350 THE ADIRONDACK. 



clearing was really a fine-looking man, and evidently 

 designed by nature for a different sphere. He had a 

 small garden, in which the vegetables looked well, with 

 the exception of cabbages. They appeared to have been 

 j ust set out. I spoke of this to him, and asked if they 

 would have time to head. "Not much," he said, " but 

 1 can't raise cabbages; the flea destroys them all." 

 " Why, that is very easily prevented," I replied. 

 "Build a close board fence where you raise the young 

 plants so as to keep them in shadow all day long, or, if 

 that is too much trouble, get some shingles or slabs of 

 wood and stick over them — the flea never crosses the 

 sun-line." He seemed to think it very strange that a 

 sportsman should teach a backwoodsman how to raise 

 vegetables — especially propose so simple a remedy as 

 that. I have no doubt it furnished a topic of conver- 

 sation for the family for some time. 



In the two clearings I have mentioned I saw no 

 books, not the sign of a paper, however old. The 

 people take no interest in what is going on in the 

 moving world around them — never asking any questions 

 whatever respecting it. They are so completely away 

 from the current of events that they do not try to keep 

 up the connection. 



