THE FARMER AT HOME. 



33 



called a baker. The origin of this useful profession is not ascertained, 

 though it is certain that the first public bakers appeared in the East, 

 and passed from Greece to Italy, about the year of Rome 583. Prior 

 to that period, every housewife baked her ovrn bread. By the English 

 statutes, no person exercising the mysteries or sciences of baking, brew- 

 ing, surgery, or writing, shall be deemed a handicraft. Since the year 

 1155, the first-mentioned artisans have formed a brotherhood in that 

 country ; though the white bakers were not incorporated till 1407, and 

 the brown bakers until 1621. 



BANIAN TREE. This is one of the greatest wonders of the 

 vegetable kingdom. For many centuries it continually extends itself; 

 for every branch shoots downward, and, striking into the ground, 

 becomes itself a parent tree, whose branches, in like manner spread. 

 One of them, the Cubeer Burr, had 350 stems, equal to large oaks, 

 and more than 3000 smaller ones, covering space sufficient to shelter 

 7000 persons. Its branches are crowded with families of monkeys, 

 and with birds of every description, and also with enormous bats, all 

 of which find luxurious subsistence on the rich scarlet figs that grow 

 upon it. The common fig-tree, and the sycamore of Scripture, is of 

 the same species, and the wood of the latter is almost imperishable. 



BANTAMS. 



BANTAMS. An Indian breed of barn-yard fowls so diminutive 

 in size, as rarely to weigh more than a pound ; and they have been 

 bred so small as not to be much larger than a lark. Small as they 

 are, they are held in high estimation, both for the beauty of their 

 plumage, and for their utility. The male is a gallant little fellow, 

 of such courage that he will not shrink from measuring his prowess 

 with one of another race, though double of his own size. The hens 

 hy a profusion of eggs, of such excellent quality, that notwithstanding 



