Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/293

263&#93; FER jn useful animal, which is origi- nally a n.nhc of Al'ii>.i, wliriii i- it introduced inti) Spain, and itly into this country. It has rod, fiery eyeij the colour of it-, whole body is ot' a pal-.: yellow; ami Us length, from the tip of the nose to the eud ot* the tail, is about 19 in The ferrel requires to hi kept carefully within doors, as, unlike other wild animals, it is incapable of procuring its own subsistence. — femaleis of a smaller size than the male, and produces twice an- nually from the to six, and some- times even eight or nine young ones, alter a gestation of six. weeks. 1'h st- animals are employed for the purpose of hunting rabbits, to which they are mortal enemies. They are always muzzled previ- ously to being admitted into the burrows, in order that they may not kill the rabbi: s, but only dfiye them out of their holes into m ts, spread out lor the purpose of tak- ing them. In the West of .England, they are frequently kept in farm- yards and barns, for the purpose of d. stfoying the. mice and rats in- festing corn-stacks. — Ferrets are reared in cas' s or boxes, win re the)' are provided -with beds of hemp or ilax. The)- sleep almost continually, and, on waking, < ry eagerly search for food, which con- tests chiefly of bread, milk, &c. They are easily tamed, and ren- dered dqcile, but are extremely irascible; and, as they at ail times emit a disagreeable odour, it in- creases and becomes extremely offensive when they are irriLau J. Their motions are nimble] and they are at the same time so vi- gorous, that they can easily con- quer a rabbit, which is at least four times larger than its adversary. I FKS [263 P£fi< : - ;' - ■, m ,, L. a genus ot' plants consisting of 39 species; though only 12 or 1 1 are indig *vhirh the fol- lowing axt the principal : 1 . The ovinq., or Sheep's Fescue- grass, which is perennial, grows in dry, sand)- soils, and flowers in the month Of June. This plant is eaten by cows, horses, goats, and especiajlj by sheep, which are very partial to it, and soon become fat trom its use. 2. The rubra, Creeping or Pur- ple l'"i scuc-gras.s, which is peren- nial, grows on elevated heaths and dry barren pastures, and flowers in the month of June. This grass is of great value in the fattening of cattle, as its succulent leaves, which continue to vegetate during the whole summer, at all times furnish abundance of wholesome food. It also possesses the advantage of re- taining its verdure throughout the •winter, when almost every other vegetable is decayed. 3. The du.riuscif.lp., or Hard Fes- cue-grass, which is also perennial, grows as well in dry places as - in low and flat meadows ; and flowers in the month of June. It has not hitherto been cultivated, though it claims the attention of the intelli- gent farmer ; for it frequently at- tains the height of three or four feet, shoots forth very earl) - in the spring, is very luxuriant, and af- fords a wholesome and grateful food to all kinds of cattle. -J. The c/alior, or Tall Fescue- grass, which grows in boggy mea- dows, and at the sides of wetditehes, where it often attains the height of four or five feet. It is perennial, flowers in the month of June or July (sometimes twice in the year), and makes excellent pas- ture, but requires a rich soil. — It S-l is