Weekly Mail

CARDIGANSHIRE POLICE. QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE COUNTY COMMITTEE. The quarterly meeting of the Cardiganshire Police Committee was held at the Town-hall, Lampeter, when Major Price Lewis (Tyglyu Aevon) presided.. The Chief-constable (Mr. Howell Evans) reported that Police-constable Thomas Jones (27) had resigned after 35 years of faithful ser- vice, and was entitled to a retiring allowance of £ 50 13s. 10d. per annum. Police-constable Lewis Davies (21), who had been taken to the Carmarthen Asylum suffering from delusional insanity, would not be able to resume his duties, and as he had faithfully served the county for 32 years he also was entitled to a similar amount of retiring allowance.—The full allowances were granted in eich case, and in the latter instance it was understood that the patient's maintenance at the asylum would be defrayed out of the sum due to him. that the patient's maintenance at the asylum would be defrayed out of the sum due to him. It was decided to requaition the county council for a. sum of jE:900 for the maintenance of the police force during the ensuing quarter. Mr. C. M. Williams (Aberystwyth) reported that the committee appointed for the purpose had visited the house at Pontrhydygroea, the property of the chief-constable, which it was proposed to purchase in order to convert it into a constable's residence. They found it TO be a large, substantially-built house, with eight to ten rooms, and with splendid out- buildings, and half an acre of garden attached. The whole had eoet the chief-constable £135" and be was prepared to sell it to the com- mittee for that price, although he had received a much better offer. The committee recommended that the property be purchased, as it was a bargain. The Lord-lieutenant (Colonel H. Davies- Evans): Is it freehold property at that price ? Mr. C. M. WHKairis: Yes; it was built at the time that the Liisburne lead mines were employing a large number of men. The Clerk (Mr. H. C. Fryer) said that if the mines were re-started at any time the district would become prosperous again, and the value of the property would greatly increase. It was in an out-of-the-way place. Mr. C. M. Williams said the outbuildings could be let as storehouses at any time. It was unanimously agreed to accept the chief-constable's terms, and to complete the purchase. A committee was appointed to deal with the question of the proposed new police-station at Llandyssul.

RADNORSHIRE. Radnorshire Quarter Sessions were held at the Shire-hall. Presteign. before Mr. J. C. Carter, chairman of the court, and a full bench of justices. There were two case* for trial, which the chairman briefly explained to the grand jury, who brought in a true bill against James Smith (a convict on ticket-of- leave) for breaking into the house of Eva Price at Cwmdauddwr on March 24, and steal- ing therefrom five watches, vaiue £10. Priso- ner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour, in addition to his having to serve the remainder of his penal servitude, two years. Patrick Murphy, who pleaded Not gnilty," was found guilty, and sentenced to five months' hard labour for unlawfully and mali- ciously wounding William Barton, earetaker at the Elan Valley dosshonse at the Birming- ham Waterworks at Cwmdauddwr, on the 24th of March last.

SLEEPING IN A MINE. The dangers arising through men sleeping in the mines were again strongly emphasised at Pontypool Police-court on Saturday during the hearing of a case in which William Stone, a, young collier, hailing from Aberaychan, was charged with committing a breath of the Mines Act, whereby the livea of the workmen in the mine were endangered.—Mr. W. J. Everett, who appeared for the prosecution, stated that the defendant was a hitcher employed by Messrs. Partridge, Jones. and Co., at their BlaenseTchan Colliery.—According to the evidence, it appeared that on the 19th of March, whilst engaged as a hitcher at the coUiery, defendant neglected his work by leaving his poet and going to sleep in the electric engine-sihed. He was seen fast asleep about half-past one in the morning by Willia-m Morgan, a fireman, and another workman. There were about ltS workmen in the mine at the time, and, as defendant had tola control of the pit, there was a great danger of other colliers attempting to attend to the signals in the absence of the hitcher.- Evidence was given by Joseph Morgan. manager, William Morgan, fireman, and Daniel Williams, haulier, all of whom bore out Mr. Everett's statement, and pointed oat that the engine-room was about twenty yards away from defendant's post.—Defendant, who was represented by Mr. T. S. Edwards, New- port, said the colliery was slack at the 'tune. and he thought it was a convenient time to have his supper, so he went into the engine- room. He denied going to ele<p there—The Bench considered the charge ppoved. and imposed a fine of 20s. and coete.

QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED. J. IfTTTj, rii '• "lencairn, Sandon, ChelmBford.] POW! wi Others'M&'olIen Head?.-E. Evans, "Bob," V5ardv uv ease see remarks in this issue. of laB^C" B-"—Please see reply in 4 i.e again V this is not sufficient, jnf"Ut the selection given then is JKHline ^erftln& one. a. jpist to lo? beetles.—"Escarbot."—Ask a an<f i?ou have some of what is known thl8 ^°wn >»«».„ ngf18en's Beetle Poison. Pat are ttF and there in the evening where eat it greedily, and it kills Wee sa e. 5^t!^eedR0K\1>lant?-Black Rock.It is c **his albid'o T; ?* hardy rock plant called owin»It. is also often called the rock in ilg great quantity of close- i^w.erg afp ? foliage. Its masses of white J,f)?il. Tho^^ery conspicuous in March and lch makf» 18 a variegated-leaved variety iPfoporti^ a Pre«y edging plant. jrtr\jQS EpSo' .Waterglaes to Water for Pre- mising. rfjf»•—A well-known chemist writes in Sht, in keep to measure, and not supno £ ?a}lnS with waterglass. Another y^haa trfJ^fi- Preserver of egg states that ?res ov,.i u at various strengths, and now 'iitepn »,• 81vely to one pint of wuterglass }lox m D!me of water. f]»Li2a-betbriTerT> .,PuPPy with Bad Skin- ni»ht. Riv- —Your manner of feeding is ,i.iron it a mixture of 3grs. of sulphate a nJii} ^e dl'6ps of liquor arsenicalis «f carbon?* Dress the skin with a mixture J^boiic ^,ar? °f potash 2dr., laudanum 2oz., and « loZ-' glycerine loz. Wash -with YoD aria water in two days after dres- t^anie f lnay have to dress several times. Si? .flowpi;owtr-—"Ceylon."—It. is a epecies a nai le c«rriint, named Ribes^ Lobbii. v. r°<iu(wiavc of California, but was probably a„ r to the part you found it J as ii?8 a Sarden plant. It is quite as .ijV^ink v ordinary flowering rurrant, and afi^t u Ji°u should secure some of it and a» it Jour garden as ail ornamental ^s5id' nowers early and is very pretty, iftte tfira Piant Unhealthy.—"F. G."—Now s?6in t0 ^is an(l all other pot plants will sJ the Tv,,??^r(!ve' Do not give it much water a ^oephp? till, growth ie active. The close aiJ^llow vl ]n w'nter would cause it to assume Sr' and v e? and y°n should give it more £ ? Burg it in the full light in the window. firm I 80^ is drained1 and made n?? annr," .Ppnkle some soot on the surface, JUy -wa2*r ^e leavee now and again. The get a plant with upright leaves ti^re J « 8ta^e anc* tie eacli one. *?e Sa^"frsons and Magnum Bonum Plums l>is^e^"J- M- P-'VOh, no, no. Jeffer- *!Jth „ nrst-rate dessert plum', of good size, M*ei1 tin ycH°w skin, dotted with purple b and has a delicious flavour. The shnV^°num ie considerably larger, of an in&e" A^le skin is 'thick, yellow, with iK0*!? i?11, ^nt a sub-acidy flavour. It »9 for cooking or preserving, compared an quality witu The Ma gnum Bonum is very I anc* one of the largeet of all plume. and Ducks.—"Pat."—Thanks for your *1B°cia+i_riever heard of the results of the t3rfan+t you state, but your experience you in believing such to be the n^iced try and learn if it has been t?ster.n>. Ti others. If you could get some cjey ar<T„ your fowls have these, as «vI°Ve a excellent for ehell forming, and often t>i/ei5edy f°r soft eggs. You should (i-lveg fine, and put them down by them- if'Ve thoi? not mix them with the soft food. »> a t«. Persists in laying soft eggs II a3to^a6P°°nful of castor oil three times Mn days' j0ae f°r Garden Crops.—"Bryn."— '8 lint nure ia always a reliaTile fertiliser. t«. bn+ -.Wiok in its action as some elimu- „ °J>s i~i Sives good results. The stronger K^°Qs SS. as Potatoes, parsnips, leeks, ftit jJ should receive a good sprinkling. > fote aionS the side of the potato rows ;61Uirin™0u earth them up. Crops not the .«?ilrthing up should have it placed ^t,lreen ace- and then run the dutch hoe J?lth lhe rows or plants, so as to mix it rootaEo»' ant* make it more available for Jith jt^8* All kinds of greens will grow well ■yehlv^L and 1 hope you will have a y0u Profitable garden, but it will be better aDUi-A ^n Sive it a dressing of farmyard Tweets year" i et Peas.—"Sweet Peas" (Algiers).— my Previous advice -was useful and ?* y' There are very many varieties t flo»er °f a'l shades and colours. Those option i7e.ry early may be raised under pro- cr°ttnrt' now all are sown in the open « the grow fast, which will, no doubt, with yours. Give them rich, deep in n sure and keep the seed pods picked thw> « autumn, as this is a gTeat help late. Blanche Burpee and half two good ones, and the following K^owu /a °07-en of the very bestCountess i^chft. ^9ranSe, suffused with light purple). 7lth .of Sutherland (pearly white, suffused Wtld' Emily Eckford (nearly blue), Mrs. T\rillcp yiam'>erlain (v/bite flaked with rose), r>0nna /„^ward of York (deey rose), Prima ery r.1^°ft Pink). You will 6e charmed with one of these. r™ Bntter for Winter Use.—G. W. « ftilT^„„ £ i^follo'vin= reply is furnished by a-n?vT^^ificated dairy expert:—"Butter to ?f.seeP ■must be quite fresh when dealt ^>1(1' ^hurnmg wash it thoroughly with i a9 much of the water as ra+^> iff out add dry fine salt at °ne ounce to the pound or rather Work this -well through the «? thai Vien 1 8'Lan<'i f°r four or five hours, +iii? ^t may melt, and then work up fairly hard and dry. Have the dish il^e «3ln, 1t ready. Small tubs or earthen- 1 is rocke are suitable. If wood, see tliat «l,ttp-Perfectly sweet, or it may taint the "Mt r. Before putting in rub the sides with 'Is]." Crocks are really the best, and less tOe:t Its to tarnishing the flavour. In putting tJie fitter in line the bottom and sides with ^t lot, then continue to fill up the tlwre. Wlien full cover first with a cloth, gv a layer of salt." Rhubarb be Cut or Pulled?—L. ,°n -You are the first to a<=k me this que&- it is a very appropriate one, but common and so hardy that I ?ot growers generally think it matters *lCe i„ the stalks are taken off. The prac- aJpi08t invariably to pull the stalks off, to nse a knife. The stalks "with the crowns in a way that i» tho or their being pulled and detached ■t cari -lnJury to the plant, but sometimes, VeiHg not taken, some of the smaller k? VonJ6 ?rawn off, too, and this spoils them, fc^lanf rhjabarb is so weak, it ought to be ?H1. y^d into deeply-dug and well-manured J°inff have jusji missed the season for \J- l8, an<l had better delay it now till 7'U j*1Dter. From November till February • '"eta 0r- a 'ittle later. It requires rich soil wUtfchi '11 its vigour, but once it is placed in v'fl. n 5uarters it improves quickly, which » I'fcIS ?.0llbt. be the case with yours. If rjjjPPlied it well with liquid made from horse manure this spring it would ^nihi stronger, but it evidently requires (^Planting. Y.iin f°r Poultry Rearing.—"Cernydd." jjlly P^ce you contemplate taking is capi- S?»t. TaPted for poultry rearing—indeed, the 1 .think you would make a very good tw^Urv lt' aB 70Ur w'fe is a good dresser of ?ptli yhich is a great advantage, and your 3VmJr,eratanding fowls is greatly in your .When nicely done and good, a ready f ty i 18 always open, and there is no diffi- getting plenty of private customers fl^h at the best prices. Buff Orpingtons *ll ^rst-rate. all-round fowls, as they lay o are excellent for the table. This one °f your breeds, and the main 0 &i "iymofth Rocks and Wyandqttes are ♦ ''h »osf useful as combining egg production » ecf°i0d table properties. You would have ^H^Ploy some large incubators, and rear t»e Ti-meet tlia markets, when the chickens highest price. Your intentions of i5«ilit,'nt are ^te appropriate, and the afforded by the adjoining wood will jpwy beneficial. I hope you will succeed. J'fce KHi be glad to hear from you at any v5 4onvUonr hees will be a help, and I have t t you w-ould find pig breeding answer tL;,?0' as you would have time to attend la' and they are profitable. A jifshouses for Tomato Growing, Ac.—"A. ti,r~The best houses for tomato growing of yarious lengths, about fifteen feet •LW 8Pawn rooted, eight or nine feet high, on each side, and a path of three the middle. Two rows are grown on itart Those next the glass are trained (v» COM t1le roc)t' the inner ones up stakes v- t' fhere should be at least four rows hot water piping in each. To force in J^rjr • double this quantity would be neces- cftftdi.0,ihe nsual length of a house is one feet. A good, substantial house v** s. c?«t -when complete about one pound h0trid>r run. I do not think that Hereford a better centre for you than your v1" as Liverpool is very convenient ?9tiir and and home markets. You would flOo .Te about half a dozen houses to make J? 5tfi/ear clear profit. A3 there are groiverfl i> #oi^r ^is|trict, 1 would advise you to call 5ti<l of them, have a, chat on the subject. *»th have no doubt you would be supplied yjSo hn0Qle usefnl information. You could n or,rent a place in working order, a» > th6 often such offered in various parts fptl „ country, and to secure such would save a*t oF1"63* many preliminaries and let you "t once.

Rural JOTTINGS. CITABLE HINTS AND INPORMA- TIOX. ^TRACTIVE AND CHEAP SUMMER 1: FLOWERS. k°p ^Ver like <he idea of anyone who longs Nrj a.nd sweet flowers in his gardens I ^ord ^fPrived of them because he cannot ° fePend much money on them. I V^jlhlgeraninms and plants of a kindred ^ich cost 3s., 6s., or more per dozen, e8e rt hought in quantity by many, but j,. ° &ot excel in attractions, and there C to^ty flowers more bright and varied and certainly sweeter, which can trodnced at one-quarter the price. I to those which are obtainable from «ian<* which are known as summer I rt^le9e are hundreds in number, of heights. with flowers of all shades ] with delightful forms, and many •Kst>lp chariDingly scented. They are n class, and merit culture by all. a magnificent show in large or *he „ gardens, and no flowers are so cheap. fUh 8 can be bought in penny iiacket3., 11 1uuntity for 3d.. and a shilling ■, £ tuPn0 invested in them gives a capital ey iric'u(ie ev/eet peas, mignonette, calliopeig, candy tufts, ooIlInsia" Indian pinks, Marguerites, bllOns. Sodetiaa, larkspurs, linums. love lupins, marigolds, nasturtiums, I 11. evening primroses, poppiee, sweet rockets, sweet Sultans, sunflowers, tropseo-1 lums, and Virginian stocks. Many of the annuals have very small seeds. The soil requires to be fine when they are sown. It should be manured and forked over. Whole beds or borders may be planted, Of if there are permanent plants here and there sow annuals in between. The seed of all I have named may be put in now. Get the soil in good order, sow thinly, and cover over with some gritty matter, which will induce early growth. See that the snails do not cat the little plants when they come through. Shake a dusting of soot or lime on them, or put a little ridge of sharp ashes round each lot of plants. The snails cannot get over this. It forms an effectual barrier. The rule is to sow annual seed, when gene- rally a great host of plants comes, and soon get crowded; then they are drawn up weekly. Such plants do not, do justice to the grand show annuals are capable of making when properly treated, and aS soon as the young plants can be handled thin them out, so that each one can grow robustly and stand by itself. PLANTING ASPARAGUS ROOTS. All deficiencies of asparagus should now be rectified. If none has been grown hitherto and some is wished, a plantation should be formed at once. If existing plants or roots are old and past their best, make a new bed 10 succeed these. When beds become par- tially exhausted and roots die here and there attempts are sometimes made to make up the blanks amongst the old roots, but this is not a. very satisfactory proceeding, as the bed never becomes complete again. The new roots may grow and become useful, but the old ones will decline, and the plantation will continue to be incomplete. It is much better to make a new bed and have all in a perfect state. The best time to plant asparagus roots is just when growth is beginning. This, as a. rule, is now. The culture of asparagus is much better understood and easier done at present than it was years ago. Then its culture was chiefly confined to large gardens, and a great deal of fuss was made in prepar- ing the beds; but now amateurs everywhere grow it quite as well, with much less labour and expense. The bed system of planting and growing is almost extinct, as planting row after row on the level soil is generally fol- lowed. The soil should be somewhat sandy. if possible. If heavy and stiff try to give it a dressing of sand or grit. Sea sand is the best, but any kind will do. The soil should be good, with a dry sub-soil. Deep digging is very desirable, a.nd there should also be a qaantity of manure added. In light soil give cow manure; in heavy soil horse manure. Work the manure well in, and on a fine day plant. If the roots have been raised from seed in the rirden lift them and plant again at once. If they have been growing in rows dig them out to leavo a root every foot. These should remain undisturbed, and will come sooner into bearing than those transplanted now. In planting asparagus roots do so in rows, allowing two feet from row to row and one foot from plant to plant. Open a trench the width of a spade, and four inches deep, all along the rows. Then place the roots in fiat and with the rootlets extend- ing all ways, as is their natural habit. Put several handfuls of sand over each root, and then put the soil on and level it over. On the piece the plants were dug from the ground should be levelled by forking it lightly. If roots have to be bought in get them one or two years old, not more. Have them packed moist, sent quickly, and plant at once, or before the roots can become dry in any way. This is very important. Some may think they would secure a useful bed sooner by planting three year old roots, but they do not grow so readily as the younger ones. In all cases avoid inferior roots. RAISING ASPARAGUS ROOTS FROM SEED. This plan has everything to recommend it, and is cheap. It germinates freely, the plants soon attain a. good size, and they are always convenient. Do not sow it to have it all to transplant again, but prepare the ground as if the roots were to be planted, then part of the seedlings can become a permanent planta- tion, and the surplus can be thinned out and transplanted. Prepare the soil well by manuring and digging deeply. Let the posi- tion be a favourable one, open the drills two inches deep, and sow thinly, then cover with some gand before putting on the soil. The young plants will attain a height of eighteen inches or so this season, and 'the space between the rows may be cropped with one rotfr of another vegetable, but of a. dwarf growth, which will not shade or interfere with the asparagus, which should have the best care to assist its free development, as this is important and desirable. SEAKALE FROM SEED. "Seakale should be grown more generally than it iH. It is a delicious and valuable vegetable in the early spring months, or it may be forced in winter. Good roots yield largely, and a, great quantity may be gathered from an ordinary sized bed. It is easily raised from seed, and this is a very good way of securing a stock. It should be sown where the roots will grow till productive. This will be slightly next year and fully in two years. The ground should be well manured and dug deeply. The seeds are larger than peas. The outer covering is a hard shell. To facilitate germination the shells should be cracked before Bowing. Open, drills two feet apart and two inches deep. Drop two or three seeds in every ten or twelve inches. Put a handful of sand on the top. then cover with soil. The variety lily white is superior to the old pink kind. It is equally productive and more tender. FOWLS WITH SWOLLEN HEADS. Complaints about this are at present more numerous than usual, and few who inquire seem to know what is the matter, and I fear the information I give will hot be agreeable. The complaint 38 roup, which ia one of the worst of all poultry diseases, as it is both seriously deteriorating and highly infectious. A swollen head is one of the most noticable features of the disease. At first the fowl mopes, then the eyes water and the nostrils run. and as the disease develops the head swells, especially about the eyes, and by that time the disease is quite established, and requires prompt care; but it would be better if means were taken to check it when the first symptoms appeared. Excessive damp, cold, and uncleaniiness are all roup promoters, and I attribute the extra prevalence of it at present to the great rainfall and wet runs experienced in March. Fortunately, the better weather which we all anticipate as being at hand is in favour of its sracceseful treatment. If only one or two are as yet bad, do not let another day pass without isolating them from the others, and in very bad cases, where a fowl is not a valuable one. I am in favour of destroying it, if this is likely to stay the disease. As both cures and remediea, clean the houses and runs out thoroughly. Limewash the walla and sprinkle lime on the floors, or, if lime is not available, wash the walls, perches, and everything with carbolic water. Moisten the floors with it, too, and scrub them with it. Then bed with dry ashes, and change these frequently. Scald all food and drinking dishes twice a week, and keep all clean and comfortable, and on the same day as these measures are taken give the foy;ls attention, too. Make a strong solution of Condy's fluid and water. Wash the head and mouth well with this. Get all matter removed, and wash the feet as well. Do this daily. The washing mixture may be should be composed of powdered liquorice half teaepoonful of Epsom salts aa a preliminary to receiving pills, which are convenient. These should be composed of powdered liquorice half an ounce, balsam copaiba one ounce, piperell one drachm, and sufficient magnesia to make a. mass. Divide into sixty pills, and give one every morning and evening until cared. Any chemist will make these pille. STARTING TO MOW LAWNS. It is a. great advantage to the lawn to begin mowing early. Where- no regular gardener is kept the work may often be done by jobbing hands, but it is first-rate exercise for the owner, and the machine may often be run over when the man employed is not available. When the grass is allowed to grow from four I. to six inches high the surface under becomes quite blanched and tender, and as the mowing exposes it the cold nights are almost sure to check the growths, and the lawn becomes sickly at the very first of the season, which is a bad beginning. When cut early, and before the grass ia long enough to blanch the surface, a hardy green bottom is secured, and this continues. Where the grass or surface is somewhat coarse, it is well to run it over with a scythe the first mowing. Give it a thoroughly good sweep afterwards, and it will then be in fine trim for the lawn-mower to make good work. SOWING BROCCOLI FOR WINTER. The forepart of April is the best time to sow broccoli seed to produce plants for use in winter. There are very many varieties which become ready during a period extend- ing from October till May. Half a dozen will do this. A good selection is Vcitch's Self- protecting Autumn, Backhouse's Winter, Snow's Winter White. Cattle's Eclipse, and Leamington and Leddiam's Latest of All. These follow eacJi other. A row of each a few yards long or a little patch, will be enough to supply many plantIJ-indeed, some hun- dreds. It is better to raise one's own plants than to buy them in. There is more certainty in getting the right sorts and having better plants, which are always at hand to plant when the ground is vacant. The seed may be sown in drills or broadcast, but not too thickly. Cover it over to a depth of half an inch, and rake the soil fine on the surface. The position should be fully exposed, so that the plants may be robust, which is always an advantage. CURLY GREENS FOR WINTER. These are favourite winter vegetables in the North, as they stand the severe weather with- out injury. They are also more used }n the South now than formerly, as they are really a fine vegetable, especially after the frost has been on them. when they become more tender and sweet. There a.re several va.rietiee. The best are the Cottagers' Kale and the Dwarf Green Curbed. The seed should be sown at the same time as that of the broccoli, and treated like these plants. THE MAIN CROP OF CARROTS. This should now be sown. In moat gardens some of the earlier ones will have been in some time, and these will be ready for use before the present sowings, which should not be of the early Horn type, but of the intermediate kind. These attain a height of about ten inches, and are thick at the crown-altogether a good type, as there is little waste with it, which ia more than can be said about the very long ones that penetrate eighteen inches or so and have a long, thin tail. It is the stumpy roots that are the best. These also become a full crop in shallow soils, where the very long ones would be only a partial success. The soil should be as friable as possible. If sandy so much the better. Those with sandy soils ought to grow carrots largely for market, as such material is most suitable for them, and they are one of the most remunerative crops that can be grown in such a soil. Carrots should not be much grown in heavy soils. I have known those whose gardens were com- posed of such to have sea sand and lighten a part for carrot growing, with perfect success. Indeed, this is an excellent way to get carrot- ground, which should be followed wherever sand is available. Other roots can be well grown in it, too, as well as carrots, but in all cases be sure and add some root-salt or lime to the soil to act as an antidote or preventa- tive for worms and grubs. Carrots injured by grubs are worthless. Long rank manure is not desirable in carrot soil, but a quarter well manured last year will suit them admir- ably. The best artificial manure for carrots is guano, as it is a good fertiliser and a worm destroyer as well. A thin sprinkling of it is sufficient. Fork the ground over, and sow at once. Put them in rows one foot apart, and put some ash refuse next the seed. This is a very great help to germination, and suits the roots. BURNED REFUSE FOR CARNATIONS. Before planting out the carnations in beds the soil should be specially prepared for them. They are worthy of the best attention, as the blooms are splendid in every way and univer- sal favourites in all homes. Some varieties, especially the most common, generally grow freely, but the finest are often a little shy, and sometimes do not make strong enough growth to bear fine flowers or any quantity of them. This disheartens many, but the fault is gene- rally in the soil and not giving them suitable rooting material. A great quantity of dung at the roots, which some appear to think is all that is needed, is often, or indeed, gene- rally, more of a hindrance than a facility to growth. A little half-decayed cow manure is very acceptable, and should be employed, but burned refuse is their favourite rooting material. When this is forked into the soil before planting the plants soon assume a healthy tone, and grow into specimens capable of yielding great quantities of flowers of large size and fine colour. Wood ashes are the best, but soil turf and all kinds of refuse may be reduced to ashes, and the whole em- ployed. All who wish extra fine carnations this year should make efforts to get some burned rubbish to go with them at the roots. In many cases it will be a great advantage, both from a tidying up and a sanitary point of view, to burn all refuse, and it cannot be more profitably employed than in manuring carnations, and other plants as well. PLANTING STRAWBERRY PLANTS. Where there is a deficiency of strawberry plants, young ones may be introduced now. Probably, there may be many young plants amongst the older ones which were not removed last autumn. These are very suitable to deal with, as they can be lifted with good balls of soil at the roots and transplanted without being checked in any way. The soil where they are to be planted should be well manured and deeply dug, and plant at once. If plants have to be bought in, get them in little pots. Plant in rows with fifteen or eighteen inches from row to row and one foot from plant to plant. Those furnishing new gardens will be glad to know that they can plant now. During the season these plants will become large and quite capable of bearing a full crop next year. They will have a decided advantage over any that may be planted in the autumn. HANDY PLANT PROTECTORS. Tke latter half of April and the fore part of May are rarely so genial that some of the half hardy plants put out in the open beds and borders do not suffer more or less from cutting winds and little touches of frost at night. If the plants are not killed they are checked, which proves a great hindrance to their display and success in the early summer, and attempts are not always made to protect them, as means of doing so are, not available. But this need not be, as ordinary flower pots are excellent pro- tectors for the majority of plants. As all know, the pots are of various sizes—from 3in. to a. foot wide and high—and these will cover the majority of plants when first put out. The pots should be turned upside down and put on. Do this on cold, windy days, and it is safe to use them every night when the weather is not genial. They do not blanch or make the plants tender as a temporary covering, and it is agreeably surprising how snug they keep the plants. The moving on and off entails a little labour, but that is nothing compared with the benefits derived. I know of a noted garden, belonging to a well-known duke. where hundreds of special pots are used as spring protectors for young cauliflower and other vegetable plants. They are made with- out the usual bottom-merely the sides—and when put on a plant the top of the plant is exposed, but the sides act as perfect shields against cutting winds, and the process is quite a success. In this case the pots are not put on and off according to the weather, but as soon as the plants are put out one of these ring pots is put over each and allowed to remain until the plant is strong and estab- lished. I may also say that these pots prevent snails and other pests reaching the plants. which is a further advantage in their use. I consider pots better protectors than the little branches of trees which arc often used.

t PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. HOW WELSH MEMBERS ATTENDED AND VOTED, In contrast to last year, the Parliamentary session has so far up to Easter been dull and uneventful. The Irish members have been as quiet as lambs, and only 60 divisions have taken place, those in which the largest num- ber voted being two on Army expenditure. The closure has been enforced three times. Local members voted as follows; — Mr. W. Abraham. Rhondda 9 Mr. Alfred Davies, Carmarthen District 40 Mr. M. Vaughan Davies, Cardiganshire 50 Mr. F. Edwards, Radnor 78 Mr. S. T. Evans, Glamorgan, Mid. 14 Mr. E. J. Griffith. Anglesey 15 Right Hon. Sir W. V. Harcouft, W 10 Mr. J. Keir Hardie, Merthyr Tydfil 14 Mr. W. C. Humphreys-Owen, Montgomery 23 Mr. D. Brynmor Jones, Swansea District 26 Mr. W. Jones, Carnarvonshire, Arfon 43 Mr. R. M'Kenna, North 20 Hon. G. T. Kenyon, Denbigh Boroughs 5 General J. W. Laurie, Pembroke and Haverfordwest .— 24 Sir J. Lawrence, Monmouth District 38 Mr. J. H. Lewis, Flint Boroughs Z3 Mr. D. Lloyd-George, Carnarvon District 17 Mr. J. Lloyd Morgan, Carmarthenshire. W. 27 Colonel the Hon. F. C. Morgan. South 0 Mr. C. Morley, Brecknockshire 4 Mr. S. Moss, Denbighshire. E 1 Sir G. Newnes. Bart., Swansea 12 Mr. J. Wynford Philipps, Pembrokeshire 0 Colonel E. Pryce-Jones, Montgomery Boroughs 53 Sir E. J. Reed, Cardiff 2 Mr J. B. Roberts. Carnarvonshire, Eifion 27 Mr J. H. Roberts, Denbighshire, W 28 Mr. Samuel Smith, Flintshire 15 Mr. Abel Thomas, Carmarthenshire, E 4 Sir Alfred Thomas, Glamorgan. E. 23 Mr. D. A. Thomas, Merthyr Tydfil 39 Mr. J. A. Thomas, Glamorgan, W. 18 Mr. A. O. Williams, Merionethshire 11 Colonel W. H. Wyndham-Quin, Glamorgan, 18

-—- a THE LUNAR ECLIPSE. Mr. Arthur Mee writes;—With the exception of occasional cloud in its earlier stages, Satur- day night's Partial Eclipse of the Moon was beautifully seen at Cardiff. I observed it at Llanishen from the commencement until after the greatest phase, using my 8i-inch reflecting telescope, and also the unaided eye. The Eclipse was timed to commence at 10.34, and some minutes before that the penumbral shading had begun to darken slightly the south-eastern portion of our satellite. By 10.36 the umbra. had begun to eat its way into the disc, and (as usual) its rapid progress at this early stage was very marked. It soon became evident that (as I expected) the Eclipse was a, dark one, for so dense was the shadow that the obscured portion of the Moon abso- lutely disappeared both to the naked eye and in the telescope a few minutes after twelve, when the body of the eclipsed Moon became very faintly visible in the instrument.. There were no colour effects, except a soften- ing or semi-transparency of the shadow edge at each limb, giving it a lovely bluish tinge in the telescope. At thirteen minutes past twelve the Eclipse was at its height, hut a small segment of the Moon was still brightly visible. At that time the thermometer, which at the commehcoment stood at 43deg., had dropped to 4Hdeg.. but this, perhaps, had no connection with the phenomenon. A smal] star was occulted at 12.9i by the eclipsed limb, disappearing instantly. Mara .shone bravely to the right of and above the Moon through- out, like a warrior shielding the fair Diana as she arrayed herself in the toantle ot shadow out by Mother Earth.

r I Points from The Press] 19 ■■■mil I nil MI1IW I g .11.111 %W=m amoms ON iCADBURY's Cocoal The MEDICAL MAGAZINE says: AI «The favourite Cocoa of the day. For Strength, Purity, and 8 Nourishment,there is nothing <% I superior to be found," J CaShry's is Cocoa M and tk m |est Cocoa only. The LA.NCET says: We are glad to find that Messrs, Cadbury draw alien* tion to the fact that thei-a are strong grounds for objection to the addition to Coooa of certain foreign substances. This resource is quite unlit necessary, and indeed, par- mciouBj having regard to the fact that Cocoa alone ia .a,oI( an excellent food as well as a stimulant, having a salutary action upon the liorue oontrom," E 1 HEALTH says: W "The peifeet purity of ufo CADBURY's Cocoa—a strong point with the makers—constitutes jW its firm hold upon the public aft confidence and the secret of Its \9 universal popularity," JCas stood the test oj time. £ r L 1 Free from Alkali, Kola, Malt, Hops, or any admixture.! J Free from Alkali, Kola, Malt, Hops, or any adniixture. j Pure, therefore Bej J81!i'JJ

-=. A CARDIFF BURGLARY. DARING ROBBERS GET AWAY WITH ABOUT £ 230. A robbery was committed on Friday night at the house of Mr. Stenner, an official of the National Amalgamation of Labourers, in Corporation-road, where about £ 230 was abstracted from a safe. The thietes must have done their work with great secrecy and expedition, for, although Mrs. Stenner, who is ill, lay awake all night, and her husband, with Dock Superintendent Evans, a friend (of his, was sitting up in the house, they heard no noise of a suspicious character. The money was held by Mr. Stenner on behalf of the society he represents. Mr. Stenner, it will be remembered, was the Radical and Labour candidate at the last municipal bye- election, when Dr. Smith secured for the Unionists the seat vacated by Mr. Mildon when I the latter became an alderman. When our representative called on Mr. Stenner On Saturday morning he, naturally, appeared upset by his loss. <( Everything is gone," he ejaculated; taken out of my safe." He explained that about X220 or £ 230 was missing, and added, "I can't tell exactly how much until I make up my quarter's accounts. The money belonged to the National Amalgama- tion cf Labourers. That morning, when his son came down, he went on to explain, ho found the back uoor open, also the front door, and two doors lead- ing into the back sitting-room, where the safe is. The window, too, was open. Some footprints were found in the soft mould at the bottom of the garden, and it was evident that an en- trance had been effected through the back, although it is impossible to say whether the robbers climbed the wall or succeeded in open- ing the back door. "How do you suppose that the safe was opened? queried our reporter. Don't know! There is no mark at all," was the answer. Might they have used it skeleton key? "On the lock?" fcavd Mr. Sterfher. "It aayo the lock is unpickable, and so it does on the keys." Were there many people sleeping in the house?" All my family. Dock Superintendent Evans, who is a great friend of mine. spent the afternoon and evening with roe, and my wife's sister was here. As my wife was ill. they I stayed late. Superintendent Evans and I slept } in the sitting-room—he on the sofa and I on the rug, and we never heard a sound." I Didn't you hear any noise? My wife's sister heard something, but in- stead of calling out she turned frightened. She thought it was a rat on the stairs." During the night," Mr. Stenner went on, the dog was barking, and my little boy said this morning that he heard two whistles." Were they content with getting at the safe? I Oh, they turned my desk out, which was not locked, and turned all the papers about, but there was no money in it. But in the safe they cleared two cigar-boxes and a cash- box. The cash-box was not locked, and we found it this morning at the bottom of the garden by the ashes. Well," he concluded, it's a good job they didn't come a week or two ago or they would have had a haul." Detective-inspector Rankin, who has the case in hand, visited Mr. Stenner'i house in Corpo- ration-road on Saturday.

POISON IN MEDICINE. CARDIFF GUARDIANS AND CHILD MESSENGERS. The dispensary committee of the Car- diff Guardians on Saturday submitted to the meeting of the hoard a report upon the subject of the supply of drugs at the Charles-street dispensary. It will be remembered that at a meeting of the committee Mr. W. B. Taylor (dis- penser) stated that during thellast month he had dispensed 3,409 prescriptions, and in two- thirds of the cases the medicine so prescribed was handed to children under fourteen years of age. The present regime was strongly con- demned, the dispenser stating tha.t most of the bottles contained poison in dangerous quantities, and if all the contents of a bottle were drunk by a child it would probably canse death—and certainly a narrow escape from death. Only a few days ago Mr. Taylor reported that he refused to supply a little girl of six with a mixture of aconite and bella- donna, and for his own protection he had ceased to supply little children. Such action was endorsed, and a resolution was pasted recommending the board to discontinue the present system. I Mr. F. J. Beavan now stated that he quite concurred with Ihe remarks the chairman of the committee (Mr. R. Sutherland) was reported to have made in reference to the large number of children supplied with medi- cino at the dispensary. He moved that steps be taken to determine what means oould be adopted to reduce the number to the minimum. He could not suggest any- thing, and only feared that some day something would happen which would bring the town down upon them because they had not done something sooner. He, therefore, proposed that the dispensary committee be asked to consider and report upon the matter. Mr. J H. Thatcher seconded. I The Rev. A. Van den HeUvel hoped the board would not take precipitate steps, because it must be remembered that in the large majo- rity of cases the poor had only their own chil- dren to send, and that if they did not send them they would have to go without medicine. Mr. J. R. Llewellyn agreed, pointing out, however, that up to the ptesent nothing had to his knowledge occurred to justify an outcry. Ultimately, it was decided to refer the matter to the committee, as proposed.

CARDIFF HIGHWAY ROBBERY COWARDLY ATTACK ON A DEAF MUTE. A daring robbery, in which a con- siderable amount of violence was used, took place in the early hours of Saturday morning on the road on the west side of the River Tafif, near Salt* mead, Cardiff. It appears that a ma.n. who turned out to be a deaf mute. was crossing from Tudor-street to Grangetown when he was suddenly pounced upon by a powerful ruman, who rifled his pockets and snapped his gold albert in half, taking a valuable watch from him. Assistance arriving, the assailant bolted in the direction of Clare- road and got clean away. The unfortunate victim was unable to eall for help, and appears to have had a very rough handling. The police have the matter in hand.

BUTE DOWRY FUND. MAYOR OF CARDIFF MAKES HIS SELECTION. His Worship the Mayor of Cardiff (Alderman E. Thomas, Cochfarf ") on Saturday decided upon the fortunate recipient of this year's donation from the third Mar- quess of Bute's Wedding Dowry Fund, which was formed by the late Lord Bute to provide every year some deserving girl of the poorer class with a dowry. The mayor's choice has fallen on Miss Sarah Amelia Roberts, aged 28, employed as a domestic ser- vant by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Symons, at 351, Cowbridge-road. Her fiance is Mr. William Thomas Johnston, also aged 28, of 4, Smeaton- etreet, who is employed at a carriage works. -—————-— ——————————————— MiM SARAH AMELIA ROBERTS. Miss Roberts's lot has been in many ways a sad one. She was left an orphan at the age of four, and was given a home by her uncle, named Matthews, a Cardiff pilot. One New Year's morning, however, he was drowned, and she went to Muller's School, Bristol, where she was educated. She has lived in Cardiff alto- gether for thirteen years. She has not a relative left in the world, and until Satur- day she had no expectations of assistance from any except her present employers. She was nominated as a candidate by Councillor Illtyd Thomas, and her nomination paper was accompanied by testimonials from Mr. and Mrs. Symons, the Rev. W. S. Welch (of Brighton, and late of Cowbridge-road Bible Christian Church), and Mr. Samuel Davey (superintendent cf the Cowbridge-road Sunday School).

T IRISH LAND BILL. VIEWS OF MR. LLOYD-GEORGE, M.P. Mr. Lloyd-George, M.P., speaking at Nevin, Carnarvon, on Saturday, expressed his delight with the Camborne victory, not only because it was a striking demonstration of the extent to which the Government had lost the country's confidence, but also because there had been attempts of late on the part of some mischievous persons to prove that can- didates who were opposed to the late war were not acceptable to the electorate. This victory, together with that at Woolwich, where the Liberal was a strong anti-war can- didate, and the great reduction in the Unionist majority at Chertsey, made it per- fectly clear that the country at any rate did not think any the less of a man because he fearlessly expressed his opinions under very discouraging conditions. He trusted that the recent results at the poll would put an end to these barren and pernicious attempts to make a market for a certain class of Liberal stock at the expense of running down the rest. Dealing with the Irish Land Bill, Mr. Lloyd-George said he welcomed any measure which would help to settle a very vexed question, and he would not resist the Bill merely on the ground that it imposep an additional burden on the already overtaxed Britisher, because he felt that in the long run, even from the point of view of economy, everything that would produce contentment in Ireland would be a saving to the British Exchequer. (Applause.) However, he could not shut his eyes to the great danger involved in the British taxpayer becoming practically the rent-collector in scores of thousands of small holdings in the West of Ireland. He did not doubt the good intentions and the strict integrity of the Irish tenant, and that he would spare no effort to clear off his liability in respect of the balance of the purchase money, but the holling3 were wretchedly small, making even a bare liveli- hood precarious, and a few bad seasons might create not only hopeless arrears, but actually throw these little freeholders upon the charity of the Treasury. The latter would then have to wipe out the arrears periodically, or resort to the grim alternative of eviction, and he held no Government ought to place the British Exchequer in that invidious position. He would strongly urge that the whole finan- cial responsibility should be thrown upon Ireland itself, and that these rents should be collected by an Irish authority. It would then be to the practical interest of each Irish ratepayer to see that his neighbour paid his instalment as it fell due. Mr. Redmond, looking at it from the Irish point of view, deprecated this suggestion, but he (Mr. Lloyd- George) must confess that he had been put- ting it forward from the British standpoint. No one grumbled about the twelve millions, although it was a large sum, but the pros- pect of constantly recurring claims for excus- ing irrecoverable arrears was not one that appealed to a business people. He thought it was the business of the Liberal party for the protection of the taxpayers to insist that some kind of authority representing the whole of Ireland should be set up to undertake the responsibility for the financial administra- tion of this Act.

LLANELLY GUARDIANS. THE ALLEGED SCANDAL AT THE WORKHOUSE. At the meeting of the Llanelly Board of Guardians, the Clerk stated that, accord- ing to instructions, he had prepared a list of the illegitimate children born in the workhouse since 1901. In all, there were five casee, and most erf the confinements had taken place a few weeks after the mothers had been admitted The Chairman (Mr. Seymour) said that it was necessary that this information should be given, having regard to a paragraph recently appearing in a certain newspaper suggesting a scandal in connection with a recent birth at the workhouse. He did not know who was the authority for giving the report to the paper, but he certainly thought the newspaper should be more careful in look- ing into the authority before rushing into print and raising doubts in the minds of the ratepayers when there was no necessity for it. The statement wa.s quite untrue. There was no scandal in the house, as the members would see from the list which the clerk had prepared. He thought it was most reprehen- sible on the part of any newspaper to make such statements without first inquiring into them. They could depend upon it that what- ever scandal might arise in that institution he would take the responsibility of saying that it would be gone into thoroughly and no mercy shown. They, as members of the board, had always supported him in the past, and he felt sure that they would do so again. They were not going to be led by the noea or follow the dictates of any newspaper. The guardians knew all the facts, and there was no case for investigation, and if there had been it would have been inquired into folly. Mr. J. L. Thomas inquired if they were in a. position to ascertain who was resjKmsible for supplying the newspaper report. The Chairman: We may be in a. position to do so, but is it worth while? Mr. Thomas: If you don't think it neoea- sary, I shall not press the point. The matter then dropped.

REV. H. M. HUGHES, CARDIFF. The congregation of Ehenezer Chapel heard with gratification on Sunday evening that their pastor (the Rev. H. M. Hughes, B.A.), who has become so endeared to them during a ministry of nine years, had decided to con- tinue his work in Cardiff, in spite of an invita- tion from an important church in London. There was a large congregation present, and many of them personally expressed their j pleasure at Mr. Hughes's decision at the con- clusion of the service. Mr. Hughes. having announced that he had received an invitation to become the pastor of King's Cross Welsh Congregational Chapel, London, said that the great pressure brought to bear upon him by the members of the con-' gregation and the appreciation they had shown of his labours during the last nine years had induced him to decide, in accordance with their unanimous wish, to remain in Car- diff, where he felt be could render better service than in any other place. This convic- tion of his duty had been deepened by the fact that in his estimation Cardiff was destined to play a most important part in the life of Wales, both socially and religiously, in the very near future.

FALLING IN THE STREET, It is not pleasant to think a. sudden spell of giddiness may make you fall in the street. But lots of people have to face this dangerous weakness. Mrs. W. Riley, of 32, Ingham-street, Bury, Lancashire, was one. Four years ago she had acute kidney trouble, suffered great pain, and was, at times, unable to stand erect. The most disconcerting feature ofl the whole trouble was giddiness,' attacks of which caused the lady to fall in the streets several times. Mrs. Riley writes to say she completely cured herself by taking Dodd's Kidney Pills. Every symptom Mrs. Riley had was due to the kidneys, and were symptoms of kidney disease. The remedy, of course, was to cure the kid- neys, and there is nothing so good for ill kidneys as Dodd's Kidney Pills. They hare cured thousands everywhere, and a.re infallible for the many disease* due to the kidneys. w81 j

QUARTER SESSIONS. CARDIGANSHIRE, CARMARTHEN- SHIRE, AND RADNORSHIRE. The Easter Court of Quarter Sessions for the County of Cardigan was held at the Town-hall," Lampeter, before Mr. Willis Bund (chairman) and several justices. Colonel Mayhew (Aberglasncy) and Dr. Lynn Thomas (Cardiff) qualified as magis- trates. AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE. David Morris Davies, 38, labourer, of Aberay- ron, was indicted for attempting to crimi- nally assault Mary Jones, an old woman, 78 years of age, at Aberayron, on January 26. Mr. Stanley Griffith Jones (instructed by Mr. A. J. Hughes, solicitor, Aberystwyth) prose- cated. Dr. John Davies (Aberayron) said he had seen Mary Jones on Wednesday evening, and found that she was partially paralyzed. Her speech was also affected, and if she were to attend the court she could not give evi- dence. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and handed in a statement to the effect that he had lived next door to the old woman for six months. She had done his washing for him. He had also I known her intimately ten years ago. and she lived in a house with another woman who gained her living in an improper manner. The old woman was nothing better herself. Dr. John Davies (re-called) said that prisoner lost all control over his actions when under the inftuence of drink; and this was corroborated by Police-constable Davies. The Chairman said prisoner had pleaded guilty to a. very cruel and cowardly assault on an old woman. Drunkenness was no defence, and, moreover, he had no right to expose any woman, as he had done, by writing out the paper he had handed in. had been in prison for three months await- ing trial, and he would have to return there for three months' incarceration with hard labour Prisoner was afterwards charged with having assaulted Kate Davies, of Aberayron, on the same date. Mr. Stanley Griffith Jones did not, however, press the charge, and it was withdrawn, A FATHER'S STRANGE REQUEST. Daniel James, son of the overseer of Llan- goedmore. was charged with. urcaking into the premises of Evan John Jenkins, in,that parish, on March 2. and stealing two hens therefrom. Mr. Bowen Davies (instructed by Mr Picton Evans, Cardigan) prosecuted, and Mr. Stanley Griffith Jones (instructed "by Mr. Daniel Watkins, Lampeter) defended. Defendant denied the charge of house- breaking, but admitted the hen-stealing, and counsel, speaking on his behalf, said the act was an unaccountable one, as he was a respectable married man. The general opinion was that he, was not in full possession of his mental faculties at the time. Defendant was bound over to be of good behaviour for twelve months, himself in the sum of £30, and his father in the sum of £15. Mr. Stanley Griffith Jones said it was the desire of the father that the court should place his son on the black list. The Chairman replied that there was no evidence that he was an habitual drunkard, and the court could not accede to the father's wish.

CARMARTHENSHIRE. The Easter quarter sessions for the county of Carmarthen took place in Carmarthen Guild-hall (before Earl CawdoT, chairman, Mr. Arthur Lewis, vice-chairman, and an un- usually large number of other justices). The fifteen members who had represented the court on the standing joint committee were re-appointed, and an application by Mr. J. Lloyd Morgan, M.P., on behalf of the Llanelly Rural District Council, for an order closing up Felinfoel footpath was granted. THEFT AT A LLANELLY ^HOTEL. Thomas Davies. 49, woodcarver. who had been convicted ten times since 1866, and had suffered seven and five years' penal servitude, pleaded guilty to stealing six billiard balls, value £ 4 14s. 6d.. from the Stepney Arms Hotel, Llanelly, on February 23, and was sen- tenced to twelve months' hard labour. Mr. J. Lloyd Morgan, M.P.. prosecuted. George Simmers, 30,a tramp, pleaded ruilty to assaulting Margaret Davies, eleven, in Llangeler parish, on the 5th inst., and wu sentenced to six months' hard labour.