Interest in having good quality race horses seems to have gone along with having good quality work horses. Somerset farmers won twenty-nine awards in the top three classes for all horses between 1880 and 1890. (6) These happenings fit into a picture of "good times" in Somerset , a picture conveyed in a letter "Items from Somerset ", written by the anonymous "Swithen" in July of 1883, from which the following lines come. Our crops are looking just too lovely for anything. On the 20th. inst., we had a most delightful fall of rain, which was to the thirsty^land,after this long season of almost continual heat, what a desert oasis is to the languishing traveller, viz., life; and our hardy sons of toil are so jubilant over the luxuriant appearance of the produce of the field, that they are all ready to dance with joyful anticipation over the prospect of reaping a most bountiful harvest. Hay-making has already been commenced by some of our farmers, and the clear atmosphere is redolent with the delightful fragrance of the new-mown hay, while the busy mowing machine discources such music to the farmer's glad¬ dened ear as is is ravishing melody. Our crops look well, our dwellings look well and comfortable, our horses and cows look well, our cheese, cloth, and starch factories, all around are doing well, and everything is "blooming," everything denotes prosperity, everything denotes success, and I think we have very little to complain of regarding the success of the National Policy. Bully for Sir John and the N. P . (7) In September and November of 1883 "Swithen" writes again about the successes in Somerset : Mr. Patrick Keefe , owner of the Somerset House has enlarges his hotel; Mr. Patrick Moan invented a new plough which is soon to be marketed; and each letter includes a reference to success of the Canadian government's National Policy of protectionism. (8) LI,