Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
8 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
-FIELD AND FARM. 1
FIELD AND FARM. 1 BOOT CROPS. The cultivation of what are known as "root" crops is (remarks Professor John Wrightson, in the Agricultural Gazette") the most expensive, the mast critical, risky, and complicated of all cultivations. It was originally grafted upon the old bare-fallow and added to its burdens, while, at the same time, it provided a set-off against un- > relieved expenses. It was an enormous gain to the country because it was only by means of root cultivation that fresh beef and mutton were pro- curable between Martinmas and Whitsuntide. Salt meat and scurvy were among the trials of the sparse population of these islands before turnip husbandry became general; and even carrying the young stock through the winter often ended in literalty carrying them out to the fields when grass day arrived. The benefit to the population and a new opening for profitable outlay of capital upon the land were the two cardinal points of root cultivation. The cycle was completed between corn and meat, or, as it was alliteratively expressed, corn and horn. Thus it was, but the arrangement received a severe check through the paralysis of one branch, namely corn. Horn is not so much up as corn is down. When a good farmer could work to a standard of £ 12 or iSIS per acre for his corn lie accepted the risks and outlay upon his root crops with equani- mity, hut when the value of corn sank to C5 or £ 6 per acre the music was silenced. It is impossible to express in general terms what has taken place, because there are all kinds and degrees of circum- I stances and a great number of pros and cons which interfere with the general result. Still, the effect has been what is indicated. The expenses of the root crop remain, while the means of recuperation have disappeared. The general public advise farmers to produce meat and neglect corn, but meat cannot be pro- duced at a profit unless it is backed up by a good price for corn, hence the continual depression which hangs over agriculture. How to get out of the deadlock is a question of such difficulty that as yet it has proved unanswer- able. Permanent pasture was the first and most self-evident alternative, and the great increase of grass land in this country during the last 40 years indicates that it was considered a sound idea. Temporary pasijures came next, and no doubt the five, six, and longer courses prolonged by old seeds and sainfoins have further diminished the corn area and tended towards the net increase of live stock and possibly towards profit. The grosa yield of the land is diminished, but the net yield ia increased, on account of the decrease in actual expenditure. As to the continuation of root cultivation upon arable land, it seems to be absolutely necessary but we are passing through a stage of transition from the cultivation of tui-nips and swedes to the wider extension of kindred crops which allow of a simpler cultivation. RAPE, KALE, &C. Of late years there has been a gradual increase in the area under rape and kale on account of the saving in hoeing. Kale broadcasted and allowed to cover the ground without either horse or hand- hoeing provides a good feed for sheep; and kale drilled and horse-hoed, but not singled or hand- hoed, is found to answer very well on poor land as well as good. Similarly, rape is a strong, rooted and vigorous plant, which may be drilled and horse-hoed and left to grow without further labour. One advantage of this system is that those fangy roots which render the next cultivation so difficult are avoided, and the succulent fodder is eaten bare down to the ground. Many farmers draw a very distinct line between roota and rape or kale. To them this change is a very important one and worthy of most serious consideration. It may appear to others to be a slight deviation from older practice, but the lowering of pay-sheets from June to September is very great when rape and I kale take the place of turnips and swedes. Comparing the two crops, rape is the more nutritious, and is marc likely to stand for a second feed. If sown in early May it is ready for con- sumption in August, and will produce an excellent fold in early spring. It is said that kale will stand twice feeding, but I have not found it so. Kale, however, is capable of producing a heavier crop, and is safer feeding for lambs in the spring. Kale sown any time in May will pay well to hold over to the spring, and the same is scarcely less true of it when drilled in June and July. The two crops may be grown together by mixing liJb. of rape ( 11 2 and 21b. or 31b. of kale seed, thereby insuring, against risk of the partial failure of either. A capital feed may thus be produced. It is pro- bable that kale will be more widely cultivated every year, and that it will go hand in hand, so to speak, with rape as arclief from the heavy charges of root cultivation. MILK FOR THE PIGS. I A striking illustration of the profitable nature of new milk as pig food, and of the better return it makes used in this way, in preference to butter- making, was brought to my notice (a correspon- dent of the "Agricultural Gazette" says) on two occasions comparatively recently. It occurred at the farm buildings of a country rectory, where the rector, who had spent some yeais of his early life as a pupil on the farm of the well-known agrieul- tnrist, Mr. Butler Smith, of Crop well Butler, and had there gained an extensive know!edge of agri- cultural live stock, had at length settled dowu in succession to his father at the country parish, from the old church tower of which history tells us that during the Wars of the Roses Queen Margaret watched the fearful slaughter of the battle of Blore Heath, where her champion, Lord Audley, together with most of the chivalry of Cheshire and the district, met their fate, a stone cross to this day marking the place where Lord Audley was buried, and giving its name, Audiey Cross, to the farm on which it is erected. But all this is beside the question of milk and pig feeding. The rector, besides keeping several brood sows, had also a small herd of cows for butter-making; but a year or two since, finding jihe price of butter so low— often from 7d. to 8d. per pound, and not in ire- quently no more than 6d.—he decided to experi- ment with his new milk as pig food. He had previously fed upon the dairy refuse and mill meal, keeping a careful record of cost and results; but when he substituted new milk he found that it paid him a vast deal better than it did when made into butter, and a further experiment of the same kind another year furnished the same results. Of course, it will be understood thatitwas only during the sum- mer season, while the price of butter continued so low, that the trial extended but if it was sold at 9d. per pound,and assuming that three gallons of milk yielded a pound of butter, this would only give 3d. per gallon for the new milk, while at 7d. per pound it would not reach 2.d. Under such circumstances, is new milk so extravagant a food as at first siglit it appears ? GEASS AND CLOVER FOE MOWING. I As a general rule all pastures intended for » mowing ("J. A. G." remarks) will have been pre- pared last month, but probably on account of shortness of keep some farmers may have taken an extra fortnight's keep before finally clearing all stock off. The presence of stones, crocks, and other hard rubbish deposited by previous dress- ings not only diminish the crop while growing, but will by-and-by make it necessary to set the machine high enough to avoid breakage. Now the mower should always be set as low as pos- sible, for the bottom herbage is, weight for weight, always more valuable than the top, and every inch of the former counts both in quality and weight. It is necessary, therefore, that all stones, &c., be picked off, and the land thoroughly consolidated by rolling. This process not only makes the machine travel more evenly, saving' wear and tear generally, but, by rendering the land firm, causes the grass to grow stronger. Anyone who has had experience in cutting with a machine knows what it means to have to deal WIth" dog-legged" grass. It mears either cutting above the broken-down joint, or else tearing grass up that has gone down and become rotten it is impossible to properly cut such grass at the proper height. Molehills, again, must be carefully spread, or they will cause great inconvenience and delay to the grass cutter, as well as blocking up the knives and taking the cut off. As a rule it is against a gateway, or in a hollow part of a field, that moles are to be found. A few traps placed in and attended to for a few weeks will clear these troublesome animals off. With reference to clover leys, if the stones havo not been picked or the land roiled, the clover will most probably be two high for anything of that rt to be done. But there is one thing may be done which at haytime will be found an advantage. On some soils "sow thistles "as well as the large jacks seem to be indigenous. These weeds growing singly, thrive fast, grow to a great height and thickness consequently when the clover is cut they retain the sap much longer than the clover, and when the latter is ready must either be picked out of the swathe or sufficient time must be allowed for them to get killed after the rest of the crop wants carting, and then most probably when in the stack cause a mouldy place where they lie. Men and boys with spuds should go over the fields before the clover gets too high and destroy the thistles in their young state, and the benefit, as I said before, at haytime will be appreciated.
I GARDENING GOSSIP,
GARDENING GOSSIP, Bf.'DDTNG Out.—This style of flower gardening is still very largely followed in the North, and the iuae has now arrived when Geraniums, Verbenas, Lobelias, Ageratums and other tender plants can be safely planted out. It is still too early to trust out Begonias, Iresines, Fuchsias, Dahlias, and a few others. Much better wait for a week or two, whan no harm can possibly reach them from late waves of cold. C A i; v AT ION s.—P1 an ta beginning to bloom in the open should have stakes placed in position without delay. The new spiral stakes have caught on so completely that commendation of these is super- fluous. Unremitting attention will now be required in the case of Malmaisons, that aphis does not gain a footing. The plants will also require an in- creased supply of water at the roots, and, that deep coloured blooms may be assured, a thick shade over the glass is quite necessary. Tree Car- nations do well in the open, though some grow them entirely under glass. VIOLETS.—It is rather late to plant young stuff to grow on for winter flowering. No time there- fore should be lost in getting sufficient rooted run- ners planted in the open garden, allowing a wide space between the plants. LATE HOSES, &c.-As these go out of bloom in cool houses, cut back the worn-out stems to strong young growths that ought to be pushing, training the latter up to provide next year's supply of flowers. By pruning at midwinter we have now Gloire de Dijon and W. A. Richardson producing Roses on a wall in the open. Pot Roses must be kept clean and free from insect pests by syring- ing. WINDOW BOXES.—The summer occupants must now be arranged, first introducing a new compost in place of that which has done duty up till now. Fuchsias, Show Pelargoniums, Begonias, and Nasturtiums are a few suitable plants, but a suc- cession should be provided at once, to secure an unremitting display and to produce a variety. Housu PLANTS.—These will continue in good order for a longer period than earlier in the year, but care is needed that they stand neither in fierce draughts nor hot sunshine. Always employ plants in fresh condition. THE RED MOUNTAIN SPINACH.—This is grown in many a garden wherein it originally appeared as a weed," owing to the propensity which the seeds have for distributing themselves over large areas. In others it is used very effectively in sub- tropical arrangements, where its fine, dark, orna- mental foliage makes it a conspicuous object. I have seen it C' Eo J. C." says) well employed filling a dry, rubbishy corner where almost nothing else would grow, and where a mass of it produced a picture worthy of a far better frame. In such a place the plant may be allowed to seed and repro- duce itself annually, the digging the ground re- ceives in the autumn or winter not preventing the seeds from germinating. A triplex Hortensis rubra is the botanical name of the plant; it grows some 3ft. high, and can be raised from seeds sown in the border now. WEEPING BANKSIAN TIosEs.-These can be en- joyed in warm southern counties and sheltered dis- tricts outdoors, or form a lovely novel feature for large conservatories, where they can have centre beds in which to grow. The best way to obtain a Weeping Banksian is to bud it on the tallest stock obtainable, then train the branches downwards to stakes set a long way off the tree on all sides. Gradually a canopy, or umbrella, of beautiful and foliage will be obtained. At Caserta, near Naples, there used to be a white Banksian Rose that had climbed to the very summit of a 60it. Poplar, and then cast its tendrils about in search of yet more support. CELERY.—Immense damage accrues to this crop by allowing the young plants to become very large previous to transferring them to trenches. As a rule (says The Gardener's work of the week ex- pert) I find the first week in June as late as they will stand this safely. Last year we planted out a week earlier, and while writing that crop is still being used. Large plants suffer through checks to growth, small plants do not. PARSLEY.—Seedlings are now ready to transfer to beds of firm soil. They transplant readily at this season, the roots being "puddled" in mud, and transplanted Parsley is not victimised by grub, while grown on poor soil, it stands the winter safely. BROCCOLI.—In the course of the next ten days this important crop should be transplanted to its quarters. Plant in ordinarily good soil, and firmly, to discourage soft growth. CAULIFLOWERS.—These also, at least to cut in autumn, should be planted at the same time, also Winningstadt and late Cabbage and Savoys for winter use. Sprouting Broccoli may also be put out. EARLY POTATOES.—See that these are properly banked up with soil, and there will be no fear of greening, ever so slightly. BEAKS. The Old Scarlet is the cheapest Runner, and will do very well for all ordinary pur- poses, but if large pods are wanted a selected strain must be grown, such as Sutton's Best of All, Neai's Ne Plus Ultra, Carter's Jubilee, or Hill's Prize. The "White Dutch or Caseknife has a very large broad pod, but white Runners are not popular. Butter Beans are esteemed by some, and there are dwarf and tall forms (Mont d'Or). They aro usually served whole, not sliced like French and Runners. Haricots may be left out of account as a garden vegetable. THINNING FRUIT.—Plums will call for atten- tion now Apricots and Peaches have been over- hauled. It is quite a common practice not to thin Plums, and the trees are consequently over-bur- dened with crops of small fruits. They are capa- ble of maturing larger crops than Apricots, but regard must be had to quality. Fruit produced by trees carrying a medium crop will be found more excellent than that from a heavily cropped tree. STRAY. BERRIES.—Your.g plants intended to fur- nish large fruits should have the latter thinned when still very small, also support the stems, and if not already mulched, lay some litter round the plants without delay. Pot Strawberries will now succeed in cold frames, shading ripened frmt from sun, and looking out for mice, which sometimes destroy much fruit. ESPALIER APPLES.—Where time admits, badly placed, pushing buds on spurs should be rubbed off. Pears are less troublesome in this respect, but may be also examined. MUSHROOM BED.—Make (advises the "Journal of Horticulture") the bed of fresh horse drop- pings, and not a "littlefirm but very hard, the firmer the better, and about a foot deep. We like the droppings better when they have a small quantity of short litter, but this i3 not material for so small a. bed. The droppings out not to be wet, but be kept under cover. In about a week the heat will be at its highest; spawn it it when it is reduced to 75deg. at 2in. deep, and at this depth put in the spawn, pieces about Itin. to 2in. square, and 9in. apart, and cover-up, beating firmly. In about a week you"1 may earth the bed 2in. thick of good loam, and beat very firm. In six weeks you may expect Mushrooms to appear, but during that time the bed is not to be watered, or not until they show, and then keep only just moist and regularly so. If they do not appear at the six e-nti you may commence watering, but lightly at all tiinv-U., yet keep moist, the extreme either way will destroy them.
[No title]
Teacher (in mineralogy class) Johnny, givo me the name of the largest known diamond." Johnny The ace." Mrs. de Fadd The latest fashion is to have the piano built into the wall." Mr. de Fadd (wearily): NVell, that's sensible! Let's wall up ours."
I OUR ' SHORT STORY.
I OUR SHORT STORY. I FOILED. Bravo, my dear Very pretty! Did you see that thrust, Losther? It was almost a hit." "I didn't see anything — pretty," growled Losther, captain in the British Army. Then you were not looking," retorted Alfred Lacey, sergeant in a Volunteer corps. Am T improving?" queried Dorothy, Alfred's young wife. ••i should think so, indeed. Why, dear, you handle a foil in a delicious manner Doesn't she, captain ?" Honestly speaking, I fail to see it." Come, come, Losther. You must at least ac- knowledge that fencing is a superb exercise for a girl. Look at Dolly's flushed cheeks and sparkling I t, eyes Ye-er-yes. Nervous excitement. Unhealthy glitter." Hullo, captain! What has ruffled your feathers to-night! Take my foil, and try a bout with Dolly yourself." Oh, dear, no!" exclaimed Losther, pushing back his chair in ludicrous haste. Well, come on, Dorothy, we'll have another turn. Watch us, Los'ther, and correct our faults as befits an expert like yourself." There was the rasp of foil running again st foil. The girl, standing up slim and straight, clad in a dark, tigbtfitting dress, right foot advanced slightly, lips parted with excitement, parrying almost en- tirely from the wrist, formed rather a pretty figure. B at Captain Losther was in no mood to make the acknowledgment. He supposed that physical exercise was good for the gentler sex, but he did not like the idea; and that a woman should be taught fencing-an art in which he excelled—dis- gusted him. Also, before his friend had married this charming girl, and put such absurd notions into her head, he—Losther—had always admired her in a fervent way which might have developed into But, of course, that was out of the ques- tion now. What do you think of her parrying ?" cried Lacey suddenly. Very poor," grunted the captain. There, now How was that for a time-thrust ? She almost had me." More fool you It was an easy thing. You ought to have run her through the body. Bahl Look at that!" Alfred's pretty antagonist had thrust undecidedly. Raising bis arm quickly, he caused the other's foil to pass over his right shoulder, leaving her ab- solutely open to attack. Thrusting in turn, the button of his foil pressed against her right side. There, you are dead!" cried Alfred and, throwing his arms round his wife he vowed that he would kiss her to life again. Whereupon Captain Losther, fuming and fretting, showing by unmis- takable signs that he was bored to the point of dis- gust, hastened to take his leave. Little did he guess what extraordinary circumstances would earry him to that house a second time. Monsieur Morot, you know that it is not true." Oh, my Faderland Look you, Mistaire Lacey, should I spik oderwise dan not to say a false state- ment ?" I do not understand your wretched English." Ah! They are going to quarrel," thought Cap- tain Losther, who was standing, unobserved, at the open door of the Warriors' Club smoking room. Veil, you may insult my Engleesh, but you shall not insult me," shouted M. Morot. I ripit vot I said: my wife was better dressed dan yours last night at der regimental ball." And I beg to flatly contradict you," retorted Lacey. Bah You cannot spik der truth." Be careful, monsieur." "Not 1. You are a liar, sir!" Captain Losther rushed in as the little French- man rolled under the sofa. My dear Lacey!" began the officer. u It was his fault. I had to knock him down!" was the 1 ot answer. By that time Monsieur Morot was on his feet again, breathing out challenges by the dozen, furi- ous with passion, blind and deaf to all reason. Half an hour later Captain Losther sprang from a hansom, and sent up his card to Mrs. Alfred Lacey, begging for an instant interview. Needless to say, this was granted. My dear madam," began the oflicer hastily, I am an unwilling bearer of extraordinary news. Your husband knocked a man down at the Club night, and—and it hardly seems credible-'pon my word I don't know but that I'm dreaming— they have arranged to fight the matter out!" 11 Cood heavens! You cannot mean it! What did they quarrel over ?" A momentary wonder at the comparative irre- levancy of this question flashed through the cap- tain's mind, Oh," he explained hurriedly, Morot boasted that his wife was far better dressed than yourself at last night's regimental ball. Alfred didn't lilTe the aspersion. It is a fool's affair alto- gether, but the two madmen have agreed to settle it with rapiers in an empty room at twelve o'ekek. They would not listen to me, so you had better slip round as soon as possible, and bring your idiotic husband to his senses. He has gone to his solici- tors, vowing that he will not fight before he has altered his will." How terrible But it is an affair of honour. Can I interfere ?" Good heavens, my dear lady!" almost shouted the excited captain. Do you not comprehend that a duel is pending ? That your precious hus- band may soon be lying on a bed with a dozen sword-thrusts through him ? Or. worse still, that this Morot may presently be a bloodstained corpse, having bequeathed to his opponent the legacy of a hangman's noose Still the lady was not frightened. She replied in calm tones- "I have thought of a good plan. The quarrel concerns me. you say. Then go to Monsieur Morot and tell him that, for his honour's sake, the lady of whom he has spoken slightingly is willing to ex- change a few passes with him. He is a French- man. courteous and romantic. He is certain to be charmed with such a proposition. There will be half a dozen harmless thrusts, and so the matter will end very pleasantly." It required little consideration to show Captain Losther how excellent was this idea. Capital!" lie exclaimed. I will see Morot at once." He put on his hat, sprang into the cab which had been standing, and rushed back to the Warriors' Club. It was then eleven o'clock. Nearly every member had gone home. The captain found Morot waiting alone in an empty room which was used frequently for amateur theatricals. Chairs were piled up at one end of the apartment; a small stage occupied the other. No, I tank you," said Monsieur Morot, on re- ceiving the message sent by his fair challenger. 111 have fenced with ladies before. Dey are charming, but dey lose dere heads, and disrecard all der proper rules. It is thrust, bang, swish! and out goes* your eye. No, I tank you." What, monsieur Afraid to meet a lady ? And yet a master in fencing ? Impossible I" The Frenchman thought for a minute, and then burst into a loud laugh. I haf it!" he exclaimed. I should be enchanted to see dis lady fight wid der bare rapier; and if you, monsieur, will disguise yourself, I will introduce you as Monsieur Jules Morot. I will den be content to forget der insult I liar received to-night. You are such a superb swordsman. You will salute, engage, aud disai*m your opponent in der twinkling of an eye. What say you, sare ?" The captain thought this proposal a queer one, j but it rather tickled his vanity and he was anxious to prevent the dangerous absurdity of an encounter between Ins friend Lacey and Morot. While he ) was bebatiug the matter a cab was heard to pull up outside. The Frenchman ran to tho window. Dere is a lady alighting," he said. Good heavens i" cried Captain Losther, it is Mrs. Lacey herself! She has come here to meet you." All right," said Morot hastily. She does not Know me. I will go and bring her up. Quick! into der dressing-room wid you An imperial and a pair of big, black moustaches will alter you com- pletely. Hurry up I" 1 Mrs. Lacey, brimming over with fun, delighted with the novelty of the situation, and escorted by Monsieur Morot, entered the tiny theatre. At the same moment Captain Losther, disguised in j accordance with his directions, emerged from a dressing-room behind the stage, and came down to the auditorium. "Madame," began Morot, "permit me to intro- duce to you my principal, Monsieur Jules Morot." This is a great pleasure to me, madame," said the captain in a deep voice, which he tried hard to disguise. I could thank your husband for the affront which has procured me the happiness of measuring swords with you." There were mutual smiles and bows. Then the Frenchman said, "We can scarcely proceed without der presence of your second, Captain Losther." i "Oh, that does not matter," said the lady, very much to the captain's surprise. "Letusbequick before my husband returns and disallows my right to fight for him." "Y ou haf a noble spirit," said the Frenchman. He ran to the property-room, and brought a couple of rapiers. The lady threw off her cloak, which Morot. acting for both parties, took. Then he handed a foil to the captain, and another to his pretty antagonist. As the former was standing with his back to the stage he did not observe a man's figure emerge silently. This fourth party remained quite still, keenly watching the proceed- ings. In guard!" cried the real Monsieur Morot. The ring of foils followed the command. Cap- taid Losther, a half-smile of contempt upon his face, stood on the defensive, parrying his op- ponent's thrusts with the most consumate ease. He felt immediately that he could disarm her whenever he chose, and it would have been well for him had he done so. His fair antagonist, afraid at first to lunge with a buttonless foil, lest she might really inflict an injury, soon became bower as she saw that she might more easily pierce a steel bar than break through the captain's guard. Meanwhile the man on the stage had descended, and was watching the duel with intense keenness. Be careful, madame said the false Morot suddenly; I am about to run you through the body." He followed up this pleasing assurance by a swift lunge, beautifully delivered, so that the point of his foil struck a button on his opponent's dress, which was just what he had intended to do. Hold!" cried the Frenchman. He has pierced your brave heart!" What followed was as exactly as Morot had fore- told: the lady, angry at being so easily defeated, and annoyed not a little by the smile curling the 6-pl lips, forsook all text book rules, and at- tacked her antagonist in ta wild and somewhat dangerous fashion. The latter, laughing softly, which did not mend matters, gave back step by step, watching with a wary eye the erractic flourishes of his opponent's foil. Stop Stop!' cried the Frenchman, running forward. But the interference distracted Losther, who suddenly felt a sharp prick in his right fore- arm, and two or three drops of blood fell upon the boards. Uttering a loud scream, Mrs. Lacey flung down her foil, and rushed to her antagonist's assistance, crying, Oh I What have I done ?" 1 say, Losther, are you hurt ?" exclaimed an anxious voice from behind, which made the cap- tain wheel round in astonishment. You! Lacey 1" he ejaculated. "You have seen all! Don't deny it. I see now in my turn. You fellows have playing a joke on me Beastly bad taste, that's all I have to say. No, no, I'm not hurt. You cads So that quarrel between you and Morot here was arranged, was it ? You knew that I should inform your wife, and-and why, I believe she was in it, too It's a cursed conspiracy to humiliate me, eh ?" The captain was very angry indeed. Alfred made a sign to his wife, who stepped up to the officer, took his hand between her's, and pleaded- It was all my fault. I was so angry that night when you would not allow that I could handle a foil. I arranged everything, not because I wanted to humiliate you, but-but because I did so badly want to fight a real duel with you, captain. But you beat me, you know you did. I saw from the first that I had not the ghost of a chance. Will you forgive me, Captain Losther?" The captain looked down at his pretty ques- tioner, and his anger melted away. So I beat you, did I ?" he grunted, holding his wrist an d as- suming an expression of pain. Not a bit of it. I Thunder and lightning! If we hadn't been stopped .you'd have carved me into mincemeat! I protest I'll never sneer at you again. It doesn't pay, by James!"
I -CYCLING THROUGH THE SEA.…
CYCLING THROUGH THE SEA. I The spectacle of a professor of swimming riding on a bicycle into the ocean has suggested to Canon Atkinson, of Coventry, the idea of a new trade for the cycle city that of submarine bicycles. Says he: "What a fascinating enjoy- ment going through the sea on a bike, with all kinds of fishes looking on in admiration—how superior to the noise and dirt of the motor-car. I must see about taking out L, patent to protect my idea."
THE DEAN AND CHAPTER AND THE…
THE DEAN AND CHAPTER AND THE PUBLIC HOUSE. The application of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester for permission from the magistrates to pull down a beer-house that belongs to them, and rebuild it in a better style, is in more ways than one significant of the times. In the Articles of Visitation of the Chapter of Chichester Cathedral in 1616 there occurs the following question Then how cometh it to pass that the church officers dwell without the Close, and laymen in- habit within it; that ale-houses have lately been suffered to be kept within your Close, and that laymen have Keyes to open the gates of the Close when they list; that boys and hoggs do beastly de- file the walls belonging to the Cathedral Church, and that no reformation hath been made herein, notwithstanding the often complaints and pre- sentments of the same ?" Nowadays we not only restore our cathedrals but even the decanal ale-house is swept and gar- nished.
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Dr. Howie, of Govan, the Moderator of the United Freen Church, is a descendant of John Howie of Loehgoin, a name that shines bright in the Covenanting annals of Scotland. In his earlier days he was known as Brimstone Howie," from the fact that his preaching was inclined to be of the minatory order, and too copiously illustrated with references to the nether regions. Dr. Howie's earnestness has lost none of its pristine force, but time has developed his academic gifts. His elevation to the Moderatorial chair is a fitting recognition of his self-sacrificing labours in one of the most densely-populated working-class suburbs of the city of Glasgow. In the regulation just issued by the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda concerning the form of service to be held in India on the occasion of the Coronation of the King, an explanation is given why the presence of certain Catholic officials during the religious ceremonies of the Coronation is permitted. The prohibition against such attendance is, of course, general, and its observance is of obligation. But the regulation points out that there need be no cause for wonder if this prohibition of the attendance of Catholic at a non-Catholic service does not extend to London, where the personal presence of the King removes from this act of civil honour any appearance of communicatio in divinio." The salt wells of Sichuen province, China, producing brine, oil, and gas, have long been famous owing to the extraordinary skill and ingenuity shown by the Chinese in their methods of drilling and operating. For hundreds of years they have been using crude appliances which are practically the basis from which modern methods of drilling have been developed. That depths exceeding 8000ft. have been attained by the rudo bamboo apparatus attests to the wonderful patience and perseverance of the Chinese character and the cheapness of Chinese labour. The sinking of some of these wells has taken from twenty to thirty years, no power being available other than coolie labour, or, at the best, that of horses and water buffaloes, says F. Lynwood Garrison in Cassier's Magazine."
--I EPITOME OF NEWS.
I EPITOME OF NEWS. There are more wrecks in the Baltic Sea thtn in any other place in the world. The average is one wreck a day throughout the year. Electricity works at Mansfield, the foundation stones of which have just been laid, are being built for the corporation at a cost of about £ 60,000. The Argentine Minister has been appointed Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of St. James's in connection with the Coronation festivities. His brothers, Don Carlos and Don Vincente de Dominguez, will also be attached to the mission. A new pavilion and swimming-baths at Knight- stone, Weston-super-Mare, have been built at a cost of about £ 30,800. Sweden is sending an expedition to Spitsbergen to take meridian measurements. The party will leave Tromso on July 26 provisioned for a year. In return for a monopoly cf the preparation of opium in China, a Germ; y la at Shanghai has offered the Chinese Government an annual pay- ment of over £ 7,000,000- King Alexander of Servia is reported to have said that he still hopes for an heir, but if dis- appointed will adopt a young child as the Servian Crown Prince. Since the war, frozen meat has been eaten more than ever at Durban, and is held to blame for much of the dyspepsia now prevalent there. At the suggestion of the Kaiser, the Royal Bel- gian Workmen's Choral Society will visit Berlin in October to give a series of concerts. For being drunk on his ship, Lieutenant Claude Denison Burney, of H.M.S. Severn, was recently ordered by a court-martial at Chatham to be dis- missed from the service. Inter-island communication by wireless tele- graphy is now possible in the Hawaiian group. The rates vary from 2s. to 8s. for ten words. There still flourishes at Dundee a tree which was dedicated as a "tree of liberty" more than a century ago during the ferment caused by the French revolution. Moses Taggart, one of "the thin red line that bore the brunt at Inkerman, Sebastopol, the Alma, and Balaclava, has dropped dead at Dun- dee. British income-tax is heavy enough, but not nearly so bad as the tax in Spain. Banks in Spain must pay 15 per cent. on their profits, and all corporations at least 12 per cent. The Great Western Railway runs the two fastest trains in England. They are the London and Exeter and London and Birmingham ex- presses. The latter's rate is 54.2 miles an hour. Fishermen are very free from consumption. Among 1,000 deaths of fishermen only 108 aro from this disease, whereas the rate among drapers is 301 per 1000, and among printers 461 per 1000. Count Von Lehndorf, whom King Edward has invited to be one of his guests at the Coronation, was a favourite aide-de-camp of the late Emperor William. His four-in-hand was a familiar sight in Berlin, as he drove through the streets attired in the uniform of the Prussian Guards. To the memory of Pasteur a monument will be erected at Marnes of a bust of the man of science placed on a socle, against which leans a young shepherd who has been bitten by his dog, shown at his feet dead. M. Chailloux is tha sculptor. Mr. H. W. Boileau has accepted the Master- ship of the Old Surrey Foxhounds rendered vacant by the resignation, after very long service, of Mr. Edmund Byron, of Coulsdon, Surrey. The Archbishop of Canterbury has consented te preach the sermon at the service of thanksgiving for the completion of the restoration of Peter- borough Cathedral on July 23. Ninety native policemen at Roma, in the Bel- gian Congo, plotted recently to assassinate all the Europeans in the place and plunder their pro- perty. The conspiracy was discovered, however, in time. Negotiations for the purchase of the Mexican volcano Popocatepetl have, it is reported, been entered into by an American syndicate, which intends working sulphur deposits in tha crater. After being stolen in England a bill of ex- 0 change for zC728 has been cashed by an Antwerp 0 bank. A warrant is out for a man named Bachmer, who is supposed to be in Brussels. A large baboon is among the trophies brought from South Africa by the 3rd West Riding Regi- ment. It was captured eighteen months ago, and has become quite a pet with the men. In the Commune of Idaarderadeel, in Holland, a woman has just died who was for seventy-four years in the service of the same family, first as nurse-girl, then as domestic, and finally as house- keeper. Some interesting experiments with a view to in- vestigating the movements of fish are being car- ried out by Dr. H. M. Kyle, at Plymouth. Over five hundred plaice have been marked in certain bays of the easterly portion of the south coast of Devon, and returned to the sea. A consider- able number have already been returned by the fishermen round the coast, sufficient, Dr. Kyle states, to demonstrate an outward migration from the bays when the spawning season is coming on. The driest part of the whole kingdom is tha district stretching from the Humber to Cam- bridge, over which district the average yearly rainfall is under 25in. The driest part of Scot- land is the area bounded by the Forth and Tweed, the yearly rainfall along the coast between these two rivers never exceeding SOin. The Trossachs district is the wettest part of Scotland, the aver- age yearly rainfall being nearly SOin.; but this is exceeded in the Lake district of England, where the yearly rainfall averages lOOin. At Seathwaite the annual rainfall averages 135in., while at Stye, only two miles off, the average rises to 170m. Stye holds the record for the largest rainfall in the kingdom in one year, 244in. being recorded in 1872. When Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India was an undergraduate at Oxford his handwriting be- came quite illegible. At this time he wrote two letters, one to a relative and one to a chum with whom. he always discussed the faults of their re- spective relations, and accidentally put these let- ters into the wrong envelopes. He was about to write a profound apology to his relative whei. he received the following note from him: Can't read a word of your four pages, but guess you want some money, you young rascal." Enclosed was a Bank of England note for a, good amount. The Mayor of Windsor, Councillor G. Mitchell, has waited upon the Dean of Windsor with re- ference to the King's local arrangements at the 6 Coronation. The Dean intimated that his Majesty was willing, if possible, to fall in with any wishes of the inhabitants of the Royal Bos ough. On his Worship mentioning that the public would be pleased if the King would come in procession from Slough through Eton to Windsor, the Dean informed the Mayor that his Majesty would comply with that request on the day of the Royal garden party at Windsor, on June 30. As an instance of the extravagance of the Princess Fatma, daughter of the Khedive Ismael, it is mentioned that clothes and jewels were brougnt from every part of the globe; almost daily some caprice or other sent a French servant to Paris or elsewhere for some trivial purpose, such as to get a toothbrush," and "the French chef did his work in the kitchens in sleeves of Valenciennes lace." An idea of the expense of a visit to a Sultana may be gathered from the state- ment that when a certain Princess called on one of the Smtanas the visit cost her £ 400 for pre- sents to the attendants of the great lady. The German Empress, who has always taken great interest in ecclesiastical matters in Prussia and has been the promoter of church building in the capital as well as in the provinces, is patro- ness of no fewer than thirty-four churcnes. A few davsngo the inhabitants of El a nam- let near Berlin, petitioned her Majesty to become patroness of the sacred building toiey weie aoouo to erect. Of how many churcnes am i. now pp iron ess? said the Empress to the Master of Household, Baron von Mirbach. Thirty- three, your Majesty," was the reply. Despite this goodly number, her Majesty consented to add Ek-hwalde to the list, and sent £ 150 as a dona- tion to the building fund. There is a curious legacy in connection with Wcodchurch Parish, in Wirral. It seems that a certain fund was left to the parish to provide the loan of a cow to any parishioner who might care for it, at the nominal interest of 2s. 8d. per annum. The cow was to be branded with the parish brand, and at the end of the year the borrower was to return it. The charity thus provides a means of industry without actual pauperisation, and the parish cow becomes absolutely the property of the borrower for the year, only the feeding being necessary in addition to the nominal rent. The smallest railway has been built to tb* order of Mr. Percy H. Leigh in an annex of hit residence at Brentwood, Worsley, near Man- chester. The little line is really a toy, but one of the most marvellous toys ever made. In all respects except «ze it is an exact replica of the track, locomotives, rolling-stock, and station equipment of the London and North-Western Railway. It has been placed in a room 90ft. long and 30ft. wide, and is raised on trestles 3ft. high. The King of Portugal is an enthusiastic lawn- tennis player, and both the King and his brother, the Infante Don Alphonso, played for the South of Portugal against the North in the recent tournament at Cascaes for the challenge cup offered by the Queen of Portugal. The King plays a hard volleying game, with good judg- ment in placing, and can hold his own with the best players in Portugal. The name Wooden Russia" 13 familiarly applied to the vast forest areas of Russia in Europe, which cover 464,548,000 acres, or 36 per cent. of the entire area of the country. Yet some fear is felt that the country may be deforested through the carelessness of private owners, and the Government is considering steps for the protection of the forests. In Russia houses built of any other material than wood are almost unknown outside the cities, and wood con- stitutes the principal fuel. The effect of music on animals was recently tried by Herr Baker, a violinist, at the German Zoological Gardens. The puma was mqst sen- sitive to the instrument, and sometimes became very nervous and excited. Leopards were un- concerned, lions appeared afraid, but their cubs wanted to dance when the tune became lively, the hyenas were terrified, the monkeys curious and interested. Wolves were the most apprecia- tive, and seemed to beg for an encore." The Royal Counties Agricultural Show is to be held at Reading in June, during the week between Epsom and Ascot. The Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince Christian are to visit the show on Thursday, June 13. For the Royal Agricultural Show either the King him- self or, if he is unable, the Prince of Wales will go up to Carlisle in the second week of July. Whichever of them goes, he will be the guest of Lord Lonsdale at Lowther, and his visit will be fixed1 for Tuesday, July 8. Tiree, the property of the Duke of Argyll, where Lady Victoria Campbell now makes her principal home, is to be offered for sale in July. Tiree is one of the most picturesque of the islands on the west coast, and the islanders have always offered an almost romantic devotion to the Duke and to the Campbell family. Lady Victoria has done a great deal of good in Tiree, and should she decide to live elsewhere she will be terribly missed. The excavations at the Forum in Rome have unearthed an important discovery—a magnificent marble statue of the deified Empress Faustina seated on a throne. The statue is complete, but broken into four fragments, and the face is mutilated, probably by Christians after the collapse of Paganism. It will be replaced in the portico of the Temple of Antoninus. Faustina was the profligate wife of Marcus Aurelius. Lord Montague of Beaulieu has let Ditton Park, his seat near Windsor, to the Maharani of Coocn Behar, whose husband has just arrived for the coronation, until the end of October. Ditton was rented last summer and also in 1900 by the Duke of Newcastle. There is a very fine old house at Ditton, which was thoroughly done up a few years ago, after the death of the Dowager Duchess of Buccleuch, who lived there during her widowhood. The house is surrounded by a moat; the gardens are beautifully laid out, and the large park is richly wooded. The Empress Frederick took a great fancy to Ditton when she once visited the place with Queen Victoria, and at one time contemplated becoming Lord Mon- tagu's tenant for a long term. The domain was Crown property in Tudor times, and passed to the Beccleuch family with the other Dukedom of Montague estates. Lord de Lisle and Dudley, whose engagement to Mrs. Astell has created a certain amount of interest, is the owner of Penshurst. This beauti- ful castle, near Tonbridge, is one of the few feudal houses which has never been allowed to lose its medireval grandeur. Its restorers have always been careful not to smother the great work of the original builder. As peers go, Lord de Lisle is not vastly rich. But there is believed to be plenty of coal under the Penshurst estate, if anyone knew how to get it up in payable quan- tities. It would take a great deal of coal to pay for the ruin of one of the most magnificent houses in Kent. Lord de Lisle is not yet fifty. A well-known student of Nature once tried the growing force of a melon. When it was eighteen days old, and measured 27in. in circum- ference, he fixed a sort of harness around it, with a long lever attached. The power of the melon was measured by the weight it lifted, the weight being fixed to the lever. When it was twenty days old, two days after the harness was fixed on it, it lifted 601b. On the nineteenth day it lifted 5,0001b. The seed of the globe turnip is about the twentieth part of an inch in diameter, and yet in the courses of a few months this seed will enlarge into twenty-seven million times its original bulk, and this in addition to the bunch of leaves. It has been found by experiment that a turnip seed will, under favourable conditions, increase its own weight fifteen times in a minute. Turnips growing in peat ground have been found to increase more than fifteen thousand times the weight of their seeds in a day. It is to be hoped that the Coronation year will be marked by the acquisition of at least 800 acres of the ancient forest of Hainault. Curiously, in the two jubilee years of Queen Victoria efforts were made to change the name of Barking-side to "fIainanlt," on account of a large portion of the forest being within its boundaries, but up to the present time the efforts have been unsuc- cessful, and again Mainault figures conspicuously. How the forest came by its name has been dis- puted, some maintaining that it is a corruption of Anglo-Saxon hean," high land, or hean," poor land, and holt," a wood. Others hold that it was named in honour of Philippa of Hainault, wife of Edward III., who used the neighbouring palace of Havering as a hunting lodge for the chase of the deer, at that time plentiful in the forest. Luis Mazzantini, the noted Spanish bull- fighter, has had a remarkable career. From the position of a railway porter he has become famous as the most successful and popular matador of Spain, and he numbers among his friends many of the leading people of that country. He left the Spanish railways to take up telegraphy, and afterwards began the study of law. Next he turned to the stage, where, however, progress was slow; so, possessing a fine physique and an attractive appearance, coupled with a keen eye, steady hand, and unflinching nerve, he was at- tracted to the bull ring, where his success has been phenomenal. While he has had some very narrow escapes, he has never lost a fight in the bull ring in Spain, France, or in Mexico and Central America, in all of which countries he is looked upon as the foremost fighter of modern times. Birmingham laments the untimely death, at the age of twenty-seven, of its Senior Wrangler, Mr. W. H. Austin, Mathematical Lecturer at Mason University College. Born in 1875, Mr. Austen attended a Birmingham Board School, where, at the age of ten, he obtained a scholar- ship which took him to the Camp Hill Grammar School. There he showed a strong beiit for mathematics, and went on, by the aid of scholar- ships, first to Mason College, and afterwards to Trinity College, Cambridge, where a brilliant course was crowned with the Senior Wrangler- ship in 1897. A year ago he was attacked bv incurable disease.