336 



M I S C E L, T^ A ]V Y. 



ARTIFICE. 



What 's the bent brow, or neck in thought reclined : 



The body's wisdom to conceal the mind. 



A man of sense can artifice disdain. 



As men of wealth may venture to go plain ; 



And never be this truth forgot, 



Solemnity"s a cover for a sot. 



I find the fool when I behold the screen, 



For 'tis the wise man's interest to be seen. 



i'ouns:. 



EXTRACTS FKO.M BERTHA S VISIT TO HER C.>'CLE. 



My uncle told me toJay of a curious mode of 

 catching fish by diving, which is practised in the 

 Gulf of Patrasso, in Greece, and which is, he be- 

 lieves, peculiar to that place. 



The diver being provided with a rope, made of a 

 species of long grass, moves his boat where he per- 

 ceives there is a rocky bottom ; this done, he throws 

 the rope out so as to form a tolerably large circle : 

 and such is the timid nature of the fish, that instead 

 of ru.shing away, tliey never attempt to pass this 

 imaginary barrier, which acts as a sort of talisman ; 

 they only descend to the bottom, and endeavor to 

 conceal themselves among the rocks. After wait- 

 ing a few moment?, till the charm has taken effect, 

 the diver plunges in, and generally returns with sev- 

 eral fine fish. As he seldom finds more than their 

 heads concealed, there is the less difficulty in taking 

 his prizes ; and these divers are so dexterous, that 

 they have a method of securing four or five fish 

 under each arm, beside what fthey carry in their 

 hands. The effect of the circle reminded Fred- 

 eric of the singular manner in which pelicans and cor- 

 morants catch fish in concert with each other. They 

 spread into a circle at some distance from land ; the 

 pelicans flapping on the surface of the water with 

 their great wings, and the cormorants diving be- 

 neath, till the fish contained within the circle are 

 driven before them toward the land. As the circle 

 becomes contracted, by the birds drawing closer 

 together, the fish are at length brought within anar 

 row compass, where their pursuers find no difficulty 

 in taking them. One species of cormorants are so 

 docile that they are trained by the Chinese to fish 

 for their masters. They plunge into the water at a 

 given signal, and return with a fish, which they 

 never attempt to swallow without permission. 

 These birds were formerly kept in England for the 

 same purpose. Charles the First had his master of 

 cormorants, as well as his falconers. 



In Hindoostan is a very singular bird, called the 

 Bengal grossbeak. It is remarkable for its sagacity, 

 its pendant nest, and its brilliant plumage. Dr 

 Buchanan says it is a fact that these nests are 

 lighted at night by fire-flies. The bird fastens a 

 bit of clay, to the top of the nest, and sticks a fire- 

 fly on the clay, as if to illuminate the dwelling 

 which consists of two chambers ; but the real ob- 

 ject probably is to deter the bats from approaching, 

 as they kill the young of these birds. The blaze 

 of light dazzles the eyes of the bats. The gross- 

 beak is said to resemble a sparrow in shape and in 

 the color of the back ; but the head and breast are 

 yellow. They make a chirping noise, but have no 

 song. They associate in large communities, and 

 cover extensive clumps of accacia and Indian fig- 

 trees with their nest ; and also the palmeira, or wild 

 date, on the leaves of vvhich the Bengalese children 

 barn to write. I'hey prefer trees that hang over 

 a rivulet. The nest is made of long grass, which 

 they weave almost like cloth, in the form of a large 

 bottle. It is divided into three chambers, and is 

 suspended firmly to a flexible branch, with the neck 

 downward, so as to secure the eggs and young from 

 serpents, monkeys, squirrels, and birds of prey. 

 The eggs of this little bird resemble large pearls. 

 They are wonderfully faithful, sensible, and docile, 

 and never voluntarily desert the place where their 

 young are hatched. They are easily tamed, and 

 taught to perch on the hand. They may even be 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



taught to fetch a piece of paper, or any other small 

 thing that is pointed out. So great is their de.xterity 

 that if a ring be dropped into a deep well, the 

 bird will dart down with such amazing celerity, 

 as to catch the ring before it touches the water ; 

 they will bring it up with apparent exultation. The 

 Hindu name for the bird is Baya. The young Hindu 

 women at Benares wear thin plates of gold, called 

 ticas, slightly fixed, by way of ornament between 

 their eye-brows. Mischievous young men train 

 the Bayas to go, at a signal given them, and pluck 

 the pieces of gold from the foreheads of the women, 

 as they pass through the streets, and bring them to 

 their employers. 



The following experiment seems to prove that the 

 common house-spider possesses a natural diving- 

 bell, to assist it in crossing water: a spider was 

 placed on a small platform in the middle of a large 

 tumbler full of water. The creature first descend- 

 ed by the stick that supported the platform, till it 

 reached the water ; but finding no way to escape, it 

 returned to the platform, and prepared a web, with 

 which, by means of its hinder legs, it loosely envel- 

 oped its body and head. It again descended, and 

 witliout hesitation plunged into the water, when my 

 uncle observed that the web contained a bubble of 

 air, probably intended for respiration. An ingenious 

 German managed to produce a gossamer veil woven 

 by spiders. He contrived to spread his little manu- 

 facturers over a large glass, and contrived to place 

 them so that the work of each was connected with 

 that of its neighbor. As he could change their pro- 

 gress at pleasure, he was not only able to form the 

 veil of a tolerably regular shape, but by inducing 

 them to go several times over the same spot, to give 

 it something of the appearance of flowered lace. 

 The whole veil, though of a lar^e size weighed only 

 three grains and a half ; and a breath blew it up 

 into the air, where it floated like a cloud. 



May 4, 



Valuable and Cheap Land — for Sah 

 The subscriber oflfers for sale, 14,000 acres nl < lioi 

 Land, situated in the town of Pinckney, counly ol LeN 

 and state of New York. Some ol the land is impiov 

 and under cultivation. The country is remarkably he, ^ 

 l.{il, being entirely free from the fever and ague and frs 

 tlie common bilious level's which often affiict the tow 

 ii;)on Lake Ontario, this town being 18 miles cast ofB 

 lake. The spil is principally a sandy loam, much gU 

 covered with rich black mould. The timber is chi# 

 .Sugar Maple, Black Ash, Butternut, Beech, Elm,! 

 The land yields first rate crops of Grass, Rye, Oals.ft 

 I ley, Potatoes and Flax ; and on some lots, good Whe 

 I ami Coin may be grown. To liiose wishing to obtain ii 

 perior grazing farms, a fine opportunity now olllrs itse 

 ! The pioiluce of pasturage and hay from an acre of th 

 laiid, is very large, fully equalling if not surpassing (h 

 from the same quantity of land in any other of the Blac 

 River townships. The land is admirably well « ate«i 

 tiiere being out few lots which have not durable luiinij 

 streams upon them. The land is well adapted 'o Orchati 

 ing — the Apple tree thriving very well in this count' 

 Stock of all kinds may be disposed of with the least poK 

 ble trouble, and to the greatest advantage, llu- diovci 

 purchasing at the very doors ot the farmers, aiiil 

 the highest cash prices for their cattle, which wii 

 find purchasers at all seasons of the year. Si\ 

 mers at present residing on this town, were i:i 

 lioin the New England Stales, and some of th. 



Anecdote. — A gentleman of the bar, in a neigh- 

 boring county, in easy circumstances and pretty good 

 practice, had rendered himself somewhat remark- 

 able by his attempts in the way of matrimonial spec- 

 ulation. A maiden, rather advanced in years, resid- 

 ing some miles distant, hearing of this lawyer's spec- 

 ulating propensity — that his character was unexcep- 

 tionable, and his life tolerably good, resolved upon 

 making him her husband. She hit upon the follow- 

 ing expedient: She pretended suddenly to be taken 

 very ill, and sent for the man of the law to draw 

 her will. He attended. By her will she devised 

 £10,000, in bank stock, to be divided among her 

 three cousins, some thousands, in bonds and notes, to 

 a niece — and a vast landed estate to a favorite neph- 

 ew. The will being finished, she gave the lawyer 

 a very liberal fee, and enjoined secrecy upon him 

 for some pretended purpose — thus precluding him 

 from an inquiry into her real circumstances. Need 

 I mention the result ? In a fortnight the lady 

 thought proper to be restored to health. The law- 

 yer called to congratulate her on her restoration — 

 begged permission to visit her, which was granted. 

 After a short courtship, the desired offer was made. 

 The bargain was concluded and ratified. The law- 

 yer's whole estate, by his wife, consists of an annuity 

 of sixlyfive dollars '. — English paper. 



Planting Trees. — Farmers would do well to 

 plant trees along the roads and about their houses, 

 for ornament as well as use. The white mulberry 

 might as well be set out in the vicinity of their 

 houses to make silk from. From this tree may be 

 derived both ornament and profit. 



Evidence of Trade. — The Philadelphia Gazette of 

 Thursday says: — During the last three days, up- 

 wards of forty arrivals, liave been registered on the 

 Coffee House Books from Port Deposit. Most of 

 the vessels thus recorded brought produce frotii the 

 Susquehannah country. Twenty thousand barrels 

 of flour have also been received by these arrivals. 



Iiayli 

 ii-adil 

 ■ralfi: 

 t^iinall 

 ii frO! 

 s. Tl 



IV h' 



Massachusetts, who are in thriving circuinstanr, 

 above described land is offered for sale at tbe \ 

 price of fiom two dollars and a half to three tluil.irsp. 

 acre, (or the uncleared land, and from three dolLn- ^im 

 half to five dollars and a half for the improved l"i-. Tl 

 land will be sold in lots to suit purchasers, and Imm tiv 

 to five years' credit for payment, in annual iiisi.iluieDi 

 will be given. As a further convenience to purrliaser 

 the subscriber will receive in payment, Cattlr, Shee[ 

 Perk, Grain or Grass Seed, for which products be wi 

 allow the highest cash prices. The title to the landi 

 indisputable, and good Warranty Deeds will be given Ii 

 purchasers. Persons desirous of purchasing will pleasi 

 to apply to the subscriber, at Henderson Harbor, counh 

 of Jefferson, State of New York, or to David Caivfieu 

 Esq. on the town. JAMES H. HENDERSON. 



March 9. epl6t 



Ammunition ,_£3) 



01 the hest quality ai.d ii/jresi/in'ceF, for sportinj- 

 constantly for sale at COPELAND'S POWDER STOBE 

 Go Broad Street. 



N. B. If the quality is not found sati-tactory, itma) 

 be returned, and the money willbe refunded, tf Jaa.T 



Evergreens, Silver Firs, S,-c, 

 The subscriber being engaged in the ftp 

 business would be happy to receive orflgi! 

 for Forest Trees, Seeds, and Evergreens from 

 Maine, and being Agent for J. 15. liiissell 

 _ Boston, and Prince A' Sons, Flushing. X. ^ 

 nt through them or otherwise, will be atleailc*. 

 to without delay. Particular directions for taking uplDii 

 packing is requested. WM. MAiV?i!« 



Augusta, Me., March 26. 6t 



A list of Mr Mann's prices for Evergreens, ^'C, caube 

 seen.at the New England Farmer office. 



orde 



Published every Wednesday Evening, at gS per anniB 

 payable at the end of ilie year — but those who pay witki' 

 si.xty days from the lime of subscribing, are entitled to a du- 

 duction offifty cents. 



[Ij= No paper will be sent to a distance without payment 

 being made in advance. 



Printed for J. B. Russell, by I. R. Butts— by wl»it 

 all descriptions of Printing can 'be executed to meet tlii- 

 wishes of customers. Orders for printing received by J. B 

 Russell, at the Agricultural Warehouse, No. 6- Nort- 

 Market Street. 



AGENTS. 



Nfw York — G.Thorburn & Sons, 67 Liberty-street 

 Allmim—WN. Thokeurn,3-17 IMarkel- Ireel. 

 Phi!adeiphia-V. &. C. Lanpreth,85 Chestnut-slreel. 

 Uallimore—G. B. Smith, Editor of the American Farmer. 

 Cincmnali—ii. C. Farkhurst,23 Lower Markel-sireel. 

 Flushing, N. Y. Wm.Prince&Sons, Prop. Lin. Eol.GnW' 

 Hartford — GoODWiK & Co. Booksellers. 

 Neiobunjpoi-t, Ebenezkr Stedman, Bookseller. 

 Portsmouth, N. H. J. W. Foster, Bookseller. 

 Portland, Me.— Sxmv^i. Colman, Bookseller. 

 .Iiicrusta, Me. Wm. Mann. 



Halifa.r, N. S.— P. J. Holland. Esq. Recorder Offico. 

 Montreal, L. C. — A. Bowman, Bookseller 



