ON THE PRICE OF HAY AND STRAW. 309 



during the growth of the haulm. In two of these years, 1637 

 and 1648, hay is also excessively dear, but in the others 

 it is not so greatly enhanced in price. Straw is dearest in the 

 decade 1 683-1 692, and next in 1633-1642, but the variations 

 in price during the last eighty years of the period are not 

 considerable, being only a few pence the load, the greatest 

 difference in the several decades being only is. z\d. 



On some few occasions we find the origin of the straw 

 designated as wheat, barley, rye and pease. In 1591, wheat 

 is dearer than rye straw. In 1620, the same price is paid for 

 each. In 1616, rye is a little cheaper than other straw, the 

 origin of which is not stated. In 1695, barley straw is rather 

 dear, and was probably purchased for feeding purposes. In 

 1697, oat, wheat and rye straw are purchased in London at the 

 high prices of 2U., 27*. and i6s. respectively. In 1676, 1677, 

 1678 and 1680, King's College, Cambridge, purchases pease 

 straw at rather high prices, and probably for forage. In 1678 

 it is nearly double the price of wheat straw. 



Straw was generally used for stable litter, the entries being 

 generally derived from what the accounts call custus stabuli. 

 In 1620 some is bought to thatch a barn, and, as I have said 

 already, in two consecutive years, 1645, 1646, it is purchased at 

 a higher price than ordinary, * for the boys' beds.' 



The subjoined table is of the price of hay and straw, with the 

 usual decennial averages. I have also deduced the averages 

 from Houghton, and have given his prices at London. 



