THE FARMER AT HOME. tJ9 



ATOM. A part or particle of matter, so small as not to admit 

 of farther subdivision. The Epicureans professed to account for the 

 origin and formation of all things, by supposing that these aton:s 

 were endued with gravity and motion, and thus came together into 

 the different organized bodies that we now see. This was called the 

 atomical philosophy, which was adopted by the sceptics and infidels 

 of those times. 



AUGUST. The eighth month, from Augustus, Latin : the term 

 implies majestic or grand, and was first given to Octavius, the 

 Roman emperor, he being named Augustus Caesar in consequence of 

 his victories. This month was therefore dedicated to his honor, and 

 still goes by his name. 



This is the harvest month in this as in most temperate Euro- 

 pean countries. The harvest, chiefly, it should be observed, th* 

 wheat harvest, used almost universally to be finished by a feas* 

 called harvest-home, when, for a few hours, the master and the ser- 

 vant was forgotten, and both mingled in social companionship- 

 Modern manners have, however, a good deal contracted such inter- 

 course ; and although harvest-home be not quite abolished in agricui 

 tural districts, we fear it is greatly on the wane. 



Many fruits, among which may be named the apricot, are nov 

 fully ripe ; plums, peaches, and nectarines may now also be obtained 

 Of flowers and flowering shrubs, natives of foreign climes, many may 

 now be seen of great beauty ; such are African marygolds, China 

 asters, persicarias. chrysanthemums, dahlias ; the clematis, or virgin's 

 bower, adorns the cottage porch. Geraniums and hydrangeas are 

 now also in their greatest glory ; so also is the passion flower. 



Our song-birds, the thrush, the lark, and red-breast chiefly excepted, 

 are for the most part silent during this month ; some of the migratory 

 birds assemble in flocks previous to departure. 



AWNS. The long, bristle-like terminations of the envelope of the 

 kernel in some kinds of plants is termed the awn, or beard. It is particu- 

 larly conspicuous in some kinds of winter wheat, in most varieties of 

 spring wheat, and in all the kinds of barley. Wheat without beards 

 can be converted into the bearded, and vice versa, by changing the 

 sowing from autumn to spring, or from spring to autumn. Of all 

 grains, barley is the most liberally provided with this formidable 

 appendage. 



AYRSHIRE CATTLE. These cattle derive their name from 

 the county of Ayrshire, in the west of Scotland. The origin of the 

 variety is not well understood, but it is supposed that at some period 

 it embraces a cross of the Durham and Alderney. This breed 

 became established about the middle of the last century, or between 

 the middle and the end of it, and is now scattered over England, 

 "Wales, and Ireland in large numbers. It is also found in the 

 United States. Here it is becoming a favorite with some of our best 



