Systema agriculturæ, the mystery of husbandry discovered treating of the several new and most advantagious ways of tilling, planting, sowing, manuring, ordering, improving of all sorts of gardens, orchards, meadows, pastures, corn-lands, woods & coppices, as also of fruits, corn, grain, pulse, new-hays, cattle, fowl, beasts, bees, silk-worms, &c. : with an account of the several instruments and engines used in this profession : to which is added Kalendarium rusticum, or, The husbandmans monthly directions, also the prognosticks of dearth, scarcity, plenty, sickness, heat, cold, frost, snow, winds, rain, hail, thunder, &c. and Dictionarium rusticum, or, The interpretation of rustick terms, the whole work being of great use and advantage to all that delight in that most noble practice.

JANƲARY.

Day	Sun rise. h. m.	Sun set. h. m.
1	New-years day
2
3			Castor and Pollux rise in the evening.
4	8 00	4 00
5
6	Twelf-tide.
7
8			Lucida Corona, or the Crown, is with the Sun.
9
10	Sun in Aqua.		The Dog-star riseth in the evening.
11
12
13
14
15
16	7 45	4 15
17
18
19
20
21
22	Vincent.
23
24	7 30	4 30
25	Pauls day.
26
27
28
29
30	K. Charles his Martyrdom.
31	7 15	4 45

Mensis difficillimus hic Hybernus; difficilis ovibus, difficilisque hominibus.

THis Moneth is the rich mans charge, and the poor mans mi∣sery; the cold like the days increase, yet qualified with the hopes and expectations of the approaching Spring: The Trees, Meadows and Fields are now naked, unless cloathed in white, whilest the Countryman sits at home, and enjoys the fruit of his past labours, and contemplates on his intended Enterprises. Now is welcom a cup of good Cider, or other excellent Liquors, such that you prepared the Autumn before; moderately taken, it proves the best Physick.

A cold January is seasonable: Plough up or fallow the ground

you intend for Pease: water Meadows and Pastures: drain Arable grounds where you intend to sow Pease, Oats or Barley: rear Calves, Pigs, &c. lay Dung on heaps, carry it on the Land in frosty weather; on Pasture-land hedge and ditch.

Plant Timber-trees, or any Coppice-wood, or Hedge-wood; and also Quick-sets: cut Coppices and Hedge-rows; lop and prune greater Trees.

Feed Doves, and repair Dove-houses; cut away Ant-hills, and fill up the holes in Meadow and Pasture-grounds; gather stones, &c. have special care to Ews and Lambs; house Calves; Geld young Cattle soon after they are fallen: sow Oats, if you will have of the best, says old Tusser.

In Janivere Husband that poucheth the Grotes, Will break up his Lay, or be sowing of Otes. Otes sown in Janivere, lay by the Wheat; In May by the Hay, for Cattle to eat.

PLant Vines, and other Fruit-trees, if the weather be open and milde; dig and trench Gardens, or other ground for Pease, Beans, &c. against the Spring: dig Borders, uncover roots of Trees where need is, and add such Manure to them as they require: you may also, if the weather prove milde, set Beans and Pease. As yet Roses may be cut and removed.

Prune Orchard-fruits and Vines, so that it be not frosty; nail and trim Wall-fruits cleanse Trees of Moss in moist weather.

Gather Cions for Graffs, and stick them in the ground; for they will take the better, being kept some time from the Tree; and at the latter end, if the weather be milde, you may begin to Graff.

Make your Hot-bed, and sow therein your choice Sallads; sow Colleflowers; secure your choice Plants and Flowers from the injury of the weather, by Covers, by Straw, or Dung: Earth up the roots of such Plants the Frosts have uncovered.

Set Traps to destroy Vermine, where you have or sow such Plants or Seeds that they injure.

Take Fowl, destroy Sparrows in Barns, and near them; kill the Opes or Bull-finches that feed on the buds of Fruit-trees.

Dig a Weedy Hop-garden.

Turn up your Bee-hives, and sprinkle them with warm and sweet Wort dexterously. Also you may remove Bees.

Notes

• Otes.
• Garden and Orchard.
• Hop-garden.
• Apiary.