288 THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 



has pleasure in recording his experience for the benefit 

 of the agricultural community at large, — amongst 

 whom, as amongst all pupils, there are plenty to doubt 

 his ability and dicta. But away with philosophic re- 

 flection; it is too hot for that. To record results. First 

 let me resume the old story of the autumn-planted 

 potatoes. What are above ground appeared much 

 later — as I have always found to be the case — than 

 the spring planted ; but, when once up, they rapidly 

 overhauled them in the race, as though they have a 

 stronger propulsive power somewhere, either in their 

 roots finding more moisture from being lower placed, 

 or from the stem's muscles being firmer because of 

 their greater age. About one-seventh have not shown, 

 even yet ; but when I stirred the soil with my spud, 

 I found lots of white tender shoots working to get 

 clear of their immurement. I have consequently sent 

 a man with a fork to loosen the solidified mould along 

 the line of the invisible. It would have been well if 

 I had run GaiTett's horse-hoe over the plot in the 

 early spring, as I fully intended doing, but was over- 

 advised. What a nuisance is advice ! Jt is sure to 

 put a man wrong unless his counsellor be intimately 

 informed of every unknown quantity in the problems, 

 which can rarely be done. But I will not dwell further 

 on the disagreeable, except to say that henceforth I 

 will follow no advice that does not fit in with niy own 

 inclination ; and unsolicited advice I will throw back 

 in the giver's face. But, as my temper's boiling, I had 

 best proceed with my story and let reflection on the 

 past alone. I have one pool the overflow of which 

 runs on to a rye-grass plot that helps to supply the 

 cart-stable, and around which the wild ducks build, 



