4 HISTORY OF FRUITS. 



dowry : and acorns are particularly mentioned about the 

 middle of the eleventh century in a donation of Edward 

 the Confessor. 



Before the conquest, the wealds of Sussex (which 

 is the largest valley in Europe) were one continued forest 

 from Hampshire to Kent, principally of oak-trees that were 

 only valued for the number of swine which the acorns 

 maintained. And so accurately was the survey taken in 

 William the Conqueror's time, that woods are mentioned 

 in the Domesday book, of one hog. The succeeding line 

 of our Norman Kings, in their rage for extending forests 

 for the chase, took away the right of pawnage from those 

 on whose lands they had encroached : this was one of 

 the grievances that King John was compelled to redress 

 in the Charta de Foresta. 



Acorns are but little used at present, except to fatten 

 hogs and deer; they are sometimes given to poultry, and 

 would be found an advantageous food for them, were they 

 dried, and ground into meal. 



In the time of Strabo, Rome was principally supplied 

 with hogs which were fattened on masts in the woods of 

 Gaul ; and we have observed that at the present time the 

 swine fed in the woods of France, particularly those of 

 Berry, afford a meat of a very superior firmness and fla- 

 vour : and as many persons esteem it equal to that of 

 Westphalia or Mentz, it brings a much higher price in the 

 Parisian markets than the home fed bacon. 



Tusser says, 



" Some left among bushes shall pleasure thy swine ; 



For fear of a mischief, keep acorns from kine." 

 They are considered injurious to cows because they swell 

 in their stomachs, and will not come up to the cud 

 again : which causes them to strain as it were, to remit, 

 and draw their limbs together. 



