Homesteading 



near the surface and keeping them well watered 

 and warm. Simply counting the numbers that 

 came up of course gave the percentage. 



As regards oats, there are several varieties, 

 including what are known as " Thousand Dollar," 

 and some recently introduced from Britain by 

 a well-known firm, but perhaps the " Banner " 

 oats are the best known, and if the seed be good 

 should yield as satisfactory results as any. Then, 

 too, small seeds of weeds have to be very care- 

 fully guarded against, and some of these are apt 

 to elude the most careful winnowing with fanning 

 mill and screens. 



So it was arranged that Bob should requisition 

 a cutter on loan from a neighbour, and with their 



two ponies make a trip to F with me ; so 



we returned to my homestead, and got things 

 into shape so that Tom could manage till my 

 return, and on the second day thereafter Bob 

 appeared with the cutter and the little team, 

 and we set forth. 



It was a brilliant morning, but with a very 

 low temperature. Our road lay due south and 

 the low, yellow disc of the sun was nearly in our 

 faces, on which, however, the keen air made itself 

 felt as we cut through it, especially down the 

 slopes, while the runners of the cutter gave out 

 that hissing sound peculiar to them when travel- 



236 



