AGSICULTtRE OX THE RHIITE. 159 



US, but in autumn the stubbles are grazed down. The 

 disorderly habits that have such influence in after life, 

 it may safely be asserted have their root in the practice 

 of sending children to watch the cattle on the (un- 

 inclosed) stubbles. Big and little meet here together. 

 The cattle are allowed to graze for the most part on other 

 people's lands ; little bands are formed, where the older 

 children teach the younger their bad habits. Thefts are 

 discussed and planned, fighting follows, then come other 

 vices. First, fruit and potatoes are stolen, and every 

 evening at parting the wish is entertained that they may 

 be able to meet again the next. Neither fields, gardens, 

 nor houses are eventually spared, and with the excuse 

 of this employment it is scarcely possible to bring the 

 children together to frequent a summer day-school, or 

 to attend on Sundays to the weekly explanation of the 

 Christian doctrines.' " 



It appears, from this picture of village habits, that the 

 circumstance of every family living in its own house and on 

 its own small property is not a panacea for all social evils. 

 The colours of the sketch we have quoted might easily 

 be heightened, and the loose notions of honesty that pre- 

 vail in the business transactions of the largest class of the 

 people might be traced to a wider school than the vil- 

 lage pasture fields, were ve inclined to dwell upon the 

 dark side of the picture. 



In the sandy Mayfield, where grass is scanty and arti- 

 ficial grasses not sufficiently common, leaves are con- 

 stantly used for fodder. The poplar is the favourite tree 

 for this use, and the crown is cut off to allow the young 

 shoots to spring/ like osiers. These shoots are cut every 

 fourth year at Michaelmas, and tied up into bundles, 



