THEORY AND PRACTICE. 75 



ing bare fallows, from the time, three centuries ago, 

 when Sir Anthony Fitzherbert wrote ; and for three 

 centuries before, perhaps. 



But it is trying work, no doubt, to see the fields 

 around you teeming with richest vegetation nature 

 all alive in every direction with the bursting wealth 

 of present produce and maturity, and to toil on 

 nevertheless upon the bare and burning fallow, where 

 the very dews of Heaven refuse their evening tear, 

 and the morning ray darts in wide vain search after 

 the liquid Brilliant that it finds on every grass-blade, 

 every leaf, and every flower throughout the rest of 

 Creation. One has heard of ' knocking a man into 

 next week ;' such a misfortune might chance to befall 

 one inadvertently, and on suitable provocation: but 

 to be ploughing next year for nine months of this one, 

 and three of the last, to see everything around over- 

 taking you as it were by a twelve-month, leaves 

 growing more juicy and green, and crops getting 

 richer and riper, and you and your fallow, like a sort 

 of converse Oasis, Desert amidst the Green, still 

 dragging behind, "feeding the air, promise-cramm'd," 

 a heart-sick waiter upon the deferred hope of next 

 year, It is trying work, no doubt ! 



But Life is full of it : and especially of such as this. 



