YEARLY ROUND OF EMPLOYMENT. 59 



longer ; while potatoes may be planted in May, and 

 turnips drilled in June. This variety in the periods of 

 seed-time is not more remarkable than that which 

 occurs in those of in-gathering. The first principal 

 crop raised in this country is rye-grass, upon which the 

 sustenance of several of the valuable animals reared 

 and employed upon the farm mainly depends. Mowing 

 commences in June ; and no sooner has this crop been 

 secured, than the natural hay of the meadows demands 

 the attention of the husbandman. Hard upon this crop 

 follows the ripening of the various descriptions of grain, 

 differing from one another in their periods, and the 

 early and late varieties of each contributing still fur- 

 ther to spread the process over a considerable proportion 

 of autumn. The joyous harvest-home closes the year. 

 The distribution of the labours requisite for the culti- 

 vation of the soil, however, beautiful as it is, does not 

 so perfectly equalize the exertions of the several seasons 

 as to afford no periods of relaxation from the regular 

 business of the farm. The arrangement produces only 

 an approximation to this state, and an approximation is 

 all that we require. There are many short seasons in- 

 tervening, of which the farmer knows well how to take 

 advantage for securing fuel, cutting drains, rearing 

 fences, forming embankments, and superintending other 

 operations, which can be performed during' any part of 

 the year, when the duties peculiar to the several seasons 

 cease to require attention. Nor is there wanting to the 

 agricultural labourer a time of innocent relaxation and 

 mirth ; for, during the frosts of winter, when the hills 

 and valleys are bound with ice, and the plough can no 

 longer penetrate the surface of the ground, he can lay 

 aside for a little his daily labours, and improve his 

 mind by reading, or exhilarate it by genial intercourse ; 

 thus unbending from the rigours of his laborious life, 

 and by a few days of useful or innocent amusement, 

 lightening the toil of a whole year."* 



* Duncan's " Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons." 



