The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

ALLAN LINE I Royal Mail Steamers TO ONITED STATES & CANADA. Undw contract with the Canadian Govarnment for conveyance of the Canadian Mails.) TROM LIVERPOOL. MONGOLIAN .For Quebec & Montreal.Sept. 14 PARISIAN .For Quebec & Montreal. Sept. 2' LAURENTlAN .For Quebec & Montreal.Sept. 28 FARES FOR OCEAN PASSAGE. Saloon, 10 to 18 Guineas Second Cabin, X7 7b. Steerage, X5 Sa. Through Tickets to all Stations at Special Rates. Passengers are landed on the railroad wharf and tmtaferred fiom ship to train without any incon- waienceand expense. The company's special con- tactor aooompames West-bound passengers. SflT NOTc.-This Line provides the cheapest and most convenient route to all parts of Canada, Msaitoba, the North-west Provinces, British Colombia, and the Western States of America. Cheap thxouRh rates to Austria and New Zealand Tia. C.P.R., Vancouver, and Honolulu. $ 10 Bonue to Settlers aad Homestead Certificates relating to the Government Free Grant Lands of 160 Acres. To TOURISTS, SPOKTSMEN, and others.— 1tocuuf Trip Tickets combining excursions to Niagara Vails, the wonderful scenery and Sporting Districts -at the Rocky Mountains and British Columbia, and -other places of interest in United States and Canada. Programme of tours on application. TSPECIAL RETURN RATES TO THE CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR. 'British delegates new reports and all the latest maps and pamphlets free. Direct services from Glasgow to New York and Boston and Philadelphia all the year round. Fall particulars on application to ALLAN BROTHERS & CO., James Street, LIVERPOOL PARK & BON, Printers, The Gross, Newtown B. RIOKARDS, Horsemarket, Newtown. JOHN KINSEY, Marble and Stone Works, Llandinam. WM. WALTERS, Wellington Hotel, Welshpool, DAVID JEHU, Auctioneer, Llanfair. MORRIS & SON, Drapers, Llanidloes. W. H. SMITH, 82, Park Avenue, Oswestry. FOR TriE: iil.000 IS THE LIFE." L4 SOV^ aLOOD PURIFIERI N S RESTORER For Cleansing and Clearing the B100d from all .paritielt, it atna()t be too highly recommended. For Scrofula, Scurvy, Eczema, Skin and Blood Diseases, Pimples, and Sores of all kinds it is a never-failing and permanent Cnre. It Cures Old Sores, Cares Sores on the Neck, Cures Sore Legs, Cares Pimples on the Face. Cares Scurvy, Cures Eczema, Cores Uloers, Ctafcei Blood and Skin Diseases, Cares Glandular Swellings, Clears the Blood from all impure Matter, From whatever cause arising, It to the only real specific for Gout and Rheumatic Pains. It removes the cause from the blood and bones. As this Mixture is pleasant to the taste, and warranted free from anything injurious to the most delicate constitution of either sex, from infancy to old age, the Proprietors solicit sufferers to give it a trial to test its value. THOUSANDS OF TESTIMONIALS. CLARKE'S BLOOD MIXTURE is entirely free -from any poison or metallic impregnation, does not Contain any injurious ingredient, and is a Rood, safe, ) useful medicine."—ALFRED SWAIN TAYLOR, M.D., • F,R.S., Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology. 257, St. Georsre's-road, Hull, Jan. 12,1892. "I thought it was my duty to let you know what Clarke's Blood Mixture has. done for me. After suffering for three years with abscesses on my arm and leg, and the doctors not being able to do me any good, 1 am thankful to say, after taking a few bottles of your Clarke's Blood Mixture, I am restored to perfect uealth again, and would have the whole world know -of your wonderful medicine.-Yours truly. Miss HOTTGIITOIT. IMPORTANT ADVICE TO ALL.-Cleanse the vitiated iOyi whenever you find its impurities bursting through the Idi in pimples, eruptions, ana sores; cleanse it when yon ■4 it obstructed and slnginsh in the veins cleanse it when a foal—your feelings will tell you when. Keep your blood r*, and the health of the system will follow. Sold in bottles 2s. 9d. each, and in cases containing six times the quantity, Ils.-sufficient to effect a permanent oure in the great majority of long- star-diag cases. By all CHEMISTS and PATENT MEDICINE VENDERS throughout the World, or sent to any address on receipt of 33 or 132 stamps by the ropriefcors, THE LINCOLN AND MIDLAND OUNTIES DRUG COMPANY, LINCOLN. Write for the New Pamphlet on Skin and Blood Diseases, vita fail directions for diet, &c., to Secretary, Lincoln and lidlauil Counties Drug Company, Lincoln. Sent post free. TRADE MARK-BLOOD MIXTURE. ASK FOR CLARKF.'S BLOOD MIXTURE* And do not be persuaded to take an Imitation. A Wonderful Medicine. BEECHAM'S PILLS A fUEB universally admitted to be worth a Guinea a nk. Box for Bilious and Nervous Disorders, such as !ivind and Pain in the Stomach, Sick Headache, Gid- iseas, Fulness and Swelling after Meals, Dizziness .00. Drowsiness, Cold Chills, Flushings of Heat, Loss of Appetite Shortneas of Breath, Costiveness, Scurry and Blotches on the Skin, Disturbed Sleep, frightful Dreams, and all nervous aid Trembling Sensations, etc. The first dose will give relief in wenty minutes. Every suffprer s earnestly invited o try one Box of these Pills, and they will be ac. knowledged to be WORTH A GUINEA A BOX. "or females of all ages these Pills are invalaable, to a few doses of them carry off all humours, and ariiur about all that is required. No female should be without them. There is no medicine to be found aquai to Beeoham's Pills for removing any obstruc- tion or irregularity of the system. If taken accord- ng to the directions given with each box, they will xm restore females of all ages to sound and robust th. This has been proved by thousands who we tried them, and found the benefits which are enured by their use. For a Weak Stomach, Impaired Digestion, and all Disorders of the Liver, they act like magic, and a e. doses will be found to work wonders on the most mportant organs in the human machine. They strengthen the whole muscular system, restore the 1 ong lost complexion, bring back the keen edge of ape petite, and arouse into action with the rosebud health the whole physical energy of the human rame. These are FACTS testified continually by nwmbers of all classes of Society, and one of the best guarantees to the Nervous and Debilitatedness. BFECHAM'S PILLS have the Largest Sale of any Fmtmt Medicine in the World. Beecham's Magic Cough Pills. As a remedy for Coughs in general, Asthma, Bron. chial Affections, Hoarseness, Shortness of Breath, Tightness and Oppression of the Chest, Wheezing Ac-, these Pills stand unrivalled. They are the best ever offered to the public, and will speedily remove hat sense of oppression and difficulty of breathing which nightly deprive the patient of rest. Let any person give BEECHAM'S COUGH PILLS a trial, ,A the most violent Cough will in a short time be oved. Prepared only, and Sold Wholesale and Retail, by Proprietor, Thoiras Beecham, St. Helens Lan- ihire, in Boxes 94d., Is lid., and 2s 9d. each. S >ld by all Druggists and Patent Medicine Dealer iory where. N.B.—Foil directions are given with each box. cl7

7HE FARMERS' CIRCLE. (BY ONE WITHIN IT.) Farmers in South Lincolnshire, says a daily contemporary, who have this year a large acreage under potatoes, are selling them at J620 to L25 an acre. One farmer in the Long Sutton district has sold a crop of fifty acres as it stands for 91,000. These prices will prove very remunerative to the growers. A correspondent states that fruit is so plentiful in Lincolnshire this year that growers are experiencing the greatest diffi- culty in disposing of the produce of their orchards. The markets are so glutted, especially with apples, that the sales in many cases have not'realised sufficient to pay the expenses of sending to market Plums also have been a bad trade, and those that were damaged at all by wasps have been practically rendered unsaleable. The average price of apples is about 2d per stone. In view of the agricultural distress, Mr Thomas Goodchild, a well-known Essex farmer, has given notice that he will move the Halstead Board of Guardians at their next meeting to petition the Local Govern- ment Board to pass an Act authorising a scheme providing sufficient funds to find employment in the eastern counties next winter and spring for the large number of unemployed who will want work; to sug- gest the making of all soft lanes into hard roads and to widen the narrow ones, this being a national question and reproductive in its character to clear out rivers and to buy cheap land where practicable at JE5 per acre, and plant it with trees, thus making a good national investment." The Royal Commission on Agricultural Distress will consist of the following gentle- men:—Mr Shaw Lefevre, chairman, Vis- count Cobham, Lord Vernon, Mr Chaplin, Sir Nigel Kingscore, Mr Robert Giffen, Mr Charles J. Elton, Mr C. N. Dalton, Mr F. A. Channin, Mr John Clay of Kircheston, Mr R. L. Everett, Mr John Gilmour, Mr George Lambert, Mr H. C. Little, Mr Walter Long, Captain Thomas of Anglesey, in(I Mr Charles Whitehead, F.L.S. Mr John Clay, Mr Everett, and Mr Little are engaged in practical farming, and Mr Little and Captain Thomas are engaged in the management of land. WEATHER AND CROPS. The weather experienced last week was of the most favourable character for all kinds of farm work. Ou door operations have been pursued with singular constancy, and therefore have been ad\ arn e 1 v, t i un- usual rapidity. In m ny parts, the grun crops have been all secured n the bast possible condition, which fact, by condi ciug to the production of a fine sample, wou.d iu ordinary years to some extent assist to modify the very heavy decrease in ttip money value of these crops arising from the markedly diminished bulk. This yaar, however, prices appear to remain at such an absurdly small standard that the quality of the article seems of little account. It is impossible that farmers can make ends meet on the wheat, barley, and oat crops, with prices at present quotations, and at best-it is a doleful state of affairs-the main object is to reduce th > inevitable wrong balance to the smallest possible amount. This can only be done now by continuing a careful study of the markets, and taking advantage of any opportunity that might by chance occur in the form of a rise in prices. Threshing, an exceedingly disheartening operation this season, is being quickly over- taken. It is, perhaps, a wise course to pur- sue to have the work done by hand. But it cannot surely be a wise policy to market to any great extent at the present rate ut prices. Business can scarcely become worse than it is at present, aud. if it should nut improve the grain is undoubte lly worth more than its present market value for judicious use in feeding stock T.io second crop of hay, where by good fortune there is such, has also been carried under favourable conditions Turnips and potatoes are doing fairly well, hut pastures are burnt and miserably barren. BREAD, MEAT, AND CHEESE. The British farmer may well be tired of listening to advice given him as to how the depression may be withstood and overcome. Whatever else he lacks, it certainly is not advisers. Of them he has many. But, unfortunately, a largely-predominant pro- portion of these would-be enlighteners are notoriously weak in their suggestions and lacking in full knowledge of what they volunteer their advice upon It is this class of teacher that is chiefly responsible for the marked suspicion and indifference with which farmers at first receive really useful proposals and genuine aid?. The latest advice that is offered to aid in tiding through the protracted depression comes in the form of a small, concise treatise written by Mr Norton Tompkins, Bath, and pub- lished by Messrs Vinton & Co., 9, New Bridge-street, London, E.O., at Is. We would not be ready to recommend much of what has been written on this wearying, but ever present subject, but we would con- fidt ntly bespeak a wide circle of readers for, and a high appreciation of, this original little work. Mr Tompkins wisely devi tes from the beaten track His work is uti, from first to last, of reasonable suggest ons peculiarly his own, and set forth in c ear and forcible terms, The contents of the some forty pages are pretty accurately por- trayed in the title and sub-titles of the work—" The Great Agricultural Depression: its Causes, and How to Meet It"; Bread, Meat, and Cheese: What They Are, and What They Ought to Be, and How to Restore the Trade"; The British Loaf v. The Foreign Loaf. The author disparages the interference of Parliament. He very wisely advises his reader to look for his remedy in other directions. He is satisfied that if there is a ray of hope it will be found in the combination of every agricul- tural landowner, tenant, and labourer in the kingdom to present a bold and deter- mined front to a. formidable foe-to claim and to take that which is their birthright, the fair value of their goods as. com- pared with the value of foreign goods, and to assert their light and take their place in the market they are paying their rates and taxes to support, which the foreigner does not; to demand and take their fair share of that 100 per cent profit which is now made from the time the farmer sells to the miller his wheat, and the bread and miller's offal is sold to the consumer; to claim and to take their fair share of the 35 to 40 per cent. profit which the butchers are making from the time the beasts are bought to the time the five I quarters' are turned into cash." This starting point is not an uncommon one, and its soundness will hardly be called in question. It is the means by which he pro- poses to carry the desired into reality that Mr Tompkins iisplays his fertile originality and close study of the subject in hand. In- adequate capital he considers fatal in farm- ing. The farmer without sufficient capital is "more or less a paralysed man in his business," as he can neither afford to humour the markets nor do justice to tae land. The depression in the wheat trade he attributes to seven causes. The first of these, the recent introduction of roller mills to the dis- placement of the older system of milling, he considers one of the greatest. He explains that the new mills, by their peculiar process of extracting the germ of the wheat and every particle of bran will produce flour which makes a whiter loaf of bread and is supposed to take the fancy of the consumer in preference to the older system of French bur millstone milling which retains the germ; this of necessity gives the bread a little more tinted appearance. English wheat possessing glutinous saccharine and albuminous properties to a much greater than foreign, will clog the rollers or will only admit of a very small proportion of English wheat to be ground with it. The other causes he offers are emigration, cheap transit (i.e., of foreign articles), the large increase in the importation of American flour instead of wheat, the preference shown by bakers for the drier flour from abroad, I increased rates and taxes, and the change- able nature of the climate. All these points are sensibly touched upon in turns. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATION. In his pamphlet, referred to in the fore- going, Mr Tompkins reduces the choice for future action to the smallest possible alter- native of two courses Either to continue as we are now gliding steadily down the road of adversity to we know not where, or to establish a National Co-operative Agri- cultural Association for the mutual protec- tion and advancement of the interests equally of agricultural landowners, tenants, and labourers, and to supply the British public with genuine home-grown bread, meat, and cheese. Co-operation is ad- mittedly an ancient proposition. It is also usually found to be a popular one in theory, but in practice singularly unsuccessful. The great classes chiefly concerned are slow to put in practice the theory they uphold. At least, t is has been the experience hitherto. Possibly the suggested systems and rules of worl,in have had,-omethi,.g to do with the non success of the previous attempts at floating a universal system of co-operation. Tue lines of procjdure proposed by Mr Tompkins seem at least worthy of careful consideration. His idea is that the associa- tion should have a Council Chamber in London; members of Council to consist equally of two separate bodies—landowners, and land occupiers or tenants—(Agricultural House of Lords and Cominons)-both to sit in Council on all matters relating to the general well-being of the association; tenants or occupiers to sit alone on all matters of commercial nature, each body to have their own secretary. The tenants' secretary would be a medium of communica- tion between the supply and demand of the trade in all parts. Should the trade be too great for one centre at the Council Chamber in London, other centres could be formed, say at fit-i- tol, Birmingham, Manchester, and York, the country to be divided for representation in council into divisions peculiar for its kind of produce, whether tor grazing, breeding, cheddar cheese, Gloucester, or Cheshire, or wheat growing, s » thaf. each particular industry shall have its due share of representation. Branch-F of the association he advocates should In formed at each market or centre of popult tion in the country, to be managed by r. Board of Directors, elected by members residing within the district allotted to such market town, and to sit weekly. The Board would employ a managing secretary to superintend the sale of produce within his district. He would advise the commercial secretary at the centre in London of all produce produced in his district, for which there is no demand, and also to advise at headquarters of any demand in his district, for produce which his district did not supply. The whole plan is worked out in a corre- spondingly clear manner, but we must refer the interested to the pamphlet itself, and restrict ourselves to a short extract ind eating the system upon which the commer- cial business would be worked :—" A mem- ber, Mr Thomas Jones, has threshed 50 bags of wheat; be attends next board day, fills up a descriptive memorandum, thus: "Quantity, 25 quarters wheat; variety. Golden Drop; weight 6If lbs per bushel; when threshed, 23rd February, 1894, of which this is a fair sample taken from bulk this day, date 28th February, 1894. (Signed) Thomas Jones, Rodney Farm, Devizes." The secretary receives the sample sets his private number on it and on the memo, enters it on the register, and places the sample on the board table. This board has appointed a select committee for the wheat trade, there are probably twenty other earn pies on the table the committee will proceed tj fix the price to be paid for each sample. Then the committee will use their best judgment in selecting such samples a will blend with the best effect to produce flour of a certain brand or quality to supply certain contracts. The Board has army contracts, union contracts, trade contracts, bakeries in all parts, and all kinds of customers. Samples will be selected and the flour dressed to meet all requirements. rhis done, the secretary will divide each sample into two equal parts one is sealed up and kept at the secretary's office, the other forwarded to the mill for comparison with bulk. Mr Jones is advised by post where to deliver his fifty sacks of whet t, and on the next market day after delive y receives his cheque from the chairman."

BOP.WIC K'S BAK( NG Powo.a.-Pare and wholellom. BORWICIr'S BAKING POWDIE.—Entirely free from alamo UORWICK'S BAKING POWDIB.—Largeet sale in the world. BOJtWICK' BAKING POWDitim.-Boat that money can buy. C,&I)BUU T'S COCOA has, in a remarkable degree,' those natural elements of sustenance which give the system endurance and hardihood, building up muscle and bodily vigour, with a steady action J that renders it a moat, acceptable and reliable beverage."—Health.

I MARVELLOUS RESULTS. If we said these things of ourselves the public ,¡:ght. well doubt, but never has a remedy eceived the unqualified endorsement, as "Ho- nocea" has received. We ask one and all to t-ad these testimonials and ask themselves should they be without "Homocea" in their Homes. MEDICAL & OTHER TESTIMONIALS. RHEUMATISM. LORD COMBERMERE writes: Carlton Club, London, lith Nov., 1887.-1 have tried your Homocea' upon myself for Rheumatism, and I found it do more good than any embrocation I have ever used, and several of my friends have benefited by its use. COMBERMERE." BRUISES AND FLESH WOUNDS. BISHOP WILLIAM TAYLOR writes:—" High Barnet, 28th Oct., 1891.—My dear old Friend,—I have used 'Homocea,' and proved its healing: v irtue both for severe bruises and flesh wounds, md also to kill the virus of mosquitoes and chiggou (jiggèrs).- Yours very truly, (Bishop) WM. TAYLOU, American Methodist Episcopal Mission." SEVERE INFLAMMATION. H. M. STANLEY (the great African explorer) says "Homocea" is a most soothing and effi- cacious unguent.It is as soft as oil and almost instantly mollifying in the case of severe inflammation. SKIN ERUPTION OF FORTY-FOUR YEARS' STANDING. A lady writes from Stockport, 17th April, 1889:— I Honiocca' is not known as it ought to be for skin disorders. I myself, have suffered very severely for forty-four years from Scurvy or Eczema left by smallpox. Have always been able to have first medical advice, but doctors have not been able to do all these years, what Homocea' has done in three weeks. My doctor is surprised at the result. I earnestly desire to assist others to the relief I myself have received." Lord Combermere, Lord Carrick, Bishop Taylor, and many others also bear witness to the mar- vellous effects of Homocea." "Homocea" sold by most chemists at Is. lid. and 2s. 9d. per box, or sent post free on receipt of stamps to 21, HAMILTON SQUARE, BIRKENHEAD, CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS.—Approximate return of traffic receipts for the week ending August 27th, 1893 -Miles open, 237. Passengers, parcels, horses, oarriagea. dogs, and mails. X4,002 merchandise, minerals, and lire stock, £1,891; total for the week, ■ £ 5,893; aggregate from commencement of half-year, iJ55,93ti. Actual traffic receipts for the corresponding week last year-Miles open, 237. Passengers, parcels, horses, carriages, dogs, and mails, £ 3,548; merchandise, minerals, and live stock, £1,901; total for the week, £ 5,449. Aggregate from commencement of corres'ondiDjr period laatyear, iioi,277. Incr^a. for the week, passengers, &c., .£1;)4,; rn»rc:uuidi minerals, &c., £ 00; t)tal incretse for the Wt",k o£444. Acrsrregate incregl-e from commencement' half-year, £ 659; Decrease, Pa-»-engers, parcels. &c. XDW merchandise, &c., X104 total ri<cr«aso foi the week. £ 000. A.g-«Tresr«te decrease from comaieuc mentor half-year, £ 0,000. Aggregate"itioreas^, a- j^eagets; parcels, &c., < £ 555; merchandise, mineral* analivaatock, £ 104; total for th i wek, £ 000 aggre- gate increase from commeacement of ia'f-ytar £ 659. 3

TRADE NOTICE. ■ — n rIT AL If you want a good PIANO, AMERICAN ORGAN HARMONIUM, Or other Musical Instrument, the best pltt is to go to a dealer who will give you advice as to make. style, durability, and suitability for various kinds of rooms. PHILLIPS & SON Would be pleased to afford you all the, information in their power, dnd will sanel Illustrated Price Lists, etc., to any Address on receipt of post card. The following am some of their leading lines, but it must be borne in mind that they are merely sample instruments of the many which Phillipø and Son can with confidence recommend. Pianofortes. PHILLIPS & SON'S SPECIAL 20 GUINEA MODEL COTTAGE PIANOFORTE.-Height 4ft., length 4ft. 6in., depth 1ft. llin. In order to meer. the ever-increasing enquiries for a really satisfar-,toryr instrument at a comparatively low price, P. and S, have much pleasure in calling attention to this Ne- Model. It is in handsome Walnut Case, with Albpri; fall, and carved bracket trusses. It hid the full compass of seven octaves, trichord, full ,ur! round tone, good touch, improved spring action, i (-ele-t& pedal. It also has an Iron Frame, and, as is vrelf- known. Pianofortes constructed with an u-on t re- work stand infinitely better in tune thai t" .*e 'with wood frames acd wrest planks, the < aso k inw, that the tension bears everywhere on m,tal. an the wrest pins work in a material practica tv Price £ 32. NETT CASH* £ 21. Car ■La^e jjard 19 any Railway Station. PHILLIPS A SON'S NEW SUCCESS 25 GUINEA MODEL PIANOFORTE — A new instru- ment brought out this season, aod vhich, consistent;- with quality, is the cheapest in the market itf-ifr;tt 4ft. 2in width 4ft. 7in., depth 2ft. lin. The í. of Dark Walnut, burr front, three-cou.p N IUJ ufc moulding top door, marqueterie centre panel, r* :O; trusses, has Iron Frame of, mproveti t1.gn.. f h and powerful tone, full trichord, cleek action, pit. ed hammers, touch elastic and repetitions. A pri teel warranty for 10 years given with each ins: rnraente. NETT PRICE 25 GUINEAS. Carriage ptid tor any Railway Station. PHILLIPS A SON'S 30 GUINEA I ROW PIANOFORTE,—Height 4ft., wiith 4!t. 5in., cfeptli 2ft. A magnificent instrument, which wiil corapare favourably with those often sold at double the price.. Full compass, trichord, check repeater action, complete Iron Frame, celeste pedal, burr Walnut Case, carved trusses, and splendid touch and tone. NETT CASH 30 GUINEAS. Carriage paid to any Railway Station. Harmoniums and American Organs. PHILLIPS A SON'S MODEL COTTAGE- HARMONIUM.-FAU compass, excellent tone, imita- tion Walnut Case, new style cabinet top, with receptacle for music. Nothing to touch it for the money. tS 10s. NETT CASH. PHILLIPS A SON'S PORTMAN ORGANt- In Walnut Case, splendid organ tone, latest im- provements, perfect action. A valuable acquisition to the home. 1.7 10s. NETT CASH. PHILLIPS & SON'S ANGLO-AMERICAN ORGAN.-In an artistic case with top, eontaining cabinet for music, good tone, perfect action, large bellows, effective knee swell, with octave couplers seven x humana, melodia, diapason, oboe duleiana, treble coupler, baas coupler. 9 GUINEAS NETT CASH. p PHILLIPS AND SON'S NEW COTTAGE AMERICAN ORGAN,—10 stops, 2 couplers (up and down), and vox humana, knee swells. Grand organ tone, in new designed American Walnut Case full compass, with latest improvements. By the best maker in the world. Offered for the low dum of j614 lis. NETT CASH. Remarkable value. PHILLIPS AND SON'8 "NEW MIRROR" AMERICAN ORGAN,—In magnificent American Walnat Caee, decorated in the highest style of art. Height 5ft. llin., length 3ft. 9 £ in., depth 1ft. lOlin. Weight in box 4001bs. Eleven stops, 2 couplers. vox humana, grand organ and knee swells, and an the latest improvements. A splendid instrument. The cheapest, finest toned, mot handseme, ever produced for the money. Will adorn any heuse, and cbarm with its sweet tone the most refined par. Offered for Nett Cash at the marvellously low price of Xis. ( Please remember that if J you would prefer paying for an instrument by in- ON HIRE stalments, P and S. let out on the Easy Hire-purchase PURCHASE I System any of the above, at from 5s. to 23/6 a month. Full particulars onappli- l cation. THE MUSIC WAREHOUSE, lp,, BROAD STREET, I, NEWTOWN,

AGRICULTURAL RETURNS. UttlQQI The usual advance summary of Agricul- tural Returns of Great Britain for the current year was issued last week by the Board of Agriculture. The returns were collected on the 5th of June last, and are given, along with these of the two preceding years, as follows :— ACREAGE OF LAND IN GREAT BRITAIN. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Potatoes. Hops. Year. Acres. Aores. Acres. Acres. Acres. 1891 2,307.277 2,112,798 2,899,129 532,794 56,142 1892 2,219 838 2,036,810 2,997,545 1.525,361 56,259 1893 1,897,488 2,076,097 3,171,756 527,821 57,576 NUMBER OF CATTLE, SHEEP, AND PIGS = IN GREAT BRITAIN. CATTLE.|I < Cows and l Heifers in Two Years 'I Ir,{, milk or Old Under Two Year. in calf. and above. Years Old. Total. NO. NO. NO. NO. 1891 2,657,064 1,504,649 2,691,118 6,852,821 1892 2.660,891 1,666706 2,627,186 6,994,783 1893 2,554,624 1,580,242 2,565,810 6,700,676 SHEEP, LAMBS, AND PIGS. Year. Sheep. Lambs. Total. Pigs. NO, NO. NO- NO. 1891 17,786,941 10 945,617 28,732,558 2,888,773 1892 17,957.049 10,777,655 28,734,704 2,137,859 1893 17,039,739 10,240,595 27.280334 2.113,530 It will be seen that a comparison of the figures for the three years specified does not produce a very favourable result for the present year. The wheat area shows a con- tinuous falling off, while the oat break, on the other hand, maintains an upward ten- dency. Barley and potatoes have recovered some of the considerable falling off wit- nessed last year, and hops, like oats, con- tinue to gain in popular favour. The figures relating to farm live stock present a still more disheartening state of affairs. With one insignificant exception, there is a general decrease in numbers. FARMERS AND PROTECTION. At Peterborough an impo tant meeting of agriculturists was held under the auspices of the Peterborough Agriculturists' Associa- tion, Mr G. C. W. Fitz-William, of Milton, presiding. The Earl of Winchilsea, who was unable to be present, wrote:—"I am cer- tain we cannot live in the stress of foreign competition unless we take prompt measures to unite in defence of our just claims to be heard, and to have our present wants attended to. We have been put off with fair words quite long enough." Mr G. H. Deen (Market Deeping), said he thought it was a pity the rules of the National Agricultural Union were so ambiguous. If Lord Winchilsea had advocated protection plenty would have gone in for it. Mr Almond (Stilton) That is what he means. Mr Dean: Then I wish he had the courage of his convictions. Mr Vergette: It can be carried to-day if any one will take it up; public opinion is ripe for it. Mr. S. Egai lfhornley), proposed;, that the Earl of \Vinchilsea. be asked to address a meeting it Peterborough with a view of the local association being affiliated to the National Union. Mr Dean seconded. Mr Almond relieved it was useless to hope for protec tion, and the sooner they got it out of their heads the better. Mr Yergette said i1 would benefit them if the tax was taken oil tea and put on oats, barley and maize. Wneat could not be grown profitably at 258 ind 26s. a quarter, even if the landlord, gave them the land; and it was necessary, he urged, to grow wheat in England in case of war. The resolution was carried, as was also the following resolution submitted by the committee:—" That inasmuch as in the opinion of this society no system of marking foreign meat can be devised which wii prevent existing frauds, this society con- siders that all dealers in imported meai should be compelled by law to rllgistp) themselves and to publicly announce th t fact of their being so registered wherever the meat in question is sold A resoluiioi 1--Claring it to be highly desirable that all orewers should be compelled to declare till ingredients of their beer, "in order tlizi the consumers may be able to indulge tbei) preference for beer made from malt a[](. hops only," was also passed.