WALTER OF HENLEY 18 



oxen. Further, in very hard ground, where the plough of 

 horses will stop, the plough of oxen will pass. And will you 

 see how the horse costs more than the ox ? I will tell you. 

 It is usual and right that plough beasts should be in the 

 stall between the feast of St. Luke and the feast of the 

 Holy Cross in May, five-and-twenty weeks, and if the horse 

 is to be in a condition to do his daily work, it is necessary 

 that he should have every night at the least the sixth part 

 of a bushel of oats, price one halfpenny, and at the least 

 twelve pennyworth of grass in summer. And each week 

 more or less a penny in shoeing, if he must be shod on all 

 four feet. The sum is twelve shillings and fivepence in 

 the year, without fodder and chaff. 



HOW YOU MUST KEEP YOUR OXEN. 



And if the ox is to be in a condition to do his work, then 

 it is necessary that he should have at least three sheaves 

 and a half of oats in the week, price one penny, and ten 

 sheaves of oats should yield a bushel of oats in measure ; 

 and in summer twelve pennyworth of grass : the sum three 

 shillings, one penny, without fodder and chaff. And when 

 the horse is old and worn out then there is nothing but the 

 skin ; and when the ox is old with ten pennyworth of grass he 

 shall be fit for the larder, or will sell for as much as he cost. 

 April is a good time for fallowing, if the earth breaks up after 

 the plough ; and for second fallowing after St. John's Day, 

 when the dust rises behind the plough ; and for ploughing 

 for seed when the earth is firm and not too cracked. But he 

 who has much to do cannot wait for all the good seasons. 

 And when you fallow, if you find good earth deep down, then 

 plough a square ridge, to let the good land rest, but do not 

 cut off the bad land ; and plough cleanly, so that none 

 remains covered or uncovered. At second fallowing do not 

 go too deep, but so that you can just destroy the thistles, 

 for if the earth is ploughed too deep at second fallow- 

 ing, and the earth is full of water, then when one must 

 plough for sowing the plough shall reach no sure ground, but 



