THE FARMER AT HOME. 41 1 



many superstitious usages in the celebration of the new sabbath, like 

 those of the Jews among that of the old. the council declares, that to 

 hold it unlawful to travel with horses, cattle and carnages, to prepare 

 food, or to do any thing necessary to the cleanliness and decency of 

 houses or persons, savors more of Judaism than of Christianity. 



SUNFLOWER. A genus of plants consisting of several species ; 

 it has its name from its following the course of the sun. The com- 

 mon sunflower is easily propagated in any common soil, either by 

 sowing the seeds, or by parting the roots in the month of March. 

 The young flower-cups of this plant may be dressed arid eaten like 

 artichokes. It has appeared from experiments made in Pennsylvania, 

 that a bushel of sunflower seed yields a gallon of oil, and that an acre 

 of ground planted with the seed, at three fe*et apart, will yield 

 between forty and fifty bushels of the seed. This oil is as mild as 

 sweet oil, and is equally agreeable with it in salads, and as a medi- 

 cine. It may also be used with advantage, in paints, varnishes, and 

 ointments. The seed is raised with little trouble, and grows on land 

 of moderate fertility. 



SWALLOW. A common summer bird that seems ever on the 

 wing. They fly in circles, seemingly in play, but actually in pursuit 

 of little insects of the air which form their food. When the weather 

 is fine these insects venture aloft, and the swallows follow them ; but 

 when the air is filled with vapor, the insects and their pursuers fly 

 near the earth. It has been doubted by some able naturalists, whe- 

 ther it is possible for the swallow to live inclosed with water and mud. 

 " I saw an instance," says Dr. Williams, " which puts the possibility 

 of the fact beyond all doubt. About the year 1760, two men were 

 digging in the salt marsh at Cambridge, in Massachusetts ; on the 

 banks of the Charles river, about two feet below the surface, they dug 

 up a swallow, wholly surrounded and covered with mud. The bird 

 was in a torpid state, but being held in their hands, it revived in 

 about half an hour. The place where this swallow was dug up, was 

 every day covered with the salt water ; which at every high tide, 

 was four or five feet deep. The time when this swallow was found, 

 was the latter part of the month of February.'' The species of this 

 bird called the Chimney Swallow, has been found during the winter, 

 in hollow trees. This curious fact has been put beyond all doubt, in 

 Dr. Williarns's History of Vermont ; which particularly describes two 

 swallow trees, the one at Middlebury, and the other at Bridgeport. 

 In those trees, the swallows used to have their winter residence ; 

 issuing out about the first of May like swarms of bees. 



SWAN. Is the most majestic and picturesque of all birds that 

 swim in the waters. When it exhibits itself smoothly sailing along 

 the stream, displaying its graceful attitudes, and moving ibrward 

 without the smallest effort, a more beautiful figure can scarcely be 

 found within the range of animated nature. This elegant bird admits 



