JUNE. 177 



preserve them from its effects. On wide heaths, 

 where the sheep are often small, and consequently 

 of less individual value, and where also they cannot 

 be so often and readily seen, great numbers fall a 

 prey to the flies, and die the dreadful death of being 

 devoured by them and their larvae. In my summer 

 rambles I see continual instances of this melancholy 

 nature ; no doubt often resulting from the indolence 

 of the shepherds. Heavy, long-wooled sheep, too, 

 are in danger of being overset, in which situation 

 they will destroy themselves by their struggles. 

 From these dangers they are relieved by the annual 

 washing and shearing which now take place. Hay- 

 making in the earlier districts is now going on 

 busily. The poor find some employment in cutting 

 heath on the wastes for making besoms. A great 

 and most important quantity of employment they 

 find also in cutting peat and turf on the moors and 

 heaths of various parts of the kingdom. What is a 

 more characteristic feature of moorlands, than those 

 black pyramids of peat that are piled up in every 

 direction to dry through the summer, and in autumn 

 are conveyed away into the neighbourhood of the 

 farmhouse and cottage, and carefully stacked, or 

 sent into the neighbouring towns 1 The inhabitants 

 of coal districts little know the value of our moor- 

 lands for furnishing fuel and employment to the 

 poor. In many >arts of the United Kingdom, in 

 a great portion of the Highlands of Scotland and 

 wastes of Ireland, such a thing as coal is never 

 seen ; their moors and bogs supply their fires. In 



