Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/453

tdw-land In one day, and with th^ same effect, as six ploughs' In some states of the soil, it will be necessary to alter the breadth of the shares ; but this circumstance must be regulated by the judgment of the husbandman j and, though the points of the shares, in conse- quence of such expansion and con- traftion of the cultivator, are slight- ly moved out of the dire6t line, yet this irregularity does not impede the progress of the implement. Mr. Lester's communication is eccompanied by the certificate of a farmer, in the vicinity of North- ampton, who states, that he em- ployed the cultivator, in the sum- mer of 1800, on a turnip-fallow; nnd believes it be very useful for cultivating such land ; that from its alternate contraction and expan- sion, it is calculated to work the same soil, in a rough or fine state; by which means it unites the prin- ciples of two implements in one; and he is qpinion, that it may be worked at any depth required, for the purposes of general tillage. CUMMIN, or Cuminum Cy- minum, L. Is an exotic annual plant, propagated in the Isle of Malta, for the sake of its seeds; which, on importation, pay the duty of 8s. 0*-d. per cwt. — They have a bitterish warm taste, accom- panied with an aromatic, but not agreeable, flavour ; and, though esteemed good carminatives, are seldom employed in medicine. An essential oil is obtained from them by distillation, possessing all the virtues of the seeds, and reputed to be a sovereign remedy in rheumatic cases, I'hcy are likewise employed externally, both in the form of a plaster and cataplasm. — Lastly, be- ing exceedingly grateful to pigeons, avaricious proprietors of dovc-cotes XO. XVI. — VOL. IV. CUR [417 sometimes Incorporate the seeds with a saline earth (see Pigeon- House, vol. iii. p. 3/8), in order to allure these birds ; and thus stock their pigeon-houses, at the expence of their neighbours. CURD, is the coagulated part of milk, after tlie whey is sepa- rated. As curd contains the most sub- stantial particles of milk, it affords a rich nourishment ; and especially when produced by an artificial co- agulation of this liquor, while in a J'resh state. Many nations Jive on curds: thus, in France and Swit- zerland, the inhabitants almost ex- clusively use this preparation as their only solid food ; employing the whey for drink. Among the Laplanders, curd is used to cor- rect the alkaline nature of their aliment, and likewise to serve them as a substitute for an acescent con- diment. CURTAIN, an article of do- mestic furniture, consisting gene- rally of calico, dimity, or printed cotton ; which may be contraded or expanded at pleasure, and is usually appended to a bedstead, or to windows. Curtains are at present consider- ed more as an ornament, than as an article of conveniency, to beds j though, in many instances, they might be easily dispensed with} especially where one person only sleeps in an apartment. These ap- pendages certainly occasion nu- merous accidents happening from fire ; and which often originate from the absurd and reprehensible practice of reading in bed. Those fanciful persons who can- not sleep without curtains, ought to suspend them across chairs, so that they may not exclude the ac- cess of air, by coming in conta6t £ e , with