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THE FARMER AT HOME. J79 



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it has generally something of a greenish cast. It is very hard and 

 firm, of a compact texture, of a rough, a net -so me what dusty surface, 

 that adheres slightly to the tongue. It is very soft to the touch, not 

 staining the hands, nor breaking easily between the fingers. 



FUR. In Commerce, this signifies the skins of wild beasts, 

 dressed in alum with the hair on, and used as a part of dress by 

 princes, magistrates, and others. It was not till the later ages that . 

 the furs of beasts became an article of luxury. The refined nations 

 of antiquity never made use of them ; those alone who were stigma- 

 tized as barbarian were clothed in the skins of animals. Strabo de- 

 scribes the Indians covered with the skins of lions, panthers, and 

 bears ; and Seneca the Scythians clothed with the skins of foxes and 

 the smaller quadrupeds. Most parts of Europe were then in similar 

 circumstances. Caesar was, perhaps, as much amazed with the skin- 

 dressed heroes of Britain, as the celebrated Cook was at those of his 

 new discovered regions. What time has done to us, it may also 

 effect for them ; and, it is to be hoped, with much less bloodshed. 

 Civilization may take place, and those spoils of animals, which are 

 at present essential for their clothing, become merely objects of orna- 

 ment and luxury. It does not appear that the Greeks or ancient Ro- 

 mans ever made use of furs. It originated in those regions where 

 they most abounded, and where the severity of the climate required 

 that species of clothing. 



FURZE. This is a hardy, leguminous evergreen, growing abun- 

 dantly on poor lands, and made use of for hedging and coarse fodder 

 in Europe. It grows rapidly, so that it can be cut every four years 

 for fuel, and is so far nutritious that horses are often maintained on 

 furze only ; but considering the abundance of excellent fodder plants 

 we possess, the introduction of furze is scarcely worthy of thought. 

 And, as a fencing material, it is objectionable, from the room it 

 requires, but the prickles with which it is covered make it a sure de- 

 fence. 



FUSTIC. This is a dyewood, and contains a great quantity of 

 coloring matter, forming the most durable of all the yellow dyes, 

 which, however, is mostly used in compounding green and a variety 

 of drab and olive colors, as, when employed alone, it is dull and defi- 

 cient in clearness. It grows in the West Indies, Mexico, and Cam- 

 peachy, and even west of the Mississippi, in the southern part of the 

 United States. The wood is also highly prized by the Indians for 

 making bows, and is by them called bow- wood. It being firm, solid, 

 and elastic, is well adapted to that purpose. In latitudes most favor- 

 able to its growth it reaches the height of sixty feet or more, but in 

 Louisiana only about half that height. 



GABLE. The triangular end of a house, barn, church, store, 

 stable, or any other building, from the cornice or beams to the top, is 

 called the #able end. The common elevation of the apex or ridg? of 



