NOTES BY COLONUS.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1078, 14 January 1879, Page 5

NOTES BY COLONUS.

RAILWAY CARRIAGES. i have never yet patronised our railways-• the last time I visited Dunedin, r-ome mouths since, having adopted the ■ >ld- fashioned mode of horseback. Something I suppose I lost in the matter of speed by that process ; though my nag travelled very well ; hut our steam engines, whether thotoughbred or not, cEi not i-ecra at present V be remarkable for racing qualities, and I believe it is on record that a stray horse once raced the engine on the line and kept well ahead of the locomotive. Well, better slow and steady thau the contrary, and perhaps we shall put more steam on when we can afford double lines. As regards accommodation for travellers, as far as I understand, tbe difference between first and second class is rather too distinct. Though now they tell us that so many snobs travel first-class, that the nobs are beginning to go second-class,^ yet I suppose a large portion of the general public travels second class. I don't know that it is welt tho first-class carriages should he very luxurious, and the second-class yery much the contrary — soft cushions in the one, and bare wooden boards in the other. Personally, I am nob very particular about a hard seat — having in my den in the wilderness become tolerably well broken in to that sort of thing — as long as one has room to stretch his limbs, and is not cooped up like a chicken in the£egg>shell. Stil.l I can well comprehend, that in a loug journey, it is pleasanter to sifc on, say a bit of stuffed leather, than on a hard board for many hours. It is a good many years since I travelled on the continent of Europe, bnt, if I recollect aright, the Belgian

and Prussian second clasa carriages are much more comfortable than the English are, being padded with stuffed leather to sit on and lean'your back against. I don't know that it is quite correct to say, " we are all' low people here,' 'though I should think ours wasiather a plutocracy than an aristocracy,*atid I don't know that it is altogether desirable that oiir national railway system should show so much clasa distinction, as is involved in sott cushions and hard wooden boards. I think however, that large number of the general public who travel second class, and as tax-payers, are part proprietors of the railways and rolling stock, might reasonably insist on their own carriages being made rather more comfortable than they are at present. PASTURE GRASS. One of my neighbors tells me he finds Cocksfoot grass and clover the best to sow for permanent pasture in the ranges, and I suspect he is right. "White clover is a vigorous grower, and seems to hold its own pretty well, even with the tenacious cocksfoot. I suppose there is no doubt rye grass is the most nourishing grass for feed, but though on rich low lying ground it may do very well, it is not easy to get it to make a permanent sward on the ranges. "When land is broken up for a regular i o tation of crop.", doubtless rye grass is the grass to sow for hay, and some farmers object to cocksfoot, as it has such a firm hold of the ground • that it is difficult to get it out, when once in, so that it is apt to fn terfere with rotation cropping Ou our ranges, however, I think it will be found difficult to get a permanent sward of grass without the aid of cocksfoot. Wliat is commonly called trefoil, a yellow clover, seems to be a vigorous grower, and I ex spect a trifle of that mixed with other grasses, will be found useful for permanent pasture in our hills and ranges. As to rye grass it appears to be well understood at home, that there are two varieties, one being the common rye-grass an annua', or at most biennial, and tbe other perennial. Not improbably the ihsuccess frequently iv this country attendant on sowing rye grass for permanent pasture, may be accounted for by the annual variety, instead of the perennial having been sown.