The English improver improved, or, The svrvey of hvsbandry svrveyed discovering the improueableness of all lands some to be under a double and treble, others under a five or six fould, and many under a tenn fould, yea, some under a twenty fould improvement / by Walter Blith ... ; all clearely demonstrated from principles of reason, ingenuity, and late but most real experiences and held forth at an inconsiderable charge to the profits accrewing thereby, under six peeces of improvement ...

The Fift Piece is a discovery of such Simples and Ingredients, to be com∣pounded with the Earth, with the Nature, and use of them, In Applica∣tion whereof makes good the Im∣provement promised, and Meliora∣rareth the Earth to all Intents and Purposes.

CHAP. XX

Sheweth how in Tillage of thy Land, thou mayst improve it best, with an Addition of an Soyl, or Manure by farre, than upon the Turf in Grazing, and in par∣ticular Treateth of Liming

ALl Up-Lands whatsoever,* 1.1 especially all sound and whole some Land, will admit of severall wayes of Improvement, as,

In generall all coarse barren Heaths, Lingy, Broomy Lands, be it of lowest and meanest va∣lue is suitable for Improvement, by Liming, and by all the Subsequent Compositions; All old Resty Land, that hath not been Tilled of late, although it be coarse of it own na∣ture, and yeeld little Fruit, yet by Plowing according to former directions, all Advantages observed for three or

four Crops,* 1.2 which I fear not but the heart and strength thereof will bear it out, without Prejudice; I have known Six or Seven Crops taken, of Land not worth above five shillings or six shillings an Acre, and it very little the worse, as generally all the Wood-Lands are apt to run to Moss, and Fearn, Goss, and Broom, and to be so extremely o∣ver-run therwith, that it bears nothing else, and if they be not tilled according to that ancient Principle all Husban-men retain,* 1.3 every ten, or fifteen years, they will runn into these Extremes so far; as that they will be of little use, so all other Lands of a better nature subject to these Ex∣tremes, no better way can possibly be than Moderate Tillage, according to the former rules prescribed.

And in thy Tillage are these special Opportunities to Im∣prove it, either by Liming,* 1.4 Marling, Sanding, Earthing, Mudding, Snayl-codding, Mucking, Chalking, Pidgeons-Dung, Hens-Dung, Hogs-Dung, or by any other means, as some by Rags, some by coarse Wool, by Pitch Markes, and Tarry Stuff, any Oyly Stuff, Salt, and many things more, yea indeed any thing almost that hath any Liquidness, Foul∣ness, Saltness, or good Moysture in it, is very naturall In∣richment to almost any sort of Land, all which as to all sorts of Land, they are of an exceeding Mellorating nature, and of these more particularly.

And first for Liming,* 1.5 it is of most excellent use, yea so great, that whole Countries and many Countles that were natu∣rally as Barren as any in this Nation, & had formerly (with∣in less than half an Age) supply with Corn out of the Fiel∣don Corn-Country, and now is and long hath been ready to supply them, and doth and hath brought their Land into such a Posture, for bearing all sorts of Corn, that upon Land not worth above one or two shillings an Acre, they will raise (well Husbanded with Lime) as good Wheat, Barley, and White and Gray Pease, as England yeelds, yea they wil take a parcell of Land from off a Lingy Heath or Common, not worth the having, nay many will not have it to Husbandry it, and will raise most gallant Corn, that naturally is so Bar∣ren, worth five or six pound an Acre.

And though some object it is good for the Father,* 1.6 but bad for the Son.

I answer,* 1.7 so are all Extremes whatsoever, that is, to Plow it after Liming so long as is either any spirit left in the Lime, or heart in the Land, or it will bear any sort of Corn or Grain, it will ruin it for Posterity; But if that after Liming, men would but study Moderation in their Tillage, anid not (because the Land yeelds such abundance of Corn) Plow or Till it so long as it will carry Corn, no nor so long as it will carry good Corn; But if men would after good Liming, take three, four, or five Crops, and then lay down their Lands to Graze, it would not be the least preju∣dice; or if upon the laying of it down, men would but in∣differently Manure it, or else upon the last Crop you intend to Sow, Dung it well before Sowing, and lay it down upon the Rye, or Wheat Stubble, it would produce a sweet Turf, and I am confident prove excellent Pasture, as good again as it was before; but if after it is layd down you would Manure it once again, a little Manure now will produce more fruit than as much more upon the old Soard, it would be warrished for ever; Many men have had ten Crops of gal∣lant Corn after one substantiall Liming,* 1.8 some more, upon very reasonable Land of about six shillings eight pence an Acre, some Land worth a little more, but more Land less worth, and some upon Land not worth above one or two shillings an Acre, have got many gallant Crops upon a Li∣ming as aforesaid; some men have had and received so much profit upon their Lands upon once Liming, as hath payd the purchase of their Lands: I my self had great Advance there∣by, yet I lived twenty miles from Lime, and fetched it so far by Wagon to lay upon my Lands, and so not capable to make like Advantage as other Borderers.* 1.9 The Land naturall and suitable for Lime, is your light and sandy Land, and mixed sound Earth, so also is your Gravell, but not so good, and your wet and cold Gravell is the worst, except your cold hungry Clay, which is worst of all, but all mixed Lands whatever are very good.

As for your Lime it is not of a hot burning nature as most

men conceive, and do strongly believe, and many have wrote;* 1.10 'tis true it is of a wasting, burning, and consuming nature, before or in the slacking or melting of it; and may be possibly in the meal or spirit of it; but in the use of it, and working it into and with the Land and Earth, and in the production of the fruit, it seems & appeares to be Cold∣est, and most sadning of Land of any Soyl whatsoever, and that for these Reasons.

1. Because of it self it is a heavy and weighty substance, and sinkes deep, and loseth it self sooner than any Soyl whatsoever; if you be not very carefull in the keeping of it up, and rasing of it, you will lose it before you are aware of it or can suspect it.

2. Because it so alters your lightest Ry Land, that though it be naturally Sandy and Gravelly, that it never before would bear any thing but Ry or Oates, yet by one good Liming it will be reduced to bear as good Lammas or Red straw Wheat, with Barley and Pease, as your strong clay Land.

3. Were it of so hot a nature, then it would have the best operation upon your coldest & wettest spewing Land, upon which it hath none, and all Experience shews the contrary.

As I remember,* 1.11 about twelve or fourteen quarters of Lime will very wel Lime an Acre▪ you may also over-Lime it, as well as under-Lime it; Also a mixture of Lime, Manure, and Soyl together, is very excellent, especially for a few Crops, and so lay down to Graze I conceive is best; but by any means Till not long, for I say it is possible the Land may yeeld Corn being so exceedingly in Tillage, and so well wrought, as long almost as any Earth is left in it. I have seen many parts Tilled so long as there hath been little lest but small Stones, Flints and Pebles; A mad Cmstome, fly from it, your Lime will sink downwards exceedingly, use all means possible to keep it as much aloft as you can, else you lose it, and the benefit of it, and remember it, whatever you forget, and then you may plow and work your Land, as you do with any other Soyl.

CHAP. XXI.

Sheweth the nature, use, and benefit of Marl, and giveth a President of the Improve∣ment made by it.

MArl is also a very gallant thing,* 1.12 I can say much for it, far more than I resolve to speak to, be∣cause others have spoken much therof though little to my especiall purposes; It is commen∣ded of all men, and very highly almost by e∣very Writer, that sayes any thing in point of Husbandry; therefore I'll say but little, onely acquaint you with its na∣ture, and an experiment made of it, and the severall Lands it is most natural for Advancement or Melioration to a lit∣tle quicken the Practice where it is found, and the Search for it where it is not yet discovered.

And for the nature of it,* 1.13 it is also of a colder nature, be∣cause it saddens the Land exceedingly, and very heavy it is, and will go downwards also, but being so much of sub∣stance cannot easily bury so soon as Lime will, and the de∣scription of it is not so much in Colour (as some say) as in the Purity, & uncompoundedness of it, for in my Opinion be the Colour what it will, if it be pure of it self that it will break into bits like a Die, or but smooth like Lead, without any Composition of Sand or Gravel; & some others of it if it will slack like Slate-stones,* 1.14 and then if it wil purely slack after a showr of Rain, question not the fruitfulness of it. 'Tis possible some Countries may yeeld severall Colours of Marl, as it is affirmed of Kent, wherein is found both Yel∣low, Gray, Blew, and Red, and the red is said to be the worst there, which I will not here dispute, because it never fell under mine own Experience in that Country; yet I will say it holds not every where, indeed the Blew and Gray are very Excellent, and so also is the Red no less; And whereas

the common sign is said to be Slipperiness, or Greasiness, in which I will not contest, but onely I say there is some as good Marl as is most this day in England,* 1.15 which is not so, but as it lyeth in the Mine is pure, dry, short, & if you water it, you shal find it in slipperiness differ little from common Clayes; The onely sign, but the purest and truest sign as a∣foresaid, is the incompoundness of it, and if it slack also immediately after a showr, and shortly after turn to dust after it is throughly dry again, and doth not congeal and conglutinate like to tough Clay, but dissolve, fear not the Operation, Adventure the Experimenting of it, the fruit wil be answerable to thy hopes.

And now give me leave to tel thee a true relation of one Experiment of my own (because I speak but little but my own Experiences)* 1.16 upon an hard Inclosed Wood-land Farm I rented, having some Land also in Cōmon, amongst the rest I had about fifteen or sixteen little short Lands, or Buts, lay all together in the Common Field; All which said Lands were so gravelly of nature, that there was but a∣bout two Inches thickness of Earth before you came to as perfect Gravell as any High-way, yea so exceeding herein, that in many places turned to Sinder (like that the Smith casts forth of his fire, as the corruption of his Iron, Fire, & Coales congealed) and also so hungry and barren of nature, that before I converted it to Tillage, little or nothing was made of it; And to Graze it was not worth above two shil∣lings an Acre, and y•••• it was Resty and old Turf, & had lain long, may be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or twenty yeares; And resolving to make an Experiment I searched for Marl, & found it where none had ever 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in mans memory, nor within ma∣ny Miles of it; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in an old strong Clay Pooll I conceived it lye, the which Pool I was forced to cleanse, being full of Mud, that so I might make the better and greater fall of Marl at last, and my Marl was perfect Red, differing in nothing from Clay in colour, but in the breaking into bits and ends like Dies, not slippery, as was discernable from Clay.

And because I would make an undeceivable Experiment

of it (which ever was my greatest Arrogancy) I carried forth that Mud also to my Land, and laid it upon two or three Lands,* 1.17 as thick again as men use to lay on Soyl or Dung; I also Mucked with the Cart two more exceeding well, and as I remember Fold-Mucked two more; Also I Marled three or four far thicker than I Mudded the other; And one Land I neither Mucked, Mudded, Foulded, or Marled, nor laid any cost upon it at all, yet Plowed them all alike, & brought them into good Tillage, and Sowed them as I remember with Wheat,* 1.18 and Rye mixed; & for the first year, I reaped very good Corn upon my Cart-mucked Land, and Fold-Mucked the best of all, the best upon my Mudded Land the next, and upon my Marled Land reasona∣ble good, not so good as the aforesaid sorts yeelded (because Marl yeelds not forth his utmost strength the first year) And upon that I laid nothing, I reaped nothing, not so much as Straw, although I gave it the same seed, and the same Tillage as the aforesaid Lands. Whereby you may per∣ceive the goodness of the Land, which is bad enough indeed when it will bear no Corn at all, for very little Land in England that is old and Resty, and in good Tillage, but wil bear some, either Oates or Tares.

The next year I Sowed Barley upon all sorts of these Lands,* 1.19 and upon my Marled Land was most gallant Corn, and so was my Mudded Land, my Mucked Land was the worst by far, the Muck decaying, and upon that I Soyled not, I Sowed the second year with Oates, and reaped no∣thing again that year also; Then afterward I Marled that which before I had Mucked, and that which had not Soyl laid upon it, & brought forth nothing the two years before, which brought forth as gallant Corn as England yeelded; And after three or four Crops my Mud decayed also, and that I Marled again and had the same Fruit as aforesaid; and for my Marled Land that I kept in Tillage nine years; without any other addition of any Compost or Soyl at all, and had as goodly Corn as grew, and then I left the Land, & ever since with some small addition of Fold or Manure, as they do the rest of their Lands; that out-strips all the rest,

and is discernable from all the Lands to this day; her in ob∣serve how it saddens Land,* 1.20 this was Rye Land most natu∣rally, but it turned to Wheat, Barley, and Pease; and as it is thus excellent for Corn, so it is also very fruitfull and in∣riching to Grass-land, provided you take heed of Extremes, which most men are subject to run into, which is not to Til it forth of heart, for to Till it forth of heart is just as if you work an Ox off his legs, a Horse off his stomack, or a Man off his strength,* 1.21 and then put them all to work for Wagers with those that are in plight and strength; Try wha•• service one of them will do you, not a third part of that service they did before; Nor twice or thrice to Marl together I hold not proper, but when your resolve to lay down your Land to Graze,* 1.22 be sure at the last Crop you intend to take (which may be the fourth, fifth, or sixth after Marling) then Manure thy band wel with Dung, which wil so open, light∣en, and loosen thy Land (for the less binding, and the more light, loose, and open, the more fruitful) that it will pro∣duce a gallant Glovery, and white Hunny-suckle Grass, and Graze fruitfully; and then if as aforesaid, the first year after thou hast laid it down upon the Wheat or mixt Corn∣stubble, thou wouldest run it over again with Dung, it would pay thee treble; I cannot forbear inculcating these two (because I see it is so little practised in any part of the Nation, and I know it to be so wonderfull Advantagious) untill thou pursue the practice of them; if possibly never lay down thy Land to Graze but thus, Let-not-thy Gain or Profit of a good Crop or two, hinder thee of ten fold more, and dishonour thy Land, Prejudic•• thy Posterity, & defame thy Husbandry.

Oh that this gallant Principle of Improvement of all Lands to their utmost worth,* 1.23 was naturally planted in all mens Breasts, tis true to get Wealth and Riches is naturall enough, and both in our thirsting and eager pursuit hereof by many lawfull common wayes, and by more indirect & baser meanes, Eateth out the very hearts and bowels of ma∣ny, but thus to indeavour to raise Wealth out of the Earth by ingenuity, to raise soyl out of one part of the Earth to

inrich another, or out of the Seas, or any way else by a mean & Low charge or poor workinens labour, depending upon the Almighty for that blessing, is that I so highly magnify: not having forgot the old Proverb of making honey of a Dogs—so I believe any Land by cost & charge may be made rich, and as rich as Land can be, but not counterpoise one quarter of the charge or labour, which I neither affect nor indeavour to hold forth, but my resolutions are to perswade all mens Estates or parts to drive on all Designs for the Cō∣mon good, so to Plow all thy Lands, as to make thy Lands Fittest and Richest to Graze, and then to Plow again, when thy Land decayes in Grazing, & thy Plowing shall far out profit thy Grazing, I am confident a man might so Husband the matter, as neither of these should hinder each others Fruitfulness, but both help on each others Advancement.

Now the Lands upon which Marl yeelds great increase, is upon your higher Sandy Land mixed or Gravelly,* 1.24 any found Land whatsoever though never so barren, to whom it is as naturall, and nourishing, as Bread to mans nature, and will do well upon any of these, though somewhat mixed with Clay, but strong Clay in my opinion is most unsuta∣ble; But an exact tryall I never made thereof, therefore am not Peremptory, and although many men are of opinion that it can have little Operation upon Wet, Cold, Moyst Land, I say so, if there be not a possibility to lay it sound, and Wholsome, but that I believe thou mayst do most Land by Plowing of it up and Raising of it, as high as thy Land will bear it, & then a good Drain or master Furrow, if it will serve; if not, a deeper Drayning Trench will, for Wet, and too much Cold, and Moysture offends all Corn and Grass also wheresoever, as well as Marl, but thus done Marl wil yeeld great store of Corn upon this Land also out of question, my own president was upon a very wet Land, upon a most sharp gravell.

CHAP. XXII.

Sheweth the usefulness of Sand and other Soyles out of the Seas and Rivers, Sands also are great Inrichments.

AS for Sands manure,* 1.25 I conceive it warm of na∣ture, and yet that is not the cause of its Fruit∣fulness, for then would all Sands have the like Operation & vertue in them, but of ou•• inland Sands especially these which are natu∣rally the Surface of the Earth,* 1.26 or else lyeth by Mines in Hils, & many other parts of the Nation, I conceive little Fruit∣fulness at all, however I challenge not Immunity herein from being deceived; I may be, for I have made no tryall at all therein, and therefore what it may do upon a contrary natured Land I know not, if any have found benefit I desire to learn it, for Reason hath sometime deceived me, and so may others, but Experience never shall.

But as for your Sands brought forth by the Violence of strong Land-floods,* 1.27 and cast up on Hils & Shelves in many Meadows and other places in them is Fruit and Vertue, and I question not but the Application of them, either to Corn or Graze, will produce much Fertility; especially being seasonably applied to such Lands as are most different from the nature of it self;* 1.28 for whatever causeth Barrenness, be sure to provide a Soyl that wil stand in constant opposition to it, and so though one wast another, and both are wea∣kened, yet the Earth is thereby bettered, as here the Sand is dry and warm, and something inclining to Saltishness, the Land I conceive best for this Soyl, is moyst, and cold, and while Heat and Cold, Dry and Moyst, contest toge∣ther, the Earth steales from both, and is much Advanced thereby.

For in all Soyles and sorts of Earth there is a Combusti∣ble and Incombustible Nature, each Wrestling with other, and the more you can occasion Quarrels and Contention by these, that is, the more you ad to that which is predo∣minant, and so allay the distemper in the end, the more gai∣neth the Earth thereby; For I suppose there is a kind of contrarietie in Nature, it was ever so from the Fall, & ever will till all be swallowed up again in one.

But there is another sort of Sand, and this is the richest of all, and that is your Sand upon the Sea Costs, and in the Creeks thereof,* 1.29 which is very rich, yet in some parts it may be somwhat richer than others, as I conceive, for this Rea∣son, because al Lands that be bordering upon the Sea Coasts might then be Improved by them, but in many, and most parts of the Nation the use of it is neglected, & I dare not have so uncharitable an opinion of my Nation, that they would neglect so great and facile an Advantage; In Devon∣shire upon those Coasts it is very rich, and upon the Coasts of Cornwall also, and upon all the Southern and Western Coasts as this is, if there were that fruitfulness as there is in most Sea Sands, and is as likely also to be in this, unless or untill men have made experience, and through experienc•• thereof, I for my part shall be loath to have other opinion of it, but that it is of excellent fruitfulness, and so all Wales-ward borders, so rich, as that they carry it many miles on Horse-back unto their Lands, and make such vast Im∣provements, as to raising Corn and Grass also, as is incre∣dulous: Now, were it on the Northern, Eastern, or We∣stern Coasts, as rich as it is upon the Southern Coast, as it may be for any contrary experience I have had, I could not believe the people to be so Dronish as they are in some parts thereof, but that they would Drain out that Sweet∣ness to their Lands, as would cost but little or nothing but their Labour; However, I must absolutely say, there must needs be great heart and fruitfulness in these Sands also, because the Richness of the Sands is from the fat or filth the Sea doth gather in by all Land-floods and Streames that bring it from the Lands,* 1.30 and also what the Tide fetches in

dayly from the Shores, and from that fat and brackish na∣ture in it self, and from the Fish and other creatures, and thousands of other matters that putrifie in the Sea, all which the waters Casts to Shore, and purgeth forth of it self, and leaves in the Sands thereof, while it self is clear and pure.

And now being discoursing thereof, give me leave to let you know the vertue and excellency the Sea may yeeld,* 1.31 as from Sea-Weeds also, which Cornwell and Devonshire, and many other parts make great Improvement of for the Soy∣ling and Manuring of their Land,* 1.32 and that to very great ad∣vantage also, and further toward the Inriching of the Land, as from Fish of any sort, which is so fruitfull for the Land, that in many parts of the world they Dung their Lands therewith, but here with us, it yeelding more Advantage for Food to the relief of mans nature than unto the Earth; I'll say no more, unless any Capacity fall in the dead of putri∣fied Fish, which is no other use than to this purpose; A good Advantage might be made unto the Land thereof, as I said, before any Liquid Brackish-fat, Greasie-matter, and any thing that comes from, or is the fleshy matter of the crea∣ture, whether it be by Sea or Land, hath a secret operation in it to the Earths fruitfulness; Yea the very Urine of man is very excellent, and of all beasts very fruitfull, and very rich, & would be of more Accompt if men knew the worth of it: I have read of some that have done too strange things therewith to report,* 1.33 but most certainly 'tis worth labour to preserve it with most exactness.

There is yet another Opportunity, out of many of your great Rivers, and is from a Mud, or Sludg, that lyeth fre∣quently in deep Rivers, which is very soft, full of Eyes and Wrinckles, and little Shels, which is very rich, yea so rich, that in some parts many men get gallant Livings onely by taking it up out of the Rivers and selling it again by the Load; One sort whereof they sell for one shilling two pence per Load,* 1.34 and another sort they sell for two shillings four pence a Load at the Rivers side, which men fetch twenty Miles an end for the Inriching of their Land for Corn and

Grass; One Load going as far as three Load of the best Horse or Cow-dung that can be made; They call it Snayl-Cod, and it hath in it many Snayles and She••s, which is con∣ceived occasioneth the Fatness of it; The great Experience of this Piece, is made upon that part of the River Thames, which runs from Oxford and Reading down to Brainford, and if my information fail not (which I conceive I have from as good a hand, a Gentleman full of great Experiences in Husbandry Improvements; as hath not many Fellowes) The Lord Cottington drawing part of the River through his Park at Hanworth, hath cut in the same River many Out∣lets or Ponds, somewhat deeper than the River, on purpose to receive the same,* 1.35 from out of which is usually taken up great store of Mud for the Advance of the Upper Lands, but whether this be that richest Snayl-Cod I cannot say, but beleive it is very good, but upwards as high as Cole-Brook, in that River it lyeth plentifully, all which not failing un∣der mine own Experience, I can say little more unto for present, neither for the seasons of applying it unto the Land, nor the manner of working the Land to it I dare not prescribe.

Only hence I conclude, there may as well be the same opportunity in most Rivers of the Nation, which is a most unutterable Advantage; But I can say there is in most if not in all Rivers a very good Rich Mud, of great Fruitfulness, which were it more sought after would work on more Ex∣periments, and produce Advantage unexpected, it costing nothing but labour getting, nor prejudiceth any, but pro∣fit to all,* 1.36 by clearing the Rivers, and great worth and ver∣tue it must needs have in it, being the Soyl of the Pastures, and Fields, common Streets, Wayes, Yards, and Dung-hils, all collected by the Flood, and drawn thither, where it con∣centers into Shelves and Mines as I may so call it, and re∣manines for ever as an undiscovered Advantage, where no use is made of it; but hereof more, if God give opportunity to the Author of Experimenting both this, and others of the same nature to the utmost Advancement of it otherwise, and in the mean while inquire it out they self.

CHAP. XXIII.

Treateth of the use, and nature of Chalk, Mud of Pooles, Pidgeons and Swines Dung, and other Soyles and Ma∣nures therein contained.

AS for Chalk,* 1.37 Sir Francis Bacon affirms it to be of an over-heating nature to the Land, and is best for Cold & Moyst Land, but as it appears to me in Hartfordshire, and other parts therea∣bout, there are great Improvements to be made upon Barren,* 1.38 Gravelly, Flinty Lands, & it hath great Fruitfulness in it, but not having faln under my own Expe∣rience I dare affirm little therein, onely advise any that have opportunity therein to be well resolved of the Fruit∣fulness of the said Chalk, or of the nature of the said Lands, for there is some Chalk, though not very much thereof; that is of so churlish a binding nature, that it will so sod∣der and bind and hold the Water upon the top of the Earth so long till it destroy the Corn, nor work a sterility in the Earth, that neither Corn or Ground shall yeeld but little fruit; but there is a Chalk in thousand places of great fruitfulness for Improvement.

And I also conceive that Chalk Earth and Manure,* 1.39 mix∣ed together, makes an admirable, sure, and naturall fruitfull composition for almost any sort of Lands, and is a very Ex∣cellent Unfallible Remedy against Barrenness, and raiseth Corn in abundance, & inricheth it also for Grazing when you lay it down; many great Countries in this Nation are under this capacity.

Also the Mud of old standing Pooles, and Ditches,* 1.40 the shovelling of Streets and Yards, and Highwaies, the Over∣••warths of Common Lanes, or of Commons near Hedges,

is very good both, of it self, and comp••unded with other Soyl, Manure, Mud, or Straw; And very much account made thereof in some Countries; nay more than this of Manure that is made of Horse or Cow, for some sorts of Land, and some sorts of Corn, which I conceive is for Lands very Flinty, Stony, and Gravelly, or a little mixed with C••a•• amongst then; as also for Wheat and B••rley it is very natu••••ll and is of constant use and great esteem in Hartford∣shir••, Ess••x, Sussex, and divers other Countries thereabout, and also to great Advantage being put in Execution in most of the Counties in this Nation,* 1.41 if ingenuity was of as good esteem among us all, as is a base Out-landish fashion, for no sooner can that be brought into any part of the Coun∣try, but it will be dispersed presently into all the parts ther∣of; but such as these that are Advantage to all, and vastly pro∣fitable to the Practitioner & Common-wealth, are slighted and little practised.

Earth of a saltish nature is fruitfull, especially all such Earth as lyes dry,* 1.42 covered with Hovells or Houses, of which you make Salt-Peter, is rich for Land, and so is old flores under any buildings.

There are many other gallant Soyles or Manure, as your Pidgeons dung,* 1.43 a load whereof is more worth than twenty shillings in many parts, your Hens and Poultry Dung, that live of Corn, is very excellent, these being of a very hot, or warm and brackish nature are a very Excellent Soyl for a cold moist-natured Land, Two Load hereof will very rich∣ly Manure an Acre; so is all Dung, the more it is raised from Corn or richer matter, the richer it self is usually by far; as where Horses are highly Corned, the richer is the dung than those onely kept with Hay.

There is another sort of Soyl and that is Swines dung,* 1.44 by most men accounted the worst of all, nay not worth pre∣serving, out of an old received Tradition taken up by most men,* 1.45 upon what ground I know not, and so generally dis∣liked of almost every one, and therfore they will not Expe∣riment it, and much an end no use at all is made thereof, possibly it came from Scotland, who knew they but the ex∣cellency

thereof; they would love the flesh the better for the dungs sake.

Which to me is very irrationall, that an Engl••sh man who loves Swines flesh so well, that more Account and use is made of all the parts of him, rather than of the Beef or Sheep, yea his very blood and guts are highly prised, & yet the Soyl of him so much undervalued.

This Dung is very rich for Corn,* 1.46 or Grass, or any Land, yea of such Accompt to many Ingenuous Husband, that they prefer it above any ordinary Manure whatsoever, there∣fore they make their Hogs yards most compleat with an high pale, paved well with Pibble or Gravell in the botom, where they set their Troughs partly in, and some part with∣out the Pale, into which they put their meat; but the most neatest Husbands indeed,* 1.47 Plant their Trough without their Pale or Hog-yard, all along by the side of it, and for every Hog they have a hole cut, the just Proportion of his head & Neck, and cannot get in his feet to soyl his meat, and out thence he eates his meat forth of the Trough very cleanly and sweet, they keep the Trough also very clean, they have their house for lodging by it self with dry straw alwayes for them to lye in, and their cornish Muskings they cast into the yard for that purpose,* 1.48 and all Garbidge, and all leaves, out of Gardens, and all Muskings forth of their Barns, and of their Courts, and Yards, and great store of straw or weeds, and Fearn, or any thing for the Swine to root amongst, to make all the Dung they can in∣to the yard for raysing dung, and here they keep their Swine the year round, never suffering them to go one day abroad, and here your dayry Husbands or Huswives, will feed them as fat as Pease, or Beanes, and are of opinion that they feed better, and Eatter, and with less meat, than when they are abroad with all their Grass they spoil; Which I did more than three quarters believe, but now know it to be true of my own knowledge. Some Hog-yards will yeeld you forty, fifty, some sixty, some eighty Load, and some more of Excellent Manure of ten or twelve Swine; which they value every Load worth about two shillings six pence

a Load in their very yards, & prize it above any other; This is practised much about Kings norton, both in the Counties of Worcester and Warwick, and in many other parts, as in Che∣shire, Staffordshire, Darbyshire, also I beleeve An Excellent Piece of husbandry; I speak Experimentally hereof, having made great Advantage my self hereby, and do far more prize it, than suffering Swine to run and course abroad, knowing that rest, quiet, and sleep, with drink, and lesser meat will sooner feed any creature than more meat with liberty to run and course about into harms and wash off what they get with their meat, with their vexing and run∣ning up and down, and do advise as thou valewest thy own advantage; some good dairies will make the soyl of their Hogyard produce them twenty or thirty pounds worth of profit in a year.

As for Rags of all sorts there is good vertue in them,* 1.49 they are carried far and laid upon the Lands and have in them a warming Improving temper, one good Load will go as far as half a dozen or more of the best Cow Dung, Coarse Wooll,* 1.50 Nippings, and Tarry Pitchmarks, a little whereof will do an Acre of Land, there is great vertue in them. I beleeve one Load herof will exceedingly well Manure half an Acre, Marrow-bones, or Fish-bones, Horn or shavings of Horn, or Broaths made of Beef, Meat or Fish,* 1.51 or any o∣ther thing whatsoever, that hath any Liquidness, Oyliness, or Fatness, have a wonderfull vertue in them, let all be pre∣cious to thee,* 1.52 and preserved, for every little adds too, and helps in the Common stock, and he that wil not be faithful in a little, will not be faithfull in a greater quantity, as is al∣way seen by constant ••xperience.

As for Sheep-Dung,* 1.53 Cow-dung, and Horse-Dung, such old ordinary Soyl; I intend to say little; in regard the Common use thereof, which hath extracted the vertue and excellency to the Common-wealths great advantage, onely thus much I shall say by way of advise and reproof from my own Experience.

1. By way of advic Prize them according to their worth: The Sheeps ••ung is best, and a little hereof is of more

strength and heart than the others are, but whether it arise from the rich, and pure nature of the Dung, or from the warmth of the Sheeps bodies, I know not, but I conceive from both, because it warmes the Land & makes it comfor∣table; And therfore in regard of the worth and excellency of Sheeps dung, and in regard of the great want of soyl, i'll dis∣course a little more at large of a very good way to raise ea∣sily great quantities of soyl,* 1.54 and that very good and excel∣lent, by the help of one good flock of Sheep, and that in the winter too, when soulding is more neglected and of le••••er use: though I proposed it in the first Edition, yet because I set not forth the way of raising it, I fear occasions the neglect of it. It is but to make a good large Seep-house for the hou∣sing of thy Sheep in Winter, the comfort it will be unto thy Sheep, will be double worth thy house charge, which may be Sheep-cribbed round about and in the middle too, to fother them in the nights, herein once a week, or twice according as thou desirest the quantity of muck to rise, or according to the goodness of it thou expectest, bring in se∣verall Loades of Sands either out of the streets or wayes, or from a sand-pit or mine once or twiee a week, and lay it three or four inches thick, this renew every week or more and let them sit on it two or three or four nights or more, and keep this with renewing as oft as thou pleasest, and what with their heat and warmth of their bodies and the fatness of their dung and urine, they will so corrupt or putrify the Sand, that it will turn to excellent rich soyl, and go very far upon thy Land, and be far more serviceable than thou canst conceive; This of great use in Flanders and other parts of the World. And for your Horse Dung that is held to be too hot,* 1.55 but I never sensibly discern any inconvenien∣ces therein, especially where it is feared, let it be but well Wroxed or Rotten, and I conceive it is one of the best com∣post of Land, and I am sure, if it be Soyl of Horses, or Sta∣bles where is much Corn given, it is more hearty and rich by far, than that where Horses live of Hay onely; And for Cow-Dung tis as wel known by all, both in nature and use, that I'll save further trouble.

2. But by way of reproof of one Piece of Husbandry in the applying these three sorts of Dung to Land, I say, Men are mistaken in that they indeavour not all possible Expedi∣tion in laying their Dung upon their Land, when once they begin,* 1.56 and in spreading of it as soon as laid on, and Plow∣ing of it into the Land as soon as spread, for if my Judge∣ment fail not, they lose a great part of the Fruit, Sap, and Vertue therof, that carry it forth into their Land about Mid∣summer, or in that heat of Summer, and spread it all over their Land, and so let it lye open to the Air and drying Winds, and parching Sun, and Showres, which comming hastily help to wash it off their Land, and thus lyeth for a month or six weeks before they Plough it into their Lands, all over the Field or County, and many places more, which besides the Raynes washing away, consider but the Winds drying, and the Sun and Pearching, and Scorching of it, & Exhaling, and Drawing away the Spirit of it, & then tell me the Excellency of this Husbandry; to me it seems not ra∣tionall, Ile submit to better Judgements, they that are of a contrary opinion, I desire them to shew me Reason, and in∣form me better; And til I know better I desire to be excused.

And for their Sheeps Dung, as soon as ever one Land is foulded, let the Soyl be covered immediately, let the sea∣son or weather be what it will: Also in the Manuring your Green-Soard or Grass Land, do little in the Summer, but either in the latter end of it, after September, or else all Win∣ter long is the proper season, when it may have rain to beat it into the ground, or Frost to wrot it and dissolve it; And though sudden showers will wash some away,* 1.57 which is far less upon Grass ground than Tillage, yet if thou have any Land both below or under that thou Manurest, thou needest not lose the least benefit, if thou please to turn it over, and let it float thy other Land, with that which the Land-flood otherwise would carry away; And this course some Inge∣nuous Husbands hold in all their Lands, What Rain or Land-floods fall in their overgrounds,* 1.58 they carry into the next below that, and float there, then what falls in that, with the rest of that which is a floating there they carry into the

next, & so into the lowest, & so will not lose so much as the advantage of a common Ditch that carries the least Land-flood with it, but this falls in occasionally here, & therfore no more hereof.

Mault dust is exceeding Rich for Corn-land, and one load being sowed, as you do, or with your Corn, will goe as far as six load or more of good Dung.

Mans Urine is of great worth,* 1.59 this wil fatten Land more than you are aware of, & it were not ill Husbandry to take all Opportunities to preserve it for thy Land. Of this som∣what is said before, therefore no more thereof, onely I have read of a good woman of Kent, that preserved it, & sprink∣led her Meadow with it, which occasioned such fruitfulness (though at first a little yellowish) that some of her Neigh∣bours went about to accuse her of Witchcraft.

Ashes also have a secret vertue and operation,* 1.60 of what nature soever or sort, that are burned throughly to dust, but your Wood-ashes are best, & usefull for Soyl and Com∣post.* 1.61 Soot also hath a vertue of Fruitfulness for Field or Garden as some affirm, but I conceive the most proper soyl for Gardens are your Sheep-dung, your Hen-muck, and Pidgeons-dung, with your well rotted Horse-muck, espe∣cially for cold Land; or else the rich Mould, or any good Manure that is grown to Mould, is as good and naturall as any of the aforesaid Soyles, provided you lay good store of it theron; & so also I conceive it is best for your Or••hards, or young Nurceries of Fruit Trees, but of neither Garden nor Orchards Advance is my design for present, and so no more of that, much may be hereafter.

Ouse,* 1.62 or a kind of fat Earth in Marsh Ditces, is of ex∣cellent use for stony, gravelly, flinty or chalky Lands; there is an Earth or Mud got upon the River Ware in Hartford∣shire near Walton of very good use and advantage for soyl.

Stubble* 1.63 of all sorts, and other Vegetables, the more in quantity, or Straw, or Hay, fothered upon the Land is very helpfull & of good use with every Husbandman, that I need say no more thereof.

Sir Francis Bacon is of opinion,* 1.64 that Salt mingled with

Corn hath a very good operation being sowed with the Corn, which possibly may, because brakishness is fruitfull to the Lane. Also that Chalk and Lime sowed with the Corn is very helpfull, & that steeping your Corn in fat Wa∣ter, Lime-water, of Dung-hill Water, hath a wonderfull effect to work strange things; Of all which my self having not made full Experience: can find no more Advantage the Chalk or Lime in substance,* 1.65 or so much as is added of therein than just so much as is added to the Corn, either of the Soyl or Fatness of either of the Waters, and no more; For having made a thorough triall thereof, found no other∣wise, nor nothing of that great Advantage promised; But let not me prejudice any Ingenious trialls of the same, others may find more, possibly I might miss in the manner of my application, search it out throughly I beseech you.

As for Oyl,* 1.66 I am confident it is of a very Inriching na∣ture to Land or Corn, but whether the Cost required will be requited I leave to Experience, for I have not forgotten the Oyling-Corn Patentee, that great design to so little purpose; who drew so many Scholars after him, but I had the happiness to escape him and his Patent too, though some paid dear for it.

The Leave of Trees laid together,* 1.67 or cast into some High∣way, or Water-flows, or mingled with other Soyles, will make very good Compost also.

Also Fearn, or Rushes,* 1.68 Thistles, or any coarse straw, or Trash whatever, flung, or cast into the Fothering-yards, a∣mong your Cribs under your Cattell, will be both good Litter to lay your Cattell dry and warm, and will make ve∣ry good soyl, as all good husbands know.

Some more particulars may be spoke too, and some fur∣ther directions given, but I'll forbear ••xperiencing these, will work out more discoveries. So much for this Fifth Piece.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Improvement of Up-Land several waies.
• * 1.2

  President of Plowing Wood-Land Land.
• * 1.3

  A Husband-mans old prin∣ciple Wood-Land Lands Tilled every ten yeares, yea some every eight.
• * 1.4

  Means or Ma∣terials to in-rich Land.
• * 1.5

  Liming of Land.
• * 1.6

  Object.
• * 1.7

  Ans.
• * 1.8

  Presidents for Liming.
• * 1.9

  The Land most naturall for Lime.
• * 1.10

  The nature of Lime quite contrary to the common opi∣nion.
• * 1.11

  How much wil Lime an Acre.
• * 1.12

  Marl.
• * 1.13

  Nature of Marl.
• * 1.14

  Signs of good Marl descri∣bed.
• * 1.15

  Slipper••ress no infallible s••gn.
• * 1.16

  A Marling Experiment.
• * 1.17

  Some Muck∣ed some Folded, some M••r••ed.
• * 1.18

  One no cost at all.
• * 1.19

  A double Ex∣periment.
• * 1.20

  Marl saddens Land excee∣dingly.
• * 1.21

  Extremes is Marling re∣proved.
• * 1.22

  How to lay down Land to graze after Marling.
• * 1.23

  The Prime Principle in Husbandry.
• * 1.24

  Land most naturall for Marl.
• * 1.25

  Sand.
• * 1.26

  Of no worth or use at all.
• * 1.27

  Sand from the Land-flood are good.
• * 1.28

  What Lands are naturall for Sands.
• * 1.29

  Pest Sand of all.
• * 1.30

  What causeth so much rich∣ness in the Sea Sands.
• * 1.31

  The Seas fruitfulness by Fish.
• * 1.32

  Sea Weeds very good soyl for Land.
• * 1.33

  Urine fr••itful.
• * 1.34

  The richness of Snayl Cod.
• * 1.35

  Where the right Snayl is to be got. The chief River where••n this Mud lyeth comes from-ward Vxbridge by Cole-brook, and is not the Thames as I can yet discover, having made a Journy thither since I wrote the aforesaid discourse.
• * 1.36

  Mud in Rivers of great use.
• * 1.37

  Bacons Natu∣rall History, pag. 123.
• * 1.38

  Chalk.
• * 1.39

  Chalk mixed most certain.
• * 1.40

  Mud.
• * 1.41

  Ingenuity not of such esteem as a base Out∣landish fashion.
• * 1.42

  Earth covered with any house or ba••n is rich.
• * 1.43

  Pidgeons and Poultry dung little less infe∣riour.
• * 1.44

  Horses well corned make best dung.
• * 1.45

  Swines dung most excellent soyl.
• * 1.46

  The great ac∣count of swines dung.
• * 1.47

  The usage of their Swine and the ma∣king of the Hogyard.
• * 1.48

  How to feed Swin, without any cornish meat.
• * 1.49

  Ragg••.
• * 1.50

  VVoo's.
• * 1.51

  Marrowbone.
• * 1.52

  Beef Broa••h?
• * 1.53

  Sheeps-Dung.
• * 1.54

  How with great ease to raise rich dung.
• * 1.55

  Horse Dungs Excellency.
• * 1.56

  A great mistake in letting soyl be uncovered.
• * 1.57

  How to lose none of the least benefit in mucking any Land notwith∣standing Land-floods.
• * 1.58

  Some lose no La••d flood at all.
• * 1.59

  Vrine of man∣kind usefull for Lands.
• * 1.60

  Ashes.
• * 1.61

  Soot.
• * 1.62

  Best Manure for Gardens.
• * 1.63

  Stubb••e, or Straw.
• * 1.64

  Salts effect.
• * 1.65

  How much Li∣ming Corn, or watering Corn advanceth it.
• * 1.66

  Oyl the fruit thereof.
• * 1.67

  Leaves of T••e••••.
• * 1.68

  Fearn or Rushes will make soyl.