JANUAR Y 99 



a few beans, but doubtless the sheep will appreciate it in due 



course. 



He who would fill his pouch with groats 

 In Januair must sow his oats, 



runs the old saw by the way, the word ' groats ' shows that it 

 must be a very old one but these are the only oats that I have 

 drilled as yet. To-morrow, however, if it is fine, we are sending 

 five horses to Bedingham to drill oats, pease, and barley. Never 

 before have we drilled barley so early, and both Hood and I 

 (especially Hood) are rather doubtful of the wisdom of so doing on 

 heavy land. The fact is that the fine, indeed the extraordinary 

 weather we have had this month has made us a little ' winter-proud,' 

 as they say of wheat that has grown too vigorously during the dead 

 months of the year, and it is quite possible that before the sweet 

 surprises of the English spring are done with our high hopes, 

 like the wheat, may meet with an unexpected check. Still, I am 

 for going straight ahead, as though the spring were, in truth, 

 already with us, and sowing barley, or anything else if the land 

 is fit to drill. 



And so good-bye to January. Here are one or two saws col- 

 lected from various sources for those who care for proverbial 



wisdom : 



If January has never a drop, 



The barn will need an oaken prop ; 



which certainly is comforting news to the farmer in this year of 

 grace. Lest he be too elated, however, I append another : 



In January if the sun appear, 

 March and April pay full dear. 



Also a third of still more evil import : 



If grass do grow in Januair or Februair, 

 it will grow the worse for it all the year. 



H 2 



