This St. Foyn, or Holy-hay, hath in several places of England * 1.1 obtained the preferrence above Clover-Grass, for that it thrives so well, and is so great an Improvement on our barren Lands, where the other will not; it being also natural to our timorous Rusticks not to hazard Land that will yield them any considerable advan∣tage any other way, on any new method of Husbandry; but if they have a Corner of Land that is of little use to them, they will perhaps bestow a little Seed on it, and but few of that minde nei∣ther. Then it continues longer in proof than Clover-Grass, which wears out in a few years; this continues many, which is a daily provocation to the sloathful to go so near and plain a way, when so long time trodden before his face. In Wiltshire in several pla∣ces there are Presidents of St. Foyn, that hath been these twenty years growing on poor Land, and hath so far improved the same, that from a Noble per Acre, twenty acres together have been constantly worth thirty shillings per Acre, and yet continues in good proof.
If it be sowen on the poorest and barrennest Land we have, it * 1.2 will thrive, and raise a very considerable Improvement, for on rich Land the Weeds destroy it; besides, it meliorateth and fer∣tilizeth the Land whereon it hath stood for many years, and not barrennizeth it, as it usual with Annual Seeds. You may break it up, and sowe it with Corn till it be out of heart, and then sowe it with St. Foyn as formerly: it will thrive on dry and bar∣ren Grounds where hardly any thing else will; the roots being great and deep, are not so soon dried by the parching heat of the Sun, as of other Grasses they are.
It must be sowen in far greater quantity than the Clover-seed, * 1.3 because the Seed is much larger and lighter. It may be sowen with Oats or Barley, as the Clover: about equal parts with the Grain you sowe it will serve; always remembring you sowe your Grain but thin. Be sure you make your Ground fine for this and other French Seeds, as you usually do for Barley. Fear not the sowing of the Seeds too thick; for being thick they sooner stock the Ground, and destroy all other Grasses and Weeds. Some advise to howe these Seeds in, like Pease in Ranges, though not so far distant, the better to destroy the Weeds between it: this will bear this way of husbandry better than the Clover, because that hath but a small Root, and requires to shadow the Ground more than this. Feed it not the first year, because the sweetness thereof will provoke the Cattle to bite too near the Ground, very much to the injury of your St. Foyn; but you may mow it with your Barley or Oats, or if sown by it self, the first year.