| Leonard Mascall, quoted by Markham as one of his authorities and, next to Markham, the best known writer of the time on husbandry, is said by Fuller to have introduced pippin apples and carp into England; but carp were already known in 1496, 7 and Mascall’s statement in his Book of Fishing may have referred to one of his ancestors rather than to himself. Mascall’s first book was Of the arte and maner howe to plant and graffe all sortes of trees (1572), and, for this, he drew upon French and Dutch sources, supplemented by his own observation. The husbandlye ordring and governmente of Poultrie, which he brought out in 1581, seems to be the earliest independent treatise which was printed on the subject. Mascall’s chief work, The government of cattell, made its first appearance in 1587, and, though very largely a compilation, nevertheless represented the best practice of the day, and continued in vogue together with Markham’s books until far into the succeeding century. This was followed in 1590 by A booke of fishing with hooke and line … Sundrie engines and trappes to take polcats, buzards, rattes, mice, and all other kindes of vermine. |
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