Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

FIELD AND FAR-kl. (From The Agi imltivral Gazette.") CATCH CROPPING. This is a very big question (remarks Prof. Jonn Wrightson) involving considerations of soil and climate, custom, and knowledge. It is extremely difficult for a farmer to adopt a system entirely dif- ferent to that of his district. "Farms are not managed entirely by the farmer, although he is the final authority and referee. Still, no farmer can successfully manage his sheep on lines contrary to the views of his shepherd, or his cows and cattle in opposition to the ideas of his dairyman, or his tillages in spite of the nowns of his carters. 1 am speaking of extensive farming, and not of small farming, where the farmer and his son or brother and an odd man perform all the work. On large farms, where there 18 a regular staff of capable end well-paid men, each of whom is supposed to ktow his business, the farmer is bound to pay attention to what they think, and he would be ill-advised to take lines of his own in direct opposition to such experienced, men. There is a liability in newspapers to regard the farmer as being able to do anything he likes irrespective of his men, but this is a great mistake. Wherever a system has been adopted in a district the men are as well ac- quainted with it as the farmer himself and under- stand all the details thoroughly. They naturally stand aghast at suggestions taken from newspapers or books which are contrary to their experience, and there is considerable danger that the alteration, if pressed, will fail somewhere between the legislative and the executive. The new plan may be badly con- ceived and imperfectly carried out, and. the result will be disappointment. The general conclusion is, therefore, that the wisest course is to follow the prac- tice of the neighbourhood, doing it well. Wherever catch crops can be cleared in good time for root cultivation, and wherever one ploughing after folding is sufficient for roots, catch cropping may be practised, but when one ploughing is in- sufficient the pressure on the teams will be found too great. When circumstances are favourable, the growing of roots after catch crops is very simple, and very inexpensive. No dung is applied, because the sheep manure is enough. The land is ploughed, dressed, and drilled after the sheep, and within a week of their clearing the ground, turnips are coming up in row. Such land is best under crop, and requires no winter fallow. It is low rented, light, and the crop mostly depends upon the sheep. A case cited by Mr. Proút, is that of 300 acres of land, 100 acres of which are in pasture. It is clear that his 200 acres of tillage might be cropped in four shares of 50 acres each respectively, in roots, barley, clover, and wheat; but Mr. Prout says a very few rounds of this rotation would suffice to make the whole clover sick, and not long after- wards turnip sickness would intervene. The rotation actually followed is: (1) Roots, (2) barley, (3) seeds, (4) seeds, (5) seeds, (6) seeds, (7) seeds, (8) seeds, (9) seeds, (10) wheat. In other words seven-tenths are in seeds and three-tenths are in crop. We are not told if all the 200 acres of land are light, but we are told that a particular 50-acre field is [light and infested with wireworm. Certainly a system of cropping such as the above might be -thought to be constructed especially to breed wire- worm. I cannot agree that seven years under seeds is calculated to nurse land, neither, in its best pense, do I call it light cropping. Seven years under seeds would, in my opinion, be liable to prove unre- munerative, because the land would detericrate, and the produce would be lost. As to clover sickness, I suppose the clover must die out long before the seven years is over, or this land would be growing clover seven years out of ten instead of two and a-half out of ten as in the simple four-course rotation. The system of seven years out of 10 in clover is more likely to render ground clover-sick than two Mtd a-half years out of 10. If not, it must be because no clover grows after the first year. But clover sickness is confined principally to red clover, and it its not necessary to always sow this particular descrip- tion of clover. It is manifestly impossible, and might even appear ridiculous, for a Hampshire farmer to instruct a Pembrokeshire farmer how to manage his land. It ts possible that seeds may be productive for seven years, and that being productive they may be pro- fitable. If profitable, there 6eems little reason to desire change. If not, it might be desirable to break tip. seeds and take crops, as originally proposed by Mr. Prout. This particular 50 acres field is too large to put under roots all at once. It, in fact, is one quarter of the entire arable land. It has some- how found its way into seeds all at once, and it is, or was, proposed to break it up for catch crops, at the rate of 10 acres a year. I have already pointed out that the idea of taking catch crops out of seeds is not advisable, because a corn crop ought to intervene. Roots out of seeds are risky because you break up stiff land in the height of summer. To twice plough would not be advisable under such circumstances, for you could neither cross-plough nor run back the fur- row without making a mess. On the other hand, one ploughing out of seeds for roots would be likely to be followed by grass growing up among the roots. The case, therefore, seems clear, to take wheat or oats after (if not all) a part of the field and take catch crops after corn. It is only deferring the experiment for one year, and therefore does n(;% interfere, with the principle of catch cropping. As to land running-wild because & root, crop failed, we cannot claim a failed rool t-rop at equiva- lent to a summer fallow. This land was quietly resting under seeds, when it was ploughed, dressed, and drilled with turnips, which struggled on fat many weeks, and finally were pronounced-a. failure. Meantime the buried couch grass ramified freely, bbreughthe loosened soil, and soon spread a aet of roots This would not have happened if it had remained un- plpughed. Nothing sets weeds moving quicker than ploughing,, and if there is no crop (as in this case) they gain as^sndency in loose soil. I am, however pleased to notice that the crop on this particular field which, was dated to be looking badly, has. vastly im- proved during the last three or four weeks, and now bids fair to equal the neighbouring fields, which was favourably contrasted with it a fortnight ago. But Mr. Prout agrees with me that light land \s better cropped, and does not benefit by rest. Whj then does he keep his land down seven years in seeds ? I opine that hiu answer would De that he does not wish to do so in the future. I am inclined to think that the sooner Mr. Prout gets back to » modified four-course or five-course shift, the better it will be for him. This is, however, written under the reservation that it is really impossible to tender prac- tical advice to a cultivator residing in a distant locality. The very essence of advice ought to be that it is capable of being followed with advantage.

WHEAT RUST. Professor Jacob Erikssen, of Stockholm, in the great book he, in conjunction with Dr. Ernest Denning, has just written on Wheat Busts Theii History and Nature," has gathered together practi- cally everything which has heretofore been written on the subject, and added to it much useful and valu- able information. It is foreign to my present pur- pose (observes Mr. Charles B. Plowright) to enter further into what these two Norwegian botanists have done in the study of this group of fungoid parasites beyond the fact that they have shown most clearly that there are two distinct and well-marked specif attacking wheat which we have 1 e o called the early spring rust (Puc- etmac ubig era ,C.) These two species can easily, in their rust stege at least.be distinguished by the nafced eye, and fortunately these authors have hit upon two very appropriate vernacular names, viz., the yellow rust and the brown rust {Pucciniaglumarum and Puccinia mspersa). Un the wheats in this part of Norfolk at the present time the first-named., ilie yellow rust (P. glumarum), is exceedingly abundant. A number of characteristic specimens have also just been sent me from near Reading; it is probable, there- fore, that the parasite is abundant this year. The yellow rust is, as its name implies, yellow; but it has a further claim to this designation inasmuch as it turns yellow, large, elongated patches on the green wheat leaves. If one looks closely at these yellow patches, the very small, compact, linear heaps of the yellow uredo spores will easily be seen. These heaps, although small in size, are extremely numerous. The brown rust (P. dispersa) appears later in the season. Its spore heaps are brown in colour and dusty, from the loose connection of the spores together, and, as its name implies, they are scattered over the leaf, that is to say, not seated in clusters or discoloured spots, as the yellow rust is. It is quite easy to dis- tinguish the rust stage of these two fungi; but it is far more difficult to discriminate between their mildew stages. The effect of these parasites on the crop is to many a much more interesting aspect of the ques- tion. It is commonly said that these earty rusts do no harm to the crop, but while this is to a limited extent true, yet a field of wheat attacked a parasitic fungus cannot be considered to be a healthy field. What the farmer means when he makes such a statement as this is that these early rusts do not develop into, nor are they in any way connected with, the true wheat mildew (Pvcchn'a gramiuri) or what Erikssen calls the Black-rust. It is incorrect to say, however, that the early riists do no harm, for as Erikssen has shown in the beautiful figures with which his book is illustrated, the wheut kernels beconw dwarfed and distorted when the cosh is the. seat, as it often is, of the spore-heaps of the yellow rust. Its very name, glumarum, which, by the way, was given to it by J. K. Schmidt in the year 1827, shows that it was known to occur on the glumes, although it remained for the Norwegiat botanist to trace out its true family connections.

INSANE PATIENTS AND CYCLING. » A rather alarming prospect is suggested by the announcement that a medical man has found the bicycle of great benefit to patients in the early stages .of mental disease. If it can be guaranteed that the .insane cyclist shall be strictly confined to his own (premises, or to those of the asylum or sanatorium of -which he may be a guest, well and good. But ths Blere off-chance of the addition of Bedlamite i )0" "bikers" to the already abounding perils of the streets is enough to shatter the timid wayfarer's last remnant of nerve, and to darken his daily walks t abroad with a shadow ofan ever-present terror.

DUMB ANIMALS' FRIENDS. The annual meeting of "Our Dumb Friends' League "—a society for the encouragement of kind- ness to animals—has been held in London. Dr. .Washington Sullivan delivered an eloquent address in the course of his plea for the observance of kindness to animals, and Mr. Somerville Wood explained that the society was absolutely Opposed to vivisection. He could not understand any lover of animals who -vfais not an' ardent 'anti-vivisectionist. All societies which had the interest of animals at heart should take up an attitude of strong opposition to vivisection. The costermonger who was guilty of cruelty to his horse or donkey was punished, but the so-called scientist" was allowed to practise hideous cruelties on animals from which the costermonger would recoil in horror.

ADMIRALTY AND WAR OFFICE. A most useful and interesting return has been presented to Parliament to the order of Lord Charles "Beresford. It is a comparative return showing (the total cost of administration in the War Office and Admiralty, giving the particulars of the officers land civilians in' each department and the amdunfc of their salaries. The following figures give an analysis of the return: WAR OFFICE. I ADMIRALTY. Salaries. Salaries. Officers, 242 £ 102,691 Officers, 89 £ 57,948 Civilians, 776. £ 159,516, Civilians, 897 £ 203,665 Total Army Estimates, Total Navy Estimates, 1898-99, £ 19,220,500 1898-99, £ 23,778,400. It will be noticed that although the Navy Estimates n actually exceed those for the Army by four-and-a- millions, the cost of administration in ,the Admiralty is absolutely less than that of the WrplIice, and that ■ despite the fact that the Admiralty salaries include those for 62 draughtsmen. The clerical work re- quired for the control of such a Navy as ours is, it > must be remembered, immeasurably more complicated than that required for a small Army.

I WHERE ENGLISH TRADERS FAIL. Sir Charles Oppenheimer, Consul-GeileralatFrank- fort-on-Main, in his report just issued, states that I f ,German merchants are continually complaining of the unwillingness of English merchants to meet their -wishes, sometimes even in matters involving a very small amount of trouble. The German purchaser siimply cannot understand such ways, which, he says, frequently make business connection with English firms unpleasant and even impossible. The German business man, in small or great matters, meets the desires of his customers. He never tries to impose his own judg- ment on buyers he is satisfied if he can please them and retain their patronage., With such business principles he is contented, and is becoming more and more a fdrmidable competitor for other countries. The Consul-General mentions a case in which an important leather manufacturer has for years tried to obtain from his English purveyor a certain shade of colour, for which he would have had excellent use. All requests and letters were met with B negative answer, and even when applying personally ■ in England the manufacturer replied, No, I cannot.. 'To-day a great French firm is trying to obtain the contract for this very supply.

BEATEN BY BROTHER JONATHAN. The Secretary to her Majesty's Legation at Tokio gives in his latest report a striking instance of the spaartness of Brother Jonathan in business. Refer- ring to the importation of railway plant to Japank he says that quick deliveries can always be obtained from America. As an instance, English locomotive builders required two years for the delivery of an ex- tensive order, while the Baldwin Locomotive Works J turned them out at the rate of two a day and shipped j the whole quantity in eight or 10 weeks. Anotner case recently occurred where the English time for case recently occurred where the English time for shipment of five locomotives was 10 months, and the price about 12,000dols. gold delivered in Japan, and I'. American makers offered to ship in 14 weeks at abput 8000dols. gold. The same specification was submitted to both countries. John Bull will have I to wake up. 1

t THE Great Central Company have now definitely decided to open their new line to London for coal traffic on July 25. MRs. iNuLsoiv A. MILES, wife of the Commander ot the United States Army, is, according to Table Talk, one of the most hospitable women in Washington. Years ago, when the General was only Colonel Miles, in command of the Presidie of San Francisco, he and Mrs. Miles were called the handsomest couple in the army." Mrs. Miles is as kind and attentive to the wife of a Second-Lieutenant as to the wife of a Brigadier-General. Her father was Judge Sherman, a brother of the Senator and the General. Last year she accompanied her husband on his trip to Europei. She has also accompanied him on some of his expe- ditions against the Indians, and was often witbia sound of the shooting.-

I TWO MIGHTY SeORERS. "RANJI" scores on the Cricket Field, but GAMAGE Scores In Halbarn. ,.I t I' THE CHEAPEST and BEST HOUSE 1 FOR ALL SPORTING REQUISITES IS GAMAGE'S OF HOLBORN. sentrnoat°?p<,«AL„1« to'uay for coraPre*iensive Catalogue of 200 pages, sent post free anywhere on receipt of a post-card. iMpr I GAMAGE, Ltd., oaier liberally for all SPORTS and GAMES. j n 1 r I -J BATS. Half-cane Handle, size 6 J'li; men's, ill. All cane ill; men's, 111, 7 G: Superior All cane, men's 9,4,116 damage's York.-hir* Driyer," warranted He! Gamape's S' levted Referee," guaranteed is 0. The "Gamage" patent doukle-splicod bat, specially selected b'.nles 2Ji-' CKigKET 15 ALLS, Camay's Australia. Catgui sewn 6/- Rark's 3-seam Match 5 Composition Balls, vouti.'s, 8fl.; match size, 5Jo7., l'Jid.; "liulips'r, inntch size, 1 9. Postage 3d CRICKET BAGS. The" All England," with two haiuuts 311. 1 witlrto -tr.,p Ex. quality, leather bottoms 6'11. The Marylrt'one 8/ 9 8. All leather (Handsome Bag) 26,6. CRICKET NETS. \V itli X/ines top ar.d bottom, Poles, complete S3, 910/- vi ith Iauf-s top a.ud bottom, Poles, with Two Side Wines. complete 17,9,19/10,22/- STUMPS. Polishod Ash, boys' 28iii 21.; men's, 2 6. Super Brass ferruled, 2din. t/6; men's, .V- §0ll<? ^"SsTeps men's, 5 3. i>up £ r Quality. 5 11.6 9,7/9, 8/ 9, 6. Postage, men's 9d., boys' Od. BATTING GLOVES. Strong Leather, Kubber. Boys', 3,9. Men's. i>- Postage 34. GAUNTLETS. Cbamo-'s r>at.hr»r,ventilated, men's, 2'9; boys', 26. Super Quality ditto „ 3/6; „ 3/3. LEG GUARDS. Moleskin Guards boys', 3 3; men's, 3 6. Buckskin „ „ 4/6; M 4,11. FLANNEL TROUSERS. E = I; E E! 7 7 special Job lanes, all sizes. 1111 Super Quality, White or Grey. 7/11, 9/11, CRICKET SHOES. Brown Canvas, Sewn Leather Soles 311 Biown Calf Shoes 4/ Extra Quality, Fine Calf 6/11. 7/11. 9/ii' White Buckskin Boots or Shoes 10/ft' Best Quality Ifts! Postage below 10 Send size when ordering by post. TENNIS RACKETS. FI*E' 311: FISH TAIL 5/8. GamS ^Hoib1^1^ 6": Referee » 'f Ayre's"Champion" ii, 1,. TENNIS BALLS. The "Gamage," the Best Ball in the Market, warranted, regulation size and weight per doz. 10 S. Ayre's Champion \%j. Slazenger's "Champion" „ Q.a The "Referee," Felt covered and Cemented „ 7k Gamage's Practice Sjk. POLES AND NETS. complete, from 9/- The "REFEREE" (RegdL) TENNIS SHOE. With the New Steel Spilctsfor Wet and Slipptry Weathtr. Tan, Calf, or White Buckskin U. u/« it/t Brown or Wtite Canvas Show, with plain ot oorrUMted Rubber Soles, from Tr'/ML CRICKET AND TENNIS SHIRTS. All Wool Flannel *,11 4/11 RM. The Club Shirt, coarse canvas (White, Pink, or Blue.) Orders over 10s. Carriage Paid unless otherwise stated. 1. W. gIMME, LTD.. AflSf/tSr., BOLBORN, LONDON, E.i

r- MUNIFICENT GIFT. Siz George Newnes transferred by deed of gift to the Matlock ratepayers on Saturday morning a splendid property, comprising a cable tramway, of the valoe of £ 20,000. The tramway has been run- ning five and a half years up a steep gradient, and forms an important link for traffic between Matlock- bridge and Matlock Bath. Sir George Newnea is a native of the district. /1 ç,

THE ASHFORD RAILWAY accid^T..■ The report, of Colonel Addison, of the Board oi Trade,upon the railway accident at Ashford, on April -8,,was issued on. Saturday. Twenty-six persons were injured in the eblliston, -These.were two pire- ciiMly. similar cci¡:1tJI.. engines in.h..case.behI.8 brought out from a siding-and running into a stand- ing traip. Colonel Addison 8ayshat it io inconceiv, able that signalmen should have twice., failed to give the engine drivers the necessary caution. He considered the signalmen were responsible for both collisions.

A CYCLIST'S TERRIBLE DEATH. The death occurred the other day at tbe Royal Albert Ho'spital, Devonport, as the result of an accident when cycling, of Mr. Thomas McDonnell, a young gentleman, 23 years of, age. He was out cycling 09 Sunday, th.12th inst., and was turning into the :Exmouth-roadf Morice Town, down a in n sharp decline, when he lost control of the machine, which carried him with great forie against & dwarf wall adjoining Exmouth House. So great was the concussion that he was thrown clean over the wall, and fell on his hack on the other side, a distance of about 20ft. He was removed to the hos- pital, .w&erfe it was found that he had fractured his spine. There was no possible hope of his recovery, and it was only his splendid constitution that enabled him to live for nearly a fortnight. It is a curious) circumstance that just prior to the accident the deceased came into a fortune of £15,000, left him byt a relative in Ireland.

■■ I CURIOUS FACTS. Statistics recently published by the Interior Department show that the United States still has over 600,000,000 acres unoccupied. This is enough to give, eaoh of the 73,000,000 people m the country i homestead of eight, acres, and still have 16,000,000 acres left. The land is distributed among 26 Statea and Territories. The largest amount ia located in Alaska, where there are 369,529,600 acres. Most of this land will never be available for home- ttead purposes, of course, but its mineral value may be more than if the whole vast tract was available for grazing and farming purposes. The remainder of the land lies in productive States, but much of it is barren and arid or mountainous.

THE SWEEPINGS. OF THE MINT. ) The sweepings of the Mint are not to be despised. There is a gold" sweep "and a silver sweep." Tha last sweep from the gold coinage had been accumu- lating since August, 1896. It was disposed of in March, 1898, and brought in £ 467. There had been no sale'of silver sweep up to the date of the report, but' 21 tons had accumulated. There is a loss by waste on the gold coinage which the sweep does not make good, but the Mint made a net profit on the silver bullion purchased for coinage lstet year ol

IRON TELEGRAPH POLES. In a fairly dry climate the average life of a wooden telegraph pole is said to be about 25 years. The latest poles, however, are of iron, and are estimated to last about a century. The iron pole costs one- third more than that of wood, but it is less expensive to put up and to maintain. In addition to this it has the great advantage of only becoming bent when; subjeoted to the fury of a great stormi and fire doe4 not affect it. There is little doubt but that, in time, the iron pole will supplant the present wooden one.

TttH Commander-in-Chief of the United States Ex- pedition to Porto Rico was born at Midleton, Co. Cork, apd is the heir to a considerable estate in the country. General Coppinger is a son-in-law of Senator Blaine, once a candidate for the Presidency of the United States, and he has served under three separate flags-as an officer in the British Army, in the Irish Papal Brigade, and on the Federal side in the Civil War. MK. WALTER LOlfG, President of the Board of Agriculture, is reckoned to be one of the hardest workers in Parliament. He it, indeed, devoted to political business, but has been known on one occa- lion to allow his mind to be diverted to another in- terest, even while apparently occupied with Govern- ment matters. This circumstance occurred during his tenure of the office of Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board. He was energetically defending his leader's action, and was in the midst Of an intricate piece of explanation, when a telegram was handed to him. Up011 reading it, his face ex- panded into smiles. The message put away in his pocket, he began^ the difficult explanation all over again, amid derisive cheers from honourable mem- bers opposite. Some two or three of Mr. Long's friends heard afterwards tbat the mterrupting tele- gram had contained only the result of a cricket match.

Ioi< -JR(IR" WINDSOR JUBILEE MEMORIAL. i. In the presence of Prince and Princess Christian, the Bishop of Oxford dedicated in the Parish Church at Windsor, on Sunday, a new carved oak chancel screen, subscribed for by the parishioners and erected from the designs of Sir Arthur Blomfield, A,R.A., as a Diamond Jubilee memorial. Prince and Princess Christian, with Miss Emily Loch in attendance, drove from Windsor Castle to. the church, where they were received by the Rev. J. H, Ellison, Vicar of 3 Windsor and Chaplain to the Queen, the Bishop of Oxford, the Provost of Eton (Dr. Hornby), Jar. F. Tress Barry, M.P., and the Mayor and Corpora- £ ion, The Windsor Fire Brigade furnished a Guard of Honour. Their Royal Highnesses occupied the Rpyal pew. The Bishop of,oxfo'rd read the special prayers dedicating the new screen to tjie service of Gpd, and afterwards preached the sermon,, in which he referred to the objects of the memorial. In the ppurse of the service Goss's anthem "0 taste and see," was sung; also 'Sir Arthur Sullivan's diamond i'ubilee hymn O, King of Kings closing with'the National Anthem. Princfl and Princess Christian subsequently returned to W indsor Castle.

A MURDERER'S HONOUR, Since the murder of the police agent, Apolinar Alfaro, the trace of the presumed p^-petr^tor, Jose Pernas Cao, alias Pepin, has been followed ceaselessly by Inspector Carbonell, of t,he Madrid police force. He learned that a woman pf loose morals protected the. fugitive at No.14, Calle, de Ticiano, where their sole household effects consisted of one niattrejw. Carbonell and three assistants waited npon Pepin ^t his residence at 4.30 a.m.' His landlady, Antojiia Moltol ansvyered their knock, and the usual' dialogue followed as to the individual Wanted being Jq tlje house. It lasted rather a long time and Pepin, hear- ing that the detective could not or would not be con- ▼incecl, called out 1 am here but I will shoot the first man who enters.'r The four agents of the law, anxious to be shot, at once advanced, headed oy parboneft, with revolver at the ready. At sight of y. their foolhardy heroism, Pepin's heart melted. He nrstsaid, Listen, Senor Carbonell, téll J my brother j killed myself so that I should not dishonour him .more." So saying and said, he shot himself in the 'head and fell bleeding on the lonely mattress. In hospital lie has made a complete avowal, and he is ex- pected to get better."

THK Duchess, of Fife, has followed the example of her Royal mother, and bought a spinning wheel. It is a tery pretty one of bl&ck walnut, and, although a hundred years old, is sfciU in good working condi- tion. With this wheel the Duchesa spina her yarn ,whch e afterwards kpits withher own hands into eolf ntno.kinor*.

GARDENING GOSSIP. (From" Cottage Gat lening.") FLOWER GARI I»F. Thin Carnation buds, if extra fine blooms are re- quired. If annuals are grown for supplying cut flowers, the plants must be freely thinned. We thinned our Cornflowers last season to 1ft. apart, and we never had such fine flowers, or so many of them. The plants were strong and bushy, and com- pletely filled the space. The same treatment pro- duced similar results with the annual Chrysanthe- mums, Sweet Sultans, and annual Calliopsis; the latter were pinched several times to make them bushy. Sweet Peas planted thinly pro- duce more and finer flowers. Asters are among the most useful annuals for cutting. Whites especially are the most valuable, but they should be planted early, so that the roots can get a good grasp y 11 of the soil before the dry weather sets in. These also should be allowed plenty of room, and be mulched with short manure, and, later on, might have liquid- manure cwice a week. If insects appear on the Asters, dust with tobacco-powder in the evening and wash it off with the syringe in the morning. But robust, well-nourished plants are not often attacked by insects, and if they are they are easily got rid of. Roses are now beautifully in bloom, and, to insure the later buds opening well, give liquid-manure freely. This is especially necessary for Roses on walls, where the position v\ay be naturally dir. Those who plant grafted Clematises will generally lose some of them, as they are worked in heat, and the union, in some places, will be imperfect. We have bought and planted a good many of these grafted plants, and the result has not been too satisfactory. Cuttings of the young shoots will strike now under a hand-light, shaded and kept close, and such plants will not die when well established. Young shoots may also be layered. These hybrid Clematises 'are lovely when doing well, but it is disappointing to have them die. Give liquid-manure to Hollyhocks and Phloxes, and any other plant coming into bloom. FRUIT GARDEN. Open-air Grape Vines are now growing freely, and if there has been no disbudding done, this should be seen to at once. The young growths should be thinned sufficiently to give each leaf room to develop to its full size. If there is a trellis on the wall, either of wood or wire, tie the young shoots in at regular distances apart, and stop one leaf beyond the bunch of Grapes, and pinch all sub-laterals to one leaf. When the sun's rays can penetrate the foliage and reach the wall the brickwork absorbs the heat, and gives it off again when the sun goes down and the temperature falls. Outdoor Vines are often attacked by mildew, especially in. dry seasons. A few good soakings of liquid-manure during a dry time would prevent this and some artificial manure, containing potash and phosphates, would be beneficial, especially after the Grapes are set and swelling. The young wood of Figs should be thinned now. If the foliage is much crowded, the wood cannot ripen, and the crop must be thin. Figs are strong-rooting things, and if the roots run deep into a damp soil there will be no fruit till the roots are lifted and brought near the surface and a foundation of brick-rubbla and lime-siftings or old mortar placed under them. The Brown Turkey is the best Fig for open-air culture. Do not stop the young wood. Thin it out well, and nail the young shoots thinly to the face of the warm wall- Continue the layering of Strawberry runners until a sufficient stock, with a few over for casualties, has been secured. Pull up all blind plants. If left there is always a danger of some of the runners being taken, as they are so strong. All grafts should be secured with small stakes to prevent injury from winds. VEGETABLE GARDEN. The hoe should be used very freely now., Keepthe surface freely stirred, and the growth will be rapid. When heeing, stir all the loam, though there may be no weeds. A little short manure from the breaking- up of old Mushroom beds should be sprinkled along the Celery trenches. This will keep the roots cool and moist. The water-pot should be looked up now as a necessary evil, and anything that will reduce \he necessity for its use is an advantage. When it is necessary to water, do it thoroughly, and then scatt er a little mulch over the surface, or break up the surface with the hoe the next morning. Lose no time in getting out a sufficient stock of winter greens. .If -the land is not vacant,, prick out a sufficient number of plants in a nursery-bed, 6in. apart, tread the ground before pricking out the plants if it is at all loose. These will keep the plants sturdy and strong, and they will lift, when the time comes, with good roots. Sow salad plants on a cool border, if possible, now. Sow in drills, and, when the young plants come up, thin to 8in. or 10in., and mulch between the rows. -Waleheren Cauliflowers may be sown thinly in deep drills, and thinned out to lOin. apart, leaving the strongest plants. Small, close heads will be produced under such conditions, especially if mulched. Continue to plant out Celery. Try a few rows of the Turnip-rooted Celery. GREENHOUSE. Only a few well-grown plants should be left in the greenhouse, and the spare room can be filled up with Tomatoes in pots. Plumbago Capensis makes a neat specimen for summer flowering, and it is often planted out and trained up the back wall, or up a rafter. There is a white variety, but it is not so popular as the blue form. With a few good Zonal Geraniums, and some of the Ivy-leaved section, and Tuberous and other Begonias, there will be no lack of flowers. The fibrous-rooted Begonias, including some of the new hybrids, will be useful. The Se.m- perflorens section may be raised from seeds, and the seedlings will flower under. favourable conditions the same season. Hydrangea Paniculata Grandiflora will be coming into flower now. This does well in pots. We always1 grow a few dozens to come on in summer, when there is a scarcity of white flowers for cutting. Lilium Lancifolium will be useful now. CUCUMBERS IN FRAMES. Give water freely now. If bitterness occurs in the fruit, it arises either from too low a temperature or from a dry aondition of the roots. Usually a good soak of chilled water will remove all trace of it in &few hoars. BBYITOIUM OLIVERIANUM. This Sea Holly is a valuable plant in the her- baceous 'border, possessing as it does the colour almost utaique^ih the flower world. Its light electric blue shows out in striking contrast to the green foliage of the Phloxes and the many-tinted flowers of the Alstroemerias by which it is growing. As a subject. for indoor decoration it is much in request, a few sprays rising out of a bowl of Love-in-a-mist (Nigel-la^' foitriii.g an extremely attractive combina- tion. E. Oliverianum is sometimes confounded with E. amethyst irium, but the latter is dwarf er and much less vigorous. CHICORY. The common Chicory is rarely seen in the garden, and yet we know of no lovelier hardy flower. It is worAy of "a little trouble to naturalise-it, especially as when once this is accomplished it will take care of itself. The other day we «tood beside a magnificent plant that was over 6ft. high, aud the hundre33 of lively blue blossoms freshly expanded and glowing in the morning sun had a fine ffect. TV Y ENDIVE. w> \a." ^ne substitute for Lettuce during winter, as it is quite hardy. Sow in July and August, and plant out m woll-mmuried ground in rows as fot Lettuce, and earth-up.

HKIM is a story told Oftbeprincess of Wales She was once shown through the museum of Scotland! yard, containing the photographs of countless rogues and also some of the methods, scientific and legal' for tracing, crime and for punishing it. It is^al{ very clever," said the kindly Princess, with a sigh-; "but if the world were as anxious to discover and* reward the good men as it is the bad, what a pleasant place it would be."

A RUN ON THE BANK. The busiest hours of the day were over; but the roar of traffic could still be. heard in the .great lamp- lit thoroughfares of the City, when a smart brougham drew up at the entrance to Change-alley. A woman in a hooded cloak of Russian fur lowered the window and looked out. "Can the house of Diirant be in a narrow court na t like this?" She spoke with a slightly foreign accent, while glancing round at a girl beside her. "Vera, how should I know ?" said she, with a jshirug of her shoulders among the cushions. The woman in furs hastened to alight. Now," she whispered, give me the box." It was an oblong despatch-box of black Russian leather. She slipped it under her arm then draw- ing her hood more closely round a small, bewitching face, she passed into the shadows of the ill-lighted jourt, and out of sight. Ivan Durant, sole partner in Durant's great bank- ing-house, rented a superb mansion in Portland- place. He was busily occupied over a heap of papers on his library table on this particular even- ing, when a telegram was placed in nis band. It ran as follows: At Covent Garden—why don't you come ?— MARGARET." Durant glanced at his watch. It was nearly mid- night. What had possession of. him ? He had promised to join Lady Glentwick and her daughter in their box1 at nine o'clock 1 60 immersed had he been in business affairs, however, that even Margaret (Jlentwiek—the heiress to whom he had lately become affiarifced-^had held no placc) in his ,tboughtio., .¡.0.. He now drove to the Opera Hduse in all haste. Lady Glentwick's reception, in spite of his profuse apologies, was stubbornly unbending; and after the first greeting was over she-swe^fc into a front seat and turned her back upon him. Contrite in heart, Ivan took the vacated chair beside Margaret. "It was' inevitable," he pleaded.- "These are ex- ceptionally busy times," "I've no doubt they aref We are getting quite uneasy about you;" And she leant back with placid anconcerri. I .1 "Unea-s-y, Margarét-why?" She spread, out a large scarlet fuir. What's all this about your bank ? We have, been told in strict confidence," said she, that a crisis is imminent. Mademoiselle Volkevitch has brought the news by the Nord Express. If you had come a moment sooner you would have seen her here. She has been in our box nearly all the evening with her charming French companion. Didn't you meet two lovely-women on 'the sffairs ?" Possibly. The staircaie-is-crowded. She darted a-sudden look into Iris face. 'tAh,' you know her! Why try to hide it from Pat ?" ■ The fall of the Curtain at -this moment saved Durant from awkward explanations; and when he had -seen Lady. Glentwick and her daughter into their carriage he drove back to Portland-place. He had dearly -perceived in Margaret's manner-jin,- thd tidings thatlhad reached her concerning the bank— that all must soon end between them. The-brilliant alliance she had inherited the big Glentwick brewery—^WoiSld be"brokefi- efff; and be2—^ < Itatt1 I^uraift began" to Valise1 that he would pre- Bentlyseenöthing %> at "utter rtiito etariirg him-in the face; affairs-at 'the bank were drifting 'into a stati hopeless embtirrassment; Within the next few* da." podsibly.—the crash might come. 11 He began t6 pe to; ahd'fro i» his library like a man haunted by" simrm of'dectons—demons whose- sfiggestivfe -whispefinga1 ^terrified him; but whom he had1 Mo -longer %hfe will to repel. He had pleased his hands to his ears as if to ut all 'the hdrrOr &f it out- but'the whisperings seemed the loader. 1 It' rotiddened him. A' look of 'blank -deS'pafa? gathered irt" his' eyes,u atfd a cry' of BU rr-otderat :latet escaped hi a lips. He stepped toWardS a bureau in a shadowy cornor-fcir :hii readTng^atnp only lit up ti,i,imited spdte-aild- reso- luteTy unlocked it: A niinute later a sharp report rang'out-; Sftd It^dn 'Dwr&nfr wfetf lying prone iipon the fla-ar-iatee ddwHtWitrds, a reviver etched in his llC ttd l"l;. *1' ,j* -V -i The~iiftrmdtir tba £ Durant's Batik was threatened with a crisis had winged its way from some Tce^Bdtjnd Baltic [nort—had Spread rapidly. It no^ 'leered over'Chaibg^ Alley like' a blafck clotid: Tiotfiihg hithferto hkd; feeeh detected in the feait of' Durant's snuff-txspfipktfed clefts to awateri aiT iohv of jSutr the mornfifig had how dawrted whfen John Maddisdn, the manager, standing o^ef the AM ill the <#d bank parldur—Woh- deririg what could keep Mr. Durant from his post at such a^ttiomexlt—first caught the murifitir of panrc- strfckehYotfCis in' the fcoWt. He was an elderly, White-headed mart, who had witnessed a similar Crtsis in the tibife of Durant's ^rahdfath'6r. He took offhis speCUU&es an&'x hibbefi' awfcv the moisture ^ith. his silk handkerchief in a (J^liberdte manner. Then he glanced at his watch. If "was hrilf past eleven. Thfcre itai only'# fehqft'day bSfbrfc hiiti—f&ti* Kottlte aild a balf-fbi satisfying the fclaiimi of exacting ldiehfi. His WtfnklM fac6 grow set and resolate. 1 ili. A fclerk itairie'hASBtily In. v" "What Is ft? Why don't ;you knock?" A letter, sir.' I beg pai-dori. Maddison:turned his bfeck upon the' t&att 'aiid broke the serf. A' look of -consternation' came into His face;- Bft he Quickly masWred thB look and fcon- frotated tl\ cIerk as he Vad about to go otat. ,rSfopr feaid h&, in a voice that was mai%'klloug]y firm fbr an bld iiitin." Mr. Dnrant cannot be here to-day." c'i,u :"n s--u •' r' rt No, sir. '• •' >*<■■ [' *1 But' ii6 (ferstoril'er—116 irfhst guSpfect absence. No- one must be allowed to paSsbeybnd the ante-foom oh 'any'- pretext. Will yd" bear this fbrcibly in mind P" 11 I John Maddison took Durrant's place. And' Vdw thai irtit&ting irrarmur of discontent emphasised by the shuffling of intolerent feet—that shivering clitik of gold— £ old that was ebbing steadily--tietw ceifsfed all day tb pester the manager's brim- But m sttfte of everythmg hs facolost none df its 6tern defiance. He stood with his back to the fire, n ing almost dwarfish figure slightly forward, his expt^8. ■ive hands closed firtnly' behind hiin. He was » 'mkn of magnetic power—one who possessed the "gift of instilling Corindence While superintending the'dfr^. tioii 6F affair^ The night "closed in. The oflelamp in 'Chaitg^ go Alley was now lighted MaddisoA cotila plainly dis- tinguish by its glihimter the stiH mistrustful faces this' crowd. Tneri his owti lamp was lightedy1 hia j blind drawn d6wn. He felt a sense of inexpressible relief. The hour had come at last for closing the bank doors. The clerks were gone, and none save himself and the: night porter remained Within. He sanX itito a chair. At this moment his eye chanced to rest upon an oblong despatch-box on Ivan Dflrant's desk, close "to his elb6w. He touched a hand-bell at his side.; The porter came in.. 1 What bbx is'this ?" One 'feft here by y as night, w reply; lady in fiirs. Pbr Mr. Durant,' says she, and then, afore I could Bb much as lbok at her, slie was gond: The instant' the pórtèr had left'the bank parTo^r, John Maddlsort locked thfe doo* Among the letters on'tbfe desk' addrt^sed t& Ivan T3ii#artt theirs was one fanned with a black seal.' Maddiiibji broke thife seal unhesitatingly, and too' kl' oiit *tnall With this key he unlocked the despatch-bttt, lifted the lid. -v., Next moment this ir6fl-nerved did man iiad'sui)^ back, t'rebiWiiig from hfedd to foot. Bless m'e t and he gfck&ped the arms of his tihajy with grinl'energy—"it's niillions' • j ■ Meanwhile Darant was lying in a darKentd rocwu, lingering, between life and death. At last, conscious. s ness wssrestorand be slowly progressed ,tow¡Y:d, recovery. For many a day and night, ^hen those who tended him glided like shadows to. and fro-ri^e had fanciful, fteeting visions of a form that Per- sistently rrsembled that of Vera Volkovitoh, bending ovet his- pillow with anxious > cotioem aid solieitude. Yet nevex" until .tlie .moroiifig upoa which he vm, wheeled to the fireside^ did these visions take material hold upon his mind. But nOW. thAm back mlfmnry lov% for her-in the days before Margaret Glentwick had entered into his life,an'd with it the recollection of the time when he would have made her his wife but for the strenuous repulse of her guardians. Those day-dreams of long ago had recurred as he sat there in his intolerable loneliness when the very being that filled his heart stood before him "Veral" She came slowly forward and rested her hand soothingly upon his. "Good-bye," said she. "The peril is ow. ,Yoa will no longer have need of me." He looked up gratefully into her face. Don't go I At least," said he, while taking her hand in both his own, stay a moment moro and help me to understand what all this really means. I have no friends "now, and I deserve none. I am a despicable coward! All this kindness you have shown in watching beside me during my suffering was undeserved. Why hadn't I the moral courage to face the ruin that has fallen upon me ? What would your grandfather, my good friend Prince Volkovitch, have thought? It is well he has not lived to witness the dissolution that has overtaken our house. It would have sorely grieved him." For a while Vera Volkovitch made no answer; but presently she spoke. Are you so sure that the ruin you refer to," said she, has actually overtaken you ?" Don't ask me. I've not dared to mention my affairs to anyone-not even to Maddison. Can you doubt my cowardice now?" The doctor forbade all talk upon the subject until to-day. Now tell me-what if disaster had not over- taken the house after all ?" Ivan flashed a searching look at Vera. "What if the spirit of your friend-the good Prince Volkovitch," she went on, still watches over the great banking-house in which he took so much interest during his lifetime ? WHat if, through his generosity, you have been saved from the dissolution which threatened when the crisis Came." Vera—it cannot be I" And yet, as Ivan Durant presently discovered, the unexpected had come to pass. The run on the bank had been arrested in the nick of time. It was all explained to him that same afternoon by Mad- dison, who came to his room with the magic despatch-box, and related the affair briefly to the astounded banker. It was found that, owing to the falsification of Prince Volkovitch's last will and testament, Ivan Durant had been kept out of a huge legacy amount- ing to over two millions sterling. Through the shrewdness of a lawyer in Paris, the artifice had been exposed and Vera, who had taken an active interest in the affair, had instantly started for London with I allneooful documents; and, btit for Durant's want of moral courage, the run on his bank would have never occurred. Vera was ultimately induced to abandon all thoughts of returning to St. Petersburg. She became Ivan's wife, for the first letter that Durant opened, when his recovery had been assured, was one from Lady Glentwick, forbidding further visits to her house. But it had been through the diplomacy of Durant's worthy manager that Vera had beeh persuaded to give her aid in tending Ivan during his illness and the banker's reward was a pension which enabled John Maddison to live in luxury for the rest of his days.