HERESBACH, Conrad.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Foure Bookes of Husbandrie, Third edition of Googe's English translation of Heresbach's Rei rusticae libri quatuor (1570), an extensive manual of husbandry. Googe's version, first printed in 1577, is among the most important contributions to early English farming literature and contributed to the advancement of farming technology in the country.The work is composed of four books, each written in the form of a Socratic dialogue between different characters, usually country gentlemen and city dwellers. Drawing from the classical precedents of Columella, Xenophon, and numerous other ancient authors (listed on leaf 3* verso), the treatise deals with all aspects of farming and agriculture, with sections on the location of the farm, the tasks of the farmer, manager and servants, climate, soil, crops, harvesting, gardening, and the care of animals. Googe's translation "introduced the more advanced farming techniques of the Lowlands to England, and it is memorable for its description of a reaping machine and recommendation for the growing of turnips, to become an important innovation in English agriculture" (Wood, p. 27). The translation was also expanded by Googe in a few places with his own original translations from selected passages of Virgil's Georgics. It became immensely popular and was reprinted numerous times (in 1578, 1586, 1596, 1601, 1614, and 1631).A considerable portion of the fourth book, covering 40 pages from leaf 191 till the end, is devoted to bees and beekeeping.

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