AT FOO-CHOW-FOO. 
119 
of the cold-region wind, that is, strato-cumuli 
loose above, even below, menace rain without 
fulling into a rain cloud. 12th, Sky overcast. 
The foam and colour of the water indicate that 
rain has fallen up the bason of the river Min, 
i. e. on the hills to the westward. 13th, Rain, 
clouds, and piping winds at the Monastery. 
14th, Day, a mixture of fine and cloudy. 15th, 
Morn overcast. Breeze fresh and cool. 16th, 
Morn, sky covered with hard-seeming clouds, 
clear as the day sprung up. 17th to 20th, 
Sky clear, with occasional variations of that 
dark-stoned and apparently solid mantle, which 
is peculiar to the N. wind in northern lati- 
tudes, as it is to the S. in southern latitudes. 
21st, Morn, light rain accompanied a cloudy 
dawn, or, the cloud was so low as to couch 
upon the surface of the earth. Day hot and 
misty. 22d, Day, very hot and misty. 23d, 
Day, very hot and sultry. 24th to 27th, 
AVeather fine and cheerly. The North- 
east Monsoon fairly set in. 28th, Day, fine 
and sultry. 29th, Day, fine and sultry. 30th, 
Day, fine. 
Observations of Husbandry and Gar- 
dening. — In this month the beds of the Con- 
volvulus reptans, or Oung-tsy of this place, are 
cleared and the soil turned up for planting the 
" pak tsae," or Chinese turnip. These are first 
sown and then transplanted, as are all vege- 
tables belonging to the Cruciferous family. 
The stakes and roofings as substitutes for 
trellis work which supported the different 
kinds of gourds and melons are cleared away, 
and the leeks, which they shaded, begin to 
lose their freshness and beauty. The fields of 
rice, that formed such an object of solicitude 
in the preceding months, are now compara- 
tively quiet, rejoicing in one continuity of the 
richest green. Still the farmers are not asleep: 
men and women are seen in the fields search- 
ing for weeds that may spring up unawares. 
The hoeing of sweet potatoes and the training of 
their stems form a part of the husbandman's 
business now. To water the roots and stu- 
dio earth has an obvious tendency to nurse the 
tubers, while the care bestowed on the tops is 
with a reference to their usefulness in afford- 
ing provender for pigs. The Eleocharis tube- 
rosa blossoms in this month. Its jointed rush- 
like stem makes it appear unique amongst 
plantations of rice. White awned and red 
awned rice in flower; these are planted later 
than the first crop of rice, and are later in 
coming to the sickle. They are called " sook" 
by the natives ; the latter crop just beginning 
loopen. This is called " wang cbing me ;"or, 
otherwise, "tew," the Foo-chow pronunciation 
of the Mandarin " taou." Job's tears, grown 
here for the sake of the involucres, or en- 
amelled sheath of the flower, fringe some of the 
rice plots very charmingly, as it is at once i;i 
fruit and flower. The leaves are softly turned 
and luxuriant ; the clusters or pauicles nod- 
ding their graceful forms. These beads of 
nature's own turning are in request for 
rosaries. 
Fruits and Flowers ln Season. — The 
longans are gathered in this month, and are 
met with in profusion every where. The zeal 
and joy that accompanied the plucking of this 
fruit remind one of greater things ; the au- 
tumn at home ; and the grape gatherings in 
the East. A fortnight, or three weeks before 
they are plucked, lodges are built to guard 
them from thieves, props are placed under 
their boughs, and their trunks surrounded 
with a ruff of thorns. The guavas are 
gathered generally before they are ripe, for 
the sake of economy. When taken from the 
tree with a nice attention to their colour and 
form, they prove very acceptable, but if bought 
from the stall they are little esteemed. Vari- 
ous kinds of toad-stools are gathered among 
the fir-trees by the peasantry; their colour is 
yellow, with a mixture of red. They are dried 
before they are fit to eat. Leeks are very 
abundant. The pik-tsae is fit for the table, as 
is also the sweet potatoe. The po-tsy, or 
spinach, appears. The brinjal is grown here, 
but is not remarkable for size or goodness. 
Animal Kingdom. — Magpies moult in the 
early part of this month, and are consequently 
seen moping in silence, or uttering a plaint or 
two as if heart-sick. In about a fortnight they 
overcome their indisposition, gain a new suit 
of feathers, and hold their noisy levees on the 
sides of the hills with great spirit and fire. 
The calls of the shrike, or butcher bird, are 
heard occasionally. Soon after sunrise he in- 
dulges the feathered tribes with a song, but 
he is so shy of letting his powers be known, 
that I am not aware any naturalist, except 
the writer, ever noticed it. The white herons 
assemble and wheel round as if mustering 
their numbers for an aery jaunt, though it is 
not apparent that all leave for southern re- 
gions. The fishing hawks assemble at day- 
fall, and wheel round in a kind of social 
pastime, or a trial of their powers, as they 
soar to a great elevation. Swallows begin to 
meditate a migratory journey. In this month, 
the Cicada?, seated upon the fir-trees, make 
the groves and copses resound. As the old 
ones die, younger ones emerging from their 
humble condition in holes of the ground, leave 
their last garments behind, and alter a fev 
hours climb to the tops of the trees. Song of 
the throstle, " Osheput" of Canton, and 
"t'liing chow" of this place, is heard at day- 
spring. The notes are mellow and heart- 
cheering. 
Events \m> General Remarks. — I am 
told that there is a current of old Spi!> 
