196 
RURAL HOURS. 
Wednesday, 25th. — Warm and clear. Thermometer 83, with 
fine air. 
Long drive. The roads very dusty, but the wind was in our 
favor, and it is such a busy time with the farmers, that there was 
httle movement on the highway. In the course of a drive of 
several hours, we only saw three or four wagons. 
The farms look very rich with the ripening grains, but rain is 
much wanted. The Indian corn, and hops, and potatoes, have 
had more sun than they need. The grass also is much drier than 
usual in this part of the country ; but the trees are in great beauty, 
luxuriantly green, showing as yet no evil effects from this dry 
season. The maize is thought to have suffered most ; the farmers 
say the ears are not filling as they ought to do ; but the plants 
themselves look well, and the yellow flowers of the pumpkin- 
vines lying on the ground help, as usual, to make the corn-fields 
among the handsomest on the farms. 
Vines like the pumpkin, and melon, and cucumber, bearing- 
heavy fruits, show little inclination for climbing ; it is well they 
do not attempt to raise themselves from the earth, since, if they 
did so, they could not support their own fruit. The fact that 
they do not seek to climb is a pleasing instance of that beautiful 
fitness and unity of character so striking in the vegetable world 
generally ; the position in which they are content to lie is the 
one best calculated to mature their large, heavy gourds ; the re- 
flected heat of the earth aiding the sun in the task, while the 
moisture from the ground does not injure the thick rind, as would 
be the case with fruits of a more delicate covering. 
Thursdai/, 26th. — Lowering, cloudy morning, with strong breeze 
from the south-east ; one of those skies which promise rain every 
