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 time 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. 



'' ' i.i; Calendar qf Animated Natttre round London. 



'iit the first rvetk: &he\\esi snails (Hfelix) and earth-worms 

 ' (Liimbricus terrdistHs) appear. 



Seeoml tveeff : redbreast (itfotacflla RuWcola) whistles, nut- 

 , hatch (Sftta ^"ropqe^j) chatters* mi^el thrush (Tardus visci- 



vorus) sijiigs, aind wagtails (Mot'acilla aHia'ct flkva) appear. 



' ' TIeirvl tveek : the cbinmon lark f^lauda arvensis) congre- 



gatis. . 



J , ; Foftrlh neek : snails (HeUx.hortensis) and slugs i<L\niax ater 

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



hedge sparrow (il/otacf Ua modularis) whistles, the large tit- 

 'iouse (Farus major) sings, and flies appear ort windo\(-s. 



I -^ ^. Calendar of Vegetable Nature round London. 



tjnthefi/st neek: some plants accidentally in flower; and 

 (Others, at the Laurustinijs, continued from Decemlier. 



$'ecq>tti rvr^k : winter aconite (Erdntliis hyem^lis), Christmas 

 rose (ffelldborus foe'tidys) in flou-er, and hazel (Wrylus ^vel- 



' Tkna) catkins beginning to appear: common honeysuckle 



'Xljonicira PkriclSmeMim) buds begin to appear. 



Third meek : primrose (Primula vulgaris) flowers in sheltPred 



, places; daisy (Bdllis per^nnis) and chidcweed (^Isine m^dia) 

 oegin to flower. 



Fourth meek .- mezereon (Daphne Mezireum) begins to flower ; 

 and sometimes spurry (Six^rgula arvdnsiS), pansey (riota trf- 

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

 (Lamium rubrum), and coltsfoot (Tussilago purpiireaet odo- 

 rata) show blossoms. 



;* '3. Farin-yard. (2902) 



' ' Attend to ctitHe, whether in the opefi yard on straw and a few 



-turnips (5411.), in hammels for feeing (68.55.), or in stalls 



: (G^'.!.). See that the weak are not driven from thdr proper 

 , ^bare of green food by the strong ; notice any in bad condition, 

 arid put them in a place by themselves for a few weeks. IVhen 



' the hay or straw is of inferior quality' or flavbvir, sprinkle with 

 salt water, which will make it more palAtable. 



27ireMi7(^' (3199.) goes on pretty regularly lit 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, 

 ' ^here it is customary to work a part of the winter evenings. 



Men's lodge. (4160.) In some districts the unmarried farm- 

 servanla have a common living-room in the farmery, with 

 a sleeping-room over, or sleepipgrooms over the horses. It is 

 the duty of the fitrmer or bailitt' 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 

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

 ing, or otherwise instructing themselves. One J -----J 



to the rest; one may instruct the oth^s on aViy subject; a 

 master nilv be got in for an hUT or twoeiiery e\iening,who 

 would teach them all. 4 master suitable fttj: this ,pijrp0s(, will 

 often be found among fhe married servants, or ampp^;. the 

 village mechanics. To serious studies may be joined recreative 

 ones, such as' the flute, violin, storv-tellmg, singirig, sff^ech- 

 making, dramatic attempts, &c. The bailiff or farmer'sbould 

 occasisnaHy.gonie and examine each lad, and bestow some 

 mark of approbation on the Hipst deserving. 



4. Live Stock. (6215.)' : , 

 J>tore farms (7191.), whether of sheep or cattle, reqwra TO"- 



sidefaljle attention during the winter and spring months to 

 supply straw and hay, with such green food as can be spkrfed, 

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

 especially of snow. 



Lambs aie dropped during jhis month by the Dorset meev, 

 and near London are genera!!^ kept in thehouse arid fed. {7,2?4.) 

 Theie require regular Eittention. 



Ca/t)M fatting at this, season (G843.) sihould be keptMry 

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

 as stock shoul4 never be dropped sooner than April. , 



Pigs (7283.), poult, -y {7 iSH.), and stock in general, should be 

 kept in good heart at this season, otherwise in'the spWng 

 months they will be fit for nothing, and half the summer Will 

 elapse.brfore they recover the bad' effects of winter starvation. 



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

 to break holes to admit air. (7575!.) 



Sees if dormant do not require to be fed ; but if the weather 

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

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

 if feeding be requisite. (7602.) , -(-) 



5. Grass Lands. (5643.) 



Dry soils and uplands should alone be, stocked wiA catttex* 

 young horses at this season. (5839.). Sheep should not. be 

 allowed to graze either on wet marshy meadows or on young 

 cldvers. {5b43.y Grass lands,Und a syStetti ofirrigatibn', may 

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

 perly drained should now have that operation ettectually. per- 

 forfned on the surface (4294.) or under it ( 1282.), according to 

 circumstances. 



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

 ^'here the labour is not considered too much, and there is a 

 water barrel at any rate, they may be killed by mixing powdier 

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

 On lawns, and in small paddocks, or in the case of fermes 

 ornc'es, petting rid of worm casts is an object worth attendnig 

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

 for the ojjeration. ;!Gr 



6. Arable Lands. (4925.) 



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

 form field dunghills, also compost heaps, with peat or other 

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

 4ly, aad-answer their respective ends. 



K 



