264 NATURAL APPEARANCES 



The gloom of the declining year, enlivened by the 

 rich and bright colours of fading leaves, 



" Now cheer the landscape in decay ;" 



which to some are more interesting than the blos- 

 soms of spring, or the radiance and verdure of sum- 

 mer. Ripened berries in a great variety also at 

 this season adorn the hedges and decorate the 

 groves, as the hip, the haw, the sloe, the black- 

 berry, &c. 



The common martin, whose nests hung under the 

 eaves of our houses, aftbrd so agreeable a spectacle 

 of parental fondness and assiduity, usually disap- 

 pears in October. As this, though one of the 

 smallest of the swallow kind, stays the latest, its 

 emigration to distant climates is less probable than 

 that of the others. 



In most of the wine countries in Europe the vin- 

 tage takes place in October. The grape is one of 

 the latest fruits in ripening. When gathered, -they 

 are immediately pressed, and the juice is fermented 

 like that of apples in making cider 



This month is particularly chosen, on account of 

 its mild temperature for the brewing of malt liquor 

 designed for long keeping, which is therefore com- 

 monly called old October. 



The former continues to sow his winter corn 

 during this month ; and wheat is frequently not all 

 sown till the end of it. When the weather is too 

 wet for this business, he ploughs up the stubble 



