404 THE FARMER AT HOME. 



Libra and Aries. The earth is at these points of its orbit, or, as is 

 commonly said, the sun enters the sign Aries on the twentieth of 

 March, and the sign Libra on the twenty- third of September. Hence 

 at these periods, and at no others, the days and nights are equal all 

 over the world ; and on this account they are called equinoxes ; the 

 the first, the vernal, and the second, the autumnal equinox. 



At these seasons, the sun rises exactly in the east at six o'clock, 

 and sets exactly in the west at six o'clock ; the light of the sun is then 

 terminated by the north and south poles, and as all parts of the earth 

 turn round once in twenty-four hours, every place must receive the 

 rays twelve hours, and be deprived of them for the same time. But 

 at other seasons, where the rays of light are not terminated by the 

 north and south poles, but extend over *he one and do not reach the 

 other, it must be manifest, from a moment's inspection of the circles 

 drawn on globes, or common maps of the world, that day and night 

 will be unequal in all places except those situated on the equator, 

 where they will always be equal. At the poles there is but one day 

 and one night in a year, each of six months. The sun can never 

 shine beyond a pole farther than twenty -three and a half degrees ; for 

 that is the extent of the declination ; and when it has declination 

 from the celestial equator, either north or south, it must shine beyond 

 one pole, and not to the other. The days, therefore, will be longest in 

 one hemisphere when they are shortest in the other. 



SUFFOCATION. The three ordinary modes of suffocation, or 

 death by the interruption of the breath are, hanging, drowning, and 

 the respiration of fixed air, or carbonic acid gas. The same result 

 takes place from either of these causes, which is described under the 

 article " Drowning," and the same process is required for the restora- 

 tion of animation. In the instance of suffocation by carbonic acid 

 air, whether arising from mines, lime kilns, or vats of fermenting 

 liquor, the vital powers become more speedily extinct. 



SUFFOLK CATTLE. The Suffolk cattle of Great Britain have, 

 by Mr. Martin, a distinct head in his classification. They have some- 

 times been called the Suffolk duns, although dun is not their common 

 color. With the improvements to which they have been subjected, 

 other colors are generally preferred, as red, red and white, brindled, 

 and yellowish or cream color. These cattle are supposed to owe their 

 origin, with crossings, to the Galloways, and are chiefly valuable for 

 their good milking qualities. A good Suffolk milking cow is inclined 

 to be lean and spare, with a light thin head, slender, but short limbs, 

 a heavy and well ribbed carcase, a large udder, and prominent milk 

 veins. The hip-bones are high and conspicuous, the loins narrow, and 

 the chine hollow. In the above respects the Galloway contour is not 

 well marked, 



A first rate Suffolk cow, will yield from six to eight gallons per 

 day, in the best portion of the season. There is not an agreement of 



