Buniiiii^s on Raihvav Banks 



517 



tinned anxiety was experienced by many 

 owners of valuable property lest the dried 

 and neglected grass and weed-covered rail- 

 way banks should catch fire and spread it to 

 their adjoining premises; a state of things for 

 which there can be no semblance of an ex- 

 cuse, and which, as it is easily prevented, 

 should never be tolerated either in town or 

 country. Nor does this charge of over delay 

 in cutting bear reference to the first crop only; 

 for cutting of the aftermath, even where it is 

 sufficiently bulky to render this remunerative, 

 is often delayed till too late, or not done at all ; 

 whereas all foggage, and more especially where 

 it is grassy, should be closely shaven about 

 the middle of October, when its gro\Yth is 

 nearly completed, and, by thus removing 

 the old foliage, would effectually prevent the 

 l)revalent burning of railway banks in early 

 spring. 



5. The unskilful management of the crops 

 after they are cut. The utmost safety against 

 fire can only be ensured by removing the crop 

 in a green state, or before making it into hay; 

 but as this cannot always be effected, the least 

 possible delay should exist between the cutting 

 and clean gathering of it into small detached 

 hay-cocks, and these again into larger ones, 

 placed as much out of the reach of burning 

 cinders as possible, but only suffered to remain 

 there till sufficiently dry for their final removal, 

 and being made into small hay-stacks. In place 

 of this treatment, the too common practice is 

 to allow the crop to dry in swathes, which then 

 easily catch fire, and spread it rapidly in 

 whatever directions they lie. Again, gathering 

 such dry swathes together is often so carelessly 

 done, that a sufficient quantity to catch and 

 spread fire is left on the ground ; and when 

 made into hay-cocks they are often situated 

 too near to the rails, and allowed to remain in 

 this dangerous proximity much longer than 

 is needed to dry them sufficiendy for final 

 removal. 



In conclusion, we shall only notice another 

 means by which we are persuaded railway 

 fires are oftener originated than is generally 

 believed. In pre-railway days we had 

 frequently to travel on one of the best 

 equipped four-in-hand stage coaches, which 

 was driven by a Jehu of the right sort, who 

 had acquired the knack of jerking the long 

 lash of his whip so effectually and yet softly 

 round the neck of roadside barn fowls or 

 ducks, as to allow of his lifting and swinging 

 them genUy over his head, to be relieved by 

 the guard or any of the top passengers, who, 

 on letting them dovm again, enjoyed the 

 strangely bewildered appearance which they 

 exliibited after having thus returned from their 

 involuntary ariel flight. This piece of whip 

 dexterity coachey justified on the plea that it 

 did the fowls no harm, but rather taught 

 them to keep out of harm's way for the future, 

 while it afforded a passing amusement to the 

 outside passengers when he had any, and 

 when he had none it relieved the tediously 

 monotonous existence of himself and the 

 guard. Railway station attendants, who are 

 compelled to pass frequent intervals in listless 

 idleness, also occasionally urge the excuse of 

 the necessity of excitement to counteract this 

 tedious monotony, when remonstrated with 

 for passing in needlessly close proximity to 

 advancing trains, and performing other 

 dangerous feats for which there may be no 

 existing necessity. And seeing that the 

 occupations of both railway engine drivers 

 and their firemen are not less tiresomely 

 monotonous than those of coachmen, guards, 

 and station attendants, they may also claim 

 the necessity for a little exciting amusement 

 when they indulge, as we have seen them, in 

 the thoughtless pastime of ejecting live coals 

 upon patches of withered herbage, and hay- 

 cocks — looking back as they sped on their way 

 to see whether a Httle curling wreath of smoke 

 gave indication of their having hit the mark. 



