LETTER XXIV 



Canal-boats Deck-can Journey to Measham Tinman Teasels : 

 their Growth; Water Supply ; Blossoming of ; General Character. 



2nd Aiigust 1889. 



DEAR MARCO You, I know, will sym- 

 pathise with me in the rather mad journey 

 which I made two days ago, literally pot- 

 hunting, in the Midland counties. From 

 earliest childhood canal-boats have been to 

 me objects of love and interest, their pretty 

 cabins and quaint bright decorations especi- 

 ally delighting me ; yet, strange to say, until 

 last week, I had never been inside one. 

 There was a very good specimen at the 

 wharf here last week, the woman on board 

 of which invited me to come aboard and see 

 the interior of the little cabin. I was per- 

 fectly astonished at the comfort, roominess, 



