
          663

to a colored man and learned the reason why straw was
put on the strawberry patches.  It is not done to keep the
plants from freezing, but to raise the plants sufficiently from
the ground that the berries while ripening rest on the straw and not
on the ground and are thus kept clean.  From P. we went to
Elkridge.  This time we had the right road, the road we should
have taken in the morning.  We reached the village very quickly.
As we had plenty of time we spent a short time in the village
church-yard.  From E. we returned to R. taking the same 
route we took in the morning.  We took the 6.30 P.M. train
for home.

[289]
March 28, 1902.  A day of rain.  The weatherman says increasing
cloudiness, possibly showers.  It rained almost continuously all
day.  Mr. W. and I had planned a trip to Middle River.  We each
left home about 1 P.M.   It was 2.20 P.M. when we got to
Middle River.  We took the path leading up, along the right
bank of the stream.  We found the walk beautiful.  Trailing
Arbutus was found most abundantly, It, however, was only in bud.
Later two sprays were found fully open.  The beautiful swampy
border of the stream leading down from our path, must be veritable
        