Poingdestre: Field boundaries

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Structure of early farming:
Field boundaries


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Much of what we know of early agricultural practices in Jersey comes from the writings of Jean Poingdestre. In his book Caesarea: Or a discourse on the Island of Jersey published in 1682, he describes in some detail the structure and practices of farming in the island. This is the section on field boundaries

The fences used in this Island are faire differing from those in other parts, being made of solid earth raised a good height, with a ditch of each side in ye manner of a bank or rampier, soe high that in some parts of ye Island a man with a staff in his hand three foot long can not reach to ye top. These are made with a Jersey spade, not hollowe of one side and connexe of ye other, as in England, but flatt and even throughout ; wherewith labourors soe nimbly and artificially handle and place ye earth, yet it incorporats into a firme mud-wall, soe smooth that being newe made it appeares to the eye as glazed all over.
When they have raised it within a foot of its due height they take white thome of two or three yeares old, which they have of theire owne or buy it at easy rates, and lay it flat in a rowe upon ye top of ye fence crossewaye and that of both sides alike, each thome distant not above foure or five inches from the other, and then cover the roote with newe earth from the bottom of ye ditch, a foot high, leaving of ye yong thonie but very litle without; which they carefully clipp even with ye side of ye fence.
This worke is to be don in ye beginning of ye spring while it is yet planting time, and it failes not to growe in few years into a thicke hedge sufficient to keep out any thing from breaking into ye ground within it
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