The Elm. 



Chaffinches and Greeiifinches, the plants came np and got 

 into rough leaf before November 5 when, being so very 

 young, the severe frosts which we had in that month, did, 

 I am afraid, totally destroy them. I shall not be sure of 

 this for a month or two hence (it is now February) ; but 

 I ascertained the ftict that Elm seeds will grow as easily as 

 Onion seeds, and that they wdll come up much more quickly. 

 Mine came up before I expected that they would; they had 

 been poking their heads out of the ground two days before 

 I perceived it 5 and, when I did perceive it, I perceived the 

 ground covered over with the roots, with which the Finches, 

 from their closely neighbouring abode in a warm and lofty 

 shrubbery, had strewed it, by stripping off the heads of 

 the seed the moment they made their appearance above 

 ground. 



234. Let me stop here to beseech, with the greatest 

 earnestness, all those who sow Elm seeds, to guard the 

 beds effectually against these unreasonable, persevering, 

 and ever-active foes. They set at defiance all your boys 

 and girls and shoy-hoys ; they have done their work for 

 the day long before any boy or girl or man can be got out 

 of bed. These gentry go to their beds at sun-set, a very 

 good hint for us ; and they have their meal for the day many 

 minutes before the sun rises. At the first glimpse of the 

 Aurora they are on your beds 5 nothing escapes their eye, 

 and the beak follows the eye instantaneously. I knew' that 

 these provoking creatures never gave rest to radish, turnip, 

 and other peppery seeds ; I knew that they harassed the 

 beds of firs and spruces 5 but how should I thhik of their 

 being so fond of a rough and husky seed like that of the Elm, 

 and especially when 1 knew that neither they nor their 

 progenitors had ever seen abed of Elm seeds before. Such, 



