14 The Naturalist in Siluria. 



curiosity to measure one. It was over seven feet in 

 length, exclusive of tubers and rootlets, which would have 

 made it at least six inches more. 



This same year, in the aforementioned orchard adjoin- 

 ing of three acres area was reaped a crop of oats that 

 threshed out over 200 bushels, or seventy to the acre ; 

 this in damp soil, and under the shadow of six score apple 

 and pear trees, all old and umbrageous, and despite the 

 culms having been broken and " laid " by heavy rain- 

 storms long ere the corn could ripen. When green and 

 standing erect, they look like a sedge of bulrush. A boy 

 sent in among them to search for a landrail's nest was 

 buried above the head, and soon lost to my sight. Draw- 

 ing one, I laid it alongside the measuring-rule, to find it 

 5 feet 3 inches in length, and thicker than the quill of a 

 swan. So much for the fertility of the soil over the Old 

 Ked. 



From all which it may be deduced that a farmer 

 designing to take a new farm, or make the best use of 

 his old one, should know something of geology. 



HOW THE YEAES VARY. 



No one who keeps a diary of Nature's doings can fail 

 being struck with how they are diversified in the different 

 years. The variation is, of course, chiefly due to atmos- 

 pheric influences, but the operation of these is the ques- 

 tion difficult to answer. As who can say why one winter 

 is of the mildest, snowless, almost without frost; whilst 

 another is of rigorous severity ? Phenomena so marked 

 are noticed by all ; but the naturalist alone takes note of 

 their effect on the world of living organisms, vegetable 



