6 SELF-SUFFICING FAKMING 



the holding was a virgate of thirty acres, there would be 

 ten acres in each field. To divide equally the good and 

 bad, well and ill situated soil, the bundle of strips allotted 

 in each field did not lie together, but was scattered. 



In the lowest part of the land — if possible along a 

 stream — lay the ' ings,' or meadows, annually cut up into 

 lots or doles, and put up for hay. These doles were 

 fenced off for the separate use of individuals from Candle- 

 mas to Midsummer Day : from July to February they were 

 open, common pasturage. Each lot was distinguished 

 by a mark, such as the cross, crane's foot, or peel. Corre- 

 sponding marks were thrown into a hat or bag and drawn 

 by a boy. This balloting continued up to the present 

 century in Oxfordshire and Somersetshire. No winter 

 keep for stock was provided ; the common field farmer 

 could only fatten cattle at the wane of the summer. Then 

 they had the aftermath of the meadows, the stubble or 

 haulm of the arable fields. After Michaelmas they 

 steadily declined, and only survived the winter in a state 

 of semi-starvation. Hence worn-out oxen or aged cows 

 were slaughtered in the autumn and salted for winter 

 consumption. ' For Easter at Martylmas hang up a beef,' 

 is the advice of Tusser. 



On the outskirts of the arable fields laj^ one or more 

 ' hams ' or stinted pastures, supplying superior feed. 

 Brandersham, Smithsham, and Wontnersham suggest 

 that special allotments were made to those who practised 

 crafts of general utility. 



The poorest and most distant land of the township was 

 left in its native wildness. It afforded timber for fuel or 

 fencing, mast and acorns for swine, rough pasture for the 

 ordinary live stock. 



The common field system, thus briefly sketched, with 



