The Hartlib Papers

     To the Right Honourable the Counsell of State

  The Humble Representation of Iohn Thomas Gardner

Sheweth.

A way set forth[H alters] by Iohn Thomas Gardner liuing in St Albones: for the good of the three Nations: By improving of Land: that it shall yearly bring forth as much profit. As the Rent of the Land doth goe for more then now it doth.

First if all Arable[H capitalises] and Pastur[H alters] Land were planted with fruit trees in hedges: and by-lanes[H alters] and other wast places: to the quantitie of ten trees to the Aker[H capitalises]: that once in twentie yeare it will Counteruaile the Rent of the Land euery yeare after. If they plant them in Pasture or Arable[H capitalises] Land; they will doe litle or no harme; By this means there will bee made of Cider and Perrie sufficient to serue the Nations and to spare: And the Cider and Perrie will bee good merchandise. And the Ground that is now with drink Corne, will <H: bee> employed to other vse[H alters from use] for the good of the Nations.

Secondly for Grasse. All ground naturally is giuen to grass so that if all cold grounds that Carrie[H alters] not good grass. As Mores, Downes and Commons or barren meddowes or any other Ground were broke up and sowed with a Croppe of Corne and hay-seed[H hyphenates] with it; by that time the Corne is ripe there will bee good grass; And no preiudice at all to the Corne; that in the ensuing yeare the grasse will so multiply; it being young, that it will beare a good sort[H alters from sorth] of grass. The like may bee done also in Arable[H capitalises] ground:

Thirdly for Bees. There may bee tuentie stocks of Bees kept, where there is but one: if the Owners[H capitalises] had iudgment to order them in Summer, and preserue them in Winter; for the bees neuer gather their meat till the honey-dewes fall: Then should wee haue Plentie of honey in our owne Nations. and not bee beholding to other Nations for it as now wee are.

Fourthly in satisfaction to the Parlaments desire sett forth for the better setting of the poore of those nations at worke in Generall; There is not any other way can bee approued of but by sowing of hemp and flax; which if it may please this honorable Counsell of State to proceed in; for the Generall good of all the poore of those Nations; as well tradesmen as labourers; and the ensuing Rule to bee obserued; there need not bee one idle person in these three Nations; but that all may haue sufficient employment by the same Commoditie: both man, women, and Children from seauen yeares old to seauentie; by which meanes wee shall need no linnen from other parts; neither hemp or flax; but haue sufficient in our owne Nations for to make our owne ship-tackling[H hyphenates] and other necessaries to them belonging; which now wee pay deare Rates for and want them, besides the great gaine that will arise to the sowers therof; and the great increase of Trade it will bring in. Further it will redound to the good of all; by taking of the greatest part of the heauie burthens that are in diuers Parishes in these Nations; which they are at for the releef of their poore. The Rule is this: First if euery one that holdeth fiue Acres of Land or upwards, may bee Compelled by an Act to sowe his proportionable part according to the Rate of two Acres and a halfe or three Akers[H alters] out of the hundered,[H punctuates] there will bee employment enough for all the Poore

Now if it please this Honourable Counsell to owne this great worke for the good <of the> Nations, that an Act may bee set forth for the performance of it, and fines upon them that will not obey the said Act, then the said worke by your Honours encouragement, will come to perfection for the Honour of God, and the relief of many thousands of poore, who now for want of employment are readie to perish,

Morouer if it shall please the Honourable Counsell that this worke shall goe forewards: then the Author hereof will set forth bookes; so that euery one that holdeth fiue Acres of Land or upwards may take a booke for his owne use, wherin shall be plainly [showen? altered] euery particular thing as followeth, and the price of the booke shall bee but six pence, the Cheapest way that can bee that can bee thought on for giuing the Nations true Instruction or directions.   For.

First the Bookes shall show how to bring up stocks to graft on; and likewise how to graft them and how to preserue them in poore [dryeland? altered] as well as in any other Land: Secondly how to sowe their hay seed, for it is a small seed and will quickly berrie; and how to saue it.

Thirdly for Bees how to increase their stockes and to preserue them and feed them in Winter: fourthly how to order their land wherin hemp and flax should bee sowed, and how to order their hemp and flax, both for gathering and dressing of it euery kind of way. These things being most necessarie to bee set forth to the Nations; or else it will bee a long time before they come to the perfect knowledge of it: Besides it will Cost them very deare to come to haue perfect knowledge of it.