SUCCESS OF THE TEAK. 237 



hot, each cob enveloped in its steaming green cuticle, 

 but somehow the taste did not prove so agreeable as 

 we had expected. Thinking that it might be too 

 young, I told Patrick not to pick any more for a day 

 or two. The next trial was even more unsatisfactory 

 it had absolutely no flavor whatever. Feeling there 

 must be something wrong, with sinking heart I cross- 

 questioned Patrick, and discovered that he did not 

 know there was any difference between sweet corn 

 and the common kind, and had planted a quantity of 

 that which he was using for the horses. I never as 

 certained what became of it, but we did not try it 

 again on the table. 



Our asparagus was gone without redemption. The 

 few spears that struggled up into existence reached a 

 partial state of forwardness ; but association with 

 Patrick s planting of turnips appeared to disgust 

 them, and they lay down and died with hardly an 

 effort. Our trees succeeded excellently ; they were 

 unusually large, and had cost an extra price, as the 

 nurseryman, when I bought them, assured me that 

 they would bear fruit the first year. They stood the 

 blasts of winter bravely. In spring they put out 

 their leaves, and even burst into occasional flower, 

 but they did not go so far as bearing fruit. They 

 appeared to have some misunderstanding of the prin- 



