60 THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 



just as it will if dressed with too liberal a dose of liquid 

 manure from the fold-yard reservoir. A compost of 

 lime and earth induces certainly an occasional tem- 

 porary settlement of clover; but the plants are rare 

 and, as the raisins in a school pudding, at duelling 

 distance apart. Whereas whatever be the nature of the 

 soil and the texture of a lawn submitted to the mercies 

 of an ordinary mowing machine, quite surely, and 

 almost before the moon has waned that dawned upon 

 the experiment, the desired plant will thickly appear. 

 Whatever can be the cause ? Is it that the bruising 

 of the strong grass-stems debilitates and discourages 

 them ? giving room for the advance of a timid plant, 

 which, indebted to Holland for its distinctive appella- 

 tion, yet most certainly partakes not of the failing 

 attributed to the people of that country by Canning, in 

 his famous poetical despatch to Sir Charles Bagot : — 



** In matters of commerce, the fault of the Dutch 

 lis giving too little and asking too much." 



Anyhow it would be most advantageous to us farmers 

 if the machine makers would put their heads together, 

 and invent some implement that would do on a large 

 scale for our pastures what the mower does for our 

 lawns. 



The increase of canine madness alarms one. Having 

 a team of nice terriers, and abundant rabbits to work 

 them with, one gets daily alarmed lest something should 

 happen to oblige their extermination. It is satisfactory 

 to know that caustic potash applied at once to the 

 wound is a specific against the poison of the rabid ani- 

 mal's fang. I have always a bottle-full in the house. 



How marvellous is the gift of scent ! How it struck 



