_Of Pasture grounds, their order, profit, and generall vse._
[Sidenote: Diuersities and vse of Pastures.]
Hauing alreadie sufficiently entreated of errable Grounds, Gardens,
Orchards, and Woods of all kindes, I thinke it most méete (as falling
in his due place) here to write of Pasture grounds, which are of two
kindes: the first, such Pastures as lye in wood land, mountainous,
or colde climes, and are enclined to hardnesse and barrennesse, and
therefore onely imployed to the bréeding and bringing forth of Cattell:
the other such as lye in lowe, warme, and fruitfull soyles, and are
most fertile and aboundant in encrease, onely imployed to the fatting
and féeding of Cattell.
[Sidenote: Of barraine Pastures.]
[Sidenote: Signes of barrainnesse.]
And now to speake of the first sort of Pasture, which being somewhat
barraine, is preserued for bréeding, you shall vnderstand that it is
generally dispierced ouer all this Kingdome, and particularly into
euery Countrey, for according to the veanes and mixture of the earth,
such is either the richnesse or pouerty of the same, and of those
seuerall mixtures I haue spoken sufficiently before in that part of
this Booke, which entreateth of errable ground. Then to procéede to
my purpose, it is the first office of the Husbandman when he séeth
and knoweth the true nature of his earth, and perceiueth from perfect
iudgement that it is of very hard encrease, which as the temper and
mixture of the soyle assures him, so also he shall better confirme by
these fewe signes and Charracters, which I will deliuer: as first, if
he sée grasse slow of growth, and that no Spring will appeare before
May. If in stead of Clouer-grasse, Dandylion, and Honisuckle, you sée
your ground furnished with Penigrasse, Bents, and Burnet. If you sée
much Knot-grasse or Speare-grasse, or if you perceiue the scorching of
the Sunne burne away the grasse as fast as the raine had brought it
forth: or if you finde quarries of stone néere vnto the vpper swarth of
grasse; or if your ground bring forth Lyng, Bracken, Gorse, Whynnes,
Broome, Bilburie, or Strawburie: or if your ground be morish, full of
quick-myers, mossie or full of blacke Flint, any of these signes make
it to be most apparant that the soyle is barraine and of hard encrease.
[Sidenote: Bettering of soyles.]
[Sidenote: Sowing of good seedes.]
[Sidenote: For abundance of grasse.]
And then as before I said it is the Husbandmans first office to prouide
for the bettering and perfecting of his earth, which he shall doe in
this sort. First, if he perceiue that the barrainnesse of his ground
procéedes from want of good Plants, as from want of Clouer-grasse,
Dandylion, Honisuckle, Cowslop, and other swéet flowers, then he shall
repaire into the fruitfull Countries, and there buy the hay séedes
and swéepings of hay-barne-flowers, which he shall euery Spring and
fall of the leafe sowe, as thin as may be, vpon such Pastures, as he
shall either lay for meddow, or preserue for the latter Spring after
Michaelmas. But if he respect not the goodnesse of grasse, but the
abundance of grasse, as those husbands doe which liue in or about
great Cities, then he shall dung those grounds which he will lay for
meddow at Candlemasse; or those which he will graze or eate in the
first beginning of the Spring, at Michaelmasse before, with the oldest
and rottennest meanure he can get, of which the best is the rotten
staddell or bottomes of Hay-stackes, or for want of it the meanure of
horse-stables, swéepings, and scowrings of yards and barnes, the mudde
of olde ditches, or else good Oxe or Cow meanure, any of which will
bring forth abundance of grasse.
[Sidenote: The imperfection of meanure.]
Yet thus much I must aduertise the Husbandman, that this meanuring of
Pasture grounds carries with it diuers imperfections, for though it
occasion abundance of grasse to growe, yet the meddow or hay which
comes thereof, is so ranke, loggie, and fulsome in tast, that a beast
taketh no ioy to eate thereof, more then to holde very life and soule
together. Also the grasse thus meanured which you intend to graze or
eate with your Cattell, is by meanes of the meanure so loose at the
roote, that Cattell as they bite plucke vp both the grasse, roote, and
all, which being of strong & ranke sent in the mouth of a beast, maketh
him loathe and cast it out againe, and so not striue to eate to be fat,
but onely to maintaine life.
[Sidenote: To helpe a slow Spring.]
Now if your Spring be slow, and late in the yéere before your grasse
will appeare aboue ground, it is méete then that you enclose your
ground, and not only maintaine the fences with high and thicke
Quick-sets, but also with tall Timber-trées, whose shade and strength
may defend many colde blasts from the earth, and adde vnto it a more
naturall warmenesse then it had before, for it is onely the coldnesse
of the soyle which makes the grasse long before it grow. Also in this
case it is méete that you lay (as the husbandman tearmes it) all such
Pasture as you intend to graze at the spring following, in Nouember
before, & so not being bitten from that time till Aprill following, no
doubt but your spring will be both good and forward. There be others
which helpe their slow springing grounds by stocking them in the latter
end of the yéere with great abundance of shéepe, who although they bite
néere to the ground, and leaue little grasse behinde them, yet they
so tread and meanure it with their hot meanure, that it will spring
after it commeth to rest, much more early and faster then it was wont.
So that to conclude in a word, to make a barren ground spring earely,
is to kéepe it warme, let it haue long rest, and meanure it well with
Shéepe.
[Sidenote: To help Knot-grasse and Speare-grasse.]
If your ground be troubled with Knot-grasse or Speare-grasse, it is a
signe of too much colde moysture in the earth, and in this case you
shall with a great common Plough, made for such a purpose, turne vp
great furrowes through your ground, and make them so descend and fall
one into another, that not onely the moysture bred in the earth, but
that which falls vpon the earth, may haue a swift passage from the
same, and so your soyle being drayned and kept dry, all those wéedy
kindes of grasse will soone perish.
[Sidenote: To helpe Sun-burning.]
[Sidenote: To helpe quarries of stone.]
If your ground be subiect to the scorching or burning of the Sunne,
then you shall vnderstand that it is directly contrary to the last
soyle we spake of: for as that by too much moysture is made barraine
by colde, so this by too much want of moysture is made barraine with
heate: wherefore the Husbandman shall in this case draw all his
draynes, to bring moysture into his ground, which sometimes watring
and sometimes ouer-flowing the same, will in the end bring it to a
reasonable fertility, for it is a rule, that where there may be
ouerflowes, there can seldome be any hurt by Sunne-burning, vnlesse
that such soyles be vpon Limestone ground, or néere vnto other
quarries of hard stone, which lying néere vnto the vpper swarth of
the grasse, doth so burne the roote, that the vpper branches cannot
prosper. In this case the bringing in of water doth rather hurt then
good, wherefore your best course is partly by your owne industry, and
partly by the labours of others, who are traded in such commodities,
to let forth your ground to Stone-diggers or Lime-makers, who digging
the quarries out of the earth, and then filling vp the emptie places
with rubbish and other earth, the soyle will in short space become as
fruitfull as any other, for it is onely the want of taking roote; or
the burning vp of the roote, which makes this kinde of earth barraine.
[Sidenote: To help Ling, Braken, &c.]
Now if your ground bring forth Ling, Braken, Gorse, Whinnes, or such
like: you shall pare off the vpper swarth of the earth, and lay it in
the Sunne to dry, in the height or heate of Sommer, and being throughly
dried, you shall lay them in round hollow heapes one sod ouer another,
then putting fire vnto them, burne them into ashes, which done, spread
the ashes, like a meanure, ouer all the ground, and you shall sée those
wéedes will no more spring or grow in that ground.
[Sidenote: To helpe morishnesse or quick-myers.]
If your ground be morish or full of quicke myers, you shall then by
small draynes or trenches draw away the water, and turne it into some
lower ditch or current, and so bringing the ground to a stability or
firmenesse, there is no doubt but fruitfulnesse, will presently follow
after.
[Sidenote: To helpe mossinesse.]
Lastly, if your ground be mossie, and bring forth in stead of grasse
onely a soft fussie and vnwholsome mosse, your onely best way to cure
the fault, is in the Winter time to tread it much with the féete of
Cattell, as by making of Hay-stacks in diuers parts of such ground, and
so fodring your Cattell about the same, and so yéerely altering the
places of your Stackes or Réekes to goe ouer all your ground, & without
doubt the treading of the ground will kill the mosse, and the meanuring
of the Cattell, and the expence of Hay-séeds vpon the ground, will
soone bring the earth to much fruitfulnesse and goodnesse.
[Sidenote: The generall vse of barraine grounds.]
Now for the generall vse of these barraine grounds, it is to be
vnderstood, that albe by the meanes before shewed, they may be helpt
or bettered, yet they are but onely for bréede or encrease of Cattell.
Whether the grounds be seuerall and enclosed, or vniuersall and
common: whether they be Woods, Parkes, or Pastures, or Heathes, Mores,
Downes, or other wilde and vnlimitted places, and these grounds shall
be deuided into thrée parts, the first and most fruitfullest lying
lowest, lying néerest to the riuer or some running streame, you shall
preserue for meddow, and not suffer any beast to bite vpon the same
from Candlemasse, vntill the hay be taken from the ground. The second
part, you shall graze or eate from Candlemasse till Lammas, which would
be that which lieth most plaine and bleake, and most subiect to all
weathers. And the third part, which is the warmest and safest, you
shall graze from all-Hollantide till Candlemasse, and betwixt Lammas
and all-Hollantide you shall eate vp your eddish or after-crop of your
meddowes.
[Sidenote: What Cattell are to be bred.]
Now whereas I speake generally, that these barraine grounds are for
the bréede of Cattell, yet you shall vnderstand me particularly, as
namely, what Cattell for what soyle, for euery barraine earth will not
bring forth Cattell alike, as some will beare a faire Cowe or Oxe, yet
but a little Horse: and some will bring forth a very goodly Horse, yet
but a very little horned beast, therefore you shall obserue that if
your ground lye any thing lowe, or be subiect to much moysture, and so
not extreamely barraine, but although the Spring be late, yet after
it springeth, it yéeldeth a reasonable bit, this ground is fittest to
bréede Cattell vpon, as Cowe, Oxe, and such like: but if it lye high
and dry, if it be stonie or mountainous, haue much reflection of the
Sunne: or though it be some-what more barraine then the former earth,
and in the best part of the Spring yéeld but a short, yet swéet bit,
this ground is fittest to bréede a faire and large horse vpon: but if
it be extreamely barraine colde and moyst, stonie or mossie, so it
be replenished with any good store of Vnderwood, then it is fit to
bréede small hard Nags vpon, or Geldings of a meaner size, Goates,
wilde-Swine, or such like. And lastly, if it be extreame barraine,
colde, and dry, and altogether without any kinde of shelter, but
subiect to euery blast whatsoeuer, this ground is fit onely to bréede
Shéepe vpon, as we sée by daily experience in the seuerall parts of
this Kingdome: so that to conclude, you shall beare in your memorie,
that where you bréede your beast, would be reasonable bit: where you
bréede your Horse good ayre and warmth, and where you bréede your
Shéepe, there much spaciousnesse of ground. And thus much briefly for
the nature and vse of your barraine grounds.
[Sidenote: Of fertill grounds.]
Now to procéede to your fruitfull and rich grounds, whose very encrease
and abundance of grasse, without any other curious relation shewes
their fertility, there is little obseruation to be held in the ordering
& disposing of them, for being naturally good of themselues, there
néedeth little Art to the maintainance of the same, onely to haue an
especiall care to the fencing and safe kéeping of them, to the due time
of eating them with your Cattell, and to obserue a fit proportion
of rest for them, in which they may grow and gather head for the
maintainance of such beasts as shall féede vpon them. And to these, as
an especiall rule aboue the rest, must be added a carefull diligence
not to ouer-stocke or loade your ground with more Cattell then it may
conueniently beare, for if your ground be neuer so fruitfull, if it be
ouer-prest with multitudes of Cattell, it cannot by any meanes yéeld
you the profit of your expectation, but returne you losse and dammage.
[Sidenote: The deuision of rich grounds.]
These fruitfull and rich grounds would be deuided into two parts,
the one pastures, or grounds for continuall féeding or nourishing of
Cattell all the yéere, the other meddowes, from whence you shall gather
your Winters prouision of Hay, for the preseruation of your Cattell,
which are either for labour or sale in the Market, and of these two
parts I will speake seuerally.
[Sidenote: The generall vse of rich grounds.]
Yet before I begin to speake largely of them, it is méete you know the
generall vse of these rich and fruitfull grounds, which is indéede
the féeding or fatting vp of Cattell, either for foode in your owne
house, or for sale in the Market, to the Butcher, Drouer, or men
of such like place or profession. For indéede to bréede much vpon
these rich grounds, is neither profitable to the Husbandman, nor is
the beaste so bred, either so comely or Market-able, as those bred
in the harder soyles, as wée may note in our experience, if we will
suruay the bréedes of Cattell in _Gloster_-shire, _Sommerset_-shire,
and _Lincoln_-shire, which for the most part are bred vpon excéeding
rich and fertile ground: yet if we take view of them, we shall finde
that albe they are tall and large, yet they are of slender shape,
leane-thighed, crumple-horned, and oft tender and dry skinned, which
is a fault very note-worthie amongst Graziers, and indéede are nothing
so eyely and Market-able, as those beasts are which are bred in
_Yorke_-shire, _Darby_-shire, _Lancashire_, and such like, all which
are bred vpon hard and barraine grounds, yet haue goodly, large, and
round bodies, close trust, thicke, and well coupled together, faire
heads, veluet skinnes, and as the Prouerbe is, are so beautifull in
horne and haire, that they are euery mans money, in euery Market. So
that I conclude, that albe vpon the rich ground you may bréede good
Cattell, and it is necessary also so to doe for the maintaynance of
stocke, yet the generall vse, and that which is the greatest profit to
the English husbandman, is to graze and féede the same.
[Sidenote: Of Pastures and ordering them.]
Now to procéede to my former purpose, touching that part of rich ground
which I call Pasture, because it is onely for féeding, you shall first
prouide that they be very well fenced, according to the nature of the
Country, either with ditch, pale, rayle, dead hedge, or quicke-growth:
you shall also sée that they be well stored with water, that is swéet
and wholesome, for putrified water bréedeth many mortall and infectious
diseases amongst Cattell. These Pastures must euer be your highest
ground, and such as lye safest from inundations. Those Pastures which
you lay or giue rest to from the beginning of Nouember, you may féede
at Candlemasse following with heilding beasts, or such as are but
beginning to féede, but with your fat beasts not till our Ladies day
after: those Pastures which you lay or giue rest to at Candlemasse, you
may very well féede at May following: those which you giue rest to at
May-day, you may féede at Midsommer, for then the spring is swift and
plentifull: those you lay at Midsommer, you may féede at Lammas, those
you lay at Lammas, you may féede in October, and generally all the
Winter following: onely you shall obserue, that those Pastures which
lye most in danger of water, or any other casualtie, be first eaten,
least by too long delaying an vnseasonable time come, and so you be
both preuented of your hope and profit.
[Sidenote: Manner of feeding of cattell.]
In the eating of your Pasture grounds, are many things to be obserued,
as first for the féeding of your fat Cattell, you must by all meanes
be sure that they haue full bite, which is to say, length of grasse:
for cattell, whose tongues are the principall gatherers vp of their
foode, neither can nor will bite néere vnto the ground, except it be
extreame hunger which compels them, and then they take little ioy in
their foode. Next you shall oft (as any fit occasion will giue you
leaue) remoue and shift them into fresh grounds, and not expect that
they should eate your grasse downe to the bottome, but onely as it were
scumme and take the vppermost and choisest part thereof, and so they
will féede both swiftly and throughly: and for that grasse which they
shall leaue behinde them, you shall eate it vp after them with your
labouring or worke-cattell, and lastly with your shéepe. It is very
good also amongst your fat beasts euer to haue a leane horse or two:
for your fat beasts taketh delight to féede with them, and sometimes
to bite after them, there being as it were a kinde of sympathie or
liking of each others tastes. After your grasse is fully knit, and
hath receiued his whole strength, which wil be at Midsommer, then you
may suffer your fat beast to eate a little néerer vnto the ground
till after Lammas, because there is an extraordinarie swéetnesse
therein, springing from the heate of the Sunnes beames onely. These few
obseruations well kept, there is no doubt but your Cattell will féede
well to your contentment, then when you sée that they are sufficiently
fed, according to the ayme of your purpose, whether it be for the vse
of your houshold, or the vse of the Market, you shall forth-with imploy
them accordingly, for it is both the losse of time and money, not to
put them off by sale or otherwise, so soone as they are come to the
end of your desire. For those rich grounds will sometimes make two
returnes in the yéere, sometimes thrée, which is a great profit. And I
haue heard sometimes of foure, but it is very rare, and the Cattell so
returned must be very well stricken with flesh before they be put vnto
féeding, but if your ground will returne leane beasts fat twice through
the yéere, it is commodity sufficient.
[Sidenote: How to know a fat Beast.]
Now because it is not sufficient to say sell or kill your Cattell
when they are fat, except you haue the Art and skill to know the
same, you shall obserue these few rules following, and they will
sufficiently instruct you in the same. First, when you sée your beast
in the generall shape and composure of his body shew most faire and
beautifull, each member being comely, and each bone couered, in such
sort as a perfect shape requireth, as no eye is so stupid as cannot
tell when a beast looketh well or ill-fauouredly, you shall then guesse
the beast to be well fed, especially when you sée his huckle-bones
round and not sharpe, his ribs smooth, not rough, his flankes full, his
natch thick, and his cod round. This when you shall perceiue, you shall
handle him, and griping him vpon the neathermost ribs, if you féele
the skinne loose, and the substance soft vnder your hand, you may be
well assured that the beast is very well fed outwardly, that is vpon
the bones. You shall then lay your hand vpon his round huckle-bones,
and if that féele, vnder your hand, soft, round and plumpe, you shall
be assured that the beast is well fed both outwardly and inwardly,
that is, both in flesh and tallow: then you shall handle him at the
setting on of his taile, and if that handle bigge, thicke, full, and
soft, it is a true signe that the beast is very well fed outwardly:
then handle his natch-bones which are on both sides the setting on of
his taile, and if they féele soft and loose, it is a signe that he is
well fed, both outwardly and inwardly. Lastly, you shall handle his cod
and nauell, if it be of an Oxe, and the nauell onely if it be a Cowe,
and if they handle thicke, round, soft, great, and plumpe, it is a most
assured signe that the beast is very well tallowed within. And thus
when any of these parts or members shall handle in contrary manner,
you shall iudge of the contrary effects. And thus much touching the
knowledge of a fat beast.
[Sidenote: Of Meddowes and their ordering.]
Now for the second part of these rich grounds, which are meddowes,
they ought to be the most fruitfullest and richest of all other, lying
low and leuell, and being now and then in the Winter season washt with
inundations, yet not too too much drencht or washt with the same: for
as the moderate ouerflowing of waters enricheth and fertiles the soyle,
to the too much soking or long resting of the water rotteth the earth,
& bringeth it to barrainnesse, neither is it altogether necessary that
euery meddowe should lye so low that it might be ouerflowed, for there
be some high grounds which are frée from those floods which will beare
meddow in very sufficient manner, & although the lower meddowes doe
abound in the plenty of grasse, yet the higher grounds euer beareth
the swéeter grasse, and it is a rule amongst Husbandmen, that the low
meddowes do fill, but the high meddowes do féede, the low are for the
Stable, but the high are for the Cratch, and that which is long will
maintaine life, but that which is short will bréede milke.
[Sidenote: Preseruation of Meddowes.]
The chiefest respect you shall haue to your meddowes, is to defend and
preserue them from Moales, and such like vermine, which roote vp the
earth, and destroy the swéet and tender roots of the grasse. Next, that
you note in what places of the meddow the water standeth longest, &
from thence, by small furrowes or draynes, to giue it a frée passage,
so that the meddow may as it were cleanse & be dry in one instant.
Lastly, you shall maintaine the banks of all such ditches & other
fences bordring about your meddowes in good and sufficient manner, both
for kéeping out of water after your meddowes begin to grow, as also for
kéeping Cattell from eating them in the night or other times, which is
a great depriuation and losse of the profit you expect to come from
them: for you shall vnderstand, that if any ouerflow shall come vnto
your meddowes after May, it will leaue such a sandy filthinesse in the
grasse, that except very moderate showers fall swiftly, and sodainly,
to wash it out againe, the Hay which shall be got of that crop, will
both be vnsauorie and vnwholsome, and bréed in your Cattell many
dangerous and mortall sicknesses.
[Sidenote: When to lay Meddowes.]
The best times for laying of meddowes to rest, is, if the meddow
lye high, as in vp-land Countries, or if the soyle be cold, or the
springing thereof slow, at Candlemasse: but if the ground be more
warme, temperate, & of some more fertility, then you may lay it at
our Ladies day in March: but if the ground be most fruitfull, then if
you lay it at May-day, it will be early enough. Also in the laying of
your meddowes to rest, you shall consider the state of the ground, as
whether it be eaten néere and bare, and with what Cattell, as Horse,
Oxen, or Shéepe: if it haue béene eaten bare with Oxen or Horse, then
you shall lay it earlier in the yéere, for it will aske a longer time
to grow againe: but if it haue béene eaten with Shéepe (although they
bite néerest to the ground) yet you may lay it so much later, because
the meanure which they bestow vpon such good ground, will quickly
hasten on the Spring: but if your meddowes haue not béene eaten bare,
but haue a good déepe fogge vpon them still, then you may lay them the
latest. Also in the laying of meddowes, you shall consider whether
they be common or priuate, if they be common meddowes, and that no
olde custome binde you to the contrary, you shall lay them to rest
earely in the yéere, that recouering a forward Spring, you may cut
them so much the sooner, and so haue the better after-crop, and the
longer time to eate it: but if your meddow be priuate, and at your owne
particular disposing, then you shall lay it according to your owne
necessitie, and the goodnes of the soyle, obseruing euer to giue it
full time of growth, and not to cut it till the grasse be full ripe,
for it is better to let it grow a wéeke too long (so the weather be
seasonable for the withering of it) then to cut it two dayes too soone,
because when it is too earely cut, it not onely looseth the strength
and goodnesse, but also the substance and waight, and in the drying
shrinketh and wasteth to nothing.
[Sidenote: When to mow Meddowes.]
Touching the fittest time to cut or mowe your meddowes: If they be
laid in a due season, it is held of all the best English husbandmen
generally to be a wéeke or a fortnight after Midsommer day, as namely
about the translation of Thomas, which is euer the seauentéenth day of
Iuly, and without question it is a very good time for all men to begin
that labour, if their grounds be fruitfull and of earely growth: but
in as much as diuers grounds are diuers in their growth, some being
much more hastie then other some: and for as much as some meddow may
as well grow too long as too little a time, as in high land Countries,
where the heate and reflection of the Sunne will burne and consume away
the grasse, if it be not gathered in a due season, I would therefore
wish euery good Husbandman about a wéeke before Midsommer, and a wéeke
after, to view his meddowes well, and if he sée them turne browne, if
the Cock-heads turne downeward and stand not vpright, if the Bels and
other vessels of séede open and shed their séedes, if your Honisuckles
haue lost their flowers, and the Penigrasse be hard, dry, and withered,
then you shall truly vnderstand that your meddow is ripe and ready
to be mowne, and the longer it standeth, the more it will loose of
the substance, and when any of the contrary signes appeare, as when
the meddow lookes gréene and fresh, the Cock-heads looke vpright, the
Bels are close and hard, the Honisuckles flowing and purple, and the
Penigrasse soft and moyst, then is your meddow not readie to cut, nor
will the Hay that is so gotten be other then soft, fuzzie, and most
vnwholsome, no beast taking delight to eate of the same.
[Sidenote: The inclination of the weather.]
Now to these considerations, you shall adde a carefull obseruation
of the state and inclination of the weather, and if you finde that
the weather is disposed to much wet or incertaintie, then you shall
forbeare to mowe, because that moysture will still maintaine and hold
the grasse in his perfect strength so long as it groweth: but if it be
once cut downe, then the wet will soone rot and spoile it: but if you
find the weather enclined to drought and fairenesse, then you shall
with all spéede cut downe your Hay, for one loade got and brought into
the barne without raine, is worth two that hath béene washt, though
but with the smallest shower. There be some Husbandmen that in the
mowing of their meddowes, will obserue the state of the Moone, and
other planetarie coniectures, but they are fitter for those which
séeke curiosities more then profit, for mine owne part I would wish
euery good husband but to know truly when his crop is ripe, and then
to gather it in the most constant and fairest seasons, which the rules
already set downe will most amply shew him.
[Sidenote: The manner how to mowe Meddowes.]
Now for the manner of mowing your meddowes, although the generall act
resteth in the hands of the mower, and that it is hard and impossible,
in words, to expresse the Art of the action, nor is it néedfull that
euery Husbandman be a mower, yet for those rules which the English
Husbandman should know and obserue, I will in no sort omit them. You
shall then know that in the mowing of your meddowes you shall mowe them
smooth, plaine, and leuell, and as the Husbandman tearmes it, with such
an euen board, that a man may no more but discerne the going in and
comming forth of the Sythe: and this shall be done so close and néere
vnto the ground, as is possible for the worke-man to get, especially if
it be in publique and common meddowes, because the swap and first crop
is all the maine profit you can challenge your owne: nay, you shall
doe it also in your owne priuate and seuerall meddowes: for although
an ignorant custome haue drawne some of our Husbandmen, to say and
beléeue that there is no losse in the sleight and insufficient mowing
of priuate meddowes, because say they, what I loose in the Barne,
my Cattell findes on the ground, yet they are much deceiued in that
opinion, for what they so leaue on the ground halfe cut halfe vncut, is
no good foode, neither pleasant nor sauorie, but dry, hard, and bitter,
and indéede no better then sower fogge, which may fill, but cannot
nourish, and who then will be so simple, as not to preferre swéet Hay
before such vnsauorie grasse? therefore be carefull to mowe your grasse
euen, and close by the ground, for it will make the fresh grasse spring
vp with more ease, and be much pleasanter in taste.
[Sidenote: How to make Hay.]
Next after the mowing of your meddowes, followeth the making of your
Hay, which is a labour that must be followed with great care and
diligence, for it is an old saying, that dearth beginneth at the
Hay-barne dore, and he that is negligent in that, can hardly be good
husband in any thing else, then to shew you how you shall make your
hay, you shall first vnderstand that no one particular forme can stand
for a generall rule, because Hay must be made according to the nature
of the grasse, and the soyle where it groweth, some being apt to wither
and make soone, as that grasse which is finest, and hath in it least
wéedes, others will be long in making, as that which is full of thicke,
strong, and sower grasses, many wéedes, bunnes, and such like hard
stalkes, which are not easily dried, therefore it is the part of euery
good Husbandman, either by his eye and knowledge to iudge of the nature
of his grasse, or else to follow the customes of the Country and soyle
wherein he liueth, but the first, Knowledge, is the better Science.
But to procéede to my purpose, I will in the natures of two sorts of
grasse, the one fine, the other course, shew you the generall making of
all sorts of Hay.
[Sidenote: To make fine Hay.]
First, then for the making of your fine rich grass into Hay, if it grow
in great abundance, thicke and close, and so lieth in the swathe, you
shall haue one with a Pitch-forke to follow the Mowers, and to spread
and throw the grasse thinne abroad, that the ayre and sunne-beames may
passe through it: and this is called in most Countries tedding of Hay.
The next day, after the Sunne hath taken the dewe from the ground, you
shall turne that which the day before you tedded, and then if you haue
any more new mowen, you shall ted it also. The next day following,
as before, when the dewe is from the earth, you shall turne your Hay
againe, and so letting it lye till the Sunne be at his height, begin
to stir it againe, at which time if you finde it is reasonably well
withered, you shal then draw it into windrowes, that is, you shall
marke which way the winde standeth, and the same way that it bloweth,
the same way with Forks & Rakes one after another, gather in the Hay
into long, great, thicke rowes: then you shall make those windrowes
into large Cockes, of which the biggest is euer the best, for they will
defend themselues from raine, if happily any shall fall, whereas the
little small Cocke lying light together, taketh in the raine like a
spunge, and so makes the Hay a great deale much worse then otherwise
it would be; when your Hay is thus set in safe Cocke, you shall let
it rest a day or two, that it may take a little sweat therein, which
will make the Hay wondrous pleasant and swéet, then when the Sunne is
got vp to a pretie height, you shall open those Cockes, and after the
sunne and winde hath passed through them, you may if the grasse be
clean & fine of it selfe, without ranke grasse, load it, and carrie
it either into the Barne, or such other place, as you haue appointed
for the receit thereof: but if it haue any ranke grasse, which you
sée vnwithered amongst it, then you shall make it vp againe into safe
cockes, and so let it rest a day or two more before you leade it away.
And thus much for the making vp of fine Hay.
[Sidenote: To make course Hay.]
Now for the making of course grasse into Hay, which you must suppose to
be grasse growing, in colde, moyst, woodie, and barraine grounds, full
of wéedie, rough, and stumpie hearbage, long in growing, late ere it
can be gathered, and therefore depriued of much of the Sunnes strength,
to swéeten and wither it. This grasse as soone as it hath béene mowne
and tedded, as is before said: the next day you shall make it into
little grasse Cockes, as bigge as little Moale-hilles, and so hauing
layne a day or better, then breake them open, and let them receiue the
sunne and winde, for they will heat and sweat a little in the grasse,
which make it Hay the sooner & better: then after the Sunne hath spent
all his power vpon it, you shall make it vp into little Cockes againe,
putting two of the first Cockes into one, then hauing so layne another
day, breake them open againe, and giue them the Sunne: then make them
vp againe, and put thrée or foure of those Cockes into one, and so let
them lye another day, then breake them open as before, if the Sunne
shine faire, and at euening make them vp againe, putting thrée or foure
of those Cockes into one, and so euery morning after the Sunne is vp
breake them open, and at euening make them vp againe, till you finde
that the Hay is sufficiently well dried, and sweateth no more in the
Cocke: but in the morning when you breake it open it is dry, without
stemme, smoake, or vapour arising from it, which both your hand and
eye may perceiue in the first stirring or mouing, and then you may at
your pleasure leade it home, and house or stacke it as you shall haue
occasion.
[Sidenote: Vse of Hay for cattell to breed or labour with.]
Now for the vse of Hay, it is two-folde, that is, either for the
maintainance of bréeding Cattell, or Cattell for labour, or else for
the féeding of Cattell for the Market, or for slaughter: for the
maintainance of bréeding Cattell, or the Cattell which are imployed in
your Plough or other labours, whether it be draught or trauell, you
shall make choise of the swéet, and well-dried Hay, which is of fresh
and gréene colour, well withered, sound, and perfect Hay, though it be
long, loggie, and not excéeding much swéet, it matters not; for being
well Inned and dried, it will serue sufficiently for those purposes:
and with this Hay to mingle sometimes Wheat-straw, Rye-straw, Barly,
or Oate-straw will not be amisse for heilding, or bréede Cattell: but
for worke-beasts, except necessitie constraine, let them haue Hay
simple of it selfe, during the busie time of their worke, but when
they rest, you may vse your discretion. For the times of giuing Hay
or foddering to such Cattell as are in the house, the best is in the
morning before they goe to labour, in the euening when they come from
labour, presently after their drinke, and at night when you goe to bed.
But for those Cattell which goe abroad, as Shéepe, heilding Beasts, and
such like, to fodder them morning and euening, is out and out fully
sufficient.
Now for the vse of Hay for fat cattell, you shall make choyse of the
fruitfullest, swéetest, finest, and shortest Hay you haue, being full
of flowers, pleasant and odoriferous to smell on: and although this
Hay be mixt with some roughnesse, yet it is not the worse, for though
your fat beast make thereof great orts, yet is the losse not great,
for those orts may be giuen to other heilding and hungrie cattell,
which will eate them with great eagernesse. This Hay would in the first
gathering not be withered too sore but so stackt-vp with a little
hartie gréennesse that it may a little mow-burne, and alter the colour
to a Redish brounnesse, but by no meanes so moyst that it may mould,
rot, or putrifie, for that is fulsome and bade, but onely alter the
colour, and therby make the smell swéeter and stronger. This Hay will
entice a beast to eate, and will strengthen and inable his stomacke,
and withall will bréed in him such a drought or thirst, that hardly any
water will quench him, and the Grazier takes it euer for an infallible
signe, that when his beast drinkes much he féeds fast and his tallow
wonderfully increaseth. For the ordinarie times of foddring your fat
cattell, if they be in the stall, and as we say, tyed vp by the head,
the best is in the morning before and after water, at noone; in the
euening before & after water, and late in the night, when you goe
to bed, but if they féede abroad, and take the benefit of Fogge and
after-grasse, then to fodder them Morning, Euening, and high-noone is
fully sufficient.
Here I could speake of Pease-féeding of Shéep, Swine, and other cattel,
eyther at the Trough, Reeke, Stacke, or such like, the seuerall
manner of cratches, fashions of stals, and many other necessary rules
appertaining to this mysterie; but I am against my will confined,
and therefore must referre it to some other occasion, being loath to
spoyle an excellent discourse, with a tale halfe tould, and imperfectly
spoken: And thus much therefore of Meddowes, and these seuerall vses.