166 THE FARMER iT HOME. 



Flaxseed has been substituted for grain in times of scarcity, but it ii 

 heavy and unwholesome. 



FLEA. The history of those animals with which we are best 

 acquainted is one of the first objects of our curiosity. If the flea be 

 examined with a microscope, it will be observed to have a small head, 

 large eyes, and a roundish body. It has two feelers, or horns, which 

 are short, and composed of four joints ; and between these lies it 

 trunk, which it buries in the skin, and through which it sucks the 

 blood in large quantities. The body appears to be all over curiously 

 adorned with a suit of polished sable armor, neatly joined, and beset 

 with multitudes of sharp pins, almost like the quills of a porcupine. 

 It has six legs, the joints of which are so adapted, that it can, as it 

 were, fold them up one within another ; and when it leaps, they all 

 spring out at once, whereby its whole strength is exerted, and the 

 dody raised above two hundred times its own diameter. 



The young fleas are at first a sort of nits or eggs, which are round 

 and smooth ; and from these proceed white worms, of a shining pearl 

 color ; in a fortnight's time they come to a tolerable size, and are 

 very lively and active ; but if they are touched at this time, they roll 

 themselves up in a ball ; soon after this they begin to creep like silk- 

 worms that have no legs ; and then they seek a place to lie hid in, 

 where they spin a silken thread from their mouth, and with this they 

 enclose themselves in a small round bag or case, as white within as 

 writing paper, but dirty without ; in this they continue a fortnight 

 longer ; after which they burst from their confinement perfectly 

 formed, and armed with powers to disturb the peace of an em- 

 peror. 



FLORIST. In Gardening, a name applied to such persons as are 

 curious in, or have much skill in the knowledge and nature of flowers 

 A good florist should be perfectly acquainted with the names, char- 

 acters, and kinds, or sorts of flowers ; and at the same time have a 

 thorough knowledge of their nature, habits, and methods of cultiva- 

 tion and management. 



FLOUR. The meal of any grain but more particularly of wheat, 

 ground and sifted for the purpose of foud. The grain itself is not only 

 subject to be eaten by insects in that state, but when ground into 

 flour, it gives birth to another race of destroyers, who eat it unmerci- 

 fully and increase so fast in it, that it is not long before they wholly 

 destroy the substance. The finest flour is most liable to breed them, 

 especially when stale or ill prepared ; in this case, if it be examined 

 in a good light, it will be perceived to be in a continual motion ; and 

 on a nicer inspection, there will be found in it a great number of little 

 animals of the color of the flour, and very nimble. If a little of this 

 flour be laid on the plate of a double microscope, the insects are very 

 distinctly seen in great numbers, very brisk and lively, continually 

 crawling over one another's backs and playing a thousand antic tricks 



