Weekly Mail

RURAL NOTES.

VIOLBTS IN FRAME.—"J. S.They have prob- ably ceased flowering;, owing to being exhausted, or the recent frost may have affected them, for they do not flower so freely in mid-winter as in autumn or spring. Do not plant them out from the frame now, but defer it till the end of March. They agreo best with a cool, somewhat heavy soil, but not too much manure, which forces them too much into leaf. Tits EARLIEST POTATO.—"Market Gardener" {Boss).—There are several, indeed a good many, claiming this distinction, but after trying the majority I do not think any are better in all points than the old Ashleaf kidney. It is early, prolific, 4ad of perfect quality. NAME OF PLANT.—" R. P. B."—It is not a fern, as you suggest, but an ornamental leaved asparagus, named Asparagus Plumosus Nanue. It is one of the most charming and valuable green-leaved plants in cultivation. OLD SBEDS—" Halifax."—Unless you have been most careful in keeping them from damp and Insects they will be untrustworthy. No matter how well old seeds have been preserved I always prefer new ones, but you may soon ascertain their germinating powers by sowing a pinch in a small pot, and placing this in a gentle heat with plenty »f moisture. If the seeds are good the young Slants will appear in a crowd in a few daye. If aay do this you may depend on them, but if not Ond they come up patchy, discard them. RHUBARB DAMPING.—S. Wright.-You have kept it too close, and the steam that the manure pro- duced, being unable to escape, has caused the tender stems to decay. There should always be a little ventilation where there is any steara. You jlhould provide this from the first. The later trowthll may be free from blemish, especially if you ventilate now. PURPLB CLEMATIS.—" Tadcaster."—The best purple clematis for cottages, and the one, I think, to which you refer, is named C. Jackmanii." You can buy plants at Is. or Is. 6d. each. The best time to plant is in March. It likes a rich, porous, well drained soil, and sunny aspect. It if quite hardy and does not require protecting in winter. FOLDINQ qHitEp.-Il Young Farmer."—Wood hurdles about 9ft. in length and 4ft. high are use- ful. Iron ones are still more so, being durable. The very common plan of using stakes and strong string netting finds favour with many. It it decidedly more economical to pen them on a Ittnt^piece at a time than allow them to go over the whole field, for when once holes have been eaten in the turnips the sooner they are all con- sumed the better. EARLY PEAS.—" A Roader (Gower).-I am glad you followed the plan I recommended, and found it answer. It is very gratifying to have green pea plants peeping through the ground at this season it gires promise of an early crop. You need have no anxiety about their suffering from cold. They are quite hardy, and are better in the end if not coddled when young. You can draw a little bank of earth upon each side of the row, and put a few twigs in as stakes, but I would not cover them over with old bags on cold nights, for when once you begin doing so you must continue, and the plants will make less progress than it brought up hardy. WRIGHT OF HARB.—" Young Sportsman (York- •liire).—They average from 71b to 91b. Many mora are under the first figure than over the last. They rarely reach 101b, and, consequently, the one you write of is quite an exception. EGOS UNFBRTILK.—W. Day.—You do not say whether they were under a hen or in an incubator, but four chicks from a dozen eggs are about up to the average of January hatching from December, as it is now the most uncertain time in the whole year for hatching. If you have no special object in rearing them now, I would advise you to delay setting more until the middle of February, when you are almost sure to be more fortunate. PARSLEY SHRTNJUNO.—"Housewife."—It is the frost that causes it to shrink. If it is severe weather cover it over with straw, bracken, or some t light material, j Nailing Wall Trees. Standard fruit trees may be negleoted without becoming very unsightly, but trees that have once been trained to a wall, and are afterwards allowed to assume a natural habit, are most unsatisfactory. If they are nailed regularly once a year they will never be far out of plaoe. The present is the best of all times to give this kind of work attention. It is a mistake to neglect them until they are in leaf, blossom, or fruit, for if the branches break away from the wall then much more damage would be done than would happen at present. Main stems and very strong branches should be tied to a large nail with cord, but the smaller shoots should be kept in their place with little strips of durable cloth. These should be cut into lengths of from 3in. to 5in., and lin. in width. One end is put round the branch both are then brought together, pressed against the wall near a joint, and! the nail inserted to bold them fast. Cast- iron nails about Hin. long are the kind specially made and generally used for nailing. The main point to keep in view in nailing is never to crowd the branches in one part and have them thin in another. They should be equally distributed all over the wall and trained out nicely, and in such a fashion as not to offend the eye, Water for Fowls in Cold Weather. Some persons appear to think that fowls Only require water to drink in hot weather,! but I am inclined to the opinion that they consume more water in frosty weather than at any time, and that they relish having con-. stant access to it at this season. Water does not become foul so soon now as in the hot weather. Whore fowls drink from a stream they will give no labour in watering, but where it is given them in dishes these should be washed out and cleansed once weekly, and the water changed once a day. I have noticed that one will almost always find a healthy lot of fowls in connection with public-houses, especially in winter. I am inclined to attribute this to their being frequently supplied with odds and ends of beer. This forms an excellent drink for fowls in winter, as it is heating and nourishing, and they lay well from it. Surplus beer may also be profitably mixed with their meal. 9 • Borders for Vines. Grape vines delight in rioh soil and good feeding, and unless they have a good border the produce will generally be defioient. I do not advise amateurs to start their vines into growth thus early in the season, bat the borders should be examined at this time, and their deficiencies Remedied. Where the roots are scarce fl. the surfaoe and the soil poor the whole should be removed down to the roots, then apply some good material to them. Turfy loam and bone dust or a little oow or horse manure will be found a good mixture, and the borders should always be well drained. If the border ia in good condition do not dig into it. There is an imraellSO amount of harm done by this operation when it is not required. In such oases only a layer of rioh manure should }t» spread over the surface to a depth of Sin. This surface feeding has a tendency to draw the roots to the top, which is the proper plaoe for them. Here they reoeive the fall benefit of the sun and fertilisers. As the majority of tanall vineries have now been cleared of their ooatenta, the vines should be pruned and joleared forthwith. When all has been finished, water the border, if dry, several fctttts orer. or fiuiil it is quite "saturated! I throughout. If the borders are poor use liquid manure; this will stimulate and strengthen them from the first. Woodcocks. These interesting and peculiar-looking birds are rarely found near towns, but prefer remaining in woods and rough land. They have very rarely been known to breed in Eng- land, but migrate in the spring and return to us again in autumn. They seem to change places with the swallows. They are not so large as a partridge, are very pretty in plumage, and are readily identified by their bill, which is upwards of Gin. in length. They are a great delicacy on the table, and sportsmen are especially anxious to secure them at this season, but they are of very un- certain presence. Some winters I have known the whole of large estates to be shot over without a woodcook appearing, whilst at other times they are moderately plentiful, but never extremely so, This appears to be a good year for them. Towards the end of Decem- ber I saw no fewer than fifteen fall to three guns in one day, whilat quite as many escaped, the total being most unusual. The habits of the woodcock in this country are little under- stood. The following observations by a recent writer will, therefore, prove interesting to many. He says:— 11 When the moon rose I took a position near one of the miitt places, where the borings wprc freshest and most plentiful, and awaited develop-! ments. For a long time the bright light of the j moon fell upon the spot I wished to observe, and I could see everything wi'h the utmost plainness. At about eight o'clock a woodcock dropped down silently beside the brook. Presently another bird walked out of the shadow and joined it. Both began to bore for worms—an operation I had never seen before, and a curious performance it was. The birds would rest their bills upon the mud and stand in this position for several second, as if listening. Then with a sudden, swift move- ment they would drive the bill its entire length in the soil, hold it so for a second, and then as swiftly withdraw it. Though I watched the birds carefully with the glass, I could not detect the presence of a worm in their bills when they were j withdrawn. But tha subsequent process gave me the clue to their method of feeding. After having bored over a considerable piece of ground—a square foot or more—they proceeded to execute what! looked comically like a war-dance upon the per- forated territory. They also occasionally tapped the ground with the tips of their wings. My intense curiosity to know the possible utility of this process WRS at length gratified by seeing a wcrm clawl half a length from one of the borings, when it was immediately pounced upon and devoured by one of the woodcocks. Presently another worm made its appearance, and so on until the woodcocks had devoured as many as a dozen of them. Then the vein seemed exhausted, and the birds took their leave. I have subsequently studied the philosophy of this method of digging bait, and have come to the conclusion that certain birds are a great deal wisor that certain bipeds without feathers. If you will take a sharpened stick and drive it into the ground a number of times in a spot which is prolific with worms, and then tap on the ground with the stick for a few minutes, you will find that tho worms will coma to the surface, and that they will como up through the holes which you have made. I account for it by the supposition that the tap- ping of the stick somehow affects the worms the same as the patter of rain, and it is a well; known fact that worms come to the surface of the ground when it rains. The antics of the woodcocks after they had made their borings, then, were simply mimetic, and intended to deiude worms into the belief that it was raining in the upper world. The worms, being deceived, came up and were devoured." » Thinning Overcrowded Plantation. "Middle -Aloor (,Yo-.Ig) complains of the condition of a plantation that il6 very common. His trees were planted about ten years ago. They are chiefly spruce, Scotch firs, and Austrian pines. Thinning has been neglected, t and now they are so crowded that they are damaging each other. To allow this is one of the greatest errors that can be committed in j oonnection with young plantations.! The thinning of them should begin! #I from the time crowding commences, Then it is an easy matter to remove the worst of the trees, and always keep those that are intended for timber or cover or shelter free. This will cause them to be well furnished with branches almost to the ground. Those which form double leaders should have one and the worst of the two removed as soon as it is observed. In thinning out a crowded and neglected plantation care must be taken that too much thinning is not done at one time or in one year,. aa trees that arc crowded and are, depending on each other for shelter and sup- port are very apt to be blown over, if too much exposed at first. Middle -Ifoor and others ought to begin this winter by removing all the dead and spindly trees and the doable leaders. They should bo left a little closer on the outside than the middle, and the best should merely be left free without attempting to give much space between them. In one or two years hence they may be thinned more. The present thinning will enable those left to be in good condition for standing thinning by that time. Few Is for the Table, I have received several inquiries as to which are the best fowls to cross with to secure good birds for the table. Prizes bave been given for many years at the leading poultry shows for the best produce of this description, and they have almost invariably been won by a first cross with the Game and Dorking. I have seen many of these, and regard this: cross as the Lest anyone could accomplish,) The birds need not be show specimens, but I they should be strong and healthy on both sides. # m A New Way of Growing Mushrooms, A correspondent describes this, and says :— "Some yeariJ ago I saw a system of mushroom culture which was said to be very successful. The man who adopted the plan bad been seeking a simple way of securing mushrooms all the vcar round with the least possible trouble, and" his efforts had resulted in his finding that for which he had sought. The method was as followsHe obtained a gnod sized crate, strong, nnd with a good bottom, such as those in which hardware is sent by rail, All the staves at one end were cut out, simply leaving the top rim to keep the thing togeth-jr. for without that the crate could not have supported the bed laid upon it. The crate wa turned up- side down, and the bed prepare.1 and spawned in the usual way, so far as the outer crust of it was concerned. But there was not nnarlv so much manure used as' in the ordinary hot bed, for the lieat was obtained in another, way. When the bed was made, the inside of thre crate was hollow, but the open end had been left uncovered, the close end being all built over with the bed. The uii thod of heat- I ing was by placing inside the crato the grass cut from the lawn, This within a few days generated sufficient heat to develop the mushrooms in the bed. When the heat appeared to be exhausted the spent grass was taken out and fresh material was placed therein. This, it will be at once seen, is a very simple plan, and one that could be worked almoat anywhere. Of course, the grass will not last nearly as long as a well made mushroom bed, but there is, as a rule, no liwit to tho number of times it may be renewed." Cut grass is not available at this time of the year, but any kind of hot manure, or such materials as are used for hot beds might be substituted. As so long as the hoat is forth- coming it does not matter what kind of stuff is used. This system is especially adapted for amateurs and small growers.

l A Pious Fraud. I started in Dulham-lane, Clapham; it is just thirty years since I put my plate up. I had k-500, so had Matilda; we were desperately in love with each other-so much so that we really couldn't afford to wait; so Matilda and I got married. They are quiet, unpretentious, intensely respeotable little houses in Dulbam- lane, you know just the sort of place where a young medical man ought to start. I (lay in wait for patients behind by brass plate. Like a hungry tiger (figuratively) speaking) 1 cried aloud, "Ducky, ducky, darling, come and be killed," But they didn't come. The ducks -1 mean the patien ts- merely said Quack!" (figuratively speaking again) and passed me by. They evidently declined to look upon my red lamp as a pro- fessional invitation and preferred to regard it as a danger signal. But I soon got a large practice among the poor, and those who couldn't "or wouldn't pay. They appointed me their body physician. I need hardly add that it was a purely honorary post. Now, there was an old maiden lady who lived opposite to us; she was supposed to be the richest woman in Clapham; she was an eccentric but charitable old woman, and her name was Glumper—Clarissa (J lumper, Th¡>re was no chance of a woman like that coming to me for advice. Dr. Dulle, of High- street, was her medical attendant; he seemed to be everybody's medical attendant that was worth attending. My blood used to boil within me with indignation whenever I saw his mud-bespattered brougham and pair tearing about the neighbourhood. One afternoon I saw Dr. Dulle's coachman pull up at Miss Glumper's door, and Matilda watched him through the wire blind. "Jack," she said excitedly, -'he's only stopped fire minutes; 1 timed him and, oh Jack when he came out he was as red as a turkey-cock. Perhaps he's a poplectic," added Matilda with a wistful sigh. Oh, Jack cried my wife, after an interval of a few moments, "there's the powdered footman going post-haste for the medicineand then she suddenly clutched my wrist, her face grew ashy pale, and she hissed in a hoarse whisper. Oh Jack he's coming here. Quick, quick T cried Matilda. In s.n jnstant she had carefully regulated my white choker (many of us wore white chokers in those days; mine made me a look like a dissipated curate). There was a tre- mendous knock at the door the visitors' bell, the servants' bell, and the night bell were all rnng together at once. Of course, as iil-luck would have it, Mary, our servant, was out so, my heart beating wildly, I opened the door myself, and tried to look as unconcerned as possible. Y ou re to come across to the missus at once," said the pampered menial, in a patro- nising tone. "Is it very urgentT' 1 saicl, looking at my "Is it very urgent ¡., 1 said, looking at my watch. H It's a matter of life and death," said the ma.n, with a vulgar grin which I couldn't un- derstand. I will attend to it immediately," I said. I had put my pipe down not five minutes before. I took some tincture of cloves,Matilda sprinkled my hair and whiskers with eau de Cologne, I thrust my instrument case into one pocket and my emergency case into the other, and then I tried to walk across the road in a dignified manner, and of course failed mise- rably. The footman, who was awaiting my arrival, was still grinning maliciously; he ushered me at once into the drawing-room, where, by the lire, sat. an old lady in lilack, sobbing bitterly. It was Miss Glumper, the great Miss Glumper, herself. "Are you the young man of the name of Pestle p., she said. I am Dr. Pestle, madam," I replied, in my haughtiest manner. I Quite so, quite so; I am sure I beg your pardon, Dr. Pestle," said the old lady, still sobbing copiously. "Dr. Pestle," she said very solemnly, are you a man of the world ?" A mystery, evidently a mystery. "Madam," 1 began, "I bare never divulged a profes- sional secret We are wasting precious time, Dr. -aid the old lady interrupting me, I believe her to be sinking fast: she's all 1 have in the world, doetor. You won't mind seeing her, will you, as a favour P Madam/' I began, as a matter of com- mon humanity— She isn't human," she said. The woman was in deep grief, and shecare- fully lifted a shawl which covered something that lay upon the sofa. On the cushion was a fat pug dog, panting convulsively, "Dr. Pestle," cried the old lacly, '• <.nly save my darling's life, and there's nothing I won't do for you. Is there hope ?" she added in a voice of agony. While there's life, there's hope, madam," j 1 said oracularly. I whipped out my emergency case, and I attempted to administer a remedy to my un- fortunate patient, 'J he beast tried to bite me at once. "That's a good sign, madam, I said, "a! capital sign. He'll require care, great cave," [ added, the greatest possible care but we I must do what we can for him." Dr. Pestle," said 3liss Glumper re- provingly, "Flora is a lady dog," "Qnitc so, quite so, dear m^dam, I re- plied: that's what renders the case so much more difficult. If, madam," I went on, Ii I can have her under my own eye, I might be able to do a great deal for her," I said. YV e 11 make up a bed for von with pleasure, replied Miss Gltin)per. I beg you'll not leave her for a single instant, Dr. Pestle. Expense is no object, I need hsrdlv add/' Iadam," I sAid in my best professional manner, she needs apsolute change of scene rest, seclusion, and—er—the usual remedies," I added vaguely, u If you permit me to re- move the little patient to my own residence, all that human skill can do shall be done for her; otherwise," [ added, and I looked unut- terable things, success is well-nigh im- possible." Aliis Gltinipei, clasped her hands in agony. "Its so hard to part with her, doctor," she said. The matter is for your consideration, madam," I remarked, But I may come and see her F' exclaimed Miss Glumper, 11 No, madam," I said sternly the excite- ment of such interviews might prove fatal to el the patient's life." Oh, Flora Flora oried Miss Glumper, and she dropped upon her knees and kissed the patient's fat back. fI Would you believe it, Dr. Pestle," cried the lady excitedly, that Dr. Dulle actually declined to prescribe for the little patient. I've lost all confidence in Dr. Kulle," she said, and then she rang the bell. The footman answered it. "Adolphus John." said his mistress, "you will take Flora to this gentleman's private residence you will carry her with the utmost care. I will send my man eveay hour for tidings, Dr. Pestle," said the old lady. It I have trusted you, doctor," she said, tragically see that you do your duty;" and then, over- come by her feelings, she hurried from the room. I accompanied Flora and Adolphus John to my own house. As soon as the man had left I began o consider Flora's case seriously. I determined to call in a oonsuliajat al Ruoo. I ¡ knew nothing about dogs; but I knew a man who did. After dark a person of villainous appearance presented himself at my back door. No sooner did he see the unfortunate Flora than he pronounced her case hopeless. "I'd have her drownded at once, sir, if 1 was you." You're quite sure the beast won't get over it ?" I asked. She's as good as dead already," said the man, "she's got the 'yaller?,' and her liver's gone to nothing." I had never even treated a case of yal- lers lie didn't seem in any doubt about his diagnosis. I could get yd a better nor she for the matter of fifteen bob," he added. I know of a dawg as is as like her as two peas they might be twins for the matter of that." if you'll bring her to-night, and she suits me, I'll give you a sovereign," I said. I gave him half a crown, and with a wink of thanks he departed. In obout an hour Flora hid passed away. I buried ner secretly in the back garden I didn't breathe a word of what had happened to a living soul. About midnight the dog- fanciar arrived, bringing another pug-dog in a bag, the very image of the deceased, but it wasn't so fat. Answers to the name of Popsy, guv'nor," remarked the man and I wouldn't be seen with her in Camberwell if I was you. D'ye tumble p., I hastened to assure him that I did tumble, I gave him his sovereign and let him out. All that night the new dog bowled oon- tsnually. We tempted it with the choicest viands, but the brute wouldn't eat. "She must be better to make all that noise," remarked Matilda. There is a marked improvement, my dear. What we have to dread is a relapse. In cases of—er—malignant yellows, solution of con- tinuity frequently takes place." Matilda was perfectly satisfied. fl How dreadful!" she said. —- My wife and I fed that beast for a whole fortnight as though we had been Chinese and were fattening it for the table. Each day I visited Miss Glumper, and reported the patient's gradual improvement. You'll find her much changed," I said; the poor thing's terribly pulled down, and the memory almost entirely gone. It has been a wonderful case," I said—"a wonderfully succesful case; and, strange to say," I added in a pathetic voice, I've got to love the littla thing as though she were my own." Miss Glumper took my hand and burst into tears I her heart was too full for words. Of course Matilda and I always addressed the brute as Flora but it was some time be- fore she would answer to the name. At length I brought home Flora to her expectant mistress. t, I shouldn't have known her," cried Miss Glumper, as she fondled the brute and fed it with slices of cold chicken. Oh, Dr. Prestle, how shall I testify my gratitude to you P Pray let me know the amount of my in- debtedness." But I drew the line at taking her money. "'Madam," I said, "I am only too glad to be of use to you." Doctor," replied the lady, I'm eternally obleeged." For five and twenty years Miss Glumper's account was as good as a hundred a year to me. She left ine a thousand pounds in her will; but she did more than that. Doctor Pestle," she used to say to everybody, saved a life that was very, very dear to me." Under the circumstances, it would have been my own fault if I had not, in course of time, managed to put together one of the tidiest little practices in the neighbourhood. -St. James's Gazette,

FIRST EDITIONS. The mind of the bibliophile is wonder- fully and fearfully made." In making some particular inquiries of a large firm of pub- lishers with respect to the sale of the late Hobert Browning's last volume of Aso- lando," I have (says our London corre- spondent) learnt from a member of the firm, who is himself quite a bibliomaniac, some general facts about first and early editions of the poet's. As regards" A solando," I: was told that the fifth edition was already out of print, and that the first edition "went off" in a week—by far the largest j demands being from the United States. A copy of the first edition, published only a matter of a weeh or two since at six shillings, j ig now worth a guinea! A singularly valuable publication is the first edition of Tennyson's "In Memoriam," which cannot be purchased. for less than £ 4 or £ 4 10s., whereas j a second edition, published a few months later, is not worth more than a few shillings, Another valuable first edition of the Lau- reate's poems is The'Pi incess," which will fetch about a guinea in the book market, whilst perhaps the rarest of Tennyson's volumes is that with the title of Poems by Two Brothers," the earliest of his publica- tions, and yet at the present time, I believe, scarcely to be obtained for love or money. The poet's latest volume, contemporaneous, | it will be recollected, with that of Browning's, is, by the way, selling well, though the | demand, of course, has not been so great for copies as is the case with regard to the latter writer.

AN ENGRAVED DIAMOND. One of the most famous rings in the world (wrrites our' London correspondent) is at present, to be seen at Mr, Bryce Wright's museum, in Savile-row. The ring is of the finest Indian workmanship, and was produced some time between 1550 and 1G50—the best period of Indian art. It contains as a centre- piece a most magnificent engraved diamond, which is of a much earlier date than the ring itself, having been brought from Persia into Ilindostan by the founders of the Mogul Empire, It became the property of the Queen of Delhi, and previous to the fall of that town was kept in the Treasury of the Mogul Emperors. There are only about five other cut or engraved diamonds in existence, her Majesty, it will be remembered, being in 11 possession of one and the Prince of Wales owning another.

KNEE-BREECHES. It has been decided in Berlin that men do not know how to dress now more picturesquely than in the days of the great Frederick, and the Im- perial order that the Court dress for gentlemen is to include knee-breeches, silk stockings, and high-heeled. shoes,. will, perhaps, do something towards re-introducing that costume for ordinary evening dress. It is, however, essentially an attire for hours of recreation or dignified ease. A century ago some such costume was no doubt worn in business, but the business of those days, except on the part of the honest John Gilpins of the period, was of a leisurely kind. There were no trains to catch, or hansom cabs to be jumped into, and the modern costume, although not, perhaps, elegant," is the best adapted to the rush and hurry of modern city life.

FOR a sustaining, comforting, and nourishing beverage, driuk CADBURV'S COCOA, It is absolutely dure. 1^5 A VERY FINE SELECTION of Marble and other Otocks, auitable for presentation, and guaranteed for correct dme-keeping, at Taiusli's, 5, B'gh-street, Cardiff 950&

I "La Grippe" Has Reached Us, MORE AN INCONVENIENCE THAN A DANGER. SYMPTOMS AND REMEDY, The epidemic known to the French as la and to English ears under its more muic,iii, sounding Iuilian term of influenz-il has in\Yade4 almost every portion of the Country. The rapi^ of development which has character^ it upon the Continenthas not tets absent, and, judging from made of medical men in verf direction, scores, if not hundred*, have alreadl been s'ricken down with it. iviloiol families have been laid nside, the staffs of public offices have been iiiinned-ji is to be A hoped only for a time—and there general consensus of medical opinion that drcaded"fa grippe" has reached U, aAd is extendi"* rapidly. This, however, appears to bo no mlttet for surprise with specialists wilo 1.1:1" I m'ldø the matter a study, for we lit' in a direct line with the course prûviolJ' waves of tho disease have taken, a course, sing"' larly enough, almost identical with that generally taken by cholera. It has been known to COII" mence as far east as India, but usually its seat if in the steppes of Rtissiti, wlience it seems to become focussed in Northern Europe, general'/ either Warsaw, Moscow, or Sf. Petersburg, and then to travel westward, until it is finally spe°* on the far side of America. In 1311 la < ippe, as is termed in France, probably because of its effeC5 on the nasal organ, was exceedingly fi,.t-,it 1,1 France. In 1403 the courts of law in France were closed on account of the deaths. It was about this time that the disease was oat only endemic, but that it spread over large pot' tioii3 of countly, while still latei-, in tho year 15511 J it was found to prevail epidemically, and to traVC' not only over the whole of Europe, but even ovet the whole cf the Northern hemisphere. It cot" tinued to recur at interval", and is reported (o prevailed in 1729, 1732-3, 1737, 171 2,17 5 3, 1762" 1767, 1775, 1782, 1303, 1833, 1837, 184-7, aUt118S1. The last named was not such a serious out' break as the one immediately preceding it, whic" is even yet remembered by many as baviol seriously prevailed in South Wales. The conntr1 people did not know it by its name, but got to know that it was infectious, and s'ulicus'/ avoided each other's houses. One gentleman is still practising in Cardiff who, with his fatW* and an assistant, had a large distiict to 100* j after. The epidemic broke out cinor,.gst tijell" and all three were laid aside, while the district. about twelve miles in extent, had to be left practically to itself. Comparing the diseast theli wi'h the form now prevailing, there can be nO doubt that they are the raine. The cause of the disease, or, rather, that Wilich leads it to become epidemic, d.,ei not appear to be known, but the theory is that the present state of the atmosphere is congeoial to a supposed g-(,rit" There can be no doubt that it can be transmitted by post. The fir.,t cases known in Liverpool were those of merchants who had received letters from Russia, and the f;lct that Post-oflica officials all over the country have beon amon[;s£' the first to be attacked strongly strengthens th1* theory. There is no doubt that the contagion haS been brought along in the atmosphere, and dtirilil the past week the easterly winds and fog?/ weather were favourable to the transmission of till disease from the east.

SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE. One of the lending consulting physicians if) Cardiff was waited upon by one of our repre' sentative for the purpose of getting the sytiiptOLVO and learning something a3 to the development <>j tlie disease. It might, he said, be capible three distinct forms, though at the beginnii1'; there might be nothing more than a mere cold wi1" fever, the temperature reaching on an avel'aØ 104 degrees. The lir-t Form, lie s dd, was that i" winch the disetse was unattended by any serioi'8 complications, Secondly, there was iha form wh^ the disease was complicated by seriou; of the ai d mucous membrane, and especially pneumonia. In yet another form tludigrs'i^? organs were excised there were rhcumatic musevdir pains, like to what the negroes of 0ul America called tin break-bone fever. Anotl16ø medical gentleman, says he finds that tile attack begins with severe pains in the head, i and limbs, accompanied by sickness and temperature going up to about 104 degrees. OrC:1 and bloodshot. Jn cises of ordinary i11, fluen/.a there if; a nasal ✓catarrh, bJ this i* whollr, or almost wholly, absB0' in attacks of La rrippe. Children get it vel' acutely, but, it only lasts for about 24 hours, wl¡¡lo adults suffer for three or four days. PeopIa It are subject to bronchi.it attacks get more seve, attacks than those who are free from thll" Further symptoms of the complaint are Ile-cl-ibe ,ip, in ii)itial tlip .ensati-,n of r, ,erO of waves of cold passing down the back, <in which arc accompanied by a sudden sense of J. jeciion. 'these pains in a few cases are accoi*1' par.ied by slight vxying dcrsal f';tills..HtP few houra severe puns set in. THE REMEDY That the first symptoms are somewhat nlatHi!11^ may not be gainsaid (says the (Jlohe). The access of extreme debility, the high tempcraturf< the Iii-ow ache, the ague, and the acute ImnbiJø pains follow so quickly in succession that sufferer may well tike a serious view of case. His thoughts, too, are turned in t. gloomy direction by the heavy depressi0 of animal spirits which is one of th accompaniments of tho disease. But a gonero"* dietary, supplemen ed by small doses of quini11 at intervals, will soon get rid of nil of these u0' pleasant experiences. Anti-pyrine, on the oth0t hand. should be scrupulously, avoided, by i-essoo of its tendency to set up heart complaint. Nor I, there any reason to resort to that pernicious dru#j quinine is every whit os efficacious, and entire1' harmless. The teetotal fanatics will, of discountenance the use of stimulants, but, eo f#r Continental judgment goes, alcohol in modem1? quantities appears to have a distinct medici"* value in repairing the exhaustion of strengtbi More efficacieus atill is nourishing food of a Iig*1 and easily digestible character, while too bigb value cannot be placed on cheerful company. patient, feeling thoroughly worn out and with l'1' mind weighed upon by melancholy, require above all things, to be taken out of himself. Thost; therefore, who are so fortunate as to cscape disorder cannot do a more charitable action lb* visit their suffering friends.

Boston Young Woman: Your husband" death was so sudden, Edith, that I 050 scarcely realise it. But you must try aud cheerful. Boston Young Widow: Yes, I dj try, but I'm afraid the undertaker's bill v?' nearly kill me, Maude: Isn't this a queer title for a boo^ Not like other girls!" I wonder what can be like if she's not like other girl*' Mother: I don't know, unless she goes itM the kitchen and helps her mother, instead staying in the parlour to read novels," =-

COLSMN'S SINAprsm.-Inie Improved Mttitio. Plaster.-Bold by all Ohemiata and (Irocerf, or r;4- seven penny stamps for packet of three, to Colm* 108, Canuox-ftreet, London. ixio

By Mr. J. Muir, Marram Abbey, Glamorganshire. ANSWERS ro CORRESPONDENTS. Wnlest in special cases, no replies will be sent to readers by post, but all inquiries will have prompt and careful attention under this heading, and we invite notes and questions on ALL rural subjects.