Weekly Mail

DR. MACNAMARA IN; CARDIFF. SPEECH ON THE EDUCATION ACT, 1902. I Dr. T. J. Macnamara, M.P., addressed a. largely-attended meeting at Andrews'-hall, Cardiff, on Friday evening, under the auspices of the Glamorgan County Associa- tion of the National Union of Teachers. All parties to the education controversy were represented, clergymen and prominent lay- men of the Church of England rubbing I shoulders with Nonconformist ministers and well-known Radicals. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff (Alderman Robert Hughes) presided, amd among those supporting his lordship tm the platform were some of the leading mem- bers of the county association. The Chairman offered a hearty welcome to Dr. Macnamara, and, without attempting a speech, called upon the hon. member to address the meeting. Dr. Macnamara., 'who Vtas well received, made his text Tlie F-dture of the Education Act in Wales—what had it achieved, where were its defects, and how they could be Temedied." First, he would call attention to three cardinal points. First, the machinery for local government destroyed the school boards. Most of the great school boards were admirable institutions. (Cheers.) They did a great work, and he was there to say he wa,s sorry they had been destroyed. (Cheers.) He also wished to say as to many of the small parish school boards that he did not shed a tear over their disappearance. (Cheers.) What was called the ad hoc authority v.-as destroyed, and the Government in its wisdom handed the con- trol of education in each locality to the municipal authority. What had been the result cf that change? First of all, in the DR. MACNAMARA. great towns—like Cardiff-the result had been that the councils had found the work so much in bulk and so ramified that they were not now able to give that close direct attention which was desirable, and, therefore—he did not know the facts as to Cardiff, but in other cities of which he had knowledge, the work had fallen largely into the hands of paid officials and of leisured doctrinaires from outside. He did not oppose co-option—he thought it desirable to have one or two experts to give to the municipality the benefit of their experience and wisdom-but in the cities, and especially in London, the work was getting more and more into the hands of permanent officials and less and less in the ha-sds of the people's representa- tives. RESTORATION OF THE AD BOO PRINCIPLE. In the great cities he advocated a revival of a directly-elected education authority, and he would give the authority full powers over all grades of education. And also he desired to see tho municipal councils eo strengthened as to secure that the work of education should remain in the hands of direct repre sentatives of the people, in Glamorgan ther-* was a population of 900,000, with ICO,000 chil- dren. It was obvious that there were great distances involved, and members of the com- mittees could not attend every meeting. He had in his hand the minutes of two sub-com- mittees of the Glamorgan County Council. One sub-committee dealt with girls, of whom there were 50,000 in the schools of Glamor- gan. At this meeting, held on July 11, the number of persons present was one, and that person was a co-opted lady. (Laughter.) She was none the worse for being a lady. They wanted women on tiv ^e pubiic authority. It was a part of his case against the destruc- tion of school boards that women were robbed of the privilege they had of being directly elected. The other sub- committee which he referred to met to deal with bye-laws, school attendance, and so on, involving the interests of a hun- dred thousand children. There was present at this meeting County Alderman William Llewellyn, add County Alderman William Llewellyn was in the chair. (Loud laughter.) This was the nearest approach to Sir Boyle Roche's bird that he had ever heard of. And no blame to County Alderman William Llewellyn. He was there doing his duty, and, apparently, doing two persons' duty. lie was not criticising Glamorgan, but he took thec-o facts simply Rs a local object lesson. His remedy for this was to sub-divide some of these largQ areas, and if he could not get an assurance that the work was being con- trolled by the people's representatives he would strengfithen the machinery of the county councils ia such a way as to secure better representation. FINANCE AND LOCAL CONTROL. He now turned to the second question, that of finance. In Wales there had been 270,000 chndren in board schools and 120.000 in Church schools. The voluntary schools had depended to a certain extent upon voluntary contributions, with the result that they were hopelessly starved and lacked proper financial assistance. The Act did away with this anachronism, and he, as a Radical, said that this was a first-class reform. They had long passed the day when they could try to educate 120,000 children in Wales upon charitable contributions. The scihools were just as much a means of national defence as the Army or Navy. They did not have a jumble saJe for the RoyaJ. Artillery, and they did not have a. ping- pong tournament for the Torpedo Destroyer Flotilla. Coming to the question of popular control, this was not a party problem. It had nothing to do with Liberalism or Toryism. Their money ought to be in their own hands to spend. Then there was the question of the local managers of the non- provided s-. Uools. Four of them were the nominees of the denominational trustees, and two were the coaDiceea of the public authority. His proposition was that t'he management and control must be com- m,ensura,to with public expenditure. If the non-provided schools were to be brought up to the lc'-l of the council schools each school v K..a have to have spent upon it 60s. per child. The denomma-tkmalists gave them the uso of their schools five days and three nights per week, and they paid the equivalent of 5B.. per child. The local authority oontributed the remain- ing 55-60ths. Thus eleven-twelfths of the cost came upon the public and one-twelfth upon the Denominationalists. Yet in the management the Denoimina-tionalists had eight-twelfths and the public four-twelfths. That could not be maintained. (Cheers.) VOLUNTEER TEACHERS FOR RELIGION. Wha.t were they going to do? In the first place he would give up the endeavour to ccwir duct public elementary education on a dual system. He would give up the provided school and non-provided school, and he would make all public elementad-jr schools wholly, fully, and entirely, eo far as secular instruction was concerned, not only in. regard to teachers but to managers, exclusively and entirely under the control of the local authority. If they wanted the buildings, as they probably would want them, they must pay for them. Khey must not confiscate them. They eaid that eleven-twelfths of this money came from the public, but more than half this public were members of the Church of England, and they were pa.ying large eums towards the support of their own schools. If they began to discriminate between taxpayers and ratepayers in religious faiths, they broke down the whole principle of communal co- operation and contribution for publio pur- poses. He (the speaker) would open the school with a simple family Bible lesson, based upon the fundamental truths of the Bible. In schools which were originally non-provided schools and built for denominational pur- poses in many cases he would do what he could to provide facilities for taking the children aside, without- interfering with the conduct of the school, for denominational teaching by volunteer teachers to the children of the parents who made demand for that teaching. A scheme of that sort came almost' within an ace of the oonsummation between his right hon. friend, Mr. Lloyd-George—(loud and prolonged applause)—and the Bishop of St. Asaph. Mr. Lloyd-George, whose very fine career, apart from politics, whose fine I courage and industry had brought him almost to the topmost rung of the political ladder without any social advantages at all, might be placed before the boys of this country as an exemplar and stimulus. A scheme similar to that he had mentioned had worked moat harmoniously at Bontnewydd, in Carnarvonshire. was old-fashioned, and vnantoifl to see the children taught th# RUxl** The Bontnewydd scheme formed the germ of a. solution of the problem. BRAIN V. MUSCLE. There was another alternative. They were always pretty sa.fe in turning to Scotland in education. What did they do in Scotkmd? They elected democratic authorities to super- vise education, and, subject to particular statutory prescriptions, they left the settle- ment of a queetion to the local authority to deal with the needs of its own locality in a way which would be in consonance with the wishes of the people. Wales was especially a country in which they might try a local option scheme. The Duke of Wellington when he said that the Battle of Waterloo was won in the playing fields of Eton and of Harrow meant that one hundred years ago physical force was the governing force of the universe, and that was a gcod point. Seventy years after Von Moltke said tha.t tihe Battle of Sedan was won by the Prussian school- masters, and he was right, too. Brain power —even in the field of physical conflict—was rapidly taking the place of physique. The British people must keep abreast of the electricians, the chemists, and the scientists. The man who pressed the button was the man who ruled the universe. Brain was taking the place of mere biawn—'cheers)—in all departments of human activity. The British people thought they were Divinely endowed with the monopoly of supremacy. It was thoir oonooientious belief that they did not need equipment to keep them up to date. That, he urged, was a mistake. He insisted upon an Intellectual equipment which, with other qualities, would ma.ke our people captains of commerce and pioneers of commercialism. In conclusion he appealed to them, as they loved their country, to let nothing stand in the way of securing for the humblest lad an education which should be limited only by the limit put upcai his capacity by the great God above us. (Cheers.) General Loo, for years the manager of a nonrprovided school, proposed 0, vote of thanks to Dr. Macnamara for his able, and very just, and very statesmanlike speech. The speaker, for one, would be glad to fall in wifth the scheme that ha.d been laid down; he would like to go further, a/nd ask that parents of n,11 denominations should have the rightcfeaying that their children should be brought up in the faith in which they believed. He wished to ee& at an end this miserable fighting over creeds. (Cheers.) Alderman T. J. Hughes. in seoondimg, said he hoped the time of fighting would soon lie over, though b-a was not sorry for the fight and the experiences of the fight. The Rev. Pandy John supported the vote, which was unanimously carried. Mr. Doe Win,ton proposed a vote of thanks to the Lord Mayor, wliich was carried unani- mously.

RAILWAY ROBBERIES. CARDIFF WOMAN SENTENCED AT BRISTOL. At Bristol on Friday Cissie Jennings, 28, Agnes Oliver, 27, and Harry Brodrigan were charged with stealing a large quantity of property from tho Great Western Railway Company. Brodigan is a pugilist who recently fought Driseoll at Cardiff, and when arrested WatI writing a letter arranging another contest. The arrests were made in connection with a trunk robbery, which wis carried out by the husband of Jennings, who at the assizes received a sentence of five years. The women, it appeared, came into possessuon of a largo number of trunks, one of which was taken from Dr. Koir after a football match at Lydney. After the (..0 a- tents had been taken out the women took the emp'ty bags to Stapleton-road Station, where they left them. Owing to insufficient evidence. Brodrigan and another defendant, named Dempsey, who was also implicated, were discharged, but the woman Jennings, who had lived with her husband at Cardiff before his arrest, war, sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment, the defendant Oliver being bound over. The defenoe of JenningB was that she had been coerced into getting rid of the bags by her husband, and the con- tents she had sent to her mother at Man- chester at his orders. Tha~e cases of trunk stealing have been very numerous lately iu Bristol, and only recently a traveller from Cardiff had his bag forced open and goods stolen.

DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION, MANCHESTER MAN'S BLIND FOLLY AT BARRY. A white-haired old man. named John Wilson. described as a ship's carpenter, of no fixed abode, was charged at Barry Police- court on Friday (before Dr. G. Neale and Mr- W. Hallett) with wilfully breaking two plate glasa windows, value Cl6, in the shop of Mr. W A. Macdanald, clothier, of 73, Ho] ton-road, Barry Dock. The man was arrested, and after admitting the offence complained to the police of intense hunger. He was fed by Inspector D. Morris. Asked if he had anything to say, the old man, in almost a whisper, said: "I belong to Manchester. Ooi that day I came to Barry, and had been without food until I was desperate. I did not really care what I did, and thought of throwing myself in the dock." Prisoner was informed that the bench had no alternative but to send him for trial to tho quarter sessions. Tho Clerk: Will anyone go bail for you- have you any relations? Prisoner: No.

EARLY CLOSING ACT. NEWPORT ONE OF ONLY TWO PLACES LIKELY TO ADOPT IT. The Early Closing Act has not been the success which its promoters hoped it would prove to be. That is now admitted by the officials of the Early Closing Association. "The Act has been in existence for sixteen mouths, and. it is practically inoperative," said Mr. J. A. Stacey, the secretary of the association, who took a, leading part in the promotion of the measure. "The association has made thorough attempts in different parts of London to put the Act inito operation, but without avail. In fact, Newport and Wolverhampton are the only two places in the kingdom that, according to my information, are likely to adopt iJt."

WRIT AGAINST A COUNCIL MONTGOMERYSHIRE AND THE PRUDENTIAL COMPANY. Captain D. H. Mytton (the vice-chairman) presided at tho quarterly meeting of the Montgomeryshire County Council at Welsh- pool on Friday. The finance committee recommended that the clerk to the education committee be instructed to accept servic-e cf a writ issued by the Prudential Insurance Company, and to act in the matter. The writ was for JE17 15s., instalment of principal and interest on loan.—The recommendation was adopted.

>p The Best Beverage to Drink is Hll, # THE KS \ROYAL a F ICOFFEE| 8 Tin Ed. |-lb. | 5 Red „ 4)i. „ B A Bluo ,i 3d. „ 1 j| DELICIOUS AND GOES FARTHBST. | 6 07 ALL GROCERS. jf •INO Proprietors CHIRI.IS WAT.KKK Ii: THOMAS, LM., r: JEig THE BEST COCOA IS THE ^^lll [Royal Cocoa] JL l-'b. Tin S^d. WHY PAY MORS? J FRL Frvuiort; CHAKLM WALTER h Tbotus, Lt.4.. BB g 6 J.wry Street, London, E.C. njj 1 «

SIR F. FLANNER Y IN CARDIFF. SPLENDID RECEPTION BY THE PARTY COUNCILS. Scarcely has a candidate entered upon a political struggle with greater hope of eucoesa than Sir Fortescue Flannery, M.P., who addressed a meeting of the Oardiff Con- servative and Libera.] Uniondst Councils a.t the Conservative Club, Western Mail-build- ings, OIl Friday night. There was a very full attendance, and the pungent points made by Sir Fortescue were marked with most enthusiastic applause. The choir was occupied by Mr. J. Herbert Cory, and among Sir Fortescoie Flannery, M.P., on entering the room was received with a tornado of cheers, arid after referring to the work done by the late Government, said he was strongly in favour of scientific taration, but he wanted the taxation eo controlled as to give employment to the people of this country. (Applause.) His opponent had stated tha.t there must be no taxa. tion of the food of the people. Under a. Liberal ChanceHor of the Exchequer—Sir William Harcourt—there was continued an imposition which existed to this day. and by which £ 13,000,000 was raised in revenue upon the food of the pec.ple. The Liberal party, who had accepted that without a word of protest, ware now protesting against any reform in our fiscal policy which was intended to bring together the Colonies and the Motherland. Sir Fortescue Flannery then gave some object-lessons from American diplomacy showing how this country w.as worsted, a.nd then dealt with the coal-tax, which, he said, was raised i.n a. period of stress. Now that the financial equilibrium had been restored it should be one of the dutiios of the Executive Government to take c-ff that tax, because the special circum- stances no longer existed. Going back to fiscal reform, Sir Fortescue said that if we had the power which Mr. Balfour was seeking we oculd deal with tho question of coal exportation to South Russia, where there was a heavy tariff, and to Eoumania, where they desired to put on a heavy tariff, while their petroleum came into South Wales free. The result of Mr. E all OUT'S policy would be that onir trade with those countries would be as frae and unfettered as their trade now was with us. (Applause.) SEIPPING LAWS: PREFERENTIAL TARIFFS. Then there was the question of the unequal treatment of British shipping in comparison with foreign vessels., British ships had a compulsory load-line, but it was a regular practice that foreign ships leaded far more cargo than we were legally allowed, and entered into direct competition with us on those unfair terms. This was a. matter which, in tbe interests of the shipping trade of Car- diff. required to be dealt with, and muSt be dealt with in this question of trade relations with foreign countries. In spite of Cobden's prediction, the only countries which had adopted Free Trade were England and Turkey, but he would be sorry to compare Sir Henry Cnmpball-Bannerman with the Sultan of Turkey, \hough both were the directors of public policy iu the two countries. (Laughter.) There was a reason why all other directora of public policy iu the two countries. (Laughter.) There was a reason why all other countries had adopted a contrary policy, and their motive was illustrated by the fact that they had a differential tariff on each kind of goods and in different stages of their manu- facture- Why was it that the tariff wae high, almost prohibitive, against the finished article, and low on the article in an early stage of manufacture? It was because they wished to keep their labour within their own boundaries. The practical result was that machinery had been taken from England and established behind the tariff walls of those countries; work which had been done hitherto by British labour was now being done in America, France, and Germany. (A Voice: "The result is the unemployed.") "Yes," said the speaker, "my friend is right." In speak- ing to workmen, one had only to point to the falling population of Ireland. Where did the emigrant workmen, go? To America. And why did they go? To find employment. They left a land which was under Free Trade for another land where every industry and every manufacture was under protective laws, a land which found employment for thousands of men who could not obtain it under the dominion of the British flag. (Cheers.) A local paper, he interpolated, had told him he was no orator. But if he were to be com- pared with the Conservaii ve member for Plymouth—even when he rtco6d with his coat turned inside out—he would rely, not on oratory, but on plain truths brought home to the minds of the people, not by tricks of oratory, but by an exposition as clear and lucid as he could make it, with a definite desire to make the people understand the truth. (Cheers.) There was, Sir Fortescue resumed, a great cry about the unemployed, but Tariff Reform would find work for these people, and in this connection it was impor taut that there should be preferen- tial treatment of our Colonies to consoli- da.te the federation of our great Empire. lie showed how the Colonies had come to our assistance, and wound up an excellent sp-eeoh by slo-ting: "It has always been, the Conservative policy, it has always been the Unionist policy, that the Motherland and the Colonies shall stand shoulder to shoulder, that their interests are the same, that ,,Iik,y shall stand or fall together. That is the great policy tha.t is before us; that is wha-t we have to fight for, and we fight for the improved condition of our workers, for the indissoluble connection between the Mother- land and her Colonies, which together com- prise the greatest and most civilised Empire the world has ever seen. (Loud cheers.) Mr. J. B. Fc-rrier proposed the following rpBol-ution: — That this meeting of the councils of the Conservative and liberal Unionist Associa- tions of Cardiff, having heard the address of Sir Fortescue Flannery, Bart.. M.P., on political matters, is of opinion that he is a. most suitable candidate for the repre- sentation of Cardiff Boroughs in the House of Commons, and heartily recommends him for adoption by the association at a meet- ing to be held in the Cory-hall on the 28th ir.st. He said that Sir Fortescue's speech had shown them. that he was not only a strong politician but a statesman. The resolution was supported by represen- tatives of the ten wa.rds :-The Deputy-I.ord Mayor (Councillor W. L. Yorath) for the Cen- tral Ward and Messrs. J. W. Miles (South), F. W. Holmau (Cathays), J. E. "Whitehead (Parki, G. Vickers (Adamsdown), Bell Harri- son (Canton), C. W. Melhuieh (Riverside), A. C. Kirk (Roath), W. J. Hall (Grangetown), and J. W. Talbot (Splott). It was carried with unanimity, and Sir Fortescue Flannery, who was given! another magnificent reoeption on rising to respond, said the meeting was unsurpassed for its unanimity and enthusiasm. It was beyond all his expectations. He was going into the election with no cowardly feeling, no doubt. and no hesitation, and they would find him at the street corners and at the gates of the factories and dry docks addressing his fellow- working men. (Loud cheers.) He was con- vinced that, whatever might be the fate of the party, Cardiff would stand out with the greatest victory amongst the borough con- stituencies. (Cheers.) A vote of thanks to the directors of the club for the room was passed on the motion of Mr. J. W. Courtia. seconded by Mr. Isaac Samuel. Mr. H. Fraser, junr., responded, and a vote of thanks to the chairman was passed on the motion of Mr. W. T. Symonds, seoonded by Mr. F. H. Coward.

— TENBY TOWN AFFAIR?. A "SUPERFLUOUSLY MISCHIEVOUS PROPOSITION." A meeting of the Tenby Town Council was held on Monday, the mayor (Mr. George Thomas) presiding.—Mr. Jeffrey Allen proposed the folowing resolution "Inasmuch as Mr. Herbert Leach, is no longer a burgees of the borough of Tenby, he should be aeked to resign the office of town councillor of the borough." Mr. Allen said he believed Mr. Leacth had virtually oeased all connection with the town, and his position teemed anomalous, almost ridiculous.-The motion was seconded by Mr. Egerton Allen.—Mr.1 Laws raid he thought it possible that Mr. Leach mifht say the request, was impertine-.it. —After some discussion the motion was defea,t-ed by eight votes to three.-At a later stage Mr. Egerton Allen served a notice upon the mayor, signed by himself and Mr. Jeffrey Allen, declaring Mr. Lead's seat to be vacant. On the report of the estates committee Mr. Egerton Allen objected to the construction of the Queen's-parade roadway having been undertaken without waiting for the expendi- ture to be sanctioned by the Local Govern- ment Board; and he also called attention to the notice issued by tho council in connection with a. proposed register of unemployed workmen il1 the town, and said that the corporation had no right to hold out a,ny piomi&a of assistance to unemployed work- men. With the consent of the council the standing orders were suspended, and Mr. Laws moved the appointment of a oommitte.e to inquire into the ownership of the Clic- ketts Quarry. The quarry has been regarded as corpora-tion property, but in tracing the history of the ruins of Sootsborough House, near Tenby, Mr. Laws has discovered that when the field called the Clicketta was con- veyed to the corporation, some hundreds of years ago, by Ja.mes ap Rice the quarry was reserved by the owners cf Scotsborough. Mr. Laws, therefore, thought a committee should inquire into the matter.—Alderman Chiles seconded the motion.—Mr. Egerton Allen opposed, describing the motion as the most superfluously mischievous proposition" he had ever heard of.—The motion was carried with two diseeutieatfr

JUDGE SUMS UP AGAIjSSTS HIM. In the claim for damages brought againsff the Taff Vale Railway Company by Edward Samuel May before Mr. Justice A. T. Law- rence at the Glamorgan Assizes on Friday his lordship summed up at seme length. His Lordship commented upon the absence of any witness speaking about a jerk, the absence of any bruises on the plaintiff's hJdy, and the absence of any marks on his. clothes. The jury would have to consider- that the plaintiff had been three days out of work, was in debt to his landlady, and in debt to the guardians of the Bristol Union, was travelling to borrow money from his brother, yet thought fit to travel in a second class carriage. They would have to consider the coircid-enee that the plaintiff should travel in an empty carriage, and be precipi- tated by a jerk which no one else had felt out of the door, which could withstand a. pressure of 33cwt. Preferring to the sugges- tion ox counsel for the plaintiff, tha-t the door bad been opened with sufficient force to close of itself, his lordship said they had the evidence of Mr. Riches, of the Taff Vala Railway, who had told them that he had tried to shut that door when the train wafl going at the same pace as the train in ques- tion had been going, yet was uot able to shut the door. The insinuation of the plain* tiff's counsel, that this witness was prepos- sessed in favour of his company, was one. that recoiled with no small violence on him- self. Coming back to the cause of tbe swerve or the jork, his lordship Bald that one of the many causes alleged was th.t there was a. loose coupling, but the cause about which some evidence had been given wa-s that the steam was usually shut off at this place. His lordship commented with some detail upon the conduct cf the plaintiff previous to the accident. Why did he tako "Grea.a Thoughts" with him on that particular even- in.g? Why did he come back frcm Hopkins- town? They would have to consider- by hia taking the other periodicals with hint whether this showed it was—improbable as it did seem—a preconcerted, de.?j)-:aid plaui to make money out of the railway company and out of these newspapers. Mr. Abet Thonas said about it quite truly, that to aa ordinary mortal the motive was wholly in- adequate. The plaintiff could only get by losing both his legs below the knee at th» outside £ 500 from "Great Thoughts." From the other two papers he could only gefc money if killed. This did seem a rredostle.. rous scheme that anybody should adopt, and it was. The piaiatilf had all those things upon him. Was the explanation that be gave •adequate? It was said that he had no one to benefit by his death. Certainly, so far as his wife was concerned, this seemed to be the case, but when the plaintiff's mind was wandering immediately after tha accident, it wa.9 said that he talked about his daughter. Did that supply a missing link in the possibility of motive? Apart from that there seemed to be no sort of motive in the matter. Dealing with the evidence of the railway officials, his lordship said that it might be that. those witnesses, beoa,use it was their general rule to do eom» thing, always did it;.but he la.id stress upon the report of the gaard that had beaa handed in within 43 hours. His lordship, having commented upon the divergence in the medical evidence, eaid that this case was one that had caused him great anxiety and care. He was anxious that right should ba done, and, secondly, that there should be a verdict. It was the duty oi the jurors to act rea.sonably towards each other, and conform to the reasonable arguments on one side and the other, without being led away by sym- pathy. At 12.15 the jury retired to consider thei» verdist. At ten minutes past one the jury returned a verdict for the defendants.

SMASH ON THE RAILWAY; THE POWELL DUFFRYN COMPANY CLAIM JS378 DAMAGES. Before Mr. Justice A. T. Lawrence at the Glamorgan Assizes, on Friday iwiihout a. jury) the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Com- pany (Limited) brought an action against the Alexandra, (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway Company, claiming £ 371 damages from the defendants for aileged negligence in failing to make a proper examination of certain wagons, in conse- quence of which some of the plaintiffs' wagons were completely smashed on the ZOtbi of December, 1904. For the defenoe a, complete denial of any neg-ligence was given, it being alleged that the plaintiffs had suffered dama-ge, net aa the result of any negligence on the pan, oJ the defendants, but of the Taff Vale Railway Company, in whose control the train was. Mr. S. T. Evans, K.C., and Mr. C. M. Bail. hache appearsd for the plaintiffs (instructed by Messrs. C. amd W. Kenshole, Aberdare)0 and Mr. Abel Thomas, K.C., and Mr. Rhyt Willia-ma (instructed by Messrs. Mark by, Stewart, and Co., London) for the defence. The facts of the case were that on Dccemboff 20, 1904, the defendants had received at their docks at Newport for return for reward from the plaintiffs 23 empty wagons, and pro- ceeded to haul them with other wagons by their engines as far as Caerphilly Bank on tha Brecon and Merthyr Junction Railway, when, owing to the breaking of a, defective coupling of a -wagon, the plaintiffs' wagons, which were at the rear of the train, broka Icose-, and were damaged by running back into the trap points. Several witnesses having been called whose evidence tended to show that the coupling was defective, Mr. Abel Thomas, for the defence, submitted that there was no case lor the plaintiffs if ordinary care had been used. His Lordship said that the plaintiffs sug- gest,ed that the rust on the coupling showed that ordinary care had not been used After hearing a number of witnesses fof the defence, his Lord«hip said he was satis. fled with the plaintiff's case, but lie wished to hear more on the point where the flaw ia the coupling was apparent. After Mr. Evans had spoken on this point, his Lordship said he believed the whole examination was perfunctory, and that thia flaw in the coupling was disooverable. Yet there was no evidence to show that the Caw1 should have been discovered. A verdict was given for the defendant with costs.

THEFTS BY A SERVANT. YOUNG GIRL SENT TO PRISON AT NEWPORT. At Newport County Petty-sessions on Saturday a pale-faced, demure-looking girl, named Gwendoline Davies, aged nine- teen, hailing from Brynmawr, waa brought up in custody on remand charged with. stealing a. gold and diamond ring, a silver pocket communion service, three silver tablespoons, two silver forks, a silver sugar tongs, two silver salt- Spoons, four silver teaspoons, and a silver salt-cellar, of the total value .of £ 3 10s., the property of Pranced Matilda Bosser, a.t Oaer- tioker Farm, Kemeys (where she had been in occupation as mother's help), on or about October 17, 1905.—Mr. Digby Powell appeared for the prosecution, and explained that on Ma-y 31 the prisoner made application to Mrs. Rosser for a situation as mother's help. Though she had no character with her, Mra. Rosser liked the tone of her letters and engaged her. Prisoner said she was the daughter of 1:1. farmer, and had never been out at service before, both of which sta-tsmenta were found to be untrue. On October 17 there wera some words, and prisoner left the same night. Some days afterwards Mra. Rooser found that certain siiver goods were missing. The girl was found in the neighbourhood, and admitted that she had sold some of the things at Duffner's and others at Bain- forth's, jewellers at Newport. Mrs. Roeser was quite willing to forgive her, and asked her if she had taken any other things. The girl protested that she had not taken any- thing else, but it was subsequently discovered that on the very same day she bought some clothes with the proceeds of the sale to Chill- cock's, of Bristol, of the communion, service, which she obtained £1 for. Pointing to the prisoner (who was seated in a very dejected and crestfallen attitude at the solicitors' table), Mr. Digby Powell said he was sorry to say that she was not what she seemed.— Prisoner pleaded guilty.-In the result the" Bench sentenced her to three months' impri- sonment.

GLAMORGAN SOCIETY. At the annual meeting of the Glamorgan Society in London on Saturday Lord Aber- dare was unanimously elected president for the coming year, Mr. J. 1. Jacobs was re- elected hon. treasurer, and Mr. T. Leason Thomas hon. secretary. The balance-sheet showed that there was a. sum in the trea- surer's hands. A musical evening followed the transaction of business, those taking part including the Misses Gladys Moee, Beta Banfill, May Ellis, and Jessie Taylor, and Messrs. David Evans) H. S. Jones, and W. Terrill. A Novel-title Guessing" competition resulted in the Rev. D. Bryant winning the first prize End Miss Gladys Moes the second. The Rev. D. Bryant, who was given as "Gilbert Vince," said that the novel (which was published by the "Wes. tern Mail") was one that he could heartily commend as an excellent work. I

I There 18 no tonic equal to Gwilym Eana, QUIDIM Bitters, and any person suffering from nervous disease* will find a true friend in Gwilym Evans' Quinine Biu There ta no tonic equal to Gwilym Evans' QUIDIM Bitters, and any person suffering from nervous disease* will find a true friend la Gwilym Evaos' Quinine Biu ters If persevered with." So writes Mr. H. Tiller, lOi Qilfacli CLraoa. Xturnvrodm, MerUur Tydfil. *1^7

i WKSTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED *• Bon B/ J- MXJrB- «Terie-gtre«t. Fleet-street, London. E. D. HeswaH.—A very nVT!f!en °f Lanier's King. ■f'Epir, —W. Barron.—Coxe's Orangre 1 lbacell,* tariks for such a bountiful and Am 8atEPie. £ ?U:S on Apple Tree.—S. Lloyd.— J^ar trvf i ^'7 With thia matter and the ^Uonq +Js^ue in a week or two. Both aire J T- gritty io ii Holly Tree—A. Walker.—The ii!? t'Qna.l -;aod?''v°r'-i. It is a good one, but } ^odnpo I Silver Queen, which you should note on hollies iu this woek'fc J• A. B."—It is, probably, only briisK^u0,11^ As you say, you ~[JQ. La^/iV.. oa-rs out, which is an omi»- 8wee,t M flead flat, and pour a little oil fiW almond into the cavity, Boses.—J. Grey.—You will spoil your «UrrvP eiPrune thein now. Why be in such half +,"orten aay shoots that are in the •6,iera,l v,„ r distance, but do not attempt Pi priU!Jn? till March. no? r.K;,ri,:? Cabbage.—"D. E.You Hot d*». v1 at a voree time. Pity you fi^Ua.rv s<Vn the autumn. Wait now tiJi », ea> hm /ir March. The plants will grow i Prohni iey ^e late in being ready for A r y uot tin June- f^r&reon°us Tree.—I. O. M."—It is not the J i Ia?e T+ *>a although much like it in n S £ rPi„ 13 rwinied Garrya eiliptica, and the ::?ce. rf catkins giye it a distinct- appear- „ Puld >w, bear a very sharp frost, and £ ?'d <iiS4r;P5ot. £ Vcted a little during such. In '"rub At is often planted as a wali An >?°kfnE ^ow-oncler.-J. B. Ward.—This is a i K-iiT^ty, ajld not first-rate as dessert. OOIOH^ free-bearing, and of good 6ize t 8^yed •' is oul° ot thotxi varieties much Some^m. the shops, although not equai i youp table. It would be a success *Hod» irict- Please see repent issues a_ ^ei2; °f Planting, Ac. °f Pat Steer.—"Welsh Earmor."—A » ^boy* ?T?tteer weighing 13cwt. and 24ib. t'ecojvi LJle. avetrage in v.eight, but it is not ?i? OTm^ei=kt: but very few, indeed, run io bto?' At the recent Sinithfiekl Show +\?'eS;t Hereford steer weighed over ir6 heaviest Shorthorn over 19cwt.; ) -re th^ies^ Welsh over 13cwt., and these 6^,7 weights. fWe Eoilowing Good Advioo.—"A York- rj- Hay Sri^r writes-.—' I have some aucubas |a • They were very straggling in !>•? ttiUvfl 0 ^™ter, and I a^ked a gardener ?' thct. CJ^ them down. He said that if I Eu;v;^Vou!d die, but I read in your notes 1 ini^6 to cut euch plants down; so I ^Y^Cks t your recomxnendation, and now, you, they are splendid, bushy II ^c^(]Vy Egg1—Miss Barman—Aa you eus- 7je cSTg contained two yolks. The f°'ked' rvi!?z" would good for a eragle- I?r a egg, bat it is not excessive l^yolkeii one. I do not like hens iT^Sui;f_^any double-yolked eggs. They are SUOK ^y^ig. and often not quite right, saltg &bould be given two or throe doses vi/i Newly Calved Cow.—"Maud E."— j^DQ/hjli,• ^Q-ries with the breeds and ages and is 1, ?3 °f the oowa. Eight^n quarts a 0 ^°t exoessive, but a good yield. Eew i twenty quarts, and about sixteen Sp^litv aYerage. With good feeding tlie ^Kiven. now is about equal to that to ,r^3s 13 available. The Jersey is the ?°t en, Te the richest butter. Her mdlk may hi+a tJle other Lirger breeds in quan- Ash 1:^io butter will exceed the others. for Grass Field.—"T. B."—Coal ashes ,° e<v^a fertiliser. They would do your field ?^'octi/S, stover, and make the surface listen +> for Sizing. They would not Qro^p.1, soil at all, unices ploughed W 1and then light sand or gravel ^tT-an-»^ better; but few carry out such ^D. ^^nts, and you should not break it a go°cl dressing of oow or horse • you will soon Bccure improved 0ur hundredweight of basic Plag ^flcia^1" aore at oace would be highly the Anrona end Buff Orpington • the Anrona end Buff Orpington Cr^s- Alice."—You will not benefit by such .< JiU} The Ancona is a very, small fowl, f rw-ys 'to be bred or reared as a +0.°? .• It is a fair layer of small eggs, o 1L13 a"- T'w Leghorn and Orpington Jw, t'ter cross for laying ajid table, and t?SuUF Orpington result in mas- Jot KT ™ fowls, but the BufF On'iDgion can- K yery inucli improved for laying or °*1 igrossing, a$it ia a very excellent °*1 igrossing, as it is a, very excellent j 1> 11 both respects in itself. j G^i^ting^ Wallflowers; Dog Manure in Jailnl Gypsy."—You can transplant the 5*hev. W6rs Ilow' °r when the weather is mild. tlUtn>v,Y''01' have been better planted in the 'is jProper time to cut them down M after the flowera wither, when new occur again, but this would not follow £ a,^j Dog manure is objectionable in the if applied in quantity. Naldire's in vT1 Powiers will correct all irregularities 01: Wiis -way- You can get them at the fust's, and give aa direoted on the powder. ^Treatment of Holly Tree.—"E. R."—I fancy mJQJT tree rnust lie growing in a gravellv or j StH^T a^n. unkind subsoil, it. iS rause the tops to die. Take away fr^^wie sirrfaee soil down titl von meeit the j ^g out mnre in a ring: about two from, the stem, and down to a depth ti&bonat three feet; then fill up with a mix- of three-parts good soil and of cow I ^httree manure. It will soon root into this, bo more vigorous. Waiter freely in dry I j^ther, and moisten, overhead when the g growths are forming. Back Vines; Tomatoos in Boxes.- —There is no reason why your vinc- -cl not fruit as well the full Length as only half, but probably you omit'ted to ^wj^bem more root room and feeding. These WT* be verv necessary, and if not supplied foj^result in the grapes being smaller than BQ r^}y- If yrru cut the main rods bflck, do the sooner the better, aa if cut near they bleed, and this weakens them. Mth^ 3r°u cut them, burn, the end of the rod £ eert-a 1101 iron. This is done to prevent tywr11? or tho sap nrorainj; out. Excellent Ij^^or tomatoes are grown in ten-inch pots. it is easier to grow them in pots than Of (J .^d I always deal fully with this mode -when the time comes to start in tnjL8Dring. Tomatoes do not do so well in "boxes as pots, and I do not advise J these; but if not too large and y drained yoru will hare fair success.

I s s } j Farmers & ta!nteo milk | does the regular of Im m I MEAL all animals healthy and a^blo them to extract the "full I JJount of nutriment from the Kl,°Je of their food, but also J^vents the milk from being ^'nteci when cows are foci on i turnips and roots. J PXOOF. £ ^,1905. '■ R I milk 30 cowa. and have used MOLAS- SINE MEAL for them the whole season, and bave never had better or swei ter batter or S*ven my customers such satisfaction. Ia since usiug It I have never had butter Coine so quickly or keep so sweet so long. "My calves liaye d me wonderfully well ft it f,,r e,(,s and lanii, it,is excellent. JT IS A GOOD FFIKD TO USE WHEN QIV*ING THE COW'S TUUNIPS, AS IT PREVENTS HIE BUTTEU TASTING OF IBE TUUNIPS." (Signed) GEO. ARMSTKONA ^JJWactured by HENRY TATS ft SONS, Ltd., Sogac Refiners, of Londou and Liverpool. ^li*?re to get It. a" ^'rain an'i Forage Merchants, and EM^Sassine Co,, Ltd., w 36, MARK LANE, LONDON, E.C. 1 HOPE ST. GLASGOW. 43, DAME ST. DUBLIN And other AddreMes.

PICTURE PUZZLES. T J HELP YOU WIN PRIZES WORTH THOUSANDS. ANSWERS. NEW COMPETITION. 1, King Edward VH.; 2, Mr. Balfour; 50 Lord Sosebery; 4, Mr. Chamberlain. BIG BUDGET. NEW COMPETITION. 1, Niblo; 2, Windmill; 3, Lipsham; 4, Camp- bell; 5, Pheasant; 7, Lyons; 8, Joughlin-, 9 Box; 10, Lamberton; 11, Dorsett; 12, Sharpe. IDEAS. I 27.—The speaker stood beihand the window cur-ta,in of the front room at the Exmouth lodging-house. His confederates stood well out of sight. 23.—Crawford, with his old-time P. and 0. stateliness, advanced to meet Marion as she stea,died herself from the shining brass ra.il of the ladder on to the surer foothold of the bridge. PEARSON'S WEEKLY. 25, Bryn Box and Annan; 26, Boot and Le>a; 27, Cam, Cliffe and Mold; 28, Danby, Dola, Pant and Peel; 29, Aby, Eton, Lee, Liss and Tong; 30, Alton and Pabo, or Ooola and Pant. PENNY MAGAZINE. Fourth List.-Filey, Farrfngdon Street, Gosport, Twenty, Dover, Weston. SUNDAY COMPANION, SUNDAY CIRCLE AND HORNTR'S WEEKLY 21, Band; 22, Official. WEEKLY TELEGRAPH. Sheet 10.— kill and eat tbe dog, but the dog begged for mercy. "If ycu will not spare my life," he said, "at least allow me to live until I have put on fl-esh" ooough to be worth eating. I am so lean now that there is no flesh on ——— WOMAN'S WORLD. 0haIP. 5.—When Joeeph heard that there was oom in Egypt he sent his sons to buy some. But when they came to Joseph they did not know him. And Joseph aaid, "Ye are spies," and he put his brothers into ward (or custody).

PONTYPOOL FREE LIBRARY MH. J- C. HAIvBURY GENEROUSLY OFFERS A SITE. -7 We are given to understand that Mr. J. c. Hanbury, of Pontypool Park, has generously come forward with the offer of a site for the erection of a free library immediately oppo- site the police-station. Some time ago Mr. Carnegie made an offer of X2,000 towards the library, provided a suitable site were obtained, and the cost of maintenance was borne by ratepayers.

ASSESSMENTS IN CAHDIFF. LARGE CROP OF APPEALS IN THE QUARTER SESSIONS. At the meeting of the Cardiff Guardians on Saturday, Mr. O. H. Jones (chairman) pre- siding, the Olerk (Mr. Arthur J. Harris) asked for the consent of the guardians to the assessment committee appearing a.s respondents to the following appeals to quarter sessions against the poor- rates:—Cardiff Gas-light and Coke Com- pany, Mount Stuart Thry Doekg (Limi- ted), Cardiff and Channel Mills (Limi- ted), D. Duncan aud Sons, Thomas Owen and Co. (Limited), Denny, Mott, and Dickson (Limited). Joihn Bland and Co. (Limited), S. A. Brain and Co. (Limited), Cardiff Pure Ice and Cold Storage Com- pany (Limited), Spillers Nephews (Limited), South Wales Public Wharf and Transit Cam. pany (Limited), and Spillers and Bakers (Limited). Barry: Barry Graving Dock and Engineering Company, Joseph Rank (Limited), and Cardiff Pure Ice and Cold Storage Company (Limited). Llandaff: Thomas Owen and Co. (Limited) and Oardiff Gas-light and Coke Company. Mr. F. J. Beavan moved that consent be given to the assessment committee appear- ing, and this was carried.

grow a lot of fruit in one's garden for a summer supply only is right as far as it goes, but it is not going far enough, and much tbeut is available is surprisingly ignore 50 far as apples and pears aore concerned, particularly the former, thaA are so gene- rally useful, it is just as ea&y to have a lull supply at Christmas and all the wmter as in summer or autumn, and of the seasons now and then they are surely the most accept- able now, when so few naturally-grown fruits a.re at command. I have lately given lists of varieties for general purposes and cultivation, and there need be no great variety grown for a supply at this time; butthe are especially good, and should be ^eluded for supplies at this time:-Dessert Apples. Christmas Pear-main, James Grieve, Coxe's Orange Pippin, King of the Pippins, mbsKm Pippin, and Gascoigne's Scarlet. Cooking and Sauce Apples: Warner's King' Paff+?a Albert, Bramley's Seedling, amd Oats Head. Pears: Doyenne du Cornice, Passe Co-Imaa-, and Beurre Diel. PRUNING RASPBEEEIES. I have this week several inquiries as to how to proceed with these. Nothing is more Although the manner of pruning is a thing >f itself. Cut out every shoot of 1904 ,doT^ o the ground. They are decayed It is the growths of 1905 only that will fruit im. 1906. If they are crowded, cut all the weak ones ltTitø out, and le::vve the strongest at a dis- tance of nine inches or so ■hould be well ripened and about five feet high. Do not cut them down to two or three feet, but let them remain about five feet, ^na they ca.n be shortened to this height. DURABLE CUT FLOWERS AT CHRISTMAS. Unfortunately, flowers are very sca.r,*> ™ Jie great majority of gardens at Christmas. There are hardly any to cut unless it be ■ n warm glasshouses, which few possess. The le-ire for flowers, however, is great and keen It this time. The utter absence of them from the garden heightens this, and the result is that very many buy flowers at Christmas who rarely think of doing so at otherUmes. The expense is not prohibitive. Indood, con- sidering the beauty and sweetness of the flowers and their unique capability of giving lelight, they a.re extremely cheap, and once .heir joys are experienced there is a great lesire to retain them perfect M long as pos- sible. The season favours iiheir preservation inordinately, but some details must be closely observed to assure their long duration. in form, colour, and fragrance. ,With the^ view ,f long keeping, great care must be taken Miat the flowers are absolutely froah a,nrl rault.le-r-s when bought. If the stems are bruised, the petals blemished, or d^y has -et in, they may make a good display for a day or two, but they will soon become shabby aud prove disappointing, as soiled flowers are not gratifying. If they were tied in bundles, and too tight cording has bruised the stems, cut them above i^iis part f it will not make them too short. If it win, nut them in water to cover the bruises. Covers mav be bought that are fully i^veloped. They may be the most showy, but they will be the shortest'-lived. The lorn^t- 'agting ones are those with a number of the lower flowers opened fully and a quantity of the buds near the top still to develop. These are highly satisfactory, as. although the lower blooms may decay, the higher ones will <>p»n gradually, and remain long in perfec- tion. It is pretty certain all flowera bought -">w will have come out of hot-houses, but this dOors not add much, if anything, to their Tjerishable nature. Indeed, cut flowers will remain perfect longer in a low temperature than a very high one. but on no acconnit should they be placed in positions where they are exposed to draught? of cold or warm, dry ii'r Both are most destructive to deiicate flowers, hut the usual temperatures of dining and drawing rooms and parlours are suitable if the open window and the mantel-shelf are avoided; but rooms become heated and ex- hausting. and it is a useful arrangement to move the flowera out of these during the night time into a cellar, pantry, or such Hke where the temperature is medium and not fluctuating; only avoid a damp Each day change the water. the new always be sweet and clean and boated to 60deg. In changing the water. 5-l £ -lasses, and snip a little batofT th-B end f the stem with a sharp knife, ,T^.enfl ti qre disposed to fall, drop a IrU-^ into the centre of each bloom. Never quite fresh flowers and partially decays! ones m the same glasses. OUTTTNGS OF FRUIT TBEES. Attempts are sometimes to propagate apples, pears, plums, and other tree fruits from cuttings, but the operation is not very sucoeasful, as a rale, in their case. I oould not predict a lot of useful rooted trees to all who try the/n, but it may interest those de- posed to try their hiand to insert a few cut- tings and Dote results. With bush fruits, how- ever, there is no difficulty whatever in pro- pagating them from cuttings, and I am often surprised that all do not raife their own plants. The?e include gooseberries and red, white, and black currants. In pruning these now, select some of the best shoots formed in 1905. They should be clean and straight, and from Otic foot to eighteen inches long. Only ta1,e cuttings from the very best sorts. Tie eaxih kind -ap..in.a" littto Jvuaiwtter nm, nitli the namo or d«f?crip4iiOTi; tooTV cover the lower ends with soil to a depth of three inches, and let them remain there till later, when I will deal further with them. GOOD TYPES OF MID-WINTER POT PLANTS I am not writing on their cultivation now, or advising growers how to produce ttbem, but there are very many who like to buy a few plants at this time to make their dwell- ings aa gay as possible at mid-winter, arid a. little guidamce often results in weeks or months being added to the pleasure of posses- sing them to good order. I do not .advise the buying of fancy palms and delicate ferns at this season. Their recent quarters will have been very different to that of a room or hall. Their anneairance may be most tempting—a get-11 t>for^the-<x>casion style, which is not lasting, a.nd im a deplorable short time decay and discolour will occur; indeed, a general collapse will generally happen. It is much tetter to get eucli planv«i in during the summer, and let them become gradually accustomed to the winter conditions of the rooms, when they may go on in hmlth and ornamental order all through._ For halls few plante are more appropriate in winder than the -hardy evergreens growing in po>s. The plamts may be only one or two feet high, or they may run to half a do»en or more They may be g-rP<ffi, variegated, or berry-bearing Tud all will have a very furnishing and pleasing appearance. In hotels and town houses these plants are invaluable where ornamental vegetation is appreciated; and it is everywhere. Iu room plan,s it will be mostly those with blossom that will he The winter flowering are very pretty and long-lasting, but not fragrant Soman hyacinths in pots are lovely, and remain good for two or three vroebs Bou- vardia-3 are very choice and durable, ftoirceas ,a,re chaste, of good form, and the nlam's are useful if kept till, spring and Til anted in the open. Gay geraniums in ports are obtainable. Narcissi and marguerites are very showy. Begonia Gloire de Lorraine is a speciality at its best, and rnotb 1 ng- can be more charming than a neat plant c.othed with its rosy pink blooms. All like this. Some early azaleas are offered. They are always acceptable, atid as a berried plant Solanum capsicastruim is invaluable. MUSTARD AND CRESS IN WINTER. Mustard and cress are the only two blading plants that can be grown quickly in winter, and can always be depended upon. A imimber of saucers or little «hallow boxes XuOd he filled with a somewhat ndh soil. STit very firmly. Sow the seed an the sur- S; PTW it into the soil, but do not it and place in any position where the tem- perature is from 60deg. to 70deg. It may be light or partial darkness. Keep the 51 moist, and growth will soon occur so often, and keep up a. supply. FOWLS FOR BREEDING. AU of these should be selected now. Those who hatch eggs from all stamps will never nrogress They may have gome good chicks, w it is equally certain they will have inferior ones. There are the small, weakly S be aXded in breeding. The deformed must be debarred as rigidly, and none' but the most robust and well-developed ehon d be emnloved in producing eggs for hatching, Whether these be for ho™e^nc"bat^n1^ »ell for that purpose. Those of the latter, whose eggs hatch out well and produce strong chicks, wiH soon get customers time after time, but weaklings spoil trade, while ^emS to rear chicks «t home fowls is an up-hill process, but with highly capable breeding stock all is sure and easy. Of late poultry yards have been well thinned and many good ones have been marketed, but till with a keen eye to future success mu»t retak some of the best and form them into breeding groups of one or more P»ns- the breed is a prize one,, coloilr of feather, correct markings, shades if feet, disposition of toes, and such like must all be as near correct as possible m the breeding stock as colour of feather, Ac., counts much in their case. But, apart from the prize stocks' details of show points, all breeding fowls should be composed of a well-developed body-wide, thick breast, an absolutely straight breast-bone, no lumps on the back. moderately strong shanks, but not clumsy here as this indicates coarseness. In cocks the comb should be thick on the skull and quite upright. A thin, drooping comb on male bird is a .sure sign of weakness. Be sure the cock is as fit and robust as possible. He should not be less than nine months old or exceed two, unless he is an exceptional bird from which stock is desired. If there is a surplus pen, put him in this for a week or more before going with the hens. If it is intended to begin setting .the eggs in Feb- ruary, put them together about the middle of January, or three weeks may be counted on before the eggs are reliable in fertility. Be very anxious to include typical hens. Select tlhoee first that are Known to be superior layers, and, however good the chicks were this year, they will be still better next. A FAVOURITE CLASS OF CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS I can remember the time when evergreens were more used for home decoration at Christmas than they are now, but the demand for sweet aaid beautiful flowers was never so great. Quality has thus re-placed quantity ia a great measure, but choice evergreens are still much in demand, and the hollies stand first. They have an old-time record to recom- mend them. Their associations with Christmas festivals is historic, amd in all modern inoiwatiooiB they have held their own by their own merits, as alike in spray, leaf, end berry they are most ornamental and appropriate for Christmas decorations, be they in sacred edifice, ball-room, or banquetnhall. When well-developed the iholly tree lends itself freely to being fleeced of its twigs and branches. If carefully and intelli- gently removed, each tree may furnish a quantity every Christmas, and it is infinitely more satisfactory for everyone who possibly can to grow their own holly. They are charming evergreen trees at all times and in all situations, and when profusely orna- mental with the berries they are delightful winter subjects, cut or uncut. The holly, with which all are most familiar, is the Ilex aquifolium, with its rich green leaves and, red berries. It is very hardy, very free grow- ing, and useful, as surely furnishing berries, but there are scores of varieties, and the silver and golden leaved are very beautiful. Of the former Silver Queen a.nd Silver Milk- maid aire two invincibles, and in golden leaves Gold Milkmaid and Golden Queen are equally good. Comtorta or the corkscrew holly is curious; so is the ferox or hedgehog variety, while some favour the yellow berried, Fructo luteo. There is a small myrtle leaved va-riet-y that is very neat, and a good variety may be planted; but those useful in supplying ever- greens now should predominate. CHRISTMAS ROSES. These are not the queen of flowers so much cared for in summer, but the hardy herba- ceous plants well known under that name. In the books they are designated Ilelleborus, and are classified with the order of Ranun- culacea?, which in habit and bloom they somewhat resemble. They are evergreen, attain a height from six to eighteen inches high, and the blossoms are single, of artistic form, ard very freely produced. Their colours are white, cream, and purple, and they possess the distinction of flowering very freely in the open aar during mid-winter, when the majority of open-air plants are at rest and nower!ess. The variety called Niger is the most useful. It is the true Christmas rose. It is pure white, and most delightful in all ways. If grown in a shel- tered spot, it is almost always in bloom at this time, and the flowers remain perfect for many weeks; but. as a rule, they are cut and employed for Christmas deooratioTIS, foir which they are admirably adapted. They do not force well; if late, they may be covered with glass to assist them a, little. The pro- tection also keeps the flowers more pure and clean. It does no harm to cut the flowers off, but if the plants have been protected do not expose them again till the weather is more mild. These Ohrietmag roses ought to be grown by all desirous of se-curing nice flowers in the eIIIon at Christmas. STORED FLOWER ROOTS. Those who put avnay their flower roots in the autumn or early winter, and n.ever look at them again till the spring time, often find some of them decayed. Being too damp or green when stored causes this. A humid store also produces it, and it is well to make a mid-winter examination of all to ascertain their condition aaid rectify wrongs. Turn them all out. An airing will do them good. If whole bulbs are decayed, throw them away. If only a part is rotting, rub this off hard, and re-store in dry material. If the latter has become rather damp, dry it, or use other materials. Dry sand, ashes, or earth are all suitable, but if all are correct return as before. Do not forget to examine the daihJia roots, and bo quite sure they are out of the reach of frost. They keep very well in a dry atmosphere without covering over. CHRYSANTHEMUMS AFTER FLOWERING. A good many of the chrysanthemums which have been charming us so much of late are over. What a blank they leave behind them! But they are so attractive and gay while they last that they well re-pay for all attention, and once experienced no one ever gives up growing chrysanthemums. Already all are con corned as to how best to provide fresh plants for next year or aiutuimn, acid now is the time to consider this. If all varieties possessed are good aaid pleasing, grow all again.. If some are out of favour, throw them away now, amd re-place with others in the spring. Do not a.ttempt to keep all the old plants. They would require too much room and attention. Look out for the plants that have a good lot of strong, healthy shoots coming up from the roots, and keep one or two of each vairiety for cuttings. Do not save any where the young growths are all on the stem. These never make good plants. They flower badly, and should be treated M wasters. The plants retained to furnish cuttings should be put in a greenhouse o(r frame, kept moist, tout not wet, ait the root, and in » 000I atonospliene. A little frost will not injure them, but they should not be kept in a warm, close place, as thia would weaken tihem. Some very valuable kinds are a little ahy in producing cuttings, and all of these should be retained till it is quite certain there are enough of cuttings. IMPROVING OLD ROSE BUSHES. Very mamy rose bushes fail to bloom now, as they did a few years after planting. They were then perfect, or nearly so, but now they are weak in growth, puny in bloom, amd have no "go" in them. This is often allowed to go on, because they have been possessed so long that they have become favourites. I never object to a plant or annual occupying such a. position, but it i9 possible their weaknesses mazy be tolerated when they could be readily improved, and this is mo&t certainly the care with the worn-out roses. They rarely die in transplanting, emd invariably improve quiokly. There are some who have their roses always in the same positions. In thalt case the old bushes should be dug up, laid in by the roots elsewhere, their bed dug over to a. depth of two feet, well manured through- out, and the bushes planted back again at once. Manuring old roses on the surface is beneficial, but when the subsoil becomes set and poor it is then growth is weak and blooms unsatisfactory, a.nd nothing short of the deep digging up of the subsoil and manuring this well will restore the plants to their original vigour and beauty, when they will be infinitely more satisfactory than they have been for years past. When the plants are growing one here and there, and not in whole beds, they may be taken up, the ground dug and manured, and finish planting one before going to a-nother. If it is desired to give these old roses new position'?—aind this will be advantageous—get the soil dug and manured before digging up the plants; then on a. fine day when, the soil is not sticky dig up and re-plant in the new quarters. All this should receive early attention, and wherever the plainto are weak or becoming worse and worse, let this go om no longer, bait trams- plant at once.