CROPS AND PROFITS. 173 



veil of his own foggy humors, whenever he goes 

 abroad. My experience suggests that this capri- 

 cious fruit be planted under the shadow of a north 

 wall, in soil compact and deep ; it should be 

 thoroughly enriched, pruned severely, watered abund- 

 antly, and mulched (if possible) with kelp, fresh 

 from the sea shore. These conditions and appli- 

 ances may give a clean cheek, even to the Conquer- 

 ing-Hero. 



But it is not so much for any piqiiancy of flavor 

 that I prize the fruit, as because its English bloat is 

 pleasantly suggestive of little tartlets (smothered in 

 clotted cream) eaten long ago under the lee of Dart- 

 moor hills of Lancashire gardens, where prize 

 berries reposed on little scaffoldings, or swam in 

 porcelain saucers and of bristling thickets in Cow- 

 per's ' Wilderness' by Olney. 



Is it lonely in my garden of a summer's evening ? 

 Have the little pattering feet gone their ways to 

 bed ? Then I people the gooseberry alley with old 

 Doctor Primrose, and his daughters Sophia and 

 Olivia ; Squire Burchell comes, and sits upon the 

 bench with me under the arbor, as I smoke my 

 pipe. How shall we measure our indebtedness to 

 such pleasant books, that people our solitude so 

 many years after they are written ! Oliver Gold- 

 smith, I thank you ! Crown-Bob, I thank you. 



