WALTER OF HENLEY 21 



And if fodder be left beyond that estimated to keep your 

 cattle cause it to be strewed within the court and without 

 in wet places. And your sheep-house and folds also cause 

 to be strewed. And before the drought of March comes 

 let your manure, which has been scattered within the court 

 and without, be gathered together. And when you must 

 cart marl or manure have a man in whom you trust to be 

 over the carters the first day, that he may see that they do 

 their work well and without cheating, and at the end of the 

 day's work see how much they have done, and for so much 

 must they answer daily unless they are able to show a de- 

 finite hindrance. Put your manure which has been mixed 

 with earth on sandy ground if you have it. Why ? I will 

 tell you. The weather in summer is hot, and the sand hot 

 and the manure hot ; and when these three heats are united 

 after St. John's Day the barley that grows in the sand is 

 withered, as you can see in several places as you go through 

 the country. In the evening the earth mixed with manure 

 cools, the sand and keeps the dew, and thereby is the 

 corn much spared. Manure your lands, and do not plough 

 them too deeply, because manure wastes in descending. 

 Now I will tell you what advantage you will have from 

 manure mixed with earth. If the manure was quite by 

 itself it would last two or three years, according as the 

 ground is cold or hot ; manure mixed with earth will last 

 twice as long, but it will not be so sharp. Know for cer- 

 tain that marl lasts longer than manure. Why ? Because 

 manure wastes in descending and marl in ascending. And 

 why will manure mixed last longer than pure manure ? I 

 will tell you. Of manure and the earth which are harrowed 

 together the earth shall keep the manure, so that it cannot 

 waste by descending as much as it would naturally. I tell 

 you why, that you may gather manure according to your 

 power. And when your manure has been spread and 

 watered a little, then it is time that it should be turned 

 over ; then the earth and the manure will profit much to- 

 gether. And if you spread your manure at fallowing it 

 shall be all the more turned over at second ploughing, and 



