The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

HINTS FOR ALLOTMENT HOLDERS. By SPADE-WORKER. MAKINO UP FOR LOST TIMB. The present week may be said to afford a last opportunity of making good any de- ficiencies as far aa parsnip, Broad beans, shalot, artichoke, and leek are concerned. Of course, leek plants can be purchased later on, but delay in getting in the other crops will mean disappointment. Leeks raised from seed sown out of doore now will never develop into large specimens, but they will nevertheless prove mest useful next winter and early spring. For getting rough land into suitable condition for sowing and planting there is no better tool than the Canterbury hoe, a strong three-pronged im- plement which will do a lot of work in a short time. The mattock is another most useful tool for rough ground; it breaks down clods and lumps admirably, though it does not make such a good tilth as the Canterbury hoe. THE VEGETABLE MARROW. Those who have a email frame or green- house should now sow soeds of vegetable marrow, placing one seed in each small flower-pot, filed with fairly light soil. It is advisable to push the seed in the soil edgewise, as is done with that of cucum- ber; otherwise it may decay instead of ger- minating. If kept moist the seeds will soon germinate, and by the midle of May the little plants will be ready to plant out of doors. Failing a frame or greenhouse sow. the seeds about the second week in May where the plants are to grow; they should be put about 2in. deep. I find the vege- table marrow likes nothing better than a bed made up of odd pieces of turf and weeds, with which some leaf mould and manure are mixed. This is better than, us- ing a lot of manure, which causes rank growth. I grow my marrows in the same place every year, merely adding a little fresh material .to the old bed. Long White and Long Green are the best of the large marrows, while Moore's Cream and Pen-y- Byd are excellent small sorts- HARICOT BEANS. These form one of the most useful crops the allotment holder can grow, providing sufficient space can be allotted to them to ensure a fair quantity of produce. If, say, one rod of grourtd is sown there will be an abundance of haricots for ube during the winter months. I have tried several varie- ties, but none is so good as the Dutch Brown bean, which is to be obtained from most seedsmen. The plant is of low growth, but it crops heavily and the beans ripen earlier than those of any other sort I ha, e I grown, which is a great advantage in the event of a wet autumn. The beans are ready to gather early in September. Seede may. be sown during the next week or two; thev should be placed about 4in. apart, and" if all the seeds germinate alternate ones* should be removed, thus leaving the plants at about 8in. apart. Deeply dug and manured soil is essential to a success- I ful crop. PRIZEWINNING HINTS. -Mr. Frank W. Parks, who sends the fol- lowing hint and sketch, showing how to make a useful seed box, is awarded a copy i of "Garden Work for Every Day." The bottom of the box, which is removable and rests on two stripe fixed to the under part, is a full-sized slate. The advantage is that the seedlings can be separated easily; there is no need to "dig them out "—a pro- cess which damages the roots. I A Home Made Seed Sowing Box. When the seedlings are ready the box it :placed on the upturned end of a large flower-pot; the sides will then drop clear, leaving the contents in the beet position for easy handling. I PARSLEY AND MINT. It seems absurd that the allotment holder should need to beg "a bit of parsley." yet he often has to do so because he forgets to sow seed. A little seed only is needed, and any cdd corner will do, providing the soil is really well prepared. Dig it deeply, mix in some decayed manure and leaf soil, sow thinly, and thin out the seedlings to about Sin. apart; then you will hme first-class sprigs of this herb. Don't forget also te beg or buy a few roots of mint; this will be indispensable when the green peas and new potatoes are ready. It will grow any- where if the rcots are put in now and covered with two or three inches of soil. I KOHL RABI. This rather curious vegetable is becom- ing more popular on allotments, if one may judge by the number grown last eeasom. In appearance it is quite decorative.^ There are two small points to observe if this vege- table is to be really enjoyed; the first is to sow only on rich soil, and the second is to pull the roots before they are fully grown—when the.y are about the size »f a small orange. If allowed to reach full they become tough and strongly flavoured. Sow thinly in rows 12 to 14in. apart, and thin the seedlings to 6 or Sin. apart. ■ PRIZE COMPETITION FOR ALLOT- MENT HOLDERS. Every week two prizes are offered for the best allotment hint or recipe. The prizes consist of useful gardening books. All en- tries for this competition must be addressed KSpadeworker," care of Editor of thiii paper. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. K. R.—The failure of the radishes is due partly to lack of rich soil, and prob- ably partly to a poor strain of seed. Radishes must be grown quickly if they an to bo satisfactory, and rich soil Î8 neces- sary to ensure this. You should obtain a good variety of globe-rooted radisty W. S. E.—It is not altogether too laU; to sow onion seed out of doors, though OR cannot expect large bulbs. If your soil is not ready it would pay you best to buy plants and put them out within the next fortnight. Novioe.-You may sow lettuce seed anr time now,. providing the soil is dry enough to be brought down to a fine tilth with fork and rake. Choose one of the cabbage varie- ties, such as Hercules. This will be ready sooner than a oos or tall sort. Mantre the soil if possible and sow a little seed at in- tervals of a fortnight. "Spadeworker" is open to give practical tdvice, free of charge, to reader* of this paper. Replies will be sent by "t if a 8tamped add envelope ia MMJeBed. Address your inquiries to Spad..orw," care of Editor.

§ 1 1 Take a Glass ol #| iL HAHLEY S 8 wiT*? *jf THREE SALTS I 3 B every mixTAng a.: ris" ? G d. frHili Clients 1 /fit' ti f,01a Cbemttt, .1'"lh- T),j, '<<

I Farmers Column. GUARANTEED PRICES AND GUARANTEED MARKETS. The ques ion of guaranteed markets for cam of the 1919 crop has been raised at certain farmers' meetings and by one or two agri- cultural writers. The latter have suggested thal although prices are guaranteed there may be no market for home grown corn next autumn and winter and that if corn be decontrolled the position of the farmer will be so much "he worse. Such statements may cause needless anxiety to farmers who do not understand exactly what 'he Government provision for guaranteed prices means. Therefore it seems to be neces- sary to explain that the guaranteed price does not involve any transaction at hat price. Whether corn be decontrolled or not the farmer will be able to sell his crop if he be so disposed at some price, even though it be a low one. Broadly, the State has guaran- teed *to pay the farmer the difference between the price at which he sells and the guaranteed price. The payment to the farmer is based on- a system of averages and acreages, and so far as it is possible humanly to arrange a scheme fair alike to xhe community and the farmer this appears to be done. SLort of the State taking over the whole of the farmer's crops, it is difficult +() imagine a* method which would give the farmer a greater sense of security than the present scheme. The guaran^ed price for wheat of the 1919 crop is 71a. lid. per quarter of 480 lbs., or 75s. 6d. per quarter of 504 lbs. The guaranteed price for barley is 61s. 6d. per quarter of 400 lbs., pr 68s. 10id. per quarter of 448 lbs. The guaranteed price for oats is 44s. Id. per quarter of 312 lbs., or 47s. 6d. per quarter of 336 lbs. The theory of the Governmen- guarantee is that it shall apply to that proportion of the en ire produce of each cereal which is normally sold, bul, not to that proportion which is con- sumed on the farm. The payment to growers of the difference between average prices and guaranteed prices is bated on a yield per acre of four quarters of wheat or four quarters of barley, or five quarters of oats resnec -h-ely. It is assumed that the whole of the wheat grown will be sold. Therefore the farmer will be paid for each acre of wheat grown four times ',he difference between 71s. lid. per quar- ter and the average market price for the seven tnoj.-Iifi con ineni'n? Septem! 1st 1919. Four-fifths of the barley and two- .hids of the oats grown are assumed to be sold. The barley grower will receive for each acie four times four-fifths of the difference between 61s. 6d. per quarter and the average price for ihe seven months. The grower of oats will receive for each acre five times two-thirds of the differ- ence between 44s: Id. per quarter and +ohe average price of oats for the seven months. Thus, whilst it will be to the farmer's inter- est get the best price he can for his in- dividual crop he is safeguarded against any II disastrous fall in prices due to heavy home crops, increased imports, or other unforeseen I cause. SOLDTERS AS FARMERS. Part of the Government scheme for settling ex.service men on h8 land takes the form of farm settlements or farm colonies administered directly by the Board of Agriculture. Between 12,000 and 13,000 a'.res of land ave Vl'eadv been acquired r these se.lemenis a. 1 it is u,timat. t that ov)r 450 ex.serv!;e all ''111 ultimately settle -r 'hese lands. At present about a quarter of that number have either taken up holdin-s or are undergoing a period of probationery training at the settlements. Twelve of the latter on Lady Day this year, having completed ther probation, will enter on the occupation of holdings ranging from seven +0 thirty acres at the Heath Hill Settle- ment (Salop). Nine pairs of cottages are to be built here and ctrtain existing houses altered. Two hundred acres are under wheat I at Heath Hill, 100 under oa's, and fifty-six under peas, and the seasonable work is well forward. SELLING SURPLUS STOCKS. I It is pointed out tha.t the Board of Agri- culture has already anticipated the suggestion of Mr. Alfred Davies, M.P. for Lincoln, that [' the surplus stores of Government Departments should be sold in such places and quantities as would give small men all over ilie country an opportunity to purchase. The surplus horses, tractors, etc., used under the aegis of the Food Production Department for the war emergency ploughing programme, have been disposed "'jf in wav gradually for some months past. Farmers who had been using horses on loan and were accordingly accustomed to the animals have been given the opportunity to buy them as local auctions, the opportunity to buy them as local auctions, and the harness, implements, etc., have also been placed on sale local!v. In the same way, as the tractors finished their work under tiie county committees and are withdrawn from service, they are being publiclv auctioned off in the counties where they have been working, None of the F.P.D. surplus stores have been sold privately or in large lots to dealers. Moreover, the Board of Agriculture has made sold privately or in large lots to dealers. Moreover, the Board of Agriculture has made a point of asking the Disposal Board to sell I a fair proportion of the demobilised army lorries at rural cen'res so that individual farmers or farmers' co-operative societies may have a fair chance of purchasing them. I It msr be added that good prices have boen obtained for the F.P.D. horseq-the last week's average price, was £ 76 per horse, and over* 4.500 horses have so far been disposed of a1 an ¡ average price of over 962. Nearly 200 differ- ent auction sales of tractors have been held and thev are continuing at the rate of about a score per week

CILIAU AEROM. A meeting of the Comrades of the Great War was held at Ciliau Park School on Wednesday week. Colonel J. L. Vaughan, Brynog, the chairman, gave a detailed account of the formation and objects of the society and said he was anxious to do all he could to assist the Comrades and their work. At the close of the meeting, Mr. F. S. Trafant, hon. secre- tary, expressed pleasure at seeing so many 1 present and stated that he had a number of pension and gratuity cases in hand which he was sending on to headquarters and hoped soon to arrange a Comrades concert. I '} .t. .t':

— — YOU fin THIS MACHINE ON MERIT. II -i I r;; [ I thi: 'LISflf CRBAM I (SEPARATOR ■or Perfection 0 1 D\Ï<:t'l. Material and Workmanshi p I this Separator. made throughout,in our wttrks by British Workmen, cannot be surpassed^ i <■( t 4, Capacities 25 to 80 Gallons. MODERATE PRICES. IMMEDIATE DELIVERY. Write for Catalogue to Sole Makers: R. A. LISTER & Co. Ltd. (Dept. S. 161) DUR«SLEY, GIos Telegrams Telephone: Machinery, Dursley." No 7. Dursley. 7' cunt ftKHfffftl'gM, LUMSAGO, se'A TWA. } Sure and Safe, fl08 re}nltation I Drug Stares, HnniMlMiMaBNMMMi

Cycling a.il,d' Motoring Notes ami corre.pcndtnce should be ad- dres,ed L,, "Th. Wanderer" c/o The Editor). CYCLING. Rear Lights and Parliau.-eut.—Unless cyclists are very watcnful they will find themselves permanently saddJd with a law making rear licjius a n Cc-ssity far all time. The replies of Mr. S: or'tt have shown that the attitude of the Government is t tally unsympathetic to cycling. The case has h. en in the interests of a lew wealthy and powerful moturists who wish to be at liberty to drive their cars at racing sp,ed in Lhe darkness. It ;s pleaded that the rear light is essential to the safety of the cyclist. What is far more essential is that the sternest methods should be taken against those motorists who would make the road unsafe for anyone at night. If a mad motomt is driving so fast that he cannot pull up when he sees a cyclist (or pedestrian) by the powerful glare of his lamps, then no punishment is too severe to inflict upon him in ca of an accident. What Ev,'ry Cyclist Must Do.—What every cycling reader should do now is to sit down and write a postcard to his or her present member of Parliament, insisting on his •im- mediately attacking the Home Office for a withdrawal of the rear light law. Write your member and ask him to at once oppose every effort to keep compulsory rear-lighting of cycles in operation. Ada, if you like, that on his attitude on this will depend your support or otherwise at the next election. But unless we make our opinions clear to those in Parliament the officials of Whitehall are determined to put this perpetual rope round our necks. The rear-lighting law was endured as a war-time measure; there is not the slightest necessity for it nowadays-except to enable a few reck- less motorists to scorch at will and at the risk of the lives of the public. MOTORING. Are Prices Coming Down —This is the ques- tion on the lips of most motorists to-day, whether they are car owners at present or only would-be owners. It is, moreover, a d fii- cult question to answer. The best-krfown makes* are listing th-eir 'post-war tnvd--is at figures nearly double that was asked prior to the war, and even ILW firms, selling an UB- proven machine, a.,f, «l:argmg prices consider- ably higher than one c uld purchase wall-proved cars in E14. There are three factors govern- ing the price of cars, namely, material, labour, and competition. The first two are high at the moment, and it appears as though the various manufacturers had agreed among them- selves to eliminate the third from their calcu- lations. When Prices will Come Down.-Prices will come down in the future, but it is difficult to do more than indicate the probab'e time and state reasons for one's belief. Much can be done to cheapen production by the use of up- to-date labour-saving machines, tools, and by lessening the amount of materia) employ f] in constriction, but much more wi!! be accom- plished when once the competitive s-pi it becmes active again. There is every possibility that foreign competition will be allowed in Septem- bers and even in the face of import duty being imposed, the effect of the arrival of American cars particularly will be to lower prices very considerably. If our home manufacturers do not sell their products this autumn at a more reasonable figure than they are now asking, they cannot be surprised if we owners are forced to look elsewhere. The Wanderer.

Poultry. .t LIGHT BREEDS.. Although we have now got well into April there is yet time to raise more ch.ckens from the ligh: breeds. The drawback' to hate these varieties early is that they come into moult alter laying a few eggs and thsa they may not begin to lay Again uu ii alter ,,1.8 winter has gone. These varieties have never been reckoned winter layers, the usual s. being to res, in the cold weather and only laj during the sunny time when, of course, eggs are cheap. But with the advent of the inten- sive system, whereby the birds are kept dry and warm, eggs can be ob ained from these all the year round. Thus a distinct advance is being made with this kind of fowl and a pro- fit all round is much greater. There is a great difference in the way birds are cared for in the manner of breeding. By hatching only from the birds which ac -ually lay a big number of eggs, strains have been produced which will lay over 200 eggs in the oourse of twelve-months. This is' a decide improvement on the old kind of farmer's fowl which seldom average 100 eggs each, taking the year through. Of course, the birds had xo be kept for such a long time doing nothing, and this meant an outlay on food without any return so that now although there is a slight increase in the cost the profit must be a great deal more. All the&e birds consume so little food when compared with such birds as the Orping on and Indian Game that there must be a saving all round which means profit. It is very necessary to bear in mind that when birds are kept on the intensive plan all they require must be supplied and nothing left to chance, as so often is done when they have a free range. Naturally, the most prominerr of these breeds is the Leghorn, and the by far the most popular. It certainly is a fine layer for so small a bird. It produces a large egg, but there are other colours which give a good account of themselves. The white has had some good breeders who have pushed it on every occasion and always advertised its virtues, and this is a long way on the road to fame. But the black has many times kept up a record equC! as good as tha'. of the white, but it has. not been pushed through. One thing with this bird is it will not show the dirt as much aid can be kept in a backyard and no one wil see that it is even dus v The brown is another dirt hider, and yet has proved itself a very fine layer. There is much more colouri.g here, and anyone wanting a pretty bird cannot got one bet'er than a brown Leghorn cockerel. Breeds closely allied to the Leghorn are the Ancona, Campine, Minorca, and Hamburgh. The Ancona is iust a mottled Leghorn and it has never suffered so much at the hands < the pure exhibi'-or. Some of the best exhibit5: are among the best layers, simply because the breeders have kept the two points in mind whe mating up heir pen". The Cnmpirie is rather a different Vpe of bird, being smaller and possessing a colouring that cannot be found i any other breed. It has only the two colours —gold and milver-but the latter is rt ore com- mon and one seldom sees the gold except on the show bench. Although of a similar style and character in many ways, the Minorca is very much of 11 e Leghorn type when one takes t' e actual t tilitv of the b:rd. I1 should have a longer back and a trifle larger body, but in comb and lobe, shape and quality of feather, it is much the same and the faults are alike in both. The Hamburgh is one of the most attractive and is a very pretty fowl whether in the colours or in black. D must hfve a nent T'ose comb and a clean white round lobe and thus make a contras1 to the Leghorn. It lavs r white egg, is a non setter, and lays a large num- ber of eggs though usually a little smaller than the Leghorn. _A

Mole Trappers, Gamekeepers, Marine Store Dealers, and others. SEEK SAFETY FIRST. HAVE YOU JOINED oar ev«r-!norftusing A'BJT of itatiafitf i Trappers who t-oniifn their MOLT5, FOX. OTTER, HARE. RABBIT aad OAT KN TO US; also PBE4SANT TAIL; FEATHERS, PLUMAGE, HOMSE HAIR, etc., etc. If net, why not ? I Mw Customers enrolled Daily. | Highest prices an,* prompt payments guaranteed. Latest price list now ready. Write us hafere sending elsewhere. Note our only ad(iresm:- R. Watson & Co., PIONESRS of the MOLE SKIN Industry OLDEST and LARGEST CASH BUYERS IN THE WORLD. Newcastle Street, London, E.C. 4 Bankers: Lloyd. Bank Ltd; Ludgate Hill, London, E.C.4. Telephone: Central, 5,317 Telegraphic Address "Thackmen" phone, Lon don. -+_ TO MOTORISTS Interesting Announcement NOW is the time to realise a good price for your MotorCar. We are open to buy high class modern motor cars for immediate cash, and will send our representa- tive anywhere in the Kingdom to complete a transaction. Send us full details and price I¥f}rÁf .#.) 297 Euston Road, N.W. ) ( Mo: com 2WJO) 173 Piccadilly, London, W. 1 (Regsnt -612) T^leiirams; Karbargins, London .-<o Agricultural and Garden Seeds. tt Agent for Carter's Special Guaranteed Seeds. Eggs, Butter in any quantity taken. ,;r'¡ ') -=- Cash payments on receipt of goods. :"t!t J. J. MORRIS, Grocer & Provision Dealer, Tea Warehouse, LLANILAR. -.I, sb99 Selected Seed FOR THE Garden and Allotment PEAS—Varieties to suit all Growers SHALLOTS Exhibition Varieties and Scotch. ONION SETS and SEED-Best Sorts. POTATO ONIONS. SEED POTATOES-Early arowte. Artificial Manure-Vaporite-Weed Killer. Flower Pots-All Sizes. Wreaths and Crosses to Order. Telegrams-WILKINSON, ABERYSTWYTH. Telephone—88. G. Wilkinson, 8, North Parade, Aberystwyth -I mmy POULTRY YOU TELLS 0 IW4 *OW LS IT 4): 0 IS the only thatt rn 00 "POULTRY' EVERY word* title fPrrr fRI84y- paper. IT 2d. Order it from your Newsagent, or write for Specimen Dopy-IT IS FR.EE-tf., Manager, "POULTRY," Hood Heitse, 71, FLEET ST., LONDON, E.C. 4. LIVERINE THE FISH MEAL. MAKES HENS LAY. Now being sold by all Poultry Food Dealers. MANUFACTURERS: LIVERINE LIMITED. GRIMSBY. TOBACCO POWDER (Free of Duty since 1856). For Lice and all Skin troubles in Cattle, Horses, Pigs etc., for preventing Fly on Sheep and Warble Fly in Cattle, also for Fleas, etc. on Dogs, Cats, Poultry and their nests. Noti-polsotious. No risks from CHILL as by Washing. Approved by Board of Agriculi-" In Tins, Is. 6d. and 33.; also in Bulk. Also Corry's Ringworm Lotion, Equisan Mange Specific, Maggot Lotion, Foot Rot Lotion, etc. SoIti by all Agricultural Chemists. Manufactured by OORay and CO., LTD., Shad Thames. London. S.B. c 4" Hartley's Grain Stores, Aberystwyth Seed Season. Oats. L ■ • • • i Scotch Potato r r: English Abundance. Ceirch du Bach. Black Supreme. Black Tartarian. • v 2s; r\ Spring Wheats. -'V "-¡ French Red Marvel. April Bearded. 1\ r Barleys. l' Standwell. Chevalier, etc.. Potatoes. Sharpes Express E^y Early Eclipse DO Great Scot (immune) King George (immune) Do I Ally. (immune) I Lochar (immune) Templar. (immune) King Edward. Arran Chief. I ABERYSTWYTH MOTOR COMPANY. Queen's Road. THE AUTHORISED AGENTS FOR FORD CARS I COMPLETE STOCK OF SPARE PARTS. SPECIALITY.—Ford Magneto Repairs, fiemag- netiaing and Rewinding a Speciality. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALES ABERYSTWYTH. (One of the Constituent Colleges of the University of Wales). Opened 1872 President SIR JOHN WILLIAMS Bart. M.D. D.Se G.C.V.O. Principal. T. F. ROBERTS, M.A. (Oxon), LL.D. (Vict), THE SESSION BEGINS in September JL Lectures commence early in October Entrance, Scholarships and Exhibitions, opea to both male and female candidates above the age of sixteen are offered fOr competition at the commencement of the session. Studenta are prepared fOr Degrees in Art, Science (ia eluding the Applied Science of Agricultural law, and Musie. Sessional composition feea in Arts, £12, in Science, R10. Sessional regis tration fee, £ 1. Men studenu reside in regis tered -lodgings in the town, or at the Men's Hostel, Warden H. H. Paine, M.A., B,Sc. Women Students reside in the Alexandra Hall of Residence for Women; Warden, Miss C. P. Tremain, B.A. For full particul-ar.a respecting the General Arts and Science Department, the Law Department, the Agricultural Department ihe Department for the Training of Element- ary and Secondary School Teachers, and the Hostels apply to— J. H. DAVIES, M.A., Registrar THE FURNISHING WAREHOUSE, Gr,-at Day-kgtitf, St reef. BEST VALUE IN FURNITURE. J. LEWIS EVANS, CABINET MANUFACTURER, r UPHOLSTERER, AND UNDERTAKER Begs to inform the public that he has alwaj*, alarge Stook of furniture, &o. made on the pnmin&