Weekly Mail

RHONDDA COLLIER'S BRUTALITY A shocking story of cruelty to a dog was unfolded at Ystrad Police-oourt on Monday, where a man named R. Price, of Tyn- tyla-road, Pont-Rhondda, was charged with killing a. doe by striking it about the body and on the head with the mettti portion of a hatchet. Benjamin Griffith* and his brother, two colliers living next door, de- posed to h wring heard moaning and groaning, and saw the defendant cruelly heating the animal. Price said he only Struck the dog otice, and ■ killed it outright, his reason being that he had no food to I give it. He considered it an eaaier death than drowning.—Mr. T. P. Jenkins charac- terised his conduct 6fJ most bruft and in- human, and it was evident he had put the poof animal to a great deal of unnecessary euffering. He would be fined j62, end pay the costs, £1. or go to gaol for two months with hard labour.

..[ BicrvQ DELICIOUS I J AND irtV NUTRITIOUS CUSTARD When the Pie was opened, POWDER The birds began to sing: The Praises of Bird's Custard j T* J « BIRDS Custard Powder makes a perfect, high-class. Powder Custard at a minimum of cost and trouble. Used by all the Will make the whole World „ leading Diplomees of the South Kensington School of Cookery. Invaluable also for a variety of Sweet Dishes, recipes for —Ufa." which accompany each packet. BIRD'S Custard is Pnre, I creamlike, nutritious, and easily digested, therefore is eminently suitable for Invalids, It is a wholesome, delicious article of diet, for universal con* sumption. Eggs often disagree; BIRD'S Custard never, i < No EGGS I NO RISK 1 NO TROUBLE f > — —' — —

TRAMWAYS TO PENARTH; SYNDICATE TO OBTAIN CONSTRUG TION POWERS. For many years efforts have been made from time to time to improve the connection between Cardiff and Penarth. The original Cardiff and Penarth Tramway, however, went no further than Clive-road. The distance between the two places is about four miles by road, and it is conflicting interests that have prevented the construction of a tramway over the whole distance years ago. During the past two or three years the matter has been keenly pushed forward, but the local authorities, after sharp discussions, have refused to (Support the various schemes. Now an influential syndicate has been formed to obtain a Provisional Order or Act of Parlia- ment for the carrying out of the object. The capital of the syndicate is only JE3,000, but the powers, once obtained, would be disposed of to a company with sufficient capital to carry oUt and work the undertaking. The formal notification of the registration States that the company, which bears the title Of the Penarth Tramway Syndicate (Limited), haa just been registered, with a capital of £ 3.000 in JB10 shares, to obtain a Proviwottal Order or Act of Parliament for the construc- tion of tramways or light railways between Cardiff and Penarth; to construct, equip, maintain, and work by electricity Or other- wise such tramways or light railways, and to carry on the business of tramway. Railway, omnibus, -and van proprietors, carriers of passengers ard goods, electricians, mechani- cal engineers, suppliers of electricity for light, heat, motive power, or otherwise, accu- mulator, dynamo, and motor manufacturers, Ac. The subscribers are:—Messrs. J. W, Pyman, Raithwaite, Penarth, shipowner; I. Vachell, Park House, Cardiff, solicitor; D.T. Alexander, Dinas Powis, surveyor; H. Lewis, 21, Oathedral-road, Cardiff, engineer; H. Cousins, 20, Queen-street. Cardiff, eolicitor; J. Cory, Rea View House, Penarth, shipowner; and W. J. Tatem, Penyian, Cardiff, ship- owner. No initial public issue. The number of directors is not to be leas than three nor more than nine. The subscribers are to appoint the first. Qualification, ten shares. Remuneration aa fixed by the company. Registered office, 124, Bute-street, Cardiff. It may be interesting to refer briefly to the divergent interests which bear upon the sub- ject. A considerable portion of the road is the joint property of Lords Bute and Windsor, and tolls are imposed upon vehicular traffic. The freeing" of this toll-bar has been the subject of negotiation between the Cardiff Corporation, the Glamorgan County Council, and the Penarth District Council for years. The Cardiff Corporation some years ago offered to "free" the road if Penarth Would come within the borough. But Penarth refused, fearing an increase in rates. The Cardiff Corporation, considering that resi- dents of Penarth earned their living at Cardiff and went to Penarth to live because rates were lower, refused to agree to any other course. The corporation were willing to construct and work the tramway if Penarth came within the borough. The refusal of the Penarth District Council last year to support a syndioate was due to several reasons. One of these wafi that there is already a frequent train service on the Taff Yale Railway; another was that the district council desired to keep control of its roads; and a third—perhaps, the strangest of all-that, a large tection of the population did not desire better communication with Cardiff. Residents objected that because of these facilities trippers from Cardiff would use the beach, the walks and parks, and spoil the '"quietness" of the place. Tradesmen complained that trippers would spend no money in the town, whilst residents would go more frequently to Cardiff to do their shopping. It will be interesting to see what attitude the Oardiff Corporation and the Penarth District Council will now adopt. Cardiff will certainly fight strenuously to keep any com- pany from working a tramway within the borough. The Penarth Council is stated to be already willing to construct the line to the borough boundary and permit the Car- diff Corporation to work it throughout. Mean- while the Taff Vale Railway will also have a hand in the contest, and probably reply to the establishment of tramways by putting on a motor service to cover the distance in half or two-thirds the time.

WELSH COLLIERY FLOODS. NORTH WALES MINES TO BE RB- OPENED. Moeh speculation has been indulged in during the last few days in North Wales regarding the statement that a powerful syn- dicate of gentlemen interested in mining development Are endeavouring to re-open fifteen old collieries in East Denbighshire, in the district surrounding Rua-bon. A cor. respondent has learned that the collieries referred to have been closed upwards of twenty years through being completely flooded with a rush of water, by which the miners narrowly esooped with their lives. In one quarter it was affirmed that plans were in embryo for an extensive pumping scheme to free the collieries of the water, which would be disposed of in the River Dee. Mining experts stated, that the pita are rich with coad, and that at least 40,000 million tons of the finest house coal are estimated to be available provided the inrush of water WM successfully dealt with. The rumoured re- opening of the collieries, however, is dis- credited in other quarters, and the officials at the offices of Mr. Henry Dennis, J.P., of Ruabon, the president of the Coalowners' Asso- ciation of Great Britain, were the reverse of optimistic. They declared they had received no definite information of any proposals in tha.t direction. Should the scheme be realised, many thousands of miners would benefit by increased trade. The collieries are all within a circle of a few miles. ————■——

IDENTIFIED BY FINGER PRINTS. At Barry on Friday Thos. Cassidy, a seaman, was brought up in custody charged With eteal-v ing a purse, containing 31s., from the person of Thomas Thomas, also a seaman.—'Thomas stated that on Tuesday afternoon he was in the bar of the Victoria Hotel, and was in the act of putting some change into his parse, after paying for a drink for the prisoner, when the latter snatched the purse from him and ran Curns, who was in the bar at the time, gave chaee, and caught prisoner in UwmpsoiMtwet, and handed him over to Police-constable Davies (35), who removed him to the police-station.—Prisoner's finger prints having been taken and sent to Scotland Yard, it was ascertained that he was in May last convicted at Swansea for theft.-The Bench described Caesidy as a dis- grace to the community, he was sent to prison for three months' hard laboar.

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. ADDRESS BY MR. JUSTICE DARLING. The Hon. Sir Charles Doling, judge of the High Court of Justice, paid a visit to the Rhondda. on Saturday, and delivered an address to the CymflirodoHon at Hebron Chapel, Too, On The Feudal System. Sir ChatIes was accompanied by Lady Darling and Miss Darlmg. and at Ystrad Railway Station the party was received by a large number of the influential inhabitants of the district, among whom were Canoii Lewis (vicar of YStradyfodwg), Alderman E. H. Davies, J.P. (president of the Rhondda Cymmrodorion Society), and Mr. Thomas Davies (secretary). A handsome bouquet was presented to Lady Darling by Mrs. E. H. Datiefi. Prior to the meeting the visitors drove to Llysygraig, where they were entertained by Dr. W. E. Thomas (chairman of the Rhondda Urban Council) and Mrs. Thomas. At the evening meeting Sir Charles delivered an interesting address, in which he traced the history of the feùdal system, and enumerated the customs of the manorial court, trial by combat, «fcc. He pointed out that Glamorgan did not come under the feudal system so early as England. In 1126 there were great disputes between the Lord of Glamorgan and the Bishop of Llandaff as to how justice should be administered; and they met and came to this agreement: That ordeals by fire should only be tried at Llan- dkff, that ordeals by water should only oe tried upon Pome land which the Bishop or Llacdaff had very conveniently near the Tàff, and that judicial combate should be tried, in the courtyard of Cardiff Castle, which belonged to the Lord of Glamorgan. Having settled it in this way, justice was adminis- tered in Glamorgan for a very considerable time. He (the speaker) did not know when the judges of aeBize first came to Cardiff and put an end to this. On the proposition of Canon Lewis, seconded by Alderman Richard Lewis (Pontypridd), and supported by the Rev. Dr. Oliver, Treffynon (ex-president of the Welsh Congregational Union), a vote of thanks waa accorded to the lecturer. During the evenmg 80109 were rendered by Madam Erasmus Bowen (Ystrad), and at the request of Lady Darling the congregation sang "Beth sydd i mi yn y byd to "Aber- ystwyth."

ABERYSTWYTH RATEPAYERS. APPEAL TO THE LOCAL GOVERN- MENT BOARD. A largely-attended meeting of ratepayers was held at the Town-hall, Aberystwyth, for the purpose of protesting against the action of the council in the expenditure of P,600 in the erection of retaining walls in the opening at the end of the college. It is proposed to cover the walls over and fill in between until required for the purposes of an aquarium or baths. Indignant at. the course taken by the council, a requisition was sent to the mayor demanding a public meeting, and, if necessary, a poll of the town. The ratepayers asked that the meeting should be called for the Monday night preceding the meeting of the council on the Tuesday, but this was not done, and when the mayor at the beginning of the proceedings went on to explain the reason for not calling the meeting on Monday he was interrupted, and there were loud cries for order. Mr. John Watkin, J.P., was the first speaker. He said that he wanted to call the attention of the ratepayers to the wasteful extra- vagance of the town council in epending the public money. (Applause.) What he particu- larly grumbled at was that the town council had no fixed idea, and did not know what the building was for. No money had been provided for the work, and it could not be included in the loan for the new promenade, as it did not form part of the work. It would have to oome out of the rates, and it was high time they protested. He, therefore, moved the following resolution:- That this meeting is of opinion that the expenditure of J6600 in building walls in the gap between the college and the castle gronnda ie unnecessary and wasteful, being expenditure which has not been provided for or sanctioned by the Local Government Board; and also that the walls will be buried and useless. This meeting, there- fore, disapproves of the building of the wall, and recommends the appointment of a com- mittee by this meeting, With power to enter into commanieation with the Local Govern- ment Board in reference to this expenditure. (Applause-) In seconding the resolution. Mr. Rufus Wirtt&ms said that it was quite time that something should be done to put the financial affairs of the town on a. more regular and businesslike footing. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was put to the meeting and carried unanimously, and a committee appointed.

SUDDEN DEATH AT AN INN. An inquest was held on Saturday at Swan- sea on the body of Mr. Evan Davies, a man well known in the town, who had died at the Exchange Inn, Swansea, very suddenly on Thursday evening.—The brother of deceased who was with him when he died, said that he, his brother, and six others were in the bar of the Exchange Inn. One of their mtmber had been showing some card tricks, and had just put the cards back in his pocket, wbon his brother's head dropped on the tatole. He was given a drop of brandy, but never spoke after- wards. Witness said that a report had gone about that his brother was card-playing at the time, and tha.t was not true. "I want to deny that," he said, not that I care whether it was cards or football."—Detective Morris explained that the rumour was that deceased was gambling at the time, and died in a moment of excitement.—Dr. Conch gave evrdence that death was due to heart disease, and a verdict was returned accordingly.

WORKHOUSE DIFFICULTY. The Hereford Board of Guardians on Satur- day accepted tenders for furnishing and equipping Ivy House, Tupsley, as the new home for the workhouse ohildren, total £ 220. The workhouse building committee obtained permission to employ an architect to assist them in devising a scheme for utilising the spaee vacated. They considered that provision should be made for new kitchen and laundry appliances sufficient for 300 inmates, with capacity for extensions.—A guardian thought the infirmary accommodation required serious consideration.—The Rev. A. N. Oope ascer- tained that the board would consider that day fortnight the question of having a better board-room. The present room was stiffing I at times and always affected him.—Mr. Walker believed the cctamittee had been afraid to face the question of cost. Some of them had been talking about a sew workhouse entirely. entirely.

CARDIFF TOWN FINANCES. REDUCTION IN THE BOROUGH, RATE. Estimates for the general district And borough rates for the half-year ending March 31 next were placed before the finance committee of the Cardiff Corporation! on Monday, when the chair was occupied by* Mr. W. Evans. The district rate estimate for the year, sanctioned by the council on Match 9 last, amounted to £ 161,582, and a moiety of that sum ( £ 80,791) waa put aeide for the current half-year. Certain additional expen- diture has, however, been sanctioned since, and the amount required for the next six months is £ 31,633. A rate of is. 9d. in the £ will produce £ 85,050, leating £3.417 for vacancies, irrecoverables, and appeals. The increased expenditure consists of the following itemsPnblic works committee, £ 950; waterworks committee, LI,CFA; health and port sanitary, £ 631; property and markets, £ 20—making a total of £ 2,570. In the case of the waterworks committee £7fiJ is accounted for by increased rates, taxes, tithes, and insurance in the Taff Valley, and the health committee have to pay £ 400 costs in connection with the action at law brought against, the corporation by Colonel Homfray in connection with the tipping of refuse on his property near the Roa.th Power Station, the Local Government Board having refused borrowing powers to cover this amount. The gross amount is £ 83.v361. but the following credits have been taken: -Excess in respect of the year ended March, 1903, general district rate account, £ 1,353; electric lighting account, £ 771—tod.al, £ 2,124—lens waterworks deficit, £396. The result is that deducting the net credit balance— £ 1,728—frbm £ 83,361, the amount to be raised by rate is £ 81,633. Mr. Lewis (deputy-borough treasurer) stated that the rate now proposed was 2d. more than it was twelve months ago, but the same as for the current bxif-yetr. The rate would have been ts. 9d. a year ago were it not for the fact that there was brought into the accounts a credit balance of £S,COO. The Chairman remarked that the extra expenditure had been sanctioned by the Council, and the committee had nothing to do but recommend that a district rate of Ie. 9d. in the £ be levied.—This was seconded and carried. The estimate for the borough rate, which is collected by means of a. precept on the over- seers, was more satisfactory. The amount allotted to the current half-year was LZSAI, which meant a rate of about 6-Jd. in the £'1 The sum required for the next half-year is only £ 21,309, which will be equivalent to about 5Jd. in the C. Mr. Lewis stated that twelve months ago the precept was for £ 25,339, so that upon that comparison there was a reduction of id. "n the dE. The iteme in excess of the expenditure estimated at the beginning of the financial year were --Tmpmvement of cells, £100; increase in magistrates' clerk's salary, £ 360; public vaccination, S490-total. CW. Against these amounts are the following credits:—Remaining half of £ 9,299 borough rate in aid of tramways (1902-3) re-paid to the borough fund account, £ 4,650; excess in borough fund revenue account, £ 3,366; excess in burial board account, £ 227—total, £ 8442. On the motion of the Chairman, it was resolved that a borough rate be made to provide for £21,309 38. lid. MAGISTRATES' CLERK'S FEES. The Town-clerk read a letter from the borough magistrates enclosing a resolution asking the corporation to pay their clerk's fees in connection with the Garrick Hotel appeal case. Mr. Lloyd Meyrick said he was afraid they would have to pay the fees, as the work did not come within the duties of the magistrates' clerk. Mr. Illtyd Thomas moved that in this case the fees be paid. This was seconded by Mr. Meyrick and carried. UNIFICATION SCHEME. The Town-clerk read a letter from the Local Government Board forwarding a draft of the Order as to the unification scheme. The board suggested that the clause relating to the offices of the assistant over- seers be modified, and that they should have three months' instead of six weeks' notice.—This the committee agreed to.— Another modification hal reference to the coming in force of the Order, the board sug- gesting September 30, 1903 but the committee thought it advisable to extend the date to March 31 next.—The town-clerk was instructed to .take the necessary steps to put the Order in force. OFFICIALS* SALARIES. It was resolved that a special meeting be called for Monday next to re-consider certain officials' salaries, and that the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the committees affected be invited to attend. This was promise made by the vice-chairman at the last council meeting, but Mr. Lloyd-Meyrick dissented from it, although he did not oppose the reso- lution. lution. Mr. Cecil Brown, Chancery and common law clerk, was appointed prosecuting solicitor, in succession to Mr. Halloran, who has obtained the position of deputy-town-clerk of Chatham. It was decided to advertise for a. Chancery and common law clerk at £150 a. year.

MONMOUTHSHIRE FINANCES NEWPORT GUARDIANS AND THE EDUCATION LEVY. There was some discussion at the meeting of the Newport Board of Guar- dians on Saturday (Mr. T. Dutfield pre- siding) as to the mtes to be called up on half-yearly precepts.—Mr. W. H. Brown, in bringing up the report of the finance com- mittee, said the precept was £1,078 less than the previous one in the borough, which was nearly a penny rate. There would have been a similar reduction in the county parishes were it not for the additional twopenny, rate which the Monmouthshire County Council had issued.—One of the members in- sisted that this addition was not due to the operation of the Education Act.—One of the finance committee's recommendations was upset by an amendment moved by the Rev. T. G. James, and seconded by Father Bailey, that in future the Monmouthshire County Council be requested to issue their precepts to the overseers direct. Both the mover and the seconder spoke strongly against the action of the county council in issuing a. precept demanding money for the operation of the Education Act before the Act was really in operation in the county.—The Rev. T. G. James said the appointed day for Mon- miouthshire was in March next, and yet the douncil was seeking to call up money for the purposes of the Act six months in advance. He thought they were acting ultra vires.— Father B&iley concurred.—The amendment was carried by a. large majority.

WELSH SERVICE COMPANY, AN ENJOYABLE REUNION At SWANSEA. His Majesty's thoughtful expression of good wishes for the success of thd first annual reunion, of the surviving members of the let Volunteer Service Company of the Welett Regiment was entirely fulfilled. Of the 131 officers and men who tAW service with the company in South Africa about setenty sat down to dinner at the Hotel Metropole, Swan- sea, on Saturday evening. They came from all parts of South Wales, and the meeting of old comrades, with the resultant exchange of many happy stories from the veldt was thoroughly enjoyable. Captain R. W. Picton Evans, who commanded the company in South Africa, pre- sided, supported by two of his former subtdtems. Captain F. H. Gaekell and Captain J. C. Gaskell, Colour-eergeant Jenkins, who was actiug'sergeant-major to the Welsh Retri- ment during the tithe the Volunteer company were with them), and Colour-sergeant Hicks, the cotonr-sergeaat of the company. The other subaltern, Captain George Bransby Williams, was unable to attend. After dinner Captain Picton Evans read the following tele- grams which had passed between his Majetty. the King at Balmoral and the gathering: — "To his Majeety the King. Balmoral. "The surviving members of the 1st Volun- teer Service Company the Welsh Regiment, assembled for their annual dinner at ths Hotel Metropole, Swansea, desire to Mprcst their continued devotion to his Majesty the King, and to wish him long life and happi- ness." The following was the reply "To the surviving members of the let Volunteer Service Company of tht Welsh Regiment, Hotel Metropole, SW&nSea, "Atn commanded by the King to thank you for your loyal telegram, and to cohvey to you his Majesty's good wishes for the Success of your meeting,—Equerry." The reading of the Royal message gave tis« to hearty cheers, and the toast of The King" Was enthusiastically honoured. Captain Evans, in a few appropriate words, gave the toast of "Absent Comrades," which was honoured in silence. The next toast Wail that of Captain F. H. Gaskell, to whose efforts was dne the holding of the dtMer. Captain Evans, who proposed the toast, said he saw no reason why the dinner should not continue every year, until only two or three old cbaps were left to be carried into the room. (Bear, hear.) Captain Gaskell, who was very heartily received, replied, and gave the gathering tome information concerning some of their comrades who were unable to attend. He had been unable to trace ten members. Slight had died, either whilst on service in South Africa or since their ret-Urn home, and seventeen were abroad, mostly in South Africa. Considering it was three years since the company separated, he thought the attendance for the first re- union was very good. Colour-sergeant nicks proposed the health of Captain Picton Evans and the offioen, and the Captain, in his reply, took the opportunity to thank the members of the company for the handsome present they gave him on the occa- sion of his wedding, a few years atfo. It was the most valued thing he had in his house. Captain Frank Gaskell, in proposing the health of the nob-commissioned officers and men, read telegrams of erecting exchanged between the meeting and the officers, non- commissioned officers, and men in the Cardiff Barracks who were comrades with the Volun- teers in South Africa. Colour-Bergeant Hicks replied to the toast. The health of Ooiour- eergeant Jenkins was proposed by Sergeant T. B. Phillips, and drunk with enthusiasm. At a meeting of the members held before the dinner it was decided to make the reunion an annual affair, held alternately in different towns. Cardiff was fixed for the holding of next year's dinner, and the arrangements were left, in the hands of Cap. tain F. H. Gaskell.

EISTEDDFOD AT KIDWELLY. IMPRESSIONS OF THE BENEDICTINH MONKS. The sixth annual eisteddfod, under the auspices of the Baptist Chapel at Carway, Kid- welly, was held on Saturday at Glyn Abbey. Glyn Abbey is now the home of a community (numbering about 40) of Benedictine monks, and the eisteddfod was held by their permis- sion. Several of the community, together with FfeU»er O'Connor, the visiting priest, attended the meetings, which were presided over by Mr. T. Seymour, J.P., colliery owner, of Pontyberem, and Dr. Lewis, Pontyeates, respectively. At the afternoon meeting Father O'Oonnor gave a short, but interesting, address. He stated how eagerly the gather- in? had been looked forward to by the com- munity, and that although they could not as yet join heartily in the proceedings, yet he (the speaker) hoped that in a year or two they would be able to compete with their friends. (Applause.)—Mr. T. Jones ("Caeralaw"), Oar- marthen, was the musical adjudicator, and Gwili" the conductor and literary adjudi- ca-tor. The chief competition was on Telynau y Plant." and the Burry Port Mixed Choir was adjudged the best. In the open soprano liolo competition Miss Blodwen Hopkins, Llangennech, took the prise for a splendid rendering of "I will extol Thee," she being gracefully invented by Father Paal, of Glyn Abbey. Miss Maggie Morgan, of Llaaelly, was the accompanist. -01.111

WHITLAND INTERMEDIATE SORoou. At the annual meeting of the managers Mr. H. J, H. Lawrence was unanimously re« eleoted chairman, having occupied that posi- tion from the commencement and been present at all the meetings. The Rev. D. Jones, Baptist minister, Whitland, and Mr. J. Scourfield, C.C., Blaenwernddu, Whitland. were also- re-elected vioe-chairmen.—Two entrance scholarships in the Whitland School District were granted to Thomas Morris Thomas, Henllan Board School (453), and Owen Gibbin, Ffynonwen Board School (282).—The following four were also granted in the St. Clears District, Tis :-Susan Winefred Owen. Laugharne National School (429), Henry Stone Thomas, St. Clears National School (390), Louisa Caroline Jones, Qlaefryn Board School, St. Clears (279). and Daniel Thomas, of the same school V276).—The Secretary (Mr. J. Grif. fith Reee) recommended the granting of four internal scholarships, instead of two.—TMa waa adopted, and they were granted to Mr. William DaTid Owen, Medical Hall, Whitland (who carried off the only orre granted laCt year), Mr. R. H. R. Davies, Blaenos, Whitland; Miss Hettie Morris, Gower Villa, Clynderwenj and Mr. J. Reed Davies, West Rose, Whitland. Fourteen bursaries in the St. Clears District, ranging from jEl to JE4, and 24 bursaries ia the Whitland School District, raugiug tyM £1 to A. were aJso granted.

VTESTIONS ASKED AND r ANSWERED. Dr 1rUm. Glencairn, Sandon, Chelmsford.] °f Rose.—Charles Wooley.—It is a tea v y■ named Cleopatra. of Apple.—"Pomono."—The Keswick a moat useful apple. Souvenir de la Malmaison.—"E. R."— to Messrs. Dicksons and,Co., NUrsery- j» i> Waterloo-place, Edinburgh. Beans.—'Tar North."—It is the rising and a high temperature which the beans to expand and jump in the v "at interested you. of Rose.—E. Connell.—A nice, fresh, bloonr of Souvenir de la Malmaison, delights me every time I receive it. ij? with Bad Coat.—Arthur Cave.—Please ♦M to "Black Spaniel" in this issue, It the sulphur and lime lotion to it. tojj* one of the best remedies for all skin Plaints. A^taes of Plante.—"E. J. P."—The pink 18 Weltonensis, a useful green- j°r .window plant. The yellow flower is feiif ^alis lutea, and the moss-like one is aspera, >^eShamrr>ck.—"A. G." (Toxteth).—'The plant >^eShamrr>ck.—"A. G." (Toxteth).-The plant %i]j r^?d is the true shamrock. The leaves *eHia^OSt"ly disappear in winter and the plant dormant, but it is quite hardy, and »»Srow freely in the spring. ^on Jersey Cattle.—"A Lancashire vat*l • —There is a very useful book, "Jersey l>*hi; ii Their Feeding and Management," ^y Vinton and Co., 9, New Bridge- » London, price 3s. 6d. ^^Pie-flavoured Rhubarb.—G. Beesofl,—I particulars of this in a few It ig +, nce- when the time to plant arrives. *D 8- the finest rhubarb in cultivation, both •leal- and flavour. The latter is especially Y^Be, being quite apple-like. WIL* leaves Discoloured.—"Amateur/'—The *re Ton send are decaying naturally, and Q°t affected with any kind of pest or The time has arrived when most Vtaii will be discoloured in the foliage from w.r ripening. a Little Poultry Farm.—"G. H. I." Jfog advertise your wants in this paper, •f be sure to receive offers of the class you require, and if you get a number •eu_* es—which you, no doubt, will—you can 7* what you think will suit you best. 'free Bark Eaten with Maggots.—"TV tiyJ^t ie the goat moth caterpillar that has the bark on the ash tree. It bores PHs the bark, and does much injury to mahy It may be destroyed by soaking the with paraffin oil, and then lime-washing trunks when the oil has dried. sKs*" of Creepers.—"W. J. B."—The large- ^ftiaS one' tlle smallest leaved Vir- creeper, Ampelopsis Yeitcbii; "mailer leaved one, Clematis Mon- iftrt'_■ This is a quick-growing climber, ^ceo spring and early summer it pro- •rij.? a fine display of pink white flowers, Oh are Tery beautiful. ■^j^ysanthemum Leaves Rusted.—"W. B. B." tlftov8. the work of a fungus. It can be j ar,d exterminated if the plants are when first it apnears with a mixture tSkUr' Potassium eulphide to a gallon of but that would do little good now. MM vi?oald Pick off the worst of the leaves £ oflrti them. Plant.—"P. D." (Morecambe).-Fonta- WfVJ^'yrceodies. It is good of you to say feat hinlt I know the name of "everything Originally, I had a good train- c Royal Gardens, Kevr, which ie the P\aQt establishment in the world, and, 4 .J Q e< all are about as simple to me as with Sores -Between Toes.—"Airdale."— Qemi the feet well with soap and water, clea^.brtigh between the toes to thoroughly them, then dress them with the follow-1 Che Qiixture, which you can get from a I lea^ Olive °^- 4oz.; Goulard a extract of «?8"' .Klyeeritie, ioz.; carbolic acid, Joz. <iav 4- liniment well iH, and drees evefy till cured. )¡¡ GOOse with Obstruction in Throat.—It is ftient to be only a temporary impedi- Of i'* Mix a little turpentine and sweet oil fe^th .together in equal parts, dip a quill '1% m_it, and work the feather round and anfl m.s'de the throat. Do this morning for a few days. I fear your dtick& as in bred and rather weak ifl the legs, Cfkfjjp ttntistial for them to puffer much from ^or Late Chickens.—G. Willie.—Your am^^oatehed-out chickens will not do well Diit the old fowIs. You should try and dry in a run by themselves, that hqs a such-as is afforded by ashes often SJKI t should be in a sheltered position, °Ur ;V eiT>osed to all the sunshine possible. fra»)»Mlea of rearing them in your garden &et a ?°°d one, as they would not air, and they would never Xdoq?i(? Manure for Roses.—"South Notts."— advise you to give your rosea manure It would indhce them to make JimT* wood, which would not mature before SvSF' and then it Would be injured or killed frost. The buds formed will, With befXr^ahle weather, develop into flowers Qiiu tbo season is over. I think yotif soil suitable for rose culture, btit they do k a rnle> gr^w so mtiPh the flfet year ^toj^nting as later. ^°a\?*fcgn6 Fern.—Mrs. Williamson.—'What fern of as the itsparasjus fern is not. a the term is often applied to the al green spraya of the greenhouse Uefl(/fg'us, of which A. plumosus, A ten-nesimus, and A. sprengeri am aTe a11 evergreen, nil(i r'nt The1^ hnupandrf lilw1l.erateljr laoiat at C°Ced 1>erteoUy '» » orai' i^Ptatoe.s Eaten by Yermin.—"Kent."—The bL.3"ins, °f the potato tnbera you send have l-0v_r ^ten by rata. Once they start on the 5feT are re?y l>ersistent and destruc- gfo," ^bably they are harbonrina: on the ^ciose or actually in the rcrws. Get it garrison's rat poison at once, spread Vi, tie sliccs of fat bacon, and put these ^isonand there in the rows. It will not th«r!r + e Potatoes, but it Will certainly kill Mb or mice, if there are any, and they >«ecay without beooming offensive. Candi(lum Bt.lbs.C. L."—Th6 bxtlbs oeeome somewhat exhausted, and new and better soil. You did quite Mti] ta«e them up. Keep them stored l«en _;ne end of February or thereabouts, *kh\ J*-1' Previous to this dig the soil qi«aiHun ln?bes or more in depth, and work a the uty o* cow manure through it. Plant PF ge bnlbs together and the small ones to a emselvee. The latter will become useful e'o»y^ar or two. Plant- them three inches surface. You can put one handful Q(t wttnd each before patting the soil on. House with Ivy.—M. Rigby.—The >ith T way of getting your house covere<l to buy some plants of the Irish tbejJly> which is quick in growth, and plant Jta»Si1anSr time from the end of October till fligh ^t the plants three or four feet -iney will cost you about Is, each, and j3<ijwiVer a space in a year or two if ueci up. j>ig the soil well up before plajit- Uiatow i a(Jd.a little manure and gritty flow • Cuttings, if put in, wonld be rather thftwln growth, and not so satisfactory as j. young plants. ^aresfoot Fern Not Growing.—H. I>rope.— haresfoot ferns are not always free U When they get into a sickly state fit th- ten long before they recover, especially ill ti"s season of the year, which is much less it favour than spring. You should keep It Bi the pot it is in until next March, when ftllri be re-potted. Drain the pot well, a coarse soil that is very porous. ?0Ui«Li m ypvr window now, and keep it In th i1 Tnoiet' but not wet, until March, "cad of winter it may be kept almost w311 not stow, but the object is to keep it alive until the spring. >0fSmat°es Failing.—Messrs. Davkin.—I am >0n, f°rry you were so unfortunate with wmatoes. I never knew the lime and be^l ^te mixture to fail, and there must have to t-.foaiethjng peculhvr in yonr ingredients the plants. Probably they were over-1 With disease before the remedy was You shor d clei r the whole out, t>he old eoil. W^.Rh the glaas and ^1 with soap and '.cater, and limewaeh 1ttpJI*1^able gpa-cee. Do this now, a«d do not >a,it 1..t°mato growing this autumn, but Until next spring, when you can begin •Uiw" and I have no doubt you will be more ^j^^sful then, as this: year has been a bad for disease. on Dog—"Black Spaniel."—The Tu,b thc d0ff louse- or Trichodectea latus, It iatllLS 18 often the generator of tapeworms. othpLInore difficult to exterminate than some *8 tk Parasites. A lime and sulphur lotion *t»hv>.e most effective. Take lib. of flowers of SHIW"*1"' unslaked lime Jib., water, one Slake the lime in the water, stir Sftlii. "nlphur, and boil down to half a hen • When cold strain off the liquid, and ^Htn rol3 tlle d° £ thoroughly with it. B^jlrrate the coat and rub it well into the Vajl" Do it thoroughly. Next day wash it With warm water and carbolic or soft iUgT;, The dog will then be quite free from fop and the akin will be all the better ? dressing, as this mixture is also an •dote for mange. ^lie»rtin^ a Small Dairy Farm.—J. Moss.— MH.6 ls one great drawback in connection Ati0 your intention. This is the want of ^Orjrj the subject. As you are only a |'np-nian, and have saved some money, I to advise you into any undertaking ft u* would give Von much worry, for a time losjJ^t, ana witih a considerable chance of few* Borne of your money. Managing cows, b^f1 and poultry is not a difficult matter, to B-f00 must have practice and experience the Your only way would be to buy ^ith and get some practical hand in for six months, or go on to a farm It J-he same period and learn all you can. Pay you well to follow either one ?WtLe other of these ways. Co*ws 6f the b^^orn breed are the best, or crosses these and Jereevs or Ayrshires make ^h"itl 4nd B°od .milkers:. The middle-sized ^ifcs or the black Berks are\excellent 'DUhi; hook "Dairy, Pigs, and Poultry," \>M0vsbed at 7, Stationcrs'-hall-court, London, 2B„ will suit you.

RURAL JOTTINGS. LIABLE HINTS AND INPORMA- TION. ASPARAGUS BEDS. amateur who showed me a big bed of one day lately asked me what was ^«st thing to do with it. He said that it Kjy "scome such a mass of weeds that a little previously he mowed the whole over, •team were cut off level with the ground He and raked away with the weeds. I could hardly help laughing at the clean eweep that had been made of everything, and I told him that it was no use asking me what to do then, as the bed had been ruined. To cut the whole of the stems off when green is the greatest mistake that could be made. It entirely stops the maturing of the roots and crowns, and if they survive next spring the heads will be no thicker than straws. It puts them back years, and probably some of the roots will feoovpr. I daresay some have very weedy asparagus beds now, and they may contemplate- the same rough style of cleaning as I write of, but I would say emphatically, Don't; oh, don't! Asparagns beds are by no means so easily established that one can afford to spoil the growth and work of years by five minutes' mowing. It would be infinitely better to let the weeds remain to be killed off in winter; yet, surely, time can be found to remove them. Anyone will weed a pretty large bedi in an hour, and even if more tinft were necessary there can surely be no hindrance. It will pay to weed it. Some vacant parts between the plants or rows may be hoed, but where the plants are close together, or the weeds mixed up with the stems, draw them all out with the hand, and take them away. The surface between the plants should be quite clean at this time in order that air and sunshine may be admitted to the stems and crowns to ripen them and make them hardy. This is neces- sary to success next year. APPLE LORD SUFFIELD. I am glad I have not for years recommended anyone to plant this apple. This week I have letters from three correspondents in different counties in England, all expressing their disappointment with it, not only this season, but in previous ones. They say it fruited attractively for a few years at first, but as it became older the fruit were less in number and size, the trees became cankered, and now ib is most unpromising. I have long known this to be its character, and I am not sur- prised; neither do I disagree with anything sa,id against it. Indeed, it is what I expected to hear. I know young trees bear in a most pleasing manner, but they gradually dwindle, and I do not know of one tree of it that ia either in or getting into its teens that is satisfactory. This is one of the apples that those who sell fruit trees persist in recom- mending. Why, I can hardly tell; probably, it is to sell out their big stock on hand. But planters will do well to avoid it. THE TRAVELLER'S JOY PLANT. It ie amongst the clematis we find this, and the variety is C. Vitalba. It is a native of Britain, and grows freely in gardens, wood- lands, and hedgerows. It is its frequent occurrence in the latter and on the roadsides which has gained for it the name of Traveller's Joy, as its growth is so free a-nd graceful afe to be quite Cheeking to all who see it. It ia very free in growth. The shoots are long and graceful. They will scramble through hedge bushes and cover the tops with a great display of almohd-scetited grey- white flowers, not conspicuous individually, but a pretty mass. It aleo ascends trees to a height of twenty or thirty feet, and it garnishee the boughs so gracefully that when seen one wonders why it is not more, employed in this way. Some hedgerow plants are ill-adapted for choice gardens, but this Clematis is as agreeable there as the most aristocratic of plants, and it should be generally introduced. RIPENING RHUBARB ROOTS. Many consider rhubarb an ordinary kind of production, but it is much more in favour now than it was years ago. In seasons when fruit is scarce, like the present, rhubarb is always available for stewing and tarts, and it soon proves to be a very good substitute. Forced rhubarb is a spring delicacy, and alto- gether it merits all the attention that will be the means Of producing it in the bret con- dition; There is plenty of it grown, but much of it is neglected and does not attain that perfection it ie capable of. Whetl weaR it lacks flavour and is tough, but one of the greatest aids to its being superior is to have the roots and crowns thoroughly ripened in the autumn. They should now be treated to do this. Remove the decayed tethvee tha.t ma.y be wctnd the crowns. Keep them clear of these all the autumn by going over them once a. wêek. Do not let weeds sibade them. and fork the surface of the soil round each plant. SOME UNPOPULAR VAUIETIBS OF FOWLS. The favourite fowl of to-day is not what Was all the rage twenty or more years ago. Then egg-production and table qualities were not leading point.8; now they oome foremost. This is a step in the right direction, and one all ought to follow more and more. At one time the Hamburgs were leading kindi Now one may inspect a parish or walk through a whole county and hardly find one. They can lay as well as most, but the eggs are too small to be acceptable amongst those gene- ra.lly laid now. They aire only third or fourth grade in eize, and such. fetch very poor pricee. The fowls themselves are pretty and sprightly, but far too small to be acceptable on the table, and they a.re also deficient in flavour. They are quite out of favour, and are not likely to be reinstated. The Cochin Chinas, Buff, Partridge, and White brought tremendous prices years ago. They were often the best'fllleri 6lase<te at many dhows, ffrieir rmAMiVe forms, cottrpoeed chiefly of feathers, Were highly captivating, but there is no rftge for rfea.thetl now, however ample, by the strictly utility poultry-keeper, and the Cochins have now a back seat in the gallery, and the once p^pitlar Br&hmafi are their com- panions in their retirement. It is more to be regretted that the Black Spanish have nearly disappeared, as they laid huge eggg pretty freely, but they were rather tender in constitution, atld the more profitable Black Minorca has taken their plsuce. Addahtsians, too, are on the down-grade. They are good layers, but not flmt-rate on the table. Although the Frehch are such good poultry managers, their breeds do not óatcll on in this country, and they make no progress. Were it not for a very fow breeders the varieties would soon be extinct in this country; indeed, some of them are 80 now, such as Couftes Pattea, Oottcou de Malinee, Le Mane, and one or two others. Sultans, which were my first love in show fowls, are rarely met with. They are pure white, with feathery crests, lege, and feet, bat mieerable layers and useless, as table birds. The name may be said of Frizzles, and Polish, with their huge top-knots, are hardly more popular. Silkies are mere ÍJOye, and can never figure as profitable. The Japanese have had a. run, too, but that has dwindled. Their chief merit and interest are in the length of their tail. Few relieh the idea of breeds becoming extinct, but all these, compared with the capabilities of the most popular and profitable of to-day's varieties, might disap- pear wholly amd leave no voids behind them. I cannot recommend a.ny of them of special or excelling merit where actual usefulness is the object of keeping fowls, and that is the desire of 99 per cent, of poultry-keepers. The few who place fancy first will, no doubt, find some amongst those rejected that wiU meet their wishes. GERANIUM AND OTHER CUTTINGS. These will have been in the soil to root for some weeks, but the weather is not much in favour of their getting on well. It ie too cold, sunless, and wet. Where there ie a glasshouse or frame, they should be put under cover. Keep them near the glaas and fully in the light. Water them moderately, and in taking them in remove all dead leaves. The flowers and bods should also be taken off, as the little plante will grow better with- out having to bear flowers. GLOXINIAS. These ahowy flowering bulbous plants ehould now be put to rest for the winter. Do it gradually. Let the supply of watera,t the roots be decreased. Place the plants close to the glass and fully in the sunshine, -and in a fortnight or three weeks the roots ma.y be quite dry. The bulbs will then be ripe, and may be taken out of the soil and stored for the winter. Some of them may be partially matured now, but others that are still quite green should not be too much hurried into ripeness. CLEANING FOUL FIELDS. I am hearing so much from small fannertt on the foul condition their land hM got into this weedy reason that I give the subject a note, as being of special interest. What are known as dung weeds, such as chickweed, groundsel, and other annuals, are very harm- less. as they do not deprive the eoil of much of ita goodness or interfere with the develop- ment of the crops; neither do their sdeds mix in with the corn when collected. It is couch grass, docks, thistles, and such deep-rooting and big top-proddcing 8¡veeds that rob the iand and prove a great hindrance to tshe pro- luction of superior crops. The couch is a terrible torment. The roots run under the eoil, and extend quickly. They often become a mat, And no crop will grow or yield well with such an association. If the long roots are cut up into a hundred pieces, each will grow and multiply again rapidly. Docks are free seeders. One large plant will drop as many in one season as will produce hundreds. The thistles are of a like nature, but their seed is more light and is blown a,11 over the fields. When the plants are plentiful they form a considerable portion of the straw in the crops, and are most objectionable, either as bedding or fodder. Couch, docks, and thistles are, therefore, the three most objectiona.ble field weeds, a«nd it is these which the greatest anxiety should be felt to exterminate. The docks and thistles can be seduced considerably by cutting them over when green, but to dean the ground thoroughly the roots In1I8t be removed from the soil, and this is what &1.1 should do. Dry weather is necessary for the operation. The land should be ploughed as deep as pos- sible first, then run the harrows through it. first one way and then another. This will drag a great many of the roots up to the sur- face, when they should be collected and burned in bea-pt here aod there on the ettr- face. Harrow again as soon as this is done, and collect and burn. Do this, it possible, ifl the autumn, or as soon as possible, and then in February or Maroh again. It should be re-ploughed at that time and harrowed, to remove the remaining roots. No chemicals can be applied to the soil to kill the rootss, as some desire. Cultivation only will do it, and, apart from the advantage of having the earth clean, the ploughing and harrowing do the soil great good. The most foul land, if taken in hand at once, may be made very clean before the crops are put in next spring, and much beaefit will be derived from the work then. THE CAPPAB PLANT AND ITS FRUIT. The fruit of the cappar, used in cookery, is obtained from the plant Capparis spinosa. It is a native of Southern Europe, and is gene- rally grown in this country as a greenhouse plant, but in the Southern counties of England it succeeds pretty well in the open air, especially if protected a little in severe weather. It is a, bushy plant, and does not often exceed three or four feet in height. It is not grown in this ootlntry sufficiently to be of any commercial value, but some have trees that yield enough of fruit to be worth pickling. This is done successfully in the same way as I described a fortnight ago for the nasturtium seeds, which have a consider- able resemblance to the cappar. The variety C. odoratissima requires a warm glasshouse or stove, but its violet-coloured, sweet-scented flowers, much like those of the myrtle, are exceedingly pleasing. They all thrive best in a. sandy, loamy soil. I' STRAWBERRY PLANTS. The beds should now be gone over. Those planted in July or early in August have grown very well. Many of them have formed runners. These appear in string-like growths, run out for a foot or more, then form a plant at the end, which roots into the ground. They form very freely, and there are several on each plant. They deprive the plant of much nourishment, and all careful cultivators remove them before they attain any size. This should be done at once. Cut them off close to the plants that emit them. There will be many, too, on the old plants, and all should be removed. Weeds always grow freely amongst strawberries. Every one of them should be removed, and the plants fully exposed to the air and sun. If shaded, the crowns will not mature well. and then they will not be a success next year. If the sur- face is hard and caked, and will not loosen by hoeing, the surface should be broken with a fork. Do this after cleaning them. WINTER SPINACH. Do not neglect this crop. It will be sure to prove extremely acceptable in late autumn, during the winter, and next spring. It is very prolific, and a fine vegetable on the t,reble. Thin the plants out to six inches apart. Keep them quite free from weeds. Run the dutch hoe between them weekly now. This will IOOBCTI the soil, destroy the little weeds, and encourage growth. The leaves may be gathered for use as soon as large enough. PREPARING GLASSHOUSES FOR WltfTEA. As ilmfth light as possible should always be admitted to plant housed in winter. The plants- are much behefited by this, and the flowers attain a brighter colour than when partially shaded. All shading material put on the outside of the glafis should bow be removed. If blinds of oaiwas or any other material have been employed, take them oft, and when dry store away till next spring. Wash the inaide of the glass quits Clean, and the woodwork also should be cleansed. If there are any walls inside the house, lime- wash them with white lime. The white helps to brighten the interior. The lime also kills any insects that may be harbouring in the walls. The shelves and stages should also be cleaned, and if any of the wood is bare of paint apply two or three ooats. Omitting to paint Boon causes the wood to decay. Good white lead paint is the most durable and the best preservative. The wood should be quite dry when it is applied. The hinges attached to the Ventilators should all be oiled. Whatever means of heading are employed, examine all and be sure every part is in working order. Often the heating apparatus is never looked at until a sharp frost occurs, then it is set a-going at a few hours' notice, and if defects exist, and the circulation of heat cannot be conducted and a breakdown occurs, the plants are very apt to suffer irreparably. The water that has been in hot- water boilers during the summer should a.ll be run out, and clean water substituted. Oil lamps will require wicks, and probably other repairs. The pipes should not be painted with any liquid that will retain and give off an offensive smell. I have known them to be tarred. This is most objectionable. If there is any refuse under the stages, remove every particle of it, as 11011 such ig sure to harbour superfluous moisture in winter, and that is generally injurious at that season. The interior cannot be kept too clean and whole- some for the plants. GOOD LATE SEPTEMBER PLUMS. A reader in Worcestershire, a fine fruit county, sends me a. few of three kinds of plums. They are Jeffereonsv with & dark yellow, purple dotted skin and exquisite flavour; White Magnum Bonttm or egg plum, a big fruit, of handsome appearance, not filt- rate in flavour, but gfftnd for cooking or preserving; and Diamond, also a large one, and almost black, which is my Correspondent's favourite market eort. at present. All in want of three late September plunUJ will find these of special merit. LATE VEGETABLE MARROWS. The marrows have fruited very well this season, in spite of the wet weather. There are many small fruit on them still, which, ,i with good Weather, would swell and become useful. There are also many older fruits which have really become too aged to use, and all these should be cut off. This will relieve the plants very much, and be in favour of the smaller ones increasing in size. When marrows are wanted for seed, they must be allowed to remain on the plants until quite hard and ripe, but one marrow will furnish hundreds of seeds, and a. number of fruit need not be left for this purpose. Where the fruits are very small, and it Is doubtful if they will become useful before cut off by frost, put a tile, Klate, or Something of the sort under each, and this will encourage them. Do not let more fruits form. Pnll all off tha.t are appearing. If the weather should become dry, give them a soaking of liquid manure. RECENTLY-ROOTED CARNATIONS. Carnations which were layered five or six weeks ago will now have rooted. Some leave them in prroups, where they will root all winter, but this is not the best way. They will be very much better plants next spring and summer if they are transplanted now. The very hardy kinds may be planted in the open ground. Fork a sheltered, sunny piece of ground over. Add some road grit or sand or some lime rubbish to it, and plant them in it. They may be kept three or four inches apart, as they will be transplanted agaJn in the sprang. In moving them remove the sur- face soil that is over the roots of the layer*. Cut the growth that connects them to the old plants, and dig up each one separately, with a little baJI of soil to the roots. Be very care- ful to secure this, as it prevents their being checked and is a great assistance to them. Sprinkle a layer of sand over the surface amongst the plants when all have been planted. The choicer kinds are beat put singly in pots. Three-inch Pota are suitable. Drain them, and use a sandy soil, bat not much manure. Dig the plants up like the others. Keep a pall of earth to each one, and pot firmly. They may be placed in a. oMd frame, and they will succeed in this all winter. If there is no frame aar&ilabto, make a bed of ashes and plunge the Pota tip to the rim in these. They may be sheltered a little in seveire weather.