LEAVES FROM AN OLD DIARY. 
4(53 
go out of the Parish if the Farmers occupy land out of it, yet 
glean? is not an act w ch the Poor may claim by common Law of 
the Land, the case was decided in one of the courts a few years ago 
when it was contended for on that ground, when the verdict given 
was that gleangs was oidy by sufferance, a good custom but still 
under restriction as seems fit & right it sh d be. The women in 
general in this parish have gleaned this year 5 bushels each some 
small householders who keep a maid-servant send her out to glean 
& receive by contract one-half.” The corn so gleaned was as a rule 
sent to the miller, and the grist went far towards supporting the 
family during the winter. The children became bread-winners at 
a very early age, and although individually small, the united 
earnings of the family, assisted by the garden produce and many 
a help from the farm-house, for these were patriarchal days, went 
further to supply their simple wants than perhaps we can now 
imagine. Their clothing was chosen for its durability, the 
expenditure on finery was nil, and many of the unmarried hands 
boarded in their masters’ houses. 
August 27 “Took an evens ride to Hunstanton & put the 
seeds of Cineraria palnst. into the boggy ground under water at 
the pool near the Boat house at the turn of the corner on the left 
hand if you were [going ?] to the Boat” (a very reprehensible 
practice, Dr. Sutton.) 
— ,, — 29th “ Sowed seeds of Cynosurus cristatus in the Pightle.” 
Sept. 1 “ Went to the Cliffs observ* 1 among the stupendous 
pieces of Rock which had fallen down, one which had the impres- 
sion of a large Cornu ammonis [an Ammonite] upon it about 
20 inches in diameter, it was upon the Calk [Chalk ?] stratum 
I could not find the corresponding part.” 
Sep 2. Rain this morning after a drought of 5 weeks here (last 
Sum r there was a drought of 7 weeks) the rain however was 
trifling. Sowed seeds of Poa irratensis on the 3rd Sept 16 .” 
Sept 4. “ The rain now comes plentifully ; the farmers say they 
never remembered so great & piercing a drought, some of the 
weather has been excessively hot & for a continuance. I observed 
the white-thorn fences in the new enclosures at Thornham (planted 
about 5 years) to have shed their parched leaves as tho’ blighted, it 
was a singular sight in harvest time — some farmers were obliged to 
open their hay-stacks the pastures being quite sear.” 
h h 2 
