198 TRAVELS IN UPPtll 



is lost ; there are none which seem, as in cur 

 country, to be east down purposely to feed the birds. 

 The stalks, arranged in par^illel lines, and separated 

 from each other, as well as the roots which support 

 them, easily admit the impressions of the air and of 

 the sun ; and the cars, bting neither confined nor 

 stifled, are not subject to the rickets ; the grains 

 with which they are filled soon acquire size and 

 nourishment, and no miscarriage or sickliness is 

 found amongst them. Neither are their fields in- 

 fected by a crowd of plants, which, under the gene- 

 rical name of weeds, are in the greater part of our 

 lands a real bane to our harvests. The wheat is 

 sown pure as it is gathered, nor is it associated with 

 different sorts of grain in the same field, which al- 

 though of a similar species, yet not ripening at the 

 same period, cannot but produce a mixture as un- 

 productive to the husbandman as useless to the 

 consumer. 



Fields enriched with such harvests as these, can- 

 not fail to attract jiranivorous birds. Fli2;hts of 

 pigeons, pairs of turtle-doves, betake themselves 

 thither ; and sparrows, which may be called the 

 corn- bird, as they are ever found where that kind 

 of grain is common, assemble there about the farm- 

 houses. Thetufted lark, fixed to this fruitful land, 

 nevt r forsakes it; it seems, however, that the ex- 

 cessive heat annoys him. You may sec these birds, 



as 



