FENCES. 
401 
keeping them in order, might be disposed of to greater advantage 
m other ways. Hedges, it is to be feared, will never suit om- 
climate — in this State, at least — miless it be our own evergreen 
shrubs. The hemlock is now coming into use for this purpose, 
in some neighborhoods. As regards appearances, hedges, close 
at hand, are very pleasing ; but at a little distance, they are 
scarcely an improvement upon the fence : they are still dark, stiff 
lines, crossing the country with a net- work of enclosures. Proba- 
bly we might at least do with much less fencing in this country ; 
it often strikes one that fields are unnecessarily cut up in this way. 
Monday, 21th. — There is an insect very common in the lower 
parts of the State, which we never see here : the ball-rolling beetle, 
so much resembling the sacred scarabaeus of the Egyptians. One 
observes them on all the roads about New York and on Long Isl- 
and, but we have never yet seen them in this county. If they 
exist here at all, they must be very rare. The sacred beetle of 
the Egyptians is said to have been rather larger than our insect 
of the same kind. 
Tuesday, 28th. — Very pleasant, mild weather. Charming to- 
day ; walking excellent. The farmers were right : we have had 
very pleasant Aveather after those cold days early in the month. 
Wednesday, 29th. — Very pleasant ; observed gnats in some 
places this afternoon. 
Thursday, SO th. — Pleasant. Long walk in the bare, open 
woods ; neither heard nor saw a bird. 
" Le bocage etait sans mystere 
Le rossignol etait sans voix." 
The long yellow petals have fallen from the wych-hazel ; the 
