1857.] Chronicles of a Clay Farm. 497 



I saw it was the fashion, and had such a pleasing effect ; at which, 

 being an old friend, he performed the ceremony of inserting his 

 second finger between the fourth and fifth rib of my left side, and 

 informed me, with a smile, that "he saw I understood chaff," to 

 ■which, innocently replying in the afiirmative, I added, for reason, 

 that I had a great demand for it of late among my friends, and 

 foun^d it an useful commodity in agriculture. Such are the dark 

 and recondite passages presented by my journal of that winter, 

 which I offer for the information and guidance of all those who may 

 purpose trying novel experiments unsanctioned by the established 

 practice of their respective neighborhoods; merely observing, that 

 there are some things besides the soil, on this earth, which require 

 a little tempering, and pay well to a man's peace of mind for being 

 done quietly and neatly, without haste or heat — yet smartly withal. 



Spring canie at last : beautiful Spring ! that fills the old heart 

 with youth, and softens down to a more genial and hopeful tone the 

 frosts and snows that reign toithiti, as without, through dreary win^ 

 ter. Certain reports respecting the field which had been drained, 

 and so curiously " top-dressed," had from time to time altered the 

 current of opinion that hitherto run so strongly all one way. The 

 underwagoner had told somebody in strict confidence that the snow 

 had disappeared on that field much sooner than from any other. — 

 This had been repeated in equal confidence from mouth to mouth, 

 with the addition that all the clay had "kicked down to ashes ;" but 

 what topped every thing was that before even bean-sowing had be- 

 gun, the " motley close " was reported " as dry as a bone." 



The Harrow is certainly not the most ingenious or perfect of 

 agricultural implements ; but never was a more surprising feat per- 

 formed by any, than was witnessed one fine morning early in March, 

 when it was ordered over the field afore mentioned ! Down went 

 the clay, sand, peat, and every thing else, — 



" >5lack spirits and white. 

 Blue spirits and groy, 

 Mingle, mingle, mingle. 

 Ye that mingle may !" 



And " mingle " in truth they did, into as free healthy-looking a soil, 

 as fresh and as mellow as if it had never lain underground or been 

 out of the sunshine. With every turn of the horses, better and 

 better it looked and worked. An increasing elasticity of movement 

 seemed to pervade men, horses, harrows, soil, and even the very 

 atmosphere of the field. Before the work was half done, Theory 

 and the Chronicle were at a premium. 

 32. 



