126 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



channel be made, for the purpose of bringing 

 to the top of the bank a small rill that runs 

 across the back of the shrubbery. Something 

 I had heard about irrigating meadows suggested 

 this idea, and*my uncle approved. The channel 

 has been cut, and it brings the water on a level 

 along the upper edge of my bank, from whence 

 it trickles down the slope along each row of 

 strawberry plants. When they have had enough , 

 I put a slate edgeways across the channel, which 

 acts as a little sluice, and turns the water aside 

 into the pond. This method of watering has so 

 far answered very well, for I think my straw- 

 berries look more healthy than any of the others ; 

 they are now in full flower, and I am in high 

 hopes of having the first and best fruit to 

 present to my uncle for his kindness. 



20th. I had a long walk yesterday evening 

 with Miss Perceval and Mary through some of 

 farmer Moreland's fields, which are shut up for 

 meadow. The grasses are opening their blos- 

 soms, and Miss Perceval taught me the names 

 of several that I had not known. She then 

 asked me if I could describe the leading cha- 

 racters of the grass family. 



I considered, and hesitated, and tried ; but my 

 attempts were very awkward, and I acknow- 

 ledged that trials of that sort were sometimes 



