GESTATION. 



GINGER, 



unacquainted with the proper age for repro- be interesting to find in the f\ 

 duction, the duration of the power of repro- results of observations made\~ 



duction, and other conditions even of the do- 

 mesticated animals. It cannot, therefore, but 



by the best ancient and modern naturalists. 

 ( Oecon&mische neukundige Verhandl.} 



Some of these results do not altogether co- riod ; though, with a bull-calf, the cow has 

 incide with the results of observations in Eng- been generally observed to go about 41 weeks, 

 land, where, for example, July, the season of and a few days less with a female. Any calf 

 copulation for the cow, is considered too late, produced at an earlier period than 260 days 

 That period would produce late calves in the must be considered decidedly premature, and 

 following year. November is stated to be the ' any period of gestation exceeding 300 days 

 best season for the ewe; for the black-faced must also be considered irregular; but in this 

 ewe it is, but for the Leicester, and, in many latter case, the health of the produce is not 

 situations, for the Cheviot ewe, it is a month too affected. I will conclude this article with the 

 late. The duration of the power of repnuluc- remarks of Mr. C. Hilliard, of Northampton, 

 tion accords with our experience as respects ! who states that the period of gestation of a 

 the mare and stallion; but 13 years of age for cow is 284 days, or, as it is said, 9 calendar 

 the cow, and 8 for the bull, is too young a months and 9 days ; the ewe 20 weeks ; the 

 period for old age in them, fine animals of both sow 16 weeks; the mare 11 months. The 

 sexes, of a valuable breed, having been kept j well-bred cattle of the present time appear to 

 in a useful state to a much greater a<*e. I me to bring forth twins more frequently than 

 have seen a short-horn bull in use at 13 years, [ the cattle did 50 years ago. The males of all 

 and a cow of the same breed bearing calves animals, hares excepted, are larger than the 

 at 18; but if the ages of 8 and 13 respectively \ females. Castrated male cattle become larger 

 refer to the usual time bulls and cows are kept | beasts than entire males. (Elaine's Ency. pp. 

 for use, the statement is not far from the truth. I 205, 281 ; Quart. Journ. of A%r. vol. x. p. 287.) 



From some carefully collected and very exten- 1 GILL. A small valley, connected with a 

 sive notes made by Lord Spencer on the periods I stream and some woodiness. Also a rivulet, or 

 of gestation of 764 cows, it resulted that the | small brook. It is likewise a provincial name 

 shortest period of gestation when a live calf in some districts for a pair of timber wheels, 

 was produced was 220 days, and the longest GILTS. A provincial term applied to young 

 313 days, but he was not able to rear any calf female pigs, whether open or spayed, 

 produced at an earlier period than 242 days. I GINGER, WILD (Asarum,Asarabacca, Indian 

 From the result of his experiments it appears ginger). This genus of herbaceous plants are 



that 314 cows calved before the 284th dav, and 



small and unobtrusive. Botanists enumerate 



310 calved after the 285th ; so that the probable three species as found in the United States. That 

 period of gestation ought to be considered 284 called Canada snake root (A. Canadense), very 

 or 285 days. The experiments of M. Teissier I closely resembles the European asarabacca, 

 on the gestation of cows, are recorded to have and is met with in old woods from Canada to 



the Carolinas. It has only two round, flat, and 

 kidney-shaped leaves with naked stalks, which, 

 on plucking the plant are found connected 

 below, with an obscure flower in their fork, 

 buried under the decayed leaves. It flowers 

 from May to July. The root is creeping, 



539 



given the following results : 



21 ealed between the 240th and 270th day, the mean tim being 2W$ 

 10 299th and 321 st* Z 303 



In most cases, therefore, between nine and 

 ten months may be assumed as the usual pe- 



