The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

Of Dry Meadows, or Pastures, and the Improvements to be made thereon.

MAny good Meadows are spoiled by being pestered with Ant-Hills, Shrubs, Fern, Broom, or Goss, insomuch that good part thereby is lost, and cannot be Mowed, and that which remains is not so beneficial as if Mown, or Fed together. For the clearing the Ground of such Anoyances, Mr. Platt hath invented an Ingeni∣ous Instrument, which something resembleth a three Tined Dung-Fork, but much larger and stronger, the Stale thereof being like a large and strong Leaver; which Instrument set about half a foot distance from the Root of the Shrub, then with an Hedging Beetle drive it in a good depth, and so force it up by the Roots.

For destroying Ant-Hills, being provided with a sharp Paring-Shovel, divide the Turf on the Top into four parts or quarters, laying them open several ways; then take out the Core, which spread on the Land, and lay the Turf again neatly in its place, but a little hollowing or sinking in, that is, lower than the Surface of the Earth, so that at the beginning of the Winter the Water standing therein will destroy the Re∣mainder of the Ants, and by the Spring settle the [ 10] Turf.

In Cold, Moist, Claiy, Spewy, Mossy, or Rushy Ground, where the Pasture, or Hay is sowr and short, about July, or August, cause the Turf to be pared off and burnt, as hereafter shall be directed, and Plow it up; and in the Spring let it be Sown with Hay-Dust, or with Corn and Hay-Seed mixt together, which will cause a great fertility, and alter the Nature of the Ground. [ 20]

The best Season for Dunging of Meadows is in December, January, and February; for in these Pluvial Months the Fatness of the Soyl will be washed to the Roots of the Grass, before the Sun drieth it away; and for the breaking the Clods use a large Wad of Bushes, to draw over the Ground with a Horse in the nature of an Har∣row; and what Stones are in the Dung cause to be gathered off the Ground, for they do not only hinder the growing of the Grass, but en∣danger [ 30] the spoiling the Scyth in the Mowing it.

For such Grounds that are Sandy, Hot, and Dry, the best Manuring is Marl, Chalk, Lime, or the like Cold Soyls: and for Cold, Rushy, Spewy, and Mosly Lands, use Ashes of Wood, Turf, or Sea-Coal; also Pigeons Dung, and all Hot and Sandy Soyls; and betwixt these two Extreams, viz. Hot and Cold, the common Dung made by Horses and Cattle may be bestowed upon the [ 40] Grounds betwixt both.