On the Main, in the fifteenth century, they were spoken of as—
- (1) Lenz frichte.
- (2) Brach frichte.
- (3) Rur frichte.
In Elsass, in the fourteenth century, and on the Danube—
- (1) Brochager (Brach field)
- (2) Rurager (Fallow field)
were used, and Dr. Landau says that Esch is sometimes put in contrast with 'Brach.' [578] Whatever may be [p380] the exact meaning of the word Brach—whether referring to the breaking of the rotation or the breaking of the stubble—there can be no doubt of the identity of the word with the English Breach and Breach-corn.
It appears, therefore, that in South Germany, and especially in the districts once Roman province, the three fields representing the rotation of crops for many centuries have been known by names closely resembling those used in England.
IV. THE DIVISION OF THE FIELDS INTO FURLONGS AND ACRES.
Passing next to the divisions of the open fields, we take first the Furlongs or Shots (the Latin Quarentenæ).
'Shot.'
The word 'Shot' probably is simply the Anglo-Saxon 'sceot,' or division; but it is curious to find in a document of 1318 mention of 'unam peciam, quod vulgariter dicitur Schoet' at Passau, near the junction of the Inn with the Danube.[579]