THE WOODCHUCK. 
193 
THE WOODCHUCK. 
The woodchuck, (Arctomys monax,) ground 
hog, or Maryland marmot, all of which names 
it is more or less known by, or some nearly-al- 
lied species, is found, as far as we have been 
able to ascertain, in all the temperate parts of 
the continent, from New Brunswick, in the British 
Possessions, to Carolina, throughout the Atlan- 
tic states ; from Texas, along the eastern range 
of the Rocky Mountains to Hudson's Bay ; and 
west of tho.-e mountains from California to Ore- 
gon. In some localities, it appears to select white- 
pine forests for its abode, while in others, it 
seems to prefer rocky pastures or cleared lands, 
along sunny slopes in front of stone walls. 
These animals form long, deep burrows in the 
earth, into which they fly during summer upon 
the least alarm. In these excavations, they take 
good care to make themselves soft beds of dried 
grass, in which, in autumn, after they close the 
mouths of their burrows, they roll themselves 
up into mis-shapen balls, and there lie dormant 
until spring, without food, when they are gener- 
ally very fat. 
According to Audubon, in the month of May, 
or sometimes in June, the female brings forth 
her young, generally four or five in number, but 
sometimes seven or eight. When captured at 
an early stage of their growth, they may be fed on 
cabbage, or other garden vegetables, pumpkins, 
green corn, &c, and become quite tame, hyber- 
nating during winter precisely in the same man- 
ner as in a state of nature. 
■**ssmmm^ 
The Woodchuck. — Fig. 56. 
The natural food of these animals consists 
of green clover and other tender grasses, pota- 
toes, pumpkins, apples, and other succulent veg- 
etables and fruits, of which they devour vast 
quantities, and so far are considered injurious 
to the farmer. 
" On being surprised or pursued," says Audu- 
bon, " this species runs very fast for some eight 
or ten yards, and then frequently stops short, 
and squats down close to the ground, watching 
to see if it has been observed ; and will allow 
you to approach within a few feet, when it 
starts suddenly again, and again squats down as 
before. Not unfrequently, under these circum- 
stances, it puts its head under the dry leaves, or 
amid tufts of grass, to conceal itself from the 
pursuer. You may then generally capture or 
kill it with a stick." 
These animals bite severely, and defend 
themselves fiercely, and when unable to escape, 
sit up upon their haunches, snap their teeth, 
and will turn and make battle with a dog of 
more than double their own size. When near 
their burrows, however, they never stop to fight, 
but retreat with all possible dispatch. 
-9- 
THE SUBSOIL. 
Many persons have experienced disease and 
destruction, in their crops, when oft recurring 
on long-cultivated fields. The application of 
various specific manures and different modes 
of cultivation, are not always effectual reme- 
dies. May not the cause be generally attrib- 
uted to the want of fresh earth, and a wider 
range for the roots of the plants? Though 
these are difficulties seldom occurring in this 
comparatively young country, they are often to 
be contended with in Europe, and may ere long 
become of serious consideration among us. 
A certain remedy for these evils is deep tillage, 
by which, small portions of the subsoil are 
brought near the surface, and add new and nec- 
essary aliment to the crop. There is no dan- 
ger from this operation, if it be not brought up 
in too large quantities. If there be any inert or 
noxious matter in it, as a stiff, or poor, intracta- 
ble clay, an excess of iron, and especially in 
that form in which it frequently occurs in an 
acid soil, the protoxide of iron, or if there be un- 
decomposed peat, and the like, add lime, ashes, 
and warming animal manures, and mix the mat- 
ters thoroughly with the surface, by harrowing, 
and you will thereby not only secure a healthy 
soil, but a prolific one. 
An unmatched system of cultivation, to rem- 
edy these and numerous other difficulties, is 
the use of the subsoil plow, which gradually, 
year by year, amalgamates the upper and sub- 
soils ; and while it is giving health and vigor 
to the surface, it is ameliorating and improving 
the lower soil and speedily fitting this also for 
the great purposes of ministering to vegetable 
nutrition. 
In illustration of this principle, it may be 
stated, that the inhabitants of the island of Ma- 
deira sometimes trench their land to a depth of 
five or six feet, to get at the fresh earth, for the 
health of their grape vines, for which they would 
otherwise be obliged to send to Europe, at great 
expense to renew. 
►♦-• ■ 
SPAYING HEIFERS AND MILOH COWS. 
This is an operation sometimes practised by 
intelligent farmers, when they wish to make 
beef or working animals of the former, or to 
produce the flow of milk from the latter, and at 
the same time enrich its quality. Sound philos- 
ophy and profitable results sanction this prac- 
tice. There is a periodical tendency or inclina- 
tion of the female to perpetuate her kind, 
which occasions a serious interruption to her 
economical habits, and is decidedly injurious 
for any other purpose than that designed by na- 
ture in continuing her race. 
Where calves are not required, and the heifer 
is wanted for work and beef only, the spaying 
should be done before she has been suffered to 
take the bull. By this operation, she will be 
better fitted for the yoke or shambles, weight 
for weight, than the ox. If intended for milk, 
