Weekly Mail

BATH AND WEST SHOW. MORE WELSH SUCCESSES AT THE BRISTOL MEETING. At the Bath and West of England Show at Bristol on Saturday considerable interest was taken in a conference of people having to do with Nature study. Sir Thomas Acland presided over the conference, and the attend- ance was very large. Among the speakers was Mr. Legard, chief inspector for Wales, who took the opportunity of giving the society a hearty welcome to the Principality next year, when it is to visit South Wales. Welsh dairymaids were exceptionally fortu- nate in Saturday's butter-making competi- tion. There were 30 entries, a good many of whom came from the Principality. The second prize was won by Miss A. Jones, Cow- bridge. and the third by Miss E. M. Cox, Pwl- pen, Christchurch, Mon. The ladies who were highly commended were:—Miss L. Baker, Magor; Miss F. 8. Cox. Pwlpfen; Miss M. Jamea, Llancayo Farm. Usk; and Miss M. E. Reea, Goytre, Pontypool. Several competi- tors from the Principality entered for the horse-shoeing, and some won prizes, but up to the close of the day the list was not avail- able. In the competition open to cows of any breed or cross yielding the largest quantity of milk in 24 hours there were 23 competitors, and 11Ir. W. B. Roderick, of Fronheulog, Manelly, was awarded third prize for his Jersey cow Genteel." In the butter test for cows of any breed or cross yielding the largest quantity of butter in 24 hours there were 36 competitors, and Mr. W. B. Roderick was awarded two certificates of merit for his Jersey cows Genteel" and Melanie." No cow is awarded a certificate of merit that gives less than 21b. 3oz. of butter in 24 hours. Mr. Roderick secured third prize for his Jersey bull Goodig Fox" earlier iu the week.

PEACEFUL PICKETING. SPEECH BY MR. LLOYD MEYRICK, OF CARDIFF. Speaking at a mass meeting of railway tervants at Birmingham on Sunday in support of a resolution expressing a hope that the Royal Commission now sitting would result in legislation which would make peace- ful picketing in labour disputes a legal right of Trades Unions, Councillor Lloyd Meyrick. of Cardiff, who was solicitor to the Amal- gamated Society of Railway Servants in the Taff Vale cue, said that previous to the Taff Vale dispute they would not have found a lawyer who would have told them that Trades Union funds could have been attacked. But the law which had held good for years was not the law according to the highest tribunal in the land, the House of Lords. The Tiff Vale case had decided that Trades Unions cculd be sued, and, in consequence, they had lost £ 33,000. The workers only wanted fair- play as well as the employers. Meantime, they were placed at a great disadvantage, becanse the law as it affected Trades Unionists was in such a state as to be prac- tically incomprehensible. The greatest judges did not understand what the principle of con- spiracy was. If the law was to be strained time after time against Trades Unions, it would be impossible for the Unions to Carry I on effective work. Peaceful picketing wis not entirely the crux of the question. They must get a decision on the conspiracy question, I because it could not be left to each individual judge to say what conspiracy was and was not. Peaceful picketing must be legalised, and they must secure further Parliamentary labour representation. (Allplaule.)-The reso- lution was carried.

SERIOUS FIRE AT NEWPORT. BETWEEN £50{) AND JMOO DAMAGE DONE. Early on Monday a fire was found to have broken out in the upper premises of Mr. Tovey's (undertaker and break proprietor) stables At the corner of Dumfries-place and Dock-street, Newport. The building is a large square biock, of which the lower part on the ground floor is used for the stabling of a con- siderable number of horses, and the upper floor as a workshop and hay-loft. It was this upper portion which was, by some at pre- sent unknown means, found to have taken fire. When the fire brigade was proceeding down Dock-street they saw about It couple cf dozen horses, which had been turned out on the first appearance of the fire, wandering about the streets. There was, therefore, for- tunately, no loss in respect of the horses, some of which were found at Maindee later on, but the nature of the upper portion of the pre- mises and its contents was such as to fall readily a prey to the flames, which extended rapidly to the roof and lit up the whole sur4 rounding district. Lieutenant Boucher and a good muster of firemen attended, as well as Head-constable Sinclair and a large force of police. The fire brigade effectively prevented the flames from spreading to the stables and to the adjacent premises, and in about an hour and a half, though the fire had spent it. self through the roof and had gutted the hay- loft and workshop, all danger of furthfr mis- chief had been removed. The damage is roughly estimated at between £500 and £ 600, which ie, happily, covered by insurance.

SWANSEA RATING APPEAL. RELIEF GRANTED TO THE MID LAND RAILWAY. Some time ago the Midland Railway Com- pany appealed against the assessment of that Dortion of the Prince of Wales Dock, Swansea, leased by the railway company from the Swansea harbour trustees. The committee. f& the advice of their vainer. Mr. William Eve. of 10. Union Court, London, increased the assessment of the property from CI.200 rat- able to £ 2,300 gross and £1,71() ratable value. The Midland Railway Company laid their objections before the assessment committee, but they were not granted any relief. The Midland Company thereupon appealed to the court of quarter sessions. By mutual consent, and in order to save expense, it was agreed to refer the matter to Mr. R. Cunningham Glen, barrister-at-law, New Court, Temple, in par- suance of the Arbitration Act, 1899. It was also agreed that the proceedings should be restricted to the examination of one witness on each side. Mr. W. Percy Payne, the Mid- land Railway Company's rating surveyor, gatft evidence for the company, and Mr. W. Eve for the Swansea Union Assessment Committee. The proceedings occupied three days, the Midland Company's surveyor contending thet the assessment of jEl.710 should be reduced to £ 435, while Mr Eve contended that £1.710 was too low, and that it should be £ 1,915. The arbitrator has just delivered his award, and determines that the Midland Company is ovtr-aesessed and over-rated, and that the gross estimated rental should be kl,200, and the ratable value £875, and that the assess- ment committee should pay to the company the costa of their witness and halt the costs of the arbitration proceedings.

7 QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED. t1t,J 1lUIR, Glencairn, Sandon, Chelmsford.] "'18 flo^.r 0rdiQ^ry Laburnum?—"S. P. H."— hut J*ou send are the ordinary la-bur* IJH^ed bv- ° extra size and substance, pro- iS^ate Specially good soil and your fine ftv^ire tv, ,*sle of Wight. Like yourself, I °l<Jen oh !a^urnim when in blossom. ln" is one of it» pet names. Rhubarb; Laxton's Open-air Itf'&o&t tT„ v" Leitrim."—The rhubarb seed is Y&^srs retainable as yet, but probably f^terwt:, 8one and Co., Seedsmen, 1, «?,xton's Edinburgh, could supply it. R«re ^rom0vun"air tomato would be obtain- ed GivT7 "e raisers, Messrs. Laxton Bros., B%ate rer8' Bedford" of thSa Egge Floating.—"Anxious. v^tt^r V?e.eSgs not sinking is not a. serious it doe 18 rather a common occurrence, w Do'' interfere with their being pire- « thBi^ever' it is better to have them ?*er th« x- l?uid> and you should put a cover of th •• you have them in level with the ill ne iiquid) 80 as to bear them down A. rju °f Shoots on Rose Bushes.—Miss jj^ltli Vf shows the plants are in good gron, Jou want small blooms, let them Kl0Uld if you prefer large ones you » Hot /»??0ve the smaller shoots at once. > thnlo them, but break them off. Of the n^dei?^ "With the shoots kept thin and not w^diiip ^r°ve the best plants, as over- lfi n°t advisable in any class of r?hey 5fn*ance Roee Shoots Dead.Novice." filled h«anceB are that this plant is not i^Sanro 011 its own roots, as many of the 20t cut rose8 are. You should, therefore, froir, the shoots that are springing t« u roots until you see what they are • Very often when the higher f^otg a^s 9f Plants die off those near the ia e. Jndueed to grow, and a good new Jpofl off thus secured. You can cut the dead **>°<! J*t once, but not quite into the fresh e1int> ■M°isten the plant overhead in the 0cc^8ionally- oitap 8l1°Ps as Liquid Manure—Thos. Elson. 81°Ps are very useful for crops of a *'Hdg °^.owing nature, such as almost all pant# i VeSetables and strong flowering scslyt. warm weather, when water may the house slope can always be kinds of house liquids may be ftS" ^r strong-growing crops add an *?e* frrTatltity of clean water, and for weaker bn01 three to four parts of clean water the 0la<>ded. There will probably be soda ?^U Co from clothes' washing, Ac., that add n in the liquid, but it is no advantage y soda apart from this. ~jMlje?vinS Gooseberry and Other Fruit -r at Present.—Helen Henry.—I much jfL wa cannot give you any encouragement a i8 at present, or any time between <j,7„ October. No matter how carefully h tnezn up and re-planted them, they throw off many of their leaves, .ke no more growth this season, o't would be a hard matter to keep .'th tv< -e* an<1 would be very dissatisfied v**On i after-succe^s. If it were only the 7^1<j )en the bushes were dormant, I it0 Hot r dly say "Yes" to all you a»k. but I ^onifj justified in doing that now, as the "uv-.°nly mislead y°u- iuDltinvr Liquorice Plant.—"Broad Green." f'lcvjH or your further letter. It is rather Jn a and not very certain, to name plants only, as some seeds resemble each k*ite £ e than the plants do. You are i^atJF l- The wild liquorice is Abras in J??- is a native of thft East Indies, "J^Ve "is country ia wh.it is known ae a f^tg v exotic. plant. It is a climber, and its l^UonVo Ve the virtues of the common rem, The foliage is very ornamental, Jftcl if?^lre8 a etrong heat to develop it fully it freely. The flowers are usually -in*e> but sometimes rose-coloured ant. 'i^eo i y. are butterfly shaped. The plant Soot a sandy loam. ullef on Flower-beds.—"Manxman."—Soot is Jhigg material as a fertiliser and to keep Lr*elv Plants, but it can be given too ;^fden k ^ear the man who did your .^lyino. S overdone it. The best way of S*ain t>, Jt is a thin sprinkling now and Hewj ^'a-nts and seeds may be dusted when inter it in- ^ut not to any extent. In kill o-» 1?ay he dug into the soil liberally 5_hs, as it is toned down before the ?^ti(jot* e.PUt in. If not too late, the only »reeiy be to water the plants very t^denov ciean watef, which would have a «duce the strength of the soot. I » tj-, ys sorry to hear of mistakes, and w tatio^ify them, but I like best of all them an l prevent disappoint- ^"Ig^S'pting Dracscnas; Grafting Genustas. _i- ,It ie quite possible to root the fffcir u tall Bracffinas, and thereby reduce :l'\)U h elghL Cut a notch one-quarter if '.h$stem where you would like to tk a Quantity of moss, and pack it X? a« cut part until you have as much SMi uf°u can put your two hands round, 'nd it on with tape, soak the moea Jrit«r»,ater, and keep it constantly moist v't v. Roots -will be induced from the ¡.:1l"1I art, and as soon as you see that they S0* 4i?e the moss cut the plant off trt^ich tD6 and pot it. The stem from ?^°ts was cut will also produce more thi1" ctlt down to one foot or so L A a dwarf plant will be the result, ^asr,^ Qeal with the grafting later and in Flowering Rose; Perns in Basket#; Ac.—"Robin Hood."—^Hie rose 'Jon send are the well-known Gloir de flowers late and early, but not •^th^ a» the winter through) and you were if) .Mr jn having them. Please see note Wsihj dfVy's paper on growing ferns and other JlfH, baskete and culture of window-box t*^ck '• The creeping plant you admired so r&of oD Philadelphia, and which reached the r tlii of the four and five storey honseu, £ bsv. v^^ll-leaved Virginian creeper, Ampe- ,-eitchii. The foliage assumes various ju J°r hues, according to soil and climate. te»"y u!j^a{1*leaved plant has got into euch a j recr»v state that it will take a year or two i ^orujef' and it will be no pleasure to you. »i one ^disposed to discard it and get a ftot. B&y a healthy one in not too large & ftP" in Waterglass, &c.—John Lawrence.— ou °Ur i^y Unusual for eggs to assume any i* their own in waterglass, and your vJlUifl .r^ceptional. I wonder if you used the jrM J strong. It is only in cases of this hno„r °ave known them attain a stratige tK your egge are thin in the shell j u make a slight difference, but even LVe n°t known them to become th*t of ie- ^t them in a mixture of one tk* Watii"^terglase to twelve of water. Boil Y*e WgiV" nrst, and when about half cool add .glaa8- Keep them in a cool place. trM tp^^Ting your fowls all the shell-forming a 3 siz« ired- You have too many fowls for 0 your run. If you reduced them to 4it sWty°u ^ould find them altogether more in iiealth and egg production, ie I aS. y°U have been hitherto successful— glad to hear of it—the ground will hart ontaminated, and then you will wish Wo,, not crowded it eo much. in Soil Injuring Plants.—"H. M. G." fc,0,fQis 8 for your farther consignment of C^fely' ^eing jn damp soil, they reached me .t^io'n. were not shrivelled like the (iLJot. It is one of the Millipedes, It ••> WuatU8> aild is a great pest in some dnlsHot in the oj>en ground and in pots. nLeasily checked or eradicated. A rich, h it iu s°il favours it. Soil known to con- 0^h°uld invariably be mixed with soot a •<2? turr, T'° Previous to using it to pot with, ZVpt ijj it over every day, in order that the e thoroughly mixed. Lime is aloo \wH 0r te, and may be used either with the JJ»hel Ji't'iout it. One quart of each to one «?°<l J,. will do. In the open ground a ih'hk]i„ 18I11^ so°t or lime, with a tk?*«6 salt, should be spread oii the i dufr in and Vfe11 through. Where t?*e, mfr a'ready busy at work, as in your hfvt colo»T water in a bucket till it ig Un stout with soot, then place each the rim in it, and let it remain Us- "n rtiaui?°r twelve hour* or more. This ikes guano, and if any artificial "llij Used it should be employed as a little in the soil. Juries.—A. Paterson—I never gay a ^r°<ebe?33nBt anyone who wants to plant as they are a most useful and ift thpi.e *fuit, both when green and ripe, laJhe are profitable to grow either for yS5?UlnPtion or market. The piece of H^bly have'in grass at present should be gj^over in the autumn. In February W. til a dressing of manure, and dig it feet Plant the bushes. Plant them iHe^t aRart each way, when they grow i« »?heS' il/t every other one, and plant it tk v e advantage of close planting bti«k,a Set the ground furnifthed early, 1^3*. J?es -win begin bearing the second or°u 'hould also plant them at the 'tol ai.your garden, as you suggest. They tin °f tk„ to succeed. The gooseberry ia ,,048 0* chest of all fruits to plant in posi- wVoq a partially sunny kind, such 1 have known them succeed Vii wint- "here it was quite sunless. The Mm a«d urte exceHent sorts-.—Red: Speed>- JihS Teio„ aprington; green: vilenton Green W5,AntiSru?h; white: White Champagne «tjvJ^u>ni|St; yellow: Early Sulphur and Vfr." Qenpt i most prolific kinds for market t Gordon, Preston Seedling, and Vndustrv- ^inS their Feathers.—"J. M. are too crowded. They would coat iHlJ1 in ^'ouid grtt more eggs and have dn?1 Qc better condition if yoil had *ltaoatn in8t;cad of twenty. Overcrowd- *k a^Way# induces feather-eating. yon yem very correctly, and I coni- lot Wa.v keeping them so clean, but ?*hk l'ight of giving green food is to „ Yoti say yotl hang tip swede turnip3 for them *»" h»t i these "last two or three food S,before three days are over the a-M Jr1!! be stale, or of little service to it t lasting so long proves they do ^g^* should be given fresh every ^bus other day. Give a variety. Cut- *te ft..6 and lettuce, when obtain- il^y» n^e t^ceLlent* This will make a vast V yo^Pfceitmw,1?' and improve them in all joC1* knn^y if you reduce their number*. tt-^R snLjr'111?11 Jay ^est. retain them. « P y too deficient at present. ran and linseed mash once a 4 „ iif, laft eni Some bones to pick over as ftrjA at table. Put a quarter of a ow an»f^ ?- of morphia and a graift ot little carbonate of potash in kV!iter. daily- This satisfies the tioj) ^key j* «ate for feathers and flesh. v^°n'kt?c—Tree; Fuchsias for Exhibi- l is » ~The proper name of the j. v„tree in Araucariu imbricata. TSJn t?" It y, tr<?o in all parta of the » e Sontk ecdh as in the North avjrhJind,^oef capitally in Ireland, l ^Ues in 'Jhes lined With it in Scotland iength. The young plants are raised from imported seed. It produces cones and seed in this country, but the imported seed ia the most trustworthy. The young plants are usually raised under glass in a cool frame until a few inches high, and then they are put out in the open. A somewhat heavy soil suits it best, but it is not difficult to please in this respect or any other. You can get young plants of it from any plant tree nursery. Misa L. Finnia is a good fuchsia for showing. It produces large double flowers, but some prefer Berliner kind to it, as it has a stronger habit of growth and much the same class of bloom. Another fine double is Duchess of Edinburgh; while as two singles Royal Purple and Lord Beaconsfleld are excel- lent. Seakale is a very acceptable vegetable. It has strong, penetrating roots, and pro- duces a cluster of leaves on the top. Theae, when blanched in the spring and used when nine or ten inches high. are delicious. It may also be forced at midwiter. It is a profit- able crop. It may be raised from seed sown now, like parsnips. The black soil of Lincoln- shire grows it. well.

RURAL JOTTINGS. VALUABLE HINTS AND INFORMA- TION. GROWING MELONS IN FRAMES. Melons are much more tender than cucumbers. They are, however, easily grown in frames if a good hot-bed can be given them. This is necessary. A substantial bed of stable manure must be given them. This must ferment and retain bottom heat as long as possible. To Becure this the bed must be made very firm. It should be three feet high at the front, and one foot higher at the back, as this will expose the plants and fruit more to the sun than if level. There should be a couple of bushels of loamy soil, with only a little half-decayed manure put in a mound in the middle, and this should also be made very firm. Put two seeds in it at the highest point. Do not put them more than two inches deep. Do not keep the soil satu- rated, only moist. Keep the frame rather close till the plants appear, then give more air, but they delight in sunshine and warmth, and the temperature should be kept up to from 70deg. to 83deg. in the day time, and from 60deg. to 70deg. at night. As the plants grow spread the shoots out, so as to have them evenly, but not crowded, all over the surface. In watering the roots do not water on the stem. Let that be dry. and give the water a little way from it. This will keep them more healthy than waterihg all over. When the shoots reach the side of the frame, stop them, and look out for' the male and female flowers. The latter have each a little fruit attached to them. while the male has nothing of the kind. They are easily dis- tinguished by this. On a day when eight, ten, or a dozen female flowers are open venti- late the frame rather freely. Get the flowers dry, then break off the male flowers, and rub the face of these on the face of the female flowers. Do this gently, so as not to injure the female. This is the way to fertilise them, and, if omitted, the fruit will not swell. If one is fertilised to-day, another to-morrow, and so on. they will not swell well. All should be done on one day, then they will develop regularly. About half a doaen fruit are enough on each plant. Do not have them in a cluster, but try and secure them equally all over. When well flavoured the melon is a luxurious fruit. It is handsome in appear- ance, too, and always gives pleasure as dessert, but it is best when grown and ripened during the brightest time of the year. FERNS AND OTHER PLANTS IN HANGING BASKETS. These when well filled and properly managed are always attractive. Both wood and wire baskets are used. The wire baskets are the best and neatest. They are of various sizes, from six inches to two feet across. The most appropriate positions for them are along verandas, in greenhouses, and hallfl or windows. In filling the baskets with soil the inside should first be lined with moss. This should be fresh, and packed close in a layer about two incites thick. The eoil should then be put in. It may be much the same as that used for potting plautFl-loam, a little matMtre. and some grit. A free-growing plant may occupy the whole of one basket, or, if the basket is a large one, a main plant may be put in the centre, and some smaller ones round it. The middle one may be of some- what upright growth, but the smaller or feide ones should arch over and droop. Basket plants should all be of graceful habit. For open-air baskets ordinary bedding plants, such as geraniums, marguerites, lobelias, heliotropes, and such like may be used. The lobelias make a nice fringe. Ivy-leaved geraniums droop over, and are very satisfac- tory in this way. Such plants as I have named will remain in flower all the season. Hardy ferns may also be grown in open-air baskets in summer, but the greenhouse ones and other plants of that class should be used indoors. Of ferns the following are charming basket varieties: Woodwardia radicans and Cristata, Adian. tum ciliatum, grandiccps and setulosum, Aspleujum flaccidum, and Macrophyllum, Blechnum glandulosum and poiypodioides. Hypolcpis distans, PeIIaea, ternifolia. Polys- tichum triangulum laxutn, and Pteris ecabe- rula. One of the finest of all basket plants is Asparagus eprengera. The clals to which it belongs is often termed the asparagus ferns. I have seen the one I name in a basket in a greenhouse with graceful, green. beautifully furnished racems six feet in length. That universally favourite plant, the aspidistra, grows well in a basket. hut should be margined with smaller looping plants. Little palms may also be used as centre plants. Dracoena. indivisia is also pretty in such a position. Begonias, both the large-leaved and tubftrous rooted, are pleasing basket plants. Indeed, there is hardly a fllant which may not be grown in them, according to the tasMe of the owner. In planting in baskets make the toil very firm. It will then retain the moisture longer than if loose. It is very important that the soil should never become dry, and the surest way of watering them is to take the basket down and dip it in a bucket of water. Moistening the plants overhead occasionally, especially when first planted, is also highly beneficial to them. TWO PECTTLIAB FUCHSIAS. The fuchsia, is always a favourite in the cottage window, and many who have great greenhouses grow it extensively. It is old- fashioned, but very attractive when in bloom. Of the novelties. amongBt them Countess of Aberdeen is ferr distinct in having a com- pletely white flower, which is most uncom- mon. Another curiosity i. "Curio." It has a bright purple corolla, and the petals of the corolla hang down about one inch from the sepals on slender threads. All who desire novelties, in fuchsias should grow these. FATTENING YOUNG CHICKENS. To make the greatest profit on young chickens they should now be rushed on and fattened. There is an excellent price obtain- able for them now, and this will continue during June and July, when prices will decrease. The cockerels are generally the kind which receive this attention, but when rearing fowls for the table is the main object, and the best breeds for that purpose are kept, the farly millets will also be fattened and sold. In the autumn we ate accustomed to see great, big fowls from *ix to eight pounds offered, but now nice, plump little specimens about three or from that to four pounds arc the most acceptable. Great sise is not to acceptable now as quality. Those for fattening should be selected in batches every week or ten days. It will never do to let them all run together, early and late. large and small. Always pick out the most forward, and pen them up in lots of six to twelve together, according to the size of the pens. They should have a little room to move about, but not a great run, as little exerciflé indaoes fattening. The pens should be in a sheltered position, and exposed to the sun some part of the day. bat not when it is at its hottest. From nine to eleven, or from three to five o'clock or later, will sttit. Lime- wash the inside of the pens, and keep them very clean. They should be bedded with a thin layer of grit or fine ashes, which should be renewed or changed when another batch is put in. or oftener than this if they are kept longer than a fortnight. If milk is available, let them have this to drink. Indeed, it pays to buy milk for them, as it gives the flesh such a nice white colour. Be sure it is always fresh. If water is given, observe the same rule. The kind of food is a most important matter. It should consist of barley Bteftl, oatmeal, and Indian meal. Do not mix them all together, bttt Heep them separate, and use them on alternate days. Here, again, milk is the best liquid in which to mix the mealfi. Ground gretves. which are in rough meal form. should be added, a good handfiil to each quarfc of meal. Soak this ih boiling water Q. few hottfs before the meal is pat In. They induce the birds to eat greedily. Give one feed occa- sionally of whole Indian corn. If ashes are used >aa bedding, let them have a little grit as well to train their appetites. SOWING LATER PEAS. Many are in the habit of sowing peas in March, April, and May, but they cease in June and July. The result is that the supply of peas is generally deficient in August and September. They are much missed then, as peas are such a deliciorts and acceptable vegetable that their season can never be too long, and there is no reason why they should not be ready right through the autumn. It is all a matter of sowing. Attend to this, and they will be plentiful; neglect it, a.nd there will be none. The seed obtained in the sprihg I may be all sown. That need not be an excuse, as more can be bought. Veltch's Per- fection and Nc Plus Ultra are two of the best I varieties for sowing for later crops. Peas sown in June and July have more warm weather and dry soil to contend with than the earlier ones. They must be trpated :to contend with this. Wherever the rows are to fee. dig a trench out to the depth of one foot, and about the same in width. Put a. Quantity of short manure in the bottom. Fork this in, then tread it down firmly. Sow the seed, and cover to a. depth of four inches. The soil will then be more cool and encouraging to them than if sown nearer the surface or in a shallow soil. When it is necessary to give them water it is easy to saturate the roots in the trench, and the moisture will not be dried up readily. A row or two should be sown every ten days NIGHT AIR BENEFICIAL tN GLASS- HOUSES. In warm weather, or from now on to the end of September, night air in glasshouses is highly beneficial to the plants. Even when shaded, plants under glass become fatigued during the warm days. To keep t.hem in a high temperature at night is exhausting, but when night air is admitted it refreshes them. This applies to all kinds of plants, whether they be hot or cool house subjects, or orna- mental foliage or attractive blossom. The house may be closed for a few hours in the evening, but before dusk admit air in suffi- cient quantity to make a gentle circulation. Plants treated in this way will be more robust than those kept in a close night atmosphere. The lights of cucumber frames should be put down a little. Grape vines enjoy the night air greatly, and so do all other fruits grown under glass. It is also a great help to check- ing insects. FERNS IN THE SUMMER TIME. All ferns in pots should now be making green, healthy fronds. Their delicate green when young, or, indeed, at all times when they are in good order, is refreshingly pleasing, but when the fronds become brown they are not attractive, and care should be taken that they do not assume this hue. The roots are rather delicate at this time, and liquid mannre should not be given them for some time yet. Neither should they be kept very wet at the root, as this will soon give them an unhealthy colour. This espe- cially applies to those re-potted this spring, as the soil h.^s not yet been taken possession of by the roots, and that is when water should bo given in moderation. Plants that were not re-potted and have their pots full of rools should have more water, and a little weal: horse manure and soot liquid will benefit them, given once a week. Cow or sheep manure may also be used, but do not try many artificials. A little of Clay's Fertiliser is safe, but it is later on. when the fronds are more developed, that stimulating with liquid is advantageous. The young fronus are very delicate, and any exposure to cold or hot draughts of air will check and injure them. An equal temperature is most suitable. Moisten the fronds lightly occa- sionally with tepid water, and do not expose them to sunshine when it is strong, but they should have full light, apart from this. as if grown in semi-darkness the frends will be pale in colour and too soft. PLANTING TOMATOES IN OPEN GROUND. This may now be done everywhere, but I would again remind planters not to deal with very little plants, or those only bought from under glass. The first would be too late. the latter would be checked, with the result in both cases that their fruiting, and €9|>eciftlly ripening; would not be a success, whereas by planting robust plants they are sure to do, even if the season should prove a little back- ward. I attach the greatest importance to a good atart. In preparing the plant do not give the soil much manure; this is a general mistake. It induces much growth, but little fruit. A little short manure, cow or horse, may be used. or some of Thomson's Plant Manure as an artificial, and one handful of that will be enough for each plant. Break the soil well under, but do not, plant deep, and the top of the roots need only be an inch or two below the surface of the soil. If the ball of roots has become matted, loosen them a little before planting. Make the soil very firm round and over the roots. This is a great advantage in securing a aubsitantial, hard growth, and a fruitful one. The best of all positions for open-air tomatoes is a south or east wall. A long wall may not be vacant to reoeive them, but a plant may be intro- duced here and there wherever there is a little vacancy. A space one foot in width will grow one plant perfectly. Where no walla can be given them, plant in a øunny. sheltered spot in the open, and put a. good stake to each to train it up. In a bright I season many fine tomatoes are ripened in this position. Where space and plantB are plenti- ful, plant some against the walls, and also in the open quarters. Wood and other fences may also be used to train them up, and as many as possible should try the open-air culture, as the fruit wbtn ripe is superior in flavour to any grown under glass. Further, if all do not ripen, a very excellent pickle can be made with the green fruit. DISBUDDING ROSES. In reply to several questions. I must say the practice of disbudding roses is harmless, eo far as the plant. is concerned, and it is done regularly by all the best exhibitors who stage theee splendid, huge blossoms so much admired. The object of it is to get large blooms. Were all the buds allowed to develop that form the flowers would be comparatively small, but by reducing the buds as soon as they can be handled to one on the end of each jihoot the whole strength is thrown into this, and a perfect bloom is secured. Some prefer clusters of flowers, others single flowers of great size, and those who desire the latter should allow one bud only to develop on each shoot. The middle or top bud is the best to remain.

HEALTH AND MORTALITY. LONGER LIFE AND MORE SICK- NESS IN ENGLAND. Th", most prominent feature of the latest investigation of the sickness and mortality experience of the Manchester Unity of Odd- fellows, issued to-day, is that, while the gene- ral average duration of life is longer, there is an increased amount of sickness. The explana- tion of what appears on the surface to be almost paradoxical is that the increase in the average duration of life brings with it a larger proportion of old-age sickness. This latest tabulation of the sickness and mortality experience of the Manchester Unity has been made by Mr. Alfred W. Watson, of Nottingham, one of the actuaries of the society. The tabulation, which covers the I period 1893-7, comprises 3,180,378 years of life exposed to risk of death. The number of weeks of sickness is 7,022,438. A fact of national importance revealed by the tabulation is the undoubted improvement in mortality as compared with 30 years ago. There is a remarkable decline in the death- rate in the earlier and middle period of life, which if it stood by itself, without any infor- mation as to sickness, might be taken as die posing of the theory of physical deterioration. The average death-rate up to 45 years of age is only 66 per cent. of the death-rate disclosed in the 1856-70 tabulation. Though the decline i.i the death-rate from that age up to 65 years is not so marked, yet it is substantial. The death- rate between the ages of 45 and 66 is found to be only 90 per cent. of the death-rate for those ageB in the 1866-70 tabulation. Then at the higher ages we get a heavier death-rate. The deductions to be Wade from the facts as to mortality are all satisfactory. Another fact observed is that mortality seems to vary chiefly ^ith looalHy and density of population, while sickness is appa- rently influenoed to a much greater extent by occupation than by either geographical Situation or by the of the place in which the member is resident. In addition to the tabulation of the expe- rience of the society as a complete entity, the actuaries made elaborate groupings to deter- mine mortality as to geographical areas and sickness as to occupations. "So far as the aocident liability is concerned," says Mr. Watson, "the position of the miners is under- stood to have been improved by the Work- men's Compensation Act. 1897, and it does not appear unreasonable that, so far as these members are otherwise provided for in respect of disability arising from accidents connected with occupation, the society should now relieve itself from the responsibility oi providing the sickness benefit.' A feature of the mortality returns is the very low death- rate among members employed in agriculture. In the textile area, however, there is a high rate of mortality and a low rate of sickness.

"PASSIVE RESISTANCE." NATIONAL SUPPORT FOR MR. THOMAS SMITH. It is stated that Mr. Thomas Smith, the Derbyshire farmer who has refused to pay I the education rate, will be supported by the organisation known all the National Com- mittee of Passive Resistance. If Mr. Smith's goods are sold they will be bought in by the committee. The Rev. Thomas Law, secretary to the Free Church Council, informed a press repre- sentative that the committee would provide legal assistance in the courts wherever neces- sary, and that in the case of Mr. Smith—the first to be dealt with-they would organise a demonstration on the day of the sale. The position," Mr. Law said, will be very much the same as it was thirty years ago in the days of the Church rate, but the difference between now and then is that in those days it was generally quite a local affair, and if anything of the kind occurred it was never heard of outside its own district. Nowadays an affair of this kind is known all over Eng- land five minutes after it has taken place." heard of outside its own district. Nowadays an affair of this kind is known all over Eng- land five minutes after it has taken place." A development of the passive resistance movement is reported from Sheffield. There the overseers, having met a deputation of supporters of the movement, have agreed to accept payment of rates less 2d. in the £ —the estimated amount required for the main- tenance of denominational schools. Process of law will be employed for the recovery of the disputed amount.

3rd BATT. WELSH REGIMENT. PRESENTATION TO THE OFFICERS' AND SERGEANTS MESSES. There has arrived at St. Fagan's a number of magnificent pieces of plate, presented to the officers and sergeants' me&ses of the 3rd Battalion of the Welsh Regiment. For the i Presented by the Lord-lieutenant (the Bight Hon. Lord Windsor, P,C,). Presented by the Lord-lieutenant (the Bight Hon. Lord Windsor, P.C.). officers' mess there ill a superb centrepieca the gift, of Lord Windsor, lord-lieutenant of the county of Glamorgan, and the deputy- lieutenants, which has been presented in com- memoration of the services of the regiment in the recent Anglo-Boer War in South Africa. This centrepiece, exquisitely chased and adorned with figures, and mounted on an ebony pedestal, is a striking specimen of the silversmiths' art It is a reduced facsimile in silver of the grand antique Bacchanalian Vase of marble, now in the possession of the Earl of War- I Presented to the Ht.«! hy the Offloer# of Ike 3rd Battalion Welsh Regiment who were Stationed at. Prieeka, Cape Colony, as a Memento of Their Services ln South Africa, 1900-1902, wick, which was excavated in 1770 (in drawing off the Lake Pantauello) in the precincts of the Villa of Adrian, two miles from Tivoli, and demonstrates the perfection of Art in the age of Adrian. It was presented at the time of its discovery to Lord Hamilton, Minister Plenipotentiary, by Ferdinand IV., King of the two Sicilys. Therefore, frum an artistic standpoint, no less than for its intrinsic value, it is an acceptable addition to the regi- mental plate. Besides the centrepiece there are two large and two smaller bowls of solid silver, of charming design, and all mounted on ebony pedestals, which are the gifts to the officers' mess of those officers who served with the regiment at Prieska during the late campaign. "'ho bowls are to serve as "supports" to the centrepiece. Inscribed on the larger bowls are the names of the officers who were present at Prieska, viti., Colonel A. T. Perkins. C.B., Lieutenant-colonel W. Watts, C.B., Major W. Forrest, D.S.O.. Cap- tain and Adjutant H. E. Taylor, Captains *7 the Lord-lieutenant (the Bight Hon. Lord Windsor, p.c.) and the Ueputy-lieutenants of the County of Glamorgan to the Sergeants' Mess of the 3rd Battalion Welsh Regiment, ae Memento of Their Services Rendered in South Africa, 1900-1902. R. W. Taylor, A. T. Perkins, D.S.O., R. D. Stevens, H. H. Esplin, D. W. Panton, H. W. Hasterman, and D. How, and Lieutenants E Barker, J. H. Nash, E. A. Ellis, R. H. Hobbs, E. R. Udal, G. Woodfall, W. P. Carey, H. E. Berry, D. L. Campbell, A. K. Budge, and Lieutenant and Quartermaster T. Tinnock. Besides the aforementioned pieces of plate for the officers' mess, there is a very choice silver tray which was presented to the regi- ment by the inhabitants of Vryburg, in Cape Colony, as a memento of their services during the war. To the sergeants' mess there has been presented by the lord-lieutenant and the deputy-lieutenants of the county A largs silver loving cup of beautiful design to com-! memorate the admirable services rendered by the non-commissioned officers of the regiment in the long South African campaign. This cup was presented to the sergeant-major by the lord-lieutenant at the Park-hall when the regiment returned home. Since then it has been sent back to the makers to be engraved, and is now a very beautiful ornament. All the pieces of plate are the work of the Gold- smiths and Silversmiths' Company, of Regent- street, London. The plate will go towards the adornment of the mess tables at the annual encampment in Pembrokeshire.

:= BEE-KEEPING IN GLAMORGAN. During the last week or two the expert engaged by the Glamorganshire Beekeepers' Association, which now includes rather more than 100 members, has be-Mt visiting the homes of the members for the purposes of inspection and advice. He told a "Wes- tern Mail" representative that bee-keeping in the county is in its infahcy, but, as, through the influence of the association, eo many men in different centres have taken up apiculture intellectually and enthusiasti- cally, the outlook is very promising. The annual subscription to the association, which is securing an increasing membership, is 5s., While cottagers and artigans are admitted respectively at Is. and 2s. 6d. The chief aim of the association is to encourage bee-keeping among the working classes, who especially will find that it adds an appre- ciable amount to their income.

Woman's Friend ¡ Whatever else is false, Fels, Naptha is true — true friend cf woman. If you don't find it so, your grocer returns your money. Fals-Naptba 39 Wilsqu street London £ c

I CARDIFF INFIRMARY. I ANNUAL REPORT: EXPENDITURE STILL ABOVE THE INCOME. The sixty-sixth annual report of the Cardiff Infirmary has been issued. The total number of in-patients treated last year was 187i, ajid out-patients 16,058. There was an excess of expenditure over income. The expenditure was £10.689 10s. 100.. ajid the income £10.535 6s. Id.. an increase of jE833 17s. over the pre- ceding year. The average number of patients in the house daily during the year was 132.65, which was about 25 per cent. above the average of the figures of ten years ago. The 1.878 in-patients last year represented an in- crease of 215 as compared with the previous year, and were classified as follows: surgical, 948; medical, 310; ophthalmic, 381; and gynaecological, 239. Of these 822 were dis- charged cured or convalescent. 622 were dis- charged, relieved, or transferred to the out- patient department. 165 left the institution for various reasons, 122 died, and 147 remained I in tha institution at the end of the ysar. The average cost per bed for the year was £63 3s. 5jd. Of the out-patients treated 2,158 were surgical, 2,440 medi. cal. 3.83i ophthalmic, and 1,143 aural. There were 32,666 prescriptions dispensed for these patients, being 2,732 more than the previous year. The fact is recorded with gratitude that the contributions from work- people exceeded those of the previous year by 50 per cent. Thanks are tendered to the proprietors of the "Exening Express" for devising an easy method of collecting the smallest sums in aid of the infirmary, by which, within a few weeks, £100 was placed to the credit of the institution.

BURGLARIES AT CARDIFF. TWO HOUSES BROKEN INTO AT CANTON. General Baden-Powell's visit to Cardiff on Saturday gave certain unknown thieves the opportunity of seeking spoil," and the police have been notified of two cases in which houses were forcibly entered on Saturday morning and a number of articles stolen therefrom. One house was that of Mr. Rees, 10, Talbot-street. whose front door was opened with a jemmy between eleven o'clock in the morning and 1.40 in the afternoon. Several boxes and drawers were ransacked, and a purse, containing 10s. in silver, was annexed. Mr. Rees's son came home at 1.40, and found the front door open. He heard noises up- stairs, a.nd becoming frightened he ran away. Two boxes belonging to lodgers were forced open, but nothing was abstracted from these. Mr. W. R. Hall. of 6. Plasturton-gardens, waa the other viotim. His house was entered between 1150 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. The size of the jemmy used in this instance corresponded with that used in Talbot-street. A lady's gold watch and chain with a c#in attached, two gold rings, an old-fashioned silver watch, a. lady's silver watch, a.nd a gold pin were stolen. Three drawers were ransacked, and it is strange that a small box containing money and some silver plate was left un- touched. This points to the thief or thieves having been disturbed before the depredations were completed.

OAK TREE ON FIRE. AN UNUSUAL SPECTACLE NEAR FAIRWATER Those inhabitants of Ely who did not leave their village to attend the "B.-P." celebra- tions at Cardiff on Saturday were compen- sated to some extent by witnessing a rare and interesting spectacle. Some boys had lighted a "bonfire" near a fine old oak tree in the village, and to their surprise and con- sternation, for the lads ran away, the tree became ignited. Some cyclists who were passing noticed the tree in a blaze, and some hundreds of villagers watched its last stage of destruction. Old age had brought hollow- ness, and, the tree being also dry, the flames found in it an easy prey. Close at hand were two ricks belonging to Mr. Moore, of the White Lion Hotel, and Mr. George Priest, but these were protected in good time.

ALLEGED BURGLARY. At Bridgend Polioe-court on Saturday Thos. Sumner was charged with stealing from the Great Western Railway ticket-office at Bryn- menyn the sum of lis. 8d. on May 24. The station-master (Mr. Peter Coleman) said the prisoner was an employe, but was finishing that day. He had been under the company seven months, and earned 17s. per week.— Police-constable Shillum arrested prisoner, and found a link of a chain on the premises which corresponded writh prisoner's chain. He charged him, and he admitted the offenofe, and said that he was in debt, and owed 6s for a watch. Money was found on him.—Prisoner it a native of Hampshire, and the case Was adjourned for a week that his parents might be communicated with. ANOTHER CASE. At. Bridgend Police-court on Saturday William M'Lellan. now of Cardiff, was charged With breaking and entering hie father's house, at Station-road. Bridgend, and stealing therefrom the sum of £ 13.—Mr. Harry Lewis, solicitor, said he had been seen by the relatives, and he wished, If permitted, to make an overture to the bench. It was painful to him to see an old friend of his called upon to answer such A charge. Mr. D. M'Lellaji had been in declining health for some time, and it would be detrimental to his health if the base went on. The prisoner was holding an appointment at Cardiff, and when information was given to the police the father did not know that his son had been home that night. Mr. Lewis suggested that prisoner be bound over for twelve months, and the father Was willing to give his eon a treeh start in another country, and to finance him for it. The prisoner was quite willing to undertake that course.—Remanded for « week in custody.

WELSH RIVER POISONED. During the past week hundreds of dead trout and salmon of all kinds, weighing from halt an ounce to eleven and twelve pounds, have been found floating on the waters of the River Dwyryd, which runs through the VaJley of Featiniog and Maentwrog into Tremadoc Bay. The Dwyryd is the principal source of sport of the anglers of the quarry district of Festiniog and of the scores of visitors who frequent Tanybwlch almost solely for fishing. It is feared that for at least five years the river will be practically valueless for fishing. At a special meeting of the Merioneth Fishery Board Mr. Roberts (Festiniog) submitted a report, which, in effect, was that there wag strong inference that th. fish were poisoned by tarry liquid discharged for about an hour and a half from an old, disused tank at the gasworks on the previous Saturday afternoon. —On the motion of Mr. Monro Edwards, seconded by Mr. D. J. Jones, it was unani- mously resolved to take proceedings against the Festiniog Urban Council, the owners of the gasworks.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. A labourer named John Phillips, re- siding at New-road, Manelly, was brought before the Llanelly magistrates on Saturday on a charge of attempting to commit suicide -Police-sergeant Dunn gave evidence to show that he was called to see the accused early that morning. He was under the influence of drink, and on his neck was a weal extend- ing from ear to ear. Witness charged him with having attempted to hMig himself, and he replied. "1 do not know what was the matter. No one said anything in the home to me We did not quarrel, and I do not know what came over me to do such a thing."—He was remanded until WednesdAy.

MARGAM ABBEY GRANGES I INTERESTING PAPER BY MAJOR THOMAS GRAY. At the last meeting of the British Archaeo- logical Association, Dr. W. de Gray Birch in the chair, Mr. Patrick, the hon. secretary, rt"lkd, on behalf of Major Thomas Gray, a. i paper dealing with the history of The Granges of Margam Abbey." The Cistercian Abbey of Margam was founded in 1147 by Robert, Earl of Gloucester, after his marriage with Mabel, or Mabilia, daughter and heiress of Sir Robert FitzHamon, who styled himself Prince of Glamorgan. They determined to devote part of her dower lands to the service of God and to the monks of Clairvaux, and the lands thus given are described as situated between the Kenfig River and the further bank of further Afan. The granges in the parish of Margam numbered ten, but there were many more outside the parish. The reason of their being so numerous was the necessity of finding shelter for the sheep and cattle, sometimes almost at a moment's notice, against the incursions of the wild Welsh of the hills. These granges were named Grange de Melys, Grange of Havod, Grange of Penhydd-Waelod. Grange of Groes-wen, Grange of Grugwyllt, Grange of the Hermitage of Theodoric, Ire Newe Grange, Grange of Eglwys- nunydd. Grange of Llanmihangel, and Grange of Hafod Heulog. They were originally farmed by the labour of the fratree conversi." but at the beginning of the sixteenth century the abbot had become simply a great land- owner, and the zeal and activity of the Cis- tercian Order had become greatly enfeebled by the wealth of the monks and the gradual abandonment of the austere life. The lay brethren, or conversi," were no loriger wel- come at the abbey, so the farming was given up. and the granges and other lands were leased to secular holders. It is much to be regretted that no record has been kept of the buildings of the old granges, as all have been re-built, with the exception of the Court Farm, the New Grange." and that of Theodoric. both now in ruins. There is a very early notice of coal being worked on the grange of Penhydd-Waelod in a. great circa. 1249. which gives to the monks all the stonv coal," with ingress and egress for two-wheeled and four-wheeled carts and other vehicles, the monks undertaking to make compensat- tion for all damage done by their coal-work- ing to the arable land. This coal was worked in the neighbourhood of Bryn, where coal is worked at the present day. From a lease nated March 8, 1509, it would seem that the Welsh language was a source of considerable trouble to the monks; notwithstanding that they and their predecessors had dwelt so long in the land. they certainly could not manage the spelling, although they did their best. The narrow lanes of monastic times still exist in the hamlet of Hafod-y-Porth, in the c. Dyffryn Valley, some near Hafod being only 6ft. or 7ft. in width. One of these lanes is mentioned in a deed dated 1516. The paper was well illustrated by many beautiful photo- graphs and a very carefully prepared map, showing the sites of the several granges on the land in Margam parish given to the monks of Clairvaux.—Mr. Blashill, Mr. Rayson. Mr. Patrick, Mr. Gould. and the Chairman joined In the discussion following the paper.

SWANSEA POSTMEN'S WALK RACE TO BRACELET BAY AND BACK. The postmen belonging to the postal service at Swansea, held a walk on Monday to Bracelet Bay, Mumbles, and back. The men started at a few minutes after ten. and were greatly impeded by the traffic on the road, but, notwithstanding this, excellent time re- Suited. The distance is calculated to be between twelve and thirteen miles. Fourteen men finished, in the following time:— Hri. Ifltis. Narbett 2 5 Hopkins 1 6 Brooks 2 T Osborne .u. 2 1 Ben Davies 2 7 Pierce 2 7 Reynon 2 lZt Brown 2 13 Thomas —. t 14i Sambrook 2 15 Lewis 2 16 Strawbridge 2 14 E. J. Rees 2 17 Williams 2 21 Pierce and Hopkins made the pace for nearly the whole distance, Lewis and Davies being close behind, followed by Osborne. Brooks was going strong towards the Mid.

SPEECH BY LORD WINDSOR. THE RADICALS AND A GENERAL ELECTION. Speaking at a Primrose Deague gathering at Hewell Park, near Bromstrove, on Monday afternoon. Lord Windsor (First Commissioner of Works) said the electors must be deter- mined to pay the price of that policy whifth the country told the Government to under- take at the last election. They must Hot flinch from Carrying to the end the policy they had authorised Because they were faced by a difficult problem. The Liberal* Wd them a gsneral election was imminent, but he did not know what right they had to express so confident an opinion. fit advised the Conservative party, however, not to rest on their oars, and said they must be pre- pared to artrae that the policy which had been carried out by Lord Salisbury, Mr. Bal- four, and Mr. Chamberlain was really the policy which had saved the country in the most difficult times. Would people 1rho were tired of the present Government follow Sir It. Campbell-Bannerman and Mr. Lloyd- George ?

BIG BLAST AT GOODWICK. The seventh big blast of cliff in connection with the GWodwick (Pern.) Harbour Works took place* on Saturday. The stXxfle is required for the making of a breakwater, which is to he 2,600 tarda lOnt by 100 yards widfe at the hate and 50ft. deep. Seven tons of Chllworth'S powder was need for the blast, which brought down 100,000 tons of oliff.

FREE CHURCHES COUNCIL. MR. ROBERT BIRD AND THE EDU- CATION ACT. A meeting of the Cardiff and District Bran- gelical Free Churches Council was held at Miskin-street Chapel, Catliays, on Friday night, Mr. Donald Maclean in the chair. Aris- ing out of the minutes the Rev. J. Williamson .asked if anything bad been done toward* resisting the Education Act. Mr. Robert Bird stated that while in London the other day with Mr. David Shepherd he had gathered that the "passive resistance" movement was growing all over the country. There was no immediate necessity for aotion 1 in Cardiff, as the Act did not come into opera- tion there till September 29 next. He would like to suggest, however, that they form e. citizens' league, or anything they liked so long as they resisted the Act. Be for one would decline to pay the rate. It was not possible, he believed, for any of them to be committed to prison merely for non-payment of rates, but for banding together in order to induce others not to pay their education rate, he thought they could be, but still he did not think that a little time in bRiOl would do any of them any narm. expressed a strong hope that Nonconformists in Cardiff would resist the payment oi the education rate. The fight was just beginning, and no one could say what the ouicome r ould be. The Rev. J. Williamson felt that those who were going to pledge themselves to resist the rate should do so as soon as possible. On the motion of the ohairm&n, seconded by the Rev. J. P. Bellingham. a vote of con- dolence was passed with the family of the x late Alderman W. Sanders. The Revs. W. E. Winks, Thomas Hughes, and John Williams were elected to the executive committee, The following were elected as representa- tives .to the South Wales and Monmouthshire Federation of Free Churches Councils—the Revs. W. E. Winks, Cooper Hawken, Thomas Hughes, Allen Spencer. J. Bourne Jones, Howell Williams, Tanner Hughes and J. Wil- liamson, and Messrs. J. Andrew Jenkins. A. A. Bryan. W. Brogan, W. C. W. Knapp, C. F. Senders. J. W. Baker, J. T. Edwards, and J. P. Powell. The R.ev. Arthur Hancock presented a report of the proceedings at the National Council of Free Churches at Brighton, and remarked that he was impressed by the uuity mani- fested among the Free Churches. The next business was to pass a resolution in regard to the Education Act. Mr. R. Bird moved:—"That this meeting of the Cardiff Free Churches Council places on record its undiminished hostility to the Educa- tion Act of 1902, which in its worse features is repeated in the London Bill now before the House of Commons, and which, both in its in- tention and operation, is a great injustice to Nonconformists and also to a. great body of teachers throughout the country, and which. moreover, is a serious menace to the efficient education of the children, and that this meet- ing pledges itself to do all in its power to secure its early repeal." Mr. Bird expressed the opinion that the bomb thrown upon the country on Thursday night by Mr. Chamber- lain, regarding a change of fisoal policy, was an attempt to divert the attention of Noncon- formists from the education question. He hoped they would all show themselves men of grit and courage in dealing with that subjectr- (hear, hear)—and that the Rev. J. R. Baillie would carry out the resolution passed at the last meeting, and get a branch of the Citizens' League formed in Cardiff.—The Rev. W. E. Winks seconded. On the motion of the Rev. J. Williamson. and with the consent of Mr. Bird, the follow- ing clause was added to the resolution:—"And that this meeting expresses its utmost sym- pathy with those who will feel it their duty to decline to pay the education rate." The resolution was adopted in its altered form. With respect to the Government's Liceno- ing Bill. the Chairman moved" That this meeting deplores the attempt, as evidenced by the Bills of Mr. Butcher and Sir W. Hart- Dyke, now before Parliament, to, in effect, abolish the present unfettered discretion of magistrates over unnecessary licences, and urges upon all citizens to resist to the utmost these reactionary proposals." Mr. Maclean considered it would be quite unfair to award compensation for the abolition of licences which were regarded as unnecessary in the interests of the pubUc.—Mr. Bryan seconded. and the resolution was carried unanimously. Certain proposals of the executive as to the holding of open-air meetings were adopted in a modified form, and the proceedings terminated.

"MABON" TESTIMONIAL FUND. Alderman Richard Lewis, J.P., Pontypridd, presided over a meeting of the executive com. mittee of the "Mabon" Testimonial Fund. held at the Cardiff Town-hall oft. Friday after- noon. Mr. G. Hughes read voluminous cor- respondence showing that the matter had been brought before the public authorities in all the districts of Glamorgan and Mon- mouthshire, and 'n many of the centres arrangements were being made to hold meet- ing3 to initiate local movements, while in oth?r centres local committees were already at work. Nearly 3,000 copies of the appeal have been issued, and replies are expected in a few days. Among the letters already received is one from Colonel the Hon. F. O. Morgan, M.P., who enclosed a. handsome dona- tion. saying: I can most sincerely say I have never put my name down for a donation to any object that has given me SO muds pleasure as this one does-in honour of my very old friend Ma boa.

[- L. I I 1 It's always the same. „ I always just right. No matter when or where you get it, if it's Colman's, it's just as good as the last you had. Ironing day no longer becomes i day of trials. You know when you begin exactly how your ironing will turn out. You can with safety invite your neighbour to drop in and sec how ,7ell the linen looks. I COLMAN'S STARCH Sold in Cardboard Boxet. See that ths Caiman's Mi's Ml bvbo and mBb *m IkskM, ..CD. S.H.B.