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and this weather we generally have, at that season, instead of moist, showery weather, with 

 the south-west wind requisite to push on vegetation. If we could reckon on having the 

 dry sunny weather with the east wind in autumn, one imagines it would ripen and dry the 

 seed and enable the farmer to harvest it in good condition. However, as we cannot alter the 

 seasons, the only course to pursue is to try, by artificial means, to keep the soil in which the 

 seed is sown damp. Could this be done by sowing some composition such as salt, or some 

 other similar artificial chemical production, with the turnip seed, which might produce sufficient 

 moisture to encourage the young plant to grow, and at the same time make the soil itself 

 disagreeable to the insects ? It seems likely experiments of this sort might succeed: they are 

 certainly worth not only a trial, but many trials, by all of those interested in such matters. 



A few years ago perhaps we were all worked rather too hard, but at the present time is 

 there really any hard work at any rate is the hard work not too unevenly divided from the 

 all-play? Nowadays hours of work are shortened, and we have heaps of holidays. These, 

 probably, were thought requisite by the sticklers for them to enable people to think more; but 

 instead of their doing so for their real good, no holiday comes without its cotemporary attractions 

 of, I was going to say, frivolous amusements; and instead of spending the day as one of rest 

 from ordinary work, it really is more a day of toil to many than the day of ordinary work 

 would be; and how many, after the day is over, would not much rather have had a really quiet 

 holiday without the excitement caused by the crowds and the hurry attending the holiday. 

 Amusements are all very well in their way, but like all other matters they can only be 

 beneficial when enjoyed in moderation. 



