104 



APRIL. 



to be concluded. Water-meadows, which have 

 been eaten, closed at the end of the month. 

 Sowing still continues of spring corn, peas, 

 tares, sainfoin, lucerne, and grasses ; also the 

 sowing and . planting of woad, madder, flax, 

 hemp, mustard, rape, poppy, rhubarb, and other 

 medicinal plants; at the end of the month 

 planting mangel-wurzel, carrots, and Swedish 

 turnips. Early potatoes are planted. Hops are 

 poled, and the ground between the rows dress- 

 ed. Evergreens are planted, as holly, yew, 

 and the fir-tribes. Poultry-broods are now 

 numerously hatched, and demand much of the 

 good housewife's care. The anxieties attend- 

 ing the raising of young poultry are far from 

 inconsiderable. Watching for, and discovering 

 the nests, particularly of ducks, turkeys, and 

 guinea-fowls, which are fond of laying away in 

 hedge-bottoms and beds of nettles; securing 

 and preserving eggs, setting them, and observ- 

 ing, from time to time, that they are not broken, 

 or addle; sprinkling them with water as they 

 approach the time of hatching ; supplying the 

 sitting fowls daily with food and water ; assist- 

 ing the chicks occasionally to escape from the 

 shell, and removing them, as they appear, to 



