THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FAEM. 201 



esculent ! I shall hope to clear my crop, in the end, of 

 disease, by this plan of sowing the invalids in autumn. 

 Some of my friends, who have tasted my deep-sea crop 

 of last year, and found what a floury lot I obtained 

 from what was otherwise of little comparative value, are 

 about to copy my example this year. The farmers I 

 cannot persuade. For some reasons one might, if 

 selfish, be thankful : but then one musn't be selfish, 

 and just this moment one's bound to be off: so good- 

 bye. 



February, 1869. 



At last the winds and rain have come. The heavens 

 have broken in earnest, and the full-flooded river hath 

 over-run the bank, pouring in, I observe, along an old 

 ditch (the filling-in of which must have shrunk from 

 its original dimensions), and at the mouth of which I 

 shall fix sluice-gates next year, so as to be able to warp 

 the flat meadows of thirty acres at will, at the same 

 time constructing a main drain by which to draw off 

 the stagnant volume of water, which is apt to abide too 

 long upon the same place. It is so delightful sailing 

 over the fields. There being no stream to oppose, you 

 positively tear along. Returning after nightfall, I 

 steered my boat right over a high flight of rails, and 

 moored her in a meadow, with the bows tied to a stile, 

 and the stern to a bush ! There is a grand wind blow- 

 ing now, and I shall soon be off, so I must make sail 

 fast in the delivery of my sentiments. 



I have been greatly amused by listening to the 

 recital of the woes of a yoimg agriculturist who has 

 bought a fine tract of improveable land in Ireland, 

 but which he farms at duelling distance, being as far 



