POULTRY.
From the European Magazine.
Sir—As the following account, together with the few observations I have made on the management and feeding of fowls, may prove acceptable, and afford some useful hints to many among the numerous readers of your entertaining and widely-circulated miscellany, you will oblige me by giving them a place in your work.
I procured two pullets of the black Spanish kind, which were hatched in June, 1818, and fed them constantly myself twice a day, alternating their food, that is, I gave them corn in the morning, and in the afternoon boiled potatoes mixed with fresh bran, but I never allowed them to take a full meal of corn. They had a small orchard to range in, where, in the course of the day, they occasionally picked up worms and other insects; and, I have observed that poultry of all kinds eagerly seek for animal food even after they have satiated themselves with corn: indeed, I conceive a portion of animal food essentially requisite to preserve them in a healthy state.
The above-mentioned pullets began to lay about the middle of November, and continued to do so till within the last ten days, when they began to moult their feathers, having produced three hundred and sixty-seven eggs much larger and finer than those of the common fowl. Seven eggs weigh 1 pound avoirdupois, so that I have been furnished with the astonishing weight of more than 53 pounds of nutritious and wholesome food from two hens. They were never broody, nor shewed a disposition to sit at any time during the whole season, and I understand this property is peculiar to this species of fowl: it is, however, an advantage than otherwise, as the common kinds can incubate their eggs, and foster their young.
G. C. Jenner.
October 14th, 1819.
Ancient Advice to Parents.
TEACH CHILDREN
| Obedience, | } | and they shall | {bless thee. |
| Modesty, | } | {not be ashamed. | |
| Gratitude, | } | { receive benefits. | |
| Charity, | } | {gain love. | |
| Temperance, | } | {have wealth. | |
| Prudence, | } | and | {Fortune will attend them. |
| Justice, | } | {they will be honoured by the world. | |
| Sincerity, | } | {own hearts will not reproach them. | |
| Diligence, | } | and their | {Wealth will increase. |
| Benevolence, | } | {Minds will be exalted. | |
| Science, | } | {Lives will be useful. | |
| Religion, | } | {Death will be happy. |
Comfortable Discovery.—"Laugh and grow fat" was the grand ancient specific for long life—"every sigh and groan drove a nail into our coffins," whilst a contrary excitation of the risible organs drew one out.—Truly every generation groweth wiser, and we may live to witness ocular proofs that pain is merely an alleviator of indigestion, and the repudiation of a limb, under the doctor's saw, a pleasant and exhilarating morning exercise; in short, what may we not expect after reading the following:
A French surgeon has published a long dissertation on the beneficial influence of groaning and crying on the nervous system. He contends that groaning and crying are the two grand operations by which nature allays anguish; and that he has uniformly observed, that those patients who give way to their natural feelings, more speedily recover from accidents and operations, than those who suppose that it is unworthy a man to betray such symptoms of cowardice as either to groan or to cry. He is always pleased by the crying and violent roaring of a patient during the time he is undergoing a surgical operation, because he is satisfied that he will thereby so sooth his nervous system, as to prevent fever and ensure a favourable termination.—From the benefit hysterical and other nervous patients derive from crying or groaning, he supposes that "by these processes of nature," the superabundant nervous power is exhausted, and that the system is in consequence rendered calm, and even the circulation of the blood diminished. He relates a case of a man, who, by means of crying and bawling, reduced his pulse from 120 to 60 in the course of two hours. That some patients often have a great satisfaction in groaning, and that hysterical patients often experience great relief from crying, are facts which no person will deny.
As to the restless hypochondriacal subjects, or those who are never happy but when they are under some course of medical or dietetic treatment, the French surgeon assures them that they cannot do better than groan all night and cry all day. By following this rule, and observing an abstemious diet, a person will effectually escape disease, and may prolong life to an incredible extent.
Oats 1000 years old.—In the highest point of a field, a mile south from Forfar, Scotland, there was a druids' place of worship, consisting of a circle of large stones, with one (the largest) in the middle. The field was fallowed last year, and this temple trenched, from which a very great quantity of stones were turned up. Nothing particular, however, appeared, except a few bones that went to dust. The field this year was sown with barley, and this trenched part with the rest: so far as this trench extended, there are considerable quantities of oats, of various kinds, sprung up among the barley, the seeds of which must have remained there more than 1000 years. Without the trenched ground there is not a head of oats to be seen. Orders have been given to preserve these oat plants.
State of the Rain Guage in Philadelphia.
| January, | 1 inch | 401⁄100 |
| February, | 2 inch | 68 |
| March, | 5 inch | 70 |
Longevity.—In the parish of Acton, Middlesex, still exist the lineal posterity of the famous Bishop Cranmer, who was burnt at the stake by order of Queen Mary, nearly 300 years ago. One of them, an old lady, named Whytell, has completed her 112th year, and retains her intellectual and bodily faculties to a surprising extent.
West's Painting.—The Earl of Egremont has purchased the celebrated easel study of "Death upon the Pale Horse;" painted by Mr. West; one of the most sublime productions of modern art.