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.

SECT. II. From the Water and Earth.

Next unto those Aërial or Coelestial injuries which descend upon us, we shall discourse of such that proceed from the Wa∣ter and Earth, that do also in a very great measure at some times and in some places afflict us, proving great impediments to those Improvements that might otherwise be easily accomplished, and also great detriments unto the Countryman upon that which he hath already performed.

As the want of water in some places proves a great impedi∣ment and injury to the improvement and management of Rustick Affairs, so doth the superabundant quantity; either from the flowings of the Sea over the low Marsh-Lands at Spring-tides and High-waters, or from great Land-flouds, but principally from the low and level scituation of the Land, where it is sub∣ject to Springs, Over-flowings, &c.

It is evident that much good Land hath for many Ages yield∣ed little benefit, by reason of the high waters that sometimes have covered it over, and destroyed that which in the intervals hath grown; and hath also over-flown much good Land so fre∣quently, that it hath become useless: but by the extraordinary charge, labour, art and industry of some publick-spirited per∣sons, very great quantities thereof have been gained from the power of that Grand Enemy to Husbandry, as may be obser∣ved in those vast Levels of rich Land in Lincolnshire, and York∣shire, Cambridgeshire, &c. in our Age recovered. Many other vast Flats and Levels there are on the Borders of this Kingdom, that are beyond the power, strength, or interest of a private Purse to attempt, yet to the publick at a publick charge would redound to an infinite advantage, and not only maintain thou∣sands at work, (imployment being the greatest check to factious spirits) but bring in an yearly increase of wealth, one of the prin∣cipal Supports of this Kingdom against its Enemies, and that without the hazards of an Indian Voyage.

Land-flouds in some places, especially on the great Flats and Levels, prove a great annoyance to the Husbandman, that it is of equal concernment to divert the Land-flouds from some Lands, as to drain the water that resides upon it, and otherwise annoys it.

As we see in the Draining the Great Level between York∣shire and Lincolnshire by the Isle of Axholm, where the great Ri∣ver Idle, Navigable of its self, that formerly passed with its great Land-flouds through the vast Level on the Yorkshire side of Ax∣holm, by the Art and industry of the Drainers, through a new Cut, is carried into Trent on the other side of the Isle, that the Draining of that Great Level, which otherwise might seem im∣possible to be done, by that very means became most feasible: So

that here we need say no more, but that as the conveniency of the place will permit, you divert the Land-flouds and Streams before you attempt a through Draining, if it be feasible and re∣quisite, lest you multiply your cost, and be at last frustrate of your purpose.

The greatest of our In-land annoyances to Husbandry, occasi∣oned by water, is from the standing or residing of water on our flat and level Marishes, Meadows, or other Lands, whether occa∣sioned from Rains, Springs, or otherwise.

Where there is any descent or declining of Land, by cutting Drains to the lowest part, it is most easily performed.

But where it is absolutely flat and level, it is much more diffi∣cult; yet are there few such Levels, but there are places or Cur∣rents for the water to pass out of them, which you must sink deep and wide enough to drain the whole, and then make seve∣ral drains from each part of the Marsh or Level, beginning large and wide at the mouth of the Drain, and lessening by degrees, as it extends to the extreams of the Land you drain. Be sure to make the Drains deep enough to draw the water from under the Marsh or Bog, and make enough of them that may lay it throughly dry.

If you cannot make a passage deep enough to take the water away from the bottom of your Drain, which in many places is a great impediment of this improvement, either by reason that you cannot cut through anothers Land, or that the passage be long, or that some River is near, which will be apt to revert upon you, or suchlike, then may an Engine commanded by the winde be of great use and effect, that which by any other way could not be done; the description whereof see before in the third Chapter. According to the height you raise the water, may you proportion the greatness or smalness of your Engine. You need not fear winde sufficient at one time or other to keep your Drains emyty: for during the greatest Calms, are usually the greatest Droughts; and in the wettest seasons windes are seldom wanting, especially on Flats and Levels.

Over-much moisture proves also very injurious to Corn, and other Plantations; the usual remedy whereof is to lay the Land high in Ridges, and cut Drains at the ends of the Furrows to carry away the superfluous water.

In Orchards and Gardens it usually hinders the growth and prosperity of Trees and other Plants, against which, the best remedy is to double the Land; that is, by abating the one half thereof about a foot more or less, according to the nature and goodness of the Soil, in long Walks or Rows about seven or ten foot broad, as to you seems best and most convenient, and cast it on the other in banks or borders; so that you will then have those banks lie dry to the bottom of your Walks, and all of the best of the Mould, on which you may plant your Trees, &c. where they will thrive as well as on any other drier Land, be∣ing planted shallow.

Take this as a general Observation in Agriculture, that most of the barren and unimproved Lands in England are so, either because of Drought, or the want of Water or Moisture, or that they are poysoned or glutted with too much: therefore let every Husbandman make the best use of that water that runs through his Lands, and by preserving what falls upon his Lands, as we have at large before directed in this Treatise, and drain or con∣vey away that which superabounds and offends; then would there be a far greater plenty of all manner of Tillage and Cat∣tle, to the great inriching of this Kingdom.

Water is also very offensive in our Dwelling-houses, that we cannot make Cellars for Beer, &c. which may be several ways cured or prevented.

Either by laying the bottom and sides of the Cellar with Sheet-Lead, and a Floor of boards thereon to preserve it from injury. Several such Cellars there are in some Cities and Towns that lie low in the water; but this is too costly a way for our Husbandman.

Another way is to joynt your Bricks or Stone with Tarris, or the Cement before described in this Chapter for the keeping in of water in Cisterns.

Also you may Bed your Cellar with Clay, and then Brick or Stone it over, after the same manner as we directed before in this Chapter for the keeping of water, &c.

Or you may sink a Well or Pit near your Cellar, and some∣what lower than it, into which you place a Pump, that at such times as water annoys you, it may by that means be removed.

Sometimes it happens that the Floor of the House you live in, or the Barn you lay your Corn in, are damp or moistened by certain Springs, that some times or other do annoy them, to your great detriment, as well to your health, as injury to your Goods or Corn; which if the scituation of the place will bear it, as most usually it will, the cutting of a Trench or Ditch round a∣bout the same, of such depth as you may drain it dry by the fall that is naturally from it, will cure this disease. This Ditch or Trench may be paved, walled on the sides, and covered as you please; so that the Brick or Stone of the Wall on the side next the House or Barn be not laid with Mortar, to prevent the issue of the Water from the Earth into it.

Much Land there is in England that is capable of a very great improvement, by removing those common and stubborn Obsta∣cles, as Stones, Shrubs, Goss, Broom, &c. which are naturally produced in many places; and the faint-hearted, lazy, and some∣times beggerly Husbandman, had rather let them grow and suck out the Marrow and Fat of his Land, than bestow any cost or pains to remove them, and is contented with now and then a bundle of Bushes, &c. when the removal of them would not only be an improvement of his Land by their absence, but the materials themselves, by a right and judicious way of ordering them, might become also an additional improvement.

As first of Stones, which being picked up, and laid on heaps about the roots of either Fruit or Timber-trees planted on the Bounds, and in Rows on the Land, is a very great help and ad∣vantage to the growth of such Trees, and saves the labour of carrying them off the ground; which charge usually exceeds the charge of picking them up: This only where Stones offend, or are injurious.

Shrubs, Goss, Broom, &c. prove a very great annoyance to Husbandry; and the difficulty and charge in plucking them up, is the principal impediment to their removal, to such that are ignorant of the most dextrous ways used to that purpose; the best whereof I finde to be this, described by Mr. Plat; Viz. A very strong Instrument of Iron, like unto a Dung-fork, with three Grains or Tines, only much bigger, according to the big∣ness of the Shrubs you use it about; the upper part thereof is a very strong and long Stail, or handle, like a Leaver: Now set this Instrument at a convenient distance from the Root slope∣wise, and with a Hedging-beetle drive it in a good depth; then lift up the Stail, and place under it across an Iron-bar, or such-like Fulciment, to keep it streight, and that it sink not into the ground.

Then take hold of the Cord that before ought to have been fastened to the top of the Stail, and by this means may you Era∣dicate any Shrubs, &c. If it will not do at once, place it on the other side, &c.

These Bushes, Brakes, and suchlike, though they are of little worth or use for any other thing, yet are they very necessary and beneficial to improve the Land by burning them, being dry, ei∣ther by themselves, or under heaps of Turf, Earth, &c. as be∣fore was observed.

Some Lands are more prone and subject to Weeds, and that in some years than other, which is often occasioned by water standing on it, destroying the Corn and such Seeds that are u∣sually sown in it, and nourishing such Weeds that most delight in moisture; the only remedy whereof is to lay it dry, and add some convenient drying and lightning materials or composts thereon, as Sand, Ashes, &c.

Also some sorts of Dungs or Manures cause Weeds, as Dung made of Straw, Hawm, Fern, or suchlike, laid on Lands in any great quantity, without any other mixture of Horse-dung, Sheeps-dung, Lime, Ashes, or suchlike hot Compost, which do in some measure correct the cold and sluggish quality of it; but in some years, and on some Lands, any ordinary cold Dung begets Weeds, which injure the Corn more than the fatness of the Dung advantages; therefore Lime, Marle, Chalk, Ashes, &c. are to be preferred in most Lands.

Weeds in Pasture-lands are best destroyed by burning of it in Turfs, (as before we discovered) or by Plowing of it without burning.

Rushes, Flages, and suchlike Aquaticks, are best destroyed by

draining; so that you cut your Drains below the roots thereof, that it may take away the matter that feeds them.

The Sowthistle proves a great annoyance to some Lands, by killing the Grass, Corn, &c. although it be a sure Token of the strength of the Land: The way to destroy them, is to cut them up by the roots before feeding-time; the advantage you will re∣ceive, will answer your expence, and more.

The way to destroy this so common and known an annoyance, is to Mow it off in the Spring, whether with an Iron or Wooden Sythe, it matters not, for it will easily break; which work reite∣rate the same year as fast as it grows, and it is confidently affirm∣ed, that it will kill and destroy the Fern for ever after.

Improvement and bettering the Land by Soyling, Marling or Liming, &c. is also a principal remedy against all manner of Broom, Furze, Heath, and other suchlike trumpery, that delight only in barren Lands.

Very much differing from Mildews is the blighting of Corn; the Mildews proceeding from a different cause, and happening only in dry Summers, when on the contrary Blighting happens in wet, and is also occasioned through the too much fatness and rankness in Land; as is observed that strong Lands are usually sown with Barley, Pease, or suchlike, to abate the fertility there∣of before it be sown with Wheat, which would otherwise be subject to Blights or Blasting.

Also Wheat sown on level or low Land, in moist years is sub∣ject to the same inconveniencies; for you may observe, that the Wheat that grows on the tops of the ridges in moist years, to be better and freer than what grows in the Furrows, which is usu∣ally blighted by means of water and fatness lying more about it than the other; for Wheat naturally affects to be kept dry on moist and strong ground: Therefore as moisture, and the richness of the ground together, occasions this disease, by knowing there∣of you may easily remedy it, by laying your Land on high Ridges; which if it be never so rich, the Wheat growing there∣on will hardly be blighted, if not overcome with moisture.

Smut seems to proceed from the same cause; therefore need we to say the less.

Only that sometimes smuttiness proceeds from other causes, as by sowing of Smutty-corn, by soiling the Land with rotten Ve∣getables, as Straw, Hawm, Fern, &c.

It is confidently affirmed, that the smutty Grains of Wheat be∣ing sown, will grow and produce Ears of Smut: but I confess I have not yet tryed, and shall therefore suspend the belief thereof till I have.

The sowing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Wheat that is mixed with Smut, doth general∣ly produce a Smutty Crop (whether the Smut it self grow or not) unless it be first prepared by liming of it; which is thus done: first slake your Lime, and then moisten your Corn, and stir them well together, &c. and sow it.

Or by steeping of it in Brine, either of which are good pre∣ventions against the Smut.

You may also prepare the ground by Liming, or other ways of inriching it, with sharp or saline Dungs or Soils, and it will pro∣duce Corn free from Smut; for it is most evident, that Land often sown with the same Grain, or much out of heart, produces a smutty Crop, as may be easily perceived where the same Seed hath been sown on two sorts of Land of different goodness, the one Crop hath been smutty, the other free; so that Smuttiness seems to be a kinde of sickness incident to Corn, which may by the aforesaid means be cured; which if the Smuts themselves would really grow, and produce Smut again, all Remedies pro∣posed, and attempts to that purpose, were needless.

Notes

• Much water offending.
• Over-flowing of the Sea.
• Land-flouds.
• Standing Wa∣ters.
• Stones, Shrubs, &c.
• Chap. 5.
• Weeds.
• Chap. 5.
• Rushes, Flags, &c.
• Sowthistle.
• Fern.
• Blights and Smut.
• Smut.