus for       
example3 if your sandy walke be sixe    
foote broad1 the grasse ground of each  
side it1 shall be at least sixe foote   

also1 so that the whole ,alley shall be 
at least eighteene foote in breadth1    
which will be both comely and stately4  
,,sn3 ,of the ,quarters4 ,your ,alleyes 
being thus proportioned and set forth1  
your next worke shall be the ordering of
 your ,quarters1 which as ,i sayd       
before1 you may frame into what         
proportions you please1 as into         
,squares1 ,tryangles and ,rounds1       
according to the ground1 or your owne   
inuention3 and hauing marked them out   
with lines1 and the garden compasse1 you
 shall then beginne to digge them in    
this manner3 first1 with a paring spade1
 the fashion whereof is formerly shewed1
 you shall pare away all the            
greene-swarth1 fully so deepe as the    
roote of the grasse shall goe1 and cast 
it away1 then with other digging spades 
you shall digge vp the earth1 at least  
two foote and a halfe1 or three foote   
deepe1 in turning vp of which earth1 you
 shall note that as any rootes of       
weedes1 or other quickes shall be raised

 or stirred vp1 so presently with your  
hands to gather them vp1 and cast them  
away1 that your mould may 7as neare as  
your dilligence can performe it7 be     
cleane from either wilde rootes1 stones1
 or such like offences3  in this digging
 of your ,quarters you shall not forget 
but raise vp the ground of your         
,quarters at least two foote higher then
 your ,alleyes1 and where by meanes of  
such reasure1 you shall want mould1     
there you shall supply that lacke by    
bringing mould and cleane earth from    
some other place1 where most            
conueniently you may spare it1 that your
 whole ,quarter being digged all ouer1  
it may rise in all parts alike1 and     
carry an orderly and well proportioned  
leuell through the whole worke4  ,,sn3  
,of ,dunging4 ,the best season for this 
first digging of your garden mould is in
 ,september3 and after it is so digged  
and roughly cast vp1 you shall let it   
rest till the latter end of ,nouember1  
at what time you shall digge it vp      

againe1 in manner as afore sayd1 onely  
with these additions1 that you shall    
enter into the fresh mould1 halfe a     
spade-graft deeper then before1 and at  
euery two foote breadth of ground1      
enlarging the trench both wide and      
deepe1 fill it vp with the oldest and   
best ,oxe or ,cow-,manure that you can  
possibly get1 till such time that       
increasing from two foote to two foote1 
you haue gone ouer and ,manured all your
 quarters1 hauing a principall care that
 your dunge or ,manure lye both deepe   
and thicke1 in so much that euery part  
of your mould may indifferently pertake 
and be inriched with the same ,manure4  
,,sn3 ,diuersitie of ,manures4 ,now1 you
 shall vnderstand that although ,i doe  
particularly speake but of ,oxe or      
,cow-,manure1 because it is of all the  
fattest and strongest1 especially being 
olde1 yet their are diuers respects to  
be had in the ,manuring of gardens3 as  
first1 if your ground be naturally of a 
good1 fat1 blacke1 and well tempered    

earth1 or if it be of a barraine1 sandy1
 hot1 yet firme mould1 that in either of
 these cases your ,oxe1 ,cow1 or beast  
,manure is the best  most sufficient1   
but if it be of a colde1 barraine1 or   
spewing mould then it shall be good to  
mixe your ,oxe-dunge with ,horse-dunge1 
which shall be at least two yeeres olde1
 if you can get it1 otherwise such as   
you can compasse3 if your ground be good
 and fertill yet out of his drynesse in 
the summer-time it be giuen to riue and 
chappe as is seene in many earths2 you  
shall then mixe your ,oxe-dunge well    
with ,ashes1 orts of ,lime1 and such    
like3 lastly1 if your earth be too much 
binding and colde therewithall1 then    
mixe your ,oxe-dunge with chalke or     
marle and it is the best ,manure4 ,and  
thus much for the generall vse of       
earths4  ,now1 for perticular vses you  
shall vnderstand that for ,hearbs or    
,flowers the ,oxe and ,horse-dunge is   
the best1 for rootes or ,cabbages1 mans 
ordure is the best1 for ,harty-chockes1 

or any such like thisly-fruit1          
,swines-dunge is most sufficient1 and   
thus according to your setled           
determination you shall seuerally       
prouide for euery seuerall purpose1 and 
so1 ,god assisting1 seldome faile in    
your profit4 ,and this dunge you shall  
bring into your garden in little        
drumblars or wheele-barrowes1 made for  
the purpose1 such as being in common vse
 in euery ,husbandmans yarde it shall be
 needlesse here either to shew the      
figure or proportion thereof4 ,and thus 
much for the fashion1 digging1 and      
dunging of gardens4     ,,chap4 ,,xvii4 
,of the adornation and beautifying of   
the ,garden for pleasure4   ,the        
adornation and beautifying of gardens is
 not onely diuers but almost infinite1  
the industry of mens braines hourely    
begetting and bringing forth such new   
garments and imbroadery for the earth1  
that it is impossible to say this shall 
be singular1 neither can any man say    
that this or that is the best1 sith as  

mens tastes so their fancies are carried
 away with the varietie of their        
affections1 some being pleased with one 
forme1 some with another3 ,i will not   
therefore giue preheminence to any one  
beauty1 but discribing the faces and    
glories of all the best ornaments       
generaly or particularly vsed in our    
,english gardens1 referre euery man to  
the ellection of that which shall best  
agree with his fancy4  ,,sn3 ,of ,knots 
and ,mazes4 ,to beginne therefore with  
that which is most antient and at this  
day of most vse amongst the vulgar      
though least respected with great ones1 
who for the most part are wholy giuen   
ouer to nouelties3 you shall vnderstand 
that ,knots and ,mazes were the first   
that were receiued into admiration1     
which ,knots or ,mazes were placed vpon 
the faces of each seuerall quarter1 in  
this sort3 first1 about the verdge or   
square of the quarter was set a border  
of ,primpe1 ,boxe1 ,lauandar1           
,rose-mary1 or such like1 but ,primpe or

 ,boxe is the best1 and it was set      
thicke1 at least eighteene inches broad 
at the bottome  being kept with cliping 
both smooth and leuell on the toppe and 
on each side1 those borders as they were
 ornaments so were they also very       
profitable to the huswife for the drying
 of linnen cloaths1 yarne1 and such     
like3 for the nature of ,boxe and       
,primpe being to grow like a hedge1     
strong and thicke1 together1 the        
,gardiner1 with his sheares may keepe it
 as broad  plaine as himselfe listeth4  
,within this border shall your knot or  
maze be drawne1 it being euer intended  
that before the setting of your border  
your quarter shall be the third time    
digged1 made exceeding leuell1 and      
smooth1 without clot or stone1 and the  
mould1 with your garden rake of iron1 so
 broken that it may lye like the finest 
ashes1 and then with your garden mauls1 
which are broad-boards of more then two 
foote square set at the ends of strong  
staues1 the earth shall be beaten so    

hard and firme together that it may     
beare the burthen of a man without      
shrinking4 ,and in the beating of the   
mould you shall haue all diligent care  
that you preserue and keepe your leuell 
to a hayre1 for if you faile in it1 you 
faile in your whole worke4              
,illustration  ,now for the time of this
 labour1 it is euer best about the      
beginning of ,february1 and indifferent1
 about the midst of ,october1 but for   
the setting of your ,primpe1 or         
,boxe-border1 let the beginning of      
,nouember be your latest time1 for so   
shall you be sure that it will haue     
taken roote1 and the leafe will flourish
 in the spring following3 at which time 
your ground being thus artificially     
prepared1 you shall begin to draw forth 
your knot in this manner3 first1 with   
lines you shall draw the forme of the   
figure next before set downe1 and with a
 small instrument of iron make it vpon  
the earth4  ,illustration  ,which done1 
from the order and proportion of these  

lines you shall draw your single knots  
or plaine knots of the least curiositie1
 as may appeare by this figure1 being   
one quarter of the whole ,knot3 euer    
proportioning your ,trayles and windings
 according to the lines there discribed1
 which will keepe your worke in iust    
proportion4  ,but if you desire to haue 
knots of much more curiositie being more
 double and intricate1 then you shall   
draw your first lines after this        
proportion here figured1 pinning downe  
euery line firme to the earth with a    
little pinne made of woode4             
,illustration  ,which done you shall    
draw your double and curious knots after
 the manner of the figure following1    
which is also but one quarter of the    
whole knot1 for looke in what manner you
 doe one knot in like sort will the     
other three quarters succeede1 your     
lines keeping you in a continuall euen  
proportion4  ,illustration  ,and in this
 manner as you draw these knots1 with   
the like helps and lines also you shall 

draw out your ,mazes1 and laborinths1 of
 what sort or kind soeuer you please1   
whether they be round or square4 ,but   
for as much1 as not onely the           
,country-farme1 but also diuers other   
translated bookes1 doe at large describe
 the manner of casting and proportioning
 these knots1 ,i will not persist to    
write more curiously vpon them1 but wish
 euery painefull gardiner which coueteth
 to be more satisfied therein1 to       
repaire to those authors1 where hee     
shall finde more large amplifications1  
and greater diuersities of knots1 yet   
all tending to no more purpose then this
 which ,i haue all ready written4  ,now1
 as soone as you haue drawne forth and  
figured your knot vpon the face of your 
quarter1 you shall then set it either   
with ,germander1 ,issoppe1 ,time or     
,pinke-gilly-flowers1 but of all hearbes
 ,germander is the most principall best 
for this purpose3 diuers doe vse in     
knots to set ,thrift1 and in time of    
need it may serue1 but it is not so good

 as any of the other1 because it is much
 subiect to be slaine with frost1 and   
will also spread vpon the earth in such 
sort that1 without very painefull       
cutting1 it will put your knot out of   
fashion4  ,,sn3 ,yeallow4 ,,sn3 ,white4 
,,sn3 ,blacke4 ,,sn3 ,red4 ,,sn3 ,blew4 
,,sn3 ,greene4 ,now there is another    
beautifying or adorning of ,gardens1 and
 it is most generally to be seene in the
 gardens of ,noblemen and ,gentlemen1   
which may beare coate-armor1 and that   
is1 instead of the knots and mazes      
formerly spoken of1 to draw vpon the    
faces of your quarters such ,armes1 or  
,ensines1 as you may either beare your  
selfe1 or will preserue for the memory  
of any friend3 and these armes being    
drawne forth in plaine lines1 you shall 
set those plaine shadowing lines either 
with ,germander1 ,issop1 or such like   
hearbes3 and then for the more ample    
beautie thereof1 if you desire to haue  
them in their proper and liuely colours 
7without which they haue but one quarter

 of their luster7 you shall vnderstand  
that your colours in ,armory are thus to
 be made4 ,first1 for your mettalls3 you
 shall make your ,yeallow1 either of a  
yeallow clay1 vsually to be had almost  
in euery place1 or the yeallowest sand1 
or for want of both1 of your ,flanders  
,tile1 which is to be bought of euery   
,iron-monger or ,chandelor2 and any of  
these you must beate to dust3 for your  
,white you shall make it of the coursest
 chalke beaten to dust1 or of well burnt
 plaister1 or1 for necessity1 of lime1  
but that will soone decay3 your ,blacke 
is to be made of your best and purest   
coale-dust1 well clensed and sifted3    
your ,red is to be made of broken       
vselesse brickes beaten to dust1 and    
well clensed from spots3 your ,blew is  
to be made of white-chalke1 and blacke  
coale dust mixed together1 till the     
blacke haue brought the white to a      
perfect blewnes3 lastly your ,greene1   
both for the naturall property belonging
 to your ,garden1 as also for better    

continuance and long lasting1 you shall 
make of ,camomill1 well planted where   
any such colour is to be vsed1 as for   
the rest of the colours1 you shall sift 
them1 and strow them into their proper  
places1 and then with a flat            
beating-,beetell you shall beate it1 and
 incorporate it with the earth1 and as  
any of the colours shall decay1 you     
shall diligently repaire them1 and the  
luster will be most beautifull4  ,there 
is also another beautifying of gardens1 
which although it last not the whole    
yeere1 yet it is most quaint1 rare1 and 
best eye-pleasing1 and thus it is3 you  
shall vpon the face of your quarter draw
 a plaine double knot1 in manner of     
billet-wise3 for you shall vnderstand   
that in this case the plainest knot is  
the best1 and you shall let it be more  
then a foote betwixt line and line 7for 
in the largenesse consists much beauty7 
this knot being scored out1 you shall   
take ,tiles1 or tileshreds and fixe them
 within the lines of your knot strongly 

within the earth1 yet so as they may    
stand a good distance aboue the earth   
and this doe till you haue set out all  
your knot with ,tile3 then precisely    
note the seuerall passages of your knot1
 and the seuerall thrids of which it    
consisteth1 and then betwixt your tiles1
 7which are but as the shadowing lines  
of your knot7 plant in euery seuerall   
third1 flowers of one kinde and colour1 
as thus for example3 in one thrid plant 
your carnation ,gilly-flower1 in another
 your great white ,geli flower1 in      
another your mingle-coloured            
,gilly-flower1 and in another your      
blood-red ,gilly-flower1 and so likewise
 if you can compasse them you may in    
this sort plant your seueral coloured   
,hyacinths1 as the red1 the blew1 and   
the yealow1 or your seuerall coloured   
,dulippos1 and many other ,italian and  
french flowers3 or you may1 if you      
please1 take of euery seuerall plant    
one1 and place them as afforesaid2 the  
grace of all which is1 that so soone as 

these flowers shall put forth their     
beauties1 if you stand a little remote  
from the knot1 and any thing aboue it1  
you shall see it appeare like a knot    
made of diuers coloured ribans1 most    
pleasing and most rare4  ,many other    
adornations and beautifyings there are  
which belong to the setting forth of a  
curious garden1 but for as much as none 
are more rare or more esteemed then     
these ,i haue set downe1 being the best 
ornaments of the best gardens of this   
kingdome1 ,i thinke them tastes         
sufficient for euery husbandman1 or     
other of better quality which delighteth
 in the beauty and well trimming of his 
ground4     ,,chap4 ,,xviii4  ,how for  
the entertainment of any great ,person1 
in any ,parke1 or other place of        
pleasure1 where ,sommer-bowers are made1
 to make a compleat ,garden in two or   
three dayes4   ,if the honest ,english  
husbandman1 or any other1 of what       
quallity soeuer1 shall entertaine any   
,noble personage1 to whom hee would giue

 the delight of all strange contentment1
 either in his ,parke1 or other remote  
place of pleasure1 neere vnto ,ponds1   
,riuer1 or other waters of cleerenesse1 
after hee hath made his arbors and      
,summer-bowers to feast in1 the fashion 
whereof is so common that euery labourer
 can make them1 hee shall then marke out
 his garden-plot1 bestowing such sleight
 fence thereon as hee shall thinke fit3 
then hee shall cast forth his alleys1   
and deuide them from his quarters1 by   
paring away the greene-swarth with a    
paring spade1 finely1 and euen1 by a    
direct line 7for a line must euer be    
vsed in this worke7 then hauing store of
 labourers 7after the vpper-most swarth 
is taken away7 you shall cast vp the    
quarters1 and then breaking the mould   
and leuelling it1 you shall make sad the
 earth againe1 then vpon your quarters  
you shall draw forth either ,knots1     
,armes1 or any other deuise which shall 
be best pleasing to your fancie1 as     
either knots with single or double      

trayles1 or other emblemicall deuise1 as
 ,birds1 ,beasts1 and such like3 and in 
your knots where you should plant       
hearbes1 you shall take greene-sods of  
the richest grasse1 and cutting it      
proportionably to the knot1 making a    
fine trench1 you shall lay in your sod1 
and so ioyning sod to sod close and     
arteficially1 you shall set forth your  
whole knot1 or the portrayture of your  
armes1 or other deuise1 and then taking 
a cleane broome that hath not formerly  
beene swept withall1 you shall brush all
 vncleanenesse from the grasse1 and then
 you shall behold your knot as compleat1
 and as comely as if it had beene set   
with hearbes many yeeres before4 ,now   
for the portrayture of any liuing thing1
 you shall cut it forth1 ioyning sod    
vnto sod1 and then afterward place it   
into the earth4 ,now if within this plot
 of ground which you make your garden   
piece there be either naturall or       
arteficiall mounts or bankes vpon them1 
you may in this selfe-same manner with  

greene sods set forth a flight1 either  
at field or riuer1 or the manner of     
hunting of any chase1 or any story1 or  
other deuise that you please1 to the    
infinit admiration of all them which    
shall behold it3 onely in working       
against mounts or bankes you must       
obserue to haue many small pinnes1 to   
stay your worke and keepe your sods from
 slipping one from another1 till such   
time as you haue made euery thing fast  
with earth1 which you must rame very    
close and hard3 as for ,flowers1 or such
 like adorments1 you may the morning    
before1 remoue them with their earth    
from some other garden1 and plant them  
at your best pleasure4 ,and thus much   
for a garden to be made in the time of  
hasty necessity4     ,,chap4 ,,xix4     
,how to preserue ,abricots1 or any kinde
 of curious outlandish-stone-fruit1 and 
make them beare plentifully be the      
,spring or beginning of ,summer neuer so
 bitter4   ,i haue knowne diuers        
,noblemen1 ,gentlemen  men of vnder     

quallitie1 that haue beene most         
laborious how to preserue these tender  
stone-fruits from the violence of       
stormes1 frost and windes1 and to that  
end haue beene at great cost and charges
 yet many times haue found much losse in
 their labours1 wherefore in the end1   
through the practise of many            
experiments1 this hath beene found      
7which ,i will here set downe7 the most 
approuedst way to make them beare       
without all kinde of danger4 ,after you 
haue planted your ,abricot1 or other    
delicate fruit1 and plasht him vp       
against a wall in manner as hath beene  
before declared1 you shall ouer the tops
 of the trees all along the wall1 build 
a large pentisse1 of at least sixe or   
seauen foote in length3 which pentisse  
ouer-shaddowing the trees1 will1 as     
experience hath found out1 so defend    
them1 that they will euer beare in as   
plentifull manner as they haue done any 
particular yeere before4 ,there be many 
that will scoffe1 or at least1 giue no  

credit to this experiment1 because it   
carrieth with it no more curiositie1 but
 ,i can assure thee that art the honest 
,english ,husbandman1 that there is     
nothing more certaine and vnfallible1   
for ,i haue seene in one of the greatest
 ,noblemens gardens in the kingdome1    
where such a pentisse was made1 that so 
farre as the pentisse went1 so farre the
 trees did prosper with all             
fruitfulnesse1 and where the pentisse   
ended1 not one tree bare1 the           
spring-time being most bitter and       
wonderfull vnseasonable4  ,now ,i haue  
seene some great ,personages 7whose     
pursses may buy their pleasures at any  
rate7 which haue in those pentisses     
fixed diuers strong hookes of ,iron1 and
 then made a canuasse of the best       
,poldauie1 with most strong loopes1 of  
small corde1 which being hung vpon the  
,iron hookes1 hath reacht from the      
pentisse to the ground1 and so laced    
with corde and small pulleys1 that like 
the saile of a ship it might be trust   

vp1 and let downe at pleasure3 this     
canuasse thus prepared is all the       
,spring and latter end of ,winter to be 
let downe at the setting of the ,sunne1 
and to be drawne vp at the rising of the
 ,sunne againe4 ,the practise of this ,i
 referre to such as haue abillitie to   
buy their delight1 without losse1       
assuring them that all reason and       
experience doth finde it most probable  
to be most excellent1 yet to the plaine 
,english ,husbandman ,i giue certaine   
assurance that the pentisse onely is    
sufficient enough and will defend all   
stormes whatsoeuer4 ,and thus much for  
the preseruation and increase of all    
tender ,stone-fruit1 of what nature1 or 
climbe bred1 soeuer4     ,,chap4 ,,xx4  
,how to make ,grapes grow as bigge1     
full1 and as naturally1 and to ripen in 
as due season1 and be as long lasting as
 either in ,fraunce or ,spaine4         
,diuers of our ,english ,gardiners1 and 
those of the best and most approued'st  
iudgements1 haue beene very industrious 

to bring ,grapes1 in our kingdome1 to   
their true nature and perfection3 and   
some great persons ,i know1 that with   
infinit cost1 and ,i hope prosperous    
successe1 hath planted a ,vineyard of   
many ,acres1 in which the hands of the  
best experienced french-men hath beene  
imploied3 but for those great workes    
they are onely for great men1 and not   
for the plaine ,english ,husbandman1    
neither will such workes by any meanes  
prosper in many parts of our kingdome1  
especially in the ,north parts3 and ,i  
that write for the generall vse1 must   
treate of vniuersall ,maximes3 therefore
 if you desire to haue ,grapes in their 
true and best kinde1 most earely and    
longest lasting1 you shall in the most  
conuenient part of your garden1 which is
 euer the center or middle point        
thereof1 build a round house1 in the    
fashion of a round ,doue-coate1 but many
 degrees lower1 the ground worke whereof
 shalbe aboue the ground two or three   
brickes thickenesse1 vpon this          

ground-plot you shall place a           
groundsell1 and thereon1 fine1 yet      
strong studs1 which may reach to the    
roofe3 these studs shalbe placed better 
then foure foote one from another1 with 
little square bars of woode1 such as you
 vse in glasse windowes1 two betwixt    
euery two studs1 the roofe you may make 
in what proportion you will1 for this   
house may serue for a delicate          
banqueting house1 and you may either    
couer it with ,leade1 ,slate or ,tile1  
which you please4 ,now1 from the ground 
to the top1 betweene the studs1 you     
shall glase it1 with very strong glasse1
 made in an exceeding large square pane1
 well leaded and cimented4 ,this house  
thus made1 you shall obserue that       
through the bricke worke there be made1 
betweene euery two studs1 square holes1 
cleane through into the house2 then on  
the out-side1 opposite against those    
holes1 you shall plant the roote of your
 ,vine1 hauing beene very carefull in   
the election and choise thereof3 which  

done1 as your ,vine groweth you shall   
draw it through those holes1 and as you 
vse to plash a ,vine against a wall1 so 
you shall plash this against the glasse 
window1 on the in-side1 and so soone as 
it shall beginne to beare ,grapes you   
shall be sure to turne euery bunch1 so  
that it may lye close to the glasse1    
that the reflection of the ,sunne       
heating the glasse1 that heate may      
hasten on the ripening1  increase the   
groath of your ,grapes3 as also the     
house defending off all manner of euill 
weather1 these ,grapes will hang ripe1  
vnrotted or withered1 euen till         
,christmas4 ,thus haue ,i giuen you a   
tast of some of the first parts of      
,english ,husbandry1 which if ,i shall  
finde thankefully accepted1 if it please
 ,god to grant mee life1 ,i will in my  
next ,volumne1 shew you the choise of   
all manner of ,garden ,hearbes and      
,flowers1 both of this and other        
kingdomes1 the seasons of their         
plantings1 their florishings and        

orderings3 ,i will also shew you the    
true ordering of ,woodes1 both high and 
low1 as also the breeding and feeding of
 all manner of ,cattell1 with the cure  
of all diseases incident vnto them1     
together with other parts of ,husbandry1
 neuer before published by any ,author3 
this ,i promise1 if ,god be pleased3 to 
whom be onely ascribed the glory of all 
our actions1 and whose name be praised  
for euer4 ,amen4         99       99    
99       99       99  ,,finis4          
,transcriber's notes  ,the following    
changes have been made and anomalies    
noted4     ,a ,former ,part    ,chap4   
,,ii4    'adicted to nouelty and        
curiouity' changed to   'adicted to     
nouelty and curiousity'    ,chap4 ,,iii4
    ',plough houlder when hee cometh to'
 scan is unclear    'two much earth'    
probable misprint for   'too much earth'
    ,chap4 ,,iiii4    'the of point your
 share' changed to   'the point of your 
share'    ,chap4 ,v4    'of that which  
you soil'd3' changed to   'of that which

 you foil'd3'    ,chap4 ,,vi4    'the   
ridge of you land againe4' probable     
misprint for   'the ridge of your land  
againe4'    ',tare-,cockle1 or such     
like1' scan is unclear    ',after your  
land is soild1' changed to   ',after    
your land is foild1'    ,chap4 ,,vii4   
'and if you ffnde' changed to 'and if   
you finde'    ',manure of beasts which  
can be-gotten' probable misprint for    
',manure of beasts which can be gotten' 
'your fould of ,seepe' changed to 'your 
fould of ,sheepe'    'frost1 winde1 and 
weathe1rmakes' changed to   'frost1     
winde1 and weather1 makes'    'no wing  
accoridng' changed to 'no wing          
according'    ,chap4 ,,ix4    'much     
barrainnesse1 espcially' changed to     
'much barrainnesse1 especially'    'it  
shall be needlesse to write' scan is    
unclear     ,the ,first ,part    ,chap4 
,i4    'you most turne euery furrow'    
probable misprint for   'you must turne 
euery furrow'    'hee must sooner       
stirer' changed to   'hee must sooner   

stirre'4 ,scan is unclear4    ,chap4    
,,ii4    'euery thing with is most apt' 
changed to   'euery thing which is most 
apt'    ,chap4 ,,iii4    'their naturall
 lighnesse' changed to   'their naturall
 lightnesse'    'as hath1 beene showed  
before' changed to   'as hath beene     
showed before'    ,chap4 ,,iiii4    'it 
is most1 certaine' changed to   'it is  
most certaine'    ',cornes in their     
gardens thus1 set seeing' changed to    
',cornes in their gardens thus set1     
seeing'    ,chap4 ,v4    'vpon the or   
fourth field' changed to   'vpon the    
third or fourth field'    'is ninam     
,barly1' probable misprint for   'is    
niam ,barly1'    ,chap4 ,,vi4    'as we 
see in dayly experience1' changed to    
'as we see in dayly experience4'        
,the ,second ,part of the ,first ,booke 
,chap4 ,i4    'perfect ground-plot1 you'
 scan is unclear    'twelue or fourteene
 foote on of another1'   probable       
misprint for   'twelue or fourteene     
foote one of another1'    'thorny and   

sharpe1 trees1' changed to   'thorny and
 sharpe trees1'    ,chap4 ,,iiii4       
'you shall tak one of your grafts'      
changed to   'you shall take one of your
 grafts'    ,chap4 ,v4    ',grafting    
betweene the barke4' scan is unclear in 
sidenote    'not aboue tree grafts at   
the most' changed to   'not aboue three 
grafts at the most'    ',grafting on the
 toppes of trees4' scan is unclear in   
sidenote    'and to contincu' changed to
   'and to continue'    ,chap4 ,,vi4    
',of the replanting of ,trees1 and      
furnishing the ,orchard1'   changed to  
',of the replanting of ,trees1 and      
furnishing the ,orchard4'    ,chap4     
,,vii4    'it is a ready away' changed  
to   'it is a ready way'    'two much   
fertillitie' probable misprint for      
'too much fertillitie'    'steepe it    
,mfor alt' changed to   'steepe it for  
,malt'    ,chap4 ,,viii4    'for any    
peculyar pofit' changed to   'for any   
peculyar profit'    ,chap4 ,,ix4    'and
 growriuelled' changed to   'and grow   

riuelled'    'they can by meanes        
indure1' changed to   'they can by no   
meanes indure1'    ,chap4 ,,xi4    'then
 contiunally labour' changed to   'then 
continually labour'    ,chap4 ,,xii     
',of ,poales4' scan is unclear in       
sidenote    ,chap4 ,,xiiii    'dry more 
,hoppes then any one man' scan is       
unclear    ,chap4 ,,xvii4    'then      
betwxit your tiles' changed to   'then  
betwixt your tiles'    ,chap4 ,,xviii4  
',,chap3 ,,xviii4' changed to   ',,chap4
 ,,xviii4'    'single or double         
trayles1' scan unclear    ,chap4 ,,xix4 
'to the pliane ,english ,husbandman'    
changed to   'to the plaine ,english    
,husbandman'