58 MARCH. 



and the sallow, the alder-trees are now covered 

 with a kind of black bunches, which are male 

 and female flowers. The leaves of honey- 

 suckles are nearly expanded, violets white and 

 blue appear, and daffodils, 



Which come before the swallow dares, and lake 

 The winds of March with beauty. 



RURAL OCCUPATIONS. 



Cattle still require feeding in the yard. 

 Ploughing and sowing are now going on vigo- 

 rously, while the dry March air favours the 

 operation ; and spring-wheat, rye, barley, beans, 

 peas, etc. are got in. The principal fall of 

 lambs takes place now, and the shepherds are 

 full of cares. Night and day they must be on 

 the watch to assist the ewes, to cherish weakly 

 lambs with warm milk, to restore others that 

 appear dead by administering a little spirit ; to 

 counteract the unnatural disposition of some 

 mothers that refuse their offspring ; or to find 

 foster-mothers for poor orphans, which is often 

 done by clothing them in the skins of the dead 

 lambs of those ewes to which they are con- 

 signed. Others for which no foster-mothers 

 can be found, or which cannot suck on account 

 of their being wry-necked, are reared general!}' 

 by the assistance of a tea-pot with cow's milk, 

 and are called cades or pets. In hilly or more 



