The eighteenth Booke of 



andtopaveit wichacoatof chalkCjtcmpcred\^BeIl and wrought with oilc dregs^by advifc, G 

 howfocver Virgtl is more curious in this behalfe . For the moft part of Husbandmen, after they 

 have laid it even and levell, they goe over it againe with Oxe dung, tempered to a thin confi. 

 ftence with watetjfor to bind the faid floore rand this is thought tobee a fufficient remedie^that 

 the duttfhalJ not rife. 



Chap. XxXi 



^ Of Com^ArveH : of common VP'heat : of Chap : and the order hotfi 



to keepe come, 



AS touching the manner of cutting downe or reaping cornc^therc be divcrfc and fundry dc- p| 

 vifcs. In Frauncc where the fields be large, they ufe to fet a jade or an alTe unto the taile of 

 a mightie great wheelebarrow or cart made in manner of a Van, and the fame fet with 

 kccne and trenchant tecdi fticking out on both fides : now is this carrc driven forward before the 

 faid beaft upon two wheeles^into the {landing ripe corne(contraric to the manner of other carts 

 that are drawnc after) the faid teeth or iharpe tines faflened tothefidcsof thewheelebariow or 

 caraforefaidjcatchholdofthecorneearesj and cut them off ryetfo, as they fall prefcntly into 

 the bodie of the wheelebarrow. In fome places the fartiion is to cut with a hooke or fyccle the 

 ftraw in the middefl : and betweene esxry two iheavesthey fitdownCjand then crop off the eares 

 jufl at the ftraw. In other countries they ufe to plucke up the (landing corne by the root : and in 

 fo doing jperfuaded they are that this is a very nearc and readie way to fave charges, & may (ervc 

 for one tikh well ynough: but by their leavejthey rob the ground by the meanesofhcr kind and I 

 naturall rooifturc. The reafon of this diverfitie and difference is this : in fuch countries where 

 they ufe to thatch their houfes with ft rawjthey fave it to the full length,and goe as neare as poffi- 

 bly they can; againe,where there is but fmall flore of hayjthey make account of their fliort chafFe 

 for to littetjyeajand fodder their beafts. As for Panicke haulmc^it never ferveth the turne in any 

 place for thatch. And for Millet ftraw, they burne it ordinarily. Barley ftraw is kept and faved 

 very carefully for an excellent foddetjthat kine and oxen love very well. To concludcjin France 

 they have another way to gather their Panicke and Millet efpecially, to wit, cutting the fame 

 care by eare upon a combe with a handle to it [as Barbers ufe to clip or poll mens heads.] 



Concerningthe devife of thrafl)ing,it is pradliicd fundrie waies. In fome places they ufe to 

 crufh the corne out of the eares with heavie and rugged dreies drawne over it, as it lieth upon K 

 the barne floore. In others,they fet Mares to ff ampe and trample it under their feet,and fo drive 

 it out : and there be againe who beat and flap it forth with flailesor cudgels. 



Common wheat, the later that it is reaped, the better it is found of cafl : but the fooner that it 

 goeth downe, the fairer is the graine, and more full and wcightie. The befl rule for the one and 

 the other, is this, to goe downe with it, and lay it along, before the corne bee verie hard, and 

 when it begins once to lookerufTet, and tohaveabrowneorreddiiTiblee. And here, remem- 

 ber the old faid Saw that may goe wellfor an Oracle, Better two dales too fbonCjthan as many 

 too late. 



For the inning of the fine wheat SiligOjand thccommonTriticum, it is much after one fort,, 

 and they would be ordered alike, both in barnCjrikejand thrafliing floore.The good redbcardcd 

 wheat Far, becaufeitcommeth hardly out of thchuske, and asketh fome painefuU thrafhing, 

 oughttobeclaidup in the garner, huske and alltogethcr,evcninthechaffe 5 onely itwould be 

 rid from the maine ff raw,and defpoiled of the eiles or beard growing to theeare.Chaffc is good 

 chaffre in many countries, and ferves inflead of hay. Where note, that the finer and finaller 

 that the chaffe is, and enclining nearer to pouder, the better it is thought to be. And therefor©., 

 the beflfimply is that which commethofMillet 2 the next ingoodncfre,Barleymaketh -.but the 

 common wheat Triticum yecldeth the worftjunleffe it bee for poorc hungrie jades and fuch la- 

 bouring garrons* 



The ff raw or haulme that remaineth (landing as boltings when corne is reaped by the eare or J4 

 after it be well dried,the manner is to lay upon fome hard,craggie,and if onie ground, then all to 

 beat and belabour it with cudgels,that it may bee foft and ferve in ff ead of litter to lie under car- 

 tell. If chaffe faile for fodder, the very haulrne or ff raw left in the field , ought to bee braied and 

 beaten fhortjtofupplieforragc in manner following. Cut it downe fb much thefooncr,leti£ bee 



