CO ATE FARM. 17 



made for it in the general trench ; before it 

 was set it was looked at and turned over, and 

 the thumb rubbed against it to be sure that it 

 was sound, and when finally put in, a little 

 mould was delicately adjusted round to keep 

 it in its right position till the whole row was 

 buried. He carried the potatoes in his coat 

 pocket those, that is, for the row and took 

 them out one by one ; had he been planting 

 his own children he could not have been more 

 careful. The science, the skill, and the experi- 

 ence brought to this potato -planting you would 

 hardly credit ; for all this care was founded 

 upon observation, and arose from very large 

 abilities on the part of the planter, though di- 

 rected to so humble a purpose at that moment." 



This book also contains certain references to 

 past family history which show that there had 

 been changes and chances with losses and 

 gains. They may be guessed from the following : 



" ' The daffodil was your great-uncle's fa- 

 vourite flower.' 



" ' Richard V asked Amaryllis. 



" ' Richard,' repeated Iden. And Amaryllis, 



2 



