THE FARMER AT HOME. jg9 



v ith a corselet af eyes studded round his little head, to see all the ob- 



cts around him in every direction ; talons so sharp, that he can 



v alk on polished glass, in a perpendicular line ; feet supplied with 



rushes to clean himself; a plume of feathers on his forehead; and 



a a instrument answering the purpose of a trumpet, to proclaim his 



t -iumphs. 



GOAT. The domestic goat is known in almost all parts of the 

 ^ /orld. If we may judge from the expressions of the ancient pastoral 

 ] oets, goats were formerly attended in Greece and Italy with no less 

 ( are than sheep. The milk is excellent, and has been thought pecu- 

 liarly serviceable for consumptive persons. The Angora goat is fur- 

 nished with soft silky hair, of a silver white color, hanging down in 

 ourling locks eight or nine inches long. From the wool or hair of 

 his goat the finest camlets are made. The Cashmere goat, as its 

 :iame indicates, is a native of the kingdom of Cashmere ; it is smaller 

 ;han the domestic goat, and has long, silky, fine hair, not curled, as 

 tn the Angora goat. This variety has been successfully introduced 

 intolerance, where it has bred with another variety equally valuable, 

 the Thibet goat From these animals are procured the materials for 

 the manufacture of Cashmere shawls. 



GOOSEBERRY. The gooseberry is well known as a most 

 wholesome fruit, chiefly confined to cold or temperate climates. It 

 appears to have taken the name of gooseberry from its being used as 

 sauce for young or green geese. From a small berry in the wild 

 state, the gooseberry, like the apple, has been multiplied in its varie- 

 ty, and brought to its present size and flavor by the industry of well- 

 skilled gardeners ; and it is now deemed one of our most valuable 

 fruits, being easily propagated, and regular in its production ; furnish- 

 ing our tables with a wholesome and agreeable diet. The gooseberry 

 is the earliest, as well as one of the best fruits for spring tarts. 



GRAFTING. The operation of grafting consists in affixing one 

 portion of a plant to another in such a manner as that a vital union 

 takes place between them. It is one of the most important processes 

 in horticulture, as affording the most eligible means of multiplying 

 and perpetuating all our best varieties of fruit-trees, and many kinds 

 of trees and shrubs not so conveniently propagated by other means. 

 The season for performing this operation is, for all deciduous trees and 

 shrubs, the spring, immediately before the movement of the sap. 

 The spring is also the most favorable period for evergreens ; but the 

 sap in this class of plants being more in motion during winter than 

 that of deciduous plants, grafting, if thought necessary, might be per- 

 formed at that season. From the ease with which grafting is per- 

 formed, there can now be no excuse for poor fruit, as any farmer may 

 practice it, and every year would be thus adding tD the stock of valu- 

 able fruits. It is quickl} d<rie. and attended M '.th no expense, if 

 performed by himself. 



