THE AORIGULTURAL JOURNAL. 



723 



available, but I soon knew all about it. 

 On a long trek when crossing a wide 

 river, perhaps the coudnctor, who knew 

 we had been without water all day would 

 tell the drivers to allow us to halt for 

 about half a minute, just to wet our 

 whistles, lip would come one of " the 

 Staff," fuming, boiling, bubtling over, 

 " Go on you blasted heathen. What the 

 blank do you irean by halting the whole 

 convoy." And often the end wagons of 

 a long convoy would reach an Outspan 

 an hour after the first batch, but the two 

 hour's halt was timed from the arrival of 

 the first, and consequently after about 40 

 minutes' grazing the oxen of the rear 

 wagons would be driven up with the rest, 

 inspanned, and perhaps wa't for half an 

 hour while the front wagons moved off. 

 " Staff " was all we murmured. 



I only once dropped out of the span 

 and that was in Vryheid. We had been 

 having cold rains and plenty of work ; I 



managed to stagger just pass the wire en- 

 tanglements which surrounded the town, 

 and then collapsed. I was at once out- 

 spanned and dragged to the side of the 

 road and left. Fortunately a kind- 

 hearted conductor had some lucerne 

 placed close to me ; this, combined with 

 a change for warmer weather, saved my 

 life, and I was able to join the others, 

 and go out grazing the following day. It 

 was a narrow squeak ; perhaps what 

 helped also to keep me from giving in 

 was the fact that there was a sentry with 

 a fixed bayonet on guard about fifty 

 yards down the road, and I kept think- 

 ing he had designs on me with an eye for 

 fresh meat. Well, enough. As Entusi 

 is not by I must end this ox tale. I have 

 only to add that I am still hauling away at 

 biscuits and bully beef with the earnest 

 hope that this state of affairs will shortly 

 end, and enable me to get down to the 

 sunny south once more. 



Garden Notes for January, 



By W. J. Bell, Florist and Seedsman. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. — During this 

 month the young plants of Cauli- 

 flower should be ready for planting out 

 from the seed beds sown last month. The 

 soil can scarcely be too rich for this crop. 

 Plant out in rows three feet apart, and 

 three feet apart in the rows for the large 

 varieties, and two and a half feet for the 

 smaller sorts. Advantage should be taken 

 of cloudy or wet weather for the opera- 

 tion, so as to avoid the severe check 

 caused when hot and dry weather follows 

 immediately after planting. Should this, 

 however, occur, a good plan is to shade 

 each plant if possible with a few ever- 

 green branches, or if these are not avail- 

 able a whisp of hay or grass tied round 

 a stake inserted close to the plant. This 

 may seem a troublesome performance, 

 but if it is necessary it will pay, as if 

 Cauliflower plants get a severe check they 

 will never make fine heads, and it may 

 also make a difference of several weeks 

 in the maturing of the crop. Cauliflower 

 and Brocoli seed may still be sown for a 



later crop. Brocoli is more suitable for 

 the colder districts of the Colony, as it is 

 more hardy. Early White Malta and 

 White Cape are the best varieties for this 

 climate. 



In the up-country districts. Winter 

 Cabbage, Savoy, Brussels Sprouts, and 

 Kale may now be sown, but in the 

 warmer districts a month later will be 

 early enough. 



The young Celery seedlings sown in 

 October and November should now be 

 ready to prick out into beds a few inches 

 apart previous to finally planting out into 

 trenches. Great care will be necessary in 

 selecting suitable weather for this opera- 

 tion, and the position of the bed, which 

 should be in the most sheltered spot in 

 the garden. 



Continue sowing for succession Dwarf 

 Beans, Lettuce, Radish, Carrot, Cabbage, 

 Mustard and Cress. In localities free 

 from frost in winter Vegetable Marrow 

 and Tomato may still be sown, 



