25
The sticks and the stones go and gather vp cleene,
for hurting of [sieth] or for harming of greene.[18]
For feare of [Hew prowler],[E176] get home with the rest,
when frost is at hardest, then carriage is best.
Yoong lambes.
26
Yoong broome or good pasture thy ewes doo require,
warme barth and in safetie their lambes doo desire.
Looke often well to them, for foxes and dogs,
for pits and for brembles, for vermin and hogs.
27
More daintie[19] the lambe, the more woorth to be sold,
the sooner the better for eaw that is old.
But if ye doo minde to haue milke of the dame,
till Maie doo not seuer the lambe fro the same.
Rearing of lambes.
28
Ewes yeerly by [twinning] rich maisters doo make,
the lamb of such twinners for breeders go take.
For [twinlings][E177] be [twiggers], encrease for to bring,
though som for their [twigging] [Peccantem][E178] may sing.
Rearing of calues.
29
Calues likely that come between Christmas and Lent,
take huswife to reare, or else after repent:
Of such as doo fall betweene change and the prime,[20]
no rearing, but sell or go kill them in time.
Howsing of cattel.
30
Howse calfe, and go [sockle] it twise in a day,
and after a while, set it water and hay.
Stake ragged to rub on, no such as will bend,
then weane it well tended, at fiftie daies end.[21]