Chap. 1. Of Improvement of ground by Rabbits.

IT is in Husbandry, as in other practical Professions, Art, In­dustry, and Experi­ence adde every day new supplies to the better, either by contracting the charge, and then the improvement is in the Method, or by multiplying [Page 2]the advantage, and then it is in the increase. How many rare secrets are there now discovered, whereby the Publick is enriched, whereof our Fore-fathers never dreamed? and some doubtless are as yet concealed from us, being left to posterity and the next age to find out.

Because amongst many others relating to Husbandry some are of more excellent use, I have here made a select choyce of them, reporting nothing but what observation and experience, to which my Genius hath been long addicted, have found certainly true.

And first I shall begin with the improvement of ground by Rab­bits.

There is to be taken five hundred acres of ground within fifteen miles of London, for eight shillings the a­cre, which being stored with twen­ty Rabbits per acre, highly bred, sixteen of them being Breeders, ca­cording to direction, will in all [Page 3]probability afford either of them twelve Rabbits at three litters. I have known those so bred, that one Rabbit hath brought at one litter sometimes ten, and commonly eleven, and hath brought them up very well, and fat, and at a Lords ground I have known the like increase, besides those of my own whereof I have had sufficient experience; admit sixteen Rabbits bring either of them but ten at three litters, they come to one hundred and sixty Rabbits, for the which after six weeks of age I know a Poulterer that giveth eight pence the Rabbit, and constantly untill Michaelmas, and some Poulte­rers more after Michaelmas, which may be sold so then between one shilling and one shilling eight pence the Rabbit; admit them but at eight pence the Rabbit all the year, one hundred and sixty Rabbits come to five pound, six shillings, and eight pence the acre, and I am [Page 4]confident that in grounds not pro­per for them, they brought the last unseasonable years before this, four, five, and seven at three litters. I have been sufficiently resolved in this de­sign by the most of the Warreners throughout England, though I need­ed not their judgement.

In five hundred acres at five pound, six shillings, eight pence per acre, to be considered the herbage for sheep and other cattel at least one hundred pound per annum, besides the keeping of Poultery, Pheasants, Partridge and other fowl, with Pi­geons, Bees, &c. and places for di­vers other plantations at twenty, thirty, forty, fifty pound an acre profit per annum and upward, with fish-ponds accordingly stored; be­sides, there is an other profit in this design very considerable, and of no small consequence, with house­keeping compleat for all occasions, and great conveniency for a Dairy, and very conveniently near London.

Sum total, two thousand, seven hundred, sixty and six pound, rent for the ground, two hundred pound salaries sixty, five pound food for the Rabbits, in Hutches one hun­dred pound, admit though more than needs by far, being there are now better preventions than formerly, one thousand Rabbits at eight pence the Rabbit three hun­dred thirty three pounds, total six hundred ninety eight pounds, de claro two thousand sixty five pounds. If the number of the Rab­bits be thought too high, and the casualties too low that followeth, to make up all, and to obstruct all ob­jections, the first litter will breed the same year, being rightly bred and disposed of, allow three of the last litters from every one of the first breeders (the Buck being first de­stroyed) bring ten Rabbits, which come to one hundred and sixty Rab­bits per acre, and amount unto five pounds, six shillings, eight pence [Page 6] per acre, total six hundred sixty and six pounds as before.

There are two Gentlemen now in London of great ability and repute, that will justifie these proportions, and that they made out of two seve­ral five acres of ground either of them at least ten pounds an acre per annum.

That there is to be taken fifteen hundred acres, for one shil­ling per acre, that will after the like proportion, according to the num­ber of acres, bring many thousand pounds more.

That two thousand acres may be had at the same rate, that will very near render the same emolument according to the number of the a­cres, the same I leave to conside­ration.

It matters not whether the ground afford any grass at all in a manner, so it be warm and dry, be­ing there are several waies to feed [Page 7]them, as formerly I have done, with very little charge, which will pre­serve them very high, and make them breed extraordinarily, and maintain more Rabbits by half than any Warren in England was ever known to do, they having to­tally neglected, and never orde­red the right ways, Rabbits being of the most profitable creatures of Eng­land rightly used, the several sorts of food that may be provided for them being not considerable, as may be perceived hereafter, the later they are kept the better are the Rabbits, and the richer the fur.

I have known five hundred Bree­ders kept at a time in an house, as may be within the 500 acres in Hutches, which would bring seven, eight, nine, or ten at a litter, but accounting only five at a litter one with another, being I formerly have destroyed the rest, they are com­pleated to two thousand five hun­dred [Page 8]Rabbits per Month, and in ten Months per annum twenty five thou­sand, which at eight pence a Rab­bit comes to about eight hundred thirty and three pounds, the charge indifferent, and with the same charge doubled, one thousand Bree­ders may be kept, and they proba­bly amount to one thousand six hun­dred sixty and six, the Rabbits in the house we turn out at liberty to go out and come in when they please.

At a Months age, and at six weeks of age, when they shall be doubtless exceeding fat with such food as shall be easily provided for them, they are then at the dispose of the Poul­terer, only such as are preserved especially for store.

It. A sort of Rabbits to be had, their fur beingworth near 3 s. 4 d. the skin, and in goodness near Be­ver, which I am confident may be made very near equal to Bever.

That upon tryal I found the diffe­rence between the weight of the or­dinary Rabbits usually in Warrens, and the breed which may be provi­ded otherwise, to be half in half, be­sides the great difference in the goodness of them.

If the ground want Covert shel­ter, or be too naked, they may be made warmer by sowing French furze seeds, which will grow very spacious and to great flockt bodies in few years, and will prosper very well here in England, and extend to great profit yearly; there may be Malt made within the housing be­longing to the five hundred acres, that with other emoluments may sufficiently advance five hundred pounds per annum, beyond excepti­ons, by a discreet and provident way of buying Barley at the best hand, and by the disposing of the Malt, both in making and selling thereof, there being great plenty of [Page 10]the best fewel therefore being fearn.

There may be many Swine kept within the compass, and several sorts of food to preserve and fatten them not considerable.

Item Geese, Turkeys, Ducks that will lay two egges a day throughout the year, Pheasants, Partridges, Coots, and all other sorts of Fowl kept with such several wholsome foods, so easily prepared, and so lit­tle charge, the benefit may be made of them may arise to be exceeding great.

And for Bees, being a place so con­venient, the profit of them may be maintainable under God, one hun­dred pounds per annum.

Item Pigeons, &c.

And for the too much neglected Creature the Silk vorm, whereas there are divers at this time that make a very great profit of them in a very high degree.

I am confidently assured, that by them may be (only in one room) advanced 500 pounds per annum and upwards; whereas the only cause of not keeping them more plentifully is for want of Mulberry leaves, the Trees whereof may be planted here with the stocks and branches there­of being brought for the most part beyond the Seas, which are dear, and most commonly spoyled with bringing.

There is a leaf lately disco­vered growing here in England, and to be preserved constantly in every Garden, that doth and hath maintained them better by far than the other leaves, which will like­wise cost nothing, being that the ground in the five hundred acres may be justifiably advanced to a­bove twenty, thirty, forty, fifty pounds an acre, per annum, as may appear by the several discove­ries at large, as followeth in the o­ther papers. When you would have [Page 12]Rabbits fat to the desire, geld the Bucks that you intend to slaughter, which the Warrener may easily do, turn them out a while longer, and they will exceed in fatness, and eat more pleasantly by far, than other­wise.

The first breed, charges and con­tingencies allowed may probably come to as before specified, two thousand, sixty and eight pounds.

The second breed, allowing some abatement for charges, comes to two thousand six hundred sixty and six pounds.

Item Rabbits in Hutches, charges to be abated, 1 thousand six hun­dred sixty and six pounds.

Malt per annum, five hundred pounds.

Benefit of fearn, furze, and other. fewel, five hundred pounds.

Swine, fowl, &c. two hundred pounds.

Bees, &c. one hundred pounds.

Silk worms, five hundred pounds.

All these I cast in to make up the first design, with two hundred pounds to advance two thousand pounds per annum.

Chap. 2. An undeniable proportion of Coles to be had from the Pits near No­tingham to the Trents side, and so by Boats to Newark and the Towns adjacent, with the benefit may apparently accrew thereby beyond contradiction.

FIve double Waggons and five Boats to convey to Newark down the Trent eight thousand loads per annum, for which they have paid at the pits five shillings the load: and [Page 15]whereas they pay commonly nine shillings and upwards the hundred most part of the year, and much under weight, and but sixteen, se­venteen, or eighteen hundred weight to the load, which should be twen­ty hundred weight, being a mi­serable griping to the poorer sort of people, to allow them con­stantly at six pence the hundred, being ten shillings the load, will be a very great publique good, and an Act of charity in the undertakers, and will render much honor to them, together with the prayers of the poor, &c.

The eight thousand loads at five shillings the load benefit, comes to two thousand pounds carriage, by the return of Boats, at the least three hundred pounds.

It. five hundred weight over­plus which are to he had at the Pits by agreement, allowing two hundred thereof waste, six hundred pounds, total two thousand, nine [Page 16]hundred pounds.

That with a reasonable sum deposited to have the Coals de­livered at two shillings six pence per load, the rest amounting to one thousand pound de claro dis­bursements for horses, wains, and boats, being the standing stock, upon considerable computations, five hundred pounds or there a­bouts.

Charges for horses, servants, &c. per annum under seven hundred pounds, which will be defrayed by the week, though deducted there re­mains de claro besides the one thou­sand pounds, two thousand two hun­dred pounds.

If Coals be raised to a high­er price at the Pits than for­merly, then the Hundreds and Loads must be sold dearer at New­ark, &c. and the same profit will remain.

There are divers other benefits to [Page 17]be instanced and added to this de­sign too tedious to specifie, a­mounting to above one thousand pounds per annum, and sufficiently maintainable.

Chap. 3. Concerning Turnips.

A Gentleman not far from Lon­don having dealt for store of ground, part whereof being a meer dry sand, and over-grown with moss, that it was not worth two shillings the acre, I advised him to cause a cutting-Knife to be made ac­cording to a new devised way, wher­with with more conveniency than [Page 19]formerly they pare up such sour rushy ground as they lately farm &c. and call it Devonshire Land and a Workman set about it he cut this ground some two inches thick, and turned it up, and layd the inside outwards that done, letting the ground dry for the space of a week, being formerly good neither for corn nor grass, the Workman with a strong Iron rake raked the ground all over, then cast it over with Turnip-seeds, and raked it over again, which came up so well, the leaves and roots did so well rot, cool, mellow, and meliorate the ground, that the year following and after the crop of Turnips there came very good grass.

The ground being afterwards fit for corn or grass, part of which ground he again sowed with Turnips the same year, and had two very great crops, and made at least thirty pounds an acre there­of; besides as I came to him he recei­ved [Page 20]10 s. an acre for the leaves only being from the very tops of the bindings, when they are bound up in bundles, and for the other part of the bindings, he selling the Turnips by measure, made at the least twen­shillings the acre, wherewith they now feed their milch Cattel, which they having plenty thereof will cause them to give milk three times a day with full vessels, and constantly throughout the year, and better milk by far than any other, and al­though the roots may be sold in most places as dear, as near London, and with the same benefit, yet the commodity of them is so exceeding great being known, they will not be parted with by any, for they are excellent for all sorts of Cattel, and will feed them very fat in a short time, and will likewise feed Calves and Lambs very fat, besides, they being boyled will feed Swine to the height of fatness in a fortnights space, and the liquor wherein they [Page 21]are boyled will feed them better than the best whey. And I have seen Cows exceedingly greedy for the liquor and the Turnips boyled, they have eat and drunk of them continually, and without any other food, have afforded Milk in a­boundance more than with any o­ther food whatsoever, and became likewise fat therewith; the Tur­nips boyled will feed all sorts of Poultty fat, and cause them to lay their egges constantly without any corn at all, whereby may be kept both Geese, Turkeys, Pheasants, Partridges, Coots, Moor-cocks, in abundance without any charge, so that 'tis clear Turnips will grow on the meanest ground with little labor, & without muck. I have known those that have kept their horses fat by sli­cing them & so casting them into the Manger, and of all food whatsoever there is nothing so wholesom and so healthfull as they be for Cattel, &c. for thereby may be avoided the Mur­rain [Page 22]& all other dangerous diseases.

There is a Knight row in this City that did preserve and keep all sorts of Poultry (and Rabbits) by a paste as followeth, which was made of Beasts liver, the coursest last corn ground and bran, with a com­petent commixture: but I have for­merly left out the Liver, and made a paste with the rest compounded with Turnips: but I found in conclu­sion Turnips of themselves is the only food both for Cattel, Swine, and Poultry. Probatum est.

The Swine being kept in an Or­chard constantly bearing, the ground will fructifie the Fruit-trees exceedingly, and make them yield great store of fruit yearly larger than formerly, and they need no o­ther food than this Liquor, without the roots, or they may be kept up in a house with it constantly.

There was a Gentleman well known, that would cause his Ser­vants sometimes to scatter on the [Page 23]ground some small store of Tares, and the Swine by taking pains to get them would drink the oftner of the Liquor, and be fat the sooner. I have known milch Cows kept con­stantly in a Yard, and never fed with any thing but Turnips, wherby a man might soon inrich himself, and having place convenient for Poultry, &c. this may appear to be as thriving for them as corn.

Turnips likewise boyled and mingled with bran will feed Hun­ting dogs very highly without any other relief. About seven years since I caused a woman here in Lon­don to buy a peck of meal, and to divide it into two parts, in the one, I advised her to put a peny-worth of Turnips boyled, and work it and knead it by it self, and the two par­cels being baked, the Meal that had the Turuips in, that proved to be the better bread by far, and whiter, & e­very way more pleasant to the eye, & more toothsom; it is in the judgement [Page 25]of most Physicians very healthfull; besides, it cuts far better than the other, and will last as long a­gain very moist, the parcel that had the Turnips in it was in weight above five pounds more than the o­ther, and what advantage might redound hereby to publique and private families it may easily re­sult, when they may keep both Cattel, Swine, and Poultry, with little or no charge.

There is as much difference al­most in the roots as is in Apples, therefore care is to be had in the seed; there are those which are cal­led Hackney Turnips, which far ex­ceed all other, especially for bread, & that seed may be had as cheap as the other; a paste likewise might be made with turnips to continue long, which all Poultry would like very well of, and excellent Horse-bread might be made of it, being other­wise used thereunto; all sorts of Cattel and Poultry wil take suf­ficient [Page 26]without further trou­ble, the paste will be excellent usefull food for Rabbits both in over-stored Warrens, and likewise when they are preserved with other moist meats, as you may understand hereafter.

Turnips will afford two very good crops in one year, and the crops of them are worth to be sold thirty pounds an acre, as will be confirmed: besides, some ground they will in my knowledge afford a 3d. crop the same year, & although the roots of the last crop come not to full maturity, yet the roots and leaves being suffered to grow thick­er without cutting, or pulling, will be better at the present than an acre of the best Grass, and compass of ground where a sheaf of Wheat doth grow which yieldeth a small quantity of wheat, it will afford one hundred of Turnips, near two hun­dred, so that the profit of two crops thereof will far transcend the profit [Page 27]of the wheat, and the charge of the wheat far greater ordinarily.

Turnips may be sown in heathy ground at the first breaking up, and some have sowed them immediatly after rye, flax, and especially after pease.

With their tops, and Rape­cakes or Lynt-seed cakes, and grains you may make Pottage and wholesome food for your Cows, which being warm they will eat ex­ceeding greedily, and by this means give milk in abundance, and for the same purpose the Holland Mer­chants did lately buy up all the Rape-seed here in England after the oyl was prest out, and made up into great Cakes, which hath been a very great commodity in Holland; The roots and leaves being made very clean and stamped together, then boyled in water, and then gi­ven to the Cows may make them a­bound with Milk, and yet grow very fat, if they are kept up all the year.

A worthy Gentleman doth every year sow a very large field with tur­nips, according to my directions, and in the middest thereof he cau­seth to be built a little sleight shade or loppel with poles covered with straw or some sleight stuff on the top where he ties up his oxen, and other feeding Cattel, and giveth them the Turnips and the leaves cleanly washed, and with them only seed­eth his Cattel very fat to the Markets, he continueth the same course constantly every year, and preserveth all his grass for other uses to his very great advan­tage.

Turnips also with some small ad­dition will make very good Syder, and exceeding good Oyl hath been made thereof, which may be very advantagious and will prove no drug. Probatum est.

You may boyl Barly chaff in the Liquor of Turnips, together with the Turnips and their leaves, [Page 29]which makes it as feeding, and as fatning as any foood whatsoever; Rabbits may be kept with Turnip­bread or past of Turnips all the year, either in the fields or house, and better than with Turnips them­selves, being a most wholesom food for them, and the roots and leaves will feed and preserve sheep to the highest condition, and the Calves which you shall breed up by hand with these Turnips, their leaves, with their Liquor, will be constant­ly fat, and will much exceed their breed in largeness, and with in­crease of Milk. Let your Turnips grow little less than half a foot di­stance, and less than ten quarts will sow an acre.

Chap. 4. Of Sow-Thistles.

ONe sleight plowing and har­rowing, or but raising the round in the least kind to have two crops in one year proportio­nably to the fruitfullest grass, and so constantly every year with­out any further trouble, or charge at all, which is so wonderfully fruitfull for milch Cows that be­sides [Page 31]the double increase of milk, it is better than any other, for it will afford two scimmings of excellent cream, this exceeds all other for Cheese, and when all the Cream is taken off, the milk will be as good as any other milk; this seed will cost nothing, and will sow it felf after the first year, it will afford in seed above one thousand for one; this is vulgarly called Sow-Thistle, it will yield great store of seed, the first crop letting it grow a while longer for that purpose; it will be ripe very timely in the year, you may gather the seeds which may be sowen presently, and will af­ford a crop within a Month or a lit­tle more, and may be cut every month during Summer, if it be not prejudiced by cattel; you may sow a small parcel of ground therewith, preserving that for seed that will serve your turn; it will grow upon any ordinary ground, and the oftner you cut it the thicker it will be, and [Page 32]be very tender, and excellent fruit­full food; you may feed your Cat­tel therewith by parcels in Racks or Houses, and maintain them all the Summer in the highest manner. It hath been observed formerly, that when Sows could not maintain their Pigs for want of milk, the Country people would find out these Sow-thistles which would ex­ceedingly advantage them for the increase of their Milk; and I have known the like performed by Rab­bits in a very strange manner: whilst the Thistles are young they willmaintain Calves, Lambs, Pigs, &c. which you may wean, and raise to the highest perfection without any other food; when they be come old and seedy, Cattel will eat on­ly the tops, and therefore the oftner you cut themthemore use­full they are; when the down is up­on them ready to flye, then gather the seeds when the Sun is up, the seed being dry you may find suffici­ent [Page 33]of them in Corn-fields & upon Ditches where Cattel cannot come at them; the benefit might be made so great thereof, that the worth can­not be with brevity exprest.

Sow up sheets of Paper, and gather up the seeds into them, or some other such way as may keep them from flying from you, and take hold of the knot and pull the seeds, and put them together, and when you sow them mingle amongst them mould as they are with the down, because they can hardly be severed; those Thist­les being planted in a barren ground, and given to Rabbits, would maintain millions of them, all the Summer, for want of grass in the Warrens, Turnips and the paste thereof all the Winter.

Chap. 5. Of Clover-gras.

ONe Sir Richard Weston, hath a think between thirty and forty acres, about ten acres thereof he sowed this year with Barly, which Barly being in cutting, and pro­ved so great, adjudged worth ten pound an acre, he feared it might hinder the Clover-grass, not­notwithstanding we viewing it nar­rowly [Page 34]did perceive the grass, much of it, as it were begining to look out of the ground, the which leaves were not bigger than an Onion, which yet Sir Richard was glad to see, he intends that nothing comes in that untill Michaelmas, and by that time he hopes especially with a good shower, soon after the Bar­ly is taken off, it will cover the ground: the last year he sowed two Fields, each about eight acres, one with Flanders seed, the other with his own in the Husks, the for­mer was so fair upon the ground at the felling in mid May last, that he protested he would not have taken ten pound for the seed only he ex­pected therefrom, nevertheless the Summers draught especially soon after the cutting, before it could get head again to shade it self, and the ground so scorchd it together, with his hopes, at length be resolved to feed his Cattel with, and reserve for seed the Cotten close being colder & [Page 35]a moyster soyl, and thereupon the better enduring the heat, which o­therwise he made far less esteem of, because it came up unevenly or in Banks like Mr. Houghtons, or rather worse, which I conceive was to be attributed partly to the wetness, but perhaps chiefly the seeds in the Husks, which could not be but une­qual experience, shewing that some of the Husks are empty, others full; Sir Richard himself told me, that he had found eight score seeds as I remember he said, or at least eighty I am sure he said, in one head, and then he resolved to cut it, and because hay is dear in those parts this year, near three pound a load, Sir Richard told me he sold it near that rate one hundred and fifty Loads of his extraordina­ry hay, which his meadows water­ed with his new River, and thereby continuing the draught did yield he intends to get off the head of the grass, as he doth those of the Flax, and dry them in the Sun to [Page 36]get out the seed more easily, and withall to save his hay: for he says that when once he can get suffici­ent seed of his own, he shall then, and not before then be Master of the work, for he suspects sophisticati­on of the out-landish seed, that it is mixed with old, and some not fully ripe baked in Ovens, the easier to make it unhusk it self; for the manner of sowing of it he having experimented divers wayes finds the best peece that ever he had to be sowed alone without any o­ther grain for the time, the begin­ning of the mid April is the best, and therefore he would advice Mr. Houghton not to venture his Sum­mer fallow at Autumn, unless it be a little quantity to make experi­ment; besides, he did much disap­prove the laying sheep upon it two or three nights, as he intended to do last May as soon as it was cut, be­cause it would prove a hinderance to the next crop, which with a [Page 37]shower would (as he says) in six days grow half a foot high, for the quan­tity of the hay it yielded two load and an half on an acre at a selling rate, for the nature of the ground that is most proper for it, which will bear little other grass; To conclude, he findeth that the grass improves the ground, for he hath this year ex­ceeding great buck Wheat upon a piece of heathy ground, not one shilling the acre before, which hath been Clove grass three years, for flax, he said, that requires a dry soyl, &c. Lastly, he saith that at St. Foyn it is exceeding profitable, and may be cut seven or eight times in a year, but that it requires a very rich Land, and must not be fed at all; And now I hope that my faithfull desires to relate fully all that I had learned in this will plead excuse for me.

Chap. 6. Of Potatoes.

THe like benefit as with Turnips may be made of Potatoes, which usually grow here in England, they will encrease exceedingly, & are ex­cellent food several waies, they will make very good bread, cakes, paste, and Pyes, and both crust without and food within; they will hardly be destroyed but increase of themselves in a very plentifull manner, with very little labour; they will like­wise [Page 47]grow and thrive very well, be­ing cut in slices, and so put into the earth, and the very threds comming from the roots will increase to great roots.

The like benefit may be made for Poultry and Swine, of Arti­choaks Jerusalem.

Chap. 7. Of Pumpions.

THe next are Pumpions, which may be occasioned to grow in the coarsest ground, even all stone in a manner, as followeth.

First make several holes, a foot and a half one from an other, and fill either hole about the bigness of a peck with mold that you may get from hedge-rows, mixed with a [Page 51]little good muck purposely prepa­red, or with Cow-dung, you may cut up the Mole-hils within the neighbouring grounds, sowing the places again with hay seeds or tree­foyl seeds, then plant in one of the holes being well tempered with muck, mold, or some of the best composed muck, some three Pompi­on seeds, you need not care for the seed the first year, for they will af­terwards be plentifull enough, and suffer one of the best to continue growing, the rest pull up and plant them in hedge-rows, or cast them away; And this manner you may (if you please) dispose of an acre of ground or more at the first, which in all likelihood may produce some four large Pumpions, on a plant, the rest may be cut off being newly planted, with the superfinous bran­ches, and the other will grow the bigger, and in all probability will amount to at vendible rates 30 and 40 pound per acre, and will sell dea­rer [Page 52]in the Country than near Lon­don, and if not sold they will (with the greater advantage) serve for Poultry, Swine, and Cattel, being boyled and used as Turnips, which may accordingly be contriv'd into paste, as before specified, with more advantage for feeding than with the best grass or corn, and whereas I have known dry grounds that have been so barren, that they would bear no grass, at all, in compari­son, yet being laid all the year long used, and no Cattel turned therein, that little grass that was rotting upon the ground, and the seed shedding thereon hath afford­ed the years following very good grass, & admitting the ground wher the Pompions grow are very poor, yet the grass being suffered to grow, though but little, the Pumpion leaves shadowing the ground, and keeping it cool in hot weather, and warm in cool seasons, a year or two, especially with the help of the Muck water.

Yet such soyls the ground will afford very good grass, and the seeds of the Pumpions, being shif­ted into new holes, will improve the basest ground whatsoever to great perfection. You may likewise use the Root of the Pumpions, which will occasion them to be as large again as otherwise.

You may cause a large bed to be made of rich mold, &c. whereby you may plant great store of Pum­pion seeds, and then transplant them according to your uttermost accommodation, but by all means they must be well watered with the muck water, of the fattest sort as followeth hereafter.

Suffer but two or three main run­ners, according to discretion, and cut off the rest of the branches, a­bout the time they begin to flower, carefully preserving the other main runners from prejudice.

In like manner may be planted Cabbages, which will afford the [Page 54]like profit upon such kind of ground, and although they may af­ford a great benefit by the sale ther­of yet they will be less trouble and more advantagious, for feeding of Cattel, especially those that give milk, which will make them excee­dingly abound therewith, and one acre of ground so planted will be far better than an acre of hay, and the ground much benefited thereby, af­ter the Cabbages are cut up, there will be a crop of Coleworts, &c.

Chap. 8. Of the Roman Bean and Liquorish.

THere is a Grain called by some the Roman Bean, which are excel­lent for Horses, Dogs, Poultry, and Swine, and will as is made apparent beyond contradiction afford above one hundred pound per acre benefit, as they may be ordered.

They are to be set once, and they will continue four years after exceedingly, without the use of [Page 56]muck, this Grain is indeed the grea­test advantage that ever was heard of, considering the little charge and trouble; I dare not profess the won­derfull increase they will afford, being rightly used, what benefit may be made thereof, I leave it to judge­ment, when if five hundred acres were planted therewith they might be all sold.

There is a Gentleman in London, that hath found out a new way for the planting of Liquorish, which grows naturally in many places of England, and whereas formerly contrary to judgement of those that planted it, used to dig the ground very deep, even into the crust of earth, and then planted the Liquo­rish downwards, and too deep; This Gentleman hath caused his Ground not to be mucked, nor to be used, therefore had that been muck­ed formerly, and the roots placed side-waies, not perpendicularly, but above the crust of the earth, which [Page 57]by that means will run a very great length, and grow with greater roots by far than o­therwise, insomuch that the Gen­tlemans Servant hath observed, for five acres of Liquorish to make two hundred pound an a­cre; Besides there was a crop of Onions growing upon the five a­cres of Liquorish, for which there was offered twenty pound an acre; half thereof being for­merly pick'd out and sold for at least twenty pound more, and this may be confirmed for a truth at any time, so that there is but one year of three void of profit; and some benefit may be made that year.

This with the Roman Bean would be excellent commodities in di­vers Countries, in regard of the conveniency by water, they be­ing no Drugg, at all times ven­dible, and the ground much ad­vanced [Page 58]thereby for other uses, which may be done in a mere dry and warm sand, &c. this to be con­firmed to an hundred pound per annum.

Chap. 9. Of Saffron.

THere are grounds (in my know­ledge) in most parts of England, where Saffron will grow, being rightly prepared, as well as in any place, and once having the roots which may easily be gotten, and as cheap as the other seeds, and plants, you will ever after abound therewith, and they will render very great profit, with very little [Page 60]charge, and much inrich the ground for corn after them several years, for the planting and disposing of them, you may have sufficient di­rections at pleasure, and so for the other defects, better Saffron grow­eth not in the world than here in England, being worth forty pound an acre skilfully and carefully plan­ted, that will last several years, and afford divers crops every year, and must be gathered every morning for a months space.

A worthy Gentleman in whose Garden had been planted some Saf­fron roots for ornament sake, and the rather, because the flowers were very sweet, of various colours, and very pleasant to the eye, they did exceedingly increase on the ground, that the Gardner could by no means destroy them although with great diligence they weeded them up con­stantly when they drest and renew­ed their Garden, yet do what they could they would grow there still; [Page 61]at last as they drew them up still, set them in some remote places in the Garden, being ground very much neglected, where they pro­spered so well, that it is to be ad­mired what benefit so little ground did afford, which was a mere sand, as is to be found in most Shires in England, only the ground having been formerly baren, I advised the Gentleman, he having Com­mons of such kind of ground hardly worth one shilling an acre, and se­veral other waste ground, with great convenience, of water, &c. to compose some kind of soyl, as I instance in my discourse following of muck, and mingled earth, and to lay it a foot thick on the worst part, of his barren ground he might in the easiest manner con­contrive a thousand loads in a year & thereby questionless have divers acres of the best sort of Saffron; and this soyl will so fertilize the waste ground under it with the addition [Page 62]of the muck water in case of dry weather, that the lands will be fit for any advantagious uses whatsoe­ver, &c. Probatum est.

Chap. 10. To illustrate the profit of Ground, by planting of Woods.

I Knew a Gentleman that set an Ash-tree before his House, which forty years after he was offered for it thirty pounds, and it is certainly to be proved, that a Gentleman in Holland sold five hundred Ashes at fifty years groweth at a far higher [Page 68]rate, and that another man in the same Country planted so much wood inhis life time for the which he was offered fifty thousand pound.

There is a Gentleman now li­ving in Essex that can lop off his own ground two thousand Willows e­very year out of the number he for­merly planted. His improvements of grounds for Orchards twenty pound an acre per annum, twenty a­cres four hundred pound.

A Gentleman in Kent, besides the great benefit he converteth the ground to otherwise, advanceth to himself yearly for Cherries and o­ther fruit of his own planting at least five hundred pounds.

Chap. 11. To preserve Horses in a very good Condition without hay.

AN honorable Knight in Kent, and a Doctor there of fifteen hundred pound per annum, have not given their Horses any hay these twelve years, but only chopt straw, cut small, with such a Knife as they [Page 71]cut hay withall, they mingle with a handfull of Oats, half a peck of this Straw so cut, and put into the Manger, several times in the day, and let them drink often, and in this manner they use all their Horses both that work and travel; you may put in the paste of Turnips instead of the Oats, which being used there­unto will do as well and better, and satisfie all expectations with very great success, without any additional food; cut, chop, and shred all your Furs-tops, and give them to your Horses, and they will exceedingly thrive therewith, this I received from the greatest Lord of Scotland, which was the continual custom of his Servants.

Item a Gentleman traveling much, when others gave their Horses that travelled at the least half a peck of Oats, he gave his Horse but one half penyworth of Carrets, where he could have them. [Page 72]I have know the like increase with Turnips, no food exceeding them for health and feeding.

In Kent and Hurtford-shire they u­sual cut all their Oats and Pease small, and give them their Horses, with chaff or cut straw; by which means they eat up all and thrive ex­ceedingly therewith, and feed ther­on the more greedily.

Chap. 12. Of Hops.

OUt of a small plot of ground, scarce an acre and an half, a Gentleman got by Hops in one year at least one hundred and eightie pound.

A worthy Friend of mine, out of less than a quarter of an acre of Ground received hately for Hops in one year ten pound, and for several years besides; which ground in my [Page 47]knowledge was very much neglect­ed, otherwaies would have return­ed many more, being they stood much protected from the Nothern winds.

The last year a Gentleman expe­rienced, used Muck-water, by wa­tering his Hops therewith, only at the very roots, whereby he had a return beyond expectation, and is resolved thereupon to take in more grounds for that purpose; the im­provement that may happen there­by cannot in any rational mans judgement, but be exceeding great, being the liquor doth exceed your ordinary muck.

He likewise planted upon the Hop-hills divers seeds of Pumpions, the running branches thereof being turned into the paths with sticks, and causing the superfluous bran­ches to be cut off, leaving only about three of them that were well knot­ted; he made a double benefit there­by, part whereof was sold at good [Page 75]rates, the rest were boyled in the manner of Turnips, & he caused his Cattel & Swine to be sed therwith, to his great advantage, so with these and with Turnips, he boyled all the Barly chaff he could get, which made the Liquor the thicker, and proved more commodious to his Cattel, and sometimes when bran was to be had at reasonable rate, he caused it to be boyled ther­in, otherwise the Liquor was only used.

The usual way of keeping the roots of his Pumpion plants, was to get all the pieces of Pots, Dishes, and old Vessels, that would hold Water, and filling them with the former Liquor, he caused the end of an old rotten list or rag to be put into the Vessel, and the other end unto the Pumpion plant; which would descend unto the root, and the Liquor being thereby dreyned out of the old Vessels they were sea­sonably replenish'd, from which [Page 76]occasion he had the fairest Pumpi­ons that ever were beheld, and the Hops wonderfully improved there­by: he had also by vertue of this Liquor white Straw-berries, six in­ches compass, which may at any time be attested, and such kind of roots, and Gardening-stuff, that the like for the generality was never seen before.

Chap. 13. Of Flax.

FLax will yield thirty or forty pound an acre, sandy, baren, and heathy ground is best for it, and after Flax, Turnips, one acre of good Flax accounted worth three or four acres of the best Wheat, and the Liquor hath much advanced the goodness thereof.

The best time for the sowing ther­of is about the beginning of April, [Page 78]presently after a shower of rain, which may abundantly be supply­ed by the Engine, and Muck-wa­ter following; some do usually sowe Flax untill the end of May, and some after.

Chap. 11. To make Clay burn as clear as any other fire, and as usefull.

TAke one third part of small pit Coal, or sea Coal, and mingle them together as you would Mor­ter, then make them up in round balls lesse than your head, and lay them upon a place, to dry, then lay them upon the fire one upon ano­ther [Page 88]and observe the conclusion.

There is also a sort of Lome, which is of it self combustible, and will with the addition of a few Charcoales; burn very clear and prove exceeding usefull. P [...]batum est.

Chap. 12. A way to convay Water un­der ground up to a very high hill and so to the top of the highest house.

THis must be performed as it may be seeen, at Barkhamsted, in Hartfordshire, by a wheele, lea­ving the rest (to avoid prolixity) to be demonstrated by discourse.

Chap. 13. To make a sufficient fence, of Sallowes, or VVil­lowes, or both, in a ve­ry short time.

LEt your ditch, be ordered accor­ding to the usual manner, and and if it may be with good Mould, and take small sticks of Willowes, or Sallowes, cut from the trees, and cut the Bark round with the [Page 95]knife, about three inches distant, the one from the other, and place two of the sticks sidewaies, one foot distant, the one from the other, then cover them with earth, and with Mould, and they will soon shoot forth to very good perfection, and from every place so cut round will spring forth a branch, which after they are grown about half a yard, you may cut them off a­bout three inches from the ground, and they will thereby grow the thicker, and become a very com­pleat fence suddenly, and especi­ally if you water them with the muck Water.

Chap. 14. Of Muskmelons.

THe way to have as good Musk­melons, as are any in Italy, without the unwholsome use of the muck­beds here in London, is confirmed by the Earl of Dorset.

Plant them under a Wall, Pale, or Hedge, on the Sunny side, with very good mould, purposely pre­pared, [Page 96]and underneath the Mold, lay a quantity of fresh Barly straw, and by this easie meanes, using the seasonable Covertures, and neces­sary futherance, you may attain to your uttermost desire, without any further trouble; but if you do dis­cern the straw to make the earth too hot, thrust in a stake through the mould to the straw, that the vapour and heat evaporate, and passe forth, this from the Earl of Te­nett.

I shall more copiously inlarge my self herein, with the ready way to ripen them, and such other fruits, before their season, by plant­ing them in dry weather, and every third or fourth day, watering them with warm water.

Whereas there hath happened an exceeing great destruction of Beanes, Pease, and other corn of [Page 98]late yeers, by Wormes, and other creeping things, both about the City and in most places of the Countrey, there being no means imagined by any for the preventi­on thereof, you may observe how to avoid them, both in Fields, Gar­dens, and at the roots of trees. Take sliced, or bruised Onions, and steep them in Water, all night or longer; add thereunto a proportion of Salt and Soot, and Lime (if you please) or Ashes, in your Gardens you may use it with your watering Pots, especially to the roots of trees. And for the Corn fields the engine following is most proper, which I refer to my after discourse.

This composition will not leave a Worm in the ground, where it is used, besides it will strengthen the Land very much for Corn, and bring the Trees to much fruitful­nesse, that were formerly decayed at the roots; if there be Wormes, [Page 99]take but a drop or two of the Onion water, and some Salt, put it into a Worm-hole, and the worm will come out, and dye pre­sently; and the same water, with Onions and Salt, by drinking a lit­tle of it in a morning fasting, at the full of the Moon, will destroy all Wormes in men, women and children; you may use onely the Onions which will be suffici­ent.

A remedy for the worms in men, women and children, you must three mornings before the full of the Moon, give them to drink a quantity of new Milk, and give it them in the morning of the full Moon, and the worms then expect­ing breakfast as before, they having then as Physicians say, their mouths open, are destroyed.

To bring into one place, and destroy all Worms, that are hurt­full in a Gardens, take the belly or [Page 100]panch of a Weather newly killed, and all the filth and dung that is in it, and bury the same in the place were they be, cover it a little with the earth, and within two dayes you may see all the hurtfull things resort thither, which you may destroy, as you please, Cen­taury, Colloquintida and Wormewod are good ingredients to adde if need were to the former designe to de­stroy Wormes.

You may at the end of March or February make the ground very wet by casting water thereon, and about eight or nine of the clock, by candle light gather up all the wormes, whereby you may destroy them in Gardens.

Water wherein the leaves and seed of Hemp is sodden, being cast and sprinkled on the earth, will make the wormes come out of the ground, if there be any.

Cabbages puld up by the roots, & set in sand, in a Cellar or some other room, may be kept all the Winter, or you may hang them up with strings, and so may you keep Artichokes, and other plants, and roots, for constant use, as Carets, Parsnips, and Turnips. In dry wea­ther in October, and November, make a layr of Sand, and a layr of Carrets, cutting away the tops close to the roots, with some of the small ends of the Carrets, and about the last of December, when there is no frost, uncover them, and you may keep them longer if you pare off the the shootings of the upper end of the root, and then lay them in Sand, and so Parsnips, and Tur­nips.

Chap. 14. To get off the Smutt from VVheat.

FIrst lay a lay of Barly Chaff, then a layer of smutty Wheat, then a layer of Chaff again, then a layer of VVheat, &c. and so thrash it, and it will break very fair.

Chap. 15. To recover old Trees.

TAke the quantity of a quarter of a peck of Horse blood, or Oxe blood tempered, with about half a peck of Pigeons dung, make it up into soft paste, which will be rare to apply to the greater roots, and aged Trees, fastning the same paste about the roots after they have been lay'n [Page 111]bare, and have taken ayr some few dayes, which course will cer­tainly recover a Tree or Vine that is near dead, & will make them put forth blossoms and fruits afresh, which must be done about the mid­dle of February.

Apply it to the Vine about the beginning of March; you may like­wise recover old Trees, by applying to the Roots, before the Sap cometh up, & to make your trees florish, and prosper very well, round about the body of the Trees make many holes with a crow of Iron, about six weeks after Michaelmas, and powr into the holes your rich muck water, or Oxe blood, and fill them up with good mould, &c.

Chap. 16. To feed and fatten all sorts of Poultry and Fowl.

BOyl Butchers blood, which is easily to be had, with a good qantity of Bran, mingsed there­with, or grains, which is not so good, untill it come to the manner of a blood pudding, which will feed your Fowl as fat as you will desire them to be.

Some do use to feed Fowl with Carrets, Turnips, Parsnips and Pumpions sodden and mingled, with Bran, or coarse Pollard

Turkies will become very fat in a short time, and prosper exceeding­ly with bruised Acorns.

You may soak Chippings, and o­ther Crusts of bread in broken beer or fleeten Milk, and feed your Ca­pons and Hens fat presently.

• IMpr. Rape-seed 20 acres. 0400 l.
• Mustard-seed 20 acres. 0400
• Liquorish 20 acres. 1600
• Hops and Pumpions 20 acres. 1000
• Saffron 20 acres. 0400
• [Page 143]Flax 20 acres. 0400
• Clover grass 20 acres. 1000
• Roman Beans 20 acres. 1060
• Tobacco 20 acres. 0600
• Improvement of Ground for Or­chards, woade. 20 acres.
• Madder 20 acres. 0400
• French Beans 20 acres. 0400
• Pumpions and Cabbages 40 acres. 0400
• Tassels 2 acres. 0050
• Osiers 5 acres. 0125
• Clove July Flowers, and red Roses 5 acres. 0100
• Milch Kine. 0100
• Feeding Cattel. 0100
• Rabbits in Hutches. 0500
• Malt.
• Poultery and Fowl. 0020
• Pidgeons. 0020
• Swine. 0020
• Bees. 0100
• Silk worms. 0500
• A Decoy. 0040

Oats hath been made 300 l. per a­cre, [Page 144]the times being still seasonable therefore, Coriander seed need no Dung, and will grow very well here.

Anniseeds will grow very well in England, and so Commin seed, Fennel-seed, and Canary seed.

Asparagus once sown will last twelve years.

These before specified, one with a­nother, will afford twenty pound an acre yearly.

When you have composed good store of muck with earth, as before, you may lay of the best mould, some thickness upon the basest Ground, and thereon set wheat, and you may have as good crops as you can desire, or ever was known in England, the upper sourd of that Ground by means of the mould will be much improved thereby, and the soyl likewise underneath, and you may farther at pleasure advantage [Page 145]the mould to the greatest height with your Muck water, and by this means you may have all other com­modities in aboundance, proper for such rich soyl, or appertaining to Gardening, as Saffron, &c.

Chap. 17. To make Ʋines grow upon Cherry stocks.

PLant them together, and when the Vines have put out long small branches, bore a hole in the Cher­ry stock, that the branch may easi­ly go through; take up the upper bark, untill it come to the Green, [Page 147]and let it grow there, when it is well grown cut off the Vine below, stroak the Ground according to the ordinary wayes, [...] it well and you will have your [...].

Chap. 18. To make five sorts of Roses grow upon one Stock without inocula­tion.

WHen they begin to knot, bore with an Aul under the knot, and with a feather put Green in one, and Yellow in another, Red in the third, and Blew in the fourth, and close up all the holes hand­somely.

Put the blood of Pikes before you put in the Grafts, dip the end of the Graft in it, and you shall have red Apples; but they will be redder by far, if you graft them up­on Cherrie stocks.

Chap. 19. To make Roses smell strong, and unsavoury.

PUt Garlick close to the Root, and so with Lillies, for they have all a sympathy.

To make a red Rose become white, as it groweth, kindle Brim­stone, and smoak the Rose with it at your pleasure, and it will become white presently.

Take the roots of divers colours of Gillyflowers, bind them together, and set them in the ground in good mould, and you shall have them various in one stock.

Chap. 20. To preserve Chesnuts, and keep them sound.

LAy them together with Wall­nuts, and they will drink up and consume the humours, whereby they corrupt, and will not suffer them to be moldy. I remember about thirty years since, I set at least half a peck of choice Filberts in a Garden, on [Page 157]dry sandy borders, and finding not one of them to come up, at the latter end of the year I caused the banks to be digged up again, where I found all my Filberts fresh, full, and as pleasant to eat as at any time before, whence you may learn, that burying them in fresh sand, you may preserve them fresh for your cating all the year, especially being kept in the Ground in an earthen pot, so may you use Wallnuts and small nuts, and the reason why the Fill­berts came not up, was for want of moysture, therefore the muck water following wil be of excellent use, &c.

Chap. 21

ELm tree chips set in Ditches, will in a short time become young Trees, and make a very good fence, and the slips that grow from the roots of Elms being taing off, will grow to great perfection in few years.

Wild Oats destroyed only by wheat fallow.

Chap. 22. To keep Cloaths from Moaths.

SEeth the Dregs, or mother, or fome of Oyl, to the half, and ther­with anoint the bottom corners and feet of any Chest or Press, and the Cloaths that you lay therein will be freefrom any hurt with Moaths, but [Page 160]before you put the Cloaths in the Chest, or Press, it must be dry.

Chap. 23. To take out spots of Oyl, or Grease.

TAke the bones of Sheeps trot­ters, and burn them almost to Ashes, then bruise them to powder, and apply it to the spot, and lay all before the Sun when it shines very hot, and when the powder appears to be very black, lay on fresh in [Page 163]the place till it suck out the spots, which may suddenly be effected by the water wherein Lavender is sod, doth take away all spots in Cloath or Hats, if the place be washed and rubbed therewith.

Chap. 24. To destroy Caterpillars.

BEsmear all the bottom of the Tree with Tar, then get store of Ants, put them in a bag, and draw the same with a cord unto the Tree, and let it hang there, so that it touch the body of the Tree, and the Ants being prevented to go from the Tree by reason of the tar, will for want of food eat, and de­stroy [Page 164]the Caterpillars, withour hurt­ing any of the fruit or leaves.

No Pismires will touch the same Tree that shall have the lower part thereof rubbed round about with Lupines stamped.

Chap. 25. To preserve your Trees and Plants from being barked with Cows or Hares.

BEsmear the bodies of the Trees round about with Lyme, so far as the Cows can possible reach, or you may have Vessels made of pan metal, more than two foot in length, [Page 165]equally round about the compass of a Pottle pot and more, but divided lengthwise in the middle, and so fet together about the Tree.

Set a Horse head upon a pole in the Garden, and it will banish all Flies that destroy Cabbages and o­ther tender Herbs.

If you desire to have a white spot, or any part of a Beast turned white, first shave off the hairs, and make the place bare with the fume of Brimstone, and white hairs will come thereon.

Chap. 26. To take Fish.

SEt a Candle in a piece of a Cork as even as may be with the water, which will stupifie and attract the fishes unto it, so that with a little hoop Net upon the end of a Cane or Staff you may take them with much facility, or with a shovel­net, [Page 167]&c. which must be in the night.

Where mudd and water is taken out of the Ponds, if the rain water do after come into them, there will become multitude of Eels in a short time; and by this course you many abundantly encrease Carps.

In May dig up two Turfs of new grown Grass, when the dew is on them, then tye the Grassy sides to­gether, and place them in water on the side of a Pond, then let them re­main there unmoved, about ten daies, and taking up the Turfs, untying or loosing them you shall find great store of young Eels within the Turfs, although there were not an Eel in the Pond before, and by ty­ing the turfs together again, and placing them in the same water, a greater encrease will come thereof.

Chap. 27. To take Moles.

GEt a pot or glass, which may ea­sily be had in London, that is nar­row at the top, and wide at the bot­tom, and place one of these deep in the ground in the Fields where the moles are, the top of the pot being even with the ground, and [Page 170]in the pot or glass put a stinking Crab, which they will eagerly smell after, and so fall into the pot, and be­ing imprisoned they will call for aid of their fellows, and so be all ta­ken.

And to bring them all to a place in this manner, fire Brimstone in the like not so placed.

But first put a live Mole therein, and she will call all the Moles that are near to come to her release, and so be taken; you may use only a live Mole in the pot, without the Crab or Brimstone.

And you may destroy them by degrees after this manner with a good Spade, and watching the pla­ces where they work, observing their constant times, strike upon the Hill with the backside of your Spade, which will amaze them so, that you may dig them up with your Spades, and find them in a manner dead, but they will suddenly recover again, [Page 171]and so you may provide them for your pots. I have seen some taken in that manner with ordinary Clunchi­ons, and some only by stamping your foot upon the place where they work, and to take them with traps when they run back, as is common­ly known, you may likewise get some light stocks like arrows, and at the lower end with a white rag on the tops of them, stick lightly in se­veral places of their walk, and as they pass by, the sticks will fall down, and then use your Spade as be­fore.

At breeding time dig up there Hills where their young ones are in the places where their nests are, be­ing as big again as their ordinary Hills, which you may soon discern, and by that means.

And so you may destroy all their young, and may take their old by watching a short time for them, after you have made their nests bare.

A Gentleman caused some two penyworth of red Herrings to be bought, and cut them into several parts, about six pieces of one Her­ring, and burning those pieces se­verally on the Mole hills and other walks about the ground, there was not a Mole ever after seen in that ground.

Put Garlick, leeks, or an Onion in the mouths of the Mole hills, or in their entrings into the ground, and you shall see them come and leap out presently amazed.

To take Foxes. Chap. 28.

TAke off the skin of a Kat, smear the body all over with hony, and [Page 173]rost her at the fire, powder it with powder of young Frogs, train it with a rope about the Foxes haunts to the place you desire to bring them, and they will follow the sent, and may easily be taken.

I have known some that have used a red Herring, and trayned it in that manner, others have used tosted Cheese, and both with very good success.

Chap. 29. To take Fallow or red Dear, that range in other mens Grounds, or in any other place.

TAke a mellow Apple, or a mel­low Crab, and bait it with a hook, without a beard, in compass of your singer, leaving it in their walk, and fixing it to a pack thred, [Page 175]or whip cord, fasten the other end unto the root of the hedge, or some short stake, if it be in the middle of a Field or Park, then strike a hooked wooden pin into the ground, and the ablest Dear will soon smell the bait a far off, and with very great greediness will swallow it up, to pre­vent their fellows.

In this manner Gentlemen have taken divers stags in a Forest; if they be remote from the bait, you may go at a distance from them, and so cause them to incline that way by degrees, when they have received the bait, they will stand as quiet as Lambs, and you may do what you please with them.

Opium laid in a place where the Dear do haunt or resort, the best of them will soon sent it, and swal­low it, and instantly fall down as if they were dead, and yet no harm at all, when you may take them before they recover, and act your pleasure with them.

If they do not frame their course towards the bait, you may occasi­on them to incline that way as be­fore.

I know a Gentleman that took a brace of very fat Bucks in an After­noon by the former way.

Chap. 30. To destroy Rooks, Crows, Daws or Magpies.

PRovide little pieces of Flesh, where you may put the powder of Arsnick, or sublimate, and you will soon be rid of them all, if you lay them in several places where they resort, but you must be care­full your Swine eat none of the [Page 177]Crows or Flesh, lest they be like­wise poisoned, therefore they must be all either buried or burned.

Chap. 31.

TO make Pidgeons stay and not stray abroad from their Houses, smear their holes with Arsafetida, mingled with butter.