CHAP. II.
What grounds are good for Medowes: and how to make new Medowes.
THe ground that is fat and full of iuice, although it be nothing at all hel∣ped either by small Riuer or Brooke, is good to bring forth hay, so that▪ such place be not exceeding farre from some small Brooke, standing water, or little Riuer: or, at the least, that it be moist at the bottome, and such, as wherein, if that one make a reasonable deepe ditch, he may find good store of water: for moisture is one of the nurses of hay. Where such ••at and iuice∣ground is not, there may Medow ground be made, of what manner of earth soeuer it be, whether it be a strong, slight, or leane earth, so that you haue close by it but this one commoditie of a little Brooke to water it, and that the field lye somewhat sloping or descending, not verie low, nor verie flat, as wherein the raine water, or other of anie small Riuer, taking sometimes ouer the same, doe not vse to dwell and stand anie long time, but passeth and runneth away faire and softly, without anie ••arrying. Wherefore I agree and must needs confesse, that some grounds are not so sit and profitable as othersome for the receiuing of Hay-seed, as those which through the neerenesse of some great Flouds, and Pooles, Lakes, and great large Waters, are oftentimes ouerflowne and couered with aboundance of water, which in Winter drowneth the grounds: Whereupon it commeth to passe, that the hay is nothing fine or delightsome vnto beasts, but great, and full of stumpie stalk: a broad grasse also, and nothing pleasing their taste. But howsoeuer it is, the hay of stan∣ding waters, ill husbanded and corrupted, as also the hay which naturally grow••th thereabout, and by the large borders of Lakes, is not such as the fine mouthed beast can delight in, as neither that which is gathered in grounds bordering vpon the Sea, as with the salt and nitrous rellish whereof the appetites of Cattell are ouer∣throwne, not being accustomed thereunto: besides that, the verie grasse it selfe is more ranke and vnsauourie than the common sort of grasse is, and in taste verie vnlike it.
Yet this holdeth not generally: for these low Medowes, and those which border on the Sea, are oftentimes the best of all other, and feed with greater expedition than any other hay whatsoeuer: as witnesseth manie of those salt marishes, which are the most chiefe nurceries and bringers forth of fat cattell that are knowne, and especially Sheepe, which neuer are knowne to rot vpon the same. And of all cattell which ••eed vpon hay, none is so daintie and choice in its taste, as the Sheepe is: for hee must haue it both sweet, short, and soft: So that by that beast onely it may be seene, that those low Medowes are not euer vnprofitable. And indeed to conclude, there is not any ground which will beare grasse, but by industrie, manure, and much rest, may be brought to beare reasonable good hay, if not to feede, yet to keepe cattell in good p••••ght, and make them goe through with their labours soundly: which is as great a profit to the husbandman as the office of grazing, and more properly belon∣ging to his profession.