42 A GRICUL TURA L WRITERS. 



this when we see to-day so-called improved types being sold at \os. 

 per pound. 



This is somewhat digressing from our text, but it is interesting to 

 have exhibited these acts and deeds of " our fathers as thev lived," who 

 by their talents and industry contributed their quota of knowledge 

 towards the advancement of all that pertains to agriculture as known 

 to-day. 



The Mascalls are a Sussex family of long standing, and at the time 

 of the special subject of this notice their home was at East Mascalls, a 

 residence in the parish of Lindfield ; they also occupied Plumpton 

 Place, near Lewes. The old house is still standing, but owing to super- 

 stition and other circumstances, my friend Mr. Percy Shelley Bysshe — 

 who also belongs to one of the oldest Sussex families — tells me that it is 

 divided into three cottages, and the spot where it is said roses were first 

 introduced into these parts is now flooded by the moat. Old people 

 still cherish the fact that the pippin apple was first brought there from 

 over the water, and they say that the moat contains many large fish. It 

 now belongs to the Earl of Chichester. 



The date of Leonard Mascall's birih is uncertain, as nothing can be 

 found about him at Somerset House or in the registry of Eastern Sussex, 

 but he is supposed to have been born about the year 1546, as it falls in 

 with certain statements as to his age made in his books. Fuller asserts 

 that he introduced pippin apples and carp from over the sea, but he 

 certainly was not the first to bring this fish to our lakes and ponds, 

 although he may have imported some from the Danube and bred them 

 in the moat at Plumpton Place. Some describe him as being clerk of 

 the kitchen to Archbishop Parker. He undoubtedly travelled on the 

 Continent, and it is certain that he was acquainted with one or more 

 foreign languages, as he refers in his books to translations. 



His first work is stated to have been published in 1572, and entitled 

 '' A Booke of the Art and Manner how to graff and plant all sortes of 

 Trees, how to set stones and sow Pepins, to make wilde trees to graff 

 on, as also remedies and medicines, with other new practices," by one 

 of the Abbey of St. Vincent, in France, with the addition of certain 

 Dutch practices, set forth and Englished by L. M. 



This book extends to many editions during the next century, that for 

 1592 being dedicated to Sir John Paulet, Knight, Lord St. John. The 

 illustrations I have used from a later edition are very curious. 



This book, although largely a translation, contains a good deal that 

 is original, the record of his own practice and observation. 



In his instructions for the planter and graffer he says : 



It shall be good to have understanding of the ground where ye doe plant ; first, it 

 behoveth to make a sure defence, to the end that onely rude persons and children may 

 be kept out, but all kinds of hurtfuU cattel, as oxen, kine, calves, horses, hogs, and 

 sheep, as the rubbing of sheep doth greatly burne the sap, and often doth kill young 



