618 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



About the 25th of July I took a trip through the county of Corn- 

 wall on the London and Great Western Railway, a fine double track 

 road that runs from London to Land's End, a distance of 325 miles, 

 and along litis road 1 saw the fanners cutting lovely fields of wheal 

 wiih the binder (probably American). Two weeks later 1 went to 

 London, a distance of 247 miles from Plymouth. We passed through 

 l lie counties of Devon, Somerset, Wilt, Berks, Bucks aud Middle- 

 sex, and from Exeter to Loudou, a distance of 197 miles, our traiu 

 did not stop, it being the lougest regular scheduled run in the world. 

 This part of Eugland is a beautiful farming country, and we noticed 

 a great deal of wheat being cut. It was such a heavy staud that 1 

 called my son's attention to the heads. The whole field looked like 

 a solid mass. All stood up straight and had a striking appearauce. 

 In most instances the binder was at work with the old fashion sickle. 

 I, however, think they were preparing for the binder. Ten days 

 afterwards, while traveling on the London and South Western Rail 

 way from London to Southampton, I noticed them hauling the wheat 

 in. It was then the 22d day of August. It should be understood 

 that their country is devoid of storms such as are prevalent here, 

 hence their grain stands up and ripens in good shape. 



As stated before, the raising of stock constitutes one of the 

 farmers' special sources of income. They, therefore, raise a great 

 deal of vegetables, such as beets, turnips, carrots, etc., to feed during 

 winter. It is a common thing to see at least one field on every farm 

 filled with those vegetables, and owing to the nature of the climate, 

 nearly all vegetables grow to perfection. 



Some parts of England are noted for the high class of fruit grown, 

 especially so in Devonshire, and there seems to be a good market 

 for all kinds of fruit, nothing is left to grow wild, such as cherries, 

 etc. It has to be fit for the market or come away. Cherries are 

 picked and marketed with the stems on, and in that way retain 

 their flavor. There were plenty of cherries during the whole of the 

 six weeks I was there, yet the season was over at home before I left. 

 The largest cherries we ever saw T was in the London market. Straw- 

 berries and gooseberries grow very large and have a good market. 

 Apples are highly cultivated in Devonshire, and their flavor has 

 a world-wide reputation. Cider made out of those apples improves 

 with age, and the price of a barrel of cider increases according to 

 the years it is old. While in London I noticed in many different 

 parts Devonshire cider advertised for sale. A market day in the 

 town of Tavistock, Devonshire, we took dinner at the Queen's Head 

 Hotel, and what was known as the market day dinner. Farmers 

 lined the table and a typical "John Bull" farmer carved with the 

 largest knife and from the biggest piece of beef I ever saw on a 

 waiter. Cider w T as served to those who wished if. After dinner 

 they all sat around the table according to their custom and enjoyed 

 a glass of grog or a cigar, which went with the dinner. Price of 

 dinner, a half crown (62 cents). The day was very w r arm for them 

 and they appeared to be almost famished. I heard them say they 

 had not experienced such weal her for many years. An hour or so 

 later we met the large gentlemanly farmer (who carved at the 

 table) on the street, and he said, "You people don't seem to mind 

 the heat." We told him no, it was very pleasant for us. I asked 

 him w r hat the thermometer stood, and he said, away up to 82. Says 

 I, "That is nothing, two weeks ago I was where it was 105." 



