COMBINATION AND COMMINUTION. 33 



crop he meant, or how much per acre. But of course 

 I civilly f wished him the same,' gently shutting one 

 eye, as I saw it was the fashion, and had such a 

 pleasing effect : at which, being an old friend, he 

 performed the ceremony of inserting his second 

 finger between the fourth and fifth rib of my left 

 side, and informed me with a smile that * he saw I 

 understood chaff ',' to which innocently replying in 

 the affirmative, I added, for reason, that I had a 

 great demand for it of late amongst my friends, and 

 found it very useful in farming. Such are the 

 dark and recondite passages presented by my jour- 

 nal of that winter, which I offer for the information 

 and guidance of those who may purpose trying 

 novel experiments unsanctioned by the established 

 practice of their respective neighbourhoods ; merely 

 noting that there are some things besides the soil, 

 on this earth, which require a little tempering, and 

 pay well to a man's peace of mind for being done 

 quietly and neatly, without haste or heat, yet 

 smartly withal. 



Spring came at last : beautiful Spring ! that fills 

 the old heart with youth, and softens down to a 

 more genial and hopeful tone the frosts and snows 

 that reign within, as without, through dreary winter. 



