of shelter from the extreme severity of the weather; but to have air when mild. (Tra. Hort. Soc. L. vol. i. p. 118.) To those crops which have to withstand the winter in the open ground, salt is beneficially applied, as it preserves them from being frosted in the neck, and also their roots from being worm-eaten; which may also be effected, Mr Mackay of Errol House, N. B., informs us, by pouring soap-suds between the rows, which application is also very beneficial to the plants. (Mem. Caled. Hort. Soc. vol. i. p. 275.) To preserve the winter standing crops from practice, early in November, to take them up, injuring the roots as little as possible, and to lay them in a sloping direction in the soil, with their heads to the north. A modification of this plan, adopted by the distinguished president of the Horticultural Society, is, however, much preferable, as it obviates the defect of few roots being produced, and consequently diminutive heads. A small trench is made in the first week of September, at the north end of each row, in which the adjoining plant is laid so low, that the centre of its stems at the top is put level with the surface of the ground, the root being scarcely disturbed; it is then immediately watered, and its roots covered with more mould. Thus every plant is in succession treated; and by the beginning of November, it is scarcely perceptible that they have been thus treated, though it certainly checks their growth. Before the arrival of snow, a small hillock must be raised round each plant, to support its leaves, and prevent their being broken. (Trans. Hort. Soc. Lond. vol. ii. p. 304.) If snow accompanies severe frost, advantage should be taken of it, and the plants be heaped over with it, which will afford them an effectual protection. In July; and, finally, the last open-ground crop may be sown in June, to be pricked out in the succeeding month, and planted in August and September; the plants will follow from the others in succession throughout winter and spring. In a frame, however, they may be sown, like the cauliflower, in the last days of August, to remain until the following March, to be then planted out for production in early summer. By these repetitions, which, if for a family, should be small, an almost continued supply is afforded; but in general, for domestic use, especially if the establishment is small,. three sowings of moderate extent will be suf-destruction by severe weather, it is also a ficient; the first in the second week of April, the second in the third week in May, and the third in the middle of August, in a frame. Each variety should be sown separately, and the sowing performed thin; the beds not more than three or four feet wide, for the convenience of weeding, which must be performed as often as weeds appear, as they are very inimical to the growth of this vegetable. The seed must not be buried more than half an inch, and the beds be netted over to keep away the birds, which, especially in showery weather, are very destructive. The fitness of the plants for pricking out is intimated by their having five or six leaves, rather more than an inch in breadth; they are set four or five inches apart each way, and water given every night until they have taken root. They must have four or five weeks' growth before they are again moved; or not until they have leaves nearly three inches in breadth. When planted out, they must be set on an average two feet asunder each way, in summer a little wider, in winter rather closer. Water to be given at the time of planting, and occasionally afterwards, until they are established; during the droughts of summer it may be given plentifully with the greatest advantage. They must be hoed be- For the production of seed, such plants of tween frequently, and the mould drawn up each variety must be selected, in March or about their stems. To force forward the win- April, as most perfectly agree with their pecuter standing varieties, it is a successful prac- liar characteristics, and are not particularly tice to take them up in November, and after forward in advancing for seed. As the stems trimming off the outer leaves, to lay them on run up, some gardeners recommend the leaves their sides in a sloping position, in a bank or to be taken away; but this must be injurious. terrace of light earth, so much space being left Mr. Wood of Queensferry, North Britain, is between every two plants that their heads do particularly careful that no foliage appears on not come in contact. To continue the supply the surface of the flower; he always lifts his uninterrupted, even in the mid-winter of the plants, and plants them in another bed, waterseverest years, Mr. Maher recommends that ing abundantly; as this, from his long expe when the crop sown about the third week in rience, he finds, prevents their degenerating, May has been planted out, the weaker plants or producing proud seed; and when the head which remain should be left eight or ten days begins to open, he cuts out its centre, and to acquire strength, and then planted in pots leaves only four or five of the outside shoots 'sixteens) filled with very rich compost; to be for bearing. The sulphur-coloured he always suaded, and watered until struck. These are finds the most difficult to obtain seed from. to be plunged in the ground at similar distances (Mem. Caled. Hort. Soc. vol. ii. p. 266.) As the as the main crops, and about three inches be- branches spread, four or six stakes should be low the surface, so as to form a cup for retain-placed at equal distances round each plant, ing water round each; these cups are filled up and hooped with string, to support them and by the necessary earthings, which must be prevent their breaking. When the pods begin pressed firmly down, to prevent the wind loos- to form, water should be given repeatedly, and ening them. A few of the plants generally occasionally some thrown over the whole flower early, and, to guard against the first plant, which tends to prevent mildew. Before frosts, must have the leaves broken over them: the pods begin to change colour, those from but on the approach of settled frost in Decem- the extremity of every shoot must be taken ber and January, the pots must be taken up away; as these yield seed which produce and removed into a frame, shed, or any place plants very apt to run to seed without heading and by an early removal the others are bene- | fited. The branches are to be gathered as soon as the pods upon them ripen. Varieties must never be planted near each other, or they will reciprocally be contaminated. The seed ripens in August or September; and it is often recommended to preserve it in the pod until wanted; but the general practice is to beat it out, and store it as soon as it is perfectly dry. The plants raised in frames are managed as directed for cauliflowers in the same situation. (G. W. Johnson's Kitchen Garden.) BROKEN-KNEES, in horses. The best medical treatment, in slight cases, is to cleanse them from dirt and gravel by a sponge and warm water. In bad cases a veterinary surgeon is absolutely necessary, who will examine with his probe, and apply bandages, and even, in need, the hot iron. BROMUS. The brome grasses; a genus of which the chief species are as follow: Bromus arvensis, taper field brome grass, has a spreading, drooping, compound panicle, with lanceolate, sharp-pointed spikelets. Each spikelet consists of eight imbricated, smooth florets, with two close ribs at each side. The leaves are hairy, and the whole plant about three feet high. It is confined to rich pastures and meadows; while the next two, Bromus multiflorus and Bromus mollis, known by the leaves being soft and downy, abound most on poor or exhausted grass lands: they are all annuals. The farmer considers them to be bad grasses; the field brome grass, however, affords an early bite in the spring for sheep and lambs; it does not exhaust the soil; the roots do not extend to any depth; its seeds, which it sheds, readily and speedily take root and yield food; and it withstands the frost well: in England it flowers on the second week in August. At the time of flowering, the produce of its grass grown on a sandy loam per acre is 23,821 lbs.; of nutritive matter, 1488 lbs. Bromus diandrus, upright annual orome grass. Bromus erectus, upright perennial brome grass. Bromus inermis, smooth awnless brome grass. Bromus littoreus, sea-side brome grass. Bromus mollis, soft brome grass. Bromus multiflorus, many-flowered brome grass (named from the spikelets containing from ten to fifteen florets). Bromus sterilis, barren brome grass. It grows principally under hedges in the shade; cattle refuse it. Bromus tectorum, nodding-panicled brome grass. These were all examined with much skill by Sinclair, but he had evidently a poor opinion of them as field grasses. (Hort. Gram. Wob.) BROKEN-WIND, in horses, is, says Professor Youatt, the rupture, dilatation, or running together of some of the air cells,-the inspiration by one effort, and the expiration by two; and is thus easily distinguishable from thick wind, in which the inspirations and the expirations are equal in amount. In healthy lungs, when the lungs are expanded, the air will rush in easily enough, and one effort of the muscles of expiration is sufficient for the purpose of expelling it; but when these cells have run into each other, the cavity is so irregular, and contains so many corners and blind pouches, that it is exceedingly difficult to force it out again, and two efforts are scarcely competent fully to effect it. A dry husky cough accompanies this disease, of a peculiar sound. Broken wind is usually caused by smart exercise on a full belly. We do not, therefore, find broken-winded horses on the race-course; for, although every exertion of speed is required from them, their food lies in a small compass; the stomach is not distended, and the lungs have room to play; and care is taken | that their exertion shall be required when the There are many other varieties of this family, stomach is nearly empty. Carriage and coach the respective merits of which are pointed out horses, from a similar cause, are not often by Sinclair in his Hort. Gram. Wob. That broken-winded. The majority of broken- which is perhaps most interesting to the Amewinded horses come from those for whose use rican farmer is the Bromus secalinus, commonthese pages are principally designed; the far-ly called cheat, so frequently found growing mer's horse is the broken-winded horse, from being fed on bulky food; and because, after BRONCHITIS. A disease in horses. It is, many hours' fasting, the horses are often suf- says Professor Youatt, a catarrh extending befered to gorge themselves, and then, with the yond the entrance of the lungs. Symptoms, stomach pressing upon the lungs, and almost quicker and harder breathing than catarrh, peimpeding ordinary respiration, they are put culiar wheezing, coughing up mucus. Treat again to work, and sometimes to that which ment, moderate bleeding, chest blistering, requires considerable exertion. But the pres-digitalis. Neglected bronchitis often leads to sure of the distended stomach upon the lungs is sufficient to do this, without exertion; many a horse goes to grass or the straw-yard sound, and returns broken-winded. The cure of a broken-winded horse no one has witnessed, yet much may be done in the way of palliation; the food should consist of much nutriment in little compass; the oats should be increased, and the hay diminished; occasional mashes will be found useful; water should be given sparingly except at night, and the horse should never be exercised on a full stomach. Carrots are excellent food for him. (The Horse; Lib. of Useful Know. p. 195.) among the wheat or rye crops. thick wind. (On the Horse, p. 189.) BROOD MARES. Mares generally com mence breeding at three or four years of age. Some commence at two years, which is much too early. A mare will, if only moderately worked, continue to breed till nearly twenty. She is in heat in the early part of the spring; averages about eleven months in foal; but this varies considerably; some have been known to foal four or five weeks before this time, others five or six later. In race-horses, the colt's age is calculated the same, whether he is born in January or May. It is desirable that the mare should go to the horse as earl as possible. But in ordinary cases May is the best month; for then the mare foals at a period when there is an abundance of her natural food. it resembles the roots of asparagus, just as they break through the ground; the stems rise from six to ten inches high, and without proper leaves, having what are called bractes instead. The flowers are arranged on the stem like those of a hyacinth, but not so showy, being of a dingy brown colour, succeeded by oblong capsules of seeds. A straggling individual plant is sometimes met with amongst leywheat feeding on a clover plant, which has escaped destruction by the plough and harrow at wheat sowing; but it never appears again until the field is sown with clover. From a note by Mr. Rham, quoting Von Aelbrock's Agriculture of Flanders, p. 283, it would seem that the minute seeds of the broom-rape, which can hardly be observed with the naked eye, exude a glutinous substance, by which they adhere BROOKLIME (Myositis palustris). This herb loves shallow streams and wet ditches, like the water-cress, which it resembles in taste. It flowers and seeds in June, July, and August. Brooklime is known by its thick stalk, roundish leaves, and its spikes of small bright blue flowers. It grows about a foot in height, and it strikes root at the lower joints, and the roots are fibrous. The leaves are broad, oblong, slightly indented, round at their edges, and blunt at the point, to use an Irishism. The flowers stand singly upon short foot-stalks, one over another, forming a sort of loose spike. Brooklime possesses slight medicinal virtues; but it should be used fresh, as it loses its pro-to the seeds of the clover, and with which they perties when dried. It is often eaten in salads, which is a pleasant mode of administering it; but its flavour is in any form warm and agreeable. are in consequence often sown. (Journ. Roy. Eng. Ag. Soc. vol. i. p. 175.) Orobanche is a powerful astringent, and might be advantageously used in chronic diarrhoeas. In many parts of the United States, the M. BROOM, SPANISH (Spartium junceum). Pl. palustris is called Forget-me-not, Marsh scor- 9, e. A handsome shrub, with fragrant yellow pion grass. In French it is the Oreille de souris. blossoms, which appear in July; Miller says, In swampy places and spring heads, it remains that in cool seasons it will keep blowing until vigorously green through the winter. It flow- September. It loves a sheltered situation. If ers from May to September. (Flor. Cestric.) raised by seed, sow it as soon as it is ripe, in BROOM (the Spartium scoparium or Cyticus a shady bed of common earth, kept free from scoparius of botanists). Pl. 9, d. An evergreen- weeds. Plant out the seedlings the following branched shrub, native of sandy soils through- autumn. The white Spanish broom (Spartium out Europe. The broom, with its gay yellow monospermum) is more tender; therefore it should flowers, blooming from April to June, its tough be sheltered during the winter. It grows well stalks, and flat hairy pods, is well known on in shrubberies not exposed to a hot sun. Raised all barren and waste grounds, growing abun- from seed. Phillips recommends the Spanish dantly in dry gravelly thickets and fields, and is broom for shrubberies, from its long continuance often admitted into shrubberies, for its delicate in bloom, from July to October; and he adds, blooms and curious appearance. It is sown the common broom (S. scoparium) may as judiextensively in England as a shelter for game.ciously be placed at the foot of towering trees, Its branches, which are tough, are made up where it will shine as gay in the gloom as a into brooms, to which they have given their cypress fire in a forest. (Shrubbery, vol. i. name. The green stalks and tops of brooms p. 151.) are medicinally employed. They have a bitter nauseous taste, and a peculiar odour when green. The green twigs, when burned, yield a large quantity of carbonate of potash, and several other salts. Broom tops, administered in strong infusion, are emetic and purgative: in smaller doses they are diuretic; and as such have been long employed to excite the action of the kidneys in dropsy; but its efficacy depends on the nature of the dropsy, and its cause. When inflammation is present, broom tops do much harm; and, therefore, like other remedies, its use should not be intrusted to non-professional persons. It may be useful to know that its action is promoted by dilution. BROOM-GRASS. The Andropogon purpurescens, A. furcatum, or forked spike-grass, and the A. nutans, or beard-grass, are all known in the Eastern States, where they flower in August. BROOM-RAPE (Orobanche major). This is a parasitical plant which is found amongst the red clover; “meaning, perhaps," says Mr. Main, "a robber of broom, from its being frequently found on waste grounds growing on the roots of the common broom, and in fields on the roots of clover." In its first appearance BRYONY, BLACK (Tamus communis, Gr. gue, I grow rapidly). This is a wild native plant, and climbs like the white bryony; but it wreathes its stalk around the bushes, having no tendrils. The stalk also runs fifteen feet in length. The leaves are broad, shaped like a triangle, smooth, polished, and of a black green colour. The flowers and berries resemble the white bryony. BRYONY, WHITE (Bryonia dioica). This plant, with its tendrils and leaves, somewhat resembles the vine, and clings like it around the trees and bushes in its progress. It grows in many parts of England under hedges and thickets. The leaves are hairy and broad. The flowers small, and of a greenish white colour, blowing from May till August. The berries are red, and full of seeds. The root is large, rough, and white, and the stalks from ten to twelve feet in length. The root contains a peculiar bitter principle, which has been termed bryonin. The root is poisonous, being both violently emetic and purgative, producing symptoms resembling those of cholera. It is sold by herbalists under the name of Mandrak root. Many ignorant persons have been de stroyed by the employment of bryony root, in diseases in which it is said to be useful iz old herbals. Decoctions made with one pound of the fresh root are purgatives for cattle. This is a powerful medicine, and should be given cautiously in small doses, even to cattle. BUCK. The male of the deer, hare, rabbit, &c. the Iron Mountain, and the Black Mountain, where the soil is generally loose, deep, and fertile. The coolness and humidity which reign in these elevated regions, appear likewise to be necessary to its utmost expansion; it here towers to the height of sixty or seventy feet, with a diameter of three or four feet, and is considered a certain proof of the richness of the land. than those of the common horse-chestnut, and, like them, are not eatable. BUCK-BEAN (Menyanthes trifoliata). This is a beautiful wild flower, and deserving of cultivation. It naturally inhabits turbaries, and marshy places. In a garden it will live The flowers of this tree are of a light, for many years, if planted in a pot filled with agreeable yellow, and the numerous bunches, peat earth mixed with sphagnum or bog moss, contrasted with the fine dense foliage, lend it a and plunged in a pan of water; or better still, highly ornamental appearance. The fruit is if planted out in rich soil, where it can be contained in a fleshy, oval capsule, the surface supplied with water from a pond or tank. It of which, unlike that of the horse-chestnut of is not only a beautiful, but a valuable gift of Asia and Ohio, is smooth. Each capsule Providence, for it possesses powerful effects contains two seeds or chestnuts, of unequal as a remedy against the fevers prevalent in size, flat upon one side and convex on the marshy districts. (Gardener's Chronicle.) Wi-other. They are larger and lighter-coloured thering, in speaking of this plant, says it is possessed of powerful medicinal properties; an infusion of the leaves is extremely bitter, and is prescribed in rheumatism and dropsies; it may be used as a substitute for hops in making beer, and is employed as a purgative for calves. It is easily recognised, possessing a very singular appearance. It grows a foot high; the leaf-stalks rise from the roots, and upon each stalk stand three large oblong leaves, somewhat resembling the garden bean leaves. The stalks themselves are round, thick, and smooth. The flowers are small, white, with a delicate tinge of purple, and hairy inside. They grow together, forming a short, thick spike, and stand upon thick, round, whitish, and naked stalks. The root is long, thick, and of a whitish colour. Buck-bean leaves should be gathered before the flower-American horse-chestnut is ten or twelve feet, stalks appear, and dried. Their powder, taken in tea, or any liquid, is considered excellent for rheumatism and ague. BUCKEYE. Under this name, Michaux describes two species of trees in the United States, viz. the large buckeye or yellow pavia, (Pavia lutea); and the Ohio buckeye or Ohio horse-chestnut (Pavia ohioensis). Of American trees, the large buckeye is one of the earliest to cast its leaves, which begin to fall near Philadelphia about the 15th of August, and whilst the other horse-chestnuts are still clothed with their finest verdure. Its foliation and flowering are also tardy, which is deemed an essential defect in a tree, the greatest merit of which is its beauty. The wood, from its softness and want of durability, cannot be made to subserve any useful purpose. In beauty, this species is reckoned inferior to that magnificent tree, the Ohio buckeye, or common American horsechestnut, which is not a native of any of the Atlantic states, where, however, it is a favourite ornamental tree. The ordinary stature of the but it sometimes equals thirty or thirty-five feet in height, and twelve or fifteen inches in diameter. The foliage of this tree appears very early in spring, being very quickly followed by its flowers, which almost cover the tree in white bunches, making a very brilliant appearance. The fruit is of the same colour with that of The yellow pavia, or large American buckeye, the foreign horse-chestnut and of the large is first observed on the Alleghany Mountains in buckeye, and of about half the size: it is con Virginia, near the 39th degree of latitude. Ittained in fleshy, prickly capsules, and is ripe becomes more frequent in following the chain the beginning of autumn. Horse-chestnuts towards the southwest, and is most profusely are said to injure swine and other stock which multiplied in the mountainous districts of the eat them. Carolinas and Georgia. It abounds, also, upon the rivers that rise beyond the mountains and flow through the western part of Virginia, and the states of Kentucky and Tennessee, to meet the Ohio. It is much less common along the streams which have their sources east of the Alleghanies, and may therefore be considered as a stranger to the Atlantic states, with the exception of a tract thirty or forty miles wide in the Southern States, as it were beneath the shadow of the mountains. It is here called big buckeye, to distinguish it from the Pavia rubra, which does not exceed eight or ten feet in height, and which is called small buckeye. Michaux states, that he had seen no situation which appeared more favourable to the developement of the big ouckeye, than the declivities of the lofty mountains in North Carolina, and particularly of the Great Father Mountain, The bark of the larger trees is blackish, and endowed with a disagreeable odour and highly acrimonious properties. The wood is white, soft, and wholly useless. The value of the Ohio buckeye or American horse-chestnut consists mainly in the beauty of its abundant, precocious, and beautiful foliage and flowers, qualities which bring it into great request as an ornamental tree. (North Amer. Sylva.) For some notice of the European or Asiatic horse-chestnut, see CHESTNUT, HORSE. BUCK-HEADING and BUCK-STALLING Provincialisms applied to the cutting hedgefences off, fence-height. BUCKHORN. THE EARTH. See PLANTAIN, STAR OF BUCK HUNTING. "In common parlance," says Mr. Blaine, "the hunting of a faliow deer, whether male or female, is said to be buck hunting." This, according to Mr. Cha- | On account of its horny points, it affords exfing, in the reign of James II., was formerly cellent hedges, even on a sandy soil. practised after dinner; it was so fashionable, and so generally delighted in at that period, that even the judges on the circuit were accustomed to partake in it. (Scott's Field Sports, p. 435.) BUCKLE-HORNS. A provincial name for short crooked horns turning inward in a horizontal manner. Although cows refuse the leaves of the seabuckthorn, yet they are browsed upon by goats, sheep, and horses. The berries are strongly acid, with an austere vinous flavour: in Lapland they are pickled and used as spice, but the fishermen of the Gulph of Bothnia prepare from them a rob, which, added to fresh fish, imparts a very grateful flavour. BUCKTHORN, COMMON (Rhamnus catharticus). A hardy indigenous prickly shrub, From the leaves of this shrub, M. Suckow common in hedge rows in England; flowering obtained an agreeable dark-brown dye for wool in May, and ripening its fruit in September. and silk, first treated with vitriol of iron (copThe leaves have strong lateral nerves, are peras): Dambourney succeeded in producing ovate, toothed, with linear stipules; the flowers a similar colour on cloth that had been preare yellowish-green, and are succeeded by a viously steeped in a solution of bismuth. black berry, which is glossy, and the size of a BUCKWHEAT (Germ. buchweizen). The large pepper-corn, containing three or four name of a particular species of grain, of which, seeds, and a violet-red pulp. The bark is for the sake of their seeds, there are two spe glossy and dark-coloured. This shrub likes a cies cultivated in Europe:-1. The common sheltered situation, and succeeds in any soil. buckwheat (Polygonum fagopyrum), Pl. 3, g, It is propagated by seed, layers, and grafts. 2. The Tartarian buckwheat (P. taturicum), h; The juice of the unripe berries is a deep green and another in China and Tartary (P. emargidye, if boiled with a little alum. The juice natum), i. A new kind of buckwheat, known contains a purgative principle, which enables to the peasants of Germany by the name of it to operate as a powerful cathartic; but its Wild Italian buckwheat, they prefer to the comaction is accompanied with much griping and mon buckwheat, because it is more productive, thirst. It was formerly often used as a domes-hardier, and has whiter and more savoury meal. tic purgative; but the frequent violence of its action has caused its disuse. The Rhamnus or buckthorn genus of plants is very numerous, ten species being found in the United States, chiefly in the warmer parts. The leaves of a species found in China, the Rhamnus theezans, resemble those of the teaplant, and pass as a substitute for tea among the indigent population of that country. The buckthorn family of plants are all either very small trees or shrubs with the smaller branches often terminating in spines or thorns, qualities which fit them for hedges, for which purpose the common buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus) is a favourite about Boston and other parts of New England, where the English and Virginia thorns will not stand the climate. The buckthorn, on the contrary, will grow in almost any climate and upon every variety of soil. This is described in the Bull. des Scien. Agr., Buckwheat is a plant known in almost every A species of rhamnus, called the broadleaved alaternus, a native of the south of Europe, is an ornamental evergreen, the blossoms of which are greatly frequented by the honeybee. It is a rapid growing shrub, and useful for thickening screens, clothing walls, &c. The sea or common sallow thorn, the Hip-tity of seed sown varies from five to eight popha rhamnoides of Linnæus, is a very important shrub, growing wild on sandy shores, in various parts of the British coast, where it sometimes attains the height of eight or ten feet. Its bark is light brown, the wood white, the small leaves of a sea-green colour, but silvery white below. The leaves appear early in spring; the yellow flowers in June and July; the fine red berries late in autumn. In situations contiguous to the sea-shore, or the banks of rivulets, this shrub eminently deserves to be cultivated, as it is well calculated to bind a sandy soil, and to prevent the water from penetrating through banks and fences. It may be raised from seeds, but more expeditiously by planting layers, or propagating it from the very abundant spreading roots. pecks per acre. Buckwheat is an annual. It has a strong, cylindrical, reddish, branching stem, about two feet in height, with alternate ivy-shaped leaves; the flowers, which are white, tinged with red, are in bunches at the end of the branches, and are succeeded by black angular seeds. Its flowers are very attractive to bees. It begins flowering in July, and is generally fit to mow about the beginning of October. If put together, says Mr. Main, a little green or damp, it does not much signify; for, although ever so mouldy, the grain is never damaged, and the more mouldy it is, the earlier it can be thrashed. It is the easiest of all barnwork for the thrasher. (Quart. Journ. Agr. vol. vii. p. 180.) In England, the proper time for sowing |