HOW TO ORDER ANY LAND, SO as it may retain all the moisture that falleth thereon: And to Improve it thereby.  
FOr as much as the fatness of the soil is washed away, when in the winter season the ground is so wet, that every shower is not received, and drunk in by the earth where upon it falleth, but passeth away, and carrieth with it the fatness, and richness of the soil that should remain vpon the superficies of the earth, whereby barrenness doth ensue daily, although daily the Husbandman do manure and dung the same. Therefore every one ●… t would retain the fatness and richness of their own soil for their own Land, must use means to retain that, that would and doth carry away the richness and fatness of their soil from the same. And that every man may reserve the fatness of his own soil for his own Land, it is necessary to use and practise these points of husbandry hereafter declared. As first to mound his Land with banks in every place where the water may have vent, and Current from of the same; secondly, to turn the vent and Current of all Land-waters into his own ground, out from the high ways, wast-grounds, and Commons belonging to or lying near his own Land, and if these two shall not be found Remedies sufficient, I shall hereafter declare some other. I know the latter is practised a little by some, but it is so little that it is to little purpose. For what availeth it for a man to let the water in at one place, and to let it go out at a thousand, but every man retaining all the water that falleth upon his own ground, shall in short time find it very available, for if this kind of husbandry onely were but used half the time that it hath been neglected, men should find their Lands to bee greatly Improoved by the same, the which every one may easily do, and that to their own great profit and advantage and to the profit and advantage also of their far Remote neighbours.  
For if every one do but consider how divers grounds hath been much Improoved by watering, and overflowing the same near unto Rivers, that in former times have been but little worth, then they cannot deny, but that they also in high grounds may improove their Land by watering and overflowing the same, and that they may overflow it by stoping the vents and Currents of the water that shall fall upon the same, 〈◇〉 when they shall bring the land-water vpon the same from their own corn fields, highways, and other wast grounds and Commons.  
Also, then will not their far Remote neighbors, that use to bee amnoyed with floods, and others that live in fen Countries, bee so much amnoyed with water as commonly they are, nay; if every one did but truly, and duly observe and practise this kind of Husbandry, they would not be amnoyed at all: and therefore it must needs bee advantageous and profitable for those that live in Fenny countries, and others in the vale countries that are amnoyed with Floods, as well as for those that live upon hills and high grounds.  
Now how easily it may bee effected, may any one soon understand, that can but understand how easily mischiefs may bee prevented, when they are prevented at the first arising and beginning before they come to a head, and how easily an Inconvenience may bee helped when every man shall put to their helping hands any one may judge. Wee know that the many sparks of fire in town and city, so long as they are kept within bounds are serviceable, and there is no damage or danger sustained by them; but if by misfortune or negligence they get out of their bounds what disasters do they cause. Even so the many drops that do fall in a country if they should bee kept within bounds in the several Closes and Lordships wherein they fall, they would be serviceable, and advantageous, which other ways destroy whole fields of corn, break down Bridges, drown Cattle, and sometime overturn houses, and work much other mischiefs also, for we may all very well know, it is never well with England when the corn in the golden vales of England is destroyed through floods; now as the Husbandman may easily retain all the water that falleth upon his own ground for his own profit, and advantage, in his several enclosures, so may he as easily open a vent for his water at any time if there be cause and let it out from one Close, wherein there is no need, or where it may be harmful, and bring it into another wherein it may do good, and where there may bee great need thereof: now if there be any that cannot conceive how or which way this point of husbandry may be effected with great facility and ease: let them but repair unto the Author, or unto his assigns; and they will after taking view of their land show how easily it may be done.  

How to prepare barren Land that yeeldeth no profit, for the Improoving of it, and how to make it fertile.  
THe first thing to be done when you would improove your barrain dry ground, is where it is level, 〈◇〉 where it can be easily brought to a level, to mound it 〈…〉 in square plots & Closes, or otherways, as it shal be found most convenient with banks. In such manner as that you may retain, and keep all the water or moisture within the bounds thereof that shall fall upon it, or that may arise from Snow, or that may otherwise be brought upon the same.  
Thus when it is well bounded, and mounded with banks may you dung it well, or manure it in what sort you like best, and you shall be sure not to loose any part of your dung or manure through hasty and sudden showers, that commonly doth wash away a great part thereof.  
But when it is dunged well, and well soaked with moisture, or when it is in a manner overflowen; then to manure it with dung or other Fat earth in the Manuring barrow will mightily Improove it, for the drawing of the manuring barrow up and down, and the trampling of the ground when it is so moist, or overflowen, will increase your manure, and dung exceedingly: For no man can be Ignorant, how trampling, Carting, and such like actions in wet weather, and when the ground is wet doth increase mire and dirt exceedingly in any place: Yet some may object, why then are not Foot-pathes, and highways more Fertile then other places, being they are more frequently trampled, and travailed upon then other places are. unto whom I answer, if highways and Footpathes were trampled, and travailed on onely in wet weather, and when they are wet, they would be far more Richer in soil and more fertile then they are; for as trampling and travailing in wet weather increaseth soil and Dirt, so in dry weather trampling and travailing weareth and wasteth away both the Dirt and soil, and causeth barrenness and yet how many ways and paths also if they should not be yearly supplied with gravel, and such other barren, and durable materials would grow Impassable through mire & soil. Also although trampling and travailing is good to improove ground, yet continual trampling, and travailing is hurtful to ground, because it hindereth the growth of the grass, and yet in heaths, and Commons, where are paths, and tracts that are but seldom trampled, is no heath, yet is there grass, and more would there bee if they were not overlayd with sheep, and Cattle, and trampled more in dry weather, then in wet that keeps it under, and hinders the growth thereof.  
again, to manure ground that is dunged when it is wet, with the Manuring barrow trimmed also with dung, or other Fat earth, or soil, will increase other manner of soil and Dirt, then bare trampling or travailing will, and also it will improove it more. If there be any that think drowning and overflowing of ground will not improve it, because in some places they are fain to cut furrows and trenches to drain the same, let them inquire of those who have used the overflowing of ground that lieth by Rivers, and have improoved the same, and use it yearly. Indeed arable ground when it is sown should haue furrows, and trenches to drain the same, because too much moisture is hurtful to most kind of grain; and therefore they should make their furrows so, as that the rain that falleth upon their Cornefields, may have vent and Current into their pasture ground and lay fields, and then they may there environ it so with a bank, as that it may not any ways break forth of the same. Thus therefore, if it be one, two, three, four, or five Acres, or more that you would improve, thus you may order and prepare it, and improove it, and unto any who willeth or desireth to learn more, I will yet show him divers more excellent ways.   

The several benefits that will arise from Mounding of ground with banks and stoping of Currents of Land waters.  
IT will mitigate the great Floods, If it caueth them not to cease altogether, that so annoyeth the fenny countries and other places. It will improove high grounds, and cause plenty, and prevent dearth and scarcity:  
It will Increase the old Springs, and make new springs to break forth, and arise in divers places, and that especially, If having more Land-water in any place then can be retained vpon the same, they make deep pits or wells for the same to Run into; or if they turn the Current of their water unto their dry and thirsty Lands, that will receive and drink in all.  
Hereby also, they may store themselves with water in the dry and upland countries against the summer times and dry seasons, where they haue any gravelly, or day Ground.   

Arguments showing whither this point of Husbandry bee possible and profitable or no.  
BEcause a man cannot speak of any new ways or points in Husbandry, but divers well experienced men, do presently judge the same to be Impossible, or else unprofitable. I will here briefly discuss these two Questions: that so every one that will, may conceive how possible and profitable they may bee: First, to show the possibility thereof; let any one place a leaking vessel in the rain, where no spoutes may run into the same, and see if it will ever be filled with the rain that shall descend therein; For all sorts of ground will not hold water, and may bee compared to leeking vessels, except onely the gravelly, and the day ground; so that if men do but bank their ground a little to keep the water that falleth thereon upon the same, It will not long abide, if it should descend never so fast unless it be in gravelly and day grounds. And here I know many will say they cannot practise this point of husbandry without damnifying themselves, because of necessity where there is no dry thirsty Land near, and abundance of day or gravelly ground altogether in one place, they must needs drown some of their own ground if they should stop the vent and Current of the water, and retain all that falleth thereon upon the same, unto which I answer, although men in some places should drown 3 or four Acres in an hundred Acres, yet they cannot be damnified thereby, because those who know what a pond of an Acre, or more is worth, cannot be ignorant that 3, or 4, Acres of Land thus drowned in some places, may yield more commodity then ten Acres of dry Land that is worth 30. shillings the Acre.  
again for the general, better is it to have some hundreds of Acres drowned, and made Fish-pooles, then to have many thousands of Acres lie barren, and unfruitful.  
And that such places will be as store houses for water against the summer times and dry seasons, no man can deny, for whereas I have spoken of watering of ground in dry seasons where water is to be had, and some have asked how they should provide water, here is one way, whereby they may provide water in hilly countries, and high grounds far off from Rivers; And although it may be impossible for any one man to retain the water within his own ground that falleth in many mens Lands; yet is it possible for every one to retain the water that shall fall within his own ground. And therefore not Impossible.   

A brief answer unto what may be objected: or hath been objected.  
I Know many there bee, that will say they know many more excellent points of husbandry, then yet hath been discovered by me, and I must confess, I know many particular Husbandmen that do conceive, and understand those secrets in husbandry, that generally is not conceived, nor understood by many that use husbandry, the which I have forborn to treat of, because I would not seem to discover, what I know to bee understood, and practised by any one already, although I am not ignorant of the same; and that divers husbandmen and others, do know divers more excellent points then hath been discovered, I will believe. For I myself know many more excellent points then I have yet discovered, and yet I know and believe that divers that shal succeed unto this generation shall know, & understand, and discover more, then shal be understood, and discovered by any one in this generation. Now to avoid further Controversies; If there be any that shall think, or object, that any one point herein discovered, is unpossible, unprofitable, or not worth the practising, let them but help the Author unto any barren Land and they shall soon see the contrary proved, for their satisfaction.  
And whereas some I know will be apt to object, That the water lying upon the ground in the winter season, will breed Rushes, and Sedges; I answer, the Manuring barrow( if it be trimmed and used as it may bee) will keep the ground from bearing of Rushes and Sedges; and also it will kill both Rushes and Sedges in any ground that is naturally inclined thereunto.    

AT Deptford in Kent, within four miles of London,  
SHall bee Discovered divers several plain, and easy ways never yet conceived nor practised by any Husbandman, to Improve any manner of barren Land, although the same bee not worth Twelve-pence the Acre, and to make thereof good Fertile ground, worth X, xx, xxx, or XL. shillings the Acre.  
Also to kill and destroy Heath, Brakes, moss, or any other noisome Weeds, or Shrubs, and to make the said ground to become good meadow, or Pasture ground without ever ploughing of the same.  
The party will either take the said barren Land himself, and Improove it at his own charge, or otherwise he will discover to the owners, or tenants thereof; how they may manure, and Improve it at least ten several ways unto those valves as are aforesaid to their great profit and advantage, and the public good.  
The poor and such as have neither money nor stock of cattle to help to support themselves, may bee taught divers easy and profitable ways to improve a reasonable quantity of any barren Land for their necessary maintenance without money.  
he liveth at the first House in Butt-lane near to the upper style in Bromfield at lower Deptford.  
Soli gloriae Deo: Inepte incredulis Infamia.  
Cum Privilegio: Vivat Rex.  By John SHAW.