FARM AND GARDEN..

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4781, 24 July 1894, Page 3

FARM AND GARDEN..

How Long are Drains Effective ? A gentleman in Sydney, who received his training in one of tho Agricultural Colleges of France, .....njntes that one day the Professor emS?ed tho class room, and, laying on the tablo a piece of earth-stained j> pottery, addressed his students ■ something in this fashion: -"You aro aware gentlemen, that I have been away to examine and reporl upon a large estate with a view to its i being brought under more thorough cultivation. The property has been for many centuries in the possession of one noble family, and the records preserved in the castle go back almost ft thousand years. I found tho land capable of giving much better results than were obtained from it, for, with the exception of a portion near the castle, the crops were poor. Tradition said (hat this portion known as the "castle farm" had always been much more fertile than any of the land round it, but no one knew why, »for |Jit»soil was the same. The proprietor, a young man who has just come into possession, and who was of a progressive character, produced some very old plans which had been preserved in the eastle archives, no one knew how long. On one of them tho land adjoining was shown, marked here and there with lines which lie supposed showed the site of ancient outlying walls and fortifications. Curious to know if any traces of them remained, lie ordered cuttings to be made across the market places, when lie found to our surprise, not the foundations of prehistoric walls and ramparts, but dram, and, gentleman, the cause of tho exceptional fertility of Castle Farm needed no further epxlanation, The tiles were of white earthenware, and experts declared them to be Roman, and through tlicm the water was still running, keeping tho land sweet, and helping to produce the harvests which had fed generations after generations. The question is often asked ' how lung arc drains effective !' Gentlemen, let that Homau drain-pipe answer."

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The capacity of the horse for work depends much upon his harness. Stiff harness tires and worries liini. OiliiiEf tho harness will make it flexible, and will also make itmore durable, There is no better time for oiling harness than some day on ■which outdoor work is forbidden by the weather. A mixture of three parts neatsfoot oil to one part of beef tallow isa splendid application. A little lampblack may be added to blacken the leather; also a little castor oil to prevent the mice from nibbling. When the harness is being oiled is tho proper time to make any repairs. Very nearly all the repairing that is needed can be done at home, It will.pay to have on hand at all times a supply of linen thread, wax, a half-dozen assorted

neeillus, awls, and especially an assortment of copper rivets. Strengtliplaces will not only avoul vexations breakages' when one is very busy, but may also avoid runaways, not a few of which arc caused by tlio breaking of the harness.