THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FAEM. 69 



to the bristles projecting out on each side his beak, 

 falls ultimately, gasping, an exhausted easy prey for the 

 concealed poacher, who then just draws the bean back 

 by the bristle ends, and has an affrighted but uninjured 

 prize. 



Yesterday — blessed day that it was for man, bird, and 

 beast — there was such a number of the hens running 

 coyly about the shrubberies, with a mate or lover gor- 

 geously plumaged in attendance, as though upon the 

 look-out for lodgings. So warm, so deliciously April- 

 like was the air, only wanting the perfume of later 

 spring. The speckled thrush hopped in and out, too, 

 amidst the ivy-leaves, and the nuthatch was busy upon 

 the bark of the willow^, where they annually breed. 

 Ever and anon a splendid salmon leaped out upon the 

 reach below the house, making one long for the expira- 

 tion of the current fence month, so gaily glancing back 

 to his dark home, his path being quite visible under the 

 surface by a line of silvery sheen. The bees, too, awoke, 

 filling the greenhouse with quite a lively, sociable buzz 

 of industrious occupation. 



Talking of industry, I am reminded that co-operation 

 between employer and employed is the order of the 

 day. As it affects us — the question being, How can it 

 be adopted upon a farm ? In two instances it answers 

 certainly well, and I should be glad to learn how the 

 system could be extended further. Being a good deal 

 given to exhibiting at shows, I have found it to my 

 advantage, as Joseph Ady would say, to share the occa- 

 sional success with those who have the care and keeping 

 of the stock exhibited. Instead, then, of a traditional 

 half-sovereign, I have adopted the plan of insuring the 

 cowman's life, so that he shall receive £150 when he is 



