54 
The Journal of the Royal 
liighest results, is the owner of and sole labourer on 
the plot of well tilled and carefully tended land now 
about to be described. He is an agriculturist to the 
manner born, dearly attached to his calling, and unspar- 
imr in his endeavours to achieve a fair measure of 
success. In the awards recently made under the auspices 
of the Victoria-Beltield Agrciultural Society he secured 
an enviable place, and obtained not only a prize, but 
what is more important, an impetus to aim at the 
premier place in the order of merit when the tests are 
next applied to the farms in the district. The farm 
is situated aback of Victoria Village at a distance inland 
from the railway line of about 2 J miles. It is one of 
many in these parts, all conducted by the energy of 
men without means, wdiose entire capital consisting 
of the labour of their sinewy arms, is invested in their 
provision grounds. With little ability, except that 
received from nature in the sliape of striking powers of 
observation and imitation, these men extract from the 
soil the means of keeping themselves and their families 
in being, if not in well-being. The journey to the farm 
may be covered on foot along a rugged roadway, which 
is not passable in wet weather by those who are unable 
to travel barefoot, or in a boat by means of a good wide 
trench stretching for miles aback. This trencli is 
bordered by rank vegetation, permitted to grow^ un- 
checked bj^ an indulgent Village Council, whose dury it 
is to keep the waterway and its banks clean. On the 
way inwards dead carcases oifend the nostrils of all wlio 
are compelled to come within reach of their effluvia, 
except perhaps the crowds which, from the quauoily of 
tempting fare w^ithin their reach, abound in these quarters. 
The farmers have not yet acquired the art of converting 
