304 A FARMER'S YEAR 



Then we ran on to overtake the cart, but at a little distance I 

 turned back to look, and there was the living ox swaying over its 

 dead yoke-fellows ; there the two Boers staring sullenly at the sight ; 

 there the dismal-looking waggons on the vast and lonely veld, life- 

 less now beneath its winding-slieet of snow ; while over all, piercing 

 the grey cloud, a fierce ray from the westering sun fell like some 

 sudden and gigantic sword. 



To-day I have received by the post two interesting documents. 

 The first of them is a prospectus of Carton's, Limited. The work 

 done by Messrs. R, & J. Garton in producing new breeds of cereals, 

 grasses, and clovers is well known among agriculturists. Myself, I 

 have never seen any of these corns or grasses, but, if the published 

 accounts are correct, some of them must be remarkable. 



In their prospectus Messrs. Garton claim that among the cereals 

 they have created ' are composed a series from which new and 

 valuable food elements can be obtained which it is impossible to 

 obtain from the varieties now generally cultivated.' They do not, 

 however, propose to offer the seed of this series for sale, as all its 

 produce is to be retained by the company, when formed, for the 

 manufacture of ' new and distinct food products for human con- 

 sumption, for which patent rights will be applied for in due 

 course.' On the feasibility of this scheme it is difficult to express 

 any opinion. It may be remarked, however, that hitherto the 

 existing cereals, wheat, barley, oats, &c., have amply satisfied the 

 wants of man, although this does not prove that tribes of grain 

 possessing still richer qualities cannot be evolved by human skill. 

 Here is a question which only the future can decide, and one 

 whereof the development will be watched with great interest by the 

 world, though it may be doubted whether, shcRild Messrs. Garton 

 succeed in their tremendous aim of the creation of a new and 

 superior food-stuff, any patent law would enable them to withhold 

 the advantages of their discovery from the public. For the 

 present, however, most people would be satisfied with the improve- 

 ment of existing cereals, a task to which their skill seems to have 

 been directed with admirable results. It is to be hoped that the 



