290 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



as little shaken or scattered about afterwards as possible ; 

 and if the weather is good, after remaining two or tliree 

 days in the cock, it may be carted into the stack.' 



It is asserted by the ' Farmer's Guide,' that ' grass will 

 not thrive well that is not mown quite close ; and the loss 

 in the crop where this is not done is very considerable, as 

 one inch at the bottom iveighs more than several at the top.'' 



The fore part of the season for making hay is, we believe, 

 usually attended with less rain than the latter part. The 

 days, too, are longer, and the dews are less copious. Far- 

 mers will, therefore, find additional motives from these cir- 

 cumstances to industry and exertion in early hay-time. Be- 

 sides, if haying is protracted till harvest commences, the 

 business of one season presses on that of another, and some 

 crops will be nearly or quite spoiled in consequence of not 

 being gathered in due time. The forehanded and industri- 

 ous farmer thus possesses great advantages over one whom 

 indolence or poverty induces to procrastinate the indispensa- 

 ble labors of his vocation. 



Great advantages would result to the farmer, particularly 

 in haying and harvesting, if he could form an estimate of the 

 weather so as to be able to foresee with tolerable accuracy 

 what would be its state for a few days, or even for twenty- 

 four hours subsequent to the period of observation. Dr. 

 Jenner's versified statement of ' Signs of Rain,' (published in 

 the New England Farmer, vol. ii. p. 288,) may prove useful 

 for this purpose, and the rhymes may assist the memory. A 

 certain French philosopher, some years since, published an 

 article, in which he asserted, in substance, that the web of a 

 common spider is a sure index of the state of the air for 

 twelve or fourteen days to come. If the weather is to be 

 fair and calm, the principal thread will be spun to a great 

 length ; if, on the contrary, the weather is to be stormy and 

 boisterous, the thread will be short and thick ; and if the spi- 

 der is seen to repair the damages its slender thread may sus- 

 tain, you may anticipate pleasant weather for many days. 

 So says the philosopher, but we cannot vouch for the accu- 

 racy of his saying. It may, however, not be amiss for the 

 man of observation to pay some attention to this subject, for 

 we know that the instinct of an insect is often more to be 

 depended on than the researches of science. 



In this climate, a southerly wind, if it continues steadfast 

 for forty-eight hours, is generally followed by rain. If the 

 wind, however, shifts its course with the sun, or, as sailors 



