FEBRUARY. 41 



A strong hazel stick for the spring, two pieces 

 of brass wire, a little string, a few hooked pegs, 

 and a top made of the half of a piece of willow 

 pole, about six inches long and three in dia- 

 meter, hollowed out, are all the requisites for 

 a mole-trap. 



RURAL OCCUPATIONS. 



Thrashing, tending cattle, early lambs, calves, 

 etc. continue, as in last month, to occupy the 

 thoughts and the hands of the husbandman. Ma- 

 nures too are carried to grass lands. Plough- 

 ing is on the increase, and spring wheat, beans, 

 peas, oats, and tares are sown. In mild weather, 

 hedges are planted ; overgrown fences are cut, 

 or plashed. Ponds and drains are made. Tim- 

 ber is felled, and tree-seeds are sown. Copse- 

 wood is cut, and plantations are thinned. In the 

 garden various operations of pruning, digging, 

 sowing, etc. are going on. 



ANGLING. 



Almost every fresh water fish is in season 

 excepting chub, during the latter half of the 

 month, and trout, which continues so till April. 

 Roach and dace are deemed to be this month 

 in prime. They frequent rivers, and must be 

 sought for at this season in deep, shaded holes, 

 in clear waters with gravelly bottoms; dace, 



