FARMEKS" INSTITUTES. ' 331 



efforls to benefit farming, — the definite treatises upon one or more of its many 

 branches. I would not, if I could, give you in this connection a list of agri- 

 cultural writers, nor a criticism upon their merits as teachers of husbandry. 

 That belongs to another purpose and to other hands. I wish only to show how 

 literary art has lent its graces to the subject with no stinted hand. 



Fitz Herbert, the first writer in English upon this subject, was a learned 

 lawyer, an orator, and an author, before he touched his "Treatise for all Hus- 

 bandmen," that has had more than twenty editions. Thomas Tusser, whose 

 ''Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry" professes to be a poem as well as 

 a systematic calendar for the year's work upon a farm, was a musician, a man 

 of general culture, and a little of a farmer (for he failed in this calling again 

 and again), yet he grew wise enough to throw into his jingling rhymes a deal of 

 earnest advice that has preserved his work for three hundred yea]'s, and given 

 him rank as the first didactic poet. I should like to retail for you a little of his 

 good advice, — as good now as in his day, — on many a matter of every day expe- 

 rience, but I must stop only to show the spirit of his undertaking : 



" The fence well kept is one good point, 



And tilth well done in season due ; 

 Yet needing salve in time to annoint 



Is all in all, and needfnl true ; 

 As for the rest, thus think I best, 



As friend doth guest, 

 With hand in hand to lead thee forth 



To Cei-es' camp, there to behold 

 A thousand things as richly worth 



As any pearl is worthy gold."' 



That he loved the country, he proves by his wishes : 



"Yet will I not despair 



Through God's good gift so fair, 

 Through friendship, gold and prayer. 



In country again to dwell; 

 Where rent so shall not pain me. 



But pains shall help to gain me, 

 And gains shall help maintain me, 



New lessons more to tell." 



Hear but once more of his own good intentions : 



'•"What lookest thou herein to have? 

 Fine verses thy fancy to please ? 

 Of many my betters that crave. 



Look nothing but rudeness in these." 



"What other thing lookest thou then? 

 Grave sentences many to find? 

 Such, poets have, twenty and ten ; 



Yea, thousands, contenting thy mind." 



*' What look ye ; 1 pray you show what ? 

 Terms painted with rhetoric fine ? 

 Good husbandry seeketh not that. 

 Nor is"t any meaning of mine." 



"'What lookest thou; speak at the last? 

 Good lessons for thee and thy wife? 

 Then keep them in memory fast, 

 To help as a comfort to life." 



41 



