GESTATION. 



GINGER, WILD. 



unacquainted with the proper age for repro- be interei ing to find in the following table the 



duction, the duration of the power of repro- 

 duction, and other conditions even of the do- 

 mesticated animals. It cannot, therefore, but 



results of observations made on this subject 

 by the best ancient and modern naturalists 

 (Oecono-misdie neukundige I'erhunill.) 



Some of these results do not altogether co- 

 incide with the results of observations in Eng- 

 land, where, for example, July, the season of 

 copulation tor the cow, is considered too late. 

 That period would produce late calves in the 

 following year. November is stated to be the 

 best season for the ewe ; for the black-faced 

 ewe it is, but for the Leicester, and, in many 

 situations, for the Cheviot ewe, it is a month too 

 late. The duration of the power of reproduc- 

 tion accords with our experience as respects 

 the mare and stallion; but 13 years of aiv 

 the cow, and 8 for the bull, is too young a 

 period for old age in them, fine animals of both 

 sexes, of a valuable breed, having been kept j 

 in a useful state to a much greater age. l| 

 have seen a short-horn bull in use at 13 years, 

 and a cow of the same breed bearing calves 

 at 18; but if the ages of 8 and 13 respectively 

 refer to the usual time bulls and cows are kept 

 for use, the statement is not far from the truth. 



From some carefully collected and very exten- 

 sive notes made by Lord Spencer on the periods 

 of gestation of 764 cows, it resulted that the 

 shortest period of gestation when a live calf 

 was produced was 220 days, and the longest 

 313 days, but he was not able to rear any calf 

 produced at an earlier period than 242 days. 

 From the result of his experiments it appears 

 that 314 cows calved before the 284th day, and 

 310 calved after the 285th ; so that the probable 

 period of gestation ought to be considered 284 

 or 285 days. The experiments of M. Teissier 

 on the gestation of cows, are recorded to have 

 given the following results : 



21 calTd between the 240th and 270th day, the mean time being 2W* 

 644 270th and 2V9th 



10 299th and Mist 303 



In most cases, therefore, between nine and 

 ten months may be assumed as the usual pe- 



riod ; though, with a bull-calf, the cow has 

 been generally observed to go about 41 weeks 

 and a few days less with a female. Any calf 

 produced at an earlier period than 260 days 

 must be considered decidedly premature, and 

 any period of gestation exceeding 300 days 

 must also be considered irregular; but in this 

 latter case, the health of the produce is not 

 affected. I will conclude this article with the 

 remarks of Mr. C. Milliard, of Northampton, 

 who states that the period of gestation of a 

 cow is 284 days, or, as it is said, 9 calendar 

 months and 9 days ; the ewe 20 weeks ; the 

 sow 16 weeks; the mare 11 months. The 

 well-bred cattle of the present time appear to 

 me to bring forth twins more frequently than 

 the cattle did 50 years ago. The males of all 

 animals, hares excepted, are larger than the 

 females. Castrated male cattle become larger 

 beasts than entire males. (Elaine's Ency. pp. 

 205, 281 ; Quart. Journ. of dgr. vol. i p. 287.) 



GILL. A small valley, connected with a 

 stream and some woodiness. Also a rivulet, or 

 small brook. It is likewise a provincial name 

 in some districts for a pair of timber wheels. 



GILTS. A provincial term applied to young 

 female pigs, whether open or spayed. 



GINGER, WILD (Asanim,Asarabacca, Indian 

 ginger). This genus of herbaceous plants are 

 small and unobtrusive. Botanists enumerate 

 three species as found in the United States. That 

 called Canada snake root (A. Canadense), very 

 closely resembles the European asarabacca, 

 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 



