The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter

CARMARTHEN WEEK BY WEEK. The first straw hat of the season appeared in Carmarthen on Friday. A straw shows how the- wind hkws; and the straw hat scon s that the thermometer is going to keep up lor a spoil. It shows in fact that we are in the hey-day of the fine season. -¡(" The Now Woman is all very well in her way but the new boy is worse than the ten plagues of Egypt boiled down into one. Some mothers in Carmarthen are actually compelled by their eight-year-old tyrants to Z7, regularly purchase a modicum of cigarettes when they go shopping. The offering of I zn n n incense to Satan is a form of worship into which the male sex are being initiated ratijor too prematurely. Iu the good old days,boys like these would be taken upstairs; and tiom their bedrooms there would be heard to issue a series of shrieks combined with what Dickens described as a succession of sharp sounds somewhat resembling applause." Our rising genera- tion gets a little too smart; and is made to smart much too seldom. Tins sort of thing suggests an idea as to n ZD who are the real rulers of the country. An aggressive old salt in one of our standard works—Marryat's, I believe—says that the naval officers are ruled by the Admiralty; that the Admiralty are ruled by the Privy Council; that the Privy Council is ruled by Parliament; that Parliament is ruled by the People; that the People are ruled by the Press and that the Press is ruled by the Devil. Without actually endorsing these somewhat extravagant deductions, it would be well to consider how our social system is managed. Men are ruled by women and women are ruled by precocities in knicker- bockers. Who can aver that the Franco- Prussian war was not caused by some infantile colic; the Crusades by nettle-rash and the Reformation by measles ? (hI' local publicans who have had summonses to attend at the Guildhall for offences alleged to have been committed on Sunday week will not "come up" until; Monday next. A fortnight will thus have elapsed between the commission of the alleged offences and the hearing of the cases. Justice is slow and certain—slow, particularly. 1 *■ I have received more than one complaint as to the manner in which some of our would-be mashers "interfere with married women" iu the public street—after the shops are closed and people come out for their evening constitutlona1." I can see no distinction between married and single in a case like tlrs; to molest any woman who is going her way along a public thoroughfare is an offence which, if brought under the attention of the nearest P.C., would result in the delinquent being put on "short commons" for the next fourteen days. But then, perhaps, this would be a new law to Carmarthen It is the greatest wrong which can be intlicfced on some of the young men of this 0 town to allow them to carry on as they do. A number^ of these paper-collared, paste- board-dickied, nickel-chained, and Waterbury- watched nonentities trample down every- thing before them in this town they always make it a point of honour—or dishonour—to make themselves as obnoxious as possible both on the public street aud at public gatherings. They are allowed to do this here because they happen to be somebody's son, or somebody else's nephew, or a cousin to the man over the way. However, when they go to another town and try on any of these little games, people will just deal with them as they would with other rowdies. It was Mark Twain who said something to the effect that no man ever realises what a thorough going donkey I13 is, until he leaves home. rn • ihe trees which have been planted by the Corporation in various parts of the town are Corporation in various parts of the town are flourishing apace—" like a green bay tree," in fact. As a result of one individual being lined for breaking them, I am told that people are afraid to put a finger on them." I am very glad to hear this. A fear of the law is the beginning of improvement in the management of this town—and of every other town. ■x The Press dinner which took place in Carmarthen last week disposes of that old- world fiction—that the representatives of different newspapers are implacable and deadly enemies. Never was there a fiction which rested on less foundation. There is no more reason why two pressmen should be sworn enemies, than there is why two shoe- makers or two tailors should adopt the same course. Besides the Press—like every other trade or profession—has certain common interests which an occasional re-union does much to promote. The day is not far distant when the spongers on the Press will cease to be able to use it as their tool by playing off one newspaper against another. A little unity works wonder. U The people who combine the best to guard common interests are the Railway Companies. They have long ago recognised the advantage of Trade Protection before any alteration is made in fares they must I consult each other so as to have uniform rates. This is the reason why it costs the same to go to London 03^ the L. & N.W.R. as it does to go by the G.W.R. If you do not like the price quoted, you can walk. The railway officials would probably say- if questioned—that they understood their own business best. So when people try to bully the Press into reporting our proceed- ings fully," our answer is that we under- stand our own business best. Depend upon it, the conductors of newspapers in the same way know very well what will please their readers. If these folks—who think that newspapeis should be carried on to minister to their particular glorification, and to give long reports of the Something-or-other Council which interests them—were to try for six months to carry on a periodical on these lines, they would at the end of the time give it up, being then poorer and wiser men. They would find that they cannot compel the public to buy a journal for the sake of reading their lucubrations. There is still a great void in our educa- tional system. It is no uncommon thing at the station to see half-a-dozen people gathered round a time-table, wrangling, debating, and trying to explain to each other at what time the train for somewhere or other starts. In the present condition of the public intellect, it is a much simpler matter to consult Cruden's Concordance or the Mathematical Tables than to attempt the Herculean feat of endeavouring to under- stand a railway time-table. If our Educational Reformers want to do the country a real service, let them make Brallshaw" a class subject in the Board Schools. *r.. This is the weather in which men take to blazers, women to blouses, and irreverent people say that it is as hot as bl 1 menu a green-house. The Amalgamated Association of Corner- polishers met in Guildhall- square on Monday afternoon, and passed the following resolution That in our opinion the time has now arrived when, in the interests of the thirsty community, a Shandigaff Syndicate should be formed, consisting of C) f 30,000 shares of 'the nominal value of 3d each, and that a moiety of the cost of each share should be contributed by the Corpora- tion out of the Water Rate, and that a copy of this resolution bo forwarded to the Editor of the Reporter to obtain the opinion of financial experts as to the prospects of the undertaking." j The G.W.R. Co. has had a pair of little windows fitted to their booking office at the Station over the ancient shutters- which, by the way, never had any connection with the "instantaneous process" shutter of the camera. In the midst of so much i darkness as to the intentions of the G. W.R. l Co. in regard to the station, it is delightful to have even this amount of transparency. You can see through a stone wall with the X rays but if you had the whole alphabet of rays you could not see through the designs of our friends at Paddington. There seemed to be a pretty unanimous consensus of opinion at the meeting of the Chamber of Agiiculture last week, that agriculture should be taught in the ZD ZD elementary schools. Before, however, the School Boards and the managers of Voluntary Schools set about undertaking any extraneous duties they should teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. I don't know how they get along with music or drawing; but they appear unable to turn out pupils fit to write a business letter. .;¡r, Some folks considered it somewhat of a sight on Monday to see a number of trucks Z5 of cattle attached to a passenger train at Carmarthen Station. There is nothing out of the way iu this. Droves of cattle frequently travel in passenger carriages-on ?D Bank Holidays particularly. Tom Strong" was able to explain to the Borough Justices at their last sitting how he managed to get possession of the pair of baskets found in his humble cot. The defendant was strong but the prosecu- tion wasn't. The United Counties Hunters' Show is not going to be removed from Carmarthen after all. Llanellv and Haverfordwest labour under one small disadvantage when competing for events of this kind. Provi- dence placed them in rather outlandish spots —that is, of course, assuming, that Provi- dence ever had anything to do with Llanelly. The Chamber of Agriculture is going to undertake some experiments in farming. Why can't it get hold of some cf the super- fluous children knocking about our streets, and try an experiment in baby-farming ? It could not possibly turn out a greater crop of failures than the half-tamed, unwashed specimens who are continually knocking about the street corners, and making furtive attempts at suicide under the feet of the horses and the wheels of the carts. Steps ought to he taken to prevent the fire-bell being rung for an insufficient cause, as it was last week. Now that they have such a good engine, the Brigade-if they are called out—should insist on having a first-rate fire. If one is not to be had otherwise, the house of the person who gives the alarm ought to be burnt to the ground. A few examples of this kind would make people careful. The farmers are beginning to grumble at the fine weather, and to prophesy that we shall have as dry a summer as in 1893. Some people in town claim to be able to pray down rain in order to put a damper on things of which they do not approve. Well now is the time to put such powers to the test. There looks little chance of rain in the ordinary course of nature; and the bringing down of a good shower would be a positive boon to mankind. But it always appears-in meteorology as in everything else-to be very easy to bring about that which is annoying, and very difficult to bring about something which is of the slightest use to anybody. We have beea assured by Supt. Smith that the" pound" of butter sold at the market generally weighs more than 16 ozs. It would be quite safe, however, to offer a Y, 100 prize for the glass of beer which contains more than half a pint. If you drink too much, therefore, you do it with your eyes open—as well as your mouth. People in different parts of the town are beginning to growl because they do not get their ghare of the watering-cart. Well; the remedy is very simple. Let us have one watering-cart for the Eastern Ward and another for the Western. The old fire- engine would make a very good makeshift. All it would require would be a few more holes knocked in the bottom—although some people go so far as to say that it has quite enough already. The Corporation has been making a great fuss because a few pigs were kept within 50 feet of a dwelling-house. If any of the members of the Corporation had ever had to do some work requiring solitude whilst listening to the yells of a fifty-horse power baby, they would change the bye-laws. These fiends in the caricature of the human form would not be allowed to come within fifty miles of a dwelling-house. Such minor nuisances as pigs might then be overlooked. The Town Council is not going to do much for Johnstown. The road connecting the Alltycnap and the Llanstephan roads is in a bad condition. What has the Town Council decided to do for the good folks of Johns- town ? If the road is put in proper order by private effort, the Council—will take it over This means an expenditure of £ 0 Os Od. What a pity Johnstown is not on the Terrace! By the way, Johnstown is merely the English for "Johannesburg"! This explains the whole matter. Its inhabitants are merely a species of "Outlanders." Like its South African namesake, it pays the rates, and gets nothing for them. This is the latest production of our Parnassian reporter We've a smart lot of men on the Council, Men of brains men of mind some conceit Who, now that they've got us the engine, Think the town well-equipped and complete. But gents Cease not yet your exertions, Just have those bad pipes now put right; Were a lire to break out on the morrow, The Brigade you'd find in a sad plight! Picton-terrace and Lammas-street complaining, The denizens of Priory-street irate, Agree—one and all-in the matter that The pipes are in the deuce of a state. Comparisons are odious but in view of the good feeling existing between the Sister c' Boroughs, the following is not amiss :— An individual insinuated to me recently that the yourfg men of Llanel ly were a niggardly lot. Well, if the following be taken as a criterion, I should not say so. In the middle of Swansea-road lives a belle of twenty-three summers, with a beautiful head of jet-black hair, and in a well-known establishment in the town is a very lean young man who, in he course of his daily duties, familiarizes himself with type and copy." Last summer this zealous and ardent lover took his Liz down to Llanstephan for a fortnight, and paid all her expenses. On a fine afternoon he could be seen sitting under the shady foliage of the trees in the wood with Liz in his lap—gazing out upon the blue expanse of water. On a Saturday he would trot Liz up to town, and, with the swagger of the Llaneilyite, parade her round the streets for hours. That expression, "the swagger of a Llanellyite," is good. I have been advised to advise that gent" who was blowing up his wife on Satur- day night not to do it ir, the kitchen next time he gets into that furore," because t gratings have not been made to prevent noises from reaching the ears of those who pass over them. ■ft The two following queries have been sent Z5 me:- Has that charming ma'm'selle who resides in Lammer "-street ever discovered who sent her that bottle of Frangipanni r" We should be very please 1 if the young lady who told her darling on Saturday night that she liked "jubjubes" would call at our office on Monday about half-past one and fourpence. One of the spectators at the fire last week avers that he saw something that would have made an extra exhibition at the Zoo and he sends me the following jinglers :— 0 0 There's a house on fire were the words that fell Upon the ears of the men like a Carfew knell; fie a fact," said a blue-coat, there's the smoke what a smell I Clang-clang" on the nonep, rang the Town fire bell. We saw—into Catherine-street—a crowd quickly go Where they gazed thro' black smoke at the flames all oglow With a rush to the tramp-housa they the engine did tow And with great streams of water, the flames did bring low. What a rough serried crowd Zounds see how they Bque^ze Some yelled and swore madly, and others would sneeze; "Oh lor!" said a bobby to his Bosp, "if you please "— Do let me get home—I'm covered with fl- I "What flirty coquettes some of our Car- marthen belles are, indeed How amusing it is to see one of these coquettes every Sunday evening being escorted to the door of the chapel by an aristocratic young wain, who gently twirls his incipient moustache and puffs away at a cigarette. With a sweet, affectionate squeeze of her paw, he takes off his hat and says Tra-la-la! The service is over—out trips the coquette. At the gate stands ladykiller No. 2 with a topper on and in his mouth an immense cigar. He grasps her dainty paw and with a bewitching smile suffusing his bland countenance, they march along-but not with laugh and song. The Ferryside cheap Sunday tickets have commenced to be issued. Last Sunday a large number took advantage of them to visit the delightful little watering place. In the evening a party of young men from Carmarthen delighted a concourse of "Ferrvites" with their fine rendering of Myfanwy," Lead, Kiadly Light," The Old Hundredth," and other favourite hymns, near the Lifeboat Shed on the Sands. But when Mr J., the conductor, introduced his artistes to give the solos, he stated that they were in a state of animosity," to the evident amusement of his hearers. I am afraid his phraseology got slightly mixed, either through the exuberance of his verbosity or his love of music—which, I know not. I did not see any animosity between the soloists. They appeal cd to be on the most friendly terms. Something ought really to be done to compel the tradesmen of the town to hang their awnings at a reasonable height from the ground. We have not many sons of Anak in Carmarthen but all the same the law assumes the existence of people above 4ft lOin in height. The troubles of the capitalist are never over. One man in town has been belabour- ing his wife with a rolling-pin: and has pleaded in justification that she spent 11 the half-year's interest on his money The money amounts to Y,15 The interest at I the bank rate is therefore—3 s vfc- The latest development consequent on the heat-wave is that swarms of boys are bath- ing in the Tinworks Pond, and that a group of girls may occasionally be seen having a dip in the Towy. The fault lies at the doors of those who do not provide proper bathing accommodation for the town. The Amateur Cycling Club are having splendid runs this season. The captain, Mr Jack Jenkins, is to be congratulated on their success. Llanstephan, however, is the favourite resort at the present time, and the captain would do well to continue his runs to this uleasant spot. The policemen are still on the look out for offenders riding home at night on their bicycles without lighting their lamps. The stories of the local escapes from being caught by the limbs of the law have had the desired effect upon many cyclists in the town, some of whom have speculated in new lamps. The idea is also prevalent that one lamp lighted is enough for two cyclists; but they will soon find this eironeous idea dispelled, and that to their own cost, if they fall into the hands of a man in blue." It is no use, however, to have lamps without oil; and our rough and tumble cyclists had better be careful that they are not found like the foolish virgins-if the comparison be not too far fetched. TOBIAS TWISTER.

MYDRIM. COXCKKT. —On Wednesday evening, 6th inst., a grand concert was held at the Parochial School. Although some of the artistes expected to take part failed to make their appearance, owing to unfore- seen circumstances, those that did sing supplied a rare musical treat. The building was literary packed, and, considering the crowded state of the room, and the side-splitting laughter irresistibly evoked by the humorous style of the comics, the audience behaved very creditably. Whenever there was a slight disposition to interference with order, a mere sign from the well-known conductor, Mr D. Howells, Garllegau, was a speedy restorative of quietness. The concert was well patronised, and it is considered a success in every way. Mr Ernest Howell, Penrheol, on his occupation of the chair, delivered a terse and interesting speech. In the course of his remarks, he said that now, as he had decided to settle down in Mydrim for a time, any good cause, similar to that which gave occasion to this concert, would receive his hearty support." The parishioners cannot but appreciate this. He performed the duties of chairman in an admirable manner Miss Phillips, Cloth Hall, St. Clears, very ably accompanied the artistes on the piano. In the interim between the two parts, Mr Davies was asked to pivo an address. He greatly amused the audience during his discourse on the favourite subject, Love and music." Mr Davies is always warmly received whenever he appears as a public speaker on any subject. The vicinity of the platform was very tastily decorated by Miss Lewis, Miss Harries, and Mrs Rees. The following programme was gone through :-Pllrt I: Pianoforte duett, The Misses Thomas, Derry song, Peidiwch tori'r blodau," I Miss Evans, Plasygwer song, "YMorwr lion," Mr Harry Evans, Carmarthen; song, Love Dreams," Miss John, St. Clears duett, Gwys i'r Gad," Messrs T. Lumley, Trelech, and H. Evans song, The Holy City," Mrs Rees, St. Clears duet, Gathering flowers," Misses Evans and John song, Y Hong a'r goleudy," Mr T. Lumley comic song, Ours is a happy home," Mr D. Lewis, St. Clears (encored). Part II. Pianoforte selections, Miss Thomas, Derry; song, Y fam a'i baban," Miss John (encored) song, Mr H. Evans; trio, Clycliaa Aberdyn," Mrs Rees and friends (encored) song, Castiau Gwraig," Mr T. Lumley (encored); song, "Deio Bach," Miss Evans (encored) comic duett, Meesrs D. Lewis and W. John song, Y plentyn amddifad," Mrs Rees (encored) song, Mr H. Evans (encored) comic song, The Dandy Coloured Coon," Mr D. Lewis (encored). MrJ.H. Thomas, J.P., Derry, spoke in eulogistic terms of the chairman, conductor, and artistes, and after the usual votes of thanks were accorded, the singing of the Wlsh National Anthem brought a very enjoyable meeting to a close. CADBURY'S COOOA is not only a stimulating and refreshing drink, it is also a nutritious food, probably more nourishing than any other beverage. Cadbury's is absolutely pure—no alkalies being used as in many of the so-called pure foreign Coeoas. i

Carmarthenshire Chamber of Agriculture. QUARTERLY MEETING AT CARMARTHEN. The annual meeting of the Carmarthenshire Chamber of Agriculture was held at the Boar's Head Hotel cn Wednesday, the 6th in8t at noon. Mr Henry Davies, Typicca, waselecud chairman for the ensuing year; and Mr John Williams Llan- ginning > ice-chairman. The usual quarterly meeting was held at 1 p.m. The President occupied the chair. There were also present:—Mr J Alan Murray, B.Sc. (University College of Wales, Aberystwyth) Mr W 0 Brigstocke, Parkygors Rev Henry Evans, Rector of Pembrey Rev S. Jones, Vicar of Llangunnor Mr John Francis, Myrtle Hill Messrs D R Harris, Llynonnell-fawr J Thomas, Troedyrorfa Talbot Norton, Carmar- then W J Davies, Clvngwyn James Davies, Towy Works II F Pritchard, National Provincial Bmk J G Morgan, ironmonger Davies, Sarnau Dr Harris, Carmarthen David Prosser, Carmarthen Thomas Morris. Green Castle W Davies, Wern D II Tiiomas Croft C ittage Thomas Williams, Pontcarreg; John Is Orongar; J Phillips, Caeilleon \V Isaac, Old Foundry R W Stephens, Cnedybrain Columbus Jones, Pontcarreg Edward Francis, Penygraig J Davies, sac'dler D Davies, Waundrefi Dr Bowen Jones, Carmarthen J Jones, Priory Foundry; CFDavies, Fsoodvale D Hinds, Cwnin W Thomas, ironmonger John Williams, Penlan; W D Thomas, Ffynonlas; John B*:wen, Penffoiddlas W H Jones, !),Tiyralit David Davies, Cwmaubuch J Davie* Pentrff-i! W Harris, Fiood Percy Thoin-ij, Derllys Court; T \V A E*ans, Kidwelly J L i'homas, Tanlan J Rogers, Nantyci; D Walters, Bankyfelin Mill; W Yincent Thomas, Starling Pdrk II J Davie?, Brcnend* i' W Lewis, Newchurch W Davies, Tvgwyn John Jones, Ferrygidc; J Davies, j tn., L}crv.vid; F Rouflignac, Waterloo Cottage N Thomas, Msesy- prior; H Harris, Fiosra en; J Thomas, Talog j Jonathan Phillips, Ys^yborstcne W Jones, Rotten Pill T Davies, Custlo HowLli Dr Lawrence, Waungron Tom Jeremy, Penfcrehydd; J Footman, Havodwen; Griffiths, Llwynpiod J N Lewis, Cwm Glove W Evaiu, Paikyberllaa D Stephens, Lan Edward Lewis, Cillefwr D W Lewis, Pendegy George Thomas, Llrchdwni, and the secretary (Mr W W Proeser). After the dinner, catered by Mrs Olive, in her usuhl good style, had been disposed Gf, The Chairman proposed the rcitith of the Queen, who was drunk with the usual amount ot enthusiasm. NEW MEMBERS. The following new members were acl-nitted —Mr D R Harri*, Llynoinell-fawr, Mr .Tlmes, Rotten Pill and Dr Denzil Harris, Carmarthen. EXPERIMENTAL MANURING. Mr Murray then proceeded to deliver his address on Experimental Manuring." lIe said that he had promised to open the discussion, and he had been "stiuck all of a heap" when he found it announced that he was expected to read a paper. He did not at all anticipate havirg to address such a large audience. They might assume—to begin with- that experiments we:e a great means of gaining knowledge in agricultural as well as upon other subjects. In dealing with Nature, they often wanted to know certain things they then put a question to Nature in the form of an experiment. Farmers were experimenters by the very nature of their occupation. A farmer ccnchcted a great number of experiments whether he trA notice of the result or not. To be of any value at all an experiment must be very carefully carried out. Great attention should be paid to the conditions under which the experiment -was carried out, or else the interpretation placed upon it might lead one very far astray. The results ought also to be very carefully recorded and published, so that all who were interested in the results might have the benefit of them. AgriculturU experiments had been carried out extensively in England and Scotland and various places on the continent, but the subject had not been pursued with the same activity in Wales, and this he attributed to the fact that there was, so far as he knew, no rational agricultural fociety in Wales to organise the the work and take the letid in it. The work however could be very easily- undertaken by a society such as the Carmarthen Chamber of Agriculture and the work of collecting and publishing the results could he carried out by the agricultural department of the University at Aberyatwich. Experiments were very oltenjclassed under two heads the scientific and the practical. The distinction was somewhat unfortunate because no experiment was either purely practical or purely scientific. An experiment could be of no practical value unless it was scientific, and the ultimate object of a scientific experiment was to be of practical use. He thought it was much better to distinguish them as general and local experiments. The general or scientific experiments were those which had for their object the establishment of some general truth, whereas the local or practical were those which sought to determine how far those general principles. ascertained by the scientific experiment were applicable to the different districts. The scientific experiments should be undertaken by the landowners who had the money and labour to carry them out. The practical experiments should bo undertaken by the farmers and not upon too large a scale. An experiment carried out by a landowner could not in the nature of things be regarded as of a practical character, in the same way as if carried out by a farmer. He recom- mended that half a dozen farmers, in one district should try the experiment on a small scale, and then compare their results in this way, an average idea of the truth could be attained. The North Pembrokeshire and the Lampeter Farmtr's Clubs had taken the matter in hand that is to say a number of the members ot cich club had volunteered to try the experiments, and had sent him the results, according to printed instruction* which he had distributed amongst them. He had aiso visited the various crops as the experiments were proceHhlg, and made notes:on the result. In these particular cases he came to the conclusion that the results, did not mean very much, because the reports made by the farmers were very extra- ordinary. For instance, in some casfis the land which had not been manured at all gave bigger returns than that which had been heavily manured. This was very largely due to the peculiarity of the season, and he had simply ti suppress the report as being meiringless. At Rothamstead, where experiments were carried out, the truths ascertained by them were general truths, and only applicable in a degree to certain districts. For instance, one result went to show that all plants required phos- phates, and that most soils requirfel phosphatic manures. But that did not show what particular series of phosphates are particularly adapted to different districts. The second point of the experi- ments was t ) discover whether potash manures were good for turnips on the soils in those districts. This was b somewhat vexed question in Wales, and he believed there were very few farmers who wete in the habit of using potash manures. He attributed this to the fact that farmers tried it on grass and oats, and as it did not suit these, concluded that it would not suit clover or turnips. But the farmers did not take intj account the difference in the composition of different crops. It had been ascertained that one crop would grow cn a piece of land where others could not. Grass or green crops for instance, could grow on much more exhausted ground than turnips could. Therefore it did not follow that if potash manures were no good fur grass or green crops they were no good for clover or root crops. The third point was t) discover how far it would pay to use nitrogenous manures in addition to the other two, and to bee what was the cffect of using them alone or in conjunction with the phosphates and potash. The luurth was to compare the effect of these a-tifieul manures with that of farmyard manures. The latter manure was of a most valuable character at (I farmers simply could not have cnoagh of it. The amount of land occupied by the experitm n'.a that he spoke of was only one-fifth of an acre, and that was divided into eight plots, so that a great deal of land was not required, end there could not be any objection to carrying on these experiments on the score that they occupied too much land. As for the cost: In Pembrokeshire it came to 3" lid and in Lampeter 3s 9J for artificial manure. The Pembrokeshire and Lampeter clubs had sgreed to continue the experiments this year, and hoped to obtain more satisfactory resul's, while the Llanboidy Farmers' Club had also undertaken to carry them on next year. In conclusion, the speaker urged the members of the Carmarthenshire Society to go in for the experiments. lh would be happy to carry out the organising work and when the experiments were concluded end the results tabulated he would give a lecture upon them. All who were willing to undertake the carrying out of the experiments ought to give in Kheir names the secretary who would in tarn MmmunicatP with him (applause). After delivering his lecture Mr Murray again rose at the request of the Secretary to inform the members that he had been appointed by the Car- marthenshire County Council district analyst, under the Fertilisers and Fading Stuffs Act (1891). All the farmers who had purchased any artificial manure had to do was to forward a sample to him at Aberystwyth he would an-ilyse it and forward his report in due course to the sender. Of the 10s 6d fee for each analysis, 5s 6.1 was paid by the County Council, the other 5s being paid by the farmer who forwarded the sample (applause). Mr David Prosser said he hoped a good many farmers would take Mr Murray's advice, and try the experiments which had Veen suggested. He thought the Act of Parliament rcfeired to by Mr Murray was very useful, and ought to be much taken advantage of. There was a tremendous amount of trashy manure in the market, and it ought to be analysed occasionally. There was a greater amount of artificial manure used now than was used some years ago. Forty years ago there was scarcely a load of artificial manure brought into Carmarthen now there was any amount brought in. A good deal of this was nothing but rubbish, and farmers ought to protect themsdves by sending a sample to Mr Murray now 2nd pgsin. Mr John Frarrjis said he was cf opii'i. n to Mr Murray's lectUie would be vary ufivfu; to the farmers if they adopted the suggestions thrown cut. There wes the piaoticai and the scientific side ot the experiment. The farmers could cany out the experiments pratically and Mr Murray could show the scientific value of the txpeiimoi's. There was an imrr.2nse quantity of artificial manure wEd i1 this county at present, but the great mistake that farmers ma le was to put the wronst stuff on the wrong Jsud—the scientific knowledge was wani;nt; (hear, hear). If these experiments were tried—and they need not be carried out on a large SI ale HS Jir Idum.y had ?aid~they would find that Certain manures wre only suitable for certain land and would produce a much larger crop on some soil than others, lie remembered Eorap time go when basic sl.sg first came into the country a tenant farm: r paying only £ 70 a year for rent tried basic slag on three of his lieid-i. The effect was quite different on each, one liild producing a much improved crop, the second a lit tie inferior, while the third field was not worth twopence. So that the farmer was able to see for which ifekl ba«ie slsg was susted. He (Mr Francis) could not under- stand why the Carm:thenshire Society did not take up experimenting. He w,:s sore that there were many farmers who would readily give up hall an acre or so for the pu-pose. The result would be very beneficial to the t rruers themselves and their children would be w le to itup-ove their own scientific knowledge by the practical results handed down to them by their parents (hear, hear), Of course ho k. ew that thiy would want none of those artificial manures if thev h-ul hrn:- yard manure. On the little land he farmed, lie used nothing but stable manure, because he was fortunate to have emugh. Very few farmers were able to act in thit mi.nner, and they had the consequently to fall back on artificial manures. It was, therefore, to their interest to be able to find ont, which was the kind of manure suitable for each crop and for the different kind of soil. Mr W. O. Brigstocke said he hoped they would bear with him, while he detailed a few of his experiences in connection with artificial manuring. He had for a good iUfmy years carried on—not scientific, but-practical experiments in manuring at Parc-y-gorse. He was now speaking as a tenant farmer, paying a considerable amount cf rent. The question of rent he would not cuter into, as it was a matter of private arrangement, and would not interest them there, Park-y-gorse was a small farm of 36 acres, about 500 feet above the sea ievel situated on a sub-soil of rock, with good barley and turnip land and with a strong tendency to revert to gorse although some parts of it were better because of a small stream which ran through it, and caused soane alluvial deposit. When lip entered it, it was in a very deplorable state. Some of it had been set out in the old Welsh fashion—he was sorry to speak disrespectfnlly of anything NVelsh (lau,h ter), with very poor rye grass and still worse clover. Ilis first object was to hrm it with a ptrmanent pasture. With the first crop of seeus he put a heavy dressing nf farmyard manure and reno fat )ig mixture. firdt rule he made was never to cut a crop of hy without a large of top dressing, and he arranged it so that one ye.u- it would have a good dressing of farm- yard manure, end the ti.ii-ci year one of artificial. He quite agreed with Mr Fnrncis as to farmyard manure if they had p'eaty of it, but as regards top dies-dug, he has found that nothing excelled one thing t(- Ret n:(ii-y for rnency value," pnl that was bones iiitrate of soda. He had tiied it in a variety of ways, and he thought the best results were obtained by putting a top dressing of G or 7 cwt of dissolved bones in the the autumn, and a very small top dressing of soda in the spring. His results were that whin he took the farm it was worth 153 an acre, and now he thought the letting value was 25a to 30s. He had actually let a choice bit of grazing at between £ 3 and £ 4 per acre. Nothing paid better than the literal treatment of grass land. This w,, s essentially a grazing country, and advised the farmers not to cut hay without a top dressing. It they had no farm-yard manure, let them try ua.ic: slag, lie had found excellent results with it a regards grass especially in clayey land. lie 1 sd also tried potash and found it very useful for potatoes. It County Councils and Welsh Universi;) Colleges had existed iu his diy, he would have availed himself (f the advantage- which they offered but as it was he had been left to grope in the dark (laughter). Mr Edward Lewis, Cillefwr, said he thought they were slightly out of order. There were several pupils of Mr Murray's in ihe room and all would te interested to hear what they would say (hear, hear), Air Davies, Froodvale, said that there were manv quite as competent to speak as he wan. They hud had a good deal of talk, but no one hf.d as yet volunteered to try the experiments. lie would, tor one, be very glad to undertake them (hal, ear). That was the only practical way of testing the matter. They might talk till they were black in the face, but that would not bring them any for'arder (hear, hear). Mr II. J. Davie1!, Bremenda, said I have very few comments to maso upon the subject, but it affords me no little pleasure to thank Professor Murray, as previous speakers have, fur his very able and interesting address and for the lucid manner in which he has expounded it. We may also cor.- gratulate ourselves on having procured and listened to such an authority on experimental manuring &t. Professor Murray. Sometimes we ha-re discussions at this Chamber which do not interest every class of the agricultural community, but to-day we have had a subject which eve y agriculturist to whatever class he happens to belong, has to contend with. Consequently it is a subject ct the utmost importance, but at the same time I tcnture to thi-di it is ciie wli;cli does i-.ot receive due coru-ideration atour hands. Artificial have of L.te years made most rapid progress which testifies to success- ful experiments until it has become a m'-st power- ful factor in present-day agriculture. Well, it is always well to judge by the lessons of the p ist, ar.d to take into consideration the possibilities of the future. I venture to think ti-at the lessens of the pabt indicate closely that as labour became scarce, the mere the farmer has to rcrort to art ficial manures. Ontheotherhardwithreferer.ee to the possibilities of the future I cannot see on what ground, can we recede from more experimental manuring. It is rt c for nie to t,,Il ,voti that we very often buy manures without knowing what ingredients it contains, but perhaps you are not all aware that according to the Fertilizers and Feeding Stuff* Act which came into force in 189i, anyone who buys not less than half a cwt of manure can demand an invoice from the seller steting the ingredients it contains, and if you think it does n't contains the prcscribed ingredients your remedy is to keep the sample yourf elf, give one to the sellers, and send the other to Professor Murray, who is retained by the County Council for the purpose, and who I know will be only too glad to analyse it for you and it will only cost you 58 6d. and it it is short of the ingredients prescribed on the invoice the seller is liable to a heavy penalty. The penalty for the first offence is, I believe-L20, and for- the eecond £41). So under present circumstances we are rot so liable to be sold as formerly. With reference to experimental m;>ntring and to what manures we should apply to diffeient soils, as a diligent student, of some years' standing, of rural life, especially the agricultural aspect of it, I think th rudiments of agriculture should be compuUorily taught in our country schools which would prepare those who intend to follow the pursuits of agriculture for a thorough agricu'tural curriculum at the Intermediate Schools, from thence to our National Colleges, such as Aber- ystwyth, that they may be thoroughly equipp- d tor eveiy branch of agriculture, analysing manures and so forth. lhat Government should make much larger grants towards agriculturai education as Continental Governments d J, which is the s?cret of the success of French, Danish, and Dutxh farmer, who outrival us simply and solt-ly because they are better equipped than us through their agricultural institutions As we are dealing" ilh experiments in some way or the other, may I venture to make another suggestion to you, and that is, I should like to see the Technical Education Committee of the Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Cardiganshire County Councils, which are purely agricultural counties, acquiring an experimental i'ar:n. which I take it, would come within the scope of technical education, to carry out experiments connec ed with agriculture, so that agriculturists from the three counties might see the results and benefit by them The Rev Henry Evans, Pembrey, said he thought that there should exist a closer connection between the college at Aberystwith and the agricultural intercuts of the county (hear, hear). The farmers should undertake the practical experiments and the college the scientific. He had tried experiments but he found the weather interfered with them (laughter) and it was with difficulties such as these that the College could help the farmers (hear, hear). Mr Stephens, Lan, said when doctors disagree the pupil is free (laughter). Mr Parry when lecturing at Llanstephan did not agree that all plants required phosphates. lie also said that phosphate was of 110 use for mangolds and the farmers were going to try the experiment this year. Mr Davies had alluded to the teaching of the young in science. Well, science would come, and it must come, and it was coming (hear, hear). If it did not they would not be able to pay their rents (hear, hear). He quite agreed with Mr Davies and advised them all to get Mr Parry to give lectures to them. Mr Parry would do it free of charge and would be glad to be invrt?d. He thought they would have him at Llanstephan again next year. Mr John Williams (Llanginrring, said he thought Mr II J Davies wa3 right about agricultural instruction in schools. It would be much better for the children than drawing and geography. Drawing would be no use to the children except they intended to be architects or contracted. There was not so ravch geography taught that the ehildrtn were half cracked about it (laughter). 1\1.- John 1'¡,i'I1;J" (:<1'11,>"n q'ór; "0:Tah1' of h'B esperier.- e f fcrnfi •,] m.v s, fie srer.ei>i!v •r.ix?d 2 c-.n. of r/u<-•, 1 cwt. ot nitrate cf s '} i. Mr Coi'.imS's Jon;». ■-•r,c r.f the student? of Abery>tivj Ui, said i.„ te'ittcd thai no'iily ell plants required ph^sphatcH t-eiher with nitrogen attd potash which were he- important constituents lequircd by rop*. He aUo pointed out how cffrta'.n manures wet- V omred by some soils and not by Oihers nnc explained the reason. He recorinrc-rded ihern to send samples of t.heir £ o:L to be analysed in cider tc first find out what rnonura suited it be-.t unci so s-a-e much expense (hear, hear). No doubt there was a great deal of monty waited by farm;s in putting manures cn the wrrng soil. Wi-.h potatre* ilie most important mar.urs was potash, which vai -or in cyi'ui<;e, W hen an element was missing from soil it should be supplied by putting the proper manure in it. If nitrogen was deficient it was no use expecting to get fertility by applying superphosphates and bthH n'mrnrps which did not contain much nitrogen so that it was very nccessary to get an anaiyi-is ot the s. il before buv-n» the manures (uea-, lira.'). Mr Jones concluded by warning those present that a regt mny of the manures whirh were supposed to c- .tain ■ iissoi«d tones had r.o bones in thim m a'; 'I c- y ii, z e, mrrely superphosphates with a Lt:1e bone-dust thrown in (laughter). Mr Davies, Clyngwyn, aocthrr student, spoke in similar term-, Mr 11 I1, i i itch ar-a ] oinffi out that no one had as yet nndertrkeu to car;y out. the e^.perimcrit* 1 he Rev umue; -1 lie always found that if he dea't liberally a i;h land that it Jealt liberally with him. THE RAFFLE then took p^ice as nsual with the following «e-ults: —Mr D R Harris, Llwyneuoil Finvr, hutt-r workc> Rev Henry Evans, Peis'irey, tarpaulin Mr Talbot Norton, Corbett's horse hoe Mr Dines, Ctynsvwi.. turmp drill; Mr H F PritcharJ, sin^e ieia ondle. Mr J G Mojgan, Mr Daries, Snrnsu Dr Harris, Mr W Davifg.^ We-n; Mr D II Th-mas, Croft Cottage; Mr Thomas Williams, I'ar.tcareg Mr John Mr Stephms Cccdvbrain Dr W Isaai, OM Fouuhy; Mr Thomas Morris, Greer.easlle and Mr E Francis. Penygraig, slvop shears Mr I'hiliijs, C-.erhern; M* Davies, saddler. Mr W W Profet-r, Mr Daviec. W a und re 11 Mr Jone*. Piiurv Foundry Mr Cyril F 0' Davies, Froodvale Mr Hinds, Cwni i": Mr Th,.ma- Ffynonlas: Mr John \Vdlirtms, Ptrdan Mr W Thomas, ironmonger; Mr Rowc-n, P.nfLrddlftSj and Mr AV U Bnsstockr\ hav fork.

THE Rev Daniel Jones, of Whitlund, has decided not to accept the call extended to him by the Church at Penuoh Carmarthen-

ON account of the change which has been arranged by the Presbyterian Board to eorne into operation at the beginning of th0 1837-98 Session, the most ancient colleg-iate Institution in Wales will a. year hence entirely abandon the character which it has maintained for upwards of two centarios- The Presbyterian Collage Is, indeed, thO linoal descendant of the Acadopjy carried oU at Bridgend by Samuel -Tones, of Brynllitf* arch-uno of the early Dissenting miIJistorS who was evicted from his charge by th0 operation of the Act of Uniformity (1662)- On the accomplishment of tho English lievolufion iu 1688, the Toleration Act cafl»* into force and-cdthough tliev were not admitted to an equality with Churchman —Nonconformists gained at east the right to liberty 01 conscience—wilhiu liillits. It is interesting at the present doy to recall the fact that ]-:oina;i Catholics aud \yere expressly excluded icom the benefits tms piece of lcgiainfini*. Immediately the granting ot tins first instalment 0 intellectual freedom, tho Presbvtevi^ College was founded for t o training 0 Nonconformist ministers. Ever since its foundation, it has be?n conducted on a broad unseetai-iaii. basjs and has—besides giving the usual theological training—conduct^ its students through a curriculum equivfileI3 to the ordinary Arts' course. For genera- e iiodS this was an absolute n-icessitv there were- no collegiat« institutions in Wal^J ana the hnglish Universities were rende* rigidly Anglican by the op-ratioa. oi tWj Test Act. At 110 othov institution could th0! Won conformist student obtain that secul'^j instruction which was required to fit hioi^j his calling. Now, however, that Univei'si'' Colleges havo been established on an lltf sectarian basis, the secular side of Presbyterian College lias ceased to bo absolute necessity. Candidates for admissi0? in 1897 and thereafter, will bo required— they have not tnkai a degree at soJJ1 i. University of the Unitc-d Kingdom—to p an examination equivalent to that for i B.A. degree of an approved University] The course afforded by the oc llege will th^i be adapted to tho requirements of tho degree of the University of Wales ;$ besides Philosophy and Theology, include Old Testament Hebrew, Greek, English Literature, ete. The ten! Theology will be interpreted in not t" strict a senso and the Collge will as horer fore be conducted on unsecta iari lines. a result of the changes, the course of stil will be shortened to three years and tb raising of the standard of the clltraJJc examination may be expected to result in reduction In the number of the students 1'P amount of specialising which will thus introduced into the College may naturally expected to have a direct tendency to S-1' to further raise the attainments of the ininisto who complete their equipment within í walls.