53.

Calme weather in June Corne sets in time. Forgotten month past, Doe now at the last. Shéepe sharing. 1 Wash sheepe (for the better) where water doth run, and let him go cleanly and drie in the sun. Then share him and spare not, at two daies an end, The sooner the better his corps will amend.[E330] Beware of euill shéepe shearers. 2 Reward not thy sheepe (when ye take off his cote) with twitchis and patches, as brode as a grote.[E331] Let not such vngentlenesse happen to thine, least flie with hir gentils doo make it to pine. Sheare lambes in Julie. 3 Let lambes go vnclipped, till June be halfe worne, the better the fleeses will growe to be shorne. The Pie will discharge thee for pulling the rest:[E332] the lighter the sheepe is, then feedeth it best. Mowing time. 4 If meadow be forward, be mowing of some; but mowe as the makers may well ouercome:[E333] Take heede to the weather, the wind and the skie, if danger approcheth, then cock apace[E334] crie. 5 Plough earlie till ten a clock, then to thy hay, in plowing and carting, so profit ye may. By little and little, thus dooing ye win: that plough shall not hinder when haruest comes in.[E335] 6 Prouide of thine owne to haue all things at hand, least worke and the workman vnoccupide stand. Loue seldome to borowe that thinkest to saue, for he that once lendeth twise looketh to haue.[E336] Trim well thy carts. 7 Let cart be well searched without and within, well clouted and greased, er hay time begin. Thy hay being carried, though carter had sworne, carts bottome well boorded is sauing of corne. 8 Good husbands that laie to saue all things vpright, for tumbrels and cart, haue a shed readie dight. Where vnder the hog may in winter lie warme: to stand so enclosed, as wind doo no harme. A houell is set vpon crotches[1] and couered with poles and strawe. 9 So likewise a houell will serue for a roome, to stack on the peason, when haruest shall coome. And serue thee in winter, more ouer than that, to shut vp thy porklings thou mindest to fat. 10[2] Some barnroome haue little, and yardroome as much, yet corne in the field appertaineth to such: Then houels and rikes they are forced to make, abrode or at home for necessities sake. 11 Make sure of breadcorne (of all other graine), lie drie and well looked to, for mouse and for raine. Though fitchis and pease, and such other as they, (for pestring too much) on a houell ye ley. 12 With whinnes or with furzes thy houell renew, for turfe or for sedge, for to bake and to brew: For charcole and sea cole, as also for thacke, for tallwood and billet, as yeerlie ye lacke. The husbandlie storhouse. 13 What husbandlie husbands, except they be fooles, but handsome haue storehouse, for trinkets and tooles: And all in good order, fast locked to ly, what euer is needfull, to find by and by. 14 Thy houses and barnes would be looked vpon, and all things amended er haruest come on. Things thus set in order, in quiet and rest, shall further thy haruest and pleasure thee best. 15 The bushes and thorne with the shrubs that do noy, in woodsere[3][E337] or sommer cut downe to destroy: But where as decay to the tree ye will none, for danger in woodsere, let hacking alone. Mowe downe brakes and meadow. 16 At Midsommer, downe with the brembles and brakes, and after, abrode with thy forks and thy rakes: Set mowers a mowing, where meadow is growne, the longer now standing the worse to be mowne. Mowe hedlonds at haruest or after in the seueral fields. 17 Now downe with the grasse vpon hedlonds about, that groweth in shadow, so ranke and so stout. But grasse vpon hedlond of barlie and pease, when haruest is ended, go mowe if ye please. 18 Such muddie deepe ditches, and pits in the feeld, that all a drie sommer no water will yeeld, By fieing[E338] and casting that mud vpon heapes, commodities many the husbandman reapes.

19 Whome fancie persuadeth, among other crops, to haue for his spending, sufficient of hops,[E339] Must willinglie follow, of choises to chuse, such lessons approoued, as skilfull doo vse. Naught for hops. 20 Ground grauellie, sandie, and mixed with clay, is naughtie for hops any maner of way; Or if it be mingled with rubbish and stone, for drines and barrennes, let it alone. Good for hops. 21 Choose soile for the hop of the rottenest mould, well doonged and wrought, as a garden plot should Not far from the water (but not ouerflowne) this lesson well noted is meete to be knowne. 22 The Sunne in the south, or else southly and west, is ioy to the hop, as a welcomed gest; But wind in the north, or else northly east, to hop is as ill as a fraie in a feast. Now dig thy new hop ground. 23 Meete plot for a hopyard once found as is told, make thereof account, as of iewell of gold. Now dig it and leaue it, the Sunne for to burne, and afterward fence it, to serue for that turne. The praise of hops. 24 The hop for his profit I thus doo exalt, it strengtheneth drinke, and it fauoreth malt. And being well brewed, long kept it will last, and drawing abide, if ye drawe not too fast.