The English husbandman. The first part: contayning the knowledge of the true nature of euery soyle within this kingdome: how to plow it; and the manner of the plough, and other instruments belonging thereto. Together with the art of planting, grafting, and gardening after our latest and rarest fashion. A worke neuer written before by any author: and now newly compiled for the benefit of this kingdome. By Garuis Markham

CHAP. VII. The manner of plowing the red-Sand, his Earings, Plough, and Implements.

NExt vnto these Clayes, which are soiles sim∣ple and vncompound, as being perfect in their owne natures, without the helpe of o∣ther mixtures, I place the Sand soiles, as being of like qualitie, not borrowing any thing but from their owne natures, nor brée∣ding any defects more then their owne naturall imperfecti∣ons: and of Sands, sith the red Sand is the best and most fruitfull, therefore it is fit that it take prioritie of place, and be here first spoken of.

You shall then vnderstand that this red Sand, albeit it is the best of Sands, yet it is the worst of many soiles, as being of it selfe of such a hot and drie nature, that it scorch∣eth the séede, and dryeth vp that nutriment and fatnesse which should occasion increase: whereby it comes to passe, that the Barley which growes vpon this red Sand is euer more yealow, leane and withered, then that which growes vpon the clayes or other mixt earths. This Sand especi∣ally taketh delight in Rye, because it is a Graine which loues warmth aboue all other, and yet notwithstanding, if it be well ordered, manured and plowed, it will bring forth good store of Barley, albeit the Barley be not so good as Clay-Barley, either for the colour, or for the yéeld, whether it be in meale or in Malt.

Now for the manner of Earing or plowing this redde Sand, it differeth much from both the former soyles, inso∣much that for your better vnderstanding, I must in many places alter my former methode, yet so little as may be, because I am loath to alter or clogge the memory of the Reader: wherefore to pursue my purpose. As soone as Christmas is ended, that is to say, about the middest of

Ianuary, you shall goe with your Plough into that field where the Haruest before did grow your Rye, and there you shall in your plowing cast your lands downe-ward, and open the ridges well, for this yéere it must be your fal∣low field: for as in the former soiles, wée did diuide the fields either into thrée parts, that is, one for Barley and Wheate, another for Pease, and the third fallow, which is the best diuision: or into foure parts, that is, one for Wheate and Rye, another for Barley, a third for Pease, and a fourth fallow, which is the worst diuision and most toilesome, so in this red Sand soile, we must euer diuide it into thrée parts, that is, one for Barley, another for Rye, and a third fallow. For this Sand-soile being hot, drie, and light, will neither bring forth good Beanes nor good Pease, and therefore that Ardor is in this place but onely to be spoke of by way of discourse in vrgent necessitie.

Wherefore (as before I said) about the middest of Ia∣nuary you shall beginne to lay fallow that field, where for∣merly did grow your Rye, the manner of plowing where∣of differeth nothing from the manner of plowing the clayes before written of, onely that the discretion of the Plow-man must thus farre forth gouerne him, that in as much as this soile is lighter, dryer, and of a more loose temper, by so much the more he must be carefull to make his furrowes lesse, and to lay them the closer together: & also in as much as this soile, through his naturall warmth and temperate moisture, is excéeding apt to bring forth much wéede, espe∣cially Brakes, Ling, Brambles, and such like, therefore the Plow-man shall be very carefull to plow all his fur∣rowes very cleane, without baukes or other impediments by which may be ingendred any of these inconueniences.

After you haue thus broke vp and fallowed your fallow or tilth-field, the limitation of which time is from the mid∣dest of Ianuary vntill the middest of February, you shall then at the middest of February, when the clay-men begin to sow their Beanes and Pease, goe with your plough into your other fallow-field, which all the yéere before hath laine

fallow and already receiued at your hands at least foure seuerall Ardors; as Fallowing, Summer-stirring, Foy∣ling, and Winter-rigging; and there you shall plow all that field ouer the fift time, which is called the Spring-foyling: and in this Ardor you shall plow all your lands vpward, in such sort as when you Winter-ridge it, by which meanes you shall plow vp all those wéedes which haue sprung forth in the Winter season. For you must vnder∣stand that in these light, hot, sandy soiles, there is a conti∣nuall spring (though not of good fruits) yet of wéeds, quicks, and other inconueniences: for it is a rule amongst Hus∣bandmen, that warme soiles are neuer idle, that is, they are euer bringing forth something.

Now the limitation for this Ardor is from the middest of Februarie vntill the middest of March, at which time you shall, by comparing former experience with your pre∣sent iudgement, take into your consideration the state, good∣nesse, and powerfulnesse of your land, I meane especially of this fallow-field, which hath laine fallow the yéere be∣fore, and hath now receiued fiue Ardors: and if you finde any part of it, either for want of good ordoring in former times, or for want of manure in the present yéere, to be growne to leane and out of hart, that you feare it hath not strength enough to beare Barley, you shall then at this time, being the middest of March, sow such land with Rye, which of Husbandmen is called the sowing of March-Rye: and this Rye is to be sowne and harrowed in such sort as you did sow it vpon the clay soiles, that is to say, aboue fur∣row, and not vnder furrow, except the land be very full of quickes, that is, of Brakes, Ling, Brambles, Dockes, or such like, and then you shall first with a paire of Iron har∣rowes, that is, with harrowes that haue Iron téeth, first of all harrow the land ouer, and by that meanes teare vp by the rootes all those quickes, and so bring them from the land: which done, you shall sow the land ouer with Rye, and then plow it downeward which is vnder furrow: & as soone as it is plowed, you shall then with a paire of Iron

Harrowes harrow it all ouer so excéedingly, that the mould may be made as fine, and the land lie as smooth as is pos∣sible.

Now because I haue in the former Chapters spoke of Harrowes and harrowing, yet haue not deliuered vnto you the shape and proportion thereof, and because both the woodden harrow and the Iron harrow haue all one shape, and differ in nothing but the téeth onely, I thinke it not amisse before I procéede any further to shew you in this Figure the true shape of a right Harrow.

[illustration]

The Harrow.

The parts of this Harrow consisteth of buls, staues, and téeth: of buls, which are broad thicke pieces eyther of well seasoned Willow, or Sallow, being at least three in∣ches euery way square, into which are fastned the téeth: of staues, which are round pieces of well seasoned Ash, be∣ing about two inches and a halfe about, which going tho∣row the buls, holde the buls firmely in equall distance one from the other: and of téeth, which are either long pinnes

of wood or Iron, being at least fiue inches in length, which are made fast, and set slope-wise through the buls.

Now you shall vnderstand that Harrowes are of two kindes, that is, single and double: the single Harrow is called of Husbandmen the Horse-harrow, and is not aboue foure foote square: the double Harrow is called the Oxe-harrow, and it must be at least seauen foote square, and the téeth must euer be of Iron. Now whereas I spake of the Horse-harrow and the Oxe-harrow, it is to be vnderstood that the single Harrow doth belong to the Horse, because Horses drawing single, doe draw each a seuerall Harrow by himselfe, albeit in the common vse of harrowing, we cou∣ple two horses euer together, and so make them draw two single Harrowes: but Oxen not being in good Husbandry to be separated, because euer two must draw in one yoake, therefore was the double Harrow deuised, containing in substance and worke as much as two single Harrowes.

Now for the vse of Harrowes. The woodden Harrow which is the Harrow with woodden téeth, is euer to be vsed vpon clay grounds and light grounds, which through dry∣nesse doth grow loose, and fals to mould of it owne nature, as most commonly Sand grounds doe also: and the Iron Harrow which is the Harrow with Iron téeth, is euer to be vsed vpon binding grounds, such as through drynesse grow so hard that they will not be sundered, and through wet turne soone to mire and loose durt. Now whereas there be mingled earths, which neither willingly yéeld to mould, nor yet bindes so sore, but small industry breaks it, of which earth I shall speake hereafter, to such grounds the best Hus∣bands vse a mixture, that is to say, one woodden Harrow, and one Iron Harrow, that the woodden Harrow turning ouer and loosening the loosest mould, the Iron Harrow com∣ming after, may breake the stiffer clots, and so consequent∣ly turne all the earth to a fine mould. And thus much for Harrowes.

Now to returne to my former purpose touching the til∣lage of this red Sand: if (as before I said) you finde any

part of your fallow-field too weake to beare Barley, then is your March-Rye, a graine which will take vpon a har∣der earth: but if the ground be too weake either for Bar∣ley or Rye, (for both those Séedes desire some fatnesse of ground) then shall you spare plowing it at all vntill this time of the yéere, which is mid-March, and then you shall plow it, and sow it with either the smallest Pease you can get, or else with our true English Fitches, which by for∣raine Authors are called Lentles, that is, white Fitches, or Lupines, which are red Fitches: for all these thrée sorts of Pulse will grow vpon very barraine soiles, and in their growth doe manure and make rich the ground: yet your Pease desire some hart of ground, your Lentles, or white Fitches, lesse, and your Lupines, or red Fitches, the least of all, as being apt to grow vpon the barrainest soile: so like∣wise your Pease doe manure barraine ground well, your Lentles better, and your Lupines the best of all.

Now for the nature and vse of these graines, the Pease as all Husbandmen know, are both good for the vse of man in his bread, as are vsed in Leicester shire, Lincolne-shire, Nottingham-shire, and many other Countries: and also for Horses in their Prouender, as is vsed generally ouer all England: for Lentles, or white Ftches, or the Lupines which are redde Fitches, they are both indifferent good in bread for man, especially if the meale be well scalded be∣fore it be knodden (for otherwise the sauour is excéeding rancke) or else they are a very good foode being sodden in the manner of Leap••-Pease, especially at Sea, in long iourneyes where fresh meate is most exceeding scarce: so that rather then your land should lye idle, and bring forth no profit, I conclude it best to sow these Pulses, which both bring forth commoditie, and also out of their owne natures doe manure and inrich your ground, making it more apt and fit to receiue much better Séede.

For the manner of sowing these thrée sorts of Pulse: you shall sow them euer vnder furrow, 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 breake.

Now the limitation for this Ardor or ••éede time, is from the middest of March, till the middest of Aprill: then from the middest of Aprill, till the middest of May, you shall make your especiall worke, to be onely the leading forth of your Manure to that field which you did fallow, or lay tilth that present yéere immediatelie after Christmas, and of which I first spake in this Chapter. And herein is to be vnderstood, that the best and principallest Manure for this redde-sand, is the ouldest Manure of beasts which can be∣gotten, which you shall know by the excéeding blacknesse and rottennesse thereof, being in the cutting both soft and smooth, all of one substance, as if it were well compact morter, without any shew of straw or other stuffe which is vnrotted, for this dung is of all the fattest and coolest, and doth best agrée with the nature of this hot sand. Next to the dung of beasts, is the dung of Horses if it be old also, otherwise it is somewhat of the hottest, the rubbish of old houses, or the swéepings of flowres, or the scowrings of old Fish-ponds, or other standing waters where beasts and horses are vsed to drinke, or be washt, or where∣vnto the water and moisture of dunghills haue recourse are all good Manures for this redde-sand: as for the Ma∣nure of Shéepe vpon this redde-sand, it is the best of all in such places as you meane to sow Rie, but not fully so good where you doe intend to sow your Barley: if it be a cold moist redde-sand (which is seldome found but in some par∣ticular low countries) then it doth not amisse to Manure it most with Shéepe, or else with Chaulke, Lime, or Ashes, of which you can get the greatest plentie: if this soile be subiect to much wéede and quickes, as generally it is, then after you haue torne vp the wéedes and quickes with Harrowes, you shall with rakes, rake them together, and laying them in heapes vpon the land, you shall burne them and then spreading the ashes they will be a very good Manure, and in short space destroy the wéedes also;

likewise if your land be much ouergrowne with wéedes, if when you sheare your Rie you leaue a good long stubble, and then mowing the stubble burne it vpon the land, it is both a good Manure and also a good meanes to destroy the wéedes.

After your Manure is lead forth and either spread vp∣on the lands, or set in great heapes, so as the land may be couered ouer with Manure (for it is to be obserued that this soile must be throughly Manured) then about the middest of May, which is the time when this worke should be finished, you shall repaire with your Plough into the other fallow field, which was prepared the yéere before for this yéeres Barley, & there you shall sow it all ouer with Barley aboue furrow, that is to say, you shall first Plough it, then sow it, and after Harrow it, making the mould as fine and smooth as may be, which is done with easie labour, because this sand of it owne nature is as fine as ashes.

Now the limitation for this séede time, is from the middest of May, till the middest of Iune, wherein if any man demaund why it should not be sowne in March and Aprill, according as it is sowne in the former soiles, I answere, that first this redde-sand cannot be prepared, or receiue his full season in weather, and earings, before this time of the yéere, and next that these redde-sands, by how much they are hotter and drier then the other claies, by so much they may wel stay the longer before they receiue their séede, because that so much the sooner the seede doth sprout in them, & also the sooner ripen being kept warmer at the roote then in any could soile whatsoeuer. As soone as the mid∣dest of Iune approacheth, you shall then beginne to Sum∣mer-stirre your fallow field, and to turne your Manure in∣to your land, in such sort as you did vpon your clay soiles, for this Ardor of Summer-stirring altereth in no soile, and this must be done from the middest of Iune, till the middest of Iuly, for as touching sleighting, clotting, or smoothing of this Barley field, it is seldome in vse, because the finenesse of the sand will lay the land smooth inough

without sleighting: yet if you finde that any particular land lieth more rough then the rest, it shall not be amisse, if with your backe Harrowes you smooth it a little within a day or two after it is sowne.

From the middest of Iuly vntill the middest of August, you shall foile and throw downe your fallow field againe, if your lands lie well and in good order, but if any of your lands doe lie in the danger of water, or by vse of Plow∣ing are growne too flat, both which are hinderances to the growth of Corne, then when you foile your lands you shall Plow them vpward, and so by that meanes raise the ridges one furrow higher. After you haue foiled your land, which must be about the middest of August, then will your Barley be ready to mowe, for these hot soiles haue euer an earely haruest, which as soone as it is mowne and carried into the Barne, forthwith you shall with all expedition carry forth such Manure as you may conueni∣ently spare, and lay it vpon that land from whence you re∣ceiued your Barley, which is most barraine: and if you want cart Manure, you shall then lay your fould of Séepe thereupon, and as soone as it is Manured, you shall immedi∣ately Plow both it & the rest, which Ardor should be fini∣shed by the middest of September, and so suffered to rest vntill the beginning of October, at which time you shall beginne to sow all that field ouer with Rye in such sort as hath béene spoken of in former places.

Now in as much as the ignorant Husbandman may ve∣ry easiely imagine that I reckon vp his labours too thicke, and therein leaue him no leasure for his necessarie busi∣nesses, especially because I appoint him to foile his land from the middest of Iuly, till the middest of August, which is both a busie time for his Hay haruest, and also for his Rye shearing.

To this I make answere, that I write not according to that which poore men are able (for it were infinit to looke into estates) but according as euery good Husband ought, presupposing that he which will liue by the Plough, ought

to pursue all things belonging vnto the Plough, and then he shall finde that there is no day in the yéere, but the Sa∣both, but it is necessarie that the Plough be going: yet to r••concile the poore and the rich together, they shall vnder∣stand, that when I speake of Plowing in the time of Har∣uest, I doe not meane that they should neglect any part of that principall worke, which is the true recompence of their labour: but because whilst the dew is vpon the ground, or when there is either raine or mizling there is then no time for Haruest worke, then my meaning is that the carefull Husbandman shall take those aduanta∣ges, and rising earelier in the mornings, be sure to be at his Plough two howers before the dew be from the ground, knowing that the getting but of one hower in the day compasseth a great worke in a month, neither shall hée néede to feare the ouer toiling of his cattell, sith at that time of the yéere Grasse being at greatest plenty, strongest and fullest of hart, Corne scattered almost in euery cor∣ner, and the mouth of the beast not being muzeld in his labour, there is no question but he will indure and worke more then at any other season.

In the beginning of Nouember, you shall beginne to Winter-ridge your fallow, or tilth-field, which in all points shalbe done according to the forme described in the former soiles: for that Ardor of all other neuer altereth, because it is as it were a defence against the latter spring, which else would fill the lands full of wéedes, and also a∣gainst the rigor of Winter, and therefore it doth lay vp the furrow close together, which taking the season of the frost, winde, and weathe, rmakes the mould ripe, mellow, and light: and the limitation for this Ardor, is from the be∣ginning of Nouember, vntill the middest of December.

Now as touching the Plough which is best and most proper for this redde-sand, it differeth nothing in shape and composure of members from that Plough which is described for the blacke Clay, hauing necessarily two hales, because the ground being loose and light, the

Plough will with great difficulty hold land, but with the least disorder be euer ready to runne into the furrow, so that a right hand hale is most necessarie for the houlding of the plough euen, onely the difference of the two Ploughes consisteth in this, that the plough for this red-sand, 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 clay, or if it be somewhat lesse it is not amisse, as the head being eightéene inches, the maine beame not aboue foure foote, and betwéene the hinder part of the rest, and the out-most part of the plough head in the hinder end not aboue eight inches. Now for the Plough-Irons which doe belong vnto this plough, the Coulture is to be made circular, in such proportion as the coulture for the gray, or white clay, and in the placing, or tempering vpon the Plough it is to be set an inch at least lower then the share, that it may both make way before the share, and also cut déeper into the land, to make the fur∣row haue more easie turning.

Now for the share, it differeth in shape from both the former shares, for it is neither so large nor out-winged, as that for the gray Clay, for this share is onely made broad to the Plough ward, and small to the point of the share, with onely a little peake and no wing accoridng to this figure.

[illustration]

The share.

These Plough-irons, both coulture and share, must be well stéeled and hardned at the points, because these sandy soiles being full of moisture and gréete, will in short space weare and consume the Irons, to the great hinderance

and cost of the Husbandman, if it be not preuented by stéele and hardning, which notwithstanding will waste al∣so in these soiles, so that you must at least twise in euery Ardor haue your Irons to the Smith, and cause him to repaire them both with Iron and stéele, besides these Irons, of coulture and share, you must also haue a long piece of Iron, which must be iust of the length of the Plough head, and as broad as the Plough head is thicke, and in thicknesse a quarter of an inch: and this piece of Iron must be nailed vpon the outside of the Plough head, next vnto the land, onely to saue the Plough head from wearing, for when the Plough is worne it can then no longer hould the land, and this piece of Iron is called of Husbandmen the Plough-slip and presenteth this figure.

[illustration]

The Plough-slip.

Ouer and besides this Plough-slip, their are certaine other pieces of Iron which are made in the fashion of broad thinne plates, and they be called Plough clouts, and are to be nailed vpon the shelboard, to defend it from the earth or furrow which it turneth ouer, which in very short space would weare the woode and put the Husbandman to double charge.

Thus hauing shewed you the parts, members, and implements, belonging to this Plough, it rests that I pro∣céede vnto the teame or draught: for to speake of the vse and handling of this Plough, it is néedelesse, because it is all one with those Ploughes, of which I haue spoken in the former Chapters, and he which can hould and handle a Plough in stiffe clayes must néedes (except he be excée∣ding simple) hould a Plough in these light sands, in as much as the worke is much more easie, and the Plough a great deale lesse chargeable.

Now for the Draught or Teame, they ought to be as in the former Soiles, Oxen or Horses, yet the number not so great: for foure Beasts are sufficient to plow any Ardor vpon this soile, nay, thrée Horses if they be of reas••∣nable strength will doe as much as fixe vpon either of the Clay-soiles: as for their attire or Harnessing, the Beare∣geares, before described, are the best and most proper. And thus much concerning this red Sand, wherein you are to take this briefe obseruation with you, that the Graines which are best to be sowne vpon it, are onely Rye, Barley, small Pease, Lentles and Lupines, otherwise called Fitches, and the graines to which it is aduerse, are Wheat, Beanes and Mas••in.

Notes

• Of Fallowing.
• Of Spring-foyling.
• Of Sowing March-Rye.
• Of the harrow.
• The diuersitie of Harrowes.
• The vse of Harrowes.
• Of the sowing of Pulse.
• Of Pease, Len∣tles, and Lu∣pines.
• Of Manuring.
• Of sowing Barley.
• Of Summer-stirring.
• Of sleighting.
• Of Foiling.
• Of sowing Rye.
• Obiection.
• Answere.
• Of Winter ridging.
• Of the Plough.
• Of the coul∣ture.
• Of the share.
• Of the plough-slip.
• Of Plough clouts.
• The houlding of the Plough.
• Of the draught.