TYING THE PLOUGH TO THE HORSE'S TAIL. [To THE EDITOR
or TRE " SPECTAvOR."1 fins,—In your number of September 20th last I observed a reference to " the cruel Irish practice of tying the plough to the horse's tail." May I tell you an experience of my own?
In the drought of 1891-1894 I had to take a mob of 880 mixed cattle from Strangways Springs to Pings Tingana, round the south end of Lake Eyre, In South Australia, a distance of about 300 miles. The first 100 miles was through artesian spring country, with long dry stages between the springs, and often some of the weaker cattle would get bogged. We used to pull them out by man-power, rising the pack suroingles, which in time cut our hands; and as we were getting up to three hours' sleep only per diem, It came rather rough on us; so we got a piece of rope, hitched it to the tail of one of our biggest pack-horses, and found that the beast came out without any trouble at all. We found also that when we struck a jibbing horse, he could always be made to pull by attaching his tail to the swingle-bar till he was warm enough to be let go into the collar. I do not think it I. so cruel as it looks—not so cruel, anyhow, as sore shoulders.—
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