The Pembroke County Guardian and Cardigan Reporter

RURAL LIFE. BY A SON OF THE SOIL. AN AUTOMATIC DRINKING THOUGH. That the success and prolits of a farm depend to a great extent on the attention which is glvea to the feeding of the live-stock cannot be dis- puted, and every farmer of intelligence will agree, that one of the most important means by which the best results can be obtained is the provision of a satisfactory system for the con- stant and adequate supply of drinking water. Only in this way can the stock be mad* thoroughly profitable, whether they are fatten- ing, milking, or working animals. A constant supply of clean, evenly-tempered water conduces not only to a more ready consumption of food, but to an increase and better quality of the milk yield. On every weii-managed and up-tc-dat« farm various scientific methods are employed for the profitable rearing of the stock; but often the AIT AUTOMATIC DBINKING-TROUGH. j 1 all-important matter of a proper water supply is overlooked, or an out-of-date and inadequate system io adopted. Consequently, although the food may be good, the animals do not thrive, and become subject to diseases, from which they would be free if the sanitation cf the mangers received due consideration. In the majority of cases, diseases are to be attributed to bad and impracticable mangers, and to rotting remains of fodder left in them. These rotting fodder re- mains in impracticable mangers are the breed- ing-places of all bacteria and fungous growths, as well as for the moet part, the root of all evils. The adoption of such a system as that illustrated meets all requirements and remedies till evils, and I shall be pleased to send further detail* to all inquirers. A FINE DOUBLI DAISY. Seedsmen are now sending out their catalogues, broadcast, and very interesting reading some ef them make; while it is also evident, judged by the number of novelties, that this year is to be a memorable one in floriculture. One of the earliest trade IIste to reach me is that issued by Messrs. Daniels Brothers, Limited (Norwich), and they are anxious that it should be known that the whole of the matter has been re- arranged, many new ilustrations inserted, and, what ia more important than anything else, the cultural directions have been brought up-to-date. The many novelties which the enterprising East Anglian florists are introducing can be men- uoued later in the season, but, as I have had an 'A FINE DOUBLE DAISY. I inquiry for a really good double Daisy, I give an illustration of one of the best of those which are included in the catalogue before me. There is no better hardy perennial plant for spring bedding, and edging, &c., they grow only about three inches high. and are exceedingly pretty when in bloom. They should be sown in March or April for blooming the same year, and in June if blooms are wanted the following 6pring. The new giant white, of which I give an illus- tration, is an especially good variety, although some growers prefer the mixed variety. TREATMENT OF LINNETS. A good seed mixture for Linnets is: Canary three pints, teazle two pinte, summer rape, char- lock, and linseed one pint each. A feed of hemp, maw, niger, and a good wild seed mixture can be given frequently (varied) by way of a change. Let them have a little groenfood, especially rape seedlings in the winter, and ripe seeding, shep- herd's purse, chickweed, plantain, and groundsel freely in the summer. When newly caught, cracked hemp (freeh made each day) and maw seed should be freely given, with pome niger as well likewise a pan of soaked rape (dabbed as dry as possible in a cloth) should also be pro- vided. Many good makers put up a special Lin- net (or Finch) mixture in packets, and a feed of this occasionally makefl an acceptable variation from the ordinary stock mixture. A FINE Inis. With few exceptions all the varieties of the Iris .should be planted as early as possible, the bulbs of many kinds deteriorating if they are left out of the too long. Although all Iris arc worth grc/winu'. there are so many different varieties that it i« quite a difficult matter to select the Kind which are best suited to the ground one has at dispoAil. 1';h Euclish Iris IETS HJSTKIOr-FS. resemble the tropical Cattleya in form and colour; they grow about 18in. high, and have flowers varying in colour from white to lilac, purple, violet, and striped. The variety of which an illustration is given oomes in this group; the small variety is pale blue, veined white, but His- triodes major has large sky-blue flowers, beauti- fully lined white Tho German or Flag Iris con- sists of large showy kinds, and can be planted any time. THE SMALL HOLDINGS ACT. The Board of Agriculture has issued a circular to county councils and county boroughs on the subject of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, which came into force on New Year's Day. The Board wishes to know what action been taken or is proposed to be taken for that pur- pose, either by the issue of handbills calling attention to the Act and the insertion of adver- tisements in the local newspapers inviting appli- cations, by inquiries through the parish councils and other allotment authorities, or by any other means. The Board requires to know the number of applications for land which have been re- ceived by each council and the total quantity of Land applied for. On receipt of anv applications for land for small holdings a council should, tho Board points out, endeavour to satisfy itself as to the qualifications and suitability of the appli- cants, either by personal inquiries by members of the council or by persons authorised by them, or by the issue of a form setting out the points on which the council desire information. The Board thinks that as a general rule inquiries ahould be. undertaken by means of personal inter- views with the applicants, and that 6ub-oommit- fees. consisting sertbr of members of the Small ^foldings C-)I1!J:rh1 r" :«.TS ci the minor kw.l s-utsoritivss aisi suitable per- sons, should be appelated for special pu pose for each park}) or are-, from which applications ere received. Th6 Board does not think it iH>cessary to suggest to the councils the particular points on which information might be sought, but thinks that it will, as a rule, be advisable to inquire whether the applicants desire to be supplied with a cot- tage or other buildings, as the answers to this question will necftssariiy have an important bear- ing on the question whether a council deter- mince to purchase or to hire the land nt*yw»*-» to satisfy the demand. The Board suggests that it would be very useful if information could bo obtained as to the extent of the land in the pos- session of the Ecclesiastical Commissioneris. the beneficed clergy. Universities or colleges, trus- tees of oharity lands, and other public bodies or corporations. Inquiry should be made from such owners as to whether they \o';ld be willing to let or sell land for the nu rpos.? of providing I 1!);r small holdings. The councils are also requested to furnish a list of the members and a «fateroent shewing the constitution of the Small Holdings an<l AllotmeTfts Committees appointed under the Act. The Board is of opinion that with a view of avoiding all unnecessary delav it is de- sirable that the Small Holdings Committer should be authorised to conduct all the corre- spondence relating to the Act and to carry out inquiries, &c., without €he necessity of having to refer each point to th« next quarterly meeting of the council. FARMERS AND THEIR FOWLS. Farmers do not shine as bricht light in the poultry world, writes J. A. H. in the Mark Lane Express. This plain fact stares everyone in the face. Among the various denizens of the farm- yard the fowl receives the least consideration, and but for this failing the poultry work might be made quite as profitable, if not more profit- able, than any of the other operations on the farm. In the care and management of their poultry farmers are generally erratic and slip- shod, and to expect to find egg- at the farm in winter is more often than not hopeless. If even a smaller stock were kept, things might shew an improvement: and surely every farmer should feel the need of trying to improve this branch. If poultry are allowed to deteriorate, far better that fowls should not be kept at all. In poultry stock the ordinary farmer is years behind the times, and to make him move with the time; in this work is not a task to be easily or quickly done. It would be worth a farmer's while to be- gin by doing a little towards improving his stock of fowls. If this were done, then more would follow without a doubt The results from one or two matters in which change had been made would stir him up to further efforts. Here are a few brief suggestions in regard to improving tlie farmyard stock: 1. Keep no old birds. After two seasons every hen should be disposed of. 2. Avoid having too large a stock. A smaller number of birds of better quality is far better. 3. When a bird is out of sorts take it away from the others, end if it is badly affected rather kill it than risk the epread of disease. 4. Use males of a pure breed with the ordinary hens. Employ a different breed each year. Buy two or three from a good breeder, and keep apart from the hens until three weeks before eggs are required for setting. Let Houdan cockerels be used for the start. 5. Hatoh pullets in March and April, and clear out young cockerels as soon as tney are large enough to kill. 6. Feed on oats and wheat for grains. Short fat oats stand first, wheat next. Let these be given alternately, but let oats be the principal grain. Never give maize but to the hens while sitting; its use is attended with more or less de- triment to the birds in the case of those who lack experienoe. Aiky farmer could, without the least trouble, I carry oat these few hints, and if this were done not only would there be reason to regret having done so, but the results would be such as he little dreamt of. All eorreepondeue affecting this eoluxm shcuMl b* addrssssd to A &a of th* Soil," MI* of au Editor 01 thrn journal.

FAIRS AND MARKETS. # — Whitland, Friday, Jan. lgth.-There was a fair attendance and supply considering the exceed- ingly wet day. Butter in casks, 12d. to 12jd. per lb., ditto in pound Tolls, 13d. to 14d. per lb. Eggs, 12 for Is. Rabbits, 7d each. Live fowls, 4s. to 4s. d. per cojuple. Dressed poultry, 9d to lOd. per lb. Beef, 7d. to 8d., mutton 8d. to 9d., and veal and pork, 6d. to 7d. per lb. Haverfordwest, Sat. January, 18th.—Geese, 5s. 6d. to 6s. 6d.; ducks, 2s. 9d. to 3s. Sd.; fowls, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d.; rabbits, 8d. each; beef, 5d. to 8d.; mutton, 7d. to 9d.: lamb, 7d. to 9d.: pork, 4d. to 8d.; veal, 7d. to gd. butter, Is. 3d. to lB. 4d.; cheese, 4d. to 5d. per lb; eggs, 8 for Is.; potatoes, 181bs for Is. Llandilo, Sat., January 19.-Fresh butter, Is. 4d.; tub ditto, Is. 2d. to Is. 3d.; and Aus- tralian, Is. 2d. per lb; eggs, 9 for Is.; cheese- Welsh, 5d.; Caerphilly, 8d. to 8jd. per lb; poultry-turkeys alive, 6s. to 7s. each; ditto trussed, Is. per lb.; there were no live geese, and the few trussed ones offered for sale were disposed of at lid. per lb; ducks, alive, 5s. per couple, ditto trussed, 10d. per lb; chickens, 2s. 6d. to 3s. each; ditto trussed, ll^d. per lb; meat-beef prime joints, 9d.; other cuts, 8d. to 8 £ d.; veal 8d., fillet 10d., pork, 8d., and pig's 2 cheek, 3d. per lb; game-pheasants, 5s. to 2 5s. 6d: per brace; hares, 3s. to 3s. 6d. each; rabbits, lid. each.

The people attending the Cardiganshire As fijZs at Lampeter on Thursday witnessed J. singular incident. The lody of a Miss E.i wards, of Treherbert, near Lampeter, was to be buried in the parish churchyard, and as th-j (ortego pas sed the Tcwn Mall the coffvn w-L; borne on a bier. in pelting rain, by four lirir- iic-(t m-.)iiten. The sight aroused considerable interest junong the visitor.-?, but it is not an in uncommon sight in Cardiganshire villages 10 see a coffin earned to graves by worne'i

LADIES' LETTER. MARRIAGE CUSTOMS. Banns of marriage, which some of the clergy refuse to publish for those who wish to marry their deceased's wife's sister, were in olden times announced in the market place of the towns on three successive market days. Banns were first intrced into the Church of Eng- land about the year 1200. but for hundreds of years afterwards the announcement in the market-place was held to be sufficient. It was not until the middle of the eighteenth century that the forms of legal marriage in England were clearly defined, one of which was the ceremony in church after banns, on three successive Sundays during the celebra- tion of public worship. Marriage by banns dates back to still more ancient times in France, and has undergone little change. Some of the marriage customs still retained had their origin before the Christian era, when it was the general practice to capture the bride by force. Sometimes this violence was assumed and sometimes real, and the cus- tom of throwing old slippers after departing wedding couples is a memory of the times when more formidable missiles were hurled at the pair by the bride's relatives and -friends. MARRIED WOMEN AND THE FAMILY FINANCES. One would scarcely expect to find a Turkish gentleman comparing this country unfavour- ably with his own as regards feminine inde- pendence. It is commonly supposed that the position of the Oriental woman is one of utter subjection; but it seems that this is not so in Turkey, at least in respect of the division and control of the family finances, which to a far greater extent than is the case in this country makes the Turkish wife independent of her husband. There is in all cases some kind of marriage, settlement, in which the prospective husband states the sum he is to allow his wife for her own personal requirements and the up- keep of the home, and if he has means he is obliged to endow her at marriage with a sep- arate estate, which becomes hers absolutely. The Turkish woman is, as a rule, conse- I I quently economically independent of her hus- band; but in this country, where marriage settlements are seldom entered into except by the wealthy classes, the law makes the married woman simply her husband's housekeeper.% It has been decided that if she saves from the housekeeping allowance without her husband's consent, the money is not hers, but his, and it has been suggested that in such circumstances she could even be criminally prosecuted for fraud. THE MONTH OF EVIL REPUTE. That some of the diseases we know are only old ones under new names, is confirmed by a record in the "British Chronologist," which, referring to the year 1733, said that "People were afflicted this month with a headache and fever, which very few escaped, and many died of, particularly between the 23rd and 30th of January, when there died upwards of fifteen hundred people in London and Westminster." That was surely our familiar enemy the in- fluenza, which, fortunately for us, has been so far this winter a little less active than usual. Our ancestors always regarded January as the worst month of the year, although most of the old proverbs speak well rather than ill ef the cold which is generally characteristic of the month. Thus we are told that, "If January calends be summerly gay, 'twill be winterly weather till the calends of May." THE LATEST IN SASHES. To a few exceptionally tall and graceful individuals this very up-to-date form of drapery may possibly prove becoming, but the general- ity of women will do well to keep the old- world way of wearing gashes, or leave them alone. The new sash, so far usually of soft, sinuous satin, passes over the bust and crosses at the back, where, well above the waist line, the ends are drawn through a buckle. These ends are next brought forward over the hips and knotted below the knees. A show-room assistant, with her superb figure and graceful deportment, might "carry off" such a mode successfully; so also might a well-trained ac- tress; but to the rest of womenkind it can only prove a delusion and a snare. A WELCOME CHANGE. Whether it 's owing to the epidemic of cheap fur capes, collars, and muffs, hung all over with "-iiade-up" tails and horrid little heads, or not, the facA remains that the majority of well-dressed women are now favouring mall neat boas and muffs, minus even tails. With regard to the former, just a moderately wide band of some costly fur, such as sable, chin- chilla, or ermine, is being worn, lined with the softest satin. This band closely encircle* the neck, and is finished off at one side with a fairly large low of black satin ribbon, the note of black being repeated in the hat or toque.

Connoisseur of Pills. LIVERPOOL SEPTUAGENARIAN'S EXPERIENCE. In the Chancery Division, on Saturday, befote Mr. Justice Warrington, Mr. Martelli said in the case of Beecham v. Stephen Stephenson, chemist and druggist, of Kensington, Liver- pool, he had a motion for an injunction to restrain the defendant from selling or offering for sale as Beecham's Pills pills not manufac- tured by Mr. Beecham. Counsel said the defendant had been selling pills which were not Beecham's Pills in Beecham's boxes, and with Beecham's labels. The matter was brought to the notice of the plaintiff by an old lady seventy years of age, who had been taking Beecham's Pille for forty years. (Laughter.) She bought pills from the defendant, and found that they were no good. Upon that inquiries were made on behalf of Mr. Beecham. The old lady made an affidavit, in which she said she had been habitually using Beecham's Pills for over forty years. She went to defendant's shop in Liverpool and asked for a box of Beecham's, and she was handed a box of pills bearing the plaintiff's label and the Government stamp. She took the pills, which did not have the effect she had formerly experienced—(laughter)—but gave her pain. This aroused her suspicion. Mr. Justice Warrington asked how the Gov- ernment stamp came on the box. Mr. Martelli said it was presumed that the stamp was got off by a steaming process. The defendant did not appear, and his lord- ship granted an injunction in the terms of tLe notice of motion until judgment or further order. He added that the parties could turn this into a perpetual injunction if they chose to come to term*

Correspondents should please observe the fol- lowing rules the name and sddress of the writer should always accompany the c;-?ui rii,i ni cation, au" the Editor informed whether the author's Identity is to 11., kept secret or not. Write on one s'.de of the paper only. Bend their t v„ach the offico on Friday oi Satuiu LE(,, -iiiig if pogl-ible- Monday at latest. It tho nasB of replies to Other correspondents, these should be sent to on Monday- and Tuef-davs.

lALL KIGHTB ZIESBBVRO.J THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR: BOW: TO RAISE CAPITAL FOR WORK- ING SMALL HOLDINGS, BY B. A. TERBURG-H KPresident of the Agricultural Organisation Society: President of the Urban Co-opera- tive Banks Association, &c.). Many a likely man is at present de- barred from the advantages of the new Small Holdings Act by a lack of working capital. Mr. Yerburgh, in a clear and practical article, ex- plains the establishment and work- Ing of Co-operative Banks for Coun- try People, whereby every penny of the necessary money for Small Hold- ings purposes may be easily, mutu- ally and safely raised, without any surrender of independence. What are Credit Banks ? What are their objects and methods ? How are they con- stituted, where did they originate, and is it possible to popularise them in this country ? These and similar questions are likely to arise from the provision in the Government's Small Holdings Act empowering County Councils to promote the formation of and to Assist such societies. It is only possible to fire a cursory reply to such queries in a rief article, but (on behalf of the Co-opera- tive Banks Movement, which has existed for 8everal years past) with the object of in- forming the public of the useful character of these institutions and assisting in their es- tablishment, I will endeavour in a plain way to give a summary of their origin, purpose, constitution and principles, together with a list of those which are in active operation an England. THE ORIGIN OF THE MOVEMENT. Many social organisations which have Proved of great benefit to the poorer classes have been brought into being in England and have afterwards been copied or adopted in continental countries. Credit Banks, or, to give them their full title, People's Co- operative Banks, were, however, first formed in Germany about sixty years ago and, hav- ing spread from there over the Continent, have now penetrated to such distant coun- tries as India and Canada. One notable point about them is that wherever they have been suggested people have been found to 8ay that they were not needed, but after their establishment the benefits they have conferred have been so obvious that they have become permanent institutions. In Germany, for example, the two types of Co- operative Banks, founded respectively by Raiffeisen and Schulze-Delitzch, which in the early days of the Movement were looked up- on with indifference, have increased to more than 10,000 Societies, with an annual turn- over of considerably more than £ 100,000,000. from that country they have spread to Italy, where the Luzzati and W olIomberg Cooperative Banks are numbered by thous- andS. and they are now firmly planted in France, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, and Other countries. THE POOB MAN'S MONEYLENDER. Their object, fco put it concisely, is to °i. within the reach of the poorer classes of the community by means of combination the advantages of monetary credit on fair terms which up to their advent had been the exclusive monopoly of its wealthier mem- bers. The advantages of legitimate credit I.e. credit for economic and productive pur- poses, in the every-day business life of civi- lised communities are recognised as enorm- ous. By its means production is increased, ^change facilitated, improvement stimulat- employment enlarged, and trade expand- e(*« It is a truism to say that the trade of ?ur country would not be a tithe of what it ijg were it not for the assistance of credit. Bnt commerical credit is generally confined to those who have what are known as tan- gible forms of security to pledge with bank- ers and others. For those who are not for- tunate enough to be so provided, this source of credit does not exist, their sole resorts being the extortionate usurer, or the pawn- broker. CHEAP CREDIT FOR THE POOR. This is in itself a great hardship, for the small man can benefit proportionately by the use of credit as much or more than the big" man. To the little trader who wants stock to sell at a profit, to the costermonger who requires a donkey, flowers, fruit, or fish, to the workman who cannot take on a job because he either does not possess the necessary tools or has had to pawn them, to the labourer who can make a profit by keep- ing pigs, a few sheep, or a cow, to the small holder who requires seed and manure, to the widow who wishes to furnish lodgings or to buy a sewing-machine, loans of money at low rates of interest are the first necessity. And these are but types of those who would benefit by the prudent utilisation of the cheap credit which it is the purpose of Co- operative Banks to provide. BANKS FOR TOWN AND COUNTRY. g^here are two forms of these Mutual Aid pieties. In the one case they are based liia'f Iim^te4 liability, in the other upon un- tT k liakilty- The former are know as n-" or "Share" banks, and are pro- °Per t- *n ^is country by the Urban Co- The ]V'0 Banks Association, Westminster. Socief- ^,er are known as Village Credit These168'" or Agricultural Banks." Organ- ar.e promoted by the Agricultural Isation Society. I I VILLAGE CREDIT SOCIETIES ar8 registered under the Friendly Societies Act. They are constituted by the enrolment as members of persons of known honesty and industry. Members pay a small entrance fee upon admission, but as these societies have either no shares or shares of merely nominal value, to commence with they have to borrow a certain sum of money from an ordinary banker or from some local friend or friends willing to lend, or place it on de- posit with them on their collective security. l'his fund together with the deposits of members is administered by their executive committees selected at their Annual General Meetings on the one man one vote" prin- ciple. These Banks have their duly-author- ised Councils of Supervision. Every one of their members is entitled to apply for a loan, but any member so applying must satisfy his Committee of Management that the purpose for which it is required is a sound one. The loan must not be expended for any other purpose than that for which it has been granted, and must be repaid at J the time agreed upon. Those to whom ad- vances are made must provide a surety or I sureies according to the amount of the loan required. No dividend is paid, and the ser- vices of all officials are gratuitous, exception being made in the case of the cashier or secretary to whom an honorarium may be voted. I AS BANKS FOR SAVINGS. There is good reason to hope that in course of time the people in the country districts will have sufficient confidence in these popularly constitued Credit Societies to make a general practice of depositing a portion at any rate of their savings in them. This has already been the case on a small scale with the existing Societies. It should be noted in this connection that by deposit- ing their savings in a Bank of this kind men and women not only secure a better rate of interest than thev would obtain if they de- fosited them in the Savings Bank, but they ave the added satisfaction of knowing that they are helping their neighbours by con- tributing to the circulation of money in their own districts for productive purposes under proper safeguards. THE BANK AS BUSINESS COLLEGE. Co-operative Banks are based upon econo- mic and moral principles. Economically, they afford their members by means of com- bination opportunities for the utilisation of productive credit which would otherwise be either denied them or obtained only on the most extortionate terms, and they train manual workers in the principles of organi- sation of business. Further, too, they en- able members to retain and untilise for them- selves the profits which in private or in Joint Stock banks would go in dividends to the shareholders. Morally, they place a pre- mium upon good character, ability and trustworthiness, and by binding men of various opinions in a common comradeship, enable them to arrive at a better under- standing of one another, and so assist in promoting the welcome spirit of a common brotherhood. A NEW AID TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT. In an age like the present when so much attention is being paid to social questions, these Socijetiesi are worthy of the serious consideration of all those who are interest- ed in the condition of the people. It is notorious that the industrial revolution of the past century whilst greatly increasing material wealth and personal comfort has had the effect of converting the majority of wage earners into mere mechanical units. It is therefore most important thlat they should be stimulated to take a more person- al and lively interest in matters outside of their daily mechanical round and in the es- tablishment and development of Co-opera- tive Banks may be found one of the most certain and effective ways of securing this important social development. WHERE THE MOVEMENT IS AT WpRK. The list of Village Credit Societies af- filiated to the Agricultural Organisation Society is as follows Clophill Agricultural Credit Society, Bedfordshire Hedge End, Hampshire) Barley, Hertfordshire Brookvale and Free- by, Leicestershire Scawby, Spalding and District, Lincolnshire Friskney, Lincoln- shire Wiggenhall, Norfolk Whissonsett Small Holders Society, Norfolk Castle Morton Agricultural Credit Society, Worces- tershire Far Forest, Worcestershire. The Returns from ten of these Societies up to December 31st 1905 showed a member- ship of 300. Loans were granted during the year to the amount of £ 621, and deposits amounted to £ 593. AND SOME REAL RESULTS. During the last ten years the small Scawby Pioneer Society in Lincolnshire has advanced to its members no less a sum than .21,200 or an average of £ 120 per annum. These figures in themselves will no doubt appear insignficant, but if one reflects that there are thousands of villages in which equal or larger amounts could be profitably employed one will realise how vast would be the benefits which would be conferred upon the" smaller" rural population by the general adoption of co-operative credit. A PRACTICAL CONCLUSION. The soundness of the principle has been recognized by the Government in its Small Holdings Act, but it is not upon official guidance or upon subsidies from the rate- payers as they propose, that the movement must depend. Its success can be secured only by basing it upon the combination of the principles of mutual and of self-help. Forced to an unnatural growth in the hot house of Officialism it would inevitably dwindle and decay. Nurtured in the invigo- rating atmosphere of popular initiative and popular control it will make a vigorous, healthy and lasting growth.

The Bishop of St. Asapi, speaking at Presta- tyn (Flintshire) on Thursday, said he had lately been studying a delightful book upon the sense of proportion and the setting of a national standard, and it had impressed upon him more than ever that whit they wanted in Wales was that sense of proportion. They v,-ei c; an enthusiastic people, but the result of their efforts issued very often, not in drt, but in caricature. They had their national gifts md iMpaciiies. and it was rather a pity they did not develop them more. Men such af1 Wilson and Gibson had given Wales its great rainters and sculptors. They also had bards with l-.ns hair, but not much poetry. (Laugh- ter.)

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(From the "Mark Lane Express.") WEATHER CHANGES. After all, there is something in the conten- tion of the Yankee who said we never get any weather in the old country-nothing but samples. Sure enough, we have had a few samples since last we wrote, and, we might add, mostly inferior ones. The New Year ushered itself in with a biting east wind that met one at every corner and was cold enough to chill the marrow in one's bones. The re- deeming feature was that it was dry, and there has been more dung carted out of yards since Christmas than for a long time beforehand, j We were glad, however, when the east wind dropped, and after this, even when 20 deg. of frost were registered by the thermometer, it did not seem half so cold. But, alas! for the hopes of skaters, the black frost changed to a white one, and for a day or two the glistening rime hung thick on the trees. A white frost, however, never lasts long—it has disappeared, :uid at the moment of writing we have returned to the old conditions of damp and gloom. We do not welcome the change altogether, as the frost was seasonable and doing good; but there, the British climate is noted for its possibili- ties, and Jack Frost has returned again. THE PROOF OF GOOD THATCHING. On he frosty days enjoyed since Christmas threshing machines have hummed merrily in many a stack yard, and scores of ricks of oats, wheat, barley, beans, and peas have been dis- mantled for the purpose of separating grain from straw. Since the stacks were built and thatched we have had a lot of rain, and when the coverings are taken off for threshing pur- poses there are natural anxieties as to whether the wet has penetrated the interior of the rick. It is a fact, when dismantling ricks, that one realises the difference between good and bad thatching, and the value also of using good straw for the purpose. Last week we were in two different stackyards where threshing opera- tions were going on. In the first we noticed that the wet had got through the thatch and done considerable damage to the straw and corn for some way down. Indeed, the top had to be put aside as it was impossible to thresh it. In the other yard everything was perfectly dry underneath the thatch up to the ridge, and there was consequently no suspicion of waste. Where did the difference come in. Perhaps in the material used, but most likely in the men who did the thatching; and yet there are some people who will persist in saying that farm labour is unskilled. Get an unskilled man to do it, and the above is what happens. LADY FARMERS. At a time when the advent of small holdings is an absorbing topic of conversation, it is not surprising that lady farmers should come con- spicuously to the front in connection with the above, and the possibilities which small hold- ings offer as a means of livelihood for women, are matters for free discussion. Not long ago a lady farmer of the modern school, daughter of the well-known Prof. James Long, and a late student, by the way, at Lady Warwick's agri- cultural collegiate establishment, obtained a certain amount of notoriety through being un- fortunate enough to get to loggerheads with the local authorities because she chose to lead a simple life in a habitation that was contrary to the bye-laws of the district council. To what extent lady farmers will figure amongst the small holders of the future it is impossible to say, and whether they will be of Miss Long's turn of mind we do not know; but as for the lady farmer pure and simple—well, we can remember her as long as we can remember anything, and she is illustrated in scores cf cases where women, through the death of hus- bands, have found themselves with a farm, in some cases big and in others little, to manage; and the way they have done it and are doing it proves their ability as agriculturists, and contradicts any assertion that the lady farmer is original, though the type may be altering. THE SECRET OF HEALTH. in those days of journalistic interviews, if a man. happens to live much beyond the allotted three score and ton he is sure to be approached by some enthusiastic scribe with a view to letting the public know the secret of his good health and longevity. The hale, hearty old teetotaler, by the way, says his good health in old age is due to total abstinence, but in a recent issue of iius journal there was an interesting account of a veteran Nottingham farmer who has shunned tea and coffee for the greater part of his life, and still consumes a tankard of ale every morning for breakfast. Surely there must be a great difference in men, and there cannot be any secret of longevity, so far as food and drink are concerned. A mind free from worry is generally added as part of the secret of health and long life, and with this we fully agree. In agriculture it might be urged that there is cause for worry. Just so; but what good did it ever do, and what effect did it ever have, except injury to mind and bodily health. In the trying summer last vej/r there were farmers who feared and wor- and others who did not, but things came out all right, and the latter saved themselves a great deal which the former suffered. Moral— work hard, but do not worry if you would live long. THE PRESEKT DAY SMALL HOLDER. Just at the present moment, when county councils arc busily engaged in receiving appli- cations for small holdings, and wondering, maybe, how they are going to set about the arrangements for granting them, we are cogi- tating as to the position of the small holder of the future in comparison with the same in- dividual at the present day. The existing ninall holder, as we know him, is a sound, hard-working fellow, but he is hardly a stool standing on its own legs. In other words, he i somewhat dependent on the larger farmer, who, as. a rule, is a good friend to him. The profits of a small holding will not allow a great expenditjrc in implements, and we know a number of small holders who would often bo ir, difficulty if they could not fall back on a friendly farmer "for the loan of a horse and cart occasionally, a seed drill, or a mowing machine. And in many cases when the pre- sent day small holder has grown his bit of corn, say, and got it threshed out, he has not sufficient to market it himself, so the farmer takes it off him at the current price and it goes in with his bulk. Will this sort of thing exist in the future, or will changes of methods come with the new law?

MOTOR OMNIBUSES. The neavy motor omnibuses run by the Great Western Railway Company between Llandyssul and Newquay have broken up the road teiTibly. And now that the wet weather has succeeded to the frost the damage done is still greater, as each of the cars, unladen, weighs some 4 ton". The last car 00. Wednesday evening to)k 3b to four h.-mts to make the journey of less than fifteen miles On Thursday a rotice was issued that, owing to Iht: state of the roads, ihe ser- vice would be suspended until further notice. Ratepayers generally favour heir entire sus pension as the county council has already ex- pended hundreds of pounds extra on this road alone.

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