468 ON THE PRICE OF MATERIALS 



and acknowledged. Nor can we doubt that the medieval 

 agriculturist was acquainted with its actual merit in developing 

 the inherent fertilities of the soil, though he was ignorant of 

 the chemical process by which such a result was effected. 



Lime is generally purchased by the quarter of eight bushels. 

 Sometimes, however, it is bought by the fother, the ton (doleum\ 

 the sextary, and the sack. The sextary is a Sussex measure, 

 occurring at Bosham in early, at Apuldrum in later times. 

 The entries do not enable us to determine precisely what this 

 quantity was, though, comparing the Apuldrum quarter with 

 the sextary of the same place, it seems that the latter was 

 about three quarters. If the doleum or fother are equal to the 

 ton of 20 cwts., it may be that the amount was equal to about 

 four quarters. The sack was possibly half a quarter. The 

 crannock, as usual, is found in Ireland. None of these quanti- 

 ties, however, since the amount which they contain is so 

 uncertain, has been reckoned in the average. 



The charge at which lime could be procured, owing to the 

 great addition which cost of carriage made to the market value 

 of the article, was exceedingly various. Again, the rate is 

 occasionally heightened by differences in quality. Lime used 

 for building, especially for plastering, would be dearer than 

 that which is available for agricultural purposes. But in 

 places from which limestone or chalk were distant the price 

 is naturally enhanced, since the cost of conveyance formed so 

 important an element in the cheapness or dearness of supply. 

 Thus lime is dear in some parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, and 

 Cambridgeshire. Still, I think that the average decennial value 

 gives a tolerably accurate impression as to the rate at which 

 this article could be obtained, and that the general average 

 is sufficiently conclusive as to the price at which lime was 

 generally produced for agricultural and other needs. 



The dearth of 1315 affected the price of lime. It may be 

 that the cost of production was enhanced in a summer cha- 

 racterized by such incessant rain. But though such an increase 

 in price took place, it was wholly temporary, and there is no 



