THE CHAFFINCH. 277 



which showed itself when the clay had become dry : 

 and this resisted for a sufficient length of time the 

 effects both of sun and rain. The sickly parts, now 

 effectually freed from the enemy which had been 

 preying on their vitals, were placed in a state to 

 be cured by the healing process of nature ; and 

 that nature has done her duty, my apple trees 

 amply testify. 



Probably this nostrum is too simple, and not suf- 

 ficiently costly, for me to expect that it will attract 

 much notice. Still I think there is no harm in 

 committing it to paper. It may yet prove the best 

 friend to the cultivator of apples, when all his more 

 scientific and expensive resources shall have failed 

 in their effect. I may say of it, what was said of a 

 certain book of medicine in the olden time : 



Enecat, morbos fugat, atque sanos 

 Protegit artus." 



THE CHAFFINCH. 



" The thrushes chatter'd with affright, 

 The nightingales abhorr'd his sight ; 

 And every beast before him ran, 

 To shun the hateful sight of man." Gay. 



TIME was when the pretty denizens of air had no 



friend to encourage them to settle in this part of 



T3 



