MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 57 



beds; and I can think of no other 

 method of preserving the berries from 

 the birds next year. I wonder how 

 many strawberries it would need for a 

 festival, and whether they would cost 

 more than the nets. 



I am more and more impressed, as the 

 summer goes on, with the inequality of 

 man s fight with Nature ; especially in a 

 civilized state. In savagery, it does not 

 so much matter ; for one does not take a 

 square hold, and put out his strength, 

 But rather accommodates himself to the 

 situation, and takes what he can get, 

 without raising any dust, or putting 

 himself into everlasting opposition. But 

 the minute he begins to clear a spot lar 

 ger than he needs to sleep in for a 

 night, and to try to have his own way in 

 the least, Nature is at once up, arid vigi 

 lant, and contests him at every step with 

 all her ingenuity and unwearied vigor 



