1864. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



237 



sizes, as if they had been impregnated at the dif- 

 ferent periods. 



Certain very curious facts in the reproduction 

 of other animals, go to show that the impregna- 

 tion of an ovum may take place a long time pre- 

 vious to its development, and that it probably only 

 requires the stimulus of future connection with the 

 male, to bring it into existence. He had experi- 

 mented with a Newfoundland bitch, by coupling 

 her with a water-dog, and the progeny were part- 

 ly water-dog, partly Newfoundland, and the re- 

 mainder a mixture of both. Future connection of 

 the same bitch with a greyhound produced a litter 

 like the former, with hardly a trace of the grey- 

 hound. He had bred rabbits with the laws estab- 

 lished by this experiment, and had at last so im- 

 pregnated a white rabbit with the gray rabbit, that 

 connection of this white rabbit with a black male 

 invariably produced gray. A fact stated by Mr. 

 Chapin, of Milford, that a hen turkey would lay 

 two or three successive - litters of eggs, having been 

 impregnated only for the first litter, was new to 

 Prof. Agassiz. It was undoubtedly with a knowl- 

 edge of these laws of reproduction, perhaps pro- 

 founder than that which we possess, that the Jew- 

 ish code declared that if a widow having children 

 marry again, the children of her second husband 

 shall be heirs of the first. 



These laws, established by these experiments, 

 should govern us in the breeding of our animals, 

 and should make us careful in a selection of males 

 for the first impregnation of females, as upon this 

 depends the future value of the female in produc- 

 ing the type which the breeder may design. 



The lecturer threw much light on the subject of 

 breeding and rearing cattle, and clears up many 

 points which have always been troublesome to the 

 breeder. 



In conclusion, Prof. Agassiz dwelt upon the in- 

 fluence which soil and climate exercise in devel- 

 oping the animal system. Large frames, great 

 bony structures, grow on limestone soils, smaller 

 bones on granite formations. He thought this 

 ought to be taken into consideration in selecting 

 animals for any locality. And he was moreover 

 satisfied that a breed of animals could, if confined 

 to any given spot, grow into conformity with that 

 spot. 



The Professor confirmed these views with great 

 distinctness by reference to the animals which rep- 

 resent the different cantons of Switzerland." 



Summer Drink. — A "Practical Farmer" rec- 

 ommends in the Germantmm Telegraph the fol- 

 lowing as a refreshing beverage, and one that 

 may be safely drank in the hottest weather : 

 Take of the best white Jamaica ginger root, care- 

 fully bruised, two ounces ; cream of tartar one 

 ounce ; water, six quarts, to be boiled for about 

 five minutes, then strained ; to the strained li- 

 quor add one pound of sugar, and again place it 

 over the fire ; keep it well stirred till the sugar is 

 perfectly dissolved, and then pour it into an 

 earthen vessel, into which you have previously 

 put two drachms of tartaric acid, and the rind of 

 one lemon, and let it remain till* the heat is re- 

 duced to a lukewarm temperature ; then add a 

 tablespoonful of yeast, stirring them well together, 

 and bottle for use. The corks must be well se- 

 cured. The drink will be in high perfection in 

 four or five days. 



THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. 



BY AVIILIAM CULLEN BRYANT. 



I hear, from many a little throat, 



A warble interrupted long; 

 I hear the robin's flute-like note, 



The bluebird's slenderer song. 



Brown meadows and the russet hill, 

 Not yet the haunt of grazing herds, 



And thickets by the glimmering rill 

 Are all alive with birds. 



O Choir of Spring, why come so soon? 



On leafless grove and herbless lawn 

 Warm lie the yellow beams of noon ; 



Yet winter is not gone. 



For frost shall sheet the pools again ; 



Again the blustering East shall blow, 

 Whirl a white tempest through the glen, 



And load the pines with snow. 



Yet, haply, from the region where, 

 Waked by an earlier spring than here, 



The blossomed wild-plum scents the air, 

 Ye come in haste and fear. 



For there is heard the bugle-blast. 



The booming gun the jarring drum, 

 And on their chargers, spurring fast, 



Armed warriors go and come. 



There mighty hosts have pitched the camp 

 In valleys that were yours till then, 



And Earth has shuddered to the tramp 

 Of half a million men. 



In groves where once ye used to sing, 

 In orchards where ye had your birth, 



A thousand glittering axes swing 

 To smite the trees to earth. 



Ye love the fields by plowman trod ; 



But there, wfren sprouts the beechen sprav 

 The soldier only breaks the sod 



To hide the slain away. 



Stay, then, beneath our ruder sky ; 



Heed not the storm-clouds rising black, 

 Nor yelling winds that with them fly ; 



Nor let them fright you back, — 



Back to the stifling battle-clond, 

 To burning towns that blot the day, 



And trains of mounting dust that shroud 

 The armies on their way. 



Stay, for a tint of green shall creep 

 Soon o'er the orchard's grassy floor, 



And from its bed the crocus peep 

 Beside the housewife's door. 



Here build, and dread no harsher sound, 

 To scare you fioin,the sheltering tree, 



Than winds that stir the branches round 

 And murmur of the bee. 



And we will pray, that ere again 

 The flowers of autumn bloom and die. 



Our generals and their strong-armed men 

 May lay their weapons by. 



Then may ye warble, unafraid, 



Where hands that wear the fetter now, 



Free as your wings shall ply the spade, 

 And guide the peaceful plow. 



Then, as our conquering hosts return, 

 What shouts of jubilee shall break 



From placid vale and mountain stern 

 And shore of mighty lake ! 



And midland plain and ocean-strand 

 Shall thunder: "Glory to the brave, 



Peace to the torn and bleeding land, 

 And freedom to the slave !" 



Atlantic Monthly for July. 



