2o8 History of the English Landed Interest. 



erection ; for, unlike the modern enclosure of hurdles, it was 

 probably a fixed lambing court, the floor of which would soon 

 become tainted and spread foot-rot and worse disorders unless 

 thus renovated. The sheep were sorted out once a year, 

 between Easter and Whitsuntide, and those for sale shorn 

 earlier and fattened on some stinted pasture. Any old ewe, 

 or toothless wether was killed and salted for the use of the 

 household servants and labourers. Between Martinmas and 

 Easter the sheep were kept up in the fold and fed with hay, 

 straw, and pea pods. 



The successful management of swine depended much upon 

 the care bestowed on them during the three trying months of 

 February'-, March, and April. They were allowed to lie a good 

 time on dry ground during the morning, after which the}'' 

 began to roam about in search of pannage. According to 

 "Walter of Henley it was possible for sows to farrow thrice 

 yearly. How this could be it is difficult to imagine. They 

 and the sucking pigs were especially looked after, being 

 separated out of the drove and brought nearer home. Geese, 

 poultry, peacocks, and bees^ were also kept, especially on 

 demesne lands, and were mostly in charge of the dairy 

 women. Hedging, ditching, and open guttering for drainage 

 were performed by the demesne labourers, and in autumn 

 there was in addition the cider and oil making. One quarter 

 of pears and apples made a " tun " of cider, and out of a 

 quarter of nuts four gallons of oil could be expressed. The 

 various old MSS.^ from which the greater part of this account 

 has been drawn, frequently allude to the tithe dues, both 

 predial and mixed, and there is very little doubt that both 

 kinds were rigidly collected by the monastic and secular 

 clergy at this time. 



Let us end our description of medieval farming with a scene 

 from the vision of Piers the Plowman. One of those bright 



' One gallon of honey fed the contents of eight hives during the winter. 

 — Hosebonderie. For management of swine, vide Walter of Henley, p. 29. 



* Namely "Walter de Henle, Hosebonderie, and Les Rentes Seynt Roberd, 

 Robert Grossteste, who was the friend of Roger Bacon. — Trans, of Royal 

 Hist. Soc. 



