1787 EEMAEK ON HOP PLANTING 169 



promontory to the left of the Temple nearer Empshot, 

 which disturbed me a good deal. I thought I must have 

 seen and remembered such a prominent feature (if you allow 

 fashionable expressions) in the landscape. I am much 

 obliged to you for the kind letter which I found in my room 

 on my return to college after Easter. And now let me 

 inquire after friend Timothy. He looks very well, and says 

 not a syllable of a late elopement. Perhaps he is ashamed 

 of it; and yet who knows whether he was not going in 

 quest of his master, and if he had not speedily been brought 

 back he might possibly have surprised you by an unexpected 

 visit at S. Lambeth. Thomas tells me that C. Etty is 

 arrived in England, which I am very glad to hear. I saw 

 Mrs. Etty for five minutes at Beaconsfield, on my way to 

 London. The rain, which is just set in, will, I hope, be 

 of service to the country; but I could gladly have excused 

 it for three hours longer, one to walk about here, and two 

 to ride back to Waverley. My great coat I very wisely left 

 at Keading. I might make that in my way to Waverley; 

 but then I should run a risque of losing my dinner, which, 

 at a proper interval after breakfast, is an object of some 

 importance. It still rains, and I am still, dear Sir, 



Your most obedient and much obliged servant, 



E. Churton. 



The Naturalist's Journal at this time records an 

 observation and suggestion which show the practical 

 bent, as well as acuteness of its author's mind. 



"July 8. Hops are diecious plants: hence, perhaps it 

 might be proper, though not practiced, to leave purposely 

 some male plants in every garden, that their farina might 

 impregnate the blossoms. The female plants without their 

 male attendants are not in their natural state; hence we may 



