rhiiari) ni.oMi:. 137 



"although formerly petitioned in I'arliaiiiciit \^\ the I.oiuloiiers lo he 

 l)rohihited the importation or orowili in ilic country : for that it would 

 spoil their drink and endani;-er lh<' people's healths, it l)<'in<;- an uidiealth- 

 lul herb oecasionin:-; the stone; hetore hops were used in drink thai 

 disease was not known in tliis kinj^doni." Saltron he considered as the 

 richest eommodit\- that the country |)roduceth, and much used. The 

 land round Saffron W'alden was noted lor it. Tobacco, he says, if 

 allowed would grow verv well in this island. (This has been demon- 

 strated manv times during the past few years.) lie mentions the sugar 

 peas, " which may be eaten in their cods like unto French beans," and 

 recommends a parcel of ducks to be turned into the cabbages to de\our 

 the snails. Parsnips, he savs, will make the sweetest and most deliiate 

 of bacon, whilst that \vA with carrots is loose and wastes in the bonding. 

 Idiey knew in his time the value of rain water as against spring water 

 for plants. Chapters follow upon flowers, fruits, timber trees, poultry, 

 game, bees, diseases of li\e stock, and a kalendar or monthly directions 

 to the husbandman. 



Here is his description of the different types of sheep know n in his 

 day, and it may interest flock masters to make comparisons : 



To stock yourself with good sheep, you must h.ive regard to the nature of the soil 

 where you dwell ; for according to the earth and air, sheep do alter their natures and 

 properties ; the barren sheep becoming good in rich soils, and the good siieep barren 

 in ill soils ; so that if you would have sheep of a fine staple of wool, buy those of 

 Herefordshire, about Lempster parts ; also in that part of Worcestershire bordering 

 on Shropshire ; yet these sheep are very little of bone, are black faced, and bear small 

 fleeces. The sheep about Cotsal Hills are better boned, shape and burthen ; but their 

 staple is courser and deeper. The sheep in that part of Worcestershire joyning to 

 Warwickshire, and many parts of Warwickshire, also all Leicestershire, Buckingham- 

 shire, with part of Northamptonshire, and that part of Nottinghamshire which is 

 exempt from Sherwood Forest, are large boned, are of a good shape and deepest 

 staple, especially if they be pasture sheep ; but their wool is courser than that of 

 Cotsal. Lincolnshire (especially in the salt maishes) have also large sheep, but not 

 the best wool. All these large sii:ed sheep (especially weathers) find good vent 

 amongst the London Butchers, to the no small profit of the Grazier. The sheep 

 in Yorkshire, and so Nortliwnrds, are of reasonable big bone, but of a staple rough 

 and haiiy ; and the Welsh sheep are generally esteemed the worst of ail, for they are 

 both little and of a worse staple ; but their flesh is excellent for its sweet taste. The 

 sheep of Dorsetshire are esteemed for brinuing two lambs at a lime, and are a good 

 sized sheep. 



Richard Blome was responsible for se\eral books, but it is a (juestion 



been more of a compiler 

 er. .\ idinplele C.ipV of 

 )ms ri'centlx . 1 le died in 



