CALENDARIAL 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 lime in this Calendar is calculated for the meridian of London ; but as 

 a Calendar 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 north 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. Calendars should only be considered as remembrancers, never as 

 directories. 



JANUARY. 



1. Calendar of Animated Nature round London. 

 In the first jccetc : shelless snails (Helix) and earth-worms 



(Lumbricus terre"stris) appear. 



Second week : redbreast (TUbtacflla Rubfcola) whistles, nut- 

 hatch (Sftta europae*a) chatters, missel thrush (Turdus visci- 

 vorus) sings, and wagtails (Tf/otacflla alba et (lava) appear. 



Third week: the common lark (^lauda arvensis) congre- 

 gates. 



Fourth week : snails (Helix horte"nsis) and slugs (Llmax hter 

 et hyalinus) abound in the sheltered parts of gardens ; the 

 hedge sparrow (Wotacflla modularis) whistles, the large tit- 

 mouse (Parus major) sings, and flies appear on windows. 



2. Caiendar of Vegetable Nature round London. 

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



others, as the Laurustinus, continued from December. 



Second w>ck : winter aconite ( Eranthis hyemalis), Christmas 

 rose (ifelleborus fce'tidus) in flower, and hazel (CcSrylus --ivel- 

 lana) catkins beginning to appear : common honeysuckle 

 (Lonicera Periclyrnenum) buds begin to appear. 



Third ireek : primrose (Primula vulgaris) flowers in sheltered 



K laces ; daisy (Bellis pere"nnis) and chickweed (.-lUine media) 

 egin to flower. 



Fourth week : mezereon (Daphne Meztreum) begins to flower ; 

 and sometimes spurry (Spergula arvgnsis), pansey (Fiola tri- 

 color), white scented violet (Fiola odorata), archangel 

 (Lamium rubrum), and coltsfoot (Tussilago purpurea et odo- 

 rata) show blossoms. 



3. Farm-yard. (2902.) 



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

 turnips (5411.), in hammels for feeding (o"855.), or in stalls 

 (6S;32\). See that the weak are not driven from their proper 

 share of green food by Ihe strong ; notice any in bad condition, 

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

 the hay or straw is of inferior quality or flavour, sprinkle with 

 salt water, which will make it more palatable. 



2'hreshing (3199.) goes on pretty regularly at this season for 

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

 to thresh an hour every morning by 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 soaped, or coated with anti- 

 attrition. 



Implements not now in use may be repaired, also harness 

 greased, ropes spliced, and various evening jobs executed, 

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



Men's lodge. (41G0.) 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 

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

 ing, or otherwise instructing themselves. One may read aloud 



4 



to the res! ; one may instruct the others on any subject ; a 

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

 would teach thein 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 

 cnes, such as the flute, violin, storv telling, singing, speech- 

 making, dramatic attempts, &c. The bailitfcr farmer should 

 occasionally come and examine each lad, and bestow some 

 mark of approbation on the most deserving. 



4. Live Stock. (6216.) 



Store fanns (7191-)> 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 he spared, 

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

 especially of snow. 



Lambs are dropped during this month by the Dorset sheep, 

 and near London are generally kept in the house and fed. (7224.) 

 These require regular attention. 



Calves fatting at this season (6843.) should be kept very 

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

 as stock should never be dropped sooner than April. 



Pigs (7283.)) poultry (7438.), and stock in general, should be 

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

 months they will he fit for nothing, and half the summer will 

 elapse before they recover the bad effects of winter starvation. 



Fish, when the ponds are covered with ice, require attention, 

 to break holes to admit air. (7572.) 



Bees if dormant do not require to be fed ; hut if the weather 

 is so mild, or they are placed in so warm a situation as to orca 

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

 if feeding be requisite. (7602.) 



5. Grass Lands. (5C43.) 



Dry soils and uplands should alone be stocked with cattle or 

 voung horses at this season. (5S39.) Sheep should not be 

 allowed to graze either on wet marshy meadows or on yur.g 

 clovers. (5543.) (Jrass lands, under a system of irrigation, may 

 now be kept covered. (4387-) Clayey soils and others not pro- 

 perly drained should now have that operation effectually per- 

 formed on the surface (4294.) or under it (4282.), according to 

 circumstances. 



Worms (7704.) on some soils do considerable injury to grass 

 "Where the labour is not coiw<Ured too much, and there is a 

 water barrel at any rate, thev may he killed by mixing powder 

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

 On lawns, and in small paddocks, or in the ease oi / nw< i 

 unites t getting rid of worm cast- is an object worth attending 

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

 for the operation. 



6. Arable Lands. (4925.) 



Plough wl en the soil is not too wet. Lead out dung and 

 form field dunghills, also compost heaps, with i*at or other 

 matters. See that drains, ditches, and water-furrows run 

 fret lv, and answer their respective ends. 



K 



