Weekly Mail

AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF RAILWAY SERVANTS. ACTION OF THE TAFF VALE RAIL- WAY COMPANY. Originally proceedings were taken by the Taff Vale Railway Company against the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Mr. Bell, M.P. (the general secretary), and Mr. James Holmes (organising secretary) for picketing during the strike of the company's workmen last autumn. Since the decision of the House of Lords that the society is liable to be sued for damages fresh writs have been issued. Three trustees of the society have been joined to the defendants named above, and the wording has been altered to include the words "Picketing, besetting, and watch- ing to the injury of the iaff Yale Railway Company." The solicitors for the plaintiffs are Messrs. Iugledew and Sons, and service was accepted on behalf of the defendants by Messrs. Lloyd Meyrick and Davies. The state- ment of claim has not yet been put in, so that we are unable to ascertain the amount of damages which the company will seek to recover. It is not probable that the case will be reached before June next, and the place of trial has not yet been fixed. The company will probably prefer London, but the men may endeavour to get the venue changed to Cardiff or Swansea. It is not known either whether a, jury will be empanelled or the case left to the decision of a judge.

CARDIFF WORKHOUSE ALLEGATIONS. On Satnrday, at the meeting of the Cardiff Guardians. Mr. o. H. Jones in the chair, the Clerk (Mr. Arthur J. Harris) announced that. as directed at the last meeting, lie had written to the Local Government Board asking them to hold an inquiry into the case of the child C. R. Edgehill, in connection with which the coroner's jury censured certain of the board's officers. Be Crfr. Harris) had also sent a copy of the letter to Mr. Bircliaiu (Local Govern- ment Board inspector) with regard to tha witnesses who might be called, and Mr. Lireham, in reply, said that the Local Government Hoard would p:'o- bably ask the guardians to hold an inquiry first. ?.*>. nircham had been good enough to telegraph to them so that they might have their reply before them that day. The reply from the Local Government Board. which the clerk proceeded to read, was ae follows:—"I am directed to advert to yonr letter of the ZOlh ult. with reference to the proceedings of certain officers in the workhouse in connection with the child referred to therein, and to state that the board consider the investigation should, at any rate, be held by the guardians in the first place, and that when the board is informed as to the result of the investigation they will decide as to the necessity of pn official inquiry. The board point out that the gaardTalis have themflelveo power to deal fully with the assistant officers concerned." The Chairman: If they don't choase to elo it, we mast dj it ourselves. I move that it be referred to the Worklwu18 visiting committee. Mr. J. J. Ames seconded. Mrs. Norman moved an amendment that they again appeal to the Local Government Board to holrj the inquiry. It a serious charge to bring ag'ainft tliD ofiieers in guestiou, and should have the fullest inveatisj- tion. 1 ae Cnairraan: I don't think it would be -Ii it I)c, much use to e;o that. The Mayor (Mr. F j Bcavan) said that he would be g-ad if the chairman could "eo hit- way to preside, assuming that the guardians held the inciuiry. The Chairman: I shall make it a point to be there. 1 don't know about presiding. Mr3. Mftllin asked if the investigation would be open to all the members. The Chairman: If it is referred to the woek- bousa Yiaitins; committee it will he for that commiifec on.y. Q\) vfT3. Norman): Do you preM your amendment? Mrs. Norman I ehould like to. Mr. J. Enoch seconded the amendment. .rhn re«o'nUon was adopted, the amendment bemg supported, apparent" only by the reoverandseconder. It was further resolved that the committee hold the inquiry at eleven o'clock on the 17lh in sf. The Chairman, IN reply to ITTS. Norman, snid only the members would take part and vote, though he supposed anv other puardiam ? no vanned bad a right to be present. The Ciiairman went on to say that they must prepare a full statement of the times when t'le eMM was admitted into the hoonital, when it was taken out, the number of times it was seen by the doctor, Ac. Mr. Ames: Will it include the question whether the child was fit to be vaccinated ? The Chairman answered in the negative.

PiUZE DAY AT liAVEUFOKD- wnsT. J ,') The annual Prize Day of th? Haverfordwest Grammar School was celebrated at the Tem- pcrance-hall on Saturday, in the presence of a distinguished company, unucial interest being aroused in the event from the fact that the Bishop of Lla.tidal?, an old grammar schoolboy, bad consented to distribute the prizes. His lordship was supported on the platform by a large number of the governors, including the chairman (Mr. 11. T. P. will- liams), Sir Owen Sc uirSeld, Sir Charles Philipps,. ihe mayor, the Rev. F. X. Colborne. the l:eadma3tc (Mr. J. S. 0. Tombs}, and others. The Headmaster, in opening the pro- ceedings, said he thought the L,.shop of L'au- ) daif -.van lite ohlcst grammar school bov living. The list of successes included IV. H. Williams, classical exhibition of £ 63 per annusi at Mag- dalen College. Oxford; R. Williams classical scholarship* of zca:) per annum, at Jesus Col- lege, Oxford; J. F. O. Lewis, classical exhibi- tion of £ 50 per annum at Jesus College, Ox- ford; Gecffrey Martin. B.Sc. London, with first-class honours in chemistry; and W. W. Tute, direct entrance to Sandhurst Royal Military College. With regard to the con- f.ict with the Central WC:¡;il Board, he hoped the weary struggle was near the end. Un- fortunately, they suffered very much from not being We! ah. But they never were Welsh, j never would be and never wanted f> be Welsh. (Applause.* Eut they suffered I annually on that account. }'e hoped that the time would soon come that the county governing body would recognise that the most important part of the county educationally wan the Knaiish-speaking yart. The Bishop of LlandatT gave a chort and interesting address, in y,hiel< he said the plea- sure of his coming there was enhanced from the fact that he had come to the school at a I time when, h. spite of the keenness of educa- tional competition, the school was holding it3 own very successfully. (Applause'.) It wait still further enhance! from the fact that the! headmaster was the son of an old schoolfellow of h's own. (Applause.) It vas sixty-seven yearB sincc lie was a pupil of the school, and he had the liveliest, and most grateful feelings I in looking back to those early days. I

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AT CARDIFF. A report prepared by the town-clerk of Car- diff on the Education Act of 1901 has been sent out to the members of the corporation, and will come up for consideration to-day (Mon- day). Mr. Wheatley states that the Act was passed to make temporary provision for the continued giving by board schools of instruc- tion held to be ultra vires in tho Cockerton judgment. The Act contemplates cither the giving of a general sanction to the con- tinuance of work hitherto carried on in any school or class or the giving of a particular sanction for carrying on any specific work, that is. the local authority may prescribe a curriculum and limit the amount to be expended under the Act. In the event of specific work being authorised, it need not necessarily be work which has been previously carried on. The wording of the Act is not very clear, but this is the construction the Board of Education place upon it in their cir- cular on the 7th of October last. In this cir- cular the board point out that where (a) the curriculum is proposed to be altered by the inclusion of subjects of instruction not taught during the twelve months preceding the date of the Act, or (b) the work ill proposed to be extended by including pupils of an age or sex not previously admitted to the school, the specific sanction of the local authority must be furnished to the board. Mr. Wheatley adds that the questions would still remain as to how far the Board of Educa- tion are right in the construction they place upon the Act, and how far a school board would be able to go in teaching subjects not coming within the term "elementary educa- tion," or in giving instruction to adults. The board point out that they have no power to decide such questions as these, and that the receipt of a Government grant would not nor would the sanction of the local authority by itself warrant the application of the school fund to an extent not authorised by the Act of 1901, it being for the courts of law alone to authoritatively interpret the Act. By their resolution of the 12'. h of August ihe uij.. requested the school board to Wtrry on tho work of the schools, including the higher grade, as hitherto. As the Act is only in force until the 31st of July next. the whole matter may be settled by a new Education Act next session, and the town-clerk does not see any reason for the corporation to take any further action in the meantime.

OLD FALSS. TEETH BOUGHT.—Many people have old or disused false teeth. Seuil your teeth to R. D. and J. B Fraeer, Ld., Prines-st., Ipswich (cstab. 1833), and thev will remit the utmost value by return, or make you best offer Largest and oldest buyers of old false teeth in the world. L2302 9 11f COCOA is world. J y renowned for its absolute purity and I its remarkable invigorating and I sustaining properties. It is a perfect food- I I light, refinerl and digestible. j ■ Cadfoury'S Cocoa is a most Trainable I beverage for JLtMetss, fortifying the system by 1 foulMing up and muscle, and strengthening | the nerves.. j; C&dHbUPy's is Cocoa, and Cocoa only, t. without fesgs (J/if any admixture. "COIn pounds" i'! H | are tlangoroias, and should be avoided. I On tho testimony of the "LANCET," | CflciMlFy'S the "standard | of highest purity." s r_ • jj E? IS 4J Srllr 3S Is | ftBSIlifil? POSE, therefore BEST. I .&;

G LAM 0 RGAN BAUlUSTEIFS ACTION. MR. RHYS WILLIAMS V. KODAK (LIMITED.) In the King's Bench Division of the High Court (before the Lord Chief Justice) on Fri- day the liear.ng of the case Ehya Williams v Kodak (Limited) was resumed. The plain- tif, Mr. Ilhv3 Vi'illiams, cf MisMn Manor, Bouth Wales, it will be rccollecled, w-s a barrister, and he sued the defendant com- pany. Kodak (Limited), to recover damages for alleged breach of a warranty said to have been given by them in respect of certain photographic films, purchased from them by the Photographic Association on behalf of the phiintifi. The defendants denied the allesecl warranty, or that there had been any breach of it, and also said that tho goods we:'3 not bought by the association on behali of or aa agents of the plaint'ff. Iu appeared that in 1900 the plaintiff was. g;;ins with his uncle, Mr Morgan Williams, to Luanda. to shoot bis g:imc and see the country. In order to raise money for some local chari- table objcct3 plaintiff intended to give lec- tures in regard to his adventures, illustrated by magic lantern elide3. To obtain pictures for tils latter he wished to take photographs, and went to the Photographic Association, of which he is a member, in order th.u. they might procure material l'or him. The association accordingly, it was said, on plain- tiffs behalf, purchased from the defendants a camera, which, it was admitted, was an excellent one, and thirteen spools of photo- graphic filing, each spool containing twelve filma. Jlr. \Tiilian33 went to Uganda with his Uiivie and a cousin named Griffith Willi.-una, and took a nnaioer of photographs, which, when they ca na to be developed, produced results which were absolutely useless lor hu purpose, due. it was suggested, to defects in the Alms caused by faults in their manufacture Defendants denied that there were any dcfects in the manu- facture of the S'ffis, or that they werj defective when supplied to the association. They attributed the bad results to the filuio having deteriorated by reason of bad packing, tho effects of climate, bad handling, Ac. Mr. Danekwcrta. X.C., and Mr. Eaven ap- reared for the plaintiff, v/b'le defandants' counsel were iir. 'loultou, K.C., and JTr. D. M. Kerby. 3fr, Le Couleur gave some further evidence on behalf of the plaintiff, and pro- duced Borne invoic23 fnat crders.-In examination lie said the association was a limited company, which was formed'in May. 18S9. According to their contract with the defendant company, they undertook not to sell by retail under retail list price. He had about this 1 irae about 70 similar complaints to j;laintitrs oi Ihe Sims supplied by the defendants, some of which had been used in taking views in London ami ;he neighbour- hood. .R; -examined: Their mem her.*? oanso and r.«kcd them to ?et such and each a thing. They sent to Kodak (Limited) for it, and sup- plied it to the members, and kept, the ci s- i count. Their members knew they got the dis- count. Plaintiff's ra"e having- closed, Mr. Moutton said be would call his wit- nesses without a. speech, but, of course, he formally took the point that there was no case against the defendants, because here there had been a sale to the association, and a re-sale by them to the plaintiff. The com- pany were, therefore, not liable to the plain- tiff. Mr. George Davison, managing director of the Kodak Company, said he was an expe- rienced photographer of fifteen years' stand- ing. His company sold to the Photographic Association, treating the latter as dealers. They should know no customer with this bind of transaction except the association. They allowed them the ordinary dealers' terms. If they had known that Mr. Rhya Williams was the real purchaser they would not have allowed those terms. They concluded the asso- ciation re-sold tp anybody who came to pur- chase. They should not have sold direct to Mr. Williams on those term3. The company Bold a vast number of films. It ran into mil- lions a year. They had proportionately few complaints-yery few indeed. In his judgment it was not possible that the defects in these films were due to defects in manu- facture. The films were tested, and spools of them were set aeide. The lot of films to which these belonged when tested were found satisfactory. The spools which had been set aside of this batch were quite good. He thought the defects were due to the films having been exposed to damp or warmth or both. or they might have been badly kept or pressed. There wae no dirt on the cellu- loid sheets on which the emulsion was put. Sir William Abney gave evidence, aa an expert, to the effect that the defects in the films were due to climatic causes. Mr. Senior, a Fellow of the Chemical Society, a member of the Institute bf GhenriKt'-y, and the manager of the Kodak Fact6ry nt Harrow, detailed the manner m which the films were manufactured with a, view of showing that it wan impossible that the defects could have been caused by dirt, as plaintiff suggested. They had no bad batches about the time thtse films were made. None of the films showed manufacturing defects. The defects were caused, some by friction, some by pres-, sure or by the 1,1ms being exposed to moisture or heat, or both, or to deleterious gases, j There were no finger-marks on them. Mr. Robert G. Bolton, a lecturer, said he had travelled every part of the world, and in what was known as the "damp belt" which went round it there could be such changes of tem- perattlre as would affect the films in the manner described. He took photographs, and the films when taken out of the wrapper should be used at once and developed imme- diately on the spot. He always had had his films packed in a particular manner, but on account of the difficulties in these latitudes he had had to give them up and take to plates. The Lord Chief Justice, in giving judgment, said he would not decide the question of law I. whether the plaintiff could recover from the defendant company direct, as it was not neces- sary to do GO, because the plaintiff had not made out his cas-e on the facts. He was of opinion that the plaintiff had failed to prove that the lihns^vvcre not commercially suitable that the JilILS were not commercially suitable films at the time they were supplied to him. I It was for the plaintiff to show that the defect in the films was due to some improper manufactu re. and that they were not proper I films when delivered to him, and this the plaintiff bad failed to do. There would. there- fore. Le judgment for the defendants, with costs. Judgment for the defendants accordingly.

HEALTH OF GLAMORGAN. HEAVY DIPHTHERIA MORTALITY AT ABEEKENFIG. The quarterly report of Dr. Williams, the medk-al oifiecr cf health for the county of Glamorgan, was considered by the sanitary committee at Cardiff on Friday. The Cbaijman (Colonel Henry Lewis) said diphtheria had been very prevalent through- out the county. The Medical Officer said the outbreak at Aberkenfig was the racst fatal he had seen for many years. Out of a total of 28 cases, thir- teen, or 33 per cent., proved fatal. The schools were closed, but were re-opened too soon. Now. however, the epidenric was over, the place had a much better supply of water, and it would toon be sewered. Replying to Dr. Donald, Dr. Williams said the medical men were unwilling to tell him anything about the treatment, but he under- stood. one of them used the scrum in every case. There had not been a house-to-hou-e inspection, and in nearly every house there were sanitary defects. At Cwniavon 100 cases had been norified from January to September, of which nine had proved fatal. Cwniavon waa a very badly-drained district, and Dr. Morris proposed that the attention of the Neath Rural District Council should be called to this. Mr. Howell said the ratable valne of Cwm- avon would not justify them going in for a complete sewerage scheme, and they could not start one until the water scheme was com- peted. But they intended to deal with the question on a large scafe. and considerably improve Cwmavon. In reference to the typhoid at C.'ydach, Dr. Morris complimented the medical officers of that, district on tho way t::cy had traced the epidemic. Dr. Williams said C'ydach was growing rapidly, and it was still uneewcred. Oystermouth was reported as the only dis- trict in the county without building bye-laws, and it was decided to call the attention of the district council to the necess:ty of IJroviding • a c.io.-t water supply, building bye-laws, and s-^ughter-hoiisc3.

WELSH NATIONAL MUSEUM. SWAXREA WELFTI SOCIETY TAKES ACTION. At a meeting of the Swansea Welsh Socict v behl pj, tii0 Itoyal Iupiituuon. Swansea, on Friday evening the question of the proposed national library and museum for Wales was discussed at some length—Mr. Lleufer Thomas, chairman, moved the following resolution That. in view of the acknowledged impor- tance of well-equipped museums as handmaids to historical and scientific study and research and their educational possibilities as a means of popular culture, this meeting desires respectfully, but earnestly, to urge on the Town Council of Swansea that it should forth- v^Ah adopt tho Museums and Gymnasiums Act with tho object cf immediately estab- lishing a museum of natural history and antiquities, and that it should also appoint a committee to watch the 'nterests of Swansea with regard to the mfivement for the estab- lishment by the Government of a national library and museum for Wales." Mr. Thomas argued that the question could only be decided by arbitration on the lines upon which the sites of the Welsh university colleges were settled. He thought, however, that what would be really better than three arbitrations v.ould be a small statutory com- mission empowered to go into the whole ques- tion whether the national library and the national museum should be separate institu- tions or one, and whether the grant should be distributed among two or three towns or given to one.—Mr. Glascodine seconded the resolution, which was supported bor Colonel Morgan, Councillor Chapman, Mr. X). H. Perkins, and Mr. T. M. Evans, and carried.—A deputation was appointed to wait on the Swansea Town Council. I

CENTRAL WELSH BOAR D MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE AT SHREWSBURY. The executive of the Central Welsh I Board met at Shrewsbury on Thursday, those present including Mr. A. C. Hum- phreys Owen, M.P., Professor Anwyl, Miss Collin, Alderman Daniel R. D a vi Messrs. Charles I.byd, Trevor Owen, P. P. Pennant, Principals Reichel and Roberts, and Professor Watson. The following examiners were il)poiiited -Mat)ien,aties, Mr. Young, Peterhouse; French, Pro- fessor Victor Spiers; geography, Professor Awisworth Davis, Aberystwith; book- keeping, Mr. Henry Jones, Liverpool Col- lope • domestic economy, Mr. Phillips, Oxford; agriculture, Mr. Hedworth Fouikes, Harper Adams Agricultural Coi- lego; drawing, Mr. Paul Kulk, Royal Drawing Society; practical science, Messrs. H. O. Jones and E. H. Tripp, Marbury University.—The matter of the inclusion of the officers of the board in the proposed superannuation scheme was deferred. deferred.

CHURCHES OF WALES, REV. J. E. FLOWER MEETS A COMMITTEE. The meeting between the committer appointed by the Congregational Federation of South Wales and the Rev. J. E. Flower took place at the Memorial-hall, Parringdon-street, London, on Friday. The meeting lasted five hours, and the proceedings were strictly private. Those present were the Rev. W. 1. iforris. Congregational minister, Pontypridd; the Sev. J. Morgan Jones. Calvinistic Methodist minister, Cardiff; the Rev. E. Edmunds. Swan- sea, secretary to the Welsh Baptist Union; the Rev. Thomas Law. Memorial-hall; Mr. Robert Bird. J.P., Cardiff; Mr. Albert Spicer, .T.P., London; Mr. Shepherd, Cardiff; and Mr. Shepheard, L.C.C.. London, who acted ,aa arbitrator. On the conclusion of the pro- ceedings the following official statement was issued to the representatives of the press:- The committee had a very lengthy con- ference with the REV. J. E. Flower, who made a statement of his case, and ultimately > agreed to the following: — 'I did not mean to distinguish between English and Welsh Churches as a whole, nor did I mean to make a general charge against the Churches of Wales, but only in regard to isolated cases, the existence of which I regret. I am sorry I used words which seem capable of the construction placed upon them.' "The committee expresses its satisfaction that Mr. Flowsr has seen it right to adopt this course, and entertains the hope that the Churches in WA-CS will also accept the explana- tion.—{Signed) Robert Bird. W. Edmunds, J. Morgan Jones. Thomas Law, W. I. Morrit, Albert Spicer."

AN EISTEDDFOD BLUNDER DISAPPOIXTED COMPETITOR BRINGS AN ACTION. At Festiniog County-court (before Judge William Evans) an action was brought by Mr. William Thomas ("Cromlechydd"), Blaenau Festiniog, claiming a prize valued at two guineas from Mr. R. E. Williams, chairman of the Christmas Chair Eisteddfod. Festiniog, and Mr. Gwilym J. Jones ("IIadog Fychan"), Brecon, who obtained the prize at the last eisteddfod. Mr. R. O. Davies appeared for the plaintiff, and the defendants were represented by Mr. W. George.—Mr. Davies said that the plaintiff had a considerable experience as reciter, and competed with nine others at the Christmas eisteddfod. The adjudicator, the Rev. T. P. Edwards ("Caerwyson"), intended the plaintiff to have the prize, but by eome mistake it was given to the one he adjudged third in order of merit. Letters were written to the committee clainsitvg the gold medal and money offered as prize, but without effect, and the present action had to be taken. iiie plaintiff said that the adjudicator classified the competitors in order of merit, and the last was announced best. He was the "last" named by the adjudicator, but the con- ductor called the last that recited to receive the prize He did not make a protest at the time, as the ru!es barred him from doing so, and because he did not like to create a distur- bance. The Rev. T. P. Edwards, the adjudicator, said that he decided that the plaintiff was the best. After delivering his deoision be went to attend to other business. In defence, the conductor of the eisteddfod ("Bryfdir") said that he understood clearly the adjudicator to say the last is the best," and that he used the very words in calling for the winner, who was the co-defendant Jones. The Judge said that he had no hesitation in finding that Jfe. Edwards intended the prize to go to the plaintiff, whom he cojysidered to be by far the best. Unfortunately, the award was made to the defendant Jones, and so he would dccide in his favour, :1.1ihnnr:h tbe prize was not intended for him by the adjudicator. Judgment for the defendant, with ordinary ;ourt costs.

BY J. MUIR (Huntley, Gloucestershire.) ANSWERS TO OOEEESPONDENTS. Pr-aning r -ait Trees.—"J. F."—I shall give fun details on this next week. hKame of Apples.—S. A; Jackson.—No. 1, Bismarck; No. 2, Golden ISoble; JNO. 3, Annie Elizabeth. Name of PJ ant.—Henry Darry.-The plant you send is Sedum dasyphyllum. It is a native of Britain, and will bear a great deal of exposure, but it should be protected in very severe frost. Bees for Sale.—"M. E. C."—Your stock seems to be in excellent condition. The price you wish to sell them at is quite reasonable, and if you advertised them in this paper you would be sure to dispose of them soon, and Without any difficulty. Price of Bee Hives.—"Amateur."—You can buy them at various prices, from 5s. to 20a., and very good ones are obtainable for 10s. These are in every way convenient and durable. Any person who deals iu bee appliances will supply you. A Yellow Flowering May Thorn.—"T. C. C." -There is no yellow flowering may thorn. The tree your friend saw in bloom last blust have been some other kind of plant, **bich I would be glad to name for you if you eend me a flower when it is in blossom again. Cross-bred Table Fowls.—Mrs. Peel.—As you have six good Dorking hens, you should buy an Indian Game cockerel—a bird about ten months old—and pen them together by the end of this month. You can begin to set your eggs by the middle of January. Being a first cross, you will fijul the chicks Very robust, and I feel quite sure you will lot have the bother with them you had with those you tried to rear last spring. Canary in Conservatory.—"New Subscriber." --Many canaries are kept in conservatories fiunng the winter, and they succeed very well in them. A close, warm atmosphere is not, t?WRi^Pri. very healthy for them, and they snoutd be exposed to fresh air and all the sunshine during the day. Hang them in a cool part at night. The leaves of t-ndivs are an excellent green food for cage birds in winter. It is the best of all substitutes for lettuce. .bowla for Sale; Salt for Cabbage Bed.—C. Backton.-As you appear to have a good class of fowls, you should advertise your surplus stock for breeding purposes. The price you ask is reasonable, and the time will soon be here when new blood will be wanted in the breeding pens. Salt is no manure for cab- bage, but if sprinkled on the plants and ground slightly it will kill riiaila and other pests which injure the plants. A sprinkling Of lime would do them quite as much good. .<ne,^es of Aspidistra Plant Splitting.— t-olleen. they split it shows that tney are thin and weak, and that the plant nas been grown in a too close atmosphere, and probably not in the full light. You can- nou do anything to remedy this at present, but next spring and durins: the summer let it nave all the light available and plenty of air. when the leaves will become very firm and robust, and they will not split or crack as they have done this time. You should also ram the soil down very firmly about the roots, as this assists in securing substantial growth. The Most Showy Apple.—"D. T.There are Several apples which are quite perfect in appearance. although of different sizes; but, all points considered, the variety named Peas- Rood Nonsuch is probably the most showy, tt is extremely large, a beautiful shape, and a nice colour. It is suitable for either cook- Jng or dessert, but. the tree is not one of the most prolific, as the fruit is much too large to come in crowds. This is an apple very often seen at shows, and always admired by ^yeryone. Its season is in November and ■^cember. It is in grand condition now. Apple and Pear for Exposed Position.—"A. ü. M."—Apples and pears very often do well °n hillsides if the soil is sood. and I think you will have little or no difficulty in getting the trees to succeed. Devonshire Quarrcnden is a. very hardy apple for such a position. It 18 of good quality, and a very abundant nearer. It is in use from the beginning of August to the end of September. The pear Beune d'Amanlis is a suitable variety fdr a ftorth aspect, and I have known it do capi- tally jn that position when on a wall, but it should receive the sunshine during some Part of the day. -Re-potting Aspidistra Plant.—"A Regular Reader."—No plant ehould be re-potted at J;1?^ time of the year, and the best time to I've the aspidistra that attention is at the eTI?d of March or early in April. The plant "1'1 then make new growth at once, and Receive the full benefit of the fresh soil. In potting1 it some drainage should be very care- fully put at the bottom of the pot, and use a Fixture of soil consisting of three-parts turf or loam. very little manure, and a good deal of coarse sand or grit. Make the soil very firm round the roots, and do not give it very Jpuch water until it begins to grow, but the 'oliage may be moistened daily. fcood for Bees.—Campbell Jones.-Yon do not ,'tr wnen you united the three lots of 1, e, th? EniIlmer tim=. when they could n™ Replies to store for winter, or was it in the autumn when the honey 8easo* over? In the latter case they will l>e desti- tute. and I fear they are. as if they had a supply of honey they would not come out so much. If you gave the 2mh. of sugar all at 9nce, they may have stored some of it. but it will be better to feed them onco or twice a week all the winter. Make a thick syrup with ugar an;j a -jft+le vinegar, and rive them it t 8rna'l bottles tnrned upside down on the Kef> 0 ,the bars inside the hive or covering. tborS them warm and dry, and do not disturb any more than you can help. arpaFe fo^" Macaw.—Knight."—1These birds are sometimes kept in a cap-e. and others on attiM? J a rinpr round one leg and Ti n, to the porch by a small light chain, yon wmflu a k,ept in hoth but I think Vout i mosfc convenient to keep your W m a cage the greater on o -tuKe' ;md lat out. can if 5tantl Tor a change. The stand i? °. ™od or metal, and either on legs r attached to the wall. The ring may be made of brass, and the chain also. Any »mVVn bird &V supply yo„ col;ref,t things. As to the cage, you •l^o^ld put it in a larger one at once, as if its tail is constantly broken from being in P, too small a cage it will spoil its appearance and the bird will not be as healthy in a small cage as a large one. poultry; Pigs; Bees, Ac.—"Ignoramus."— This reader says his last balance-sheet Showed a profit of zC9 on one hundred fowls' and offers to send me his next. which will be completed in February. I will be pleased to receive this. Bees would not interfere in anv Way with your fowls, and, from what you Bay. your situation is well suited for them Th^y are very inexpensive to keep, and there Is not. much hard work attached to them. I certainly advise you to begin bee-keepinsr. You should also add pigs to your stock, and the wood-house you can buy second-hand will Pe quite suitable for them, but low cotes are Mter for them than a horse as large as a stable. A great deal of this, especially in height, would be superfluous, and you neert not invest money in such. The Berkshire pis- Is one of the best breeds to breed and feed as porkers, as they are compact and fatten Qtuckly. Lily of the Valley.-j r,imcock.The lily of under glass, or in the opW ™r and is always fashionable. It may be put'into "pot! or boxes at the present time, and placed in a strong heat to force it into bloom bur for ordinary open-air culture it ie best nl-imo/j m rich, sandy soil in March. If you have a quantity of roots in the ground, you can lift them then and divide and re-plant them, or if You have none, all nursery and seedsmen eL Keep them. The roots or crowns, as they are Tnfmed' are offered in little clusters or singly. the latter are generally the strongeet and produce the finest flowers. The lily of Galley roots are kept from growing in cold stores in the spring: or summer, and put in heat and forced all the year round, as florists find the demand for the flower in- creasing. I have not heard of its being likely to be more used next year than hitherto, but it would be a difficult matter to get the supply to exceed the demand. "r^?Itar.t:ETjtin^ Each Other's Feathers.-™ Constant Reader. —Keep them very clean*, de'krhtnin' npokln' over"run with veVmin they fr,; n.tv, i a ch otller to 2ive relief t^ilot, u are doing quite right to hang up their green food, as this gives them exercise. It is a pastime for them, and idleness is in favour of the habit. Fowls in open runs or fields rarely eat each other's feathers, as they have plenty of exercise and amusement. Give a little raw meat daily. A bran and linseed mash given twice weekly has sometimes proved a remedy; so also has a quarter of a grain of acetate of morphia eiven daily, with a grain of calomel added twice a week. Put a small teaspoonful of carbonate of potash in their drinking water daily. This gives the water an alkaline taste, and counteracts their longing for feather eating. These chemicals have been found most effective, and will often cure them. in a week. As an outward application, rubbing the picked parts with a thick lather of car- bolic soap gives the feathers a distasteful flavour which they do not like. Laying Out Little Garden.A. P.Your aketch shows a very compact place. Let the ftuit trees remain as they are. Raspberries and strawberries do not succeed well together As the gooseberries are not in good condition you should lift them from where they are and plant them in the part you have marked "Rubbish." The part now occupied with the gooseberries, between the walk and privet hedge, would be the best place for a fowl run You could give them either the tool-house or the wood shed close to it as a hen house The other part marked "Raspberries," &c | should all be cleared, the surface skimmed off and burned, and the soil deeply dug, and all refuse removed from it. You will then have a useful, clean piece of ground to plant with strawberries, raspberries, and vegetables, If a privet hedge were planted from north to south along past the door of the greenhouse it would separate this part from the orna- mental side. The ground round the house should be laid down in grass. Plant some trees along the wall and here and there on the grass, and form a flower-bed here and there. A flower border round the house would also be most useful for plants and climbers jf you wished to ornament the outside of the house with them. Distinguishing Turkey Cocks from Hens.— *<t.hel Rees.—When quite young you cannot distinguish turkey cocks from hens, but those hatched last June will show their sex by this time, or, indeed, before now. The cocks do not usually develop the brush-like appendage on the breast until a year old. It is on their pead that they show a great difference from the hens. The latter have a kind of wrinkled Jace round the beak and under tho jaw, but l"ey have no protruberances, whereas the •ocIm have a red comb about the size of one's little finger on the top of the head, and promi- nent red material under the head and round the face. By looking at these parts you can- not make a mistake in identifying them. The cocks are also stronger in the bone, legs, and altogether of a more robust development than the hens; but it will be no misfortune if both the birds you write of are hens. as they are evidently very fine ones, and they will be excellent for breeding if you obtain a. good cock to go with them. It would be letter to buy a fresh one than use one from the same brood as the hens, as most likely they a.re all related closely, and to breed from suoh would result in very tender chicks, which would be difficult to rear and not attain any great size. Charlock on Farm.—"Charlock."—This is a very common annual weed. It appears on almost every farm where there is arable land, but not in grass fields. It is a soft weed- not unlike mustard—and has a yellow flower, hen in bloom some fields appear to be one mass of it, and it seeds and re-produces itself freely. It is not a very great hindrance to the corn or root crops, but it deprives the soil of much of the food which should he utilised by the crops, and it ie no friend of the farmer. Some co t^eir best to expel or eradicate it. others leave it in possession, but attempts a'ways be made to exterminate it, and il this is energetically done it may be kept under subjection. It is an annual plant, but uie seec.s, which ripen quickly and then drop, ^e-TV1Le snpply of plants up. It is these which should be kept from re-production, and t way to do this is to mow the heads ?.-ii i P'ants when they are in flower. They will he taller at that time than the crop they are growing in, and if a man goes over them S€ythe and cuts off the flowers there will be an end to the greater part of them. I have known fields where charlock had be- come a. great pest cleared of it in two years nv careful mowing, but be sure the heads are cut off in good time and before they seed. APPLYING LIMlTrO GARDENS. I have very frequent inquiries on this matter, mainly with the object of applying it to kill insects and grubs which destroy the crops, and it is a good antidote for all such. Many gardens are composed of what may be called old soil. This is material which has been manured year after year out of all recollection, until the soil becomes a dark rich colour, with a great deal of manure in I its composition. It is when it is in this state that grubs and worms delight in harbouring in it, and these old soils are often over-run with worms to such an extent than some crops can hardly exist in it. especially carrot3, onions, parsley, Ac., which grubs are fond of. It is when soil gets into this con- dition, too, that one will be told by the culti- vator that he gives it a good dressing of manure every year, and the crops are rarels' so remunerative as they should be; but there is a possibility of over-manuring ground until it is sick of it, and so are the roots of the plants. The soil requires mere life in it. nun manure win not impart tnis, but lime does, and it acts as a tonic on the over- manured soil and liberates elements which had become stagnant. It is in thin that lime is of immense service, and whether ihe soil is lull of worms or not consider if over- manured or stagnant, and apply the remedy. Never make the mistake which some do of applying manure and lime tocher The hnie wiH. retain its virtues, but the manure will be rendered u £ -ele=G, and it will only be tnrown away. When lime is put on no manure should be given that year. The best time to apply lime ie from November till I ebrunry. It should be put in the soil only a few daya before the seeds or plants are introduced, but give it plenty of time to act. The lime should always be fresh. If brought from the kiln in lumps and put down in little heaps here and there en the ground it is going in, with a little soil over the top, it will break into a powder in a day or two, and then ia the time to dig- it into the soil. It is not eo effective if it gets into a sticky state. Flower-beds that are full of worms or wherp the soil has been over- manured should also be limed. Do not lime the main parts and leave the corners un- dressed. All should be dressed. Gar, lime is more powerful in killing grubs than the ordinary lime, but it is not lime is more powerful in killing grubs than the ordinary lime, but it is not such a good fertiliser, and in more poisonous. A small sprinkling only of it should be used.. but the hot lime may be put on as a layer half an inch or a little more in thickness. If there are pieces of ground with crops on them now lime them as soon as these have been removed. New soil recently cultivated rarely requires lime. unless there are many worms in it. Old mortar and lime rubbish are not of much use in killing worms, hut they are uiieful in the soil, and the roots of the plants will often be found clinging- to them. which indicates their attraction for them. It is aways a healthy ingredient, and in the case of stiff soil it enables the roots to penetrate freely and deeply. FRUIT TREES IN POULTRY RUYS. I am often asked if it will Euit fruit trees and poultry to associate the two in the runs. There could be no better combination, and I urge on all who have runs .that are only occupied with the fowls now 'to plant fruit trees in them. They will undoubtedly prove a source of profit, and they will benefit the fowls in affording them agreeable shade in hot weather. There are very many small grass patches given up to fow!.1, In come cases these may not excccd one-quarter oft an «cre, and they vary, some being half an acre. or probably a whole on^ or more, but it docs not matt _r what sixe they are, they are all admirable positions for fruit tKoes. The ground cannot be cultivated like a garden where there are fowls. Vegetables would not be a success in the runs, as they would either be scratched oat by the root or eaten when young by the fowls..Neither, can the surface of poultry rims be used for the surface of poultry rims be used for grazing purposes, as stock does not relish the grass that is soiled by the few!; but every- thing is in harmony for fruit trees, and no. better addition could be made to the runs. Standard trees, with long stems and bushy heads, are the best to plant. They may be inserted in the ground without disturbing the turf to any extent. The stem.3 arc no hindrance to the fowls or their management, and the heads are out. of the way of every- thing. If the trees are planted about: five yards apart they will never densely shade the whole surface or to the extent that the grass would be weakened, and they would very soon provide the fowls with both shelter and nhade most advantageously. Were fruit trees gene- rally planted in fowl runs it would soon be found that the land was yielding a profit, able crop, and this and the fowls combined would yield a handsome pro-t.' It is gene- rally observed that where fowls are kept in orchards grubs and insects arc never harm- ful to the trees. a3 the fowls devour all such greedily. Apples, pears, and plums may all he planted in pouUry runs, and I hope to hear that many of them have been well stocked with thenl this winter. A PRETTY BERRY-BEARING PLANT. Pot plants which bear berries at mid- winter, or, indeed, at any season, are not very plentiful in variety, and the Rolanum capsicastrum is a noted exception to this rule, as it is one of the finest of all berry-bearing plants in winter and a most useful subject. It has a graceful, bushy habit of growth, with green leaves, and the branches are thickly covered' with fcevne* of a bright • scarlet colour, nearly as large a a a nut. Plants in six-inch pots, with a dozen shoo's or more from one foot to eighteen inches in height, are beautiful objects r.s room or dinner-table plants at Christmas, and all in want of such should inquire for this plant at the nurseries. It may be propagated from either seed or cuttings in the spring, and it may also be grown on year after year until it is quite a huge bush, when the branches may be cut off, with the berries attached, for deco- ration. It is a greenhouse plant, but will succeed in the open air in summer, and is very easily grown at all times. PRESERVED EGGS AT THE BIRMINGHAM SHOW. The Birmingham Fat Stock Society is one of the best in the country for encouraging the production cf eggs. They very wisely, too, offer excellent prizes every year for the best preserved eggs. These are shown in dozens, and have to be deposited at Bingley- hall on the 1st of August preceding the show. They have, therefore, four months to remain in their preserved state, and the result of this is always watched with a great deal of Herest by crowds during the show. It is a most popular claes, as the advantage of preserving eggs when they are cheap and plentiful till the time when they are scarce and dear, which is at present, is a subject of the greatest importance. This year there were twenty-three lots in competition, and the means of preserving them were varied. In judging one egg is broken in each lot. The yolks of some of them had burst, and the white of others were discoloured, but generally they turned out in very good con- dition, and there were no samples which were really unusable. The eize of the eggs does not count. There were some large and small ones staged. The prize ones were not the largest. The first prize dozen had been pre- served in a solution of lime, salt, water, and cream of tartar. The second were rubbed with Vaseline, wrapped in paper, and packed in bran; and the reserve number, from the same exhibitor, had been treated in the same way. There were not so many preserved in waterglass as I have seen at other shows, but one "v. h. c." lot preserved wholly in this waA in fine order. As a rule, the eggs were fertile, although some think they keep better if unfertile. ASPARAGUS BEDS.: Some allow their asparagus beds to remain as they wither until the spring, but this is not the best way of treating them. The whole of the withered growths should be cut over close to the soil now, and all weeds and refuse removed. The surface should then be forked over a little, but not deeply; a quan- tity of salt sprinkled on, and then a layer of manure placed over it. The roots are quite hardy. They do not need the manure as protection, but, being soft and fleshy, they feed in the winter, as well as the summer, by absorbing the liquids. TABLE FOWLS AT THE BIRMINGHAM SHOW. There were four clasace for fowls for the table at the above show. The birds are first exhibited alive, and those selected by the judges are killed and trussed and judged in that condition again. It is a good and instructive system, and the society is to be congratulated on doing eo much to encourage poultry-keeping. As is so generally the case, the cross-bred fowls between the Game and Dorking were conspicuously fine-hldeed, the best in the show, although in some instances the specimens were too large to be accep- table on the best tables, and those in want of handsome table fowls cannot do better than adhere to this cross. The Buff Orping- ton was conspicuous in quality, and very many were shown as crossed between the Indian Game and Orpington. This gives a capital table fowl, which will be quite as popular as 110 Dorking-Game cross. In a class of twerny-three of pure or cross bred fowls other than Game or Old English Game or Indian. Game and Dorking fourteen in that number were Buff Orpington crosses, the other breeds used with them being Indian Game, Langshan (too coarse), Silver Wyan- dotte (a nice bird), and Plymouth Rock (also coarse). All these classes met with much patro- nage from the public, especially the ladies, who crowded round the exhibits in a manner that indicated how anxious they were to learn which breeds are the best, either pure or crossed, for the table, and the Buff Orpington was conspicuous and most favourably received. Last year I was most favourably impressed with this variety, and this year it is more generally exhibited than ever, and merits being classed as a perfect table fowl. CHRYSANTHEMUM CUTTINGS. Chrysanthemums should be raised from cuttings every season. Old plants are never useful after they have bloomed the first time, and should not be retained after the new cuttings have been taken off them. Where a number of plants of one kind are grown pro- bably two of them will give sufficient cuttings, and all the others may be thrown a way as soon as the flowers decay. This will give more room and reduce the labour of attend- ing to them all. In selecting the plants for cutting3 those which have a quantity of dwarf robust shoots should be kept. These will make better cutting* than where the growths are weak and straggling. When the flowers wither, cut the stem over close to the soil, and put the plants in a cold frame or come such place, where they will be close to the glass and light. Give them air on fine days. A little fro3t will not do them much harm, but. they should not be submitted to any great amount of it. Keep the soil at the roots moist, and the cuttings will be in good order when taken off in February. A DUKE AS A CARROT GROWER. Lord Rosebery is credited with being the champion potato grower of the world, his crops of thia indispensable root at Dalmeny Park being unique in their excessive yield. Another nobleman may well be termed the champion carrot grower. This is the Duke of Portland, Welheck Abbey, Notts, who t has been t'.io most successful exhibitor of carrots at the Birmingham and other winter shows for many y-ars paet. Few roots are more difficult to grow than perfect carrots, as they are so apt to be checked or injured by grubs, and it requires a particularly well- cultivated soli to grow them about as thick as one's arm andfeearly as long, which is the usual dimensions of the Welheck specimens. These secured first and scccnd prizes in the class for reds and second in whites, ihc root3 being of extraordinary size and of the finest quality. White carrots are aa useful for stock as the red ones, but the latter are better for the kitchen or table, and the variety go successfully shown by the duke, which is named "Webb's Prize Winner." i. a grand type, in both quantity and quality. CACTUS PLANTS IN WINTER. I sometimes hear qf cactus plants decaying wholly or in part in wi.er. and this should not occur, as th2Y are most easily kept in health at ihis season. The mistake made with them is in giving them too much water and keeping the roots wet. This canoes the roots to perish, and then the top io bound to fail, whereas they should all be kept quite dry a,t' the root from November till March. The most healthy collection 01 cactus I know of rarely receives a drop of water during the winter. The. plants are kept in a little jv'.ars- house, and fire heat is employed to ei:pe! damp and exclude frost, and th-y are as heaithy at the end of the winter as if it were midsummer. The eo;l may appear as if quite baked in dryness, but that will make no difference to them, and they will suffer far less in that way than if mo;st. All who have cactus plants beginning to assume a yellow- colour—always a sare sign of sickiKcs,-—should at once withhold all water from the roots, and let them pa.^s the winter in drynooc. POTATOES AT Tim BIRMINGHAM EIICIT I always regard Birmingham as a typical show, where good prizes are offered for the most useful class of produce and where the competition is invariably keen and the management, first-rate. Of all the shows I go to I never find potatoes better represented than at Birmingham, and ::t the .show last, week there were 33 different lots ataged, the cla&ses being for twelve varieties, six varieties, four varieties, two varieties, and single dishes. The exhibits were niceiy arranged iu iittle compartmsnta for each variety, and the public have no difficulty in inspecting them .full^ i he quality throughout was most uniform. very cften ironie huso specimens are shown. Such are attractive in appV/r- ance, but they are not of a good table finality, as a rule, and it is the medium-sized on-"< that are the best when cooked and the most economical. This was the general style of them there, and. although there were many other attractions in the show in stock and other tlnnes, the potatoes were examined by crowds, who cou'd not fail to be. attracted by such a grand and well-arranged display •1 urging from indications here, the reason of EGl must have.V-cen a capital one for ih" potato, and I of the lots were bought as seed to plant next year, the occasion afford- inA" a good opportunity of securing the' best varieties true to name. Amongst those 1Il the potato line who were there I had a long talk .with Mr. Findlav the noted raiser of new potatoes' from Markinch. Fifeshire, N.B. Thin gentle- man was the raiacr of "Up to Date." "Thé) Bruce." "Chaiieng-e." and other varieties of potatoes which are found to be of great ex-p-el- lAn,> .1 — w. <uiu ueu:, ana my ourstionn to Mr. Find!ay mainly related to the hCQt bind of tubers to plant. I have long been of opinion that tubers grown with the aid of nitrate of soda dnd other forcing artificial manures which induce emrreous crops ■< -o pot- the most hardy or hen for plrrtin- rnd in this Mr. Findlay quite agreed with me. and ..sserted that the best to plant were l"o-c grown in rather poor soil and in a hardy way, while immense tubers were apt to be" weak in constitution and generate disease. PLANTING ROUND NEW DWELLINGS. It is only in winter that trees can be planted successfully, and wherever it is intended to plant round new dvcllines advantage should he taken of this season to do eo. However fully the mind may be: madyiri to plan*, there ie often an inclination to dy it! :oe builders try to complete their houses iu the autumn, and be tore the 1 ad weather in winter interferes, but. probably the ph'nting may be left over till another year—"to get all straight," it is said, "then we will see what we are doing- but it ought to be con- sidered that a year lost makes a vast diffe- rence in tree planting; and if the very moet has to be made of it planting ought invariably to be done as soon as ever the house is com- pleted, or during the first winter. The lawns may not be made at the time or the sur- roundings put in order, but the trees will not interfere with that work. Let it be decided where they have to be planted, whether in groups or as single specimens, and then plant. Nothing can be done to beautify the sur- roundings or set off the house to greater advantage than a free and tasteful introduc- tion of trees. I WTOto fully on the operation of planting a fortnight ago, and dealt with the subject generally, but this is special, :18 I am more and more convinced of the pleasure afforded by trees round dwellings and the incompleteness of those which are destitute of them. Those of taste never j relish a bare house, but enjoy furnished sur- roundings; and, while new houses offend many eyes in their cold nakedness, the only remedy is to plant good-sized trees and quick growers. which in a very few years hence will impart to the dwelling the sociable appearance of quite a long-established place. This is what very many desire. In planting round a new dwelling it is not implied that a great ex- pense must be incurred. This idea, I fear, is often an impediment to planting. The owners say they have spent enough of money in building, and they must wait a while before planting, although their desire may be to do so as soon as possible. The place is then put into a kind of order, becomes settled, and in after yeara, when it is intended to plant, it is thought a pity to dis- turb it. The result is that trees are always scarce, and the beauties which would develop with the association of trees are never secured. There are many large trees of common kinds admirably fitted to give the surroundings of new dwellings a fur- nished appearance quickly which can be bought very cheaply. These may be intro- duced to give general effect, and choicer sorts can be planted later if they cannot be introduced with the others. Those whose dwellings are near towns cannot do better than observe the kinds of trees that have succeeded in the streets or with others who planted them years ago. and plant the same kinds. Suitableness in this respect for atmo- spheric conditions is of more importance with tall trees than dwarf ones, as the latter are generally more screened than the former and less exposed to different influences.

HONOUR FOR COLONEL IVOll HERBERT. Hit Majesty the King has authorised ths acceptance by Colonel Ivor Herbert. C.B., C.M.G., of the dignity of Commander of the Cijder of the Crown of Italy, which the King of Italy has expressed his wish to confer upon him in recognition of his services when in charge of the Italian and other foreign representatives in South Africa. Colonel Her- bert is one of the few officers of the Engliz^ Army who epeak Italian fluently, as he does also the French, German, and Russian lan- guages. He was recently elected a member of the Newport Town Council.

A WELSH LADY B.Sc. At the recent B.Sc. examination at the London University Miss Mary Spencer John. daughter of Mr Vaughan John, of Aberavon, obtained the degree. Miss John studied at the University College of Wales. Aberj stwith.

ABERBEEG COLLIERY OFFICIAL FUSED. At Abertillery Police-court on Friday, Reec Emmanuel, manager of Arrael Colliery, Aber- beeg. was summoned by the Newport Har- bour Commissioners for causing ashes to be tipped into the River Ebbv, and also with allowing ashes to be tipped on land liable to be flooded, on November 11 and 16. George Carter, engineman, was also summoned for tipping the ashes into the river.—Emmanuel waa find L5 on each charge, and Carter £2.- For similar offences William Weale, unaer- manager at the Aberbeeg Colliery, Aberbeeg, was fined f,5 in two casea,