ON VEGETATION. 361 



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fields to yield an abundance of grass, as food for 

 months, they presented commonly the aspect of hard- 

 fed lands in March, though so much rain had fallen, 

 both in July and August, as to lead us to expect 

 profusion. It did not appear that the roots had 

 actually perished, which could not have been the 

 case, by producing the mowing crops that they did ; 

 but this was a single effort : the injury was mani- 

 fested by the deficiency of the autumnal vigour ; 

 this was the actual result, difficult as it is to assign 

 a satisfactory reason. Perhaps these effects upon 

 our pasture lands were unprecedented ; but these 

 things pass away, unless recorded ; and though we 

 may resort to the oldest memory for evidence, yet 

 memory is oblivious, often exaggerative, and can- 

 not safely be trusted. 



July 10th. Hay-making now general, render- 

 ing, during this fine weather, our fields a scene 

 of animation, and affording us pleasure in the pros- 

 spect of merited success to the cultivator, and 

 abundant wholesome food to the poor animals 

 in a season of particular need. It is a sad sight 

 to observe the hungry beast tossing about his 

 dusty, mouldy provender, and wandering from crib 

 to crib in frost and snow, discontented and in want, 

 seeking for some more grateful mouthful than a 

 rainy hay-season has afforded. Yet all this inflores- 

 cence around and odours in the air are more than 

 some of us find agreeable ; and I have known per- 

 sons painfully affected, during the whole of this 

 period, by reiterated sneezings, occasioned probably 

 by the invisible farina of the various herbage float- 



