ACcording to your desires , I have sent you what I have observed in France , about the sowing of a Seed called commonly , Saint Foine , which in English is as much to say as Holy-Hay , by reason , as I suppose , of the excellency of it . It 's called by Parkinson in his Herball , where you may see a perfect description of it , Cnobrychis Vulgaris , or Cocks head ; because of its flower , or Medick Fetchling : By some it is called Polygala ; because it causeth cattel to give abundance of milk . The plant most like unto it , and commonly known , being frequently sown in Gardens , is that which is called French Honey-suckle , and is a kind of it , though not the same . France although it be supposed , to want the fewest things of any Province in Europe : yet it hath no small want of Hay , especially about Paris ; which hath necessitated them to sowe their dry and barren lands with this seed . Their manner of sowing it , is done most commonly thus : When they intend to let their Corn-lands lye , because they be out of heart , and not scituate in a place convenient for manuring , then they sowe that land with Oats , and these Seeds together about equal parts : the first year they onely mowe off their Oats , leaving the Saint Foine to take root and strength that year : Yet they may if they please , when the year is seasonable , mowe it the same year it is sown , but it 's not the best way to do so : the year following they mowe it , and so do seven years together ; the ordinary burthen is about a load , or a load and a half in good years , upon an Arpent , ( which is 100 square Poles or Rods , every Pole or Rod being 20 foot ) wuich quantity of ground being nigh a 4th part less then an English Acre ; within a league of Paris , is usually Rented at 6 or 7 s. After the land hath rested 7 years ; then they usually break it up , and sowe it with corn till it be out of heart , and then sowe it with Saint Foine as formerly : for it doth not impoverish land , as Annual Plants do ; but after seven years , the roots of this plant being great and sweet , as the roots of locorish , do rot , being turned up by the Plough , and enrich the land . I have seen it sown in divers places here in England especially in Cobham-Park in Kent , about 4 miles from Gravesend ; where it hath thriven extraordinary well upon dry Chalky Banks , where nothing else would grow : and indeed such dry barren land is most proper for it ( as moist rich land for the great Trefoile ) or great Clover-Grass ( although it will grow indifferently well on all lands ) and when the other Grasses and Plants are destroyed by the parching heat of the Sun ; because their roots are small and shallow ; this flourisheth very much , having a very great root , and deep in the ground , and therefore not easily to be exsiccated ; As we have observed Ononis or Rest-Harrow commonly to do on dry lands ; but if you sowe this on wet land , the water soon corrupts the root of it . This Plant without question would much improve many of our barren lands , so that they might be mowen every year once , at least seven years together , and yield excellent fodder for cattel , if so be that it be rightly managed : otherwise it cometh to nothing , as I have seen by experience . I therefore councel those who sowe this , or the great Trefoile , or Clover-Grass , or any other sort of grasses , that they observe these Rules .

1. That they do make their ground fine , and kill all sorts of other grasses and plants ; otherwise they being Native English will by no means give way to the French ones ; especially in this moist climate : and therefore they are to be blamed , who with one ploughing sowe this or other seeds ; for the grass presently groweth up and choaketh them , and so their negligence , and ill Husbandry discourageth themselves and others .

2. Let them not be too sparing of their seeds ; for the more they sowe , the closer and thicker they will grow , and presently fully stock the ground , that nothing else can grow . And further the seeds which come from beyond the Seas , are oftentimes old , and much decayed , and therefore the more seed is required .

3. Not to expect above 7 years profit by it ; for in that time it will decay , and the naturall grass will prevail over it ; for every plant hath its period : some in one year , some in 2. As Would , Cole , Rape , Wade , &c. Others in 3. as the common Thistle , &c. and therefore after 7 years let them either plough the Land up , and sowe it with that same seed again , or with other Grain as they do in France .

4. Let not sheep or other cattel bite them the first year , that they may be well rooted ; for these grasses are far sweeter then the ordinary grasses ; and cattel will eat them down , leaving the other ; and consequently discourage their growth .

5. The best way , if men will be at the charge , is to make their ground very fine , as they do when they are to sowe Barley , and harrow it even , and then to howe these seeds in alone without any other grain , as the Gardiners do Pease ; yet not at so great a distance ; but let them make the ranges about a foots breadth one from another , and they shall see their grasses flourish as if they were green Pease , especially if they draw the howe through them once or twice that summer to destroy all the weeds and grasses : And if they do thus , the great Clover and other seeds may be mowen even twice the first year , as I have experimented in divers small plots of ground .

There is at Paris likewise another sort of fodder , which they call La Lucern , which is not inferior , but rather preferred before this Saint Foine , for dry & barren grounds ; which hath bin lately brought thither , and is managed as the former ; and truly every day produceth some new things , not only in other Countreys , but also in our own . And though I cannot but very much commend these plants unto my Countrymen , knowing that they may be beneficial to this Nation ; yet I especially recommend unto them a famous kind of grass growing in Wiltshire , 9 miles from Salisbury , at Maddington , which may better be called one of the wonders of this land , then the Hawthorn-tree at Glassenbury , which superstition made so famous : for divers of the same kind are found elsewhere . You may find this grass briefly described in a Book called Phytologia Britannica , ( which lately came forth , and sets down even all the plants which have been found naturally growing in England ) Gramen Caninum Supinum Longissimum , which groweth 9 miles from Salisbury , at Mr. Tuckers at Madington : wherewith they fat hogs : and which is 24 foot long , a thing almost incredible ; yet commonly known to all that shire . Now without question , if the seed of this grass , be sown in other rich Meadows , it will yeild extraordinarily : though perchance not so much , as in its proper place . I wonder that those that live thereabouts , have not tryed to fertilize their other Meadows with it : for it is a peculiar species of grass : and though some ingenious men have sound about 90 species of grasses in this Island : yet there is none like to this , that can by any means be brought to such an height and sweetness . And truly I suppose , that the through examination of this grass , is a thing of very great importance , for the improvement of Meadows and Pastures ; and it may excel the Great Trefoile , Saint Foine , La-Lucern , or any exotick plant whatsoever . And though I am very unwilling to exceed the bounds of an Epistle ; yet I cannot but certifie you , wherein the Husbandry of this Nation in other particulars ( as I suppose ) is greatly deficient , which I will do as briefly as may be : and likewise , how ingenious men may find Remedies for these deficiencies .

1. Deficieiency concerning Ploughs and Carriages . First , He would do the honest and painfull Husbandman a very great pleasure , and bring great profit to this Nation , who could facilitate the going of the plough , and lighten our ordinary Carriages . I wonder that so many excellent Mechanicks , who have beaten their brains about the perpetuall Motion and other curiosities , that they might find the best wayes to ease all Motions , should never so much as honour the Plough ( which is the most necessary Instrument in the world ) by their labour and studies . I suppose all know , that it would be an extraordinary benefit to this Countrey , if that 1 or 2 horses could plough and draw as much as 4 or 6 , and further also , that there is no small difference in ploughs , and waggons , when there is scarce any sure rule for the making of them ; and every Countrey , yea almost every County , differs not onely in the ploughs ; but even in every part . Some with wheels , others without ; some turning the Rest ( as they call it ) as in Kent , Picardy , and Normandy , others not : some having Coulters of one fashion , others of another ; others as the Dutch , having an iron wheel or circle for that purpose ; some having their shears broad at point , some not ; some being round , as in Kent , others flat : some tying their horses by the tail , as in Ireland . So , likewise Waggons and Carts differ : some using 4 wheels , others 2 only ; some carrying timber on 2 wheels in a Cart , others with 4 wheels , and a long pole only between , which is the best way : some plough with 2 horses only , as in Norfolk , and beyond Seas , in France , Italy , where I never saw above 3 horses in a plough , and one onely to hold and drive : But in Kent I have seen 4 , 6 , yea 12 horses and oxen ; which variety sheweth , that the Husbandman , who is ordinarily ignorant in Mechanicks , is even at his wits end in this Instrument , which he must necessarily use continually . Surely he should deserve very well of this Nation , and be much honoured by all , that would set down exact Rules for the making of this most necessary , yet contemned Instrument , and for every part thereof : for without question there are as exact Rules to be laid down for this , as for Shipping and other things . And yet in Shipping , how have we within these 6 years out-stripped our selves , and gone beyond all Nations ? for which Art some deserve Eternal honour . And why may we not in this ? I know a Gentleman , who now is beyond Seas , where he excels even the Hollanders , in their own businesse of draining ; who promiseth much in this kind , and I think he is able to perform it ; I could wish , he were called on to make good his promise . In China , it is ordinary to have waggons to pass up and down without horses or oxen , with Sails as Ships do : and lately in Holland a waggon was framed , which with ordinary Sails carried 30 people 60 English miles in 4 hours . I know some excellent Scholars , who promise much by the means of Horizontal sails ( viz ) to have 3 or 4 Ploughs together , which shall likewise both sowe and harrow without horses or oxen .