Chapter 59: Continue Spring Ploughing (Please read! Please recommend!)
Chapter 59: Spring Ploughing Continues
Spring ploughing does not need to be done personally by a noble lord like Bruno.
Therefore, it has set a precedent to personally visit the fields during spring plowing.
If it were any other lord, no one would want to get involved with these mud-legged people who make a living from the fields.
Bruno personally guided the serfs to harness the curved plow to the ox, and then directed two serfs to operate it in coordination.
After one round, the serfs were immediately amazed! Although the plowshare was made of wood, it could turn over half a foot of soil, and it was very efficient.
Moreover, it only takes two people and one ox to complete this series of operations, and the time and effort spent are obviously much less than before.
Unfortunately, Idar did not have many oxen.
Therefore, many serfs or civilians could only use human power instead of ox power to pull the plow. But even so, with the help of the curved plow, farming would be much more labor-saving and the efficiency could at least double.
But this does not mean that the serfs' spring ploughing task this year is easier than in previous years, because the amount of land that needs to be cultivated this year is at least twice as much, which is also an important reason why Bruno has always felt that there are not enough people.
Before Idar took the lead, crop rotation and two-field system were always implemented.
Of course, it was not just the Idar Territory, the entire Norman Empire practiced crop rotation and the two-field system, while some areas in the central part practiced the three-field system.
The so-called two-field system means that the land is cultivated for one year and rested for one year. Various livestock can be grazed during the fallow period. Cultivation and fallow are carried out alternately to maintain land fertility.
The so-called three-field system refers to dividing the land into three pieces, one for growing spring crops, one for growing winter crops, and the other left fallow and can also be used for grazing. The use of these three pieces of land is rotated every year, also to maintain soil fertility.
But this year, there will be no more fallow land in Idar County, all the land will be used for farming!
Because Bruno had the blessing of fertilizer! The feces that Shabi had been collecting in Idar City was finally put to good use.
Through the composting of feces, Idar Territory's unique natural organic fertilizer with a very high feces content is ready for use!
In addition, Bruno also had people prepare fertilizers such as firewood manure and wood ash. In short, the Idar Territory no longer has to worry about insufficient soil fertility.
However, although Bruno knew the great use of these fertilizers, others did not know! Therefore, when they heard that Bruno was going to sow seeds on the land that was originally left fallow in Idar County this year, they were all dumbfounded.
"Master... why haven't I heard you mention this before?" Old Ford asked cautiously, "If we plant crops on all the fallow land this year, even if there is a harvest, it will definitely be much less than usual. Not only will it be of no benefit, but it will also waste the fertility of the soil..."
"It doesn't matter! Didn't we ask Shabi to collect manure before? The manure can definitely enhance the fertility of the soil, so that the land can produce high yields without being left fallow."
"Feces... feces?" Old Ford suddenly realized that it was no wonder that his master had been buying feces from civilians and serfs before! Old Ford thought that there was only one small pit for collecting feces, but he didn't expect that there was a chain of pits behind it...
"Master, I have lived for so many years, but I have never heard that feces can have such miraculous effects..."
"This shows that you, old Ford, are somewhat uninformed!" Bruno sighed.
Then, he changed the subject and said, "Actually... I also read this from a book..."
"Books... books again?" Old Ford was as surprised as if he had eaten a fly. He claimed that the crops he brought back with the ox cart were from books. Why did the books his lord earl read differ from his own...
"Master, could you please let me take a look at this...magical book? I also want to follow your pace and not lag behind our Idar County!" Old Ford said sincerely.
"Oh... this... seems I used it to wipe my butt..." Bruno said without blushing or panting.
"Wipe... wipe your butt?"
"Yeah, it's really uncomfortable to use pebbles to wipe my butt. Parchment paper is better. It's not only soft and smooth, but also protects the skin..." Bruno said with a smile.
Since there was no paper in the world, the nobles of the Norman Empire usually liked to use smooth pebbles to wipe their butts.
In fact, using pebbles to wipe your butt is already a great enjoyment. Take the Norman Empire’s northern neighbor, the Odin Empire, as an example. The royal family and nobles of the Odin Empire all used a thick hemp rope to wipe their butts.
When the brewing is complete, pass the rope between the legs, pull it with your hands in front and behind, like pulling a big saw...
If it were just that, it would be fine. What's even more interesting is that this thick hemp rope is shared by all the people! After the emperor used it, the empress used it, and after the empress used it, the ministers used it. They all used the same rope and never changed it.
It is said that they felt that this could reflect the good wishes of the monarch and his subjects being united as one.
Ugh~ Vomit first as a sign of respect!
"But sir, we don't have enough seeds! The seeds we have every year are limited..." Seeing this, old Ford finally used his trump card!
No more seeds! It depends on how you plant! "It doesn't matter. I asked Liszt to buy a lot of seeds from Viscount Conte a long time ago. It can fully meet the demand for seeds." Bruno said.
Hearing this, old Ford was completely stunned.
Liszt? The dull-witted manservant whom he had recommended?
He originally hoped that Liszt would be stupid and not give Bruno any messy ideas, but he didn't expect this guy to be...
I was still careless!
"Okay... then let's plant all the crops as you requested..." Old Ford had to give in temporarily.
After all... the world is big, and the master is the most important! The cultivation of sweet potatoes is not complicated, but potatoes and corn cannot be planted directly.
The potatoes need to be cut into pieces and planted after they have been cut in half.
Therefore, when old Ford saw Bruno's "magical" operation, he had already accepted his fate...
No one has ever heard of splitting crops in half before planting them. It would be strange if this thing could grow!
Old Ford is ready to go back and calculate how much more money he will need to spend on food next year...
As for corn, it is necessary to soak the seeds and germinate them before planting. Wait until white roots appear before planting. It is said that this can increase the germination rate of the plants.
…
The author is rolling on the ground asking for recommendations! (～￣▽￣)～
First update, regarding the thick hemp rope, this is what the French nobles did in the Middle Ages!
(End of this chapter)
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