Leaue growing for stadles the likest and best,
though seller and buier dispatched the rest.
In bushes, in hedgerowe, in groue, and in wood,
this lesson obserued is needfull and good.
10
Saue elme, ash and crabtree, for cart and for plough,
saue step for a stile, of the crotch of the bough.
Saue hazel for forks, saue sallow for rake,
saue huluer[8] and thorne, thereof flaile for to make.
[Sidenote: Discharge thy woods.]
11
Make riddance of carriage, er yeere go about,
for spoiling of plant that is newlie come out.
To carter (with oxen) this message I bring,
leaue oxen abrode[9] for anoieng the spring.[E287]
12[10]
Allowance of fodder some countries doo yeeld,
as good for the cattel as haie in the feeld.
Some mowe vp their hedlonds[11] and plots among corne,
and driuen to leaue nothing, vnmowne, or vnshorne.
13
Some commons are barren, the nature is such,
and some ouer laieth the common too much.
The pestered commons small profit doth geeue,
and profit as little some reape I beleeue.
14
Some pester the commons, with iades and with geese,
with hog without ring and with sheepe without fleese.
Some lose a daie labour with seeking their owne,
some meet with a bootie they would not haue knowne.[E288]
15
Great troubles and losses the champion sees,[12]
and euer in brauling, as wasps among bees:
As charitie that waie appeereth but small,
so lesse be their winnings, or nothing at all.
16
Where champion wanteth[E289] a swineherd for hog,
there many complaineth of naughtie mans dog.
Where ech his owne keeper appoints without care,
there corne is destroied er men be aware.
17
The land is well harted with helpe of the fold,
for one or two crops, if so long it will hold.
If shepherd would keepe them from stroieng of corne,
the walke of his sheepe might the better be borne.
18
Where stones be too manie, annoieng thy land,
make seruant come home with a stone in his hand.
By daily so dooing, haue plentie yee shall,
both handsome for pauing and good for a wall.
[Sidenote: ¶ Dairie matters.]
19
From April beginning, till Andrew be past,
so long with good huswife, hir dairie doth last.
Good milchcow and pasture, good husbands prouide,
the resdue good huswiues knowes best how to guide.
[Sidenote: ¶ Ill huswiferie.]
20
Ill huswife vnskilful to make hir owne chees,
through trusting of others hath this for hir fees.
Her milke pan and creame pot, so slabbered and sost,
that butter is wanting and cheese is halfe lost.
[Sidenote: ¶]
21
Where some of a cow doo raise yeerelie a pound,
with such seelie huswiues no penie is found.
Then dairie maid (Cisley) hir fault being knowne,
away apace trudgeth, with more than hir owne.
[Sidenote: ¶ Ill huswiues saiengs.]
22
Then neighbour, for Gods sake, if any you see,
good seruant for dairie house, waine[13] her to mee.[E290]
Such maister such man,[E291] and such mistris such maid,
such husband and huswife, such houses araid.[14]
[1] Sts. 1-5 are not in 1577.
[2] "Now ye may see what medows are well laid up, and what not, and
accordingly chuse your ground."--T.R.
[3] "I suppose in our Author's time they made the Hills less than they
do now."--T.R. 1710.
[4] "Overpoling (especially in height) is worse than underpoling."--T.R.
[5] "Six inches at the but may be more worth than two foot in another
part."--T.R.
[6] "Sawing out; it being called breaking-up by workmen in those parts
near where our Author lived."--T.R.
[7] "To stadle a Wood is to leave at certain distances a sufficient
number of young Trees to replenish it."--T.R.
[8] "or Holly ... heavy enough for flail swingels."--T.R.
[9] T.R. reads "leave not oxe abroad," and explains spring to mean the
young buds of felled underwood.
[10] Sts. 12 to 18 are not in 1577.
[11] "The laying of headlands for grass is frequently used in Norfolk
to this day."--T.R. 1710.
[12] "Our Author liv'd in the Reigns of King Henry the Eighth, King
Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth: during which time
there were several commotions about the taking in of Common Field
Land.... The greatest part of the privileges of Common Fields,
etc., are but so many privileges to wrong and quarrel with their
neighbours."--T.R.
[13] waynes, 1573 (M.); wayne. 1577
[14] and house is araid. 1573 (M.); "such houses arayde." 1577.
49.
¶ _A lesson for dairie maid Cisley, of ten toppings gests._[E292]
(a)
As wife that will
good husband plese,
Must shun with skill
such gests as these.
(b)
So Cisse that serues
must marke this note,
What fault deserues
a brushed cote.
[Sidenote: ¶ Ten toppings gests vnsent for.]
(c)
Gehezie, Lots wife, and Argusses eies,[E293]
Tom piper, poore Cobler, and Lazarus thies,
Rough Esau, with Mawdlin, and Gentils that scrall,
With Bishop that burneth, thus knowe ye them all.[1]
(d)
_These toppingly gests be in number but ten,
As welcome in dairie as Beares among men.
Which being descried, take heede of[2] you shall,
For danger of after claps, after that fall._
[Sidenote: ¶ White and drie.]
1
Gehezie his sicknes was whitish and drie,
such cheeses, good Cisley, ye floted[3] too nie.[E294]
[Sidenote: Too salt.]
2
Leaue Lot with her piller (good Cisley) alone,
much saltnes in whitemeat is ill for the stone.
[Sidenote: Full of eies.]
3
If cheeses in dairie haue Argusses eies,
tell Cisley the fault in hir huswiferie lies.[4][E295]
[Sidenote: Houen.]
4
Tom Piper hath houen and puffed vp cheekes,
if cheese be so houen, make Cisse to seeke creekes.[E296]
[Sidenote: Tough.]
5
Poore Cobler he tuggeth his leatherlie trash,
if cheese abide tugging, tug Cisley a crash.[E297]
[Sidenote: Full of spots.]
6
If Lazer[5] so lothsome in cheese be espied,
let baies amend Cisley, or shift hir aside.[E298]
[Sidenote: Full of heares.]
7
Rough Esau was hearie from top to the fut,
if cheese so appeareth, call Cisley a slut.[E299]
[Sidenote: Full of whey.]
8
As Mawdlin wept, so would Cisley be drest,
for whey in hir cheeses, not halfe inough prest.
[Sidenote: Full of gentils.]
9
If gentils be scrauling, call magget the py,[E300]
if cheeses haue gentils, at Cisse by and by.
[Sidenote: Burnt to the pan.]
10
Blesse Cisley (good mistris) that Bishop doth ban
for burning the milke of hir cheese to the pan.[E301]
[11]
_If thou (so oft beaten)[6]
Amendest by this:
I will no more threaten,
I promise thee Cis._
[12]
Thus dairie maid Cisley, rehearsed ye see,
what faults with ill huswife, in dairie house bee.
Of market abhorred, to houshold a griefe,
to maister and mistris, as ill as a thiefe.
Thus endeth Aprils husbandrie.
[1] With bishop that turneth and burneth up all. 1573 (M.) and 1577.
[2] if. 1577.
[3] "Floting is taking off the Cream."--T.R.
[4] "Because she did not work the Curd well together."--T.R.
[5] "An inner corruption.... Chiefly occasioned from their using milk
soon after calving."--T.R.
[6]
Amend so oft beaten
for doing amisse. 1577.
50.
¶ _Maies abstract.
Chap._ 39.
1
Put lambe from eawe,
to milke a feawe.
2
Be not too bold,
to milke and to fold.
3
Fiue eawes alow,
to euerie cow.
4
Shéepe wrigling taile
hath mads without faile.
5
Beat hard in the réede
where house hath néede.
6
Leaue cropping from May
to Mihelmas day.
Let Iuie be killed,
else trée will be spilled.
7
Now threshers warne
to rid the barne.
8
Be suer of hay
till thend of May.
9
Let shéepe fill flanke,
where corne is too ranke.
In woodland leuer,[1]
in champion neuer.
10
To wéeding away,
as soone as yée may.
11
For corne here réede,[E302]
what naughtie wéede.
12
Who wéeding slacketh,
good husbandrie lacketh.
13
Sowe buck or branke,
that smels so ranke.
14
Thy branke go and sowe,
where barlie did growe.
The next crop wheat
is husbandrie neat.
15
Sowe pescods some,
for haruest to come.
16
Sowe hemp and flacks,
that spinning lacks.
17
Teach hop to clime,
for now it is time.
18
Through fowles & wéedes
poore hop ill spéedes.
Cut off or crop
superfluous hop:
The titters or tine
makes hop to pine.[2]
19
Some raketh their wheat,
with rake that is great.
So titters and tine
be gotten out fine.
20
Now[3] sets doe craue
some wéeding to haue.
21
Now draine as ye like
both fen and dike.
22
Watch bées in May,
for swarming away.
Both now and in June,
marke maister bées tune.
23
Twifallow thy land,
least plough else stand.
24
No longer tarrie,
out compas to carrie.
25
Where néede doth pray it,
there sée ye lay it.
26
Set Jack and Jone
to gather vp stone.
27
To grasse with thy calues,
take nothing to halues.[E303]
28
Be suer thy neat
haue water and meat.
29
By tainting of ground,
destruction is found.
30
Now carrege get
home fewell to fet.
Tell fagot and billet
for filching gillet.[E304]
31
In sommer for firing
let citie be buying.
Marke colliers packing
least coles be lacking.
(Sée opened sack)
for two in a pack.
32
Let nodding patch
go sléepe a snatch.
33
Wife as[4] you will,
now plie your still.
34
Fine bazell[5] sowe,
in a pot to growe.
Fine séedes sowe now,
before ye sawe how.
35
Kéepe ox from cow,
for causes ynow.
Thus endeth Maies abstract, agréeing with Maies husbandrie.
¶ Two other short remembrances.
[36]
From bull cow fast
till Crowchmas[6] be past.
From heifer bul hid thée
till Lammas[7] doth bid thée.
Here ends Maies short remembrances.
* * * Sts. 14, 15, 19, are not in 1577.
[1] euer. 1577.
[2] now take out fine. 1577.
[3] New. 1577.
[4] yf. 1577.
[5] Bezell. 1577.
[6] Saint Helens daie (_side note_).
[7] August (_side note_).
51.
_Maies husbandrie.
Chap._ 40.
Cold Maie and windie,
Barne filleth vp finelie.
Forgotten month past,
Doe now at the last.
[Sidenote: Essex and Suffolke.]
1
At Philip and Jacob,[E305] away with the lams
that thinkest to haue any milke of their dams.
At Lammas leaue milking, for feare of a thing:
least (_requiem æternam_) in winter they sing.
[Sidenote: Milking of eawes.]
2
To milke and to fold them is much to require,
except yee haue pasture to fil their desire.
Yet manie by milking (such heede they doo take),
not hurting their bodies much profit doo make.
[Sidenote: ¶]
3
Fiue eawes to a cow, make a proofe by a score,
shall double thy dairie, else trust me no more.
Yet may a good huswife that knoweth the skill,
haue mixt and vnmixt at hir pleasure and will.
4
If sheepe or thy lambe fall a wrigling with taile,
go by and by search it, whiles helpe may preuaile:
That barberlie handled[E306] I dare thee assure,
cast dust in his arse, thou hast finisht thy cure.
5
Where houses be reeded[1] (as houses haue neede),
now pare off the mosse, and go beat in the reed.
The iuster ye driue it, the smoother and plaine,
more handsome ye make it to shut off the raine.
[Sidenote: Leaue off cropping.]
[Sidenote: Destroie Iuie.]
6
From Maie til October leaue cropping, for why?
in wood sere, whatsoeuer thou croppest wil dy.
Where Iuie imbraceth the tree verie sore,
kill Iuie, or else tree wil addle no more.[E307]
7
Keepe threshing for thresher, til Maie be come in,
to haue to be suer fresh chaffe in the bin.
And somewhat to scamble, for hog and for hen,
and worke when it raineth for loitering men.[E308]
[Sidenote: Count store no sore.]
8
Be sure of haie and of prouender some,
for labouring cattel til pasture be come.
And if ye doo mind to haue nothing to sterue,
haue one thing or other, for all thing to serue.
9
Ground compassed wel and a following[2] yeare,
(if wheat or thy barlie too ranke doo appeare)
Now eat it with sheepe or else mowe it ye may,
for ledging, and so, to the birds for a pray.
[Sidenote: ¶ Wéeding.]
10
In Maie get a weede hooke, a crotch and a gloue,[E309]
and weed out such weedes as the corne doth not loue:
For weeding of winter corne now it is best,
but June is the better for weeding the rest.
[Sidenote: Ill wéeds.]
11
The May weed doth burn[E310] and the thistle doth freat,[E311]
the fitchis[3] pul downward,[E312] both rie and the wheat.
The brake and the cockle[E313] be noisome too much,
yet like vnto boddle[E314] no weede there is such.
[Sidenote: ¶]
12
Slack neuer thy weeding, for dearth nor for cheape,
the corne shall reward it er euer ye reape.
And specially where ye doo trust for to seede,[4]
let that be well vsed, the better to speede.
[Sidenote: Sowing of branke.]
13
In Maie is good sowing, thy buck[E315] or thy branke,[E316]
that black is as pepper, and smelleth so ranke.
It is to thy land, as a comfort or muck,
and al thing it maketh as fat as a buck.
14[5]
Sowe buck after barlie, or after thy wheat,
a peck to a roode (if the measure be great);
Three earthes see ye giue it, and sowe it aboue,
and harrow it finelie if buck ye doo loue.
15
Who pescods would gather, to haue with the last,
to serue for his houshold till haruest be past,
Must sowe them in Maie, in a corner ye shal,
where through so late growing no hindrance may fal.[E317]
[Sidenote: ¶ Sowing of flax and hempe.]
16
Good flax and good hemp for to haue of hir owne,
in Maie a good huswife will see it be sowne.
And afterward trim it, to serue at a neede,
the fimble to spin and the karl for hir seede.[E318]
17
Get into the hopyard, for now it is time,[6]
to teach Robin hop on his pole how to clime:
To follow the Sunne, as his propertie is,[E319]
and weede him and trim him, if aught go amis.
[Sidenote: Ill neighbours to the hop.]
18
Grasse, thistle and mustard seede, hemlock and bur,
tine, mallow and nettle, that keepe such a stur.
With peacock and turkie, that nibbles off top,
are verie ill neighbors to seelie poore hop.
19
From wheat go and rake out the titters or tine,
if eare be not foorth, it will rise againe fine.
Use now in thy rie, little raking or none,
breake tine[7] from his roote, and so let it alone.[E320]
[Sidenote: Wéeding of quickset.]
20
Bankes newly quicksetted, some weeding doo craue,
the kindlier nourishment thereby to haue.
Then after a shower to weeding a snatch,
more easilie weede with the roote to dispatch.
[Sidenote: Now draine ditches.]
21
The fen and the quamire,[8][E321] so marrish be kind,
and are to be drained, now wine to thy mind:
Which yeerelie vndrained and suffered vncut,
annoieth the meadowes that thereon doo but.
[Sidenote: ¶ Swarming of bées.]
22
Take heede to thy bees, that are readie to swarme,
the losse thereof now is a crownes worth of harme:[9]
Let skilfull be readie and diligence seene,
least being too careles, thou losest thy beene.
[Sidenote: Twifallowing.]
23
In Maie at the furthest, twifallow thy land,
much drout may else after cause plough for to stand:
This tilth being done, ye haue passed the wurst,
then after who ploweth, plow thou with the furst.
[Sidenote: Carie out compas.]
24
Twifallow once ended, get tumbrell and man,
and compas that fallow as soone as ye can.
Let skilfull bestow it, where neede is vpon,
more profit the sooner to follow[10] thereon.
25
Hide hedlonds with muck, if ye will to the knees,
so dripped and shadowd with bushes and trees:[E322]
Bare plots full of galles,[11] if ye plow ouerthwart,
and compas it then, is a husbandlie part.
26
Let children be hired, to lay to their bones,
from fallow as needeth to gather vp stones.
What wisedome for profit aduiseth vnto,
that husband and huswife must willingly do.
[Sidenote: Forth to grasse with thy calues.]
27
To gras with thy calues in some medow plot nere,
where neither their mothers may see them nor here.
Where water is plentie and barth to sit warme,
and looke well vnto them, for taking of harme.
[Sidenote: Let not cattel want water.]
28
Pinch neuer thy wennels of water or meat,
if euer ye hope for to haue them good neat:
In Sommer time dailie, in Winter in frost,
if cattel lack drinke, they be vtterly lost.
[Sidenote: Ouerlay not thy pastures.]
29
For coueting much ouerlay not thy ground,
and then shall thy cattel be lustie and sound.
But pinch them of pasture, while Sommer doth last,
and lift at their tailes er an Winter be past.[E323]
[Sidenote: Get home thy fewel.]
30
Get home with thy fewell, made readie to fet,
the sooner the easier carrege to get:
Or otherwise linger the carrege thereon,
till (where as ye left it) a quarter be gon.
[Sidenote: Husbandrie for Citizens.]
31
His firing in Sommer, let Citizen buie,
least buieng in Winter make purse for to crie.
For carman and collier harps both on a string,
in Winter they cast to be with thee to bring.[12]
[Sidenote: Sléeping time.[E324]]
32
From Maie to mid August, an hower or two,
let patch[E325] sleepe a snatch, how soeuer ye do,
Though sleeping one hower refresheth his song,
yet trust not hob growthed[E326] for sleeping too long.
[Sidenote: ¶ Stilling of herbes.]
33
The knowledge of stilling is one pretie feat,
The waters be holesome, the charges not great.[E327]
What timelie thou gettest, while Sommer doth last,
thinke Winter will helpe thee, to spend it as fast.
[Sidenote: ¶]
34
Fine bazell desireth it may be hir lot,
to growe as the gilloflower, trim in a pot,
That ladies and gentils, for whom she doth serue,
may helpe hir as needeth, poore life to preserue.[13]
35
Keepe oxe fro thy cow that to profit would go,
least cow be deceiued by oxe dooing so:
And thou recompenced for suffering the same,
with want of a calfe and a cow to wax lame.
Thus endeth Maies husbandrie.
[1] "Reeding is no where so well done as in Norfolk and Suffolk.... It
will bear a better slope than any other thatch."--T.R.
[2] See footnote 10, below.
[3] "or, as some call it, the Tine-tare."--T.R.
[4] to for seed. 1577.
[5] Sts. 14 and 15 are not in 1577.
[6] "I am told that 20_s._ an acre is the common Price for looking
after a hop ground."--T.R.
[7] Misprinted "time."
[8] quamer. 1577.
[9] "The Proverb says, 'A Swarm in May is worth a Load of Hay.'"--T.R.
1710. Mavor says a swarm might fetch 15_s._ in his time (1812).
[10] The author of _Tusser Redivivus_ and Mavor prefer _fallow_; though
M. says that all standard editions read _follow_. Cf. st. 9, above.
[11] gales. 1577.
[12] "In our Author's time, and not long since, the Yarmouth and
Ipswich Colliers were laid up in the Winter, and then the Spring Market
was always dearest."--T.R.
[13] "Most people stroak Garden Basil, which leaves a grateful Smell
on the Hand; and he will have it, that such stroaking from a fair lady
preserves the life of the Basil."--T.R.
52.
¶ _Junes abstract.
Chap._ 41.
1
Wash shéep for to share,
that shéepe may go bare.
2
Though fléese ye take,
no patches make.
3
Share lambes no whit,
or share not yit.
4
If meadow be growne,
let meadow be mowne.
5
Plough early ye may,
and then carrie hay.
6
Tis good to be knowne,
to haue all of thine owne.
Who goeth a borrowing,
goeth a sorrowing.[E328]
7
Sée cart in plight,
and all things right.
8
Make drie ouer hed,
both houell and shed.
9
Of houell make stack,
for pease on his back.
10[1]
In champion some,
wants elbow rome.
11
Let wheat and rie,
in house lie drie.
12
Buie turfe and sedge,
or else breake hedge.
13
Good store howse néedfull
well ordred spéedfull.
14
Thy barnes repaire,
make flower[2] faire.
15
Such shrubs as noie,
in sommer destroie.
16
Swinge brembles & brakes,[E329]
get forkes and rakes.
17
Spare hedlonds[3] some,
till haruest come.
18
Cast ditch and pond,
to lay vpon lond.
_A lesson of hopyard._
19
Where hops will growe,
here learne to knowe.
Hops many will coome,
in a roode of roome.
20
Hops hate the land,
with grauell and sand.
21
The rotten mold
for hop is worth gold.
22
The sunne southwest
for hopyard is best.
23
Hop plot once found,
now dig the ground.
24
Hops fauoreth malt,
hops thrift doth exalt:
Of hops more réede,
as time shall néede.
Thus endeth Junes abstract, agreeing with Junes husbandrie.
[1] Sts. 10-12 are omitted in 1577.
[2] _Query_, floor.
[3] hedlong. 1577.
53.
¶ _Junes husbandrie.
Chap._ 42.
Calme weather in June
Corne sets in time.
Forgotten month past,
Doe now at the last.
[Sidenote: Shéepe sharing.]
1
Wash sheepe (for the better) where water doth run,
and let him go cleanly and drie in the sun.
Then share him and spare not, at two daies an end,
The sooner the better his corps will amend.[E330]
[Sidenote: Beware of euill shéepe shearers.]
2
Reward not thy sheepe (when ye take off his cote)
with twitchis and patches, as brode as a grote.[E331]
Let not such vngentlenesse happen to thine,
least flie with hir gentils doo make it to pine.
[Sidenote: Sheare lambes in Julie.]
3
Let lambes go vnclipped, till June be halfe worne,
the better the fleeses will growe to be shorne.
The Pie will discharge thee for pulling the rest:[E332]
the lighter the sheepe is, then feedeth it best.
[Sidenote: Mowing time.]
4
If meadow be forward, be mowing of some;
but mowe as the makers may well ouercome:[E333]
Take heede to the weather, the wind and the skie,
if danger approcheth, then cock apace[E334] crie.
5
Plough earlie till ten a clock, then to thy hay,
in plowing and carting, so profit ye may.
By little and little, thus dooing ye win:
that plough shall not hinder when haruest comes in.[E335]
6
Prouide of thine owne to haue all things at hand,
least worke and the workman vnoccupide stand.
Loue seldome to borowe that thinkest to saue,
for he that once lendeth twise looketh to haue.[E336]
[Sidenote: Trim well thy carts.]
7
Let cart be well searched without and within,
well clouted and greased, er hay time begin.
Thy hay being carried, though carter had sworne,
carts bottome well boorded is sauing of corne.
8
Good husbands that laie to saue all things vpright,
for tumbrels and cart, haue a shed readie dight.
Where vnder the hog may in winter lie warme:
to stand so enclosed, as wind doo no harme.
[Sidenote: A houell is set vpon crotches[1] and couered
with poles and strawe.]
9
So likewise a houell will serue for a roome,
to stack on the peason, when haruest shall coome.
And serue thee in winter, more ouer than that,
to shut vp thy porklings thou mindest to fat.
10[2]
Some barnroome haue little, and yardroome as much,
yet corne in the field appertaineth to such:
Then houels and rikes they are forced to make,
abrode or at home for necessities sake.
11
Make sure of breadcorne (of all other graine),
lie drie and well looked to, for mouse and for raine.
Though fitchis and pease, and such other as they,
(for pestring too much) on a houell ye ley.
12
With whinnes or with furzes thy houell renew,
for turfe or for sedge, for to bake and to brew:
For charcole and sea cole, as also for thacke,
for tallwood and billet, as yeerlie ye lacke.
[Sidenote: The husbandlie storhouse.]
13
What husbandlie husbands, except they be fooles,
but handsome haue storehouse, for trinkets and tooles:
And all in good order, fast locked to ly,
what euer is needfull, to find by and by.
14
Thy houses and barnes would be looked vpon,
and all things amended er haruest come on.
Things thus set in order, in quiet and rest,
shall further thy haruest and pleasure thee best.
15
The bushes and thorne with the shrubs that do noy,
in woodsere[3][E337] or sommer cut downe to destroy:
But where as decay to the tree ye will none,
for danger in woodsere, let hacking alone.
[Sidenote: Mowe downe brakes and meadow.]
16
At Midsommer, downe with the brembles and brakes,
and after, abrode with thy forks and thy rakes:
Set mowers a mowing, where meadow is growne,
the longer now standing the worse to be mowne.
[Sidenote: Mowe hedlonds at haruest or after in the
seueral fields.]
17
Now downe with the grasse vpon hedlonds about,
that groweth in shadow, so ranke and so stout.
But grasse vpon hedlond of barlie and pease,
when haruest is ended, go mowe if ye please.
18
Such muddie deepe ditches, and pits in the feeld,
that all a drie sommer no water will yeeld,
By fieing[E338] and casting that mud vpon heapes,
commodities many the husbandman reapes.
_A lesson where and when to plant good Hopyard._
19
Whome fancie persuadeth, among other crops,
to haue for his spending, sufficient of hops,[E339]
Must willinglie follow, of choises to chuse,
such lessons approoued, as skilfull doo vse.
[Sidenote: Naught for hops.]
20
Ground grauellie, sandie, and mixed with clay,
is naughtie for hops any maner of way;
Or if it be mingled with rubbish and stone,
for drines and barrennes, let it alone.
[Sidenote: Good for hops.]
21
Choose soile for the hop of the rottenest mould,
well doonged and wrought, as a garden plot should
Not far from the water (but not ouerflowne)
this lesson well noted is meete to be knowne.
22
The Sunne in the south, or else southly and west,
is ioy to the hop, as a welcomed gest;
But wind in the north, or else northly east,
to hop is as ill as a fraie in a feast.
[Sidenote: Now dig thy new hop ground.]
23
Meete plot for a hopyard once found as is told,
make thereof account, as of iewell of gold.
Now dig it and leaue it, the Sunne for to burne,
and afterward fence it, to serue for that turne.
[Sidenote: The praise of hops.]