The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

THE WEEK'S GARDENING. HINTS TO ALLOTMENT WORKERS- Celery is too valuable a vegetable to allow it to waste, and where there are roots still in the ground it is a mistake to leave thetn there any longer, for they will sooner or later begin to rot and become useless. It is not generally known that celery roots may be successfully stored for several weeks if lifted. on a dry day and stored in sand, in a shed for choice. The roots should be wiped clean of any dirt, and all leaves and decayoo. outer leaf-stalks should be cleared away. The roots may then be packed against a wall, if possible, one above the other in a dry place. If no moisture or wet reaches them, they will remain crisp for a considerable time. Roots that are stored should be examined from time to time, for about this time of the year they will be starting into growth. If this is not checked the roots will begin to shrivel and lose greatly in flavour and quality. The shoots should be cut off just above the top of the crown in the case of parsnips and carrots, but the tops of beet should be twisted off with the hand. Any roots in the clamp that show- signs of decay must be taken out and burnt and fresh storing material' may be put in from time to time. Purple sprouting broccoli is one of the mopt useful crops just now, producing fine shoots. The mild winter that has been experienced up to the present has been very beneficial to the crop, end the shoots should be cut as soon as the purple tips begin to shew. If cutting is left very much longer, the plants will grow to their full size, and a few bright days will bring them into flower, when they will be useless for the table. To make sure of getting a fine crop of parsnip roots, the soil should be deeply dug and free from recent manure, as this makes the roote liable to fork. When specially fine roots are wanted, holes 4ft. deep and 6in. wide at the tep, loin, "apart, in rows 2ft. from one another should be dug. Each hole should be fit-led up with a compost of old potting soil, decayed refuse, and wood ashes. A pinch of guano and salt may be put in each hole and mixed in with the soil. Three seeds lin. deep should be put in each hole. When the seed- lings come up, they should be reduced to the strongest plant in each hole. There are various points to be remembered when nailing up fruit-trees to wails. Only one nail shotted used for the tie, not two. The lowest branches should be taken first and arranged as low as possible, for most of the future growth of the tree will be made in the upper and centre parts. Large branches should be made secure before the smaller ones are touched. Care must be taken in nailing to avoid tightness which would cramp the branches, and might result in broken bark, which would do serious harm to the tree. The branch should be pulled by the tie not pushed by the nail. Every gardener should devote some space and time to this crop, apart from the fact that yoang peas are one of the most delicious vegetables in existence. Any kind of soil is suitable, though the earliest crops are all the better fmr a warm, dry, sandy soil, and the later crops are suited better by a rich and rather retentive loam. In any case, not much manure should be applied, or the plants may run too much to leaf. Soil will have been pre- pared last autumn by good trenching and ridging, and, whenever needed, lime should be added, as lime is an essential to the growth of healthy peas. It is a good plan to set aside a sranll space in the allotment for growing onions for seed. In some cases gardeners have used their best onions for seed purposes every year till they have improved their stock so much that very fine onions result. Only those onions that are large and w-ell-shaped should be used for pro- ducing seed. Those that have started to grow or are sbi-lyelied are useless, and small ones are of little value. The ground in which they are set should be well trenched and manured th droughty, afterwards being levelled with a fork and worked into a fine light condition, ps is done for onion seed. After levelling, it should be tFodden firm and the sets set tightly in position with the soil pressed well around tii-Mii to more than half their depths. Unless this is done, well-ripened bulbs of good &l«pe will not be produced. The sets are not so liable to attaoks of the onion flv maggot as spring-sown onions, and get ahead well for this reason. Where roots of celery are wanted early, seed should now be sown in a temperature of E.01. TWmgli the seeds germinate rather slowly. ti»«r« is nothing to be gained by trying to hurry tll with a higher temperature. A 5i:i. or "&in. pot should be used for sowing the seed. for what can be put into this will be sufficient to make a laige plantation of tnis ve^etabic. A-s soon as the seedlings have made their first rough leaf, they should be trans- planted out into boxes and kept in warmth till the time for planting out comes. All gardeners should send 9ff seed lists without dt-ter, for many firms are already sending back seed orders to customers, as they are u;b1 to execute them. Only just as much l as is required should be ordered, not otily bacause of its deamess, but so that eve.ry.vj# waav have his share if possible. Seed should all he sown in drills; it is too valuab'e this to broadcast, and, whenever pos- sible, the seod should be sown so thinly that transplaniirvg is unnecessary. No time should b- clost in clearing up all the fcsjii last year's crops, only the winter greens being left that are still-prc)- ducing tender shoots. Digging should follow closely on the clearing, so that frost, rain. and maw may have their effect before the ums jrt>r general planting begins. Digging ;•> :sr be thorough, so that each year n farther of soil may be obtained. Whenever !:>:v:re can be got this should be well dug in. .id hivivy cils are all the further improve1 i y tha l: straw which is present when fresh i: anure is u*-ed.' If Immnre is not availahh- i yet, no harm will be done by leaving this <1:1 1.t""f on, especially for such crops as u p s potatoes, onions, cr cabbages. Rhubarb is one of the crops which require? verv dfeplv-dug soil, and when making a now plantation, three feet should be dug up if ri-^h'e. The soil should be trenched and the bottom material well loosened, then layers of ms-mro should be placed between each spit. V.'hrre the soil is heavy, fresh plantations will he made more often than when the soil is light and friable. soil should be used for the parsley bed, r but soil is preferable to heavy for a good I

I -=. c,oc. .£8œ(! t THE DIRECTORS OF t LLOYDS BANK LIMITED • ? 1 desire to call the attention ot iiieir customers 1 and others to the advisability of investing all £ available moneys in f I NATIONAL WAR BONDS II and of applying further savings in the same wav. I 6 I In the Savings Bank Department small sums can be f I accumulated at interest until they reach the minimum I I S required for purchasing WAR BONDS. Iii :I!I!' 'ç, -I

WAR PENSIONS. Meeting of the Breconshire Committee. A meeting of the Breconshire War Pensions Committee was held on Friday at the Shire Hall. Brecon, Mr. A. Beckwith presiding. There were also present—Mrs. M. F. Thomas, Mrs. G. G. Strick, the Hon. Mabel Bailey, Mrs. M. Pugh, Mrs. M. J. Thomas, Mrs. E. C. Inglis, Messrs. David Powell, E. Pirie Gordon, M. W. Morgan, John Watkins, J. E, Williams, Hugh M. Lloyd, T. Williams, John Parry, Joseph Price, T. Prosser Jones, T. E. Lewis, William Morgan, Joseph Jones, W. Evans. Hugh W. Jones, and the Revs. D. Saunders Jones and W. Llewelyn, with the secretary, Mr. A. Jolly. C MEDICAL REFEREE. Notification was received from the Ministry of Pensions that they had appointed Dr; Lloyd, Abergavenny, as Medical Referee for the Crickhowell district. PROPOSED LABOUR EXCHANGE FOR BRECON. The Chairman mentioned the question of establishing a Labour Exchange in Brecon. He understood that the agricultural districts were making representations with the object of securing an Exchange at Brecon, which would be very convenient in the case of women engaged in agricultural work, as it would save long journeys. Mr. David Powell: There is a branch at Brecon. The Secretary With no powers at all. Mr. William Morgan: What is the position of the Brecon Exchange ? The Secretary: Merely takes the names and sends them on to Merthvr. The Chairman moved that the committee make application for the establishment of a Labour Exchange at Brecon. Professor Joseph Jones, in seconding, said it had been a standing grievance to be without an Exchange at Brecon. Mr. William Morgan It would be a great boon. The prcrposition was agreed to. APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. There were seven applications for the post of assistant secretary and officer to the committee at a salary of £2 per week, and three who had been selected attended before the committee, namely, Messrs. David John Joseph, 31 years of age, discharged soldier and policeman, Crick howell James Watkins, 51 years of age, 91, The Street, Brecon, and J. A. Williams, 82. The Watton, discharged soldier, aged 51. The first vote resulted as follows -Joseph 18, Watkins 18, and Williams 12 and the final vote—Watkins 15, Joseph 9. Mr. Watkins was thereupon appointed.

MaJprnMI 'TOILET SOAP Recalls the wwHji Fragrance of an. Old World Garden

THE WEEK'S WORK. ■ Sow see4 of single dahlias. Divide and replant clumps of peri- winkle. Plant anemones and ranunculus. Divide old canna roots and pot in heat. Set main crop potato seed in shallow boxes to sprout. Sow early peas. Transplant autumn-sown onions. Sow parsnips in fairly dry soil. Remove decaying remains of Brussels sprouts and other greens, and manure and dig the ground. Sow summer spinach. Sow maincrop broad beans. Head back fruit-trees for grafting. Spray fruit trees. Complete t-ving in of peaches, nec- tarines, and apricote.

i THE SHEEP THAT TOOK SNUFF. Farmer's Suit at Crickhowell County Court, At Crickhowell County Court on Thru slay— before his Honour Judge Hill-Kelly—William Walter Hughes, of Upper House Farm. Llanelly, sued Thomas H. Eaton, of Vedw Farm, Llangattock, for X36 15s., the value of 21 ewes. Mr. Micklethwaite, instructed by Mr. D. Gibson Harris, appeared for the plain- tiff, and Mr. St. John Francis Williams, instructed by Messrs. Powell, Hughes & Jones, for the defendant. The plaintiff stated that in October. 191 he placed 58 ewes on defendant's farm on "halves," and the defendant returned 33 of i them and produced the skins of 4 others. The defendant was a neighbouring farmer, their ¡ respective farms being separated by a common. I He (witness) had been accustomed to placing stock on halves with defendant for about five years. Sometimes some of the sheep died, and the man on whose land they were took. off the ears and produced them to the owner. He took 58 ewes on "tack" to the defendant's farm by arrangement. He called on several occasions, when they always appeared to be all right. He noticed that the fences were in a very bad condition, and that stock could go anywhere over the farm. Up to June, 1917, none of the sheep were missing. He after- wards found that two or three were missing and spoke to defendant about them. Defend- ant said they were on the farm a few days previously. In July witness again visited the farm and found that nine were missing, and defendant then admitted that four had died. About that time defendant sold two ewes and two lambs to witness, and stated that they were the only ones he had on the farm. In October witness again went to fetch the ewes, but could only find 31 out of the 58 lie had taken there. He v questioned defendant as to the 21 missing. Defendant said they were somewhere about and I that he could find them. In November witness again went to see the defendant, who then said the things are finished with." Cross-examined by Mr. St. John Francis Williams: Defendant did not tell him the sheep were in bad condition in October, 1910. Nor did he say they had not been on the mountain. Witness had "snuff" disease on his farm years ago, but it did not exist on his or defendant's farm during the years 1910-17, nor did he hear of any in the district. Defendant never told him that the sheef had "snuff" badly. In August or September of 1917, when he helped to dip defendant's sheep. he did not notice that any of his own sheep were suffering from snuff." Lewis Price, of Wern Farm, Llangattock. said he did not hear of any cases of snuff in the district last year neither did he hear that it was on defendant's farm. He had not known any cases of snuff" in the district for nearly 20 years. When sheep on halves" died it was the custom of the owner of the land to keep the ears if he could not keep the carcases. In November, 1917, in company with the plaintiff, he went to defendant's farm, when they discovered that 25 of the- 58 ewes were missing. Morgan William James, of Watenvhcel Farm. Ebbw Vale, also gave corroborative evidence as to cases of snuff," and the custom when sheep on halves died. The defendant said that in October. 1910, I when plaintiff brought 58 ewes to his farm on I halves," he noticed they were in very poor I condition, and drew plaintiff's attention to them. The ewes gained a good deal whilst I they were on his farm. In March some of them I contracted "snuff." which had broken out in the I district, and lie informed plaintiff, but it was impossible to treat them- when they were in lamb. Plaintiff said, They might get better I have some cases of 'snuff on my own farm." In April he (witness) found one ewe and lamb dead under the snow. He showed the carcases to plaintiff. In June he started treating the ewes for snuff." and plaintiff appeared to be quite satisfied. He reported the death of each sheep to plaintiff as it died, and also showed him the carcases. Altogether 19 of plaintiff's ewes died. On October 31st, plaintiff took 38 ewes away, and made no complaint about the 19 which had died. A week later lie brought five heifers to put on tack." Some discussion t, L arose between them as to two lambs which he accused plaintiff of stealing, and plaintiff said that he would rather pay for four lambs than have any bother. He eventallv agreed to pay" I Y,3 for the two, and a cheque was made out by witness's wife for £ 5 18s., being the £ 3 plus £ 2 14s. for the tack of the heifers. Cross-examined by Mr Micklethwaite "Snuff" was very serious in the district during April and May, but he did not tell any one excepting the plaintiff that it was on his farm. He sold no meat in June, July, August, or September, with the exception of one sheep I i, which he killed in June. He denied that his I wife was selling meat in June and July. She did not sell any until October. Mrs Eaton, wife of defendant, corroborated- She said when the ewes shewed symptoms ot "snuff" they were treated with milk a»d turpentine. By Mr Micklethwaite None of her husband's sheep died of "snuff," although a lot of them suffered from it. She admitted selling some meat between June and September. John Morgan Williams, of Neuadd farnii Llanelly, farm bailiff, also gave evidence for the defendant, as to the prevalence of "snuff." Practically all his sheep suffered from it last year. He lost 12 or 13 out of 140 ewes. Mr St. John Francis Williams said the plaintiff had not proved any neglect on the defeiidatit's part. In looking after the sheep as he did, it was | quite clear from the evidence that the defen- dant had done all in his power to save them. | Mr. Micklethwaite, in reply, said plaintiff denied that defendant ever drew his attention to the fact that some of his sheep suffered from siiuff," and in any case it seemed very strange that none of his sheep died. Defendant's own witness estimated that the average loss of sheep in snuff disease was oue in ten, and yet in the case before the Court 21 out of 58 of the plaintiff's sheep died of the complaint. In summing up, his Honour said that a good many points had been touched upon in the case. For the plaintiff it was suggested that the defendant had dishonestly disposed of the sheep. Then there was also the suggestion of the meat-selling, but that point was not pressed. as he had anticipated. The defendant's case was the argument that the sheep were in a very poor condition, and that on account of the very hard winter they contracted "snuff, and on account of their age, they had died from its effect. He felt bound to agree that the defendant had done all that lay in his power. and therefore judgment must be entered for defendant with cos.

BRECON GUARDIANS. 1 Friday, Mr John Jones (vice-chairman) pre- siding. Others present were—Miss Adelaide Williams, the Revs. Thomas Griffiths, H. J. Church-Jones, and D. H. Picton. Messrs. C. W. Best, John Jones (Battle), Jenkin Williams, John Thomas, John Jones (Glyn), Evan Jones, T John Price, J. James Williams, A. A. Mitchell. J. F. Ricketts, W. C. Davies, Rees Williams, W. Wactyn "Williams, John Smith. Daniel Watkins, and Tom Morgan, with the deputy clerk (Mr. E. J. Hill) and other officials. There were 39 vagrants relieved at the work- house during the last fortnight, being a decrease of 5G as compared with the corresponding period last year. At the end of the fortnight there were 55 persons in the house. The Deputy Clerk read a circular letter from the West Bromwich Union protesting against^ the abolition of Boards of Guardians. The Chairman, in proposing that the reso- lution be supported, remarked that unle ss such protests were made boards of guardians would be wiped out, and other bodies would be set up which would be merely spending machines. Mr. Best seconded, and said that the more support to the resolution the better. The motion was carried.

ALL Rt, TIONED SOON. Controller's Message to the Front. Lord Rhondda has sent the following mes- sage to the men at the front :— You can be in good heart about the folk at home. The health statistics were never better in our history. At this stage of the war it is remarkable, when so much of our shipping is engaged in errands of military necessity, that our food supplies, so great a part of which is seaborne, remain at their present level. We have shared our bread liberally with our brave Allies in France and Italy, where last year the harvests were poor, and this self-sacrifice further binds together the peoples now battling against the foe of human liberty. Rationing schemes, which "means share-and-share alike for everv- body in every, class, are about to be put into operation throughout Great Britain, and I hope tliat under the new arrangements queues will now disappear. His Majesty the King will be on rations, as v/eli as the humblest of his subjects.—(Signed) RHONDDA."

LLANSPYDDID. School Treat. Mr. and Mrs. Prohert. Cilwhibart, did not wish to deprive the children of Llanspyddid Council School of their annual treat this year, on account of the war. but rather desired to satisfy the little ones. who had been looking forward to this treat for many weeks, even months, so they gave them a war lea on Saturday afternoon last, which greatly delighted them. Mrs. Probert, with her usual forethought and kindness, asked a number of her friends to join them. After enjoying the tea, the children retired to the adjoining room, where an excellent impromptu concert was got up by the Head Mistress (Miss Gane), who herself gave a splendid recitation. The children displayed marked ability in their recitations and songs, particularly the two daughters of the house in their pianoforte playing, which were applauded by an apprecia- tive audience. The concert finished with the singing of the National Anthem. The greatest attraction of all was the Christmas tree, which was laden with useful and suitable presents to all the children, some 00 in number. Miss Price, the other teacher, was absent through indisposition. Mr. Probert, one of the managers of the school, gave each of the children a 1918 penny as they left the house after ending a pleasant afternoon gathering. The Rev. Thomas Griffiths, vicar of the parish, in a felicitous manner, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the donors, which was pleasantlv seconded by the Rev. Thos. Michael, vicar of Llanilltyd. Mr. Probert suitably replied on behalf of his wife and himself.

crop. "Ilie seen may oe sown now m anus nor more than half an inch deep. The seed is slow in germinating, but if it is put in now, an early crop will be obtained. Pro- vided the soil is dry and fairly loose, the bed should be trodden firm and raked smooth. If the soil fs at all damp or heavy, the tread- ing should be omitted or the seed will stick to the soil and come up on the gardener',j boots.