66 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



towns, and at the same time the culture of fruit- 

 trees became general. This was an important 

 step, for not only did it supply a needed article 

 of diet, but it was the beginning of a new 

 industry. The more hardy fruit-trees were 

 peculiarly suited to the humid valleys of the 

 North, and in time yielded enormous crops. 



As yet the art of fattening cattle was but 

 little understood ; the first experiments in this 

 direction being tried upon sheep in winter. This 

 was an important matter, and raised great hopes 

 in the minds of breeders ; for as yet the winter 

 supply of animal food had proved wholly in- 

 adequate. The stock fed in autumn was killed 

 off by Christmas, and, with the exception of veal, 

 scarcely any fresh meat appeared in the markets 

 before the ensuing Midsummer. This dearth 

 was provided against by the more substantial 

 yeomen and manufacturers by curing a quantity 

 of beef at Martinmas — part of which was 

 pickled in brine, the rest dried in the smoke 

 of the capacious chimneys. On Sunday, the 

 farmers' wives boiled a huge piece of meat from 

 the brine-tub, which on that day was served 

 hot. From that time as long as the joint 

 lasted it came up cold, relish being given to it 



