252 KALM'S ENGLAND. 



the upper ends widened out from each other so that 

 they thus formed a rack, en hack, in which the fodder 

 could be laid. This rack stood upon two trestles, 

 backar, of wood, viz. : one under each end, of such a 

 height as was most suitable for the cattle to be able to 

 reach up to the fodder. In these racks was laid straw 

 of wheat, barley, oats, pease, or beans, as well as hay, 

 of which the cows and sheep got to eat at nights. The 

 cows stood at home the whole winter, day and night, 

 and ate of the fodder in these racks when they would ; 

 for they went loose in the farmyard, but the sheep were 

 only at home in the yard when it was rainy and bad 

 weather, for otherwise they were folded, fallad.es, at 

 nights out on the arable fields or went in the inclosures. 

 Of this straw in the rack the cattle, Kreaturen, ate 

 part, and part they drew down under-foot, which was 

 afterwards spread out over the whole farmyard, and 

 was left for them to lie and trample upon. 



[T. I. p. 252]. It goes on like that the whole year, 

 whence the thickness of the straw that lies spread about 

 all over the farmyard is considerably increased. The 

 cattle continually let fall their droppings thereupon, 

 besides any refuse which is cast there. When this 

 collection has risen to some considerable quantity, it 

 is then shovelled, skattas, together into great heaps, 

 which commonly happens in the spring season, and 

 is left so to lie and ferment, brinna tilhopa, for 

 a time, viz., for three or four weeks, not more, because 

 it takes harm. By this means a farmer can obtain a 

 quantity of beautiful and choice manure for his arable. 

 This mode of providing himself with manure at skaffa 

 sig godsel, is practised by one and all of the farmers 

 here in Little Gaddesden, as well as in the parishes round 

 about. I saw not only the farmyards full of trampled 

 straw or " haulm," balm, of all the above named kinds 



