What are the ideal conditions for partridges? First, an old-fashioned
April--growing weather. Then an old-fashioned May, with blue skies
and genial sunshine, to be followed by a June without a drop of rain
that would hurt a fly by day, with occasional warm sprayings of rain
by night, to help on the insect-supply for the chicks, and to keep the
soil just as partridges like it when scratching for insects, but not
wet enough to clog their feet. The ideal June--the partridge June--has
warm nights and fine sunny days, without too much scorching sunshine.
The fine weather must go on during the first part of July in the
interests of the later-hatched chicks; and if August can behave as it
should, so much the better--but the most important thing is a partridge
June. Nothing can make amends to the partridges for a wet, cold June;
for nothing can bring their dead chicks to life.
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