The Natural History of Selborne 291 



field-carrots, or hay, all the cattle which had grown fat in summer, 

 and were not killed for winter use, were turned out soon after 

 Michaelmas to shift as they could through the dead months ; so 

 that no fresh meat could be had in winter or spring. Hence the 

 marvellous account of the vast stores of salted flesh found in the 

 larder of the eldest Spencer * in the days of Edward II., even so 

 late in the spring as the 3rd of May. It was from magazines like 

 these that the turbulent barons supported in idleness their riotous 

 swarms of retainers ready for any disorder or mischief. But 

 agriculture is now arrived at such a pitch of perfection that our best 

 and fattest meats are killed in the winter; and no man need eat 

 salted flesh unless he prefers it, that has money to buy fresh. 



One cause of this distemper might be, no doubt, the quantity of 

 wretched fresh and salt fish consumed by the commonalty at all 

 seasons as well as in Lent ; which our poor now would hardly be 

 persuaded to touch. 



The use of linen changes, shirts or shifts, in the room of sordid 

 and filthy woollen, long worn next the skin, is a matter of neatness 

 comparatively modern ; but must prove a great means of preventing 

 cutaneous ails. At this very time woollen, instead of linen, prevails 

 among the poorer Welsh, who are subject to foul eruptions. 



The plenty of good wheaten bread that now is found among all 

 ranks of people in the south, instead of that miserable sort which 

 used in old days to be made of barley or beans, may contribute not 

 a little to the sweetening their blood and correcting their juices; for 

 the inhabitants of mountainous districts to this day are still liable 

 to the itch and other cutaneous disorders, from a wretchedness and 

 poverty of diet. 



As to the produce of a garden, every middle-aged person of 

 observation may perceive, within his own memory, both in town 

 and country, how vastly the consumption of vegetables is increased. 

 Green-stalls in cities now support multitudes in a comfortable state, 

 while gardeners get fortunes. Every decent labourer also has his 

 garden, which is half his support, as well as his delight ; and 

 common farmers provide plenty of beans, peas, and greens, for 



* Viz., Six hundred bacons, eighty carcasses of beef, and six hundred muttons. 



