THe consideration hereof may well deserve to be handled in the second place, in my opinion, both quia turpe est Philosopho quidquam sine ratione proferre, asTullyholdeth: and also for that it is a principall motive to stirre up a number of drowsie wittes to the practise hereof; who not as yet finding or conceiting any sensible reason for the same, are rather content with the fly-bitten and leane jades, to live or starve upon the bare common, then by seeking out[Page]of better pasture, to gather more flesh upon their backes, and to grow in better liking in the sight of all that shall behold them.

Such winter Corne then as is usually sowne before or about Alhallownetide, in my poore reason, must of necessitie loose a great part of his generative vertue, and radicall humiditie, both by the extreme nipping of the colde Northren and Easterly winds, and the bitter frosts and hayle, together with the great aboundance of the colde rayny showers, which in the winter season doe so plentifully attach and fall uppon the Grayne, lying then eyther naked and bare to all weather, or verie slenderly clothed with a poore and thinne garment, not able suffientlie to defende the inwarde and secrete fire of nature, from such outward and piercing enemies; yea, though it have taken roote, and gotten some head before this boysterous weather doe happen, yet by reason that the roote is shallowe, and hath taken so slender holde in the grounde, eyther the inward Balsamumis washed awaie with moysture, or nipped with extreme colde, that it cannot possiblie send forth so manie spiring stalkes and eares as naturallie it would; besides, the earth being full of clods, and not sufficientlie broken into a fyne moulde with the Plough, the Corne cannot so easilie and plentifully by this attractive nature drawe for his owne nourishment such store of that vegetative salt from the earth, as it desireth; the vertue and strength whereof is more at large handled in my Booke of husbandry, printed Anno 1594. and in that learned discourse of M.Bernard Palissie, in his Booke intituled,Des eaux & Fonteines. But on the other side, when as the cornes of wheate shall ly so deepe within their true and [Page]naturall bed, even their owne mothers belly, the earth being made so hollow & open with the spade, whereby they may also draw sufficient nourishment at their pleasure, then are all these outwarde and injurious stormes of haile and raine, so sufficiently defended by this armour of proofe, as that the corne having his true and naturall putrifaction (being not performed without the helpe of a kindly heate) doth afterwards in his due season bring forth that infinite multiplication, whereof we have had so many and rich experiments of late, farre beyond all the hopes and harvests of all our predecessors.

WHen and how to digge, weed, or trench your grounds with the spade, is a matter so trivial and well knowne already to everie countrieCoridon, as that I hold it not a fit subject for a Scholers penne, and therefore here I must referre you to those beaten pathes, wherein everie simple Gardener hath walked a long time: onely the depth of digging, and true laying of the ground, seemes to be materiall in this our new kind of husbandry.

Some in this late practise, by their experience commend the breaking up of the ground a foote and a halfe deepe, and some two foote, and some but one foote; but in my opinion since that, three, or foure, or five inches at the most is a sufficient depth for the corne to lie in, I see no reason but that eight or twelve inches more, is a depth sufficient for the corne to roote in.[Page]This being graunted, then shall you have this farther benefite ensuing, that at the next breaking up and digging of your grounde, you shall turne uppe such moulde, as hath not spent his strength in the former croppe, the fruite whereof you shall find in the next harvest.

And heere I must of necessitie acknowledge that M. Taverner in his Booke of Experiments, concerning Fish and Fruit, being of this yeares date, hath bereaved mee of one of my best observations in Orchard groundes, the ignorance whereof I hold to bee one of the speciall and principall causes that so many of our English Orchards do never yeeld fruite answerable to our charge and travell: the secret whereof is this brieflie. Everie ground hath naturallie an upper crust of earth, which by the livelie and vivifying heate of the Sunne, the comfortable nature of the Aire, together with the congelative part of the raine (for so M.Bernard Palissie termeth it, being the first Author of a fift element) which often falleth upon the ground, is made more rich and fruitefull than all the residue of the earth besides, which upper crust in some ground is a foot, in some two, and in some three foot deepe, and in some not above halfe a foot.

And under the same upper crust is eyther a hote chalke, a drie sand, a barren gravell, or a cold leane claie or lome, or such like. It is therefore requisite that you set your young trees in such sort, as that the rootes may runne and spreade within that upper crust: and if you set them deeper, they may happily grow, but never bring forth fruit in any plentifull manner: nay, though the earth should consist of one and the selfe same veine, and of one colour and nature in shewe, yet because the Sun doth not give his impression nor digestion[Page]unto the earth, but to a certaine depth (which I guesse not much to exceede two foote) you shall finde that all the rest of the mould under that depth wil be leane and hungrie, not having anie strength or fatnes in it.

And this is the reason why such earth as hath beene digged out of vaultes and Cellers, not having received anie life or comfort from the Sunne beames, though of never so blacke and rich moulde in outward apparance, if it be spread upon garden grounds, doth make them utterly barren and unfruitfull. That which is heere spoken of Orchard groundes, I would have all wise and skilfull husbandmen to applie also to their Corne groundes, that in anie case they never digge deeper with the Spade, then the strength of the ground will beare, and so by their ignorance discredite a work and practise of so great expectation. Now concerning the laying of your groundes, eyther in ridges and furrowes, or in a declining levell, whereby the raine maie have a sufficient conveyance, after they have once received their due moisture from the cloudes: this resteth in the discretion of the husbandman, who best knoweth the moisture or drynesse of his owne groundes, and accordingly may give such a current unto them, as may best fit the several natures of each ground or soyle. And heere I may not omit that ease and speed in breaking up of groundes, which some of our late practisers have found out, by making the first entrance with a deepe cutting plough, and then pursuing the same with the spade, whereby much charge, labour, and expence of time is avoided.

IT is an olde saying, that handes were made before knives: and I doubt not, but the same may aswell be verified in tooles. For to my rememberance, the first man that ever attempted the setting of corne, made the first holes with his finger. But this course being afterwards found to be very long and tedious, an instrument was devised, having many teeth or pinnes, like a rake, with a staffe fastened in the middest of the backside thereof, which being thrust into the ground, did at one instant make twelve or twentie holes more or lesse, according to the number of teeth or pinnes therein.

Afterwardes this toole was also disliked, as not making sufficient riddance of ground, and in place thereof a boord of three foote or thereabout in length, and twelve or ten inches in breadth, was thought upon, having divers holes boared therein, according to such distance as every particular man best fansied, through each of which holes a wodden dibber or pinne was thrust into the ground, being of the bignesse of ones finger, and of three or foure inches in length, having a shoulder or hole with a crosse pin, to keepe one selfe same certaintie in the depth of each hole. The last devise that as yet hath come to my view (but now rejected, because in the drawing out of so many pinnes the holes doe choake) is a boord of the same largenes with the former, driven full of round pinnes of three or foure inches deepe within the boord, and placed[Page]each from other in equall distance by a true proportion, which at one impression maketh so many receptacles for the corne, as there bee pinnes in the boord.

These boords are directed by a Gardiners line, first strained to some reasonable length, or by the eye, and thereby a straight course is kept in the setting. When each hole hath received a corne, then must you rake over the ground to fill up those holes with earth againe: and during all the time of setting and raking, you must stand or kneele upon one of your boords, which you must remove from place to place, as your setting and raking from time to time requires.

Heere for the satisfaction of the simple, I have thought good also to set downe the length of your boordes, together with the true boaring of them betweene each hole: and therefore if you have five inches distance, then may you in a boord of ten inches broad make two rowes of holes, the first and last hole being two inches and a halfe from each side, and if the length thereof be two foote and eleven inches, then may it well containe two rowes of holes, having seven holes in everie rowe, the first and last hole being distant from each end two inches and a halfe: and when the ends or sides of two such boords so bored, shall bee laid together, they will make a true continuance of one selfe same skantling and distance of five inches through all your workes: if you worke upon foure inches, then leave at each side and end of your boord two inches: and so in a boord of three foote in length, and one foote in breadth, you shall have nine holes in each row one way, and three holes the other way.

And it is to be remembred that everie two[Page]workemen (whereof the one maketh the holes, and the other setteth the graine) must have two boords to work upon: and yet some be of opinion, that one man may performe both the works.

IHave beene enformed that the observation of three inches deepe, and three inches distance, hath brought forth 30. quarters of wheat upon one acre of ground, and that foure inches in depth, and foure in distance hath yeelded but twentie quarters: happily the ground or the seede corne might make the difference. Some speake of five inches deep and five in distance, with exceeding great encrease: the true finding out of which proportions may easily be obtained by severall trials made at severall depths and distances together, at one time, and in one selfe same peece of ground. Only heere I must remember you of that which was spoken of before, in the title of digging, chap. 3. that concerning the depth, you must have an especiall care, that your seed may lie within the rich crust of the earth, and that his bed wherein he lyeth, may also bee of the same goodnesse, or else the plough will discredite the spade.

IF the ground be a rich and kindly wheate ground, you shall find a sufficient increase by filling them up with their owne proper mould: for so have the greatest and most usuall trials beene hitherto made alreadie; yet some pregnant wits, desirous to exault nature to the highest degree of perfection, have attempted the filling up of those holes both with Pigeons dung, sheeps dung, and cow dung, and such like, but with no good successe at all, quaere if this dung had been first rotted into perfect earth and then bestowed. Neither doe I see any reason in fat and lustie grounds, why any further encrease should bee sought for then hath been found already, for that the earth is not able to carrie a greater burthen, then she hath borne of late by these usuall practises which have been made. But in barren and spent grounds, it were greatly to be wished, that by some artificiall and cheape meanes, a plentifull croppe of corne might be had and obtained. For the better furtherance whereof, I leave these few conceits to the favorable consideration of those, whose farmes are greater then mine, and have had more familiar conference with nature then my selfe, referring them also farther both unto the literall and secret sence of my booke of Husbandrie before mentioned. And here I thinke it not amisse to cite in the first place that learned and poeticall Husbandman, who in his first booke of his Georgickes hath these Hexamiters.

Here we see Salniter and the mother or Lees of oyle commended: but whetherVirgill doe meane a steeping or imbibition of the graine in the Lees of oyle, wherein there hath beene a solution of Niter, or the corne onely sprinkled over with them both in the setting; it is left to the consideration of the reader.

But howsoever he intend the same, our countrie doth neither afforde store of Niter, nor yet of Amurca, to performe many (if any) acres therewith; and though it did, yet would it prove a worke of greater charge and trouble (as I suppose) then would be endured: unlesse it were in some small practise, and for the triall of a magisterie, or upon some richer seede then wheat, which in lesse quantity would prove more profitable then any ordinary graine, whereof there are some fewe of English breede, if I bee not deceived.

But now let us leave Virgill to his poeticall vaine, and let us come to that glorious Neapolitaine Johan. Baptista Porta, who expecteth a generall applause of the whole world, for his last and learned booke of Magia naturalis (as in his preface to the reader, by a recapitulation of all his infinite readings, charges, and conferences with the greatest clarkes of his time, he would intimate unto us) and washing our eyes first in[Page]Eyebright water, let us see whether we are able to pierce and penetrate into these thicke and foggie clowdes of skill, which he hath in so many close and figurative termes (as willing to vaunt of his owne wit, but unwilling to benefit others) so strangely delivered unto us. I finde in the latter end of his third booke, entituled de novis plantis producendis, and over the 21. chapter, this superscription.

Whereupon he discourseth in manner following: Ut luculentam, satis{que} exoptatam coronidem huic nostro libro imponeremus, docebimus quomodo frumentacea, & legumina satis amplo foenore è satu colligamus, & è vineis vinum. Res profecto immensae utilitatis, ut ex uno modio plus centuplo proveniat. Sed ne quis, quod centuplum plus accipiet, dixerim, putet velim hunc exactum modiorum numerum ex uno sato collecturum: nam anno, coelo, solo, & syderibus renuentibus, minor erit collectio, sed non tam minor, quin quintuplo usitatum non superet; at his faventibus, ex uno modio centeni quinquageni reddentur. Sed pollicitatio haec nostra aliquibus paradoxum videbitur, sed si sanae mentis essent, maximum profecto videri deberet paradoxum, cur ex sato semodio ducentos modios non recipiamus, quum ex sato, & concepto acino, videamus radicem in multiplices & numerosos culmos fructificare, plus minus quindecim, & in spica sexaginta grana contineri? mitto Byzacij Africae solum Plinij, quod uno grano quadringenta paucis minus germina miserit, misit{que} ex eo loco procurator Neroni CCCXL. stipulas ex uno grano. Sed causam venemur, unde id accidere possit. Sunt qui dicant id evenire, quod pars major jacti frumenti[Page]ex volucribus, talpis, vermibus, alijs{que} subterraneis animalibus devoretur. Sed id falsum arguitur, quod ex sato lupini modio non plus minus quindecim recipiuntur, quin lupinum impunè jaceat derelictum, ab omnibus animalibus sua ingrata amaritudine tutum, & suis in thecis, vaginulis{que} plus minus centum grana contineantur. Sunt alij, qui id eoelo ascribant, frigorum, calorum{que} injurijs, vel imbrium frequentijs, ut nunc torpeant gelu arua, nunc siti infestentur, nunc in herbarum copiam luxurient, nunc macie intabescant; sed hoe falsum congruit argumentum, quod exmaximo coelifavore, neque ex uno triceni redduntur. Sed ne latius evagemur, dicimus non omnia spicae & vaginulae grana nasci, nam alia Deus ad escam animalium, alia adsemen destinavit. Sunt in spicis grana; quasi abortus & degeneres foetus, quae non foeticant sed desciscunt in vitium. Sunt quae è glumis in spicis emicant habitiora, quae ad propagationem producuntur. Praeterea nec debito tempore seruntur, destituuntur{que} debito agricolarum opere: unde si his obuiabimus; omnia ex voto succedent. Semina enim prolixioribus radicibus implexis, longè latéque sub tellure serpentibus, numerosiores culmos deproment, circumundi{que} spicis vallatis. Sponsa ergo suo viro ducatur, non ex primis vel vltimis natis sed è medijs, quia imbecilles sunt, ac balneo secreta & ungue~tis delibuta & pingui depasta caprarum veterum Vulcano, & Baccho associata cubile molle, & optimè stratum calefiat: vivifico enim calore in amicam naturam coeunt, & dulcioribus amplexibus stringuntur & haerent. Sic animata viro semina, non degenerem, sed legitimam prolem donent. Suo foecundo lumine Luna praesit, nam ferax feracem reddit, id restat praemonendum, vxorem Baccho ducendam non capillis destitutam, nam suo decore capite destituto spernitur à viro sponsa, neque haberet, quo noxia purgarentur, sed solum cincinnis orbetur; sic enim minus compta, plus suo placebit & viro.[Page] Which for the better understanding of such as are no Latinists, I have thought good to translate into our naturall language, as followeth.

That now at length, according to mine own desire, I may shut up this booke of plantes with a most famous and renowmed conclusion, I will heere declare how all kinde of corne and pulse, together with the vines themselves shall recompence all our labours with great encrease. A matter without all question of singular profite, to receive more then an hundred bushels for one. But least I bee mistaken in this great proportion, I would not have any man to thinke, that I doe heere set downe anie exact number of bushels, from which nature can at no time varie: for if the yeare, the heavens, and the ground it selfe, together with the fatall influence of the starres, doe all conspire together, the number of our bushels will fall short, but never so short, but that they will by five degrees exceede the accustomed yeeld. But if all these concurre and affoord their severall favours, then may we wel expect 150. bushels of one.

But this proud promise of ours may happily seeme a paradox unto some, unto whom, if they were of any sound & sharpe judgement, it should rather seeme a greater paradoxe, why halfe a bushell should not rather give 200. hundred bushels againe, when as we doe often see, that one corne being set and well rooted, doth stemme up into divers stalkes, yea sometimes to the number of fifteene, more or lesse, each eare also containing[Page] threescore cornes within it.

I doe heere omit to speake of Bizatium, that fruitfull ground of Africa, whereof Plinie maketh mention, where out of one corne foure hundred stalkes did braunch: and the Governour of that place did also send to Nero 240. stemmes arising from one graine. But let us seeke out and hunt after the true reason hereof. Some be of opinion, that the cause why the same fertilitie doth not happen in our usuall and ordinarie manner of sowing, is, for that a great part of the seede which is sowne, is devoured by the foules of the ayre, by Moles, wormes and other creeping creatures within the ground.

But this is manifestlie disproved in the sowing of Lupines, whereas seldome we do reape little more or lesse then fifteene bushels for one, although the same be so bitter a kinde of pulse, that none of all these devouring creatures will once touch it, but lieth safe within his hose, each codde containing much about an hundred graines: some attribute the same unto the heavens, and the injuries arising of heate, colde, and continuall showres of raine, that doe often happen; so as sometimes the grounds are benummed with frosts, and sometimes parched with heat, somtime they make a rich & fertile shew, and sometimes they wither and waxt barren; but all this is easilie convinced.

For that admitting that the heavens doe afford all their favourable influences at once, yet doe wee scarce obtaine at any time thirtie for one. But now to come neerer to our purpose, we doe affirme that each corne that is found within the eare is not apt to grow, for God hath created some of them for the foode of living creatures, and some for seede corne. There be in every eare certaine abortive and bastardlie cornes, which will never fructifie, but become[Page] utterly unprofitable; and in some eares there are cornes which are more beautifull to behold then the rest, which nature hath ordained for propagation.

Besides all this, the seed it selfe is not alwayes sowne by the husbandman in his due time, neither hath it all his due rites and ceremonies perfourmed. So that if we can meete with all these imperfections and errours, then will all good successe follow, according to our owne hearts desire. For the rootes being large in spreading under the ground, and each imbracing other in their manifold wreathings, will thereby send forth a greater number of stemmes, beset and garnished with eares on everie side. For the better accomplishment whereof let the bridegrome make choice of such a wife as is of the middle sort, and not of the first or last borne, because they are of a weaker constitution, let them both goe into a warme bath, and there annointing themselves with sweete ointment, and with the fatte food of old Goates, being mixed withBacchus and Vulcan; let their soft and even layd bed bee gently warmed: for by that vivifying heat they will unite themselves in an amiable maner, and bee knit and joyned together in most sweet and loving imbracements: and the seede being thus quickened by the powerfull heate of the man, will in the end bring forth a kindly, and no bastardly issue: Let the Moone be predominant with her prosperous light, for shee being fruitfull, will also make the same to fructifie the better.

But yet I must admonish you of one thing more, that such a wife as is fitte for God Bacchus, must not bee bald and without haire, for so wanting the due ornament of her head,[Page] shee might happily be despised of her husband, neither should shee have whereat to purge her owne excrements, onely let all curlings and perriwigs bee laid aside, that so being the more retchlesse in her attire, shee may seeme more pleasing and acceptable to her husband.

And what if all this mysticall marriage betweene God Bacchus and the Goddesse Ceres (at the solemnization whereof onely Vuloan andLuna were present, as though neither Saturne,Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Venus, nor Mercury, nor the rest of that celestiall crewe were neither worthie to dine nor daunce at the Wedding) what, I say, if all this great mysterie or Magisterie of nature, as Baptista Porta would have it to appeare, bee nothing els but a soking of corne in wine, or in the new must thereof, before it bee set?

Might not this without the prophaning of Nature, or her sacred Maximes beene safely and without offence in plaine termes delivered to the publike view of the worlde? But let us examine the particulars of this parable. The wife (he saith) must neither be of the first nor last, but taken out of the middest: and here, because hee shall be his owne expositor, I referre you to his secrete for enlarging of the Gourd, pag. 137. where he citeth these verses out of Columella,

And this, saith Porta, is not onely to bee observed in this plant, but in all others likewise, for those seedes which are contained within the middest of the[Page] bulke are more perfect themselves, and bring forth more perfect plants then those weake and imperfect ones, which occupie the outtermost places; and so the graine, hee saith, in the middle of the eare bringeth forth a larger corne then those which growe in the toppe or bottome thereof.

Concerning the bath and ointment wherein Vulcan and Bacchus are used, I thinke he meaneth some fat temper made with cowdung or Goates dung, the older the better, moistened with wine or new must, whereby Bacchus is signified, in whom the secret fire and heate, which he holdeth, may also resemble Vulcan, under whose name fire is sometimes signified, as in that saying of Paracelsus,In Vulcano veritas: and in this compound, the goddesse Ceres is lapped before she be set into the ground; or else the ground and mixture are after watered with wine, or else the corne is first steeped a certaine time in wine before the graine is bestowed in the earth: any of these constructions seeme probable, and to have some affinitie with his figurative tearmes.

Her bed must bee very soft, and delicately made, whereby he doth manifestly insinuate the very digging with the spade, which worketh the mould into a most fine and subtill bodie: the warming of the bed, and those sweete collings and clippings together are intended to be wrought with the moistning heate of Bacchus. It seemeth also that he would have this setting perfourmed in the increase, or toward the full of the Moone. The corne he would have to bee set together with his chaffe about it, which he termeth the haire, whereby nature purgeth the excrement of the head, but not with the beard of the eare, which hath a[Page] curled kind of graine upon it. Let this satisfie, that I have aimed at the marke, the pinne being so farre off, and cleane out of sight. But what should we vexe our spirits in beating out the sense of this mysticall Latine, when as without all other circumstance, wee see that one corne pricked into the ground, bringeth forth eyght hundreth cornes at once, whereas Porta speaketh of two hundred only at the most, even when heaven and earth doe all joyne hand in hand together to helpe his invention?

And who knoweth whether he mistake the reason of his owne conceite, for happily the mellownes of the ground being opened and broken with the spade, did of it selfe performe the great wonder which he writeth of, and then both Bacchus and Ceres, and Luna may have Jacke Drums entertainment.

Now if I were also disposed to attire and disguise a plaine secret in his figurative robes, what a deepe and drunken riddle could I here set downe of steeping barley or wheat in new ale in cornes (although I hold the wort, so it be of the first rap, to be much better) for this doth seeme to be his owne naturall bath, whereby it should receive a multiplying vertue in his owne kind? I feare to prosecute this secret any farther in such Philosophicall termes, least some novice in Alcumie should suppose that I doe goe about to unfold and disclose the sacred materials and working of the Philosophers stone, and yet to speake in good sooth, I durst undertake to perfourme as much with ale or beere asBap. Porta shall doe with his sacke and sugar, or Claret wine and Limons, let him make his choice.

And because Virgil hath spoken of Niter, I have though good also, as a Paralel to the same out of[Page] M. Bar. Googe his booke of Husbandrie, fol. 33. b. to sot downe the steeping of Beanes in the water wherein Salt Peter hath been dissolved, and why not other graine and pulse, as wel as Beanes? And thus you have Rome & Naples answered with Surrey and London, I pray God all may bring forth one good conclusion for our commonwealth of England.

But why should we spend these costly liquors that are fitter for Tavernes & Alehouses, then for rusticall imbibitions? when as with common water and the dung of cattell, especially of Oxen, Kine, and Sheepe, or Pigeons dung (wherof more quantity, with a great deale lesse charge (being not much inferior in effects) may so easily be had & obtained) Then heare me with patience, & if I happen to slip, stay me with a friendly band, and so happily I may save some of you from many a dangerous fall.

There is a great opinio conceited, yea publikely maintained by good Authors in their several books about imbibition of corne in some fat and fructifying liquors; but neither the strength of the liquors, the time of imbibition, nor the proportion between the liquor & graine, hath as yet bin thoroughly sounded, nay scarsely touched by any; which three points I holde to be so materiall, ans that without the knowledge of them al in some good measure, nothing else but clamors against the writers, and errors in the practizers are like to ensue.

And first concerning the strength of your liquor upon your dung, you cannot lightly erre, so as you let the same rest upon a sufficient quantity thereof, untill it have gotten a deep colour, and a strong smel & savour fro~his ingredient: as suppose you put two parts water to one third part of dung, suffering the same to infuse[Page] foure or five daies, and stirring the same once or twice every day, till it have gotten out all the hart & strength of the dung, or so much therof as the water is able to receive; the after some setling, strain this liquor through some course cloth, & if it will not run, then adde more water unto it, for here your speciall care must be, that your liquor do not grow too thicke: after al this, let the same repose 12. or 24. houres, & then gently dreine away the cleere from the grounds or feticall residence, and so have you a liquor sufficiently prepared to steep your corne in: & for the better performace hereof, you may boare a hole within an inch of the bottome of the vessel, or halfe an inch, according as you shal see ye same to run cleere & not muddy into your receiving vessel.

And as for the time of imbibition, it is a rule in naturall Philosophle, that every thing hath his stomacke, which doth never leave drawing & attracting unto it selfe such matter as is apt for it, until it be glutted; and then as being overcharged, it loatheth and spueth out even that which otherwise it most desireth: as it doth manifestly appeare in the stomacke of man, wherin by overgorging it self a Nausea doth presently ensue. This is yet made more manifest in the art of dying, where, if in your blewes and greenes you worke with Indico, or in Stammels, Crimsons, Carnations or Scarlets, you worke with Greine or Kutcheneele, the cloth when it hath received his glut of colour, though never so often dipped after, wil nothing at al exalt it selfe in beautie or richnes of colour; even so it fareth with corne, after it hath imbibed so much liquor, as it can well beare and brooke without breaking of the hull, the is it time to dreine away the water: and yet wee see, that Pease, though they bee steeped till they[Page] sprowt a little, that they will grow notwithstanding, I leave the adventuring of wheate and barlie so farre unto them, that list by often and manifold triall to search for the period of this practise.

Lastly, for the better finding out of a true proportion betweene the corne and your liquor: first, put your corne in the vessell, and adde so much of your fat liquor unto it as will cover the same. And if the corne drinke it up, then adde more liquor thereunto: and the onely feare in this worke, is least if you overcharge your corne with water, that the water will rather draw the strength from the corne, then the corne draw strength from the water

And thus I have discovered the true use of all imbibitions: which have hitherto been confirmed by some, and condemned by others, each severall man reporting according to his owne experience. But the errours may from henceforth be easily prevented by a carefull observation of these few rules alreadie delivered in as plaine and simple a maner (as respecting the generall good, which was the primum mobile of this Discourse) I could possibly devise or publish.

Heere I thinke it not impertinent to our purpose to set downe severall means for the enriching of ground, the trials whereof, by way of imbibition, I referre to each mans patticular experience.

Sea Kilpes and sea Tangle, and other sea weeds are found by experience to enrich both arable and pasture grounds exceedingly. Shreds of woollen cloth strewed upon pasture ground will bring forth grasse abundantly.

The dregs of beere and ale applyed to the rootes of trees, and other smaller plants, will make them[Page] flourish and prosper mightilie, Seeds steeped in brine, proportioned according to Sea water, which consisteth of one part salte, and eyghteene or twentie parts water, wil in divers grounds procure a good encrease.

The Soote of Chimnies, both ingendred by Seacoale,as also by wood and charcoale in a very small quantitie, worketh great effects this way. There is a salte which the Petermen upon the refining of their Peter, doe separate from the Peter, this salte (if I be not deceived) is the salte purchased from the ashes, upon which the Petermen powre their foggie liquors to cleere them; one worke (unles it be a great one) doth not yeelde much above a bushell thereof weekely: this salte I take to be a trew vegetable salte, and therefore exceeding profitable, either to be strewed upon grounds to be mixed amongst the seede corne, or for imbibition.

Shavings of horne, upon mine owne experience, I must of necessitie commend, by the meanes whereof, I obtained a most flourishing garden at Bishops hall, in a most barren and unfruitfull plot of ground, which none of my Predecessors could ever grace or beautifie either with knots or flowres. I have had the like experience with singular good successe by strewing the waste sope ashes upon a border of sommer Barlie, whereof three eares would have counterpeized any five that ever came to my sight: you may see a plentifull discourse of these sope ashes in my booke of husbandrie.

Some commend greatly the watering of ground presently after it is sowne, with an artificial Brine, consisting of an eyghteenth or twentith part of salte: this is performed by a hogshed or some other such like[Page] vessell drawne upon a sled, having one of the heads boared full of small hoales like a watring pot.

The residence or grounds of the Oad fat, serve also to enrich ground with.

Malte dust may heere also challenge his place: for foure or five quarters thereof, are sufficient for an acre of ground.

The hulles which are divided from the Oates, in the making of Oatmeale, either in their owne present nature, or being burnt to ashes, make an excellent substance for enriching of ground. Fearne either rotted to dung by a mixture of earth amongst it, or consumed with fire into ashes, maketh a singular soile to lay upon barren and hungrie grounds.

When the Iron stone or oare is burnt, those fine ashes that are sifted from the same, doe prove a most excellent substance for the enriching of wet meadowes, or Marish groundes, especiallie such as are rushie, slaggie, or sedgie, and will bring the same to a fine sweete grasse: you shall finde the ground every yeare better than other, with a manifest and apparant difference betweene that parcell of your ground which you have enriched therewith, and all the rest of the same field, both by the glorious greene colour which it carrieth, and also by the delight of the cattell continuallie feeding thereon, and refusing the other till that be spent.

There is plentie of this matter to be had in Sussex, Essex, Wales, and such other shires wherein there hath been any long continuance of yron workes, and those hils which consist of this matter are worth the breaking up, though they be auncient and have lien long uncovered; but the best and hartiest, is that which hath been kept alwaies covered and[Page] defended from the raine: this kinde of soyle is also good for wheate ground, and three loades thereof are a sufficient proportion for one acre: and if you intend the same for grasse, you must spread it upon the ground about alhallountide. The light of this secret I received from a Yorkeshire Gentleman, a man both of great gifts and great possessions, who assured me of three yeares triall made by himselfe with very good successe, whose opinion is, that three loads thereof will enrich one acre of ground for seven yeeres at the least.

Sal Armoniake being a volatile salt, first incorporated and rotted in common earth, is thought to be a rich molde to plant or set in (quaere of steeping graine in water, having a trew proportion thereof first dissolved in it) but he that can prove so fortunate as to finde out the trew Sal Armoniake of mettall, shall be able with small quantitie to worke great wonders in this kinde.

Dogges and Cats, and other beastes, and generally all carrion buried under the rootes of Trees, in a due time will make them flourish and bring forth fruite in great abundance.

Here I cannot omit a strange secret delivered by a Gentleman of good worth unto mee, even before this worke was fullie perfected, which I have reserved for the conclusion of this title. Hee assured mee of a gentleman, at this present dwelling in Cornewall, who being very industrious, and searching into the workes of Nature, would needes attempte the sowing of Wheate in his arable groundes, being of such kinde, nature and qualitie, as was meerely repugnant and unfit for that graine, as the experience[Page] sell drawne upon a sled, having one of the heads boared full of small hoales like a watring pot.

The residence or grounds of the Oad fat, serve also to enrich ground with.

Malte dust may heere also challenge his place: for foure or five quarters thereof, are sufficient for an acre of ground.

The hulles which are divided from the Oates, in the making of Oatmeale, either in their owne present nature, or being burnt to ashes, make an excellent substance for enriching of ground. Fearne either rotted to dung by a mixture of earth amongst it, or consumed with fire into ashes, maketh a singular soile to lay upon barren and hungrie grounds.

When the Iron stone or oare is burnt, those fine ashes that are sifted from the same, doe prove a most excellent substance for the enriching of wet meadowes, or Marish groundes, especiallie such as are rushie, slaggie, or sedgie, and will bring the same to a fine sweete grasse: you shall finde the ground every yeare better than other, with a manifest and apparant difference betweene that parcell of your ground which you have enriched therewith, and all the rest of the same field, both by the glorious greene colour which it carrieth, and also by the delight of the cattell continuallie feeding thereon, and refusing the other till that be spent.

There is plentie of this matter to be had in Sussex, Essex, Wales, and such other shires wherein there hath been any long continuance of yron workes, and those hils which consist of this matter are worth the breaking up, though they be auncient and have lien long uncovered; but the best and hartiest, is that which hath been kept alwaies covered and[Page] defended from the raine: this kinde of soyle is also good for wheate ground, and three loades thereof are a sufficient proportion for one acre: and if you intend the same for grasse, you must spread it upon the ground about alhallountide. The light of this secret I received from a Yorkeshire Gentleman, a man both of great gifts and great possessions, who assured me of three yeares triall made by himselfe with very good successe, whose opinion is, that three loads thereof will enrich one acre of ground for seven yeeres at the least.

Sal Armoniake being a volatile salt, first incorporated and rotted in common earth, is thought to be a rich molde to plant or set in (quaere of steeping graine in water, having a trew proportion thereof first dissolved in it) but he that can prove so fortunate as to finde out the trew Sal Armoniake of mettall, shall be able with small quantitie to worke great wonders in this kinde.

Dogges and Cats, and other beastes, and generally all carrion buried under the rootes of Trees, in a due time will make them flourish and bring forth fruite in great abundance.

Here I cannot omit a strange secret delivered by a Gentleman of good worth unto mee, even before this worke was fullie perfected, which I have reserved for the conclusion of this title. Hee assured mee of a gentleman, at this present dwelling in Cornewall, who being very industrious, and searching into the workes of Nature, would needes attempte the sowing of Wheate in his arable groundes, being of such kinde, nature and qualitie, as was meerely repugnant and unfit for that graine, as the experience of[Page] the greatest part of the Countrie round about him did manifestly declare. And this he performed onely by infusing his seede corne foure and twentie houres in a strong liquor, that had descended from his muckheape into a receptacle of bricke: but he never infused his corne (as I am informed) till the liquor had been of two yeares date, and he alwaies dried his corne before he sowed it:quaere if in lesse time and without drying, the same effects will not follow.

SUch corne as is rubbed betweene ones hands out of the middle of the eare, the upper and neather part therof being first divided, I hold (with Bap. Porta) to be the most fruitfull seed of all the rest, and that the hand, though it bee a more laboursome worke, doth performe this better than the flaile, which maketh no division of the graine, and yet bruiseth a great part thereof by the violence of the stroke. But if your threshed wheat content you, then is it best either to picke each corne by it selfe, and so to divide the good from the bad (which is a fit worke for children, and may the rather be endured, for that so small a proportion of seed will serve to set an acre, viz. 12. pintes thereof, if each graine be at five inches distance, as some have observed) or els to powre your corne into a tubbe of water, stirring it up and downe, whereby the best and heaviest cornes will sinke to the bottome, and the lightest graine will fleete and flote in the toppe, which may easily be severed. I know no other meanes serving for the choice of your seed corne,[Page] saving those which are so usuall and common; as that they deserve no place amongst new inventions, and therefore I do here advisedly omit to touch or name them.

HE that reapeth foure quarters of wheate out of one acre by his plough, doth hold himselfe well contented, as with a rich croppe, which is eight at the least for one. I know the greatest number do scarcely attaine seven for one, and many but six for one: but if he have ten or twelve for one, then hee acknowledgeth himselfe to have received an extraordinary favour and blessing from the heavens: yet (because both happily, and by credible report it is come to my hands) I will heere set downe one rare experiment perfourmed this last yeare with the plough, wherein no doubt the Actor did strive even in the strength of his wit and spirit to make the best imitation which he could of the spade.

The ground having a naturall declining or descent by his owne scituation, was first crosse ploughed with a very deepe cutting plough, and then ploughed over the third time with a shallow plough, that made very close & narrow furrowes; then was the seede sowne by a skilfull sower, and then harrowed over; and by this newe practise the owner obtained 15. quarters (I dare not say 20.) upon each acre which hee sowed. I doe not cite this strange & admirable experiment, either to overthrow the whole frame of my former worke, by undermining the foundation thereof, or to hinder the labours[Page] of so many thousands of poore and distressed people, which by digging and setting are like to be profitably employed in this land by meanes of the spade (whose estates with all Christian commiseration I doe pitie, and am willing to relieve) but professing all the good I can, and by all the meanes that I may, to advaunce the common good of the whole realme, & knowing that if this new practise of digging by good successe thereof do happen to become generall in and over the whole land, notwithstanding the realme be populous, & surcharged with infinite numbers of poore men, women, and children, and maimed souldiers, that yet there will scarcely be found workemen enough for the tenth acre of land: I say, for the better increase of all such grounds where the plough must of necessitie be used, I was bold to insert this inventition, to supply the defect of labourers, which otherwise of necessitie would ensue.

And yet if I may beleeve those infinite reports, which are now with open trumpet sounded into each mans eare, in commendation of the spade, there will be no coparison betweene the plough & it, though all men would joyne all their wits together for the better furtherance thereof; out of many of which reports, I will only remeber these few. A Justice of Peace & Quorum of my acquaintance, dwelling in Essex, and desirous to make a triall of that wonderfull experience, so commended at the Court of Requests barre by a Counseller, who had seene the same the sommer before, would needs set a parcell of ground with his owne hands, as soon as he came from Michaelmasse tearme last to his house: in Aprill the same began to shew verie greene and full of blade, and in harvest time each corne brought forth at the least[Page] 27. eares, some 30. and some 32. with fortie graines in each eare, whose proportion is at the least a thousand for one.

For the truth of which report, I dare gage my credit, I know the Gentleman to be so temperate and well advised of his speech. I doe heare of another Gentleman dwelling in Surrey, who hath reaped 16 bushels out of one pint of wheat which he set, and that some cornes brought forth 40. & some 48. eares having 66.68. & 72. cornes in each eare, I could name the Gent. dwelling, & place of the triall, but this which I speake I dare warrant to be true, having good ground of credit for the same.

In Northamptonshire there grew barlie this last summer, amongst the which there was found some rootes having 120. eares upon one roote, with thirtie graines at the least in each eare. I have also heard by sundry reports of 20.30. & 32. quarters of wheat upo an acre, & of 15. quarters of barly upon an acre; yea there have been some which have reported, that they have had 15. quarters of wheat upo one acre by this maner of setting, the ground being spent and out of heart by often plowing before.

And if I should report all the several trials that have beene made by several persons, aswel of the Nobility as others, within these two last yeares, I should both weary my selfe with recording, and you with reading such infinit numbers of practises as I could produce, sed ex his reliqua.

I wil here either borrow leave, or comend without leave, a new, light and portable Pumpe, being of late graced with her Majesties most favorable priviledge, which I am bold to[Page] publish, together with this artificial husbadry, because I know no better means to give a publike notice thereof unto all my country men then by this pamphlet, which taking the wings of fame unto it, is like to disperse both it selfe and his companion abroad in a most speedy and sodaine manner through all this litle Iland. This Pump is of wood, & moveable from place to place by one mans labour: it is kept with verie small charge in good reparations: it is cheape, and delivereth great store of water in a little time by his double stroke to a reasonable height; it occupieth small roome; it serveth to emptie Cellers and ponds; it is verie necessarie for all merchants ships, and other ships of warre, whereby all superfluous water may bee safely conveied out at the neather portholes in a great leake happening by fight, or otherwise. But the most generall, use thereof (as I take it) will bee for all those stately houses and buildings which border upon the river of Thames, or any other river, whereby they may receive sufficient store of water to serve all their offices and gardens belonging to the same. You may heare farther of the Authour of this Invention by the Printer hereof.