180 TH-K FARMER AT HOME. 



a roof is one-half the width of the building. Where utility only is 

 desired, this is a proper elevation. If it were less the roof would be 

 more likely to leak, from the water falling on it not having a suffi- 

 cient tendency to run from it ; and there is rarely any motive for 

 having it higher. However, in gothic architecture, particularly in 

 cottages, the elevation is higher, making the upper angle quite sharp. 

 This in cottages allows better chambers ; and in churches a better 

 opportunity for appropriate arches. 



GALE. This is a current ; a strong wind. In the language of 

 seamen, the word gale, when unaccompanied by any qualifying term, 

 as a gentle gale, a moderate gale, signifies a vehement wind, storm, or 

 tempest. In a small breeze, it is estimated that wind progresses at 

 the rate of four miles an hour ; in a fresh gale, twenty-five or thirty 

 miles an hour ; and in a violent storm, fifty or sixty miles an hour. 



GALLINACEOUS. The name of a species of birds of the phea- 

 sant kind, including the common cock and hen. the characters of 

 which are these. The beak is short, strong, and a little crooked, proper 

 *br the picking up of corn, which is the food of the whole species ; the 

 fcody is large, thick and fleshy ; the wings are short and hollowed. 

 and not calculated for much flying ; they all breed a numerous 

 progeny ; they build on the ground ; the young are not fed by the 

 parent, but immediately shift for themselves ; and some have long 

 spurs behind their legs. 



GALLON. This is a well known measure of capacity for dry or 

 liquid substances, but is usually appropriate to the latter. It contains 

 four quarts, eight pints, and thirty two gills. A gallon, however, is 

 not always the same in its dimensions. The gallon of wine contains 

 two hundred and thirty-one cubic inches, or eight pounds of pure 

 water avoirdupois ; the gallon of beer or ale contains two hundred and 

 eighty-one cubic inches, or ten pounds, three ounces and a quarter 

 avoirdupois pure water ; a gallon of corn or meal, or any dry substance, 

 contains two hundred and seventy-one and a quarter cubic inches, or 

 nine pounds and thirteen ounces of pure water. 



GALLOP. The movement of a quadruped, particularly of a horse, 

 by springs, reaches, or leaps, is called gallop. The animal lifts his 

 forefeet nearly at the same time, and as these descend and are just 

 ready to touch the ground, the hind feet are lifted at once. The 

 greatest speed of a horse is when he gallops, although he may gallop 

 slowly as a pleasure movement fcrthe person on his saddle. 



GALLOWAY CATTLE. No breed of cattle is more readily 

 known from their distinctive attributes than the Galloways of Scot- 

 land. They are straight and broad in the back, and nearly level from 

 the head to the rump, are round in the ribs, and also between the 

 shoulders and the ribs, and the ribs and the loins, and broad in the 

 loins, without any large projecting hook bones. In roundness of bar- 

 rel and fulness of ribs they will compare with any breed, and also in 



