340 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



thing else. Our season for preparation in spring is so short, 

 that we are anxious to open as much land as we can in the 

 fall, before the frosts set in and render it impracticable ; we 

 therefore plough early and late, both stubble land and green- 

 sward. Besides this, the effect which the severe frost of 

 winter has on ploughed ground, in expanding, pulverizing, 

 and rendering it mellow, is so great an advantage as we 

 spare no exertions to obtain. 



C. — What occupies the farmer's attention when the fro- 

 zen ground will no longer permit him to plough ? 



F, — He then kills his fatted cattle and hogs, either for 

 market or for domestic consumption : this is a business of a 

 good deal of bustle and activity, and attended with no small 

 meniment and congratulation from one to another; the num- 

 ber, weight, fatness, and description of animals butchered, 

 forming inexhaustible subjects of conversation for some time 

 after. Some, especially of the pork, is salted down, but a good 

 deal of the beef and mutton, and part of the pork, is kept 

 throughout the winter, perfectly sweet and fresh, by being 

 frozen in carcases. Many sled-loads of frozen sheep, pigs, 

 &c. may be seen during the season, going to market, so hard 

 and solid that they can be divided only by the axe or saw. 

 The lean part of meat, when frozen hard, is more difficult to 

 saw than oak plank, and makes a quantity of saw-dust If 

 much mild weather occurs in the winter, the meat thaws, and 

 these repeated thawings and freezings deprive it of much of 

 its juices, and make it rather dry. 



C. — All the cold-blooded animals seem to have retired 

 to their winter quarters. 



F. — The reptiles have, no doubt : on the 1 6th of No- 

 vember, I saw some young frogs dart from the bank and dive 

 amongst the mud of a spring, which was the last time I ob- 



