344 CORN AND BEANS, ETC. 



prepare trenches about eight inches deep and 

 eighteen wide for the plants. Then we are on 

 the watch for showers, so as to get as many out 

 as possible before the rain. 



Sometimes we have three or four showers a 

 day, and the cloud scenery resulting is often 

 marvellously beautiful; but usually they make 

 their appearance some hot afternoon about 

 three or four o'clock. 



A person living in the city can have little 

 idea of thunder-storms as they occur in this 

 mountain region. The hills about us, while 

 they attract the electrified clouds, are also our 

 protection, for, abounding in iron ore, they be- 

 come huge lightning-rods above the houses 

 and hamlets at their bases. But little recks old 

 Bear Mountain, or Cro' Nest, Jove's most fiery 

 bolts. The rocky splinters fly for a moment; 

 some oak or chestnut comes quivering down ; 

 but soon the mosses, b'ke kindly charity, have 



