The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

AGHICULTUBI. ? I THE value of the wheat imported in the first five 11 months of this year was compnted at X2,358,393, as 1 compared with £3,983,B77 in the corresponding period 1 of 1864, andR4,561,548 in the corresponding period of 1 1863. It appears probable, however, frem the slight ] advance in prices, that this year's figures will now revive, as there will be a greater inducement to im- ] port. While we are on this subject it may be interest- ing to recapitulate the payments made for wheat in 1 the ten years ending 1864 :-1855, £ 9,679,578; 1856, 1 £ 12,716.369; 1857, £ 9,563,099; 1858, < £ 9,050.467; 1859, 1 £ 8,713,532; 1860, £ 16,554,083; 1861, £ 19,051,464; ] 1862, £ 23,203,800; 1863, £12,015,006; and 1864, .810,674.654. A REFUGE FOR CATS.—Amongst the curious old in- stitutions still extant in Florence, is a house of refuge for cats. It is a cloister situated on the side of the church of San Lorenzo. When you wish to get rid of one of those interesting quadrupeds, instead of killing it you send it to that establishment. On the other hand, when you want a feline companion, you have only to go there to find a complete assortment of tabbies, tortoiseshells, blacks, whites, greys, and every other colour usual to the race of cats. There will be seen old cats, middle-aged Cilts, and cats just budding into youth: Angoras as well as the common species; in short, every variety of the species is plentiful in that unique institution. LOCKERBIE LAMB FAIR.-This extensive market for the sale of lambs exclusively was held last week on the Qubytewoollen- hill, near Lockerbie, The show of stock was made up of Cheviot lambs, half-breds, crosses, and a few blackfaced. Altogether there would be about 25,000 head against 28,000 last year. The condition of the stock was excellent, but its ap- pearance was considerably detracted from by the severe weather experienced. The attendance of buyers was large from the border and inland counties of England, but it was generally believed that the Stewartry and Wigtownshire sent the largest numbers. Prices for all kinds were extremely high indeed they have no precedent in Lockerbie. The great price of 42s. was paid for 100 half-breds from Wintersheugh, being 3s. 6d. above the price which the lot from the same farm fetched last year. All the other good lots real ised a similar advance, or nearly so, and, in fact, in several instances 4s. of an increase was obtained. One very fine lot of Cheviot wether lambs from Tinwald's-park sold at 26s. each. Though these high prices were going the dealers declared the market to be in a measure an unprofitable one for them and one or two, indeed, assured us that they were barely making their own money out of some of the lots. Half-bred lambs would be up from 2s. 6d. to 4s. each; Cheviots from Is, 6d. to 2s. 6d.; crosses. 2a. 6d. to 33, 6d.; and blackfaoed lambs from Is. to 2s. Half-breds sold at from 29s. to 42e.; Cheviot wether lambs from 17s. to 26s.; ewe lambs from 22s. 6d. down to 18s.; and crosses from 19s. to 23s. 6d. In the after- moon. a fair clearance had been effected, and any lots remaining unsold did not arise from the want of customers, but because of the high prices asked. The Harvest and the Food Supply. The public mind is now turned anxiously and in- quiringly into the present condition of the country as to what may be termed its agricultural affairs. The aspect is not very assuring in some respects; our flocks and herds are suffering from the attacks of ter- rible diseases, our pigs are being more than decimated, and, naturally enough, the consumer begins to feel in that state that he must either forego his usual quan- tity of animal food or submit to pay a price which may curtail expenditure in other directions. More- over, the prospects of the harvest do not seem alto- gether so favourable as to warrant the hope of a heavy store in our granaries, and wheat has already felt the effects in a slight but steady rise. The advices from the Continent are not without a ten- dency in the same direction. In France there has been a rise in the price of wheat, for the reports of the harvest there are not altogether satisfactory. Germany and the other, continental States are not by any means assured of having a surplus stock for exportation. From America there does not seem any probability of any supply for other than home purposes, where it is so much wanted; for the South has been so devastated by the war that the land has not yet received any attention for cultivation, consequently prices have risen in New York—a cir- cumstance which cannot fail to exercise a very mate- rial influence on the home markets. The horizon thus seems lowering, and it is of no use to disguise the fact that, taking into consideration at the present time the prospect of our food supply during the winter months, matters do not look very encouraging. It will be of no use to dwell upon matters at present looking discouraging, for if we are in a state of de- gression now, there may be a change, and our resources .arejabundant. Besides, commercially speaking, the coun- try is so far prosperous, and we may consequently rest and be thankful. In the meanwhile, the meetings of the agricultural societies are numerous, and the accounts .given prove that there is no depression in the value of land; on the contrary, prices have risen of late, and on a comparison of the present with the past, there is a great improvement in the value of property generally -even in Scotland. The Duke of Argyle is stated to have said that land which, a century ago, brought only £5,000 a year was now worth < £ 70,000 a year, and in the neighbourhood of our large towns land is sold at prices almost fabulous; and this of course reacts upon more remote districts. To those whose herds may be spared from this disease there will, of course, be increased profits on the sale of stock, and it does not seem unlikely that there may be a remedy found which will prevent the wholesale destruction of every infected animal. Mr. Major, in a letter to the daily press, states that he has a remedy speedy and efficacious. The early symptoms would appear to be tolerably clear, so that there need be no difficulty in reporting at once to any successful -antidote. At all events, it seems certain that, while admitting the terrible character of the disorder, a panic has been created w,hÍlJh has led to much hasty and rash action, as is usually the case; but when the first agitation which has attended the outbreak has somewhat subsided, we shall, perhaps, find that the evil has been greatly exaggerated. As regards our grain crops we may naturally expect a rise, but, with the granaries of the world open to us, we need not fear any very great advance of price, which, at the present rate of the meat market, would indeed be a serious evil.

HINTS UFO 1ST G-A-RDENIBTQ. ARREARS.A.t this time of the year most gardeners find themselves in arrears in regard to some depart- ments of their work but as little watering is now re- quired, and there is a momentary lull in the activities necessary to keep gardens in order, all hands may be piped to clean out pits and houses, improve shrub- bery borders by introducing plants to give effect dur- ing winter, and various odd jobs in propagating, &c. Read over the notices of the past few weeks, and see what has escaped attention, as with the fine weather now before us lost time may be made amends for by those who are diligent and vigilant. BEDDERS can only be kept in good trim by constant attention. Remove seed trusses, yellow leaves, and rank growths. Put in cuttings of whatever is required, and pot off those already rooted. Shut them up for a week, and then expose them to all weathers till the time to house them. A few cuttings of Derilla and coleus verschaffelti put in now, and carefully treated, will make nioe plants to group with chrysanthemums in the conservatory bv-and-by*. These two easily- managed foliage plants should be grown in every stove during winter. 1 CAULIFLOWERS to be sown on raised beds of fine rich earth; when they have their first rough leaves, J to be taken up and potted in thumb-pots, in good ] fuchsia compost, and the pots plunged in a bed of £ coal-ashes, As soon as the pots are full of roots, to be shifted to 60's. and in these to be wintered in ] frames, the pots plunged to the rim to prevent frost touching their roots. This may seam a dandified way J of treating cauliflowers we can only say that experi- c ence has taught us that it pays better in the end than any other method for a crop to plant ouj early in the -J ^CUCUMBERS for winter fruiting must be reared at 1 once, and cuttings are preferable to seed, as the planes 8 have a shorter habit, and are more fruitful. Take s very small cuttings from the ends of newly-made 1 shoots, pot them singly in small 60's, and shut up over a gentle bottom-heat. As we are not now using dung-heat, we shall put a small frame over a heap of I 8 grass-mowings, mixed with dry litter, which will c afford enough heat to start them, and keep them going till new beds are made up. But beware of grass-mowings alone, unless cooking and not growing J is the object. One half dry litter, and the other half b mowings shaken over, will produce a steady, lasting heat, of great value at this time of the year, when it is not generally convenient or desirable to have dung wheeled in. EVERGREEN SHRUBS may now be moved with the best chance of success, whether they be large or small. As to evergreens, such as hollies, aucubas, laurels, Portugal laurels, lauriatinus, arbor vitas, &c., they have all done growing, their wood is hard, and if lifted now will make fresh root while the surface soil is in the best condition of warmth and moisture of any period of the year. Where new gardens are being laid out, the gain of three months upon the ordinary plant- ing season is no small matter, as it enables the planter to get the chief operations finished at a time when the men enjoy the work, and the proprietor is enabled also to enjoy the result, and all to the advantage of the plants. Layers and cuttings of hardy shrubs put down now, and left till April or May, may then be re- moved, and planted in nursery rows with good roots. HOLLYHOCKS to be propagated from cuttings as soon as they can be got from the stool. Cuttings from the stems are of no use to amateurs, and should never be used by anybody except to increase kinds in great demand. MUCK-PIT.—There will for several weeks be vast accumulations of rubbish by removal of pea, bean, and potato haulm, and other materials for manure. It is a common thing to see rubbish thrust into holes full of water, in order that it may rot the quicker, the parties forgetting that water washes out all the good- ness of the material. It would be better to accumu- late vegetable refuse in one large heap, to undergo fermentation and decay without the help of adven- titious moisture; and if any offensive smell results, throw a layer of earth over the heap. Common mould is the best of all deodorisers. STRAWBERRIES.—Now is the best time in the whole year to make new beds, to insure good bearing next year. If rooted runners are plentiful, take the best only, and destroy all the weak ones but any varieties it is thought desirable to propagate to the utmost, sort the runners as to sizes, planting the forwardest and strongest in beds to bear, and the late weaker ones in separate beds for stock these latter will probably not bear till the year after next, and then will be strong plants. Strawberries to fruit in pots next year ought by this time to be strong, and in need of a shift. The soil should be strong loam, well chopped over with rotten dung, and the plants to be potted firm. -Gardener's Magazine.

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. Meors, Manors, and Forests. We extract the following account of sport since the commencement of grouse shooting, from the Pield:- Apparently, from the rainy weather which we have lately had, the bags made this season have not, as yet, come up to the expectations formed by the lovers of the gun, from the reports everywhere made of the past breeding season. Our returns are from this cause also less numerous than usual, the annoy- ance at being kept within doors being still more un- favourable to penmanship than the fatigue of a hard day's walking. The only really good bags which we have been able to record, are those made by Mr. J. P. Smith, and Mr. Hargreaves, of Worcester (the former getting 68 brace, and the latter 54A brace) on the 12th; and by Mr. Marshall, of London, who scored 661 brace to his own gun on the opening day. These are un- doubtedly good performances, but it must be remem- bered that all these gentlemen are crack shots, the first named having this year distinguished himself at the pigeon matches of the gun club at Shepherd's Bush. We hope next week to be able to record more extensively the doings of our correspondents in Scot- land, as well as in the Northern and Welsh Moors. During the past week we have heard of a good deal of disease appearing among the young pheasants and partridges, owing to the rains, which have been uni- versal. This must be expected, for whenever wet follows upon a long season of dry weather, the young birds feel the change much more than if they had been gradually accustomed to it. We fear that the corn will not be nearly all carried before the 1st of September, even in the south; so that the amount of sport on our English opening day will not be what was anticipated some weeks ago. It is a great mis- take to enter standing barley and beans in pursuit of birds, for it not only does a certain amount ot im- mediate damage, but indirectly it prejudices the far- mers against the sport for the time to come. ABERDEENSHIRE. — DELNADAMPH, STRATH- DON.-Sir Charles Forbes's forest shootings this season have been shot over by Mr. Forbes, his son, and the Duke of Athole, on the 12th, with the fol- lowing amount of sport, viz.: grouse, 70 brace; and Mr. George S. Forbes, his son, and Viscount Newport, 90 braee. Birds very strong on the wing, and very plentiful; weather good; all healthy. The ground is the grouse moors of Deluadamph forests, adjoining Lord Henry Bentinck's, at the head of Strathdon. On Monday, 14th, Duke of Athole, and Mr. Forbes, of Newe: grouse, 105i- brace; and Viscount Newport and Mr. Geo. S. Forbes: grouse, 941 brace. Birds wild. Tuesday was a very rainy day. There is no appearance of the disease. Red deer plentiful and in good condition in this quarter. CULDRAIN.-On the 12th, 14th, and 15th August.- Mr. John Brander (from Tahiti), killed, with one gun, on the Culdrain moors, acreage uncertain: grouse- 12th, 17 brace; 14th, 10§ brace; and 15th, 7| brace; blackgame, 2 brace; partridges, H brace; hares, 3; rabbits, 2-total, 82 head. Grouse very abundant and wild. Strong coveys of twelve birds quite frequent. Weather showery. HuNTLET.- August 16th.—Mr. John Walker's bag on the 12th was 29i- brace grouse, and 3 plovers. 14th, 18t brace grouse a hare and couple of snipes. 15th, 16 brace grouse, on the Clachmach shootings. BOG IN CLOUGH, RHYNIE.—The undermentioned gentlemen brought to bag as follows Mr. J P. Smith, Aug. 12th, 68 brace; 14th, 24J brace; 15th, 14 brace; 16th, 27t brace-total, 134 brace; 3 hares, 1 snipe. Mr. S. Hargreaves, Aug. 12th, 54t brace; 14th, 23 2, braee; 15th, 18t brace; 16th, 32t brace-total, 128t brace, 2 hares. Total, grouse, 525; snipe, 1; hares, 5 -531 head. Grouse very fine and plentiful, but as wild as they usually are on Sept.'l. No disease. Weather fine on the 12th, but rain and wind on the other days. CLASHNADEKOCH, GARTLY, RHYNIE. — Acreage about 28,000. On the 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th August (by three guns), Major Whittingstall, Major Jarg, and Mr. Bromilow. Grouse, 447; snipes, 3; hares, 11—total, 461 head. The weather has been rough and stormy. The grouse are numerous, but very wild and strong; they are healthy and no trace of disease. CLOVA MOORS, AUCHENDOIR, NAR LUMSDEN.— Acreage about 6,000. On the 12th, 13th, 14tb, 15th, and 16th (by two guns), Mr. J. C. Couper and friend killed—grouse, 194; snipes, 2; hare, 1; blue hares, 4; total, 201. The weather up to twelve o'clock on the night of the llth very unpropitious for a good 12th, but the morning turned out clear, with a fine breeze; the birds plentiful, strong, and healthy, but wild from the previous heavy rains. 13th and 14th wet, the birds wild in consequence. A small bag on the 14th. 15th still a little moist, and rain in the afternoon, which spoiled a good day's shooting. 16th very fine birds wild in the morning, but sat well in the after- noon. DESKRIE SHIEL, LOGIE COLDSTONE, NEAR TAR- LAND.— Acreage about 6,000.—The following bags were ma.de, viz.:—On the 12th, Mr. Coltman and Mr. Clark (two hours only), grouse, 7Bt brace, 1 snipe. Mr. F. Coltman and Colonel Buchan, grouse, brace. On the 14th (afternoon, three hours), Mr. F. Coltman and Mr, Clark, grouse, 18 brace, 2 hares Mr. Coltman and Colonel Buchan, grou&e, 13 brace, I hare. Total, 334 head. The 15th was wet, and no shooting. ARGYLLSHIRE.-LoCRENELD, KILBRIDE, and KILMORE, near Oban (acreage about 40,000), by four j. guns, viz., Mr. R B. Oakeley, on the 12th and 14th; Mr. R. B. Oakeley, Rev. Dr. Smith, and Mr. J. Chilton, on the 16th:-Grouse, 87, 1 snipe; wildfowl, 6, 1 hare; -total, 96. Mr. Oakeley writes: On the 12th and 14th I shot over several brace of young dogs, and con- sequently did not attempt to make a bag. I killed, however, 11 brace on the 12th, in three or four hours, and 12 brace on the 14th. The 15th was so exces- sively wet that it was impossible to go out; but on the 16th two friends and myself bagged 20t brace, the weather wet and stormy, and the birds wild as in November. There is no disease, and the birds are strocg and vigorous, but far too much grown to allow of large bags." AYRSHIRE.—DALBLAIR, AUCHENLECK, near Old Cumnock (acreage about 5,000).— Mr. D. Lade, on the 12th, 20 brace; on the 14th (part of the day), 10f- (,< brace. Mr* ,fi. Carew. 00. the l,2fcb. ?P> brace; m fehe 14th, 10 brace. Birds very numerous, strong, and healthy; but owing to the heavy rain on the 10th and 11th, they were wild and very difficult to get at. The 15th very wet, and shooting. 15th very wet, and no shooting. BANFFSHIRE. BLAIRFINDY LODGE, GLENLI- VAT.—Mr. R. Marshall writes:—" The 12th proved a very fine day, although for two days previous the weather had been very wet and stormy. The birds very strong and wild, and the broods unusually large. The return at the end of the day showed:—Myself, with one gun (a breech-loader), 85t brace; Mr. New- all, 52| brace; Mr. Collwill, 28| brace—beginning at ten o'clock, and leaving off at seven. On Monday and Tuesday the weather was wet and stormy, and we only went out for a few hours, making an average of 25 brace each gun. Should the weather come fine, large bags will yet be made; but while it continues squally, with heavy showers, as at present, nothing very brilliant can be done." BELDORNEY MOORS, GLASS, NEAR HUNTLY.—By two guns (Mr. W. J. Grant, of Beldorney, and Capt. Simpson, 6th Royal Regiment). On the 12th, 50| brace grouse, 2 hares, 2 snipe; on the 14th, after one p.m., 25 brace grouse, 1 hare; on the 15th, in four hours. 17 brace grouse and 2 hares. They found the birds very numerous and strong, but so exceedingly wild as to be almost unapproachable. A number of the birds bad packed even on the 12th, and the weather being rather wet tended to make them much wilder than they otherwise would have been. No appearance of any disease, and the birds are in capital condition. PERTHSHIRE, DRUMMOND CASTLE MOORS- CRIEFF AND MUTHILL.—By two guns (Lord Ravens worth and Hon. H. G. Liddell, M.P.)— Aug. 12 grouse, 102; snipe, 2; hares, 2. Aug. 14: very wet, one very fine stag, after excellent sport fishing in the forenoon. Aug. 15 very wet, good fishing. Aug. 16 grouse, 104; snipe, 3; hares 10. Game very plentiful, strong and wild, and weather extremely unsettled. Both on the 12th and 16th the bags were made with great ease, between eleven and five o'clock. GLENQUAICH MOORS, AMULREE.—Of the first four days of the season, the 12th and 16th only were suf- ficiently fine to admit of grouse-shooting. Sir Hugh Cairns, M.P., Messrs. Henry M'Neile, and Edward Ross, killed 287 head of grouse, 44 hares, 3 snipe, 2 plover, and 1 teal-total, 337 head. ROSS-SHIRE.—DINGWALL. — On the 12th Mr. Duncan Davidson and a friend (two guns), killed on the Tulloch moors (acreage about 4,800 acres), 37 brace of grouse and 6 hares. Birds are full-grown and plen- tiful no appearance of disease. Mr. Davidson writes:—" My moors in this immediate neighbourhood are small but good. I keep them for myself and friends. Two good guns on the 13th could have shot 30 to 40 brace to each gun easily enough, but we shoot for the sport, and not for trying how many we can shoot. I never saw birdO stronger than this season. In a space of some 200 acres I saw upwards of 20 large coveys of grouse and many blackgame." YORKSHIRE.—BOWES MooR.-The following is a return of best bags made, on Bowes Moor, by Captain Gaudy and party—viz.: Aug. 12.—Mr. Chapman, 69t 2 brace of grouse; Captain Gandy, 69 Mr. Musgrave, 54t; Mr. Helmer, 54; Mr. T. Clarkson, 52t; Mr. Barrel, 49; Mr. Metcalf, 40; Mr. Mason, 38; and on Aug. 14, Captain Gandy, 44 brace.

MEETING OF THE ROYAL AGRICUL- TURAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. The annual meeting of this society took place las week at Clonmel. There was a small attendance on the 5s. day, but the 2s. 6d. day was a decided success, and the Thursday and Friday being 18. and 6d. days the building was crowded with visitors. The Hereford breed of cattle, which, though very scantily distributed in Ireland, has existed in some few localities for a great many years, thriving remarkably well and laying on its rare quality of flesh with great rapidity, contributed only five animals to the show, though a considerably larger number were entered. "Sir Cupis Ball," the first prize bull of Mr. P. J. Kearney, of Clonmellon, is extremely handsome, with deep fore-quarter, good rump and rounds, grand head, and the yellow horns that delight a breeder's eye. Mr. Kearney's first prize cow Sultana," which had just dropped her calf, kept her condition well, and another very good cow, Ashton Maid," was exhibited by Mr. R. W. Reynell, of Killucan. But the gem of this part of the show was Mr. Kearney's heifer Winnifred IV. of beautiful form, splendid quality, and with the sweetest head. Her sire was the first prize tn0 L.a", meeting of the English Society. In the classes of Other Breeds there was a fair specimen of the polled Angus bull and a few moderately good Angus cows, shown by Mr. Owen, of Blesinton, Wioklow. Of 25 entries of Ayrshires, only ten made their appearance; owing, it was said, to a Scotch steam vessel having failed to keep her appointment. The bull of General Gough, of Clonmcl, waa not admired by the judges, though he had been thought a great deal of at home; his cows were more meritorious, but easily beaten by an extremely good specimen of the breed ex- hibited by Lord J. W. Butler, of Drumcondra Castle. However, General Gough got a first prize) and a com- mendation for his good Ayrshire heifers. The Ayr- shire, valuable for dairying, is not at the same time a good butchers' breed; yielding in this point to the Devons, which, unfortunately, were badly represented here. A very ordinary Devon bull of Mr. Boyles, of Rockcorry, Monaghan, took the prize; and the win- ning cows and heifers of the same exhibitor were very inferior to the show Devons usually,seen in England. No West Highland cattle were shown at Clonmel; but the breed has been advantageously introduced into Donegal, while many other exposed and lofty districts of the country require such a hardy sort. There was a good show of the pretty little Kerry breed, the best being the cow and heifer of Captain "Bayley, of Fal- laght, Dublin, and the beautiful young heifers, "the Mountain Lass" and "Heath Blossom," of Mr. Barry Drew, of Lismore, Waterford. The merit of this ne- glected breed is in its fine milking properties, in union with a tendency to fatten and die well; and it is de- serving of all the encouragement the society can be- stow upon it. Interesting and important classes of dairy cows were furnished by bona fide tenant-farmers of Ireland not paying more than .£100 a year of rent," and again by "bona fide tenant-farmers, whose poor-law valuation exceeds £100 per annum." The horse show was very disappointing, for in spite of good prizes of £ 25, > £ 15, £ 10, and £ 5 each in the several classes, with pieces of silver plate worth fifty sovereigns each, first-class horses were not J tempted into the society's rings, thq fact being that the sister isle has another grievance, her best bred emigrate for money, and she cannot compete with wealthy England in the purchase of superior sires. The consequence is that the fine bloods common to the country some years ago are now scarcely to be found. In the class of weight-carrying, thorough-bred stallions, the Croker Challenge Cup went to Mr. M'Craith's bay, "Forager," a good horse, that has done wonders in steeple-chasing, but inferior in his quarters, and in light, elastic action, to' Mr. Dalton's chestnut, "Knave of Hearts," which has, unfortunately, one eye blind. Some critics were of opinion that Mr. Ree's Birdlime," a clever stallion by Irish Birdcatcber, ought to have been placed but, as it is, Forager is first only among a moderate lot. Nothing very wonderful was seen among the hunters, though Mr. Kellett's gelding, bay with black legs, has considerable merit. The brood mares were a weak point in the show, while the redeeming feature was the well- filled class of three-year-olds for purposes other than agricultural," Mr. M'Craith's chestnut colt by Zouave" has the first prize-here, after winning the chief honour at Tipperary local show last year. Among the agricultural horses, Mr. Patrick Mooney's Suffolk, "Young Welshman," was first at the Dublin Society's spring show, though he competed unsucces- .fully last year. at Sligo; Mr. Msifatt's Clydesdale, "Prince Charlie," was considered not to be of the right build and style, though he did take first prize at the Wexford show at Enniscorthy. Nor was much praise given to Mr. Mill's Clydesdale, British Prince," which took the prize in the class of younger stallions. Mr. Cotton's Clydesdale mare, from Scot. land, had more of the breed about her; and Mr, Mooney's prize filly by "Lord Clyde is well worthy of the distinction she gains. The sheep made a grand show, particularly the 72 pens of Leicesters. The Challenge Cup in the class was won by Mr. W. Owen, of Biesinton, Wioklow, i whose noted flock of pure-bred Leicesters contributed specimens quite equal in symmetry, quality, fleece, and character to the first-class sheep we are accus- ] ] tomed to tec in English show-yards. Mr. W. Fenneil, j < of Cahw. and Mr. Meade, of Ballinhassig, also beat Ii < M$< M- tr»$who ,s.snt a strong lot p £ LeieeeWsall tha' K way from Lincolnshire; Mr. Morris, however, gained a second prize in the shearling ram class. The Leicester ewes of Mr. Hewetson, of Waterford, were magnificent in every respect, having none of the straight-stapled wool and disproportionate offal observ- able in many of the pens. Among other longwools," Mr. Beale Browne, of Andoversford, Gloucestershire, was the great prize-taker, beaten, however, in the shearing ram class by Mr. W.JHutchinson Carroll, of Nenagh. These Cotswolds were exceedinglyfgood; but Mr. Page's long-wools with Leicester character had also considerable merit; and many pens showed that Irish sheep have been much transformed and improved of late years by the infusion of good blood. The Southdowns were a really poor lot, only four pens being shown, and these all from one English breeder. The short-wools, on the other hand, came up with a character that surprised everybody, and Mr. Hamilton, of Clonee, hitherto the chief winner in Shropshire downs, was beaten out and out by a new exhibitor, Mrs. Smith Barry, of Carrigtwohill, Cork. The prize ram, which took also the Challenge Cup, and a medal, was not a whit inferior to any sheep of the breed exhibited in England, and Mrs. Barry's older ram, half-brother to the Newcastle prize Shropshire, was pronounced by the judges to be the gem of the show. Certain of the shearling rams were of so mean a type that a good lesson must be conveyed by the mere juxtaposition of Shropshire, so widely different in shape, fleece, and character. The breed is evidently calculated to play an extensive part in the many suitable flock districts of Ireland. The pigs made a grand show, the great strength lying with the Berkshire, chief breeders of which were Mr. Malcomson, of Portlaw, and Mr. W. Joyce, a winner of prizes at our English society's shows. These Berkshires attain a weight of 16 imperial stone at the age of seven months, and with such exporting markets as Ireland possesses for small bacon, no wonder that the old native breeds are everywhere disappearing or being improved by crosses with the very best quick- feeding fine quality sorts. White pigs are Irish favour- ites and Mr. Wainman of Carhead, Yorkshire, and Mr. Naper of Oldcastle, showed some extraordinary fine specimens, but the Berkshires carried the palm. The poultry show was commendable, although of moderate dimensions. The Dorkings, the favourite breed among improvers in Ireland, were very good, particularly pens shown by Mr. R. P. Williams of Clontarf, and Mr. J. C. Cooper, of Clarina, Limerick. The Spanish made a miserable show. Brahma Pootras were exceedingly good — particularly those of Mr. Boyle, of Bray, Wicklow, who is well known in Eng- land for his splendid birds. The turkeys were very poor indeed; the geese tolerably good, and the ducks of considerable merit, Mr. Williams's Aylésburys being wonderful. Surely the agricultural improvers of Ire- land must be very remiss in not spreading more good birds among the myriads of small occupiers, who are I just the people to pay their rent almost with the proceeds from a proper breed of poultry. It has been proved over and over again that pure-bred fowls will yield far more eggs and meat for the food consumed than the miserably diminutive birds such as are com- mon through&ut Ireland; yet chickens are sold in Limerick at 6d. each; while Wicklow and Wexford are finding it profitable to fatten large numbers of fowls for exports, and thus become a source of good income to small farmers, which is lost from mere over. sight and ignorance of the capabilities of a modern poultry-yard.

ALLEGED FORGERIES TO UPWARDS OF TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS ON THE METROPOLITAN CEMETERY COM- PANY. Daring the last few days a very great amount of consternation and excitement, coupled with no small degree of dissatisfaction, has been created amongst the shareholders of one of the largest, and, without doubt, one of the most prosperous, of our great me- tropolitan joint-stock cemetery companies, by an inti- mation that there was no dividend to be received this half-year, and that there would probably not be one for some time to come, arising from the circumstance that a discovery had been made that there was no less than 2,437 of the company's shares (the number dis- covered up to the period of the half-yearly meet- ing) in the market upon which previous divi- dends had been paid, and which proved to have been forged. The late secretary to the company in question, to whom the whole of the for- geries are imputed, has, since the discovery, died in a Homewhat sudden, not to say very mysterious manner. It appears that the first discovery of any- ttung being wrong was made some five or six weeks since, when a meeting of the board of directors took place, with a view, it is understood, to prepare a financial report to be presented at the half-yearly meeting. At this meeting of the directors it is stated that some revelations were made, or expected to be made, inc111pati""8 th- il.u. Boui.ei)»ry, wno was re- ported at the time to be extremely unwell, and who, during the proceedings, became so ill that a cab was sent for, in which he was conveyed to his private resi- dence, and in which he either died on the road or very soon after reaching his home. This unexpected and ex- traordinary event naturally led to a thorough investiga- tion of the affairs of the company, and it has resulted, as before stated, in the discovery that nearly 2,500 shares of the company had been forged and issued by the deceased secretary. We believe that we are cor- rect in saying that the shares of the company are of X10 each, consequently the number of shares dis- covered to have been forged will represent a sum of Bomethililg like X25,000, but the question arises how such a large amount of fraud could have been com- mitted, going on as it must have been for several years without detection. It must, however, be borne in mind that the delinquent was the original secretary of the company, that the directors had the most implicit confidence in him, and that he had the seal of the company under his control. It is stated, and believed, that the system he adopted was precisely the same as that carried out by Radpath and Robson, and that in order to pay the dividends upon the forged shares from time to time more and more forged scrip was issued. To say the least of the matter, however, with regard to the board of directors, there must have been a large amount of neglect—a fact which, we are informed by shareholders who were present at the half-yearly meeting, they candidly admitted. The investigation is progressing, and as a preliminary §tep it is under- stood the whole of the shares are being called in with a view to ascertain the full amount of those which are bona fide and those which have been forged. We cannot see, however, how this will help the directors out of their dilemma, supposing each share to be duly signed and sealed with the common seal of the com- pany, and countersigned by the secretary. We fear they will be in precisely the same position as the rail- way companies were with Redpath and Robson, and have to pay the value of the stock belonging to the forged issue, whatever may be its amount. With regard to the deceased secretary and alleged delinquent, there is an evident desire to keep the matter as quiet as possible. Although a very quiet- mannered man, he, however, not only had a residence in town, but also another establishment in the country but to which of those residences he was conveyed in the cab when he left the office on the day of his death has not transpired. A coroner's inquest ought to have been held on the body, and the fact ascertained as to whether the late secretary had died of natural causes or not. A remarkable circumstance, which was not thought much of at the time, took place some time back with. reference to a gentleman, a re- tired undertaker, who was a shareholder, and not a very quiet one at the half-yearly meetings, and who is j well known throughout hia circle to have a penchant for ferreting out abuses. The late secretary came to the party referred to, and after some conversation succeeded in inducing him to part with his shares at a good premium, thus, as it terns out, ridding himself of a most inquisitive shareholder. It has also trans. pired that shortly before his dea.th another undertaker in a large way of business, having the fullest reliance in the late secretary's honour and integrity, discounted a bill for him for the sum of £ 80, and which has not yet arrived at maturity. 4 Extraordinary Calculation.—The number of human bemgs liviDg at the end of the hundredth generation, commencing'from a single pair, doubling at each generation (say m thirty years), and allowing for each man, woman, and child an average space of four feet in height and one foot square, m ould form a iiiioal Golumn having for its base the whole surface of the earth and sea spread out into a plane, and for its height 3,674 times the sun's distance from the earth. The number of human strata, thus piled one on the other would amount to 460,790,000,000,000,— I air John llerschel. j

DOUBLE MURDER AT BATLEY, NEAR DEWSBURY. Attempted Suicide of the Murderer. On Saturday night, about eleven o'clock, Ell Sykes, 3loth finisher, of Batley Carr, Dewsbury, murdered his sweetheart and her mother, attempted to terminate his own existence by stabbing, and tried to kill another person. The murdered women are Sarah Brook, a widow, aged 63, who lives in a cottage off New-street, Batley, and Hannah, her daughter, a power-loom weaver, aged 18. The murderer, Ell Sykes, is a private in the 29th West York Rifle Volunteer Corps, and on Saturday afternoon last he attended battalion drill at the village of Drighlington, but returned to Batley, along with the majority of the members, about a quarter to ten o'olock. After chattin g with his comrades for about twenty minutes, he went to the town to see Hannah Brook, his sweetheart. On getting to her house he found her in the kitchen and her mother in bed alon g with a child' of five years old in the same apartment. He was in uni- form at the time, and had with him his rifle and bayonet. The girl and he had some words together about her en- couragement of another suitor from Lofthouse, neai Wakefield, and at last, as she appeared determined to cease keeping company with Sykes, he struck at her with the butt end of the rifle and broke the stock at the small. She cried out, and her mother, it is sup- posed, interposed to save her daughter, but he at- tacked them both with his bayonet and stabbed each of them seven or eight times. The old woman, after receiving the injuries, had strength enough left to run outside the house, and raise a cry of Murder, he's kill- ing my daughter." This caused an alarm; a neighbour, named Joseph Peace, ran in, and was horrified at seeing the young woman bleeding from the mouth and from wounds in her neck, and Sykes "jobbing" at himself with his bayonet in the neck. He tried to take the weapon from Sykes, but he resisted and stabbed at him. The point of the instrument entered Peace's clothes, and grazed his abdomen, but caused no further injury. The murderer, with assistance, was thrown to the floor, and Police-sergeant English arriving, he was handcuffed. In the meantime a surgeon was sent for, but on his arrival both women were found to be dead. He dressed Sykes's wounds- there were five-and shortly afterwards he was placed in a conveyance and lodged in the police cells at Dews- bury. The body of the old woman bears eight wounds, but the one which is supposed to be the cause of death is in the region of the heart, about four inches deep. The young woman appears to have been. stabbed seven times, and the mortal wound is in the region of the heart also. Sykes is a young man about twenty years of age. He has been a volunteer rifle- man some time, and has always been noted in the corps to which he belonged as a very steady man. His fellow-workmen at the mill at which he was em- ployed, as a cloth finisher, gave him the same charac- ter. When he committed the murder it is believed he was not under the influence of intoxicating drink, for he was quite sober when he left his comrades about three quarters of an hour before the foul deed was done. The people of the towns of Dewsbury and Batley are in a very excited state.