I think it worthy of remark, in view of the mixed complexion which I have given to these wet-day studies, that the oldest printed copy of that sweet ballad of the "Nut Browne Mayde" has come to us in a Chronicle of 1503, which contains also a chapter upon "the crafte of graffynge & plantynge & alterynge of fruyts." What could be happier than the conjunction of the knight of "the grenwode tree" with a good chapter on "graffynge"?
Fitz-herbert's work is entitled a "Boke of Husbandrie," and counts, among other headings of discourse, the following:—
"Whether is better a plough of horses or a plough of oxen."
"To cary out dounge & mucke, & to spreade it."
"The fyrste furryng of the falowes."
"To make a ewe to love hir lambe."
"To bye lean cattel."
"A shorte information for a young gentyleman that entendeth to thryve."
"What the wyfe oughte to dooe generally."
(seq.) "To kepe measure in spendynge."