THE FARMER AT HOME. 209 



gather about the latter end of August ; when, by their strong scent, 

 their hardness, and the brown color of the seed, they may be known 

 to be fit. The best method of drying hops is on a kiln over a char- 

 coal fire ; when the stalks are brittle, and the top leaves easily fall 

 off, they are promptly dried. When taken from the kiln, they should 

 be laid to cool for three weeks or a month before they are bagged. 



FLYING CHILDE RS; AN ENGLISH RACE HORSE. 



HORSE . The horse is known to most nations as the most useful 

 and manageable of those animals that live under the sway of man. 

 In gracefulness of form and dignity of carriage, he is superior to 

 almost every other quadruped ; he is lively and high spirited, yet gen- 

 tle and tractable ; keen and ardent in his exertions, yet firm and 

 persevering. The horse is equally qualified for all the various pur- 

 poses in which man has employed him ; he works steadily and 

 patiently in the loaded wagon or at the plough ; becomes as much 

 excited as his master in the race ; arid appears to rejoice in the chase. 

 The horse feeds on grass and grain, and defends himself with his hoofs 

 and teeth. His flesh, although rejected among civilized nations, is 

 much used among several rude tribes ; and from the milk of the mare, 

 the Calmucks and other Tartars prepare a spirituous drink of consider- 

 able strength. The voice of this animal is peculiar, and well known 

 under the name of neighing. The life of the horse, when not short- 

 ened by ill usage, extends from twenty-five to thirty years. 



The horse, like the other tame animals, was no doubt originally 

 wild, but his domestication happened at so early a period, as to leave 

 no record of the event, and it is now impossible to ascertain, with any 



