KALENDARIAL INDEX, 



Though agricultural operations, in general, require less nicety as to the exact time of 

 performing them than many of those of gardening, yet there are exceptions in respect to 

 some field crops; for example, beans and turnips. It is proper to observe, therefore, 

 that the almanac time in this kalendar is calculated for the meridian of London ; but as 

 a kalendar of nature is given for the metropolitan district, the almanac time may, in 

 every part of the empire, be varied to suit the local climate and vegetation. 



In general, other circumstances being alike, four days may be allowed for every de- 

 gree, or every 70 miles nortli or south of London ; in spring, operations may be com- 

 menced earlier in that proportion southwards, and-later northwards ; but in autumn the 

 reverse, and operations deferred as we advance southwards, and accelerated as we pro- 

 ceed to the north. In every case allowing a due weight to local circumstances. 



Our notices under each month extend only to a few of the leading features of country- 

 work ; to attempt to insert every thing, or even most of the things that require attend- 

 ing to, we conceive impossible ; and, if it could be done, quite useless. A man will 

 always act better when guided by his own judgment, than when following implicitly 

 that of another. Kalendars should only be considered as remembrancers, never as 

 directories. 



JANUARY. 



1. Kalendar of Animated Nature round London. . 

 In the first week : shelless snails (helix), and earth-worms 



ilumbriciii terrestris) appear. 



Second week: redbreast {motadlla rubicola) whistles, nut- 

 hatch {sitta europcea) chatters, missel thrush {turdus viscivorus) 

 sings, and wagtails (matacUla alba etjlava) appear. 



Third week: the common lark {alauda arvensis) congre- 

 gates. 



Fourth meek : snails {helix horiensis) and slugs {Umax ater et 

 hyalimu) abound in sheltered parts of gardens ; the hedge 

 sparrow {nwtacilli moduliiris) whistles, ^he large titmouse (parus 

 major) sings, and flies appear on windows. 



2. Kalendar of Vegetable Nature round London. 



In the first week: some plants accidentally in flower; and 

 others, as the laurustinus, continued from December. 



Second week: winter aconite {eranthis hyeirtalis), Christmas- 

 rose {Iteleborus fwtidus) in flower, and hazel {coryliis avellana) 

 catkins beginning to appear: common honeysuckle (lunicera 

 periclymenum) buds begin to appear. 



Third week . primrose (primiua vulgaris) flowers in sheltered 

 places; daisy {bellis perennis), and chickweed (alaine media) 

 begin to flower. 



f'ourthweek: mezereon {daphu mezereon) begins to flower; 

 and sometimes spurry {spergula arvensis), pansey {viola tricolor), 

 white scented violet {viola odorata), arch-angel (lamium ru- 

 brum), and coltsfiwt {tustilago purpurea et odorata) show bios, 

 soms. 



3. Farm-yard. (2740.) 

 Attend to cattle, whether in the open yard on straw and a few 



turnips, (4898.) in hammels for feeding, (6177.) or in stalls, 

 (6174.) See that the weak are not driven from their proper 

 share of green food by the strong; notice any in bail condition, 

 and put them in a place by themselves for a few weeks. When 

 the hay or straw is of inferior quality or flavor, sprinkle 

 with salt water, which will make it more palatable. 



Threshing (2961.) goes on pretty regularly at this season for 

 the sake of a supply of straw. In some districts it is common 

 to thresh an hour every morning with candle-light during the 

 three winter months, the candles being hung up in lanterns. 

 See that the gudgeons and other places are kept oiled, and 

 the teeth of wheels greased or soa!)ed, or coated with anti- 

 attrition. 



Implements not now in use may be repaired, also harness 

 greased, ropes spliced, and various evenini; jobs executed, 

 where it is customary to work a part of the winter evenings. 



Men's lotige. (3856.) In some districts the unmarried farm- 

 servants have a common living room in the farmery, with a 

 sleeping-room over, or sleeping-rooms over the horses. It is 

 the duty of the farmer or bailiff to see that these young men 

 are properly occupied during the long winter evenings. A 

 portion of every man's time will be taken up in mending his 

 clothes or shoes, and sometimes in oiling and cleansing horse 

 harness ; the rest they ought to be encouraged to pass in read- 

 ing, or otherwise instructing themselves. t)ne may read aloud 

 to the rest; one may instruct tlie others on any subject; a 



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master may be got in for an hour or two every evening, who 

 would teach them all. A master suitable for this purpose will 

 often be found among the married servants, or among the 

 village mechanics. To serious studies may be joined recreative 

 ones, such as the flute, violin, story-telling, singing, speech- 

 making, dramatic attempts, &c. The bailiff' or farmer should 

 occasionally come and examine e<ich lad, and bestow some 

 mark of approbation on the most deserving. 



4. Live Stock. (5546.) 



store farms (6451.), whether of sheep or cattle, require con- 

 siderable attention during the winter and spring months to 

 supply straw and hay, with such green food as can be spared, 

 to stock on scanty pastures ; and to shelter during storms, espe- 

 cially of snow. 



Lambs are dropped during this month by the Dorset sheep, 

 and near London are generally kept in the house and fed. <6483. ) 

 These require regular attention. 



Ca/ue. fatting at this season (6167.) should be kept very 

 clean, and their supplies of milk hberal. Calves to be reared 

 as stock should never be dropped sooner than April. 



Pigs (6538.), poultry (6680.), and stock in general, should be 

 kept in good heart at this season, otherwise in the spring 

 months they will be (it for nothing, and half the summer 

 will elapse before they recover the bad effects of winter starv. 

 ation. 



Fish, when the ^wnds are covered with ice, require attention, 

 to breiik holes to admit air. (68(K).) 



Uees if dormant do not require to be fed ; but if the weather 

 is so mild, or the? are placed in so warm a situation as to occa- 

 sion their flying about, they should be examined, to ascertain if 

 feeding be requisite. (6827.) 



5. Grass Lands. (5086.) 

 Dry soils and uplaiuls should alone l)e stocked with cattle or 



young horses at this season. (5257.) Sheep should not be 

 allowed to graze either on wet marshy meadows or on young 

 clovers. (5(X)5.) Grass lands, under a system of irrigation, may 

 now be kejit covered. (4()5S.) Clayey soils and others not pro- 

 perly drained should now have that operation eliectually jier- 

 formed on the surface (3973.) or under it (3961.), accorduig to 

 circumstances. 



Wortm (6921.) on some soils do considerable injury to grass. 

 Where the labor is not considered too much, and there is a 

 water barrel at any rate, they may be killed by mixing powder 

 of Ume with the water, at the rate of one pint to ten gallons. 

 On lawns, and in small paddocks, or in the care of Ferme 

 oriufes getting rid of worm casts is an object worth attending 

 to, and this month, February, and October, are the best seasons 

 for the operation. 



6. Arable Lands. (4548.) 

 PLiiieh when the soil is not too wet. Lead out dung and form 



field tlunghills, also comjwst heai)s, with pat or other mat- 

 ters. See that :drains, ditches, and water-tiirrows lun freely, 

 and answer their respective ends. 

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