A FARMING CALENDAR 135 



and four-year-olds, every sort by themselves, which being 

 divided in pasture fitting for them will make larger and fairer 

 cattle. Separate the horses in the same way. Wash sheep 

 and shear four or five days after, which done the wool is to 

 be well wound and weighed, and safely laid up in some place 

 where there is not too much air or it will lose weight, nor 

 where it is damp or it will increase too much in weight. 

 Cleanse winter corn from thistles and weeds. 



July and August. First of all comes hay-making. In 

 August wean lambs, and put them in good pasture, and in 

 winter put them in fresh pasture until spring, and then put 

 them with the ' holding ' sheep. 



In these months is corn to be ' shornne or mowen downe ' 

 (the writer, it is to be noticed, has no preference for either 

 method) ; and after the corn is carried put draught horses and 

 oxen into the averish (corn stubble), to ease other pastures ; 

 and after them put hogs in. Gather crabs in woods and 

 hedgerows for making verjuice. 



September and October. Have all plows and harrows 

 neat and fit for sowing of wheat, rye, mesling (wheat and rye 

 mixed), and vetches.^ Pick hops. Buy store cattle, both 

 steers and heifers, of three or four years old, which being well 

 wintered at grass, or on straw at the barn doors, will be the 

 sooner fed the summer following, and they will sooner feed 

 after straw than grass. 



From October to May are calves to be reared, because then 

 they be more hardly bred and become the stronger cattle. 

 Feed brawns, bacons, lards, and porkets on mast if there is 

 any, if not on corn. ' In these months cleanse poundes or pools, 



^ Cf. Tusser: 



* October for wheat-sowing calleth as fast ' ; 

 and 



* When wheat upon eddish (stubble), ye mind to bestowe 

 Let that be the first of the wheat ye do sowe ' ; 



and 



' Who soweth in raine, he shall reap it with tears '. 



