THE PROPHET NOT APPRECIA TED. 335 



that usually goes by the name of " wintering " and " winter keep " 

 in this and the neighbouring districts. It is proper to say, how- 

 ever, that, though so difficult to move to an earlier date in corn- 

 sowing, our people here have of recent years been more amenable 

 to good advice in the matter of potato culture. This year a large 

 breadth of potatoes was planted in March and early April, and the 

 consequence is that these are now nearly ripe, and of the best 

 quality, stronger too, and in every way better able to resist the 

 attacks of blight — absit omen ! — should it unfortunately come their 

 way, as we hope it won't ; while the still green and half-ripe tubers 

 of later plantings would probably suffer largely under a similar 

 visitation. Not even when it is quite ready for the sickle do 

 people generally cut their corn timeously. Too often it is allowed 

 to ripen overmuch, till the straw is over-dry and sapless, besides 

 the inevitable loss of grain in the stocking and subsequent ingather- 

 ing. It is very much the same with hay. As a rule, it is left too 

 long uncut, by which its quality is sadly deteriorated. N"or is this 

 mistake in haymaking peculiar to the west coast, but much too 

 common over aU the country. Even in Morayshire and about 

 Inverness the hay crop is, as a rule, allowed to ripen over-much. 

 If it were cut ten days or a fortnight earlier it would weigh more, 

 smeU sweeter, be more nutritious, and better every way than under 

 the present system, which allows it not merely to ripen, but to 

 more than ripen, to wither up and lose most of its sap and seed 

 before it is cut and secured. It may, perhaps, be laid down as an 

 axiom that root crops cannot be allowed to ripen over-much ; 

 cereals and grasses most certainly may. 



CavUl's recent attempt to swim the Channel, in rivalry of Captain 

 Webb's feat, was a failure, and had medical aid not been so 

 opportunely at hand when the swimmer, comatose and unconscious, 

 was lifted out of the water by his friends in the attendant lugger, 

 the venture, noteworthy, though unsuccessful, for its pluck and 



