loo AGRICULTURAL WRITERS. 



that Most Honourable Society of the Council of State ; to the Nobility 

 and Gentry ; to the Honourable Society of the Houses of Court and 

 Universities ; to the Souldiery ; to the flusbandman, Farmer, and 

 Tenant ; to the Cottager, Labourer, or meanest Commoner. At 

 page 77 he says : 



There are so many sorts of Clover as will fill a volume, I shall only speak of the 

 great Clover or Trefoyle we fetch from Flaunders called by Clusius TrifoUiiini majus 

 tertiitm which bears the great red Honysuckle, whose leaf and branches far exceed 

 our natural meadow Clover; it bares very small seed as Mustard seed, not so round 

 but large like a bean ; the best is of a greenish yellow colour. Your Dutch, Holland, 

 and Low Country seed is very much of it very hazardous that comes over hither. 

 Much that is sold in the shops is corrupted by the Dutch before it came thence by over 

 drying in the kiln or mixing old with new. Therefore my advice is to send a knowing 

 man who hath had experience of it and buy the choicest and best. It costs me two 

 shillings a pound for I had rather give double price for such than run the hazard of 

 common experience. 



Here is a curious advertisement at this date having special reference 

 to another celebrated Clover, evidently what we now call Trefoil : 



The Description of the Hop Clover, or Trevoil, in English Three- 

 Leaved Grass. 



This Three-leaved Grass will grow half a yard in length or more, and at every two 

 inches it hath a knot with leaves and a bunch of seed, which is black, and almost like 

 Onion Seed ; both the Grass and the Hay made thereof, is finer and sweeter than the 

 great Clover. It will grow in any Ground, and being once planted, it will shed so 

 much seed that it need never be planted again. It may be sown with Corn, or without, 

 as they do the great Clover ; or being sprinkled in Meadows, it will exceedingly mend 

 the Hay, both in burthen and goodness. 



Such as are desirous to buy any of this Three-leaved Cirass, or Lucerne, Spurry, 

 Clover (irass, and Sinkfoile Seeds, what quantity they please, can have them at 

 Thomas Brown's Shop at the Red Lyon in Soper Lane, where they may likewise see 

 some of the Hay of this Three-leaved Grass. 



He writes at length upon the properties of wood and madder in the 

 production of dyes and of their value as remunerative crops to grow, 

 and of the latter being grown to perfection at Barn Elms and also at 

 Deptford, near Greenwich, by Sir Nicholas Crisp. Here is a remark 

 about coal and hops, which seems peculiar reading considering the 

 importance of these commodities to-day. At page 234 he says : 



As for Hops, it was not many years since the famous City of London petitioned 

 the Parliament of England against two Anusancies (nuisances) or offensive com- 

 modities were likely to come into great use and esteem and that was Newcastle Coal 

 in regard to their stench etc. and Hops in regard that they would spoyl the taste of 

 drink and endanger the people. 



In case of an over large acreage of turnips furnishing too many roots 

 for the markets, he recommends them 



To be fed to stock at home, and in a dear year to make bread thereof, half meal 

 and half boiled Turnips as a good and delightful food. He adds that swine will not 



