UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 12l 



much ease as if they had been separated by a 

 parting-spade., 



Frederick asked what effect frost had upon 

 soils which are not spongy. 



My uncle told us that in clay soils the water 

 forms small detached crystals, so thickly inter- 

 spersed through the whole mass, that when a 

 clod is broken, the fractured part looks as if co- 

 vered by hoar frost ; but they are too small for 

 the naked eye to distinguish their shape. They 

 help, however, to divide and loosen the clay in 

 those stiff lumps; and after a frost the blow of 

 a spade will almost reduce them into powder. 

 Farmers sometimes, in expectation of this effect 

 of frost, sow their wheat in very rough ground 

 in autumn, in order that the clods, being pul- 

 verised by it, may close round the roots of 

 the young plants ; and these benefit by it as. 

 drilled corn does by landing that ,is, having; 

 the earth laid up by the plough against the little 

 seedlings when they have grown to some height. 

 In mild winters farmers are disappointed in this ; 

 but my uncle says it is but a lazy mode of farm- 

 ing, and deserves to be disappointed. 



Do you know, mamma, that I think it is colder 

 and more uncomfortable than during the frost. 

 The birds, however, seem to be rejoiced ; I hear 

 them chirping their satisfaction and all the 

 robins that we had in the house (we had seven at 

 one time) have left their good shelter, and flown. 



M 



