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

NOTES ON NEWS. v Naturally a good deal has been said at the conferences of friendly societies during the past ODDFELLOWS AND STATE INSURANCE. few days upon the scheme for State insurance against sick- ness and invalidity. The societies do not all think one way on this most important matter, but the Manchester Unity of Odd- fellows, for one, has declared i tself in no uncertain terms. It is entirely opposed to any scheme of compulsory State insurance against sickness for persons who are eligible for membership in voluntary thrift agencies." The feeling of the society upon the matter is perhaps natural. It has been doing a splendid work, and desires no interference with its operations. We are determined," said one of the speakers, as far as our powers go, to induce men to stand on their own feet, and not to be continually in leading strings." This is a very praiseworthy determination, and everybody with any know- ledge of the great friendly societies knows that, as far as their powers go," it is being worthily carried out. But even the best and soundest of the thrift societies cannot cover the whole of the ground in the same way as would be done by a compulsory State system. There will always be a vast number of men-and women— who for various reasons have to stand outside a voluntary system. Some are outside by their own fault, no doubt, but others are quite unable to make even the smallest provision against the evil day. The State will compel them to do so, and will help them. But there no reason to suppose that the interests of the besrf; friendly societies will suffer in any way, and iv) doubt some method will be found by which tlNy can work in conjunction for the general gooft. Such a method 'm that which was sketched at the conference at the other branch of Odd- WORKING IN CO-OPERATION. fellows the Nottingham Order—by one of the dele- gates, who Was nble to give some details of the Govern- ment scheme. That scheme. it appears, provides for the payment of five shillings a week to men in sickness, out of a fund created by contributions from the men, the employer, and the State. It will be possible, if desired, to insure for a larger amount than five shillings per week, but that is to be the limit of compulsion. That the scheme is not intended in any way to interfere with the operations of friendly societies is clear from the fact that workmen who are members of friendly societies recognised by the State, and who can produce to their employers cards showing that their contributions are not in arrear, will be exempt from deduction. The employer and the State, however, will pay their shares all the same. The Government will, it is stated, under- take the reorganisation of friendly societies that are of a permanent or well-established character, and membership will be extended to every worker, male or female, between sixteen and seventy. Who has not seen or heard of that workman's front parlour of which Mr. Burns spoke the THE FRONT PARLOUR. other day P That museum for wax fruit, stuffed birds, and china dogs, sacred to the landlord, the insurance man; the undertaker, and the doctor, a place where children dare not enter and even the father is a trespasser." The par- lour should be put to common daily use, said Mr. Burns, and so increase the space of the home by at least twenty-five per cent. The parlour fetish it; perhaps not so much worshipped as it was twenty years back. Most people know better than to have the best room in the house put permanently out of use but there are still some well-meaning housewives who regard their front room as a place for storing all the best furniture in, and into which no member of the family may enter without first removing his boots. Workmen's cottages are small enough, in all conscience, and why one room should be practically shut up is something no sensible person will ever be able to understand. Count Zeppelin's trip across Germany of a few days ago is by- far the most wonderful WANTED— AN AIRSHIP. performance yet accomplished by any sort of aerial machine. For thirty-eight hours his air- ship remained in the air, covering a distance of close upon a thousand miles. It is true that the great vessel came to grief at last, but that is only a proof that even the Zeppelin airship is not yet perfect. The Germans, from the Emperor downwards, are in a great state of enthusiasm and excitement over the Count and his airship, and we in this country cannot but compare ruefully the remarkable record of the Teutonic aerostat with that of our own Nulli Secundus, which, after flying forty miles at the rate of twelve miles an hour—with the wind—came to dire grief on attempting a return journey. It is to the German people that Count Zeppelin has been indebted for the wherewithal to carry on his experiments, and the Aerial League, whose object is to make Britain as strong in the air as on the sea, is thinking of appealing to the people of this country for k;50,000 to buy a Zeppelin airship, in the hope that British engineers will be able to improve upon it. There is a hush in Europe, a hush in which vou may almost hear a leaf fall to the ground." THE HUSH IN EUROPE. This was a striking passage in Lord Rosebery's speech to the Colonial Pressmen the other night. The orator went on to say that there is an absolute absence of any question which ordinarily leads to war. Yet there never was in the history of the world so threatening and overpowering a preparation for war." Lord Rosebery is not alone in regarding that fact as most ominous. The nations are arming with a haste that is almost frantic—we ourselves have seen an agitation for eight Dreadnoughts atonceand no waiting. There is a terribly sinister look about all this; andthe man in the stxeet "I" keeping calm enough to think about the matter, may well wonder where it is all going to end. Nobody really wants to spend money on Dreadnoughts, which might be more profitably employed in other directions, but it seems to be a question in which we have no choice. If other Powers increase the strength of their fleets we must do the same and no doubt we shall do as Lord Rosebery says, build Dreadnoughts as long as we have a shilling to spend on them." It is in our favour in the race that the sister states of the Empire have shown a splendid willingness to help the old country to bear the burden of imperial defence.

The ocean training ship Port Jackson, which left London last August with thirty cadets en board for a round-the-world voyage, arrived in o the Thames from Sydney, New South Wales. Mr. Samuel H. Faudel-Phillips, a brother of Alderman Sir George Fauclel-Phillips and of Lady Pirbright, died in Paris. A new station on the Metropolitan Railway is to be built between Willesden-green and Neasden. It will be known as Dollis-hill. Of 817 people who were killed on railways in the United Kingdom during the last three months of last year, 156 were trespassers. Viscount. Tredegar has expressed his intention of subscribing to the funds of the South Wales and Monmouthshire University College at Cardiff.

DRESS OF THE DAY. A DAINTY SUMMER DRESSING GOWN. Nine out of ten women will agree, I think, on the desirability of the summer dressing- gown, or negligee, carried out in some 0 1 pretty, dainty washing fabric. Such a gar- ment is specially dear to the heart of the woman worker, who, returning from a long, busy day in office or workroom, slips into a cool, fresh negiigee and immediately feels a freshened and rejuvenated creature. Nor need the cost of such a negligee put it beyond 11 the reach of even the most modest dress- allowance, for cotton materials, and delight- fully pretty ones, can be bought nowadays for a surprisingly low figure, whilst the mak- ing of a simple negligee is quite within the powers of the most inexperienced amateur. Take, for instance, the very pretty and be- coming garment pictured in our sketch. What could be nicer? and yet it is of the very simplest cut and shape.' This pretty gown is carried out in cotton voile, the mate- rial in this particular case being white and A PRETTY DRESSING GOWiT. I patterned with fairly large spots of a specially Erettv shade of mauve. The short Empire odice is fairly full, being gathered on the shoulders and again at the high waist-line. The fronts cross, leaving a rather deep y. shaped opening at the neck, which is filled in by a dainty little chemisette composed of alternate bands of Valenciennes insertion and tine, tucked white muslin. From the opening turns back a wide collar of quaint shape, which is also carried out in the white muslin and edged with a band of Valenci- ennes insertion and a frill of lace. The sleeves are simple bishop affairs, which are left unlined and are set into tucked and in- serted cuffs at the wrist. The skirt -is very full, being gathered all round the high waist, is cut long all round, and is slightly trained at the back. A sash of broad satin ribbon in exactly the s««ae shade of maut-e as the de- sign on the "material gives the finishing touch to this pretty negligee. This sash is folded round the figure and tied in a knot on the left side, from which fall two long ends which come almost to the bottom of the gown. PRETTY WASHING FROCKS. This subject is particularly fascinating; it suggests summer holidays, Icing warm days, and brilliant sunshine. Now the pretty wash- ing frock sketched for us has been specially designed with a view to the exigencies of the wash-tub, and' is' "assimpTe as pos- sible, presenting no real difficulties either to the amateur dressmaker or to the woman who launders her frocks a.t home. It is of the type called by our American cousins a shirt-waist frock, and is an exceedingly neat and prac- tical little dress for everyday summer wear, just the thing for tennis, boating, morning use in town, or all-day wear in the country or at the seaside. The blouse bodice of this frock buttons straight down the middle of the front, the edge being finished with a rather wide piping of some pretty stripo-d washing material that contrasts nicely with the stuff of which the dress is made. The buttons which form the fastening are covered with the same material, and the edge of the front is further adorned with a line of machine-stitching. On either side of the front come three fairly wide tucks, which are carried right down to the waist. Next cornea BO USE SUIT IN LINEN OR ZEPHYB. a plain spacs, and, finally, three more tueks, the outermost of which projects over the top of the sleeve—these last^mentioned tucks are released just below the level of the armhole. The back of the blouse resembles the front except that, of co-urse, there is no fastening down the middle and that all four groups of tucks are carried right down to the waist. A neat little detachable collar, piped with the striped material, finishes the neck, but this may be replaced if preferred by an ordinary tucked neckband or by a stiff white linen collar. The sleeves are of the newest shirt shape, with a small amount of fulness at the shoulder, but fitting closely about the wrist, where they are finished with a piped cuff and buttons and buttonholes at the back of the arm. The skirt is an eight-gored model, and has an inverted pleat at the back. The pattern is in five sizes, 20, 22, 24, 28, and 28 inches waist measure. For the 24-inch size it will take five yards of 30-inch material. THE SEASON'S SUNSHADES. Our late spell of splendid weather has evoked a much more lively interest in the question of sunshades than is usually the case at this time of the year, and one notices that the windows of the leading West-end shops generally show a large collection of more or less expensive parasols just now. Generally speaking, the sunshades of this present sum- mer have a decided tendency towards sim- plicity, though that simplicity does not necessarily mean cheapness. One of the prettiest models shown is carried out in fine white lawn, and is covered from top to bot- tom with tucks a little over a quarter-of-an- inch in width, each tuck being hemstitched, and a small plain space being left between it and the next tuck. A favourite parasol of the moment is carried out in silk foulard, preference being given to Oriental designs, and has a wide, plain border edged all round with a narrow silk fringe.

INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW The International Horse Show was opened at Olympia on Saturday. The world-wide interest taken in the event was evidenced by the entries, which included horses from twelve countries. Although the afternoon performance was the real opening of the show, the ring had already been occupied for two hours in the morning by the jumpers. There were so many of these that it was impossible to let them all compete at the regular perform- ances so a number of extra shows were arranged at which the principal, though not the sole, event was jumping. The programme on Saturday was admir- ably varied. Ponies in harness, park hacks, tandems, roadsters, and trotters, trade turn- outs, four-in-hands, the coach-horn blowing competition, and the display of American and English draught horses provided enter- tainment to please everybody. Add an hour and a half of jumping at the end of each per- formance, and it will be admitted that there was almost a surfeit of attractions. And there is excellent music as an accompani- ment, provided either by the band of the Royal Artillery or Lord Lonsdale's private orchestra. Most of the competitions on Saturday were of an international character, which gave them an added interest. This was tho case in the class for park hacks, the principal prize being the Paris Cup, offered by the Societe Hippique Francais. The judge's decision was in favour of Major-General Broeklehurst's Bay Lad. There was a triumph for America in th", olass for trotters shown in pairs, Mr. E. T. Stotesbury, of Pennsylvania, winning from Mr. w all-oi- Winans, who was second with his famous pair, Barney F. and Fides Stanton. ine Venture Challenge Cup attracted eleven road teams, two of which were exhibited by Judge Moore, and two by Mr. Alfred Vanderbilt. The cup was taken by Mr. E. H. Brown's team of chestnuts, which draw the Persever- ance coach, on the London and Dorking road. The guards of the coaches afterwards took part in a horn-blowing competition, and the prize of a coach horn was awarded to Charles Tuppin, of Judge Moore's coach, the Rockmarge. Two exciting incidents marked Monday's competitions at the great International Horse Show at Olympia. Conceiving a violent antipathy to one of the jumps, Lieutenant Daufresne's mare Perrette first of all landed among the flowers at the side of the jump, and on the second attempt swerved and took the barricade, landing among the audience and causing considerable confusion but no damage. Another Belgian horse, Airone, does not like policemen, and, refusing to start, pushed a member of the force behind a tree at the corner of the entrance doors. He was taken to the other side, and, finding another con- stable there, repeated his tactics.

ACCIDENT ON NEW WARSHIP. Five men on board the new Dreadnought Superb were injured at Portsmouth on Mon- day by the sudden snapping of a wire rope as the vessel was being towed out of the dock so as to join the fleet at Spithead for the naval review. The long loose end of the hawser flew back with terrific force, sweeping the foredeck of the Superb, upon which a number of the crew were standing. Seaman Robert Alford and John Edward Rogers and a boy, Thomas Culliford, sus- tained broken legs, and were taken to the Haslar Hospital. Two others were slightly injured.

DEATH ON PARADE. A. tragic incident occurred at. Bristol on Saturday afternoon on the occasion of the annual inspection of the city police force. The Lord Mayor, the Lady Mayoress, the Sheriff, and other civic dignitaries accom- panied the inspecting officer, and while the ceremony was in progress one of the con- stables suddenly staggered and pitched for- ward on the ground. On being picked up he was found to be dead. The deceased, a smart young officer, only 28 years of age, was to have commenced his holidays on Monday. He leaves a widow and two children.

LADY FALLS OVER A CLIFF. Miss Edith Milner Palliser, daughter of Mr. George Henry Palliser, of Clapham-road, S.W., has been killed at Combe Martin, near Ilfracombe, by falling over cliffs one hundred feet high. Miss Palliser, who was twenty-six years of I. age, had recently returned from India, where Mr. Palliser was formerly chief engi- neer in the Bombay Public Works Depart- ment. She met two women friends from India in London, and they decided to spend a holiday together at Combe Martin. She left The Nest, a furnished house which she and her friends had engaged, about mid- day on Sunday for a walk. Three hours later two young men who were walking at the foot of the cliffs near Sandy Bay found her body half embedded in the sand. As a high wind was blowing it is possible that she was either blown over the cliff or lost her footing on the edge of it. Her in- juries show that she must have fallen from crag to crag in her descent.

OFFICERS OF THE FUTURE. Speaking on Saturday evening at Magda- len College, Oxford, in connection with the fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the Oxford University Officers' Training Corps, Mr. Haldane, Secretary of State for War, said in this and other matters connected with the army the University of Oxford had made a magnificent response to his proposals. The new school of officer had been tried, I continued the Secretary of State, in a way such as no other officers had been tried, except the Japanese, and that led him to think that the new spirit which had come into our military matters gave hope for the future. The officers of to-day would be dis- placed in ten years' time by the officers of the future, who were imbibing the new doc- trine, as it were, with their mother's milk. There was great earnestness, he said, in the country about the question of the Army, and he thought the nation was prepared to treat leniently anyone who endeavoured to find the solution.

When the Booth liner Lanfranc arrived at Liverpool from South America it was discovered that lour of the crew—an engineer named Mills, and Jenkins, Long, and Waltho, stewards, all of Liverpool—has died of yellow fever con- tracted at a small port on the Amazon River. Two of the men were buried at sea. Regardless of the rolling breakers and a cold north-easterly wind, a young woman was bap- tised in the sea at the North Beach, Yarmouth, by an Irish minister. The woman, who was fully dressed, walked into the water, with mini- ster chanting a hymn. A respectably dressed young lady, apparently between seventeen and twenty years of age, was knocked down by a General motor omnibus near Hall-road, Maida-vale. She was immediately conveyed to St. Mary's Hospital, but died be- fore arrival. Her clothing "was marked "L. Robinson." The Rev. Henry Richard Ashdown, who has just died at Scunthorpe Vicarage, Lincolnshire, was the son of Mr. H. Ashdown, who for the oast forty years has been gardener to Viscount Knutsford. Mr. Ashdown began his career as a pupil teacher at a Godalmins: school.

HOW WAGS THE WORLD 1J OLDEST BRIDGE IN PARIS. £ |. The Pont Notre Dame, which iB about to undergo important alterations, is the oldest bridge in Paris. It was first built in the reign of Charles VI., and solemnly blessed by the clergy in 1413; but it was carried away, together with the houses which lined it, by ice floes when the frost broke in 1499. A new bridge was begun at once, under the direction of a mons, Jean Jaconde of Verona, and was ready for traffic in 1507. On that bridge stood the famous picture- shop of Gersaint, which had a sign-board specially painted for it by Watteau. CABBY'S REWARD. Mile. Anna Pawlowa, prima ballerina of the Imperial Russian ballet, who has been appearing in Berlin, while returning from the theatre one evening left her diamonds, valued at C5,000, in the cab. The cabman returned the jewels on the following morn- n ing, and was rewarded with C40 for his honesty. CHEAP TRAVELLING. A Roumanian bootzwaker named Giam- battista Barbouleeco, who recently reached Paris stated that he had travelled by the Orient express from Constanza to Paris, 3,000 miles, with only a copper coin in his pocket. He achieved the feat by stowing himself away on one of the bogie trucks at the end of a dining-car, which position he I occupied for fifty-two hours without food or water. He was sorely tempted at a stop- ping-plaee outside Paris to spend his copper in food and drink, but refrained. He met friends in Paris. PORTUGUESE MELODRAMA. A romantic story of love' and treachery comes from Portugal. Rodriguez, a famous smuggler chief, who has long been notorious for his daring exploits, capped these recently by falling in love with the beautiful daughter of a villager. The girl returned his affec- tion, and the smuggler, notwithstanding the Government reward of 500 duros ( £ 100) for his capture, entered the village every day to &8e his sweetheart. The father of the girl, considering the smuggler an undesirable lover for hjs daughter and anxious to obtain the reward, decided to betray Rodriguez to the authorities. As the unsuspecting smuggler was nearing the home of his loved one, a strong force of civil guards appeared. Though taken by surprise, Rodriguez de- fended himself valiantly. Pulling out a re- volver, he shot one of the guards dead and wounded two others. However, he was over- powered and marched off. AN ANARCHIST GAOLER. Much excitement has been caused in Swe- den by the discovery that one of the gaolers at the Carlscrona prison is an Anarchist. He attempted to facilitate the escape of the Anarchist Rosberg by smuggling in a saw, with which the prisoner cut one of his chains. Rosberg (says the "Telegraph") is the man who tried to blow up with dynamite the hulk Amalthea, on which British labourers were lodged during the dock strike at Malmo. He was to make a dash for liberty while being transported to the prison at Stockholm, where he was to undergo a life sentence. Rosbc-rg's attempt to escape failed, and the Anarchist gaoler has been arrested. GHOSTS IN THE SOUTH SEAS. Some developments of totemism are to be found among the Banks Islanders in Mela- nesia. An account of them was given re- cently by Dr. W. H. R. Rivers at the Royal Institution in London. Each village, he said, possessed a club house, which was divided into partitions, each of which represented the rank or degree of a secret society. All of these societies had masks, which bore the names of animals, and the members were spoken of as "ghosts" or "dead men." After the preliminary ceremony of initiation came a period of seclusion, which was sup- posed to last 100 days, but which really de- pended on the ability of the candidate to pay the required fathoms of shell money. It was necessary, observed the speaker, to obtain all the money possible before the initiation because if the candidate did not do so he was not allowed to go out of the lodge until he had managed to collect the full amount; and it was aaid that in the old days there were many cases of people spending the rest of their lives there. One of the customs in connection with the initiation was for the "ghosts" to go out and destroy a house be- longing to the candidate, who knew that as soon as that was done he would be beaten, and so tried to keep out of the way. Sooner or later, however, he was always caught. DEFENCE OF PANAMA. The United States War Department are eor>jjdering plans for the defence of the ranama Canal, involving an expenditure of about seven million dollars. The small islands about ten miles off Panama will be utilised very largely in the plans for the de- fence of the Pacific end of the canal, while the Atlantic defences will consist for the most part of forts on the hills around Colon. SPANISH SECRET SOCIETY. 1 A society similar to the Italian camorra. has been discovered in the province of Coruna. A number of outrages have been committed, houses have been, burned, crops and forests destroyed, and peasants menaced with death when they declined to contribute to the carrying out of the secret objects of the society. The whole countryside is alarmed, and a number of gendarmerie have been sent, with a special judge, to bring the evildoers to book. LABOUR AND THE COLOUR LINE. A strike is proceeding on the Georgia rail- road. It resulted from the discharge of ten white firemen, who were replaced by negroes. The whites demand the elimination of negroes from the higher grades of railway employment. A riot was threatened at Harri- sonville, owing to a white railway guard firing on a. crowd which was pursuing the negro fireman of a yard engine. Some sheriffs stationed in the vicinity saved the guard from maltreatment. JAPANESE SINGING KETTLES. The singing kettles of Japan are no novelty, but have been in use for centuries. The Japanese, who know so well how to add little unexpected attractions to everyday life, manufacture iron tea-kettles which sing when the water boils. Their song may not be a very perfect melody, but at any rate it is quite as agreeable to hear as the notes of some of the insects treasured by the Japanese for their music. The harmonious sounds of these singing kettles are produced by steam bubbles escaping from beneath thin sheets of iron, which are fastened together nearly at the bottom of the kettle. Some skill is re- quired in regulating the fire to produce the best effect, and kettles of different shapes aive forth different sounds. O INGENIOUS AUTOMATIC GATE. An automatic gate is being tested on a Swiss electric road. As a car approaches the grade crossing the trolley bow makes contact with a wire running parallel to the main trolley line, and thus energises a motor that, in 20sec., lowers a gate across the highway on each side of the railroad, and at the same time an electric bell is rung and two lamps are lighted. A counter-weight raises the gates after the car has passed.

GARDEN" GOSSIP. Arum Lilies.—These ought now to be planted. In Scotland they need no manure in an ordinary fertile soil, and though the e plants while growing in pots are not deep in the soil, it is preferable to put them 4 inches deeper when planting in the open. If the plants are moderately moist at the root when planted, they will need no further attention till autumn. < » Bedding Plants.—During the coming week it should be perfectly safe to plant out the most tender subjects, if a proper system of hardening has been carried out. Subtropicals and tender carpeting plants ought all to be ready for planting, and unless unusual weather conditions prevail all ought now to be safe in the open. Do not plant out any- thing unless the soil in the beds, is thoroughly moistened previously. Dahlias.—Young plants may now be put out, nevertheless keeping an eye on the weather lest one morning frost damages them a 5-inch pot inverted over such plants will render them safe. It is curious that shoots from old tubers plant-ed in the ground are not so susceptible to damage by frost as young ones are, and for that reason, as well as for their yielding bloom much earlier, the planting of the old roots is to be. commended. vc Planting Evergreens. Delayed trans- plantation of these can now be effected with the very best results, provided the plants have roots in proportion to the size of the tops, moist weather is chosen for the work, and a heavy watering applied directly plant- ing is finished. The other secrets of success are not to plant too deep, to make the ground, unless approaching to clay, quite firm, to stake securely, so that gales may not loosen the roots, and to mulch after watering. » The Grass Plot.—We have arrived at the time of year when the lawn or grass plot will demand incessant attention, and it will show its resentment of neglect in no unmistakable manner. One of the most advantageous operations is rolling, which can be done at any time when the ground is not too wet; it encourages a sound base to the grass, and enables it to stand the hot, dry weather of the summer months. In some seasons it is wise to give occasional heavy soakings of water, but this entirely depends upon the weather, as no one would go to the trouble of artificial applications when there was already plenty of moisture in the soil. Mowing must be attended to as needful, never allowing tlie grass to get too long before the tops are taken off, or it will in all probability go brown at the base. Celery.—Continue to plant out celery as ground can be spared and the trenches can be got ready. Place some rich manure in the bottom of each trench, and cover it with PLANTING CELERY. A, a sturdy plant with a good ball of earth lifted and replanted with a trowel. B, a weak plant with bare roots planted with a dibber, and likely to be checked and flower prematurely. some of the best surface -soil thrown out to form the trench. Water plants already in the trenches as often as may be necessary to keep them steadily growing. Parsley.-The seedlings from seed sown four monbhs ago should now be thinned, and those removed transplanted at one foot inter- vals in nicely worked firm soil. Coarseness i<? to be guarded against as the worst thing that can happen to the parsley crop; there- fore, if manure is called for, it ought not to be buried deeply but worked in just below the surface. Borecole.—This is a suitable time to sow seeds for a large supply of this invaluable spring vegetable. It is a curious fact, which the severe weather of the past has once again emphasised, that light coloured strains are less hardy than those with dark green leaves. If the seeds are allowed plenty of space, and the soil after being drawn over the seeds is compressed firmly, the growth will be slow and sturdy, and the plants be just right to plant to succeed second early potatoes or peas. » Cucumbers.—If strong plants are put out in light, rich soil in some of the frames which are now being emptied of bedding plants, they will quickly come into bearing, especi- ally if the' frames are kept somewhat close until the plants have made a good start. The Carrot Fly.—The carrot has a for- midable enemy in the carrot fly. In some gardens it is difficult to obtain a crop of car- rots owing to this insect. The grubs bore into the roots, and if they do not kill the plants outright the crop is spoilt and unfit for cooking. In preparing ground for carrots plenty of burnt refuse should be mixed with the soil, and the use of rich manure avoided if a stimulant is wanted, guano or some other artificial manure is preferable, and when sowing the seed mix plenty of wood ashes and soot with the soil fo-r filling in the drills. Broccoli.—The bulk, of this crop should now be planted. Though of near affinity to the cauliflower, it requires treatment of a very different nature. One needs strong, well developed plants in order to secure heads of fair size, hence the need for a lengthened season of growth. At the same time a sappy growth is against broccoli standing the vicis- situdes of winter, and therefore it should be set in quite firm ground but preferably not recently manured. There must also be ample space between the individual plants, and hence it is a crop that can hardly be recom- mended to those whose garden is small. Horseradish.—Young growths from sets planted last winter, but showing flower heads, remind one that these must be pinched out as well on established plants as on young ones. It is a curious fact that this sturdy vegetable is hardly ever cultivated—just left to itself. But it, like other garden occu- pants, repays a certain amount of labour; and those in question will yield a splendid supply of straight roots for two years. Leeks.—These have proved of exceptional value during the recent scarcity of vege- tables, and provision should be made each year for a crop. Where early stems are likely to be required for exhibiting, it is quite time a batch of plants were put out in a trench in a similar manner to celery. We do not advise planting leeks in trenches for ordinary purposes, as quite serviceable material can be secured by deep planting in rich land. Peaches.—Continue to regulate and cleanse the shoots of these, and reduce the number of fruits on each tree. Unless peaches are making very strong growth, one fruit to the squa,re foot is usually sufficient; allow necta- rines to remain somewhat thicker than this.