ARTICLES EMPLOYED IN AGRICULTURE. 



wheels, especially in mills, as well as for the laundry. It is 

 sometimes purchased in considerable quantities, and at various 

 prices, as in 1504-6. It is described as white and black, the 

 latter being cheaper than the former. Ten entries by the Ib. 

 give as. 4d. the dozen as the price before 1540, the latest entry 

 being in 1532. It is much dearer than it was in the fourteenth 

 century (vol. i. p. 467). 



It is more frequently bought by the barrel. Twelve entries 

 before 1540 give an average of ijs. 3^. Six entries after that 

 period give 36.?. lod. It is purchased in later times for the 

 use of the navy. The barrel of soap by 23 Hen. VIII, cap. 4, 

 contains 32 gallons. 



Ruddle is also bought for marking sheep. I have found two 

 entries of it, one in 1413 at \d. the pound, another in 1433, 

 where two belyes ' of this substance are purchased at i s. The 

 place is the sheep-farm of Coleshull. In 1493 'Bath tile' is 

 purchased at the same place for the same purpose, and red tar 

 is used in 1432. 



LlME. In the period before me, lime was much more fre- 

 quently used for building than for agricultural purposes. Still, 

 it was and remained, with stable dung and marl, the principal 

 material for dressing land, clearing it of weeds and moss, and 

 getting it into condition. The evidence obtained for this 

 article is abundant, only one year being destitute of an entry. 



Lime is generally sold by the quarter. But many measures 

 are found. The sack is used in London, as is also the load or 

 carriage, the quantity of the load being apparently six sacks. 

 The sack is also used at Hornchurch and Otterton (Devon). 

 Later on the hundred (c) is used in and near London, this 

 being equal to four quarters. In York the miell of two quarters 

 is an early measure, which gives way to the load in later times. 

 In Norfolk there is a local measure, the treye of 16 bushels. 

 There is the ton or doleum at Windsor, the chaldron of 

 Durham and Essex, the wey at Yartcombe, the pisa at Banwell, 

 the tray at Boston, the stone of Kent, which is the same as the 

 quarter, and the slete at Selborne. But after the quarter, the 



