Adam out of Eden: or, an abstract of divers excellent experiments touching the advancement of husbandry. Shewing, among very many other things, an aprovement of ground by rabbiss [sic],from 200 l. annual rent, to 2000 l. yearly profit, all charges deducted. / By Ad. Speed. Gent.

Obser. 8.

And farther great vertue, and worth, tis Concluded, there is in Mud of Rivers, standing Pools, and Ditches, being the soyl of pastures, and fields, common wayes, yards, and dunghills.

Shovelling of streets, highwaies, yards, and overswathes, of com∣mon land, and other lands of com∣mons, neer hedges, is very good both of themselves, and also com∣pounded with other soyl.

Mingling of grounds is exceed∣ingly advantageous, &c. Which may be conceiv'd of the muck water following, tis effected in Case of drought in time of Summer, and in the heat thereof, now and then wet∣ting over the Land, which had it been known and used this Summer might have done millions of good.

These being Concluded, to be all

excellent helps, and exceeding great advantages, I could wish that those that have great proportions of lands, should be provided with a convenient Moat or standing Pool, in some part of their grounds, and if they have not any such pond, rather than to be without it, to dig one that will contain water, and may be supplied constantly therewith by a chanel from a river, or from Moats, that are maintained by springs, and rather than fail from a Pump, or some other devise or∣conveniencie with pipes of Lead, Wood, or earth, or with the En∣gine that followeth in the subse∣quent papers.

This being Compleated, and ha∣ving water sufficient, let the first in∣gredient be a quantity of crumbling Marl, if there be any near, and with a strong Iron Rake fixed to a long Pose, let the Marle be stirred at some times of leasure to and

from you, to thicken the water, then having store of Poultry Fowl, and Pigeons, to be very carefull to preserve their dung; especially the dung of Rabbits, if any be to be had, all which, or part thereof, be∣ing cast into the Pond, to stir it som∣times as before, then having sheep, where they sit a nights in fold, you may get store of their dung, and use as the other,

In the like manner dispose of all your Cow and Horse dung with∣out the straw, and spare as many of your graines, after brewing as you can, seeing you may provide suffici∣ent food for your Swine otherwise, and to get as much of these sorts, as you can conveniently, or if you have any of these following, that you can conveniently spare, viz. Lynt∣seed, Oyl, Lees of Wine, Ale, Bear, Perry, Syder, Beef-broth, the Brine of Poudring-tubs, scra∣pings of _____ _____ or sweepings

thereof, or any liquid brackish fat∣nesse, greasy matter, or any thing that comes from or is of the fleshly matter of the creat••••e, whether by Sea or Land, that hath a secret operation in it to the Earth, like∣wise to cast into the pond a propor∣tion of Lyme, fat Chalke that is not stoned, and some bay Salt, and what blood you can get, and urine, which is most excellent for all sorts of ground, and whatsoever you shall think in your own judgement to be helpfull and advantagious there∣unto.

This work being performed, you are to provide a vessell containing a Tun, or there abouts, and being pla∣ced in a Cart, with broad wheels without Iron, such as are in Lon∣don, that they may not Root the ground much, bringing the Cart to the Pond, fill the vessell with a Tun∣nell and a Pail at a Staffs end, such as Brewers use for that purpose, or

you may cause a little scaffold to be made, such as Brewers have at the Thames side, by which means you may soon fill it and Carry it to the fields, or hill sides, and then to pro∣vide an Engine which I am now finishing, in part like that they use in London, when houses are on fire, which being placed in the middst of the street, will cast water to the ap∣permost part of the highest house, and after this manner I have seen them water sufficiently a great plat of grasse: An Engine contrived in manner like this, will water an Acre compasse at one standing, and then being drawn with low wheels, or otherwise may be removed to any other place.

A reasonable quantity of the Muck water will serve an Acre compleat∣ly, and what vertue this commixture may have in it, I leave to all impar∣tial Judgments, which I confidently have experimented in small parcels,

& but with a Gardning water-pot, I have found that it hath exceeded the best sort of muck by many degrees, which liquor must be applied to the Land, when it is fed as low as may be, and the hill sides being watered in this Manner the lower grounds will fare the better, by showers of rain, and the washings from thence.

And for Corn ground, there is an other way to be used with this Engine, being it may be contrived in manner of a Sedan with four legs, carried empty with two men, and set down without prejudice at all, the men passing with it onely in the furrowes, and then being set down and used there, may after∣wards be removed to another place, as occasion requireth, the Cart be∣ing drawn to some lane and place in the field, with the vessell of wa∣ter where it may do no hurt to the tylled lands: I have concluded in my

thoughts, how to convey the water from the vessell, to the Engine, with∣out treading or soyling the lands at all, which is so facil, and will be allowable in any mans judgement, & so continuing alway with so little charge, that I am not able at the pre∣sent to impart it with my pen, with∣out too much prolixity, and there∣fore I crave leave otherwise to finish my discourse.

This Engine being placed in a Centre, will cast the Liquor before and behinde, and on both sides, that it will mildely fall down, like a shower of rain with wonderfull successe, and may be used with or∣dinary water very advantageously, the Compasse of an Acre, of ground, at a time, on a dry time in summer both to growing Corn, and Grasse, with very much ad∣vantage.

I have known Husbandmen, after they have sowen their Corn, they

would pray that it would please God to send a shower of rain, and this Engin, with the blessing of God, will at any time comply with their desires, and make the earth so fruit∣full, that in my knowledge one acre so watered, I mean with the muck water, will render neer, if not fully twenty times more benefit, than any other acre, being tylled in the same manner, which will be (I am con∣fident) as great a benefit to this Na∣tion as ever was devised, besides I shall be able to help any man with an Engine for a small matter that will be very usefull to water grounds in this nature, and exceed∣ing convenient and commodious for Gardens, which will likewise wash off Caterpillars from all man∣ner of Fruit-Trees, and those that grow against the Walls, and those that will alter the leaves and fruit beyond belief, experience shall con∣firm as much unto you.

When your Corn is likewise steeped in the Liquor about some four and twenty hours, according to my after directions, you may expect a far greater fertility and profit, which hath been seen above one hundred for one in Corn.

When you have emptied your Pond, for these purposes, you are then before you fill it again to get out the mud, I mean the residence of the commixture, and to rake it out upon the bank side, which you may perform with the back of an old Armor; these, or one of them, being strongly fixed upon a Poles end with Iron, the inward part of the Armour bending to∣wards you, will rake up all the mud by degrees, with much fa∣cility, and thereby you may cleanse any River or Moat, without divert∣ing the Water-course going into the water, or let the water out of Moats, &c.

I have known Rivers about Cole∣brook, above forty years since, let a yard lower, besides the great be∣nefit of drawing the Rivers, and the mudd so taken out of the Ri∣vers, called small Codd was so ex∣ceeding rich, that they were mira∣culously advantagious otherwise, which I shall hereafter discover.

When you have gotten out this mudd you are before to provide a convenient place for your Straw, muck from the Stables, and Cow-Houses, &c. which must be con∣trived in this manner, or other such way according to the fancy of the Owner, viz. to incompass the place where you lay your muck with a Brick wall, about four foot high, only leaving a place for en∣trance, to fill out the muck in Carts, and by any means to cause the flooring to be stanch, not to soak, and drink in the water of the Muck-hill at all, but rather for the

prevention thereof, to make such a pavement of Brick-stone or Free∣stone if it may be had near, and the floor to be made with a little de∣scent on both sides to the middle, that the water may pass out in a Chanel into some wooden Vessel, or Cestern that may stand in the Ground near, and so low, that the Muck-water may pass into it, which may be contrived so full of vertue and fertility, that the worth of it is of high esteem, (being once truly experienced) will transcend exceedingly, and cannot be bought at too dear a rate.

There are many places where the Ground is so firm it needs not any other bottom, and the Liquor may be made by the meaner sort in Vessels, without a Pond, for small parcels of ground, and there∣by the other charges might be sa∣ved, but I first conceive it to be more proper to lay in the same quantity.

Then by digging a pit to cast certain Loads of good Sand upon the Straw, and then loads of o∣ther Earth to concorporate with it, which if it were commixed at the first it were better, but I leave the disposing of that to knowing Hus∣bandmen, to be ordered according to the condition of the soyls, be∣ing certain that any kind of earth that is moist digged out of pits without stones, may be so mingle as it may be excellent fruit full soyl, as Sand with Clay, Loam with Chalk, &c. the one very much enriching the other, as gravel ground Dung'd with Chalk, and Chalk mingled with Gravel for want of Dung; but you may use if you please only Sand, then the muck out of the Pond or Earth of Commons near the Ditch-sides, and Hedges, mud of standing Pools, Sea-weeds, which are excellent soyl, shovelings of Streets, Yards, High-waies, and

leaves of Trees: as also Sea sand, or any liquid brackish fatness, greasie or oyly matter, tarry stuff, pitch∣marks, the blood and offall of Beasts, empty marrow-bones, the dressing and remainder of Trotters of sheep, which are most excellent, the cuttings or shavings of Horns, hair, which is best to lay them up∣on the ground before the Corn is sown; then fuffer the Swine to musle it up and down.

Pilchers after the oyl is taken from them, the garbage of stinking Sprats, or the best of them when they are plentifull and cheap, they being cryed sometimes for a peny a peck about the Streets in Lon∣don.

Upon your mudd lay more straw, then more loads of Sand, &c. and as your judgement shall direct you, some Lyme properly disposed, and some fat Chalk or Marl in equal wreathes, you may likewise cast it

over in the right place with some Bay salt, and sometimes when the Straw is uppermost, or other∣wise you may spare some of your Pond water, and scatter on all the mass that will occasion the other to concorporate the better; and afford more, and richer Dung∣water.

By this means, and with in∣different charge, you may have manure sufficient to serve all your Land, and such, that one load be∣ing rightly ordered shall maintain it as well as some ten loads of your common sort of muck, and the wa∣ter that comes from it will be so rich for the steeping of your seed, that the discourse thereof till ex∣perimented would be incredible.

A Gentleman did lately assure me, that the brine of powdering Tubs did afford him as good a crop of Corn, as ever was seen grow; urine of Mankind is of very great

worth to cast upon the Muck∣hill.

Wood-ashes are best next to Soap ashes, which hath a vigorous ope∣ration of it self, and Soot is excel∣lent good also, and likewise for Pasture, being only strewed o∣ver it.

You may sometimes cast the wa∣ter that drayneth from the Muck, upon the muck heaps again, which will afford the more vegetative salt, and desend to the former receptacle more fructiferously, upon which mass and heap of muck, I must in∣stance the necessary and most be∣neficial way of a covering or sha∣dow, which I will not insist upon, but leave the result thereof, to the consideration of profounder Judge∣ments, only thus much I desire to impart to the apprehensions of others, that the salt muck heaps being exposed in Winter, to the constant showers of rain, do lose

much of their strength, the uppe part thereof being hardly worth the carriage, and spreading upon the ground.

There are ordinary muck places that have very stanch bottoms, and will contain the water without any farther charge, although the ver∣tue and goodness of the liquor in a short time make restitution to coun∣tervail all expences.

And farther, concerning the steeping of Corn to manifest the benefit of muck water. In the heat of Summer, when the Sun hath ex∣haled a great part of the coloured water from their moats and Dung∣hill-pools, and that it groweth thick∣ish and far, then reserve a good pit∣full thereof well bottomed with Clay, that will hold water, and in seed time steep your seed in it, but put the far water to it by little and little, as it drinkerh it up, that at the last it may be almost dry, sift a

small quantity of Lime amongst it, that so it may grow dry with the Lyme, then with this seed sow or set your most remote grounds from your dunghill, and by this means you will save ten times as much labour in carriage of the Dung.

Hereby excellent crops have been obtained beyond expectation, and not subject, being new sowen, to be devoured with Fowls.

I have sometimes occasioned the splitting of the Corn, as they use to do for malt, and then have sowen it, and it came up speedily, and got the predomination of the weeds at first, and so kept the same, where∣by it became of better encrease than ordinary, and it hath been suffici∣ently experimented, that when a dry season came upon sowing, that the Corn thus ordered took root far better than other mens.

It hath been an antient Custom to steep. Beans in salt water, being

usual in Kent to steep the Barly when they sow late, that it might grow the faster, and also to take a∣way the soyl from wild Oats, Cockle, &c. which will swim, also much of the light Corn, which is necessary to be taken away.

If you put Pigeons dung into the water, and let it steep all night, it will be as it were half a dunging.

Mr. Platt doth highly commend the often macerating and drying of Corn, and it is an excellent way, ac∣cording to his observation to steep Corn.

If you cover the ground in Win∣ter which you mean to break up at the Spring with good store of Fearn, it is and hath been a long time ge∣nerally commended, that it undoubt∣edly suppresseth the weeds for springing up in Winter, which would much confound part of the heart of the Ground, and doth also much fructifie the Ground for all

mannes of Roots and herbs, and very good to spread about the Al∣lies of Hop-yards, to keep the Ground warm, and to destroy the weeds and grass that would prein∣dice the fertility of the earth.

Some will burn to Ashes, Roots, and Stubble, the sword and swarth of the Ground together with Fearn, straw, stubble, thistles, heath, sedge, rushes, furs, bean stalks, which do very much advance barren Grounds, and make them most fructiferous.

Wood mingled with Clods, and superfluous earth, and so burnt, and the Ashes added to some sorts of Clay may be used with no less advantage than Marl.

And to manifest the benefit of steeping Wheat, &c. it may be performed with less plowing, and without muck, being provided with a convenient Vessel of Wood, mingle water, Dung, and Corn together, which must be stirred very well se∣veral

times, in and about Noon, the next day let the water pass away at the top as much as may be, then stir the Dung and Corn very well together, and sow it in a barren soyl, and you shall have a very plentifull crop, equal, if not tran∣scending the Corn that hath been fully Husbanded.

And further, to fortifie the waies of steeping Corn to be most admi∣rable, I desire to remember unto you what Mr. Hartlih doth illustrate, viz. put into Quick and unslack'd Lyme as much water as sufficeth to make it swim four inches above the Lyme.

And unto ten pound of the said water powred off, mix one pound of Aquavitae, and in that liquor steep or soak wheat or other Corn four and twenty hours, which being dryed in the Sun or Ayr, steep it again in the same liquor, four and twenty hours more; and so

likewise the third time, afterwards sow them at a great diffance the one from the other, about a foot be∣tween each grain, so you will find one grain will produce thirty, thir∣ty six, forty two, fifty two ears, and those very fruitfull, with a stalk equalling the stature of a man in height.

Beat off your Wallnuts after they are full ripe, and in the green husks, or without put them into good ordi∣nary earth in a Barrel or a Basket untill the begining of mid March fol∣lowing, get as much warm milk from the Cow as will steep them four and twenty hours, then set them in ground well digged, and natural for such fruit, with their little ends upwards, about three or four inches deep, and they will ac∣cording to experience exceedingly prosper, set them near one foot a∣sunder, and in a right line to weed them, at four years growth trans∣plant

them, and use the Muck wa∣ter to the roots, according to dis∣cretion, which will exceedingly advantage them in their growth, and so likewise all other plants and trees, Quicksets, &c. being well molded, which will put them for∣ward to such perfection, that you will comfortably admire thereat, which hath sufficiently been tryed of late, these are excellent for Oyl, preserves, and conserves, choose the fairest Wallnuts you can get, when you transplant, do the utmost to preserve the top roots, that being bruised expect not the tree to thrive, but it will dye and fail at the best.