[E306] "Barberlie handled," that is, "secundum artem, as a barber surgeon would do, by first cutting away extraneous substances, and then rubbing the part with dust."—M. Tusser Redivivus calls the lumps of dirt and worms which gather on the wool under a sheep's tail "treddles."
[E307] During the summer season, hollow and decayed pollards in particular, or woodsere, cannot be lopped without danger. Ivy, however, is to be removed; or it will, by the closeness of its embraces, prevent trees from addling, that is, growing or increasing in size.—M.
[E308] The Thrasher serves the Cattle with fresh Straw, the Hogs with Risk (offal, corn and weeds, and short knotty straw).—T.R. (May).
[E309] "A weede hooke, a crotch, and a gloue." Fitzherbert (Boke of Husbandry, 1586) enumerates, as "ye chyef instrumentes for weeding, a paier of tonges made of wood and in the farther end it is nicked to hold ye wede faster ... yf it be drye wether then must ye have a wedying hoke with a socket set upon a lytle staffe a yard longe. And this hoke wolde be wel steled and grounde sharpe bothe behynde and before. And in his other hande he hath a forked stycke a yarde long." The whole account of weeding in the "Boke" is very quaint. In former days thistles were gathered from the corn for the feeding of cattle, and the left hand of the reaper was guarded with a leathern glove: there is an entry among the expenses of the Priory of Holy Island for 1344-5 of "gloves for 14 servants when they gathered the tythe corn, 2s. 8d." See Johnston's "Botany of the Eastern Borders."—Note by Mr. J. Britten, F.L.S.
[E310] "The May weed doth burn" (Anthemis cotula, L.). The juice of this plant is possessed of an acrid blistering property which renders it extremely noxious to reapers. The irritating effects are produced in a still greater degree by the seed when ripe, and are mostly manifested in the lower extremities, from the close adhesion of the seeds by their rough surface, aided by the friction of the shoe, causing first abrasion, then active inflammation, and even ulceration. Dr. Bromfield (Flora Vectensis) says: "I have been repeatedly assured by the peasantry that they have known men incapacitated for work, and laid up, from the injurious operation of this noxious weed, for days together in harvest time."
[E311] "The thistle doth fret." Fitzherbert (Boke of Husbandry) says: "The thystell is an yll wede rough and sharpe to handle, and freateth away the cornes nyghe it."
[E312] "The fitches pul downward." The hairy tare, Vicia hirsuta, L. Fitch = vetch.
[E313] "The cockle," Lychnis Githago, L. "Cockole hath a large smal [sic] leafe and wyll beare v or vi floures purple colloure as brode as a grote, and the sede is rounde and blacke."—Fitzherbert, Boke of Husbandry.
[E314] "Boddle." The corn marigold, Chrysanthemum segetum, L., more usually called boodle or buddle in the East of England; in Kent, yellow bottle; in Scotland, gools, gules, or goolds, in allusion to the colour of the flower. This is a very noxious weed, the non-extirpation of which in Scotland was formerly a punishable offence: certain persons (hence called "gool-riders") were appointed to ride through the fields on a certain day, and impose a fine of three shillings and fourpence, or a wether sheep, for every stalk of the plant found growing in the corn. The custom is of great antiquity, and exists in a modified form at the present day, the fine being reduced to a penny. Linnæus states that a similar law exists in Denmark.—Note by Mr. J. Britten, F.L.S.
[E315] Buckwheat, Dutch boekweit, Ger. buckwaitzen, from the resemblance of its triangular seeds to beech-nuts, a name adopted with its culture from the Dutch.—It is a tender plant, and must be sown late.—M. It is also very proper to sow it (bucke) before wheat, the ground is made clean and fine by it, and it sufficing itself with a Froth leaves the solid Strength for the Wheat.—T.R. (May). Polygonum Fagopyrum, Linn.