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. IV. Of Hemp and Flax.

Within the compass of our Lands subject to the Culture of the Plough, may these two necessary and profitable Vegetables be propagated; requiring a competent proportion of Ground to raise a quantity sufficient to supply our ordinary occasions and ne∣cessities; in defect whereof, and meerly through our own neglect and sloath, we purchase the greatest share of these Hempen and Flaxen Commodities we use from Strangers at a dear Rate, when we have room enough to raise wherewith of the same Commodi∣ties to furnish them: But that (to our shame be it spoken) we prefer good Liquor, or at least the Corn that makes it, before any other Grain or Seed, although other may be propagated with greater facility, less hazard, and abundantly more advantageous, both to the Husbandman and Nation in general, than that.

I need not put Excuses into the Countrey-mens mouths, they have enough for their grand Negligence in this principal part of Agriculture; but that I here propose them in hopes some Wor∣thy Patriots will use their endeavours to remove these Impedi∣ments.

1. The first and most grand Impediment to this Improvement, is want of Encouragement to Trade, or a right Constitution or Ordering of Employments for the Poor throughout the Coun∣tries, which may be accomplished without charge (the common Remora to all Ingenuities) by granting some extraordinary Im∣munities to certain Societies in several places convenient in every County to be established; which being the first and chiefest thing to be done, will almost of it self remove all other Impedi∣ments.

2. The next is the defect of Experience; very few understand∣ing the way of Sowing, Gathering, Watering, Heckling, and other particular Modes in ordering these Commodities, nor yet the na∣ture of the Ground either of them delights in: All which by the President and Example of some publique and ingenious Spirits, and by the constitution of a Trade to take off the said Commodi∣ties to the Husbandmans Advantage, may easily be removed.

3. Another main Impediment to the Improvement and Propa∣gation of these and several other Staple-Commodities, not yet brought into publike use and practice, is, that the Planter after he hath been at extraordinary Expence in Fertilizing, Tilling, and Planting his Land, and in preserving and advancing the Growth of such Commodities, not only the Profit of his Land, but also of all his Expence and Labour must be decimated; which in some years amounts to more than his own clear Profits; when before such Improvements made, little Tythe was paid, as for Pasture-Lands is usual; either a reservation to the Parson of what was for∣merly paid out of such unimproved Lands, or a certain Modus de∣cimandi,

according to the nature of the Commodity planted, might prove a very great Encouragement to the Husbandman, an infinite Advantage to the Nation in general, and not the least in∣jury or loss to the Clergy or Impropriator. Some other Impedi∣ments there are, and also other Propositions might be made for the Advancement of this and several other Commodities, but they require more time to treat of, than in this place we may dispense withal.

Hemp delights in the best Land, warm and sandy, or a little gravelly, so it be rich and of a deep Soil; cold Clay, wet and moorish is not good: It is good to destroy Weeds on any Land. The best Seed is the brightest, that will retain its colour and sub∣stance in Rubbing: three Bushels will sowe an Acre; the richer the Land, the thicker it must be sown; the poorer, the thinner: from the beginning to the end of April is the time of sowing, according as the Spring falls out earlier or later; it must be carefully preser∣ved from Birds, who will destroy many of the Seeds.

The Season of Gathering of it is first about Lammas, when a good part of it will be ripe, that is the lighter Summer-hemp that bears no Seed, and is called the Fimble-hemp, and the Stalk grows white; and when it is ripe it is most easily discernable, which is about that season to be pulled forth and dried, and laid up for use; you must be cautious of breaking what you leave, lest you spoil it: you must let the other grow till the Seed be ripe, which will be about Michaelmas, or before; and this is usually called the Karle-Hemp. When you have gathered and bound it up in bundles, in Bonds of a yard compass (the Statute-measure) you must stack it up, or house it till you thrash out the Seed. An Acre of Hemp may be worth unwrought from five to eight pound; if wrought up, to ten or twelve pound or more; and is a very great succour to the poor, the Hempen Harvest coming after o∣ther Harvests: And then in the bad, wet, and Winter-seasons it affords continual employment to such also that are not capable of better.

But for the Method and right way of Watering, Pilling, Brea∣king, Tewtawing, &c. I shall leave you to such that are experien∣ced therein, finding no certain Rules left us by our Rustick Au∣thors.

This is also a very excellent Commodity, and the Tilling and Ordering thereof a very good piece of Husbandry; it will thrive in any good sound Land be it in what Country soever, but that is best that hath layen long unploughed: the best Land yields the best Flax, and raises the greatest Improvement. The Land must be well ploughed, and laid flat and even, and the Seed sown in a warm season, about the middle or end of March, or at farthest in the beginning of April. If it should come a wet season, it would require weeding.

The best Seed is that which comes from the East Countrey, al∣though it cost dear, yet it will easily repay the Charge, and will last indifferent well two or three Crops, then it's best to renew it

again: Of the best Seed two Bushels may serve on an Acre, but more of our English Seed, because it groweth smaller. You must be sure to sowe it on good Land, because it robs the ground much and burneth it, as anciently it was observed by Virgil, Ʋrit enim lini Campum Seges, but it liberally repayeth it.

You must be careful that it grow not till it be over-ripe, nor to gather it before it be ripe; the ripeness is best known by the Seed; at the time let the Pluckers be nimble, and tie it up in hand∣fulls, and set them up until they be perfectly dry, and then house it.

An Acre of good Flax on the Ground may be worth, if it be of the best Seed, from seven to twelve pound, yea far more; but if it be wrought up fit to sell in the Market, it may come to fifteen or twenty pound.

As for the Watering, Drying, Breaking, and Tewtawing, as we said before of Hemp, we must refer to those that are better expe∣rienced therein.

Notes

• Impediments to the sowing of Hemp and Flax.
• Want of Trade an Impediment.
• Want of Expe∣rience an Im∣pediment.
• Tythes an Im∣pediment.
• Hemp.
• Value of Hemp.
• Flax.
• Best Seed.
• Value of Flax: