Among the rest are several pages from John
Norden's "Surveyor's Dialogue", containing advice and directions
respecting agriculture, of which Aubrey says, "though they are not of
Wiltshire, they will do no hurt here; and, if my countrymen know it
not, I wish they might learn". - J. B.]
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The wheate and bread of this county, especially South Wilts, is but
indifferent; that of the Vale of White Horse is excellent. King
Charles II. when he lay at Salisbury, in his progresse, complained
that he found there neither good bread nor good beer. But for the
latter, 'twas the fault of the brewer not to boil it well; for the
water and the mault there are as good as any in England.
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The improvement by cinque-foile, which now spreads much in the stone-
brash lands, was first used at North Wraxhall by Nicholas Hall, who
came from Dundery in Somersetshire, about the yeare 1650.
George Johnson, Esq. counsellour-at-law, did improve some of his
estate at Bowdon-parke, by marling, from 6d. an acre to 25sh. He did
lay three hundred loades of blew marle upon an acre.
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Sir William Basset, of Claverdoun, hath made the best vinyard that I
have heard of in England. He sayes that the Navarre grape is the best
for our climate, and that the eastern sunn does most comfort the vine,
by putting off the cold. Mr. Jo. Ash, of Teffont Ewyas, has a pretty
vineyard of about six acres, made anno 1665.
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