WE WII.l, GO TO WORK. 165 



them they are apt to work out and grow (per- 

 haps they always do, on the China side, if not 

 this), I then directed Thomas to cover it with 

 four inches of the very best manure. This was 

 an exceedingly heavy coat, far more than is 

 usually necessary, but I was bent on producing 

 some extraordinary results. My genial land- 

 lord, Mr. David, and another neighbor happen- 

 ing to pass, indulged in some pleasantries as to 

 the flavor of strawberries raised under the cir- 

 cumstances, but I knew well that Nature, with 

 ten months to work in, was too skilful an al- 

 chemist to make any such mistakes. So the 

 limited piece of ground was dug very deeply 

 and made almost as rich as a hot-bed. Then 

 commenced the gradual setting of plants, grad- 

 ual, because it was a dry time, and the sun stil; 

 scorchingly hot at mid-day. Therefore I directed 

 that the plants should be set out only in the even- 

 ing, a few at a time, and well watered. After- 



