The homage of the Hitchin Manor presented that the common fields within the township had immemoriably been and ought to be kept and cultivated in three successive seasons of—
- (1) Tilth-grain,
- (2) Etch-grain, and
- (3) Fallow.
The three fields are elsewhere commonly known as the—
- (1) Winter corn,
- (2) Spring corn, and
- (3) Fallow.
Universally, the fallow ends at the autumn sowing of the wheat crop of the next season, which is hence called 'winter corn.'
The word etch, or eddish, or edish, occurs in Tusser, and means the stubble of the previous crop [p377] of whatever kind. Thus, in the 'Directions for February,' he says,—
Etch-grain sown on the stubble of a previous crop.
'Eat etch, ere ye plow,
With hog, sheep, and cow.' [566]
This is evidently to prepare the stubble of the last year's corn crop for the spring sown bean or other crop; for under the same month he says,—