196 May in Prospect. 
vest that birds do any injury, while their important services are 
continued during the season. 
As regards the sowing and planting of certain crops, in partic- 
lar periods of the moon's age, but few of our farmers of the pre- 
sent day pay any attention to lunm- influences; although some 
farmers suffer themselves to be greatly inconvenienced by waiting 
for certain days or periods of the moon's age, before they consign 
the seed to the bosom of the ground, in a full hope and confidence 
of receiving at the appointed time the due reward of their la- 
bors. The nature of the soil ought to be considered, since so 
much depends upon its quality and condition, that what would be 
a prudent plan to pursue upon one kind of soil, might be an 
equally imprudent one to adopt upon soils of a totally different 
character. Thus it is that the prudent farmer, though possessing 
all practical knowledge connected with his art, permits himself 
to be governed in a great measure by circumstances over which 
he has no control, and does not, in opposition to reason and com- 
mon sense, persist in forcing nature out of her ordinary course, 
but rather watches with a judicious observation of the times and 
seasons, always prepared to act when a favorable opportunity 
occurs. Linnaeus has said, " Perhaps we cannot promise ourselves 
a happy success by any means so likely as by taking our rule for 
sowing from the leafing of the trees. We must for this end observe 
in what order every tree puts forth its leaves, according to its spe- 
cies, the heat of the atmosphere and the quality of the soil. After- 
wards, by comparing together the observations of several years, it 
will not be difficult to define, from the foliation of trees, if not cer- 
tainly, at least probably, the time when annual plants ought to 
be sown. It will be necessary to observe what sowings made in 
the different parts of the spring produce the best crops, that by 
comparing them with the leafing of trees, it may appear which 
is the most proper season for sowing; nor will it be amiss in like 
manner to note at what time certain plants, especially the most 
remarkable, in every section blow; that it may appear whether 
the year makes a quicker or slower progress." 
