28 The Demesne. 1270 — 1307. [ch. 



in more than two successive years ^ This doubtless necessitated 

 artificial enrichment of the soil, but for this provision was made-. 



The crops raised were barley, wheat, oats, and peas. The areas 

 assigned to the different kinds of grain varied somewhat from year to 

 year, but generally some 80 acres were sown with barley ; 50 with 

 wheat ; 35-45 with oats, and as many with peas. 



Most of the plowing was done by the three^ demesne teams 

 of stotts and oxen*. Two of these teams seem to have been driven 

 by hired plowmen^, while customary tenants assisted in driving the 

 third^. The tenants also plowed some fifty acres with their own 

 teams. ' Plowing for seed ' took place at three seasons of the 

 year : for wheat, between Michaelmas and Christmas ; for oats and 

 peas, between Purification (February 2) and Easter ; for barley, 

 between Easter and Pentecost. Between Purification and Pentecost 

 there was a 'second plowing,' in preparation for the barley (rebinatio 

 ad ordeum)^. It was so late in the spring when the barley was sown 

 that the earth had become dry and hard, and the clods had to be 

 broken up — a task performed by the tenants*^ or by the plowmen". 



The harrows were usually drawn by demesne teams ; very rarely 



1 Thus, in the rol!s of each of the three successive years 1278-80, it is recorded that 

 'fossat[a]' were 'erected' 'ante bladum comitis' at Smallbusk (II. i, St Mary's, near 

 Langmoor Common), Cawdwellwong (III. 6, St Mary's, near Cavvdwell Common), at Hane's 

 gate (II. 4, St Mary's, near Cawdwell Common), at Deknesgate, at Hallcroft (V. 3, St Mary's) 

 and at Hallswong. Apparently these lands needed special protection from trespassing cattle 

 because they were near commons. But, if these lands were fallow in any of the three 

 successive years mentioned, what need was there for inclosing them ? And it does not seem 

 probable that the phrase 'ante bladum comitis' is meaningless. Walter of Henley, p. 19, 

 speaks of 'lands which are sown yearly'; and cf. Vinogradoff, Growth of Manor ^ p. 182. 



2 See below, p. 32. 



^ 1270. 'In ii. vomeribus emptis iir/.' 'In i. vomere fabricando i^.' 'In iii. carucis re- 

 ponendis iiiof.' Since the demesne comprised about 300 acres of arable and 50 acres were 

 plowed by tenants' teams, a team-land must have been about 80 acres in extent. This is 

 larger than it was in 1086, but far short of the 180 acres which Waller of Henley thought 

 might be plowed by a single team in a three-course manor. For a discussion of the team- 

 land see Maitland, Domesday^ 397. 



^ Appendix VIII., xxxiii. ' In i. stotto empto ad carucam.' Allowing six or even but 

 four stotts to a team there were not enough stotts on the manor to pull three plows. The 

 team doubtless consisted partly of oxen, a considerable number of which were constantly 

 retained on the manor. For mixed teams of horses and oxen, cf. Walter of Henley, ii. 



^ There were four hired plowmen ; probably two went with one plow. 



^ Min Acc'ts, 935/6, 935/7, 935/10, 'Intertia caruca fuganda temporibus seminationishoc 

 anno, Ixvi. opera.' 



^ Appendix VIII., xxxi., xxxix. The Forncett rolls do not mention the waredatio^ or 

 first plowing of the fallow; but since the rolls furnish detailed information only in regard to 

 the plowings peiformed by the tenants' teams, it may, perhaps, be inferred that the warectatio 

 was performed by the teams of the demesne. 



8 Appendix VIII., xxxix. 



"^ Min. Acc'ts, 935/15, 'In glebis frangendis nil, quia per camcarios.' 



