Weekly Mail

RURAL NOTES. 4 By Mr. J. Muir, Marram Abbey, Glamorganshire. GLOlkE DE DIJON ROSE.—" Reader''—It is one of the best of roses for a cool house, and you cannot do wreag in planting it at once. Any of your local nursery men will supply you. It will bear frost in wint.r, but you should ventilate your liousa freely before the temperature rLes to 100 decrees. GHEEN LAWN.— Answered last week. NEW GABDE.N.—" W. Jones."—Bailey and late potatoes are the best crop you can begin with. They are alwnys a good crop for breaking up the Soil, riant the early ones at a distance of 20in. from row to row, and 1ft. from set to s«t. Lilte ones 2ft. from row to row, and all 4in. deep. A little manure would be banefbiil. Sea "Potato Rotes'' next week. FOWLS WITII NO FEATHERS ON HEAD A\D THROAT.—"J. N.You should Lave stated the larieLy, AND whether they were in a confined run in the open. In any case, I think it is not a y in the open. In any case. t think it, is not a in the open. In any case, I think it is not a Jisease, but merely A case of feather eating. Have you not noticed one picking at the other 'i In doing this they eat the feathers, and in many instances F"«LI are never in full plumage owing to this cause. The habit is crcafc d for want of exercise and proper food. IF is also brought on when the fowls are full of insects, and cleanliness is one of the first antidotes. Give them drv ashes to dust in frequently. Supply them daily with green food of some kind or other. Do not feed on Indian corn. Give them bones ftom the kitchen to pick over, and put a tablespoonful of flouri of gluphur in their meal food twice weekly. SOME FOWL QUESTIONS.—"G.H.J." asks:—1."Is it possibly for hens to become broody where there is no male bird kept?" C rtiinly. They are constantly doing so in their season quite as freely as if a male bird was with them. 2. "Could I causa a hen to become broody by putting her into a box, keeping the box dark and feeding her on stimulating food ? -,No. Hens cannot be treated to make broody, or there would be no difficulty in having broouy bens at any time, whereas we know that they are very scarce in early spring. Few hens will become broody until they have laid a certain number of eggs warm quarters and stimulating food induce laying, therefore flurries them into the broody stage. There are sitters and non-sitters, and while some have a disposition to be frequently broody, others hardly ever attempt it. SAUE SEHD.—" Mona."—Of all herbs, sago is one of the easiest mised from seed. The seed may be procured at any seed shop, and it should be sown in well-prepared, rich soil early in April. Two or three rows a yard in length will be ample, as the plants come up thickly and can be transplanted to fill more space as they become large. The seed should be sown about one inch bslow the surface, but it does not rtquira any special attention, Seed sown now will produce plants that will he furnish- ing a supply by next winter, PRIMULAS AND CINERARIAS FROM SEKD.—" Tom." —TIM primuhs should be sown at once. The seed is SOMEWHAT delicate, and must have much atten- tion. Sow in a well-drained pot, ninongit A moll composed of loatr, teaf soil, and sand. Place them in a gentle heat to germinate. The cinerarias are more ROBUST at fir it, and may be treated like the primuUs, but will do with less heat. They, too, should be sown now, to flower in early winter.! Carter's strain of cinerarias is a p .rlicuiarly good one. Some kinds are not worth growing, but cboice sorts are very pleading. BUYING A ST. BERNARD PU:PPY. E. J."—In buying see that the puppy is quite healthy and likely to develop into a large dog, as the St. Bernard sliould-be very large and powerful, head large, muzzle broad, eyes benevolent, ears carried close to cheek, neck long and thick, body bulky and strong, legs thick and straight, coat some- times rough, in others smooth—I prefer the former -cohur red and white or orange and white, and in size a giant. They are splendid dogs. You will fiod them very exiensively advertised in THE: Stock-keeper aid Fanciers' Chronicle. Do not buy without first having it sent ou approval. STONE AND SAND SPREADING CART. J. D. G. T." -Illustrations received, but I do not think much of your apparatus. I fancy it would be choked up if nome of the stones were larger thnu others, which is often the case in road metal. Nothing will surpass the shovel in the liven distribution of road stuff, and as it has often to be put thick here and thin there, hand labour is the only MEANS of doing it properly. NAMES OF PLANTS (Morriston).—NO. 1, Yucca aJoifoli* variegata; No. 2, iiidna lindinii; No. 3, not a good leaf to name; No, 4, leonotis leenur No. 5, acacia drummocdii. 1 FOWLS NOT LATma.—" D. C." (Margaret-street).— flTou do not ftate the size of your run. I have no tdea whether they are overcrowded or not. You sl$ould certainly have far more than two or some- ttincs three eggs a day from eighteen hens. A dozen per day should be the average, at least at this time. Aathooneyoukitledwasasfataaa Christmas goose, I think they are all too fat. Indian corn or meal nre dangerous foods FOR fowls in small runs. it, is much too fattening. You should discontinue it altogether, and only feed on potato.. mixed with barley meal and oats, or a little wheat occasionally, and the" green food. Lime RUBBISH or gravel will ba better than fishes for them to pick over, but ashes MIY bp u?ed on floor of run. You should put the FCOTIES from the kitchen into the run, Plymouth Bock-I ought to LNY well in winter. « SHims FROM AFRICA.—" C. H."—Thanks for seeds received. I do not recognise them, but they have been sown in a warm house, as you suggest, and, if they germinate and grow, I will gladly inform you of the result. Missionaries might do a great deal in introducing new forms of vegetation. Apply to Messrs. James Cllfter and Co., ROYAL seedsmen, High Hoiborn, London, for eucalyptus seed. PLANT.—"Captain E. C."—Thanks. I will test it and find out particulars. NAME OF TREE-TIGER LILT.—"Susan Grepn. The branch sent is a confterous tree named Cryp- tomeria elegang. Your tiger lily would do very well in pot if potted in early spring, kept in a cool place, and placed out of doors after nowering in autumn. PROPAGATING AZALEAS AND CAMELLIAS.—" James Smith."—Both come uuder the heading of what! are termed hil'D-wooded plants. They are extremely difficult to prorogate from cuttings, and as a rule arh only increased by gtafting aud budding. Thousands are bought annually in Holland at a much cheaper rate than they can be propagated, and grown. intrJ a useful s-zc in this Country. TREB iVY (West Delby).-AII the ivies are trail- ing or climbing plants. What you refer to as tho tree ivy must bs another kind of plant. Can you send me a few leaves? PopLAR TREKS.—" Amateur."—There 'lore several kinds of poplars. They all succeed in towns and j in exp .sed places. Tho baTS un poplar 18 a favourite on account of its fragrance. The Lombardy is one of tho hardiest. Either would suit you. You may plant at once, but you must water freely at the root to prevent them from being injured by over late planting. See remarks in PRESENT issue on mint culture.. FLY FOR APART, TROUT FISHING.—" Bagmner (Ogmore).—I never use any other at this season but the March brown. It is one of the very beet at this senson, or, indeed, at all times. FOOD FOR DBACOTT HORSES.—(Arbroath).—Dr. Fleming, a trustworthy authoriry on this subject, recommends for the largest sized draught hordes that work hard for a number of hours daily. 181b. of hay and a small quantity of st raw out into chaff, with 181b of oats and 21b. beans or peas, a fair allowance. A company I know, who employ many horses for drar work, "How hay, 16\b,; oats, 10lb.; mnize, 41b. ¡ beans, 51b.; bran, 2ib.; total, 37ib. daily. These horses, although worked hard, are in excellent condition. The average allowance of £"od for tramw-iy horses with leading companies is 29!b daily. APHIL. This is the proverbial month of sunshine and showers. On its condition depends to a great extent the state of vegetation through- out the year. When the weather is genial and in favour of growth developing freely and luxuriantly, vegetation generally forms such a substantial foundation that after vicissitudes will not cripple it. On the other hand, when growth is starved in April and has to struggle into a weak and blighted existence, subsequent genial weather will fail to rectify matters. I April is also a month of fruit blossom and controls the fruit crop for the year, so that it is most desirable that the month should be a good one with an abundance of sunshine and showers, especially the former, and as little as possible of frost and cutting which are so destructive alike to vegetation in field, garden, and forest. Those interested in the growth of vegetation speak of springs being late or early. The present one 1 regard as late, and of the two much more favourable to a fruitful year than a very early spring. A New REMEDY FOR INSECTS ON FRUIT TREES. Remedies said to destroy insects on frnit and other trees are offered in endless variety, but, in spite of their being applied very generally, insects are still as plentiful and destructive as ever. The only inference to be drawn from this is that the bulk of insecticides fail to kill and check insects as they should. That if; my experience of them, but the insecticide I am going to recommend will, I fully believe, prove thoroughly trustworthy. It is a short and easily attainable mixture. It is composed thus lIb. crude potash and lib. caustic soda, dis- solved in water. This should be added to ten gallons of water and the fruit trees sprayed over with it before they come into bloom. A syringe or garden engine .should be used, and any quantity of it may be mixed at the rate given. This mixture should be generally tried, as it will also keep birdi from injurying the buds, and it will check the growth of moss on tha branches. Mint AND ITs CULTURE, In some gardens mint is regarded as a weed. It grows so luxuriantly and spreadi that it encroaches all over the ground. In large gardens it is often given a good deal of lati- tude, but in small ones it has to be restrioted. This is generally done by nailing four boards together like a frame, and planting it inside this. A piece from 8ft. to 12ft. long and 4ft. wide will furnish mint to meet the i whole of the .demand of a large family. Those who complain that mint does not grow freely with them should try it in this way. The boards should be from JOin. to 1ft. in depth, and if the soil is raised up inside half this height and a quantity of grit or sand and manure is put in it will always grow freely, and by covering it over in early spring it will be ready very early. It may also be protected from frost and smoke most readily. Mint may be raised from seed sown in April, and it may alsobe increased by lifting the roots, and dividing and re-planting them at once. It requires good drainage, and where this exists under it a top-dressing of farmyard manure may be put over it every spring, or so often as it shows signs of beooming weak. GRlBS IN MANURE. Some who have dressed their gardens with lime or other material to destroy grub are frequently surprised that after all their pre- cautions they should still be troubled with pests. This is accounted for by the faot that a great deal of mtnore in full of worms, maggots, and grubs of various kinds. 'ibis is especially the case with pig manure, and cow manure is worse in this respect than horse droppings. When the manure has been put up in a large heap while fresh and fermented all insect life is destroyed, but unfermented manure is apt to re-stock the soil with grub, and care should be taken to prevent this. One of the best ways of treating the manure before digging it in is to put a quantity of soot over it, and turn it twice afterwards. Two bushels per tou will benefit it greatly, and not only des- troy grubs, but increase the fertility of the manure. BKES DE3TITVTE. All kinds of blossom are late in opening this year. Bees have of late been on the look-out for stores, but cannot have found much, and as last summer was such a bad one for them, hives destitute of food are the rule. They are now as likely to suffer from this cause as at midsummer; in fact, much more so, as at that time they were dormant, but now they are active. Artificial feeding should be assida- ously resorted to during the forepart of April at least, as this will not only keep the bees alive, but increase the brood, which is the main poiut to aim at just now. HANGIXGF PLANT BASKETS. Hanging baskets with ferns or drooping plants in them are extremely pretty. They are excellent ornaments tor the greenhouse and conservatory, and they may also be used in rooms. Some plants are better adapted for baskets than pots, as they require to be elevated and have room to run out before their graceful beauty can be seen. A neat basket should always be selected. Some are made of wire and others of wood. The former are the best, as a rule. They may I be galvanised or painted green. It is the filling of them on which success depends. All round the outside should be well packed with moss to retain the soil, and the inside may be filled up in much the same way as an ordinary flower pot. The soil should be made very firm in them, and the present is the proper time to do them up for the season. They must be carefully watered, and this is best done by having a bucket a little larger than the basket and dipping the whole over head in water frequently. Steeping SEEDS BEFORE SOWING. Many kinds of seeds are extremely hard. If they are sown in ground moderately dry, and the soil remains so for a time after sow- ing, they will make little or no progress towards germinating, and when they do, pro- bably the growth is deformed or not so luxu- riant as it would be if it had germinated quickly. A good remedy for this, however, is to steep the seeds in water before sowing. All seeds of a hard nature should be submitted to this treatment. A dish of some kind should be filled with sufficient water to cover the necessary quantity of seeds, and they ¡ should be put in and allowed to remain in the water for from twelve hours to twenty hours before sowing. The water should afterwards be allowed to drain away a little from them that they may not stick together in sowing. The plants appear very quickly after this treatment, and in a season that is late, like the present one promises to be, this simple process is a great aid to early growth. It applies to peas, beans, radish, broccoli, &c., &o. DIFFERENT SIZES OF CHICKENS AND THEIR Treatment, In the majority of poultry yards there are now ohickens of various ages. Those hatched in January and early in February are becoming a good size, but Marob hatches, which are gendral favourites as furnishing autumn layers, are still small. Where the yards are small it is difficult to keep each size by itself, but where this can possibly be done it will be found of great advantage. Adult fowls should never be allowed to eatwith small chickens, as the latter would fare badly. The big chickens also take advantage of the very small ones, and each s'ze should be kept by itself, as it is only in this way that the whole will succeed. Cockerels, two months or more old, also become troublesome, and I have known them to disturb the younger broods very much. There is less labour in feeding when all are together, but there is no doubt that, if it takes those in charge longer to go to one put after the other to feed, it is more than compensated for by the rapid progress the chickens make. A VENTURESOME HAWK. Ilawks are known to bj shy birds. They avoid coming in contact with men, and if they should chance to come near a person unawares they dart off as rapidly as possible again. One requires to be on the alert to shoot them, and for a hawk to coine within arm's length of a person is almost all unheard-of occur- rence. It is, therefore, very remarkable that t am able to state a case where a hawk actually perched on the barrel of a gun in a gamekeeper's hand when he was out shooting ptgeons in a cover. This occurred here not very long ago. The barrel of the gun was heid out in front of the keeper while he was waiting for pigeons, and his surprise was great on a hawk flying through the trees and perching on the barrel, It remained there for a short time, when, discovering its mistake, it darted away, but was shot before it escaped. This, I believe, is an unparalleled circumstance in the history of hawks, and will, no doubt, interest many. I was asked io contribute this nofe to the Field, but prefer giving it here. TlIE GrJNFA FOWL. In a trustworthy guide to poultry-keeping it is remarked that the guinea fowl mates in pairs, and an equal number of males and females must, therefore, be provided to prevent disappointment. In conum-noing, it is need- ful to procure some egg*, and set them under a common hep, for, if old birds be purchased, they will wander off for miles as soon as they are set at liberty, and never return. Indeed, no fowl gives suoh trouble for its wandering habits. If hatched in the poultry-yard, however, and regularly fed, thtJY will remain, but must always have one meal regularly at night, or they will scarcely ever roost at home, Nothing, however, will persuade them to sleep in the fowl-house, and they usually roost in the lower branches of a tree. The hen lays pretty freely from May or June to about August, She is a very shy bird, and if eggs are taken from her nest with her knowledge, she will forsake it altogether and seek another, which she conceals with the most sedulous care. A few should, therefore, always be left, and the nest never be visited when in sight. It is best to give the earliest eggs to a common hen, as the 'guinea-fowl herself frequently sits too late to rear a brood. If broody in due season, however, she rarely fails to hatch nearly all. Inoubation is from 26 to 29 or 30 days. The chicks require food almoat im- mediately—within, at most, six hours after hatching—and should be fed and cared for in the same manner as young turkeys, though they may be allowed rather more liberty. It should be observed, however, that they require more oonstant feeding than any other chickens, a few hours' abstinence being fatal to them, and they need also rather more animal food to rear them successfully and keep them in good condition, especially in the winter. The flesh of the guinea-fowl is of exquisite flavour, muoh like that of the pheasant. The body about equals in size an ordinary Dorking, and is very plump and well-proportioned. I'.S.—Tho above should have appeaivd in a previous issue.

KVtjn soMs PAPER IS THE "NEWS OF THE WEEK," A ESEV ENTY TWO COLUMN Weekly newspaper, contaiuing more reading matter than any othet newspaper published throughout the country. THE AJSWS OF THE TVEEK IS, Therefore, above all papers pub- lished the largest and cheapest newspaper to read at home, and the best and most varied to send to friends abroad. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS PAID TO Wehh News, Sport and Ship- pin, I D R ? S W YN'S WEEKLY Welsh article is acknowledged to be the best in Wales. THREU EDITIONS WEEKLY. PRICE ONE PENNY. TO BE OUTAINED OF ALL NLIYIRAGF.NTS. THE BUST PENN Y P APElt IN THE COUNTRY,

"AS MAD AS A MARCH HARE." By II WESTMINSTER, The old proverb, "As mad as a March hare which was based, I suppose, on the freedom which hares used to enjoy in that month from pursuit by their most formidable enemies, will now have some meaning again. Colonel Daw nay, who has perseveringly brought in a Bill every session for the last nve Vearti to re-establish a olose time for hares from the beginning of March to the end of July, has at last had the satisfaction of seeing this most necessary measure become law. Sir William Harcourt, who blocked the Bill year after year, has at last yielded so far to the general remonstranoes, not only of all persons interested in field sports, but of farmers them- selves, so far as to consent to the passing of & Bill prohibiting the male of English hares for food during the months named. Farmers will still be at liberty daring these months to kill hares tbat are devastating the young urops; but the orael and disgusting praotibe of slaughtering doe# big with yotmg and tending them to game dealers in the towns to be sold for food will be put an end to.

OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER. Edited by "UNCLE WILLIAM." WHO HOLD'S THE KEYS. When Winter fell asleep one day, His keys dropped from his hands, And Spring callim smiling up that way Across the frozon hnds. She stopped beside the s'eeping king, Picked up iiii filleii keV-, And far 1111<1 widu the iittlc brooks Cried out—" Unlock us please! Kuig Winter in a fury w-ked, But ah! It was too Jits! The flowers had all b^gun to bloom, The birds begun to male. And Spring had tossed to Summer The bunch of keys alack And Autumn p.ays they'll coine to him. Ere Winter gets them uaclr. — Good Cheer.

ALL FOOLS' DAY. Yesterday (Friday) was, as all "UNCLE \VII.LIAM'S" nieces and nephews, know, marked in the calendar as All Fools' Day." It is the high festival of that unfortunate class of people known in England as "April Fools," in Scotland as "April Gowks," and in France as April Fish." A custom pre, vails everywhere among us on the first of April," says Addison in the Spectator, "when everybody on that day takes it into his head to make as many fools as he can." Hence we j learn that even such a Church dignitary as the Dean of St. Patrick's did not hesitafe to honour the custom by striving to make as many fools as he could. For in writing to Mrs. Dingley, under the date of March 31, 1712, he say:i:—"This evening Lady Mar- sham, Dr. Arbutonot, and, I were contriving a lie for to-morrow—that Mr. Noble, who was hanged last Saturday, was recovered by his friends, and then seized again by the sheriff, and is now in a messenger's hands at the Black Swan in Hoiborn. We are all to send to our friends to know whether they have heard anything of it—so we hope it will spread." It did not spread however, for on the following day we find this entry in the Dean's Journal:—"April 1st. We had no success in our story, though i had sent my man to several houses to inquire among the footmen, without letting him into the secret, but I doubt my colleagues did not contribute as they ought." WASHING THE AVIliTE LIONS. Some one far more successful than Dean Swift perpetrated a hoax on a very extensive scale in 1860. In March of that year a number of residents in the Metropolis and its suburbs received through the post a card bearing the following inscription, with a seal marked by an inverted sixpence at one of the angles, thus having to superficial observation an official appearance TOWER OF LONDON. Admit the bearer and friend to view the annual ceremony of washing the white lions, on Sunday, April 1, 1860; admit only at White Gate. It is particularly requested that no gratuities be given to the warders or their assistants. Tower Hill was all alive with cabs on the Sunday morning in question, their drivers vainly endeavouring to discover the where- abouts of the White Gate. The occupants of these cabs, however-" the bearers and their friends "—did not witness "the annual cere- mony of washing the white lions," but were unpleasantly reminded that it was the 1st of April, CAR LYING A JOKE TOO FAT,?. Iloae tells us in his "Every Day Book" of one lady in particular who carried her joke a little too far. She was at the house of a friend on the 1st of April, 1812, and. seeing a watch on the dressing-table, appropriated it. On missing the watch the hostess sus- pected her visitor, who, being charged with the theft, endeavoured to pass off the affair as un poisson d'avril," or April joke. Not- withstanding, she was arrested, and brought before the magistrates, when, denying that the watch was in her possession, a messenger was sent to her apartments. The watch was found on her chimt y piece. As soon as the adroit thief saw L.J messenger with the stolen watoh in his possession, she exclaimed, Yes don't you think I've made the messen- ger a poisson d'avril?" But the worthy magistrate did not think eo, and, taking a different view of the matter, sentenced the lady to remain in the House of Correction till the 1st of April, 1813, and then to be discharged as unpoisson d'avril" The time-honoured custom of making people April Fools is dying out, and its obser- vance is now mainly confined to young people. Few need to be reminded of the tricks which these morrovys of the future" play upon the absent or simple minded on the morning of this day. 'lo send a simple youth to a son of St. Crispin for a pennyworth of stirrup oil," or a carpenter's apprentice to an iron- monger's shop for the round square," or a literary aspirant to the circulating library for the Life and Adventure's of Eve's Mother or an artless swain to a farmhouse a mile off for half a pint of pigeon's milk," are a few of the many devices adopted by juvenile rogues to remind juvenile simpletons that the 1st of April is All Foobt' Day." Those who indulge in such practical jokes, however, would do well to remember four lines which in 1760 appeared in "Robin's Almanao," as the conclusion of a poetical description of the fooleries of this day But 'tis a thing to be dinputed, Which is the greatest, fool reputed The man that innocently went, Or he that, him design'dly sent. DUMAS AND THE DOGS. Alexandre Dumas could not even turn a dog out of doors. At his Abbotsford, "Monte Cristo," the gates were open to everybody but bailiffs. His dog asked other dogs to oome and stay twelve came, making thirteen in all. 'The old butler wanted to turn them adrift, and Dnmas consented and repented. Michel." he said, there are some expenses which a man's sooial position and the character he has had the ill-luck to receive from heaven force upon him. I don't believe these dogs ruin me. Let them bide! But, in the interests of their own good luck, see they are not thirteen, an unfortunate number!" "Mon- sieur, I'll drive one of them away." No, no, Miohel; let a fourteenth come. These dogs co3t me some three pounds a month," said Dumas. A dinner to five or six friends would cost me thrice as much, and when they went home they would say my wine was good, perhaps, but certainly that my books were bad." In this fashion (writes Andrew Lang in Scribner) Dumas fared royally to the dogs," and his Abbotsford ruined him as oertainly as that other unhappy palace ruined Sir Walter. He, too, had his miscellaneous kennel; he, too, gave while he had anything to give, and when he had nothing else, gave the work of his pen. Dumas tells how his big dog n Mouton once flew at him and bit one of his hands, while the other held the throat of the brute. Of Luckily, my hand, though small, is powerful; what it once holds it holds long-money excepted." He could not hand a guid grip o' the gear.' Neither Soott nor Dumas could shut his ears I to a prayer or his pockets to a beggar, or h!f doors on whoever knocked at them. 1 might at least, have asked him to dinner," Scott was heard murmuring when some insufferable bore at last left Abbotsford, after wasting hi$ time and nearly wearing out his patience. Neither man preached Socialism both prac- tised it on the Aristotelian principle: the goods of friends are common, and men are our friends. FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH. A pathetic incident occurred at the funeral of the late William Fielden, says the Morris (U.S.) Chronicle. Mr. Fielden had no rela- tives in this country, and his faithful dog was the nearest mourner. When the neighbours gathered to pay the;r last respects to the deceased they found the dog silting at the head of the coffin, where he was allowed to remain until it was carried to the hearse; the dog walked beside the hearse to the cemetery, some three and a half miles, and when the casket was taken into the vault he was allowed to follow. After the brief ser- vices there he returned to the old home with the neighbours, and has been taken by Thomas Ball, to whom Mr. Fielden gave him before he died, It was stated by those who attended the funeral that the dog seemed to realise what, was taking placo, an 1 really exhibited signs of genuine sorrow. EXTRAORDINARY FRIENDSHIP. A friend of mine, writes a correspondent; keeps a number of fanlail pigeons as pets, and has had a nice cote made for them. A pair of these birds, however, have taken it into their ht a.d.i to build a nest in the window of our s'able, and one egg has already been laid there. J. bear from our groom that his stable cat—a beautiful rough black one— continually takes up bis station inside the window, near the pigeon, who does not seem to be a bit frightened at him, but sits calmly on whilst he curls himself up by her, not attempting to hurt or disturb her. EASTER CARD COMPETITION. Easier cards are becoming popular, and every year some very beautiful specimens appear in the shop windows of the stationers. Well, UNCLE WILLIAM" offers prizes—beau- tifu! books—suited to the age and sex of the winners, for the best specimen of a design for an Easter card. The design need not be original. It may be a copy of a carol already published. But the specimen sent must be the work of the competitor, and the competi- tor should state the source, if any, from which he may obtain the design. The drawing must be on the usual drawing paper-a drawing on coloured papt'll' cannot be accepted. This competition is open to all the readers of the Children's Corner of the Cardiff Mail -who will be divided into two classes one class consisting of those who are above fifteen, the other of those who are fifteen and under. In each olass two prizes will be given, but if the competitors are many, the number of prizes will ba increased. All competitors must send in their specimens to "UNCLE WILLIAM," 45, Trafalgar-square. Scarborough, not later than Saturday, April 0. PUZZLES. I.—BOMED FISH. Once sick and weak, he is now hale and hearty. Her rings n ake a fine collection. Open the door with a key. Ho uses a lot of tobacco flatly. The vesper chttot sounds sweet. I am in no way connected with him. It is almonds that give this flavour. Do not disturb o htrs for your own pleasure, I won it fairly so lot me have it. Did you ask at Elder's for the b >ok? 2. -A DIAMOND. An indefinite article; a spirituous drink in a hurrv a large dog; an imfiori ant Continent a largo vessel; a. peisonal at n.Kuit; a cheap in- toxicant my lir.-t repeated. 3— DECAPITATION. A kind ot seat you'll please behead, And a sort of covering have instead; Ouco more behead, end it will be Au invisible body, don't you see? 4.—CONUNDRUM, What stones are the iiv st unsociable? All answers to tho above puzzles, if received by "UNCLE WILLIAM," 4b, Trafalgar—-quare, Scar- borough, not Inter than Monday, April 4, will be acknowledged in tho Children's Comer on t!:e following Saturday, April 9. ANSWERS TO PUZZLES OF MARCH 12. 1. DECAPITATION.—SUato — Kite — Ate. 2. ENIGMA.—A List. 3. HIDDEN PROVERB, — Many hands make light work. 4. CONUNDRUM.—A (hum with its two sides knocked out is like a Beecham's pill beenuse it cannot be be beaten. Answers to the puzzles, the numbers of whiob follow their names, have been received from :— Liilie Banning (Cardiff), 1-2-3-4. Nathan Rouse (Cardiff), 1-2-3. Jessie Daws (Swansea), 1-4. Hejen Gathercole (Cardiff), 1-2 -3-4. John Smith (Bristol;, 1-2-3. THE CARDIFF MAIL ANIM:AL'S FnIEND SOCIETY. I received my PRIZE this morning. I am very pleased with it. It 'M such a nice book. I am eme I shall enjoy rending it very much. I am fond of diawing, and I send you a copy of a fuschia. It is not a very good shape, but I did it from a real one growing at my grandpa's. Thanking you very much fur your beautiful book.—I remnin, your loving nephew, FRANK MARSHALL DAVIES- Uncle William is pleased to see another specimen of Frank's drawing. It is very nioely done. Albert Copley writes I have read your very nice column since the first COMMENCEMENT of it, and I should very much like to, because one of your little nephews and I most !ing]y take yovir pledge." That's the way. Will not many other little readers follow Albert's example ? Thomas Davies, who lives at Cefn y Crib, seeing the pledge in the Weekly Mail, has persuaded five of his companions to take it, and, with himself, to joill the society. Captain Trevor S. Griffiths has chosen as his com- panion William E. Jones, of 72, Hafod- terraoe, Neath-road, Swansea, and he means to try and make a total of 50 members. Now, if others would try and do the same the C.M.A.F.S. would soon number 1,000 members. Here are the names of the new members :— 62. Albert J. Copley, Tir -Pen t WJ s Colliery, near Pontypool. 63. Frank Marshall Davieg, 2, Mary port-street, Uek. 64. Fred Jtfios, Pantygasseg, near CrumHn. 65. Albert J. Copley, Pnntygasseg, near Cruralin. 66. Kdinund Curti. Pantygasseg. 67. Edward H. KDWIRDS, Tyr Tammy Farm, Cefn Crib, near Crumlin. 68. Edmund Jones, Pantygnssoj}. 69. Thomas Davies, Cefn Yeiib, near Crumlin. 70. George Bevan, 27, Aberdyberthe-streof, Hafod, Swansea. There are now seventy members of the Cardiff Mail Animals' Friend Society, but any boy or girl can become a member of the Cardiff Weekly Mail Animals Friend Society by taking OUR PLEDGE, I hereby promise never to tease or torture any living thing or to destroy a bird's nest, but to pro- tect as much as possible the comfort and happi- ness of the ere itures over which God has given man dominion." All communications respeoting the Chil- dren's Corner mast be written on one side of the paper only, and addressed to "UNCLE WILLIAM," 46, Trafalgar-square, Scarborough,

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