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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	earth_n	great_a	water_n	1,720	5	6.0907	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87190	Samuel Hartlib his legacie: or An enlargement of the Discourse of husbandry used in Brabant and Flaunders; wherein are bequeathed to the Common-wealth of England more outlandish and domestick experiments and secrets in reference to universall husbandry. Entered according to the late Act concerning printing.; Legacy of husbandry	Hartlib, Samuel, d. 1662.; Dymock, Cressy, attributed name.; Child, Robert, ca. 1612-1654, attributed name.; Weston, Richard, Sir, 1591-1652. Discours of husbandrie used in Brabant and Flanders.	1651 (1651)	Wing H989; Thomason E628_11; ESTC R202377	80,387	139

2. things which are thought great Paradoxes viz. that it were no losse to this Island if that we should not plough at all if so be that we could certainly have Corne at a reasonable rate and likewise vent for all our Manufactures of Wooll 1. Because that the Commodities from Cattel are far more stable than Corne for Cloth Stuffes Stockins Butter Cheese Hides Shoes Tallow are certain even every where Corne scarcely in any place constantly in none 2. Pasture imployeth more hands which is the second Paradox and therefore Pasture doth not depopulate as it is commonly said for Normandy and Picardy in France where there are Pastures in a good measure are as populous as any part of France and I am certaine that Holland Frizeland Zealand Flaunders and Lombardy which rely altogether on Pastures are the most populous places in Europe But some will object and say that a shepherd and a dog formerly hath destroyed divers villages To this I answer that we well know what a shepherd and a dog can do viz. looke to two or 300. sheepe at the most and that 2. or 300. Acres will maintaine them or the land is extreamly barren and that these 2. or 300. Acres being barren will scarcely maintaine a plough which is but one man and 2. boyes with the horses and that the mowing reaping and threshing of this Corne and other worke about will scarcely maintaine 3. more with worke through the whole yeare But how many people may be imployed by the Wooll of 2. or 300. Sheepe in Picking Sorting Carding Spinning Weaving Dying Fulling Knitting I leave to others to calculate And further if the Pastures be rich Meadowes and go on dairing I suppose all know that 100. Acres of such land imployeth more hands than 100. Acres of the best Corne-Land in England and produceth likewise better exportable Commodities And further if I should grant that formerly the shepherd and his dog did depopulate yet I will deny that it doth so now for formerly we were so unwise as to send over our Wooll to Antwerpe and other places where they were Manufactured by which meanes 1. pound oft brought 10. unwrought to them but we set now our own poore to work and so save the depopulation Yet I say it 's convenient to encourage the plough because that we cannot have a certainty of Corne and carriage is dear both by sea and land especially into the Inland-Countreyes and our Commodities by Wooll do cloy the Merchants 5. Rushy lands Blith telleth us good Remedies for these Inconveniencies viz. making deep-trenches oft mowings Chalking Liming Dunging Ploughing I know where hungry guests Horses soone make an end of them 6. Furze broome heath these can hardly be so destroyed but at length they will up againe for God hath given a peculiar propriety to every kinde of earth to produce some peculiar kinds of Plants which it will observe even to the worlds end unles by Dung Marle Chalke you alter even the very Nature of the earth In Gallitia in Spine where such barren lands do very much abound they do thus first they grub them up as cleane as they can of the greater Rootes and branches they make fire-wood the smaller stickes are either imployed in fencing or else are burnt on the ground afterwards the land being ploughed twice at least they sowe Wheat and usually the crop is great which the Landlord and Tenant devide according to a compact then the ground resteth and in 3. or 4. years the Furze or broome will recover their former growth which the paineful Husband-man grubbeth and doeth with it as formerly I set this downe that you may see how laborious the Spaniard is in some places the poverty of the countrey compelling him to it 7. There are other Inconveniencies in land besides weeds and trumpery viz. Ill tenures as coppy-hold Knight-service c. so that the Possessor cannot cut any Timber downe without consent of the Lord when he dyes must pay one or 2. years rent But these are not in the power of the poor Husband-man to remedy I therefore passe them by yet hope that in little time we shall see these Inconveniencies remedied because they much discourage Improvements and are as I suppose badges of our Norman slavery To conclude it seemeth to me very reasonable and it will be a great encouragement to laborious men to improve their barren lands if that they should have recompence for what they have done according as indifferent men should judge when they leave it as is the custome in Flaunders I have likewise observed some Deficiencies in Woods which I shall briefly declare with the best 12. Deficiency in Woods way to Remedy the same 1. It 's a great fault that generally through the Island the Woods are destroyed so that we are in many places very much necessitated both for fuel also for timber for building and other uses so that if we had not Coales from New-castle and Boards from Norwey Plough-staves pipe-staves from Prussia we should be brought to great extreamity and many Mechanickes would be necessitated to leave their callings 2. Deficiency is that our Woods are not ordered as they should be but though Woods are especially preserved for timber for building and Shipping yet at this time it 's very rare to see a good Timber-tree in a Wood. 3. That many of our Woods are very thinne and not replenished with such sorts of Wood as are convenient for the place 4. That we fell continually and never plant or take care for posterity These Deficiencies may be thus Remedyed 1. To put in execution the Statutes against grubbing of Woods which are sufficiently severe It 's well knowne we have good lawes but it 's better knowne they are not executed In the Wilde of Kent and Sussex which lies far from the Rivers and Sea and formerly have been nothing but Woods liberty is granted for men to grub what they please for they cannot want firing for themselves and they are so seated that neither firewood nor timber can be transported elsewhere I know a Gentleman who proffered there good Oake-timber at 6. s. 8. d. per tun and the land in those parts in general is very good About Tunbridge there is land which formerly was Wood is now let for 30. s. per Acre so that to keepe such lands for Wood would be both losse to the owner and to the Island But in other parts of the Island it is otherwise and men are much to be blamed for destroying both timber and fuel I have seen at Shooters-hill near London some Woods stubbed up which were good ground for Wood but now are nothing but furze which is a great losse both to the owner and to the Countrey For the land is made worse then it was formerly I conceive there are lands which are as naturally ordained for Woods viz. Mountainous Craggy uneven land as small hills for the Vines and Olives plaine lands for Corne and low moist

of Water and stir it about take off all the Corn that swimmeth on the Water and pour the rest upon a floor letting the Water run off Then make a strong brine of Bay-Salt and pour some of the brine on the Corne upon the floore and take to halfe a quarter of Corne halfe a peck of Salt and strow it on the Corne and stir and mix it continually as you pour thereon the brine and strow the Salt thereon untill the Corne be all wet and overstrowed with Salt Then take to a halfe Quarter of Corne halfe a bushell of Vnslak't Lime and strow that likewise over the Corne mingling it well together which done you may sowe the same the next day The brine must be cold when you pour it on the Corne and you must prepare no more Wheate then you intend next day to sowe Another Secret practised in Germany for the inriching of Meadowes A Meadow yields 6. times more Hay when it is turned up with a plough and sowen thick with ashes burn't out of the substance thereof but the rain must fall first Afterwards sowe your Meadow with the seed of Trefoile and plough and harrow them in The first grasse which groweth thereon let it be very ripe that the seed may fall off it selfe then let some go over it and with rakes stir it that it fall out Afterwards let it be mowen off and carried to a certaine place where it may be dryed so the Grasse will grow presently againe and may be mowen again in three weekes How to make Rushy ground to beare Grasse BReake the Rushy ground and rake the rootes and the rushes together and burne them or carry them away Then spread upon that ground Turffe-ashes or Pigeons-Dung Chalke or Lime according to your ground Try of every one of these upon a little plot of your ground you may use other Ashes Marle or Dung for experiments and that which you finde doth kill the Rushes and other Weeds best use it you are to make gutters or draines to carry away the water from the ground you may destroy Rushes or Ferne if you will but cut or mowe them downe in the beginning of June and so use to do it 2. or 3. yeares together at that time For planting or sowing Walnuts IN the season when they are full ripe on the trees a few dayes before they would fall as neare as can be guessed let them be gathered or beaten off and in the green huske or without it put them into good ordinary earth in a barrel or basket So let them continue untill the beginning of March following as soone as that moneth begins get as much warme Milke from the Cowes as will steepe them 24. hours after they are steeped set them in ground well digged and judged natural for such fruit with their little end or their prickled sharpe end upwards about 3. or 4. inches deepe in the earth and not one of 28. will faile as hath appeared by experience This may make dry Walnuts also prove trees the Nuts used as above said as farre as may be set them neare one foot a-sunder and in a right line to weed them The Walnut breeds good Timber good shadow good smell good fruit At 4. yeares growth transplant them Mr. Lanyon's Description of the usuall manner of planting transplanting according to that of Flaunders of those Trees called Abeales impanted for Publique Good THey are first planted from any even the least part of the Roote of the same Tree you must divide the root by slipping each part from the other and not by cutting it in sunder you may take those parts from those trees whilest they grow and without danger to them rob them of all the small sprigs of the roote and leave only the Master-Roots but the most usual way is to multiply them when they are transplanted which time is at their growth of 5. yeares their season is in March They are first planted in the way of a Nursery in loose earth moist and sandy or inclining to it their distance is 10. inches one from another the earth being first prepared as for a Garden you are to make holes with a stick the depth of the length of the part you have to set setting him so that you may onely see a part of it above ground the earth being closed about them they are to be kept weeded as any other plants The second yeare in February you are to prune off all from the Master or Middle shoote and so to the 3. and 4. yeare the 5. you may transplant them so as they like the ground of their Nursery Their usual distance one from another is 10. foot you may drive a stake with them when you transplant them to secure them stiffe against the winde for that they will grow very tall in those years and so be much exposed to the winds They may without much prejudice to Corne be planted in the furrowes where it growes so as the ground be moist and you keepe them well pruned and leave onely a bush at the top of the tree No stiffe Clay grounds will admit them to thrive they will grow in moist Clay ground but onely in height and will not burnish for want of roome to extend their roots This tree if he likes his ground will be at full growth in 20. years He is valued in Flaunders after 7. years growth worth every year 12. d. until his time be up He growes very straight without boughes onely a bush on the top and so exceedingly well becomes a Walke This Timber is uncomparable for all sorts of wooden vessels especially Traies Butchers-Traies cannot well be made without it it being so exceeding light and tough Some years ago there were ten thousand at once sent over into England and transplanted into many Counties Mr. Walker at Saint James can give the best account of them to all such as desire further to be directed in this particular FINIS

in Europe yet it hath no small want of Hay especially about Paris which hath necessitated them to sowe their dry and barren lands with this seed Their manner of sowing it is done most commonly thus When they intend to let their Corne-lands ly because they be out of heart and not situate in a place convenient for manuring then they sowe that land with Oates and these seeds together about equall parts the first year they only mowe off their Oates leaving the Saint Foine to take root and strength that year Yet they may if they please when the year is seasonable mowe it the same year it is sowne but it 's not the best way to do so the year following they mowe it and so do seven years together the ordinary burthen is obout a loade or a load and a halfe in good years upon an Arpent which is an 100. square Poles or Roddes every Pole or Rod being 20. foot which quantity of ground being nigh a 4th part lesse than an English Acre within a league of Paris is usually Rented at 6. or 7. s. After the land hath rested 7. years then they usually break it up and sowe it with Corne till it be out of heart and then sowe it with Saint Foine as formerly for it doth not impoverish land as Annuall Plants do but after seven years the roots of this plant being great and sweet as the roots of Licorish do rot being turned up by the Plough and enrich the Land I have seen it sowne in divers places here in England especially in Cobham-Park in Kent about 4. miles from Gravesend where it hath thriven extraordinary well upon dry Chalky bankes where nothing else would grow and indeed such dry barren land is most proper for it as moist rich land for the great Trefoile or great Clover-Grasse although it will grow indifferently well on all lands and when the other grasses and plants are destroyed by the parching heat of the Sun because their roots are small and shallow this flourisheth very much having very great root and deepe in the ground and therefore not easily to be exsiccated As we have observed Ononis or Rest-Harrow commonly to do on dry lands but if you sowe this on wet land the water soon corrupts the root of it This plant without question would much improve many of our barren lands so that they might be mowen every year once at least 7. years together and yeeld excellent fodder for Cattel if so be that it be rightly managed otherwise it cometh to nothing as I have seen by experience I therefore councel those who sowe this or the great Trefoile or Clover-Grasse or any other sorts of grasses that they observe these Rules 1. That they do make their ground fine and kill all sorts of other grasses and plants otherwise they being native English will by no meanes give way to the French ones especially in this moist climate and therefore they are to be blamed who with one ploughing sowe this or other seeds for the grasse presently groweth up and choaketh them and so by their negligence and ill Husbandry discourageth themselves and others 2. Let them not be too sparing of their seeds for the more they sowe the closer and thicker they will grow and presently fully stock the ground that nothing else can grow And further the seeds which come from beyond the Seas are oftentimes old and much decayed and therefore the more seed is required 3. Not to expect above 7. years profit by it for in that time it will decay and the natural grasse will prevail over it for every plant hath his period some in one year some in 2. others in 3. as the common Thistle and therefore after 7. years let them either plough the land up and sowe it with that same seed again or with other Graine as they do in France 4. Let not sheepe or other cattel bite them the first year that they may be well rooted For these grasses are farre sweeter then the ordinary grasses and cattel will eat them down leaving the other and consequently discourage their growth 5. The best way if men will be at the charge is to make their ground very fine as they do when they are to sowe Barly and harrowe it even and then to howe these seeds in alone without any other graine as the Gardiners do Pease yet not at so great a distance but let them make the ranges about a foot 's breadth one from another and they shall see their grasses flourish as if they were green Pease especially if they draw the howe through them once or twice that summer to destroy all the weeds and grasses And if they do thus the great Clover and other seeds may be mowen even twice the first year as I have experimented in divers small plots of ground There is at Paris likewise another sort of fodder which they call La Lucerne which is not inferior but rather preferred before this Saint Foine for dry and barren grounds which hath been lately brought thither and is managed as the former and truely every day produceth some new things not onely in other Countreys but also in our own And though I cannot but very much commend these plants unto my Countreymen knowing that they may be beneficial to this Nation yet I especially recommend unto them a famous kind of grasse growing in Wilshire 9. miles from Salisbury at Maddington which may better be called one of the wonders of this Land then the Hawthorne-tree at Glassenbury which superstition made so famous for divers of the same kind are found elsewhere You may find this grasse briefly described in a Book called Phytologia Britannica which lately came forth and set down even all the plants which have been found naturally growing in England Gramen Caninum Supinum Longissimum which groweth 9. miles from Salisbury Mr. Tuckers at Maddington where with they fat hogs and which is 24. foot long a thing almost incredible yet commonly known to all that Shire Now without question if the seed of this grasse be sowne in other rich Meadowes it will yeeld extraordinarily though perchance not so much as in its proper place I wonder that those that live there abouts have not tryed to fertilize their other Meadowes with it for it is a peculiar species of grasse and though some Ingenious men have found about 90. species of grasses in this island yet there is none like to this that can by any meanes be brought to such an height and sweetnesse And truly I suppose that the thorough examination of this grasse is a thing of very great importance for the improvement of Meadowes and Pastures and it may excel the great Trefoile Saint Foine La Lucerne or any exotick plant whatsoever And though I am very unwilling to exceed the bounds of an Epistle yet I cannot but certifie you wherein the Husbandry of this Nation in other particulars as I suppose is greatly deficient which I will do as

graine their Far or fine Bread Corne was what their Lupine Spury and a 100. of this kinde as you may reade in Matthiol or Dioscorides so on the contrary infinite are the Plants which we have and they knew not as well appeareth by their small and our large Herballs and dayly new Plants are discovered useful for Husbandry Mechanichs and Physick and therefore let no man be discouraged from prosecuting new and laudable Ingenuities And I desire Ingenious Gentlemen and Merchants who travel beyond Sea to take notice of the Husbandry of those parts viz. what graines they sowe at what time and seasons on what lands how they plough their lands how they dung and improve them what cattel they use and the Commodities thereby Also what bookes are written of Husbandry and such like And I intreate them earnestly not to thinke these things too low for them and out of their callings nay I desire them to count nothing triviall in this kinde which may be profitable to their Countrey and advance knowledge And truly I should thanke any Merchant that could informe me in some triviall and ordinary things done beyond Sea viz. how they make Caviare out of Sturgeons Rowes in Moscovia how they boile and pickle their Sturgeon which we English in New-England cannot as yet do handsomely how the Bolognia Sausages are made how they ferment their bread without yest of what materials divers sorts of Baskets Broomes Frailes are made What seed Groute or Grutze is made of and also how to make the Parmisane Cheeses of Italy which are usually sold here for 2. s. or 2. s. 6. d. per pound or the Angelots of France which are accounted better Cheeses than any made in England as also the Holland Cheeses which are far better then our ordinary Cheeses and yet these sorts of Cheeses are made not of Mares milke as some think but from the Cowes and our Pastures are not inferiour to theirs c. 2. I desire Ingenious men to send home whatsoever they find rare of all sorts as first Animals the fine-woolled Sheep of Spain Barbary Horses Spanish Sonnets c. and so likewise all sorts of Vegetables not growing with us as Pannick Millet Rice which groweth in the Fenny places of Milan and why may it not grow in our Fens and the best sorts of Graines or Fruits in use amongst us perhaps there is Wheat that is not subject to Smut or Mildew perhaps other seeds will give double increase as Flax Oates Pease and divers other things of Importance there are beyond Sea which may be useful to us as the Askeys the Corke Acornes the scarlet Oake sweete Annise which groweth abundantly in Milan Fenel c. Tilia or Linder-tree for basse Ropes c. Spruce Pines for masts and Boards seeing that they are swift growers and many will stand in a small peece of ground they have formerly growne here and some few do flourish in our Gardens and in Scotland I suppose that this ought seriously to be considered for although we have plenty of Oakes yet what will it profit for Shipping without Masts and how difficult it is to get great Masts above 22. inches diameter is very well known Many things I might add of this kind but for brevities sake I reforre you to Mr. John Tredescan who hath taken great paines herein and dayly raiseth new and curious things 3. Consider that these new Ingenuities may be profitable not onely to the Publique but also to private men as we see by those who first planted Cherries Hops Licorish Saffron and first sowed Rape-seeds Colliflowers Woad Would Early Pease Assparagus Melons Tulips Gilliflowers c. and why may not we finde some things beneficiall to us also 16. Deficiency is the Ignorance of those things which 16. Deficiency of the Ignorance of things taken from the Earth Waters of this Island are taken from the earth and waters of this Island Although it may seeme to many that these things do little concerne the Husband-man who usually is not a Naturalist but onely endeavoureth to knowe his own grounds and the seeds proper for it and seldome pierceth into the bowels of the earth yet if we consider that out of the earth he hath Marle Lime Stone Chalke for the enriching his lands and also Loame and sand for his buildings oftentimes fuel for fire c. it will plainly appear that it is necessary for him to know even all Subterrany things and to be a petty Philosopher and that the knowledge of these things will be very beneficial for him And here I cannot but take notice of a great Deficiency amongst us viz. that we have not the Naturall History of all the Sands Earth Stones Mines Minerals Metals c. which are found in this Island It would not onely advance Husbandry but also many other Mechanic●… Arts and bring great profit to the Publique I hope some Ingenious man will at length undertake this taske For the Lord hath blessed this Island with as great variety as any place that is knowne as shall in part appear anon and it may be proved by that great variety which is found near the Spaw-waters in Knares-borough as Doctor Deane relateth in his Booke called the English Spaw Or the glory of Knares-borough springing from several famous Fountains there adjacent called the Vitriol sulphurous dropping well sand also other Mineral Waters Whose words are these Here is found not onely white and yellow Marle Plaister Oker Rudd Rubrick Free-stone an hard Greet-stone a soft Reddish stone Iron-stone Brimstone Vitriol Niter Allum Lead and Copper and without doubt divers mixtures of these but also many other Minerals might perhaps be found out by the diligent search and industry of those who would take paines to labour a little herein Printed at Yorke by Tho. Broad being to be sold in his shop at the lower end of stone gate neare to Common-Hall-Gates 1649. This letter will not permit me to make a compleat Naturall History of the things of this Isle yet I shall relate divers things which may be as hints to set some others to worke which I have found in Mr. Cambden and others and shall briefly Instruct the Husband-man what he ought to take notice of for his own and others good And first if he live nigh the Sea let him take notice of those things the Sea casteth up for it hath even with us cast up Ambergrease which is worth so much Gold with the which not long since a fisherman of Plymouth greased his bootes not knowing what it was sometimes it casteth up Jet and Amber as at Whitbey oftentimes In former times we had Oysters which had very faire great pearles in them of good worth and at this time some of them are found in Denbigh-shire Copperas-stone likewise is found along by the sea-coasts of Kent Essex Sussex Hampshire out of the which Copperas is made a thing very useful for Dyers Curriers c. further Sea-weeds are not to be

that this sand is for building this loame for brickes this clay for pots this Marle for Corn-land and if that they shall finde any Stones Earths which they know not that they would lay them up till that they meet with some ingenious man that can informe them The richest Mines of the world have been found out by these meanes if we will beleeve Histories And this I am sure of that by this meanes they may much advance their knowledge and be more profitable to the Publique their Neighbours and also to themselves 17. Deficiency is the Ignorance of the Vegetables of 17. Deficiency of the Vegetables of this Island their Vertues and Vses this Island and their Vertues and Vses And the first Deficiency that I take notice of is the Ignorance of the ordinary seeds which are commonly sowen amongst us for usually the Countrey-man contenteth himselfe with one or two sorts and knoweth no more when as there are very great varieties some of which agree with one sort of ground some with another as for example there are very many sorts of Wheates some called White Wheate some Red Wheate some Bearded which as I have said before is not so subject to Mildewes as others others not some sorts with 2. rowes others with 4. and 6. some with one eare on a stalke others with double eares or two on the same stalke Redstalke-wheate of Buckinghamshire Winter-Wheat Summer-Wheate which is sowen abundantly in New-England in Aprill and May and reaped ordinarily in 3. moneths and many sorts more Not to trouble my discourse with Spelt Zea Tiphine-Wheate or Olew Far Siligo Alica which were used amongst the Auntients but now unknowne not onely to the Countrey-man but even to the learned-est Botanicks so I may say that the ordinary Yeoman is ignorant of the diversities of Barleys for there is not onely the ordinary Barly but also Big Sprat-Barly which hath lately been sowen in Kent with good profit also Winter Barly sowen in winter Barly with 4. 6. rowes naked Barly which require divers dispositions of land some delighting in finer others in stiffer grounds So there is also Winter and Summer-Rie and 20. sorts of Pease the ordinary s●chew the raith or Early-ripe Pease the Roncivals Hastivers Hotarses Gray-Pease Green-Pease Pease without Skins Sugar-Pease whose shels are sweeter then the Pease it selfe and have beene within these 10. years plentifully sowen in Lincolne-shire with profit also Fulham Sandwich-Pease c. which require divers sorts of land and seasons so also there are divers sorts of Oates White black naked which in New-England serveth well for Oatemeal without grinding being beaten as they come out of the barne Scotch Poland c. Also Buckwheate Lentiles divers sorts of Tares of Hempe and Flax altogether unknowne to most Countrey-men but I hope that hereafter they will be more inquisitive after them for divers of them may be of good use on their lands 2. Deficiency in this kinde is that they are ignonorant of the Plants and Grasses which naturally grow amongst us and their Vses which likewise were made for to be food for Cattel and also for the service of man This ignorance causeth them to admire and to esteem even as miraculous ordinary and triviall things as for example how it cometh to passe that in one Meadow an Horse thriveth very much and speedily and yet a Bullocke will not in that place and contrariwise in a Meadow close by the former the Bullock will thrive and the Horse not so also how it cometh to passe that Conyes and Sheepe will thrive well where there is scarcely any Pasture and yet come to nothing on Commons where there is a greater quantity of Pasture which proceedeth from this cause that somekinde of Plants are more agreeing and sweeter to one sort of Cattel then to another and every beast almost hath some Plant or other which they love exceedingly I suppose that the observances of this kinde might be very useful in Husbandry These Deficiencies I will draw to 3. heads 1. I say that divers Plants not to speak of Fruits because we have already spoken of them that grow naturally in our Island may be very serviceable to the Husbandman both for his Pastures Corne-lands To instance in some few we see that divers sorts of wild Vetches Chiches Tares c. grow wild in divers places which though they beare not so great and large crops as some others already used yet who knoweth what they would do if they were manured as other graines and in land proper for them for we see that the transplanting of Plants into Gardens doth very much meliorate or better them and without doubt all those graines which are in use with us were at first picked out of the field and woods and by Ingenious men found useful for man or beast and of late divers have been found not knowne to our Forefathers as Saint Foine Lucerne and why may not we finde divers Grasses Vetches Medicaes Wild Pease c. which as yet are scarce taken notice of 2. There grow divers sorts of wilde Pease but to speak of 2. onely 1. Sort which groweth on the stony beaches of the Sea where there is little or no earth the rootes are many foot deepe in the ground In Queene Maries dayes in a dearth the poor people gathered divers sackes full of them and they were no small reliefe to them who hath tryed whether they would thrive better on better land 2. sort groweth on dry barren land and is commonly called the everlasting Pease which continually groweth out of the same roote In Gardens I have seene it grow 10. yeares together and larger at the 10. years end then at the first I have also seen it flourish on barren grounds where Oates were burnt away who knoweth but these and other Plants may be serviceable if not for man at least to beasts or Pigeons for in New-England the great flights of Pigeons are much maintained by these I am sure it were good to make experiments on these and divers others 2. Head is the Ignorance of the Mechanical Vses of Herbs and Trees for even for these Vses most Plants have some peculiar propriety To instance in a few We know that Elme is for Wheels and the best wood for to make Herrings red Oake is for the Shipwright Joyner Tanner Horne-beames Beech for the Millwright Line-tree for base ropes Old Elder without pith is very tough fit for Cogs of wheeles Tooth Pickers Pear-tree for Mathematicall Instruments and Engravers c. Osiers for Baskets Walnut for Gunstockes Aspe for Hoopes Box Ash for a 100. uses and much more might be spoken of this kind if time would permit So likewise divers Plants are for Painters as you may see in Batte's Experiments some for the Dyers but as yet we know but 4. viz. Woade Would Green-wood and Madder amongst 1200. plants and upward which grow wilde with us I could wish some Ingenious man would take the paines to search

but mean and rude and Mr. Wheeler's way much more Ingenious 5. I saw at Wicklesen the manner of your Holland Sluces The ruines also of a Cochlea for the emptying and dreining of water of which Vbaldus hath writ a whole Treatise Likewise a petty kinde of Pinnace with ordinance somewhat like a close Litter but Flat-bottom'd which rowed with wheeles instead of Oares imployed it seemes formerly with admirable successe for the taking in of Crowland and which gave me a proofe of what I for many years have thought possible and of very great use and service and still think it of unknowne value if it were skillfully indeed framed and applyed as it might be 6. The Lord F. W. assured me of a Gentleman in Norfolke that made above 10000. l. sterl of a peece of ground not 40. yards square and yet there was neither Mineral or Metall in it He after told me it was onely a sort of fine Clay for the making a choise sort of earthen ware which some that knew it seeing him dig up discovered the value of it and sending it into Holland received so much money for it it 's a story not to be despised 7. His Lordship told me the way of making of Spunke or Touch-wood 8. Mr. H. His Lordship's Bailiff shewed me a small plat of ground scarce an Acre and halfe wherein he assured me he had in one yeare 21. hundred of Hops and falling out then to be scarce in other places he made of that small parcel of ground 9. score l. 9. At Milton I saw a Spring that might have been made big enough to serve a large Towne which my Friend Wheeler had newly discovered and broke up every man opposing him in it and deriding his confidence till he made it appear and ashamed them Hereupon he gave me several marks of knowing and finding out Springs under ground 10 From Springs we converted our discourse to Pipes for the carrying along of water under ground to any House or Towne wherein he imparted some secrets to me both of the fittest Wood and Trees for Pipes and preserving them whole ages from corruption by wayes extreamly rational and not hitherto observed or found out by any 11. This drew on some Discourse of Woods their Differences and several Applications in which he told me many singular Observations 12. After this I saw at Milton an Excellent Modell of a Garden Orchard and Walkes and being further curious my Friend related a Witty Invention he once put in Practise to plant an Orchard in a Moorish place where never grew a Tree 13. I casually met with one Boughton a most singular rare man in carving or cutting out Figures in small or in great of Stone and for that reason servant in ordinary to the late King Who acquainted me of many excellent Ingenious men and promised to seek me at my lodging 14. Being in Camebridge-shire I examined more particularly the Husbandry planting ordering and curing of Saffron Some other things came in my way not without notice But these are the chief My own Improvements and comments upon all which I shall more at large give you when we meet together being alwayes SIR Your's Quere's sent into France about the Seed called La Lucerne WHen one N. N. was last in France being in discourse with Doctor D. concerning Saint Foine he was then told by Doctor D. that for the Improvement of barren grounds there was in those parts of France about Paris another seed that did farre excell that of Saint Foine and that the name of that more excellent seed was La Lucerne I am desired by a friend of mine to whome N. N. related this passage of Doctor D. that by your kindnesse he may be spoken to of this La Lucerne and his direction's desired where the said seed is to be had for what price how much is usually sowed upon an English Acre what time of yeare it is sowen whether it be sowen alone or with any other ordinary Corne and with what Corne and with what kinde of land it best agrees with and finally what other particulars he can direct more then is here set downe The Answer to the Quere's from Paris I Have been with Doctor D. about Lucerne who tells me that it groweth best in wettish grounds that the best time of sowing it in England will be in February at the same time that Oates are sowne with the which also it may be sowen but best alone that to the sowing of an Arpent which is much what the same with an English Acre there will go 12 or 15. l. of the Seed the which useth to be sold here at 8. or 9. sols the pound More Quere's concerning Lucerne I Desire further to know what kind of wet grounds are best for it whether Moorish or clay whether Poore or Rich whether it must be sowen yearly or whether it will continue over a year in the ground and if more then a year then how many years it will continue without being new sowen whether it be onely good for Meadowes or for Pasture and if for Pasture then whether the Sheepe or Cattel be suffered to go upon it or whether it be carried off greene as the Clover-grasse is in Flaunders Lastly for what Cattel it is most proper Another Answer from Paris I Thought to have sent you 9. l. of the seed of Lucerne for the sowing of three Acres Doctor D. having told me as heretofore I told you that 3. l. would sowe an Arpent or Acre But as I was going about it I met with a Gentleman an acquaintance of mine who some yeares since but unknowne to me hitherto hath had some Acres of Meadow of Lucerne upon his Ground to whom having casually spoke of my businesse and told him all that Doctor D. had told me about the Lucerne he answered me that Doctor D. was most grosly mistaken in the quantity of the Seed required for the sowing of an Acre and that it would not take up 3. l. but two whole sacks each sack containing the full loade of a strong Porter after which rate the quantity of Seed for the sowing of 3. Acres would fill a great dry-fat the sending whereof by land would come to excessive great charges and therefore necessarily to be sent by Sea in my opinion You will be pleased to impart these things to your Friend and to let me know his finall resolution upon them the which shall be faithfully accomplished by me and in the meane while I will get him a perfect and full Answer upon all his Quere's not from Doctor D. whom I dare trust no more in this businesse having found him guilty of such grosse mistakes about it but from that other Gentleman who told me he could himself resolve most of those Questions but that for to be the surer he thought it best to conferre first with his Farmer about it You make Apologies for putting me upon these Inquiries but I pray you to believe that at any