Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/529

R OL •ught to enjoy them with great moderation; to malve use of Lis- cuiis imiend of -new bread (as is u<5aaily eaten at his table), and thus, in some degree at least, to corre<!:t the oily quality of the roe. — See also Caviar. ROLLER, a well-known imple- ment of agriculture, the cyhnder of which consists either of stone, wood, or iron. The principal design of rolling land, is to render loose soils more compadt j by which means the earth adheres closely to the roots of plants, and their growUi is consi- derably promoted. 1 he season for performing this operation, varies according to the nature of the soil, and of the vegetables to be raised. Thus, it is an obje6l of considerable importance, to loll wheat in the months of Odober and November, and from January till April, especi- ally if the ground be loose ; because the winter-rains frequently press the soil down, and thus leave the roots uncovei ed ; and the autuni- ual rolling will prevent the ill ef- fe6ts of frost, as the spring-roliuig will obviate those arising from droughts. Farther, it will be ne- cessary to pass the machine over laud sown with barley, dire6tly after the seed is scattered. Oats, also, particularly on light soils, should be. thus treated, immedi- ately after sowing ; but, in clay- lands, the operation ought to be deferred till the grain appear above ground. Lastly, all grasses may with advantage be rolled once, early in the spring ; and, if it be practicable, a second and even a third time, after irrigation 5 because the earth will thereby not only be rendered more firm around the reots, but this management will •also facilitate the future mowing. —-See Pasturage. ROO [501 Roof. See Uuildixg; vol. i.p, 385 3 — Counxky-house; Reed; Tiles, 8:c. ROOK, or Corvus frugilegus , L. a well-known British bird, differ- ing but little in size or colour from the common Crow ; excepting in its whitish bill, which the former frequently thrusts into the ground, in search oi grubs and earth-worms j whence it is destitute ot feathers as far as the eyes. — Such distiudion is the more necessary, because these birds frequently sutler on ac- count of their resemblance to the crow : indeed, tie rook, instead of being i)er3ecuted by the wanton sportsman, ought to be prote6ted by every husbandman, who is sen- sible of the incalculable damage _ done to the fruits of the earth, by chafers, cater/nliars, bcc. notwith- standing the numbers that are de- stroyed by these industrious birds. They likewise feed on all sorts of grain, perhaps to some inconveni- ence to the farmer ) but such in- jury is doubtless amply repaid by their services, in extirpating the pernicious grub, which, in some seasons, destroys whule crops of corn. Rooks are gregariousbirds, some- times assembling in numerous i^ighti 5 the places they frequent during the breeding-season, are called rooLeries ; for this purpose, they generally select a large cluster of the tallest trees, and groves, near the habitations of men ; sometimes even in the midst of populous cities. In these aerial abod.s, they estab- lish a kind of fraternity, and ex- clude all strangers from becoming denizens of the spot. Early in the spring, rooks begin to construct their nests ; the ex- ternal part of which is formed of sticks, but it is internally lined with fibrous roots 3 and the whole lvk3 is