most Husbands double that number. The Inland soyle requireth not so
large a proportion, and in some places, they sow it almost as thinne
as their Corne: for if they should strow the same verie thicke, the
ground would become ouer-rancke, and choke the Corne with weeds.
A little before plowing time, they scatter abroad those Beat-boroughs,
& small Sand heaps vpon the ground, which afterwards, by the Ploughes
turning downe, giue heate to the roote of the Corne. The tillable
fields are in some places so hilly, that the Oxen can hardly take sure
footing; in some so tough, that the Plough will scarcely cut them, and
in some so shelfie, that the Corne hath much adoe to fatten his roote.
The charges of this Beating, Burning, Seeding and Sanding, ordinarily
amounteth to no lesse then twentie shillings for euerie Acre: which
done, the Tiller can commonly take but two crops of wheate, and two of
Oates, and then is driuen to giue it at least seuen or eight yeres
leyre, and to make his breach elsewhere.

Of Wheat there are two sorts, French, which is bearded, and requireth
the best soyle, recompencing the same with a profitable plentie: and
Notwheate, so termed, because it is vnbearded, contented with a meaner
earth, and contenting with a suteable gaine.

Rye is employed onely on those worst grounds, which will beare no
Wheate. Barley is growne into great vse of late yeeres, so as now
they till a larger quantitie in one Hundred, then was in the whole
Shire before: and of this, in the deare seasons past, the poore found
happie benefit, for they were principally relieued, and the labourers
also fed, by the bread made thereof; whereas otherwise, the scarcitie
of Wheate fel out so great, that these must haue made many hungrie
meales, and those out-right haue starued. In the Westerne-most parts
of Cornwall, they carrie their Barley to the Mill, within eight or