APRIL. 



and leafing of the birch tree is considered as a 

 directory for sowing barley ; and as there is 

 something extremely sublime and harmonious 

 in that idea, I flatter myself an account of it 

 will be acceptable. 



Mr. Harold Barck, in his ingenious disserta- 

 tion upon the foliation of trees, published in 

 the Amren. Acad. vol. iii. informs us, that the 

 illustrious Linnseus had, in the most earnest 

 manner, exhorted his countrymen to observe, 

 with all care and diligence, at what time each 

 tree unfolds its buds and expands its leaves; 

 imagining, and not without reason, that his 

 country would at some time or other reap 

 some new and perhaps unexpected benefit from 

 observations of this kind made in different 

 places. 



As one of the apparent advantages, he ad- 

 vises the prudent husbandman to watch, with 

 the greatest care, the proper time for sowing ; 

 because this, with the Divine assistance, pro- 

 duces plenty of provision, and lays the founda- 

 tion of the public welfare of the state, and of 

 the private happiness of the people. The 

 ignorant farmer, tenacious of the ways and 

 customs of his ancestors, fixes his sowing sea- 



