Weekly Mail

WHEELER'S Vegetable Specialities Everyone de.sirous of growing THE BEST VEGETABLES Should give the following varieties a trial. All are of the highest possible quality, and every year take prominent positions on the beaches of the various Flower Shows through- out the country. Every Exhibitor should give them a trial, and no lover of Good Vege- taoles should be without them. Wheeler's Selected Largest Podded Peas, for early mid-summer and late shows, ls. pkt. Wheeler's Improved Green Long- Pod Beans, ls. pkt, Wheeler's Exhibition Long Pod Beans, Is pkt. Wheeler's Extra Fine Beet, 6d. lilia. Wheeler's Selected Autumn Broccoli, 6cl pkt. Wheeler's Extra Fine selected Brussels Sprouts, 6d. pkt. Wheeler's Pink Perfection Celery, 6d. pkt. AY heeler s Solid White Celery, 6d. pkt, Wheelers Solid Head Cauliflower, Is. pkt. • Wheeler's Ne Plus Ultra Carrot 6d. pkt. Wheeler's boCariet Perfection Carrot 6d. pkt. Wheeler's Kmgsholm Cos Lettuce, 6d. pkt. Wheeler s Selected White Spanish Onion, Is. 6d. oz. Wheelers Empress of India Cucumber, Is. pkt- Wheelers St. David's Leek, 6d. pkt. Wheeler's Selected ^Exhibition Parsnip, 6d. pkt. Wheeler s ^tCiuuess Tomato, 6d. pkt. Wheeler's Extra Fine Snowball Turnip, 4d. pkt. We make up a Collection of all the above, with the addition of t packet each of three of the handsomest and best heavy cropping Marrowfat Peas, and send It free to any address in the Kingdom upon receipt of 10/6. With every order for this Collection, we will present free a-a assortment of handsome and Showy Flower Seeds. J. C. WHEELER & SON, LTD.. SEED GROWERS, GLOUCESTER. Telegrams—Wheeler, Gloucester. £ f'taT>Lished 1753. 1/6. GARDm, SEEDS. L/Q NEW, GENUINE, AND WELL-TESTED. On receipt of Postal Order for Is. 6d. or stain pp. wo will send, post free, loz. caoh ;<f IMPERIAL CABBAGE, HOLLOW-CROWN ^AR.SNIP, JiAjSTEBPIECE ONION (Grand Exhibition and Main Crop Variety), and Selected CARROT; Joz. each of Savoy, Early Turnip, and 2 Packete of Broccoli (a.nd litte): 1 Packet eaxyh of 4^ttnoe, Ma-rrow, Due umber; 6 Packets Choice Plrvwer SofcdsR. AJso for Is. ^xtra, 1 Packot each Ifustard, Or^tis, Beet, Picklme Cabbage, Borecole or Jrus^^ls Sprouts, I^eek. Golden Ball Turnip; and with every^2s. 6a. Parcel ^e will send Two Grand No'veities a packet Prizewinner Marrowfat PG^ (a remark- Ðr1?le Variety. rods S to 5 inefces long, packed with Bn^rmons Peas), and a Packet of FTi&e- "wiuner "Rnnner Beane, splendid variety ^th extraordinary pods, sometimes attaining 14 inchft in length. Thv above Parcels of Finest Quality Seeds for P.O. 2s. 6aL or 32 etanxpe. GROVES & SON, Li SEED JVrERCHANTS, PrDDLETRElvTIIIDE, wl474 w1474 FOB THE MASSES, by a Kow RM<3r. A Hzndjook, aJpliateticalb containing all tho information isquired bvTj? GaiQener. Prce 6d. net; bound m f, .fcL^ 2d. extra.-Soil by all Newsagents and the -storey Weetegx. Mail-tacWings, Cariifi- K

RURAL JOTTINGS. VALUABLE HIST AND INFORMA- TION. PEUSIXti TREES AND SHRUBS. The prttemi i3 a moit auitafcle time to do tills, t would urge the forepart od: leoiuary for the operation, and I would limit the time to that. month and no later. Many trees and shrubs, if allowed to- grow- their own way and given sufficient space, will assume natural forms more gracetmjy than any that can be secured by cutting or trimming"; but ill many instances-one encroaches on. tb;2 other and throws branches that are both -ugly and intrusive, and all such shoxtld bo nut in order uow. No dea,d branches should ba allowed to remain. Cutting them off may make gaps in the trees and leave them some- what unsightly, but it is more healthy for them to have all clear of wood, It is most Tudnous to both tho appearance and condition of -the. trees to let one grow into another. This is wha.t kills the branches and spoils effect. EacÚ one should stand clear of the next. Do not trim them up like liedgec, to keep them li-wi meeting. This is a childish way of treating them. Cut t.he intruding branch back altogether, and leave some irregular twigs to fill up. If some j trees are almost smothered remove that which has been most oppressed. The others may almost hide them, and it may appear aa if it did not matter ■whethef those smothered over were, cut out or not, but it will improve those remaining to clear all such out. Bushes that have been cut down t > tbe ground and are springing up again should have the weak toll :>t. rtemove.1. Wherever cutting out is done it. is the oeutre that should be liberated. Attend to this, and the outeides will. in a great measure, regulate themselves. Trees and shru-be that are growing close to walks and drives often grow cut till they prove an obstruct:on. Do not trim these baek hOdge fashion, b.ut CUT, the leading branches bae-k to get a good clearing, and fcepp the slender twigs on gracefully. Some trees, especially amongst the ornamental -evergreens that bear oon-eti are naturally inclined to run up with single leader. This is the correct form, but two or more lea-dors may appear in fatrm. Do not tolerate this, but cut all off but one, and that the .best. Do not let twit* grow on trees that ought to have oieia'n stems. If some of them are branched down to the ground, keep them from getting into a thick mass there. The tree will thrive better if the air can reaoh the surface round the stems to some extent. Do not hurry over the. pruning and think that good work is being done by merely catting a lot off Keep a sharp eye to preserve artistic forms and natural-like styles. WOMEN'S AGRICULTURAL AND HORTI- CULTURAL UNION. All women with spare time and a desire to work and make money should get into com- munication with this union; Its leaflet, dated January 15, 1908, is now before me. It is not a pretentious affair, but it strives for com- bination and supremacy, and merits heajtv support. The Countess of Aberdeen, Miss Edwards, and many well-knoiwn and reliable names appear on the council. For all infor matuoai apply to Miss EUee-n Johnson, tJ, tTicry Mansions, Drayton-grardeus, S.W. PEEPAEIAI; THE ONION GSOUND borne crops are more apt to fail others. The onion is always a carious. Grabs show a most eroZiS P^UaUty to it, so that the majo^o ^hi plantations are more or less inju^d the season, and their spoiling attentions ehoald be anticipated im every case and J? ventive measures taken. it is taiiu x attempt the eradicating: of the grabs om^° ^k: They start on the bulb and proceed upwards. ThJ^ then completely protected, and the result3*™ shown i,n yellow foliage and decayinVbS^ Once these indications are noticed all hope of having a good bed of onions may be given It is very disappointing, as onions aire a much-call ed-f'or vegetable all the year round. As a first step to successful culture, give the surface a dreesnitg of gas-lime or va.porite at once. Dig all over and in through deeply. Leave the surface rough. At the same time get a quantity of half decayed dun-g. Put it in a heap, add a, lot of soot and a little ptJt. and mix through amd through. Dig this into the onion site about the end of February; then in several weeks later all will be in good trim to receive the seed, and crops unmolested by grubs are pretty certain to follow. AVOIDING MAGGOTS IN CARROTS. The carrot is another maggoty subject. The roots are exceedingly unacceptable when perforated by them, and few beds are really void of them unless made distasteful. It is quite surprising how they are allowed to destroy the crops, and aJl efforts should be made to prevent damage. It can be done. The same preventive measures should be put in operation as for onions, in adding gas-lime or vapcrite and digging- very deep. Only short dung should be given. Half decayed horse droppings are very suitable, and they should be mixed up with plenty of soot, a little ealt or kainit, and abundance of samd or grit. Pork plernty of this in in two or three weeks after the previous dress- ing, and the roots will turn out as clean as a whistle. SURFACE DRESSING LAWNS. That lawns may fully benefit in the coming "-eason from surface dressings, they should aU be put on in January or February at the Latest. If delayed till March or April little or no good is done, and all should be in good time, that the growth from the very first may be helped with the surface dress- ings. All artificial manures require much moisture to liherate their fertilising proper- ties. It is the moisture in spring that acts so beneficially oil the early^a-ppiied manures, but if sown late and the dry weather of summer has to be contended with, good results will be meagre, and impiroveimeint Willi be deferred, if not lost. The latter is prob- able. It is, therefore, urgent that all spring dressings should receive attention at once. Lawns requiring renovating are those on which the vegetation is thin during the summer and is full ¡f weeds and undesir- able plants, and dressing the surface with capable manures has a pleasing way of thickening the surface with a. covering that is pleasing to the eye and agreeable under foot. The dressings that nay be applied are numerous. Anyoine with rich, vegetable garden soil can secure an active top- diressing from here. Sift the soil finely, and put a layer ine ineh thick all over the grass. Very short manure from stable or cowshed is excellent, well- rotted pi? duiig do. too, but poultry manure is less suitable. It is too hot. It is now late to put on basic sla.g-. That applied in early win-tar, when aid vised, will tell beau- tifully this season. Amongst artificial manure-, bone compounds a.re by far the best. They act substantially, and remain available for several years. Thomson's Pliant Manure is a eapii/tal lawn fertiliser. Guanos aro to > short-lived They are only brief stimulants when lasting upholders are wanted. Superphosphate is vcry good, acts quickly, and gives permanent improvement. It is the cheapest of all artificials. Bone dust meal, Ac., are more expensive, but are best for lawns that are much trodden on. All should be spread evenly and to a depth of half an inch. Att-er applying, and when dry, brush tho surface over hard to 6ettle the manure down close on the roots. If some of the dung manure is rather long do not remove those portioms till after being- well washed with rain. Lawns composed of light soils, sand, gravel are best dressed with dung, which adds material to the sur- face. Powdered artificials are apt to be washed down in these materials, but in stiff soils the artificials do their work amply. BOWLING GREENS. Bowling greens come under the saane treat- ment as lawns. Indeed, many private bowl- ing greens are part of the lawns attached to the dwelling. My own is one of this sort, and ha.ndy they are. But whether they are public or private greens, they a.re all disposed to be worn down very thin during tho playing season. Many of the ends are q-uite bare at the termination, of the season, and deficiences are often carried forward. If the green has a poor surface at the start, of the season it will never give satisfaction during the year, and the condi- tion of all ought to he considered at It may be that the whole surface is weak, or there may only be hare patches here and there where the most play takes place, but in all cases it is best to dress the whole green, giving a little mare to the weak spots. Dung I do not like so- mmch for bowling greens as artificials, and bone meaJ is the very best that can be used, as it produces a much more robust and harder wearing class of vegetation than the dung. The meal is fine, and does not leave any impediments on the surface. It is very lasting, too, and will keep the graas growing all through the season. TENNIS AND OTHER LAWNS. These are quite as common as bowling- greens; indeed, more so, and they, too, are ofter worn bare and unfitting. The remarks in the preoecdin,g two notes apply to these lawns, and all who promptly and faithfully carry out the details suggested will feel grateful and gratified next summer time when play is at its height and the lawns :n capital order. SMALL HOLDINGS: IMPROVING GRASS LANDS WITH FOWLS. Wherever small holdings are gone in for, poultry must always form a considerable part of the etock kept. Everything is most fitting for this, as only small capital is needed to acquire fowls. Providing house accommodation is not difficult, and their management is easy, while the de.m.and for such produce is immense and compensative, while returns are quick, and few or no bad I debts need b. incurred Those in search of small 1: •-•ldings, too, are sure to hanker after poor land, because it is cheap, and rent, and taxes low. Rich soil and excellent conditions are much to be preferred at a higher rent, but this ma-y will disregard aud go in for i", poor and cheap, thinking they will improve it by liberal treatment. This 1 admit; indeed, 1 am pleased tD say can he done, at more or less expense and vitli great surely. One of the best improvers of poor land I have met with are poultry, and while they pay their way and all expenses, they manure and enrich the land conspicuously. Some years ago a friend of mine returned after making his pile iu South Africa. He oonglit a nice little place on arrival, with house, &c., and 30 acres of land. The latter was extremely destitute. It would hardly sustain one sheep to the acre, and as the owner was keen on farming, although only a beginner, he soon found out the weakness, and anxiously inquired for reforming ways. After seeing the place and finding it was good for poultry keeping, I advised him to begin a system and go all over his small holding with fowls in pens. He had houses constructed to hold twenty fowls, with light wire runs attached that enclosed about twenty square yards. All were portable, and cach pen was allowed to remain on one spot for a fortnight or more. By that time the surface was well covered with manure, all mess and rub- bish had been sora-ched tip, and a move was made to the adjoining clean parts. In less than two years the whole of the grass land had been gone over, and the improvement was the talk of the country side. The out- lay in doing it was never felt, and both the quantity and quality of the pastures were ,greatly increased, fine hay crops and good

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DIED AT A FOOTBALL MATCH At a Rugby Union match between Boehdale "A" team and Manchester Grammar School on Saturday at Castleton, Mr. Mervyn Evans, eon of the Rev. Jonathan Evans, CongTega, j. tional minister, fell forward and expired in [a few minutes." f

EZEKIEL'S VISION DUPLICATED. ♦« SIGHTS ALONG THE ROAD TO NINEVEH. Ruter's representative has had an inter- view with Dr. A. Hume Griffith, who, with his wife, has been conducting a medical mis- sion among, the people of Mesopotamia. For three years his headquarters have been at Mosul, opposite the ancient city of Nineveh, and, as showing the strenuous character of the work in which he has been engaged single-handed, it may be stated that in his ministrations to the sick he has succeeded iu setting into touch with 348 towns and vil- lages, exclusive of Mosul itself. The position of Mosul as one of the most important places on the projected route of the Ba-gdad Railway, and the fact that Dr. Griffith has been einruhLed to gd, into the closest touch I with all elasses of the population in the dis- trict, including Arabs, Kurds, and devil-wor- shippers, make the inforniatiou which he has acquired of special interest at the present time. Mosul cannot be reached from the coast in less than ten or twelve days by the caravan route or by a somewhat shortea- journey if the desert, route is adopted. When Dr. Griffith and his wife left Mosul they elected to travel by the desert route. Describing this journey, the doctor mentions how, among: o1,her experieneee, he sinv a, remarkable pher.omenon, which was practi- cally a. repetition of the vision of the Prophet Ezekiel. Chapter i. of Ezekiel gives an account of how by the river of i Cbebar." Ezekiel saw the opened and saw visions of God." The prophet then describes the whirlwind and the bright colours which appeared in the Fky, followed j by the appea,rg,nce of wheels working as ii it were a wheel in the middle of a Wheel." Dr. Gi-iatb SJJld: w<, had just pitched camp on the banks of the Kha-bur, a tribu- tary of the ivuph.ra.tec—the same river as is mentioned by Ezekiel as Cbebar—when we witnessed a wonderful display as we were watching the netting sun. During the after- glow the sky was l £ t tip by rays of varied hues projecting like the spc-kes of a wheel from the setting sun. From eIther side of the tuu there appeared to isstte v.in-gs, and the whole appearance gave juet the idea of the winged wheels within wheels described by the prophet. The period of the year was the same, as t.hat referred to in Eaekiel. After the phenomenon had lasted for soane minutes the sun disappeared from the sky, which had the deep violet hue of the Eastern heavens. I cannot account for the phenomenon, but after I had wit- ne.,s<r! it I re-o.illed that I had some tune previously received a letter from England suggesting that I should look out for such a display. "A little further on in the desert we passed high minarets and domes of an ancient deserted city. I had not time to visit it, and the only thing the escort could say about it was that it was in practically the same condition as when abandoned hundreds of years ago." THE DEVIL-WORSHIPP.E.RS. Speaking of Mosul itself, Dr. Griffith said. "This ancient city become of high im- portance, being on the direct Bagdad Bail- way route, and it is already the scene oi considerable political activity. My work is way route, and it is already the scene of considerable political activity. My work is in no way connected with politics, but alter living in the place for three years one cannot close one's eyes to what is going on all round. A German Consul has been m Mosul for two years, and an English Vice- Consul has lately been appointed." While at Mosul Dr. Griffith acquired a oo deal of information regarding tne Yezidis or dsvil-WORSHIPPERS, who. laibaint the mountains round that town. He spent ? week with the Yeridi sheikh at his motm- tain caetle at Baadn- curious tribe oi devil-W0(rsMl> numbers about 20,000. TOey live among the mountain fastnesses, and owe allegiance to the sheikh. They are very hostile to the Turks- who are unable to subdue them owing to the inaccessibility oi their homes. There a great deal o mystery about their rehgion, and they wi i not admit that they worship the devil, although there is ^le white effect. Their priests are an clad in white and carry with them a wand of office mounted by a brass Peacock. These are reg'arded as most saored. -nd it is the boast of the Yezidis that none has ever been lost. No Yezidi will ever utter a word «mtam ing the letters S H- Their rehgioue nte^ which include the vg £ kept very secret, and ^Lvil-wor- between sunset and sunnse^ The shippers are afraid to venture into _tne towns, although numbers used to come down to the doctor from the mountains Tor meai cal treatment.. ,rx. THE POSSIBILITIES OF MESOPOT^M Dr. Griffith said that steps were being taken to make the Tigris navigable np to Mosul, so that etea^re which now went only to BagcLad would be able to navigate the river for 500 miles further north, thus ensnrine a through river route from tne Ba^. Turkish engtt^s had been sent to report on the deepening the waterway between Mosul and Bagdad It is reported that Turkey has SSSd »J» >»ilt for «r. vice. "The region between the Tigris and Euphrates,1' he added, only awaits the em- ployment of capital to become one of untold wealth. It simply awaits irrigation, for which purpose the ancient canal beds are ready to be used.Reuter.

LORD KITCHENER'S THREAT MR. KEER RAWIES STRANOE T VLES OF INDIA. Oontinoiog in the Labour Leader; th^g storv of his "Scamper Hound the World, Mr Kear Hardie, M.P-. aUudes to the case of I,aia Da j pat Rai, who was deported on a charge of stedition. It is alleged be says, with what degree of truth I know not, that Lord Kitchener threatened to resign unless an example was mad-i of Lala Lajjiat .Ra.i."

MINERS AND EIGHT HOURS. + OPPOSITION BY CARDIFF MERCHANTS. A special meeting of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce was held on Monday to consider the Miners' Eight Hours Bill and to pass a resolution thereon. Mr. A. J. Griffiths (vice- president of the chamber) occupied the chair, in the absence of the president (Sir Clifford J. Cory, M.P.), who is abroad. The Chairman said the Bill, if passed, would greatly increase the cost of produc- tion a.nd the price of coal, as it would Limit the output. It would most seriously affect the older collieries, in which the men had to go a mile or two before they reached the "face." He questioned whether if the matter were pat fairly to the miners they would M in favour of the Bill. Mr. T. E. Watson, in moving that both Houses of Parliament be petitioned against the Bill, said that if the present working hours were detrimental to the health of the millers thf chamber would not have a word t.o say a-gamrt it, but evidence was brought nefore the departmental commission to prove that, leaving out accidents, the deaths were 16.6, compared with 23.2 amongst, other workers. The deaths from accidents were in the proportion of 846 to 947 in c-ther occupa- tion". He gave figures to show that if the Bill passed the o? ports of Cardiff- would be reduced by seven million tons per annum, it would make it more difficult to compete with Germany and America on account of the higher prices, and would raisa the expenses of every household in the country, as well as the cost of every manufactured article. it would diminish the net earning power of a vast majority of the working ctasees. and would cause ffrea-t hardship to every person connected with the great shipping com in unity of Cardiff and the district. Mr. J. A. Jones seconded the motion. Sir Clifford J. Cory, M.P., in a letter in opposition to the Bill, said: — I cannot help thinking that 11 the miners u -s e of -Monmouthshire and South Wales were to inform themselves as to what is_hkie v to be the result to tnem if the Bill is passed, they, too, would be likely to be ti-e. Bil I. The resolution was carried unammous y, and it was resolved that copies be sent to the Prime Minister, the Home feeeretaiy, and the member for Cardiff.

NOTTINGHAM ARSON CASE. The preliminary hearing in the case oi -"cod arson at Nottingham terminated at cloven o'clock on Friday .light, when tne iiecullcd, Thomson, the proprietor of the chemist's shop, and his clerk, Bradbury, were committed for trial-the other cxerk (Lee) is acting as informer. Before leaving tne dock Bradbury stated that Lee told him he was going to round on Thomson, I

SHEDS BURNT DOWN. ALLEGED INCENDIARISM BY NEW- PORT BOYS. The destructive instincts of Newport boys have found a new outlet. Half a dozen of them named William Berry, fifteen (Lime- street), Albert Berry, thirteen (Lime-street), Thomas Fisher, nineteen (David-street), Albert Fairfax, fifteen (BaJdwin-street), William Sullivan, fifteen <Jeddo-street), and William Jones, sixteen (BagLan-etreet), were charged before the Newport magistrates with uukwrfolly setting fire to and burning: two sheds and their corntente, the property of Mr. Richard Stock, botcher, of Lime-street, doing damage, an Mr. Btook said, to the extent of L40 to JBSC. The shed was on spare land on the tips near Mendelgief-road. One of the defendants at first said the fire occurred from a spark from one of Messrs. Baston, Gibb, and Son's engines. Police-const able Birch. who arrested the lads, said Fisher admitted to him that they ail had a finger in the pie. Another of the defendants said they had information that Mr. Stock was required to burn the place down because of the outbreak of swine fever. Fisher: Yes, and we had permission to barn the barn down. There were twenty or thirty boys there. One of the Mothers: Yes, and it is covered by insurance. Mr. Stock said he had not given any per- mission. The two sheds, 34ft. by 15ft., were away from the pigs' oots. The whole place was burnt down, and the harness and all other things which they contained were destroyed. S-uperintendemt Brooks said the pigs' cots were burnt down previously by order of the Board of Agriculture. Fisher (the eldest of the defendants)stoutly matintaaned that there was a lot of stinking meat in thb sheds, and that the place wanted burning down. Superintendent Brooks said he knew the place well. The Clerk: And was it stinking very badly? Superintendent Brooks: Well, I know that there was a good deal of swine fever about there. The defendants were remanded on bail for a week.

"LATCH-KEY VOTERS." DEVONPORT ORDER REVERSED ON AI'PEAL. The Appeal Court on Friday overruled a.3 order of the Divisional Court which refused to call upon the revising barrister of Devon- port to state a case as to whether certain "latchkey voters" in that borough were entitled to the occupiers' franchise, anu directed him to state a case on the question of prima facie proof as to whether the voters in question were lodgers. The matter in dispute affects the votes of nearly 1,600 elec&axs in Devoaport, [

MOTHER "ENJOYS HERSELF." 4 WHILE CHILDREN ARE LEFT HOME STARVING. Florence Cecil Rees and Daniel Bees, Ely, husband and wife, were charged at Llandaff on Monday with neglecting and abandoning three children in a manner likely to ca/Use them unnecessary suffering. Mr. George David prosecuted on behalf of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. In opening the case, Mr. said for some time past the relations between the hus- band and wife had been far from happy, the result of which was the children had had to suffer. The husband com- plained that the wife had given way to drink, and as the result of that he had not provided her with money to enable the children to get proper food and clothing In the early part of December the defen- dants were seen by Polioe-constable Coles in a public-house, and on going to ascertain the matter it was found the husband was drink- ing and the wife was appealing to him for raouey for food for the children, which he refused to give. On the persuasion of the police-constable he went and got food for the children. On December 4 Police-constable Coles was on the railway platform at Ely, when he saw the female defendant going off by train. In reply to questions, she said she W:i', going to Cardiff to enjoy herself. Asked about the children, she said she was going off and was not coming back, a.nd she actually did not return, leaving the three children, Ernest, aged nine, Annie, s x, ana E-dith, four, in the house in Robert- street, Ely, by themselves. The husband was away at work at the time. Next day the con- stable received information, and found that the oliiidren had been abandoned and left to ta.ke care of themselves or such care as the neighbours were able to give them. It turned out that the woman had gone off to live with another man ;t t Newport. Imme- diately the maie defendant found out the position he oamc hack from his work, but at that, time the children ha.d been taken to the union. They had now been removed from the union by the male defendant. Police-constable Ccle-s (Ely) and Inspector Lverington, of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, bore out Mr. David's statement. The latter stated that the home was ill a vcry dirty state, and the children were very poorly clad, lie traced the woman to Newport, where he had an interview with her. and she said that after leaving Ely she lived with a man, hut he had gone, and left her. She was staying with her aunt when be found her. He also 8aw the husband, who complained that there was another man in the case. On one occasion he came home and found a strange man under the bed and in consequence of that he had lost all interest in his home, wife, and children. The children were now being well cared for by the man's relatives. Colonel Wood said it had been a painful else for the Bench to listen to. Children must bo protected if their parents had not the common instof humanity. Tne female defendant would be fined 40s. costs, wit'] the alternative of one month's imprisonment. As regarded the husband, the case would. be adjourned for a couple of months to see how be cared for the children. The Bench expressed a hope that the woman would re-considcr her course of life and mend it.

THE COST OF LIVING. BOARD OF TRADE ISSUES COM- PREHENSIVE REPORT. On Friday night the Board of Trade issued a voluminous report of over 60J pages on the result of an inquiry made by that depart- ment into working class rents, housing, and retail prices, together with the standard rate of wages prevailing in certain occupa- tions in the principal industrial towns of the United Kingdom. Mr. Llewellyn Smith, in an introductory memorandum, points out that this volume contains the results of the hist part of an important inquiry on which the Board cf Trade has been engaged during the past two years into various matters bearing on the cost of living and the well-being of the working classes. The next volume, the materials for which are practically completed, will deal with the principal towns of Germany. Tho inquiry in France is also in an advanced stage of progress. Mr. Llewellyn Smith adds that the present volume does not attempt to deal with earnings generally, but only with the standard rates of wages prevailing in a few selected occupations. Kates of wages and earnings formed the subject of a separate and elaborate inquiry by the Board of Trade, which i now in progress. Mr. Arthur Wilson Fox, in a prefatory note, says the volume completes and supple- ments the inquiry as to the cost of living of the working classes, and to that in the memorandum on the consumption of food and the cost of living of the working classes in urban districts in 1903 and 1 The object of the present inquiry was to obtain a standard and comparison of th-a cost cf living. Fourteen officers of the Board of Trade took part in the local investigations. Assistance was given by the 100aJ authorities, town-clerks, borough treasurers, medical officers of health, sanitary inspectors, rate collectors, clerks to guardians, overseers, surveyors of taxes, house and estate agents, property owners, tradeepaople, co-operative societies, Ac. The information was checked by personal visits to working class dwellings in each town. Rent, prices, and rates of wages in the middie zone of London were taken as standards, and index numbers were calculated for each of these items in every town. For Scotland and Ireland supple- memta.ry standards wore obtained by the adoption of Edinburgh and Dublin respec- tively as basee. The subject matter covered by the volumi- nous report now issued on these points 's so comprehensive that the exigencies of space prevent more than a mere statement of its import and contents in this issue. It is shown tha.t 77 towns were visited in England and Wales, eleven in Scotland, and six in Ireland, and figures were taken in October, 1905. Rente in London were far in excess of those in any other town. The weekly income and expenditure of 1,944 families are subject to detailed analysis. There are very full tables showing details from various towns, together with weekly rents, time rates, Ac.

REAL CULPRITS WANTED. CARDIFF STIPENDIARY DIS- CHARGES CHILDREN. Ernest Look, twelve, Ada.m Budd, ten, and Nicholas Reardon, ten, appeared on Friday before the Cardiff stipendiary magistrate (Mr. T. W. Lewis) charged with stealing 4Cib. of coal, the property of the Great Western Rail- way Company, from a truck on the Tynda-11- street siding. street siding. Mr. Parsons (Messrs. Vachell a.nd Co.) had started to detail the facts, when his Worship interposed: Can't you get the real culprits here, Mr. Parsons? When children like these steal they steal for the purposes of other people. Mr. Paffsons: I mentioned the matter to the detective this morning, and asked him the same question. The Stipendiary: I cannot entertain a charge against children of this size and age. Take them away. If you get the real cul- prits here I will deal with them in an exemplary fashion. Mr. Parsons: I made tha.t observation to the detective this morning, your worship. The little objeote of his worship's solicitude left the court-house with their mothers.

TRAWLERS IN CARMARTHEN BAY. TOWY CONSERVATORS MAKE A PROTEST. The Board of Conservators for the Towy Fishery District at their quarterly meeting at Carmarthen on Friday unanimously elected Mr. Mervyn Peel. Danyrallt. chair- man for the ensuing year. in succession to the late Mr. Daniel Stephens, Kidwelly. The Rev. A. Fuller MiIIk was appointed vice-chair- man. and Mr. John Morgan. Carmarthen, and Dr. R. L. Thomas, Whitlaaid, were added to the executive committee. Ih-. R. L. Thomas referred to the proposal wrnoh was being made by the Milford Haven Deep Sea Fishery Authority to open Car- marthen Bay to large trawlers, and moved that they lodge a protest against the pro- posed opening of the bay to trawlers of any size except those which are allowed at present. If the large trawlers were allowed to come into the Bay they would seriously interfere with the livelihood of owners of small trawlers. The motion wae carried. A committee of five was appointed to look alter the protection of the board's interests with regard to the possible depletion of the Loughor River by the promotion of the Llan- elly and Burry Port Water Bill. Mr. H. O. Long Price, the superintendent of water bailiffs, reported tha.t, on the whole. the spawning season should have been a good one. In October and November there was a continuous run of fish; since then the rivers had been so high that it was almost impossible to make any obsearvations. The trout should be in good condition, as there had been plenty of water in the brooks. During the year 72 cormorants' heads had boon paid for.

AN ESTATE LEFT TO SERVANTS. ft BEQUESTS BY GLAMORGAN MAJOR. Major Christopher Deake Brickmann, of 6, Grosvenor-place. Bath, and of West Hall, St. Athan, Glamorgan, who died on the 12th of December, left estate of the gross value of £34,814, with net personalty a.nd probate of his will, dated the 5th of Novem- ber, 1906, has been granted to Mr. Edward Newton Fuller, of 5 and 6, Old iving-street, Bath, solicitor, and Mr. John Maurice Harper, of 3, Grosvenor-place, Bath, surgeon, to each of whom the testator left £500. He left £1.000 to Florence Cann, £.300 each to the children of the late Rev. Robert Esbury Whittington, Jbaoo to his widow, and he made the following provisions for his senants;- To my faithful servant, Mary Ann Doel, wife of Henry James Doe! his residence, 6, Grosvenor-place, Bath, and its contents, the ground rcntD of Nos. 7, 8. aDd 9, Gros- venor-place. his freehold messuage, 2, Alex- andra-buildings, Bath, a rent charge of £7 charged on 1. Groovenor-plarc, an annuity of £6..) 6s. 7d. of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company, £334 5 per cent, stock of the same company, £90 4 per cent, guaran- teed stock of the same company, LHJ per- petual 3 per cent, debenture stock of the Bristol Corporation, £560 consolidated 5 per cent, stock of the Bath Gas Company, 4 per cent, debenture stock of the Bath Gas Company. £1.0)) ordinary stock of the Vain of Glamorgan Railway Company, €453 ordinary stock of the Taff Vale Railway Company. £347 preference stock of the Taff Yale Railway Company, twenty £.10 shares in Hancock's Brewery. £49oJ preference stock of the Foreign. American, and Genera! Trust Company, £ Joq deferred stock of the same company, four shaves in the Nautvglo and Biaina Ironworks, £720 4 per cent, inscribed stock of the Colony of Zealand, four shares in the 133hwick Bridge Company, £100. and tlx months' wages. To his servant, Edward William Kelly, if in bis service a.t the time of his death, he left and six months' 5 per cent. Great Western Railway Stock, his stock if the Parry Do-cii and Railway Company, debentures of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, and certain real estate, and .i.2CO Great Western Stock of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. To Ethel Kelly, daughter of the said Edward W. Kelly, he left his t-harcs in James Colmcr (f.imitedi. two shares in the North Para-de Bridge Company, one share in the Hath wick Bridge Company, and four deben- tures in the Neath Harbour Trust. and an annuity {¡ÎU5 and six months' wages to his servant Emma Fry. ..2100 and an annuity of £35 and six months' wages to his servant, Gertrude Mary Kelly. £2:<) to his housekeeper at West Kail, Gla- morgan, Jane Beavan. £25 to his gardener, Morgan Jones. to his former coachman, Seth White. £100 each to his former servants, Sarah Lewie and Jane GriSiihs. He left the following legacies for charit- able purposes: — £30 to the Sutcliffe School for Boys. Bath. £200 to the Eastern Dispensary, Bath. .i..2DO to the Royal Society for the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Animals (Bath and Somer. set Branch). £2CO to t.he Bath and North Wilts Branch of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. £300 to the Royal United Hospital, Bath, for the maintenance of a cot to be called after the testator. £100 to the Bath Bluecoat School to the Bath Female Home and Peni- tentiary. The testator also left sums varying from to £100 each, and amounting in nil to to charitable and other institutions in Bath. and left a large number of pictures and article-- of virtu to the City of Bath to be placed in the art gallery. He directed that all the legacies and bequests left by his will should be free of duty, and he left the residue of his estate to his said two servants, Mary Ann Doel and Edward William Kelly, in equal shares.

FIRE THREATENS A STREET. AN ALARMING OUTBREAK AT POXTARDVLAIS, A fire broke out at the rear of the Pontar- dulais Co-operative Society's establishment on Friday morning. The building a.nd contents, valued at .£2,000. were soon completely gutted, and the flames rapidly attacked the adjoining business premises. Next to the Co-operative Stores was a pro- vision dealer's establishment, and this was quickly involved. The flames leapt from roof to roof and extended through the houses with appia-lling rapidity. A draper's shop next door vas then attacked, and, indeed, it seemed that the whole of one side of Hope-street would be sacrificed. Pontardulais has no water service to fight fire outbreaks, and the local firemen could only aid in salvage work. In this the mate inhabitants of the place laboured heroically. Amid much excitement goods and furniture were hurriedly Ie-moved from the doomed and threatened houses and stacked at a safe dis- tance. Messages were sent to Swansea and else- where for help. The Swansea Fire Brigade arrived shortly after three a.m., and soon had the fire under x control, successfully preventing the fia-mes spreading to other ehops. The Do-operative Society, of whose premises only the bare walls remain, is covered by insurance to the value of £1,900. but we understand that Mr. J. Thomas, grocer, whose premises adjoin, is not insured. His loss will be heavy. The total loss occasioned ,y the fire is pat at about £3,000 WATER FROM THE RIVER. When the Swansea Fire Brigade arrived arrangements were made for getting » supply of water from the Dulais Rner, 200 yards away. A nunjber of men got on the roof and removed a number of slates and also sawed away the timbers, so as to cut the fire off a.nd confine it to the premises. These efforts were not altogether successful, inasmuch as the two adjoining shops had suffered a con- siderable amount of damage. IN THE HEART OF THE TOWN. The fire broke out in one of the most dange- rous places in Pontardulais, the Co-operative shop being situated in the heart of the town, with businesses all round. Fortunately a cross wind was blowing from the back to the front. and this materially helped the efforts of the fire brigade. The scene in Station-road when the fire was raging was an extraordinary one. The resi- dents were in a state of panic, knowing that there was no local provision for dealing with such an outbreak. Our representative had an intoniewwith Mr Jones, the manager of the Co-operative Stores, who said that their premises were left as usual on Thursday afternoon, it being tin half-holiday. Everything was then in perfect order, and he could not suggest at all how the fire had originated. There was a email fire kept in the back premises, but he could not see how this oould have caused any trouble. He estimated the damage, including stock and premises, at £2,000. which is fully met by insurance. Great sympathy is felt for Mr. Thomas, who keeps the American Stores next door. Mr. Thomas has suffered very severe loss; i" fact, he is ruined by the fire, there being no insurance. Already, however, we under starid, steps have been taken to assist him in the trouble. A NARROW ESCAPE. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and family had & very narrow escape from being burnt. They were aroused by loud knocking at the door. and they then found the plaoe full of smoke.* Two of the children were by this time almost unconscious, and they were removed to a house opposite. Mrs. Thomas and her youngest ohild were in a state of coliaoee. The outbreak is supposed to have Veen caused by rats gnawing at a box of matches, as there was no fire in the house on Thurs- day. and a number of dead rodents weM found. !L

SCHOOLGIRL'S PLIGHT. JUMPS FROM A MOVING TRAIN AND FALLS. Gwladys Ferry, a young girl, of Whitchurch, who attends Gelligaor County School, had a miraculous escape from violent death at Hengoed on Friday. She arrived on the plat- form Late for the 12.50 down train, but. in response to an appeal from some companions already in the train, she attempted to jump in whilst it was in motion. This she failed to do. and was soon rolling and bumping against the footboard. A porter dashed for- ward and supported the girl until the guard. Oliver Franks, sprang into the van and pulled the train up. Pale as death the girl was escorted into the train.

DEATH OF SIR W. COOK, Sir William Cook. a former Liberal mem- ber for East Birmingham, died at Blackpool on Sunday night. Sir William came to Blackpool somewhat run down in health shortly after Christmas, and three weeks &go he had to call in medical advice. Hi. condition became eo serious that specialists from Manchester ware called in. Deceased, who was 73 years of age. passed away in the presence of Lady Cook and his sons.

planted in the slass-aonse, wnere tney ao not require bottom heat. but an air tem- neratiire of 65 detgrees, or a little more. Do not start your vinery for another month, when you will have better weather to assist them, which is always a great facility. Fifteen Shillings a Week from Fowls.— T. M."—To ma.ke 15s. per week from fowls you would require a small holding of several acres, so as to breed and sell hmwirieds of table-fowls and thousands of eggs. You would succeed as well in Lancashire as anywhere eliSe, but before advising you what to do: I would be glad if you would write again and tell me wha.t knowledge you have of the subject, and if you want to give up all else and go in for poul- try farming. I would be mudh obliged to all correspondents who write on this matter if they would always state what experience they have had. This is always an important guide to advising: what is the correct course to take. Messrs. Smith's Catalogue.—In their new and most extensive plant catalogue Messrs. Richard Smith and Co., Nurserymen, Wor- cester, publish a most reliable and interest- ing list of every known gcod plant for cul- ture in all departments. A new and striking feature in this book is the culture of fruit in peg-ola form. The peg-oia is a wired arch- way. The trees are planted on each rfde ard trained lip the wires. The result is a delightful walk under and a canopy of fruit and foliage overhead. How beautiful this must he when the trees are in bloom, and how delightful when the ripe apples! pears, plums, apricots, Ac., are ready 1a ■gather and eat. Tiie trees a.re in cordon form—a capital way; and the illustrations from a photograph cf a pe.^ola famished after three growth is remarkably ssug- geotiv-e and enoouragrag. Readers a.re advised to make further innuirifis 3,bl)-lI,t this excellent arrang-wni^nt. It is alike r,ve.]] adapted for large and small gardens.

grazing for stock following. After KB,™ Ratified with his wort, and possession some years, ailmente in the f -iU compelled a change of aJtmOlSJ)1te;re- ann y a return to South Africa—and the t>Lay\A?, sold at nearly damble the previous price the whole of the additional value att • buited to the systematic and well-manaf_Ild grazing of every part with the fowls. It is all a cheap and easy process, with no hind- rances, and an absolute certainty of improve- ment amd success. Stock do not relish the grass immediately after the fowls, but it pays to give it a rest for a liittle while, then there is satisfying luxuriance for all. "Whatever faddings may be met with in small holdings, ,8, few or none will OOODT umder this system. ONION AILSA GRAM. This is the finest omrian in cultrvafciian. Its age must take it now nearly out of its teens, but it has remained true all these years, and unfailingly kept in public favour. As an onion for show and praae-ta-kiag, it has no equaJ. when the correct type is secured. It is large in size, easily produced, from one to two pounds, and a perfect gem in form, colour, and quality. SPROUTING EARLY POTATOES. All potato growers who take advantage of every facility invariably give close attention to sprouting all potatoes before planting. This useful practice has been long carried out in some gardens, but it is only of late years that field crops have been submitted to it. and all should go in for it. No roots are more easily started into growth than the potato. Wherever they are stored now they will be inclined to push up growths. Whon these grow long, as they often do, and have to he broken off before planting, it is a great set-back for the tuber and crop. The young shoots, too, are very ten- der and easily chilled and upset, but when sprouting is arranged and carried out pro- perly robust growth occurs from the first, and good crops are inevitable. All potatoes should, therefore, be sprouted before planting, but it is the early ones that require first attention, and that is called for now. Get a number of shallow boxes, and taike them to where the early seed potatoes are stored. Begin by picking out all tubers I appropriate far planting. Set them up on end as close as they can be packed in the boxes, and be sure the growing end is uppermost. Then place them in a room or frame fully exposed to the light and where there is no artificial heat employed excepting to keep out trost. Let them come i nto growth eJlowly, when <v=ery shoot will be thick, stubby, and about half an inch long by the middle of Maroh OT earlier. Every tuiber planted will then be c&pa/ble of growing. There will be no blantks, amd all will be most unif-oim and fulL It is impossible to say too mooh in- favour of this practice.