RUllAL ECONOMY IN YOKKSHIEE IN 1641. S 



Yett many men (for profitt) keepe 



In warme lowe grounds and pasture sweete 



An eight, a nine, or tenne slieare shcepe.* 



The best way (for those that have inclosed and warme grounds 

 and good succour for lambes) is to keepe their tuppes and ewes 

 togeather all the yeare longe, and to strive and endeavour by all 

 nieanes possible for timely lambs ; and that for these reasons : — 



1. For their Ijetter succour : for grounds that are to be layde 

 upp for hay, are not to bee eaten above a fortnight after Lady- 

 day att the most, and therefore these lambes which come aboute 

 the middle of February will have two moneths time or there- 

 abouts ; whereas these that come aboute the middle of March 

 shall not have above a moneth's time ; and the longer and bet- 

 ter succour that lambes have, before they goe to field, the better 

 able will they bee to shift when they come there, and the 

 loftyer sheepe will they make afterwardes. 



2. For the owTier's profitt ; for he that hath lambes within a 

 week or fortnight of Candlemasse will oftentimes have fatte 

 lambes to sell aboute St. HeUen-masse, att which time they are 

 rare, and very harde to come by ; whearefore goode,^ fatte, and 

 well-quartered lambes will usually (att that time of the yeare) 

 give nobles and seven shiUinges a peece. 



3. To ease the shephearde that hath a great keeepinge of 

 ewes ; for the tuppes goinge allwayes with them, some of the 

 ewes win tuppe sooner, and some later, soe that the lambes 

 fallinge not over thicke togeather, hee will have the more time 

 to suckle and provide for one lambe after another. 



4. To make them harder sheepe ; for beinge once nipped 

 (aboute Candlemasse) with frosts and colde weather, it will bee 

 a meanes to make them like better when God sends better wea- 

 ther ; for as the sayinge is, Sheepe that will live in winter, 

 w'ill live and thrive in summer; and sheepe that growe 

 fleshy withfoure teeth, ivill growe fatte with eight 



It is usuall, in pasture gi-o-wiides wheare they take not upp 

 theyi-e tuppes, for them to ride about a fortnight or three weekes 

 before Michaellmass ; and these lambes that are gotten then 

 win fall aboute Candlemasse, and S(^metimes a weeke afore ; 



^ The whole system of sheep husbandry and agriculture is changed. The turnip 

 and artificial grass system not only affords an ample supply of food to the flock, but 

 a double number of sheep, at least, can be maintained with comfort and plenty on 

 the same space of gi'ound. They come to maturity twelve or sixteen months earlier 

 than formerly, and are fattened off with less outlay. The individual profits may be 

 slightly less, butth e quick returns and rapid increase of capital decide in favour of 

 fattening at one year old. Aged ewes are useful to put in the field with newly 

 weaned lambs, to teach them to select their food. Old mountain wethers or guides 

 have been kuo\\n to arrive at the age of twenty years. 



