The improvement improved by a second edition, or, The great improvement of lands by clover, or, The wonderful advantage by, and right management of clover by Andrew Yarranton ...

The great Improvement of Land by Clover.

IN my former Discourse of Clover, I gave you a short accompt of the per∣sons that have writ on this subject, and when this husbandry was first set on foot in England; the repetition of which, for brevity sake I shall omit, and onely give you an accompt of some of their observations and e••periments, as I finde them pertinent to the method I intend in this little book. And this I do, because I finde some will not take the pains, others cannot spare the time, which the reading of those books doth require: but whoso∣ever pleaseth to read those former writings about Clover, and compare their experi∣ence with ours of late, will see much of the

reason, why that husbandry seemed to be wholly disused for a time. For though those Gentlemen writ very well, conside∣ring it was in the infancy of Clover in Eng∣land; yet they came far short of that know∣ledge, which men (less ingenious) have of late attained to by practice and experi∣ence; so that the first directions from those men were not what now may be given.

Those improvements of Land, which are now much used, and applauded amongst us, were once as much decryed (as ever Clover hath been) before we well under∣stood them. And what improvement (e∣ven to admiration) have some men made of their Estates, by such ways and means as seemed improbable to such men, who in a short time have followed their examples, when they have seen th•••••• successes; where∣as, if by any accident•••• miscarriage in the management of it they have seen the first authours in any measure fallen short of that profit propounded to themselves, they would presently have cried out against the whole, and abhorred the thoughts of any further tryal, in stead of inquiring wherein the miscarriage lay, and endeavouring to prevent it in the next essay: such is the

unreasonable impatience of some men, not considering that knowledge in all arts, espe∣cially in Husbandry, is attained by in∣dustry, observation, often practice, and patience. Though we now know much more of the nature of Clover, then we did a few years since, and the whole Country is very much convinced of the extraordinary profit, and usefulness of it; yet a few years practice more, will give us much more light into it.

I remember about two years ago, it was objected by some (of which I hear nothing now in these parts) that some, that did sow this Seed, have left off the sowing of it, not finding that profit in it, which is talked of. It is true; and it is as true, that many men after they have some time used and im∣ployed themselves in trades that are very advantagious, and by which others have got great Estates, yet finding no profit to be got by them (as they conceive) have disused the said Trades, and betaken them∣selves to other imployments; when indeed the fault was not in the Trade, but in the person or management of it.

About 13 years since, Sir Richard Weston by observation, and discouse with Mer∣chants

and others in his travels in Flanders and Brabant, and other parts, found that there was very great profit raised out of poor and barren Lands, by sowing it with Clover: whereupon he set on foot that Husbandry herein his own Country, and in a little time it so spread it self, that there was some of it (more or less) sowed in most Counties in England: and as it began, so it continued in some repute for a time, but shortly after some began to be discou∣raged, and at last it was in a great measure laid asid: & indeed it was almost impossible it should be otherwise, for it was then un∣der these (amongst other) disadvantages.

1. First, it was then a new, and for∣raign sort of Husbandry, and therefore suspected; and suspition ever aggravates e∣very little inconvenience to the damage, and taketh no notice of what is for the cre∣dit of that which is suspected.

2. The Seed was dea••, worth two shil∣lings the pound, so that then it was chargeable trying experiments to finde out the nature of it: and if any man failed, he was exasperated by his loss to speak the worst of it.

3. In all trials there must be many

miscarriages, all men (almost) here in England being ignorant how to manage it: and hence it is: First, instead of 12 li. they sow but 5 or 6 li. upon an Acre, so that it was a wonder if any came up, that the natural Grass and Weeds did not choak it all.

Secondly, some sowed upon extream wet, and gawled Land, which retaineth the wet; and others upon extream binding clay Land, which will not bear it, and wherein it could never get any good root∣ing.

Thirdly, some buried it all in the sowing and harrowing; and some, lest they should bury it, did not sufficiently cover it; and of this the Birds had more then their share.

Fourthly, some sowed it upon such Land as had not strength enough to bear any thing; for men had a conceit, that it would grow upon any Land, though never so poor; and in this also many times it must fail them: for though it would bring ad∣vantage upon such Land, as would scarce yeeld our rent in grass, or pay our charge and rent in tillage; yet we must not expect that profit upon poor Land, which may be

raised upon better, until it's brought into a better capacity by good Husbandry: and there is some Land, which will bear no∣thing in the condition it is in.

Fifthly, some destroyed it immediately after it came up out of the ground, while it was tender, by the grazing and treading of Cattle. I might mention many more, as mixing the Seed with Sand, sowing upon Land wherein the natural Grass was not sufficienty destroyed by tillage, or upon Land that was not well prepared before, I mean, not mellow and made fine, for it de∣lights much in a soft bed.

Sixthly, and some, through ignorance of the danger, put their Oxen and Kine hasti∣ly into it, whereby they have sustained loss. Many such disparagements through our ignorance and unskilfulness hath it met with to it's detriment.

Seventhly, especially, the Seed was very bad; where one pound was good (I think I may say) three was either old, mixt, cor∣rupted at Sea, or afterwards at Land by bad keeping it; and many men, to save something in the price, bought such Seed as was worth nothing. I am apt to think, that one of the greatest discredits this Hus∣bandry

hath met with, hath been from the Seed: it were too long to tell you, what en∣vious base arts were used in Flanders and other parts (as Kiln-drying, &c.) to pre∣vent our having good Seed, lest we should get the perfect art of Clover, as well as they: so that much of the Seed being bad, never came up; and being dear, the loss was great, and the disappointment no less, and in this case, the Country had no remedy, not knowing good Seed from bad, but must take such they could get, or none; which made many (after a few trials) disuse it, rather then run the hazard of such chargeable adventures. Now to pre∣vent these or any other obstructions for the future, the following directions are in∣tended; and Seed, that is certainly good and new, will be sold at the places hereaf∣ter mentioned.

But in regard it hath been objected, that Clover doth improverish the Land (though experience hath fully answered this ob∣jection with us) I crave your patience, while I give answer to it; for the sake of such, who have not had Clover amongst them long enough, to make a sufficient tri∣al of it, so as to know the truth whether it do or not.