THE FARMER AT HOME, 



ABDOMEN. That portion of the body of an animal which con- 

 tains the stomach, intestines, heart, liver, kidneys, and spleen, with 

 their several appendages called the belly. 



ABORTION. The premature separation of the offspring from 

 the mother. It is also called miscarriage, and in farm animals, 

 slinking, slipping, and casting. Abortion in cows is of a frequent 

 occurrence. A farmer at Charentin, out of a dairy of twenty-eight 

 cows, had sixteen slip calves at different periods of gestation. To pre- 

 vent, as far as possible, this annoying evil, let them be well fed, and 

 kept from rough treatment of every kind. They should be exempt in 

 seasons of pregnancy from sudden exposure to heat or cold ; and if in 

 stalls, the ventilation should be free, that there be no deficiency of 

 fresh air. In mares also it is of no rare occurrence. It frequently 

 arises from over-exertion, which should be carefully avoided. When 

 used for labor they should be treated kindly ; and should not be 

 allowed to go in pastures where they are liable to leap fences, logs, or 

 ditches. 



ABORTIVE. This is a term frequently used in Botany to denote 

 the absence of stamens or pistils whereby fruit cannot be produced. 

 It also denotes the deficiency of any other organ. And, it is applied 

 by gardeners and farmers to flowers, seeds, and fruits, which do not 

 come to maturity, in consequence of external injury from the weather, 

 from insects, or other causes affecting their growth. Thus fruit 

 often becomes abortive, in consequence of cold winds or frosts in 

 spring checking the flow of the nutritive juices ; and after losing its 

 healthy color it shrivels and falls. The same effects arise too from 

 the depredation of caterpillars on the leaves and branches. 



ABSCESS. This usually signifies an animal swelling or tumor, 

 containing pus or putrid matter, which takes place in consequence of 

 previous inflammation. 



ABSORPTION. The conversion of gaseous fluids into liquids 

 and solids. Fluids and gases only can be absorbed. As plants are 



