172 THE EVOLUTIONIST AT LARGE. 



XVIII. 

 A PRETTY LAND-SHELL. 



THE heavy rains which have done so much 

 harm to the standing corn have at least had 

 the effect of making the country look greener 

 and lovelier than I have seen it look for 

 many seasons. There is now a fresh verdure 

 about the upland pastures and pine woods 

 which almost reminds one of the deep val- 

 leys of the Bernese Oberland in early spring. 

 Last year's continuous wet weather gave the 

 trees and grass a miserable draggled appear- 

 ance ; but this summer's rain, coming after a 

 dry spring, has brought out all the foliage 

 in unwonted luxuriance ; and everybody 

 (except the British farmer) agrees that we 

 have never seen the country look more 



