226 AUGUST. 



the old yearly commencement of March: Septem- 

 ber, October, November, and December, mean- 

 ing the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth months 

 accordingly. Our Saxon ancestors called it, 

 says Verstegan, Am-monath, barn-month, from 

 the filling of their barns ; am meaning harvest. 

 Some say it was called, as well as June, Woed- 

 monath. 



In the middle of this month, the young gold- 

 finch broods appear ; lapwings congregate, this- 

 tle-down floats, and birds resume their spring- 

 songs. A little afterwards flies abound in 

 windows, linnets congregate, and bulls make 

 their shrill autumnal bellowing, and towards 

 the end, the beech-tree turns yellow, the first 

 symptoms of approaching autumn. The nut- 

 hatch chatters, and the robin's pensive note is 

 again heard. 



Hops are gathered this month. We cannot 

 boast of our vineyards ; but we question whe- 

 ther Italy itself can show a more beautiful or 

 picturesque scene than an English hop-garden 

 in picking-time. The hops, which have luxu- 

 riantly climbed to the very tops of their poles, 

 hang on all sides their heavy heads of scaly 

 flowers in festoons and garlands, and the groups 

 of pickers, seated in the open air beneath the 

 clear lustre of an autumnal sky, — age in its 

 contentment, and youth in its joy, — and the 



