UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 195 



so great, that it is said a single person has col- 

 lected a bushel in two hours. But the chief im- 

 portance of their services is, the keeping within 

 bounds the mischievous cassada caterpillars ; and 

 as these caterpillars are destroyed by heavy rain, 

 it has even been proposed to collect and put 

 them under cover as soon as the ichneumon's 

 eggs are deposited, in order to multiply these 

 useful insects. 



lOth. June is really a most lovely month 

 here ; the trees are clothed in foliage of the 

 freshest green, and flowers are scattered every- 

 where in profusion. Mowing is just beginning, 

 and everybody looks busy, active, and cheerful. 



I was very happy yesterday ; we went to see 

 the sheep-shearing at Farmer Moreland's; it 

 seemed to be almost a festival, and was con- 

 ducted with a degree of regularity and ceremony 

 that was quite amusing. Caroline delights in 

 these rural employments; and we were all 

 allowed to go there early in the morning. We 

 found the sheep enclosed in a fold under the 

 shade of an ash-grove, and the shearers seated 

 on the knotted roots of some of the old trees. 

 Dame Moreland gave us some brown bread and 

 new milk; and before the day grew very hot 

 we returned home. In the evening, however, 

 having dined early, we returned to the pretty 

 grove and the poor bleating sheep, whom I could 



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