432 AGRICULTURE. 



In the former treatise we have a clear and minute description of 

 the rural practices of that period, and from the latter may be 

 learned a great deal of the economy of the feudal system, in its 

 decline. The author of the "Book of Husbandry" writes from 

 his own experience of more than forty years ; and if we except 

 his Biblical allusions, and some vestiges of superstition of the 

 Roman writers, about the influence of the moon, there is very 

 little in his work that should be omitted, and not a great deal of 

 subsequent science that need be added, with regard to the culture 

 of grain, in a manual of husbandry adapted to the present time. 

 "It may surprise some of the agriculturists of the present 

 day," an eminent agricultural writer remarks, " to be told that, 

 after the lapse of nearly three centuries, Fitzherbert's practice, 

 in some material branches, has not been improved upon ; and 

 that, in several districts, abuses still exist which 'were as clearly 

 pointed out by him, at that early period, as by any writer of the 

 present age." His remarks on sheep are so accurate that one 

 might imagine they came from a store-master of the present 

 day. Those on horses, cattle, etc., are not less interesting; 

 and there is a very good account of the diseases of each species, 

 and some just observations on the advantage of mixing differ- 

 ent kinds in the same pasture. Swine and bees conclude this 

 branch of the work. Then he points out the great advantage 

 of enclosures, recommending "quyck settynge, dychynge, and 

 heddgyng," and gives particular directions about settes, and the 

 method of training a hedge, as well as concerning the planting 

 and management of trees. We then have a short information 

 "for a yonge gentylman that intendeth to thryve," and a "pro- 

 logue for the wive's occupation," in some instances rather too 

 homely for the present time. Among other things, she is to 

 " make her husband and herself some clothes," and " she may 

 have the lockes of the shepe, either to make blankettes and 

 coverlettes or both." This is not so much amiss, but what fol- 

 lows will bring our learned judge into disrepute, even among 

 our most industrious housewives. " It is a wive's occupation to 

 wynowe all manner of grains, to make malte, to washe and 

 wrynge, to make heye, shere corn, and in time of nede, to 

 helpe her husbande to fyll the mucke wagyne or dounge cart, 

 drive the ploughe, to loade heye, corne, and suche other, and to 



