Weekly Mail

FARM BURNED DOWN BY A BOY. A four-year-old boy set light to a straw rick- Thursday near the village of I-au. gonnctt, neaj L'Orient, France, whilst playing with maAohes. The result was disastrous, the whole of the farm being destroyed, with its agricultural impLemente acd c&Bh, and two [lircB wwreloefc.

PRICES OF THE WEEK. K tPWARD TENDENCY IN CORN CHECKED. I Grain prices have ceased to advance, and on the week values are a little easier. Very high figures, however, still rule, and no im- port-ant set-back is looked for until the new crop is available. The Board of Agriculture averages for the week ended May 15 showed a rise of 9d per 4801bs. for wheat and of 5d per 212ihs. for oats, but a. fall of 4d per 4001 b-s. for barley. The quantity of wheat sold was smaller, but the quality was better, which accounts for the higher average. Sales of English barley and oats, it will he observed, have been very small. Live stock markets have not displayed any very marked change. Fat cattle have oon- tin n-ed to sell well, but stores have proved a plow trade, the shortness of grass keep due to the long spell of dry weather and cold winds having a. I)r<judicia,l effect. Sheep have sold very moderately, but pigs still fetch very high values. The weather, except for a couple of showers, has remained fine a.nd dry, with cold winds and very low temperature a.t nights. In some exposed parts frost and snow have been reported. BRITISH COPuN AVERAGES. The Board of Agriculture have issued the following statement showing the quantities sold and average price of British corn per quarter for the week ended -NI ay 15: British Corn. Quantities Sold. Average trice. Qrs. Bus. s. d. "VVheiit 29,279 3 41 f> Barlev 1,435 2 27 3 Oats .„ 8,925 2 20 6 Barlev 1,435 2 27 3 ou ts 8,925 2 20 6 Comparative statement for the corresponding week in each of the years from 1902 to 1908: — Corres- Average Price. ponding — N Week in Wheat. Barley. Oats. s. tl. s. d. e. d. 1902 31 6 25 4 22 6 ^903 27 10 23 7 18 5 1904 26 9 2C 4 16 7 W05 30 10 24 8 18 5 j906 3' 3 23 10 20 1 190 7 28 4 2-3 10 20 1 W05 30 10 24 8 18 5 j906 3' 3 23 10 20 1 190 7 28 4 2-3 10 20 1 190 8 M 1 24 9 18 7 For the purpose of the above averages the sales of corn are converted into the equivalent of 4801 bs. per quarter of wheat, 4001bs. of barlev, and 3121bs. c-f oats. GRAIN. >.H^at 1S 0n tre a- lit-tle lower, and Il'S. inclined to hold off a-s much as ^rmii wheat at Bristol was in 1>pr ^PPly. and ranged from 41s to 44-s ea«B!^lai*>e'r ot' ^61bs. Foreign wheat was also to c,i K-r:ss English wh-ito sold from 5s 2d In -3-43 6d per bushel and red from 5s to 58 3d. 1n. London white fetched from 44s to 47s and from 45s to 46s. Foreign quotations were o\yer—No. 1 Northern Manitobas 46s 9d ex snip and Australians 46s 3d landed. Corre- sponding figures were quoted for both Eng- lish and foreign at Xewport. English whites at Gloucester were 43s to 44-s and reds from '2s 6d to 43s 6d. Plates were 45s 6d, Russians +:)s 6d to 45s 3d, and Mu-nitol-ras 46s 6d to 47s. Hereford quotations for English ranged from 5s to 5s 6d per bushel. Ba.rley has ruled steady, but little trade has been done in English descriptions. Ross quo- tations for English malting were from 28s to 35s and for grinding about 26s per quarter. Hereford valuer, were about the same level. Xoreign grinding barley at Bristol waa steady Ht 22s 3d. Odessa in London was 22s 3d quay, and was quoted at 22s at Gloucester. New- port va-lues were steady. Oats have further hardened. At Ross white were from 22s to 23s per quarter and black 20s to 21s. Bristol quotations for Irish black were about 21s. In London Plates were 17s 9d quay. Values at Newport were Arm. Glou- cester values were from 22s to 23s for Eng- lish white and 20s to 24c 6d for black. At Hereford English old were from 29 6d to 3s per 40lbs. Maize has ruled harder. Round at Bristol was about 23s 6d and flat 28s 3d to 29s. Lon- don quotations were 293 to 32s landed for Odessa and 31s quay for mixed American. At Gloucester Plates were 28s to 30s and Bessa- rabian ols, OATTLE. May fairs have been numerous in the week. attended. Best beef sold from to "«1 and seoond quality from 5H to 6d per lb. Waon Fair attracted a very large crowd, but business VIT" oomparatively slow. The few cows and ca.lves on offer sold mode^ ra-tely. Cows with calves at L-lajidovery fetched SI-0 to £16, barreners £10 to Sll, yea.r- ling steers £3 to L9, heifers £ 6 to £ 7, fat cattle 5id to 6d pw lb., a.nd bulls 26s per cwt. live weight- Cattle sold indifferently at Abergavenny. Builth Wells Market was quiet after last week's fair, and the small trade done was principally in store cattle, which did not sell at very satisfactory figures At Lla.ndi.lo Bridge fortnightly sale best bullocks made up to L-19, and an excep- tionally good lot of Hereford bulls averaged £ 13. Fat oalves made about 4d per lb. alive. The sale which was conducted by Messrs. J. Howell Thomas and Son realised altogether £1.,510, At Monmouth Market cows with calves made El5 10s to E17 15s, milch cows £ 12 10s to JE15, and two-yea.r-olds £10 10s to £ 14 5s. Best beef was from 7d to nd per lb., coarser qualities 6d to 61d. and veal 8Ad. Heifers at auction fetched £ 15 7s 6d to £ 17 15s and fat calvs3 £ 4 to £ 6 3s. Whitland prices for fat hulls were about 28B per cwt. live weight. Cows with oalves fetched £ 12 to 4E 14, and heifers in calf 110 to £ 12. Oow bridge Market was a mode- rate one. Fat cattle made 61d to 7d per lb., calves 9d to lid. and cows and calves zC14 to £18. At Bristol prime beasts made 62s to 64s per cwt. and secondary a.bout 58s to 60s. Store cattle were quiet. Miloh cows have sold from £ 23 to k22 for best and £ 14 to L.7 for secon- dary. The weekly market at Ross was an average one. -Best beef made 6d to 7d per lib., seconds Gel to 6Jd, and oalves 8d to 9d. per lb. Store stock sold better. Cows with calves made S,12 10s to £16 5s. yearling bullocks from L8 10s to £ 12 5s, and two-year- old, 1-10 15s to F,15 10s, fat calves 55s to 90s, and store calves from 25s to 37s 6d 6d each. In London polled Norfolks made 4s 6d to 4s 8d per stone of 81bs., Devons 4s 6d to 4s 8d, Shorthorns 4s 2d to 4s 4d, fat cows 3s 6d to os 8d. and heavy bulls 2s 3d to 3s 3d. Milch cows made from £ 16 to £23 per head. Irish stores were from Lio to £12. At Birmingham best Herefords fetched 7d per lb., Short- horns 61d to 63d, bulls and oows 4d to 5 Jd, and calves 7d to 9d per lb. At Cardiff (Roath) Market choice Herefords made 7id per lb., fat cows 6d. and calves Vft-rl to 9d. In carcase best sides of beef made Md to 6Jd, seconds 5Jd to 6d, best hinds 79d, seconds 7M, best- fores 5id, and seconds 5d. Best beef a.t Newport made 7d per lb., seconds 6 to 6Jd, best Irish 6id to 7d, cows 5d to 5Jd, and calves 7d to 9d per lb. Best bullocks and heifers at Hereford made 7d to 7!d per lb., medium quality 6d to 6Jd, and fat oows 6d. Veal was about 8d to 9Jd. Trade in store cattle was moderate. Beef at Neath was from 6d to 7d a.nd veal 8d to 9d. Oows and calves made Xil to E15, and yearlings L8 to Xio 10s. At Rhayader cows with calves fetched £ 10 to £ 12 and ye-arlings L6 to £8. Butchers' prices wereNarberth, beef 7d to 9d. veal 7d to 9d per lb.; Monmouth, beef 7d to 9d. veal 8d to 9d; Whitland, beef 7d to 8d, veal 7d to 9d; Llandilo, beef nd to 9d, veal 8d to 9d; and Haverfordwest, beef 7d to Bd, and veal 7d to 9d per lb. SHEEP. Sheep havfe sold moderately well, with piioes showing a slight improvement in marlets. At nay Fa.ir trade was brisk Uimtxs made lCd per lb. Llandilo Bridge auction wa« well attended, and best lambs n" ,i 10id to lid per lb. The sheep trade v.a» slow at n aen Fair. and Abergavenny I air was a slow one for sheep. At Monmouth v\othei ma on made 7id to 8Jd per lb. and la-mo 9:d to Wethers at auction realised 4!.j.s to 4 6s 6d. ,f ewes 39s 6d to 44s, English roup lo;; GOsto.and^bs 25s 6d to 32s 6d each. Lambs at Whitland were about 9?d p^r lb., a-nd wethers 7d to 7Jd. Best light wothers -shorn) at Bristol were about 7M per lb., prime wethers 7d, heavy 6-}d, ewes 5d to 5=d, and ktnib 9d to lOcI. At W(yther mutton sold from 7d to 8d, eWe 5!d to d and lambs lOd to Is per lb. Fiat sheep were from 36;; 6d to 45s per head and couples up to 62s 6d. Wethers at CowTbridgo fetched 71 d to Sd per lb., and lamhs made from lod to Is per lb. In London shorn Down wethers were 4s Ed to 5s per stone, half-bred,s 4f; 4<1 to 4s 6d, Down ewes 3s 8d to 3s 10d. half- breds 3s 6d to 3s 8d, and lambs 6s 6d to 7s per 81bs. AVertherrs at Birmingham fetched 8d to 81-d (in wool) and 7ld to 7 (shorn). owes and rams 4 to 6d, and lamb nd to 10d. Card:ff (Roath) Market prices Nvoro 7 to Ed per lb. for wethers and 5 to 1 for ewes. Ta-bs were lOd per lb. Wether mutton made 7d to 7id per lb., ewe 6d to d per lb. At Newport wether mutton was 7d to 3d, ewe 6d to 6jd, lamb 8Jd to lod. W others at Here^oixl invade 7^d to 8d, 6d t-o 6jd. and lambs 10..1 peT lb. Fat 6heep at Xcat-b were 7 to 8 £ d and lambs lod to lid per Ib, Yearling Radnor wethers at Rhu-y- ader made 20s to 25s, ajid ewes with lambs 253 to 3C& Butchers' prices for tnntton we.re:-Nar- berth, 8d to 9d; Monmouth, 8d to 9d; Whit- land, 8Jd to 9id; Llandilo, 9d; and Hayerford- I west, 7d to 8d per lb. Lamb in most markets fetched high prioes. PIGS. Pigs have continued in short frupply, and sellers have had no difficulty in m,ainta-ining high prices. Ba-coners at Ray fetched 9s to 10s per score, a-nd cart pigs from 17s to 22-s each. Monmouth values for porkers were from 9s 6d to 10s 6d per score, and under the hammer porkers realised 36s 6d to 49s 6d each. a.nd sows with little pigs from £5 10s. At Whitland two months' pigs were from 18s to 20s each. Baooners a-t Bris-iol were about 105 per score and porkers 10s 9d. At Ross light porkers sold from 10s to 10s 9d per soore, and heavier from 9s 6d to 10s. Baconers were 9s to 9s 6d, heavy pigs 8s 6d to 9s, and srtoree from 34s 6d to 46s. Small stores sold from 15s to 35s. Bows with litter were from £5 15s to Eg 10s. Porkers at Oowbndge made from las to 10s Pef score and baconers relative prices. Small stores were from 14s to 34s each. Birmingham prices were 10s 9d to lis per score for baconers, lis to lis 6d for porkers, and 8s 6d to 9s for sows. Cardiff (Roath) quotations were—small porkers lis to lis 6d, middle weights 1 s, heavy 10s to 10s 6d, baooners 9s 9l to 10s. and sows 6s 9<1 to 78 6d per score. Porkea-s at New- j port wero from 10s 3d to 11s per soope a.nd baconers 9s to 10s. Hereford porkers made about 6d to 6}.ct per lb. Baooneis were from 5id to 6d per lb. At Xoath porkers made up to 10s 6d to lis 6d pea* score, baconers 9s to 10s, and small stores from 18s to 28s Butchers' prices were:—Narberth. pork 7d; Monmouth. 6id to 7Jd; Wlntland 6d to 7d, Llandilo, 7d to 8d; and Haverlordwest.. 6d to 8d per lb. HORSES.. Horse fairs have hardly been as brisk, the demand for animals suitable for underground work being especially slow, presumably on account of the fears of a- coming strike. At Llandovery yearly cart colts rea-dny sold

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. LORD ABERDARE ON THE USE OF TRACE HORSES. Lord RIBBLE&DALE in the House of Lords on Wednesday called attention to the over- loading of contractors' horses in the Btreets of London. Lord ABERDARE, spoa-king on behalf of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, remarked that everybody knew there was no better judge of a horse than Lord Ribblesdale. The society had looked into the matter, however, but had been unable to prove any specific case of cruelty. Possibly, as the result of Lord Ribblesdale's action trace horses wcnild be more frequently employed in future. Earl BEAUCHAMP said the Home Office would take steps to see that contractors' horses were watched.

J FAIRS FOR MAY. The following list of markets and fairs is supplied by local correspondents, and every care has been taken to ensure accuracy. No responsibility can, however, be accepted for errors. Readers are invited to send addi- tdons or corrections, so as to make the list as useful as possible. MaencJocbog 22 Uangadock „ Maenclochog 24 Llangadock Llanddarog 24 Bhavader 23 Seonybridge 25 Aberystwyth Crymmycn Arms 25 Talgartli Pontardulai3 25 Monmouth Heath. 25 Pembroke 41

TIN MILK. PUBLIC ANALYSIS ORDERED AT ABERAVON. A meeting of the Aberavon Town Council was held on Wednesday. The Mayor (Mr. Wm. Williams) presided. It was resohred to have samples of all the tin milk sold in the borough analysed.—It was resolved to proceed with the tarring of the streets of the town. Alderman F. B. Smith drew attention to the insanitary condition of the ditch near ''Llewellyn-street, in which there were a num- ber of carcases. Summonses are contem- plated.

IRISH EXAMPLE TO WALES. I »- DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR AGRICULTURE. The following is the text of an importa-nt letter sent by Mr. M. L. Vaughan Davies, M.P. for Cardiganshire, to the clerk of the Ga.rdiganshire County Council (Mr. Evan Evans) in anticipation of a recent meeting of that body:— Itear Sir,—k much regret that Pa-rlia ment-ary business makes it quite impossible for me to attend the meeting of tbe county council at Lampeter o.n the 13th instant. I had wished to be present as I have felt for some time the need fo-r more effective action and organisation in support of Welsh agriculture. My knowledge of what the Government has done and is doing for agriculture in Ireland has intensified my desires in this matter. The members of the county council are doubtless aware of the excellent work that is being done by the Department of Agricul- ture and Technical Instruction in Ireland. This department has been formed to aid, improve, and develop agriculture, horticul- ture, forestry, dairying, the breeding of horses, cattle, and other live stock and poultry, home and cottage industries, and a.ny industries immediately connected with and subservient to any of such matters. Its work also includes aiding and facilitating the carriage and distribution of produce. Inspectors are also engaged by this depart- ment to report as to any fresh markets that might be opened up with advantage for Irish agricultural produce. In order to enable Wales to compete o-n torms of equality with Ireland and the Colonies in British markets, it is essential that the various systems and branches of that the various systems and branches of i agriculture in the Principality should be co-ordinated and unified. In my opinion tho time has now arrived for the county councils of Wales (including Monmouthshire) to approach his Majesty's Government with the view of establishing a Welsh Department in the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries pending the formation of a National Oomncil for all Welsh affairs. Such a department would do for Wales what the Irish Agricul- tural Department has done so successfully for the Emerald Isle. I also think that better use might be made of our university colleges for the promotion of Welsh industries. Would it not be feasible by means of university extension lectures to enable the intelligent and ambi- tious young people of our rural, mining, and quarrying districts to receive instruction from our best university professors in sub- jects connected with their various occupa- tions? Perlia-ps I should also remind you of the statement mado by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his recent Budget speech as to the formation of a national development fund. This fund will be utilised in promot- ing schemes for developing the resources of these countries. It will include such objects as the institutio.. of schools of forestry, the purchase and preparation of land for afforestation, the setting up of a large num- ber of experimental fr)-c,,f- on a large scale. expenditure upon scientific research in the interests of agriculture, experimental farms, the improvement of stock, the equipment of agencies for disseminating agricultural instruction, and the encouragement and pro- motion of co-opersjtiou. I submit to you that the Welsh counties should be organised and ready to utilise their proper share of the development fund, for we can naturally expect that some of these experiments, &c., must be carried on under Welsh conditions as to soil and other matters. All these important matters call for con- certed action, and I trust that immediate steps will be taken to secure this end.—Yours faithfully, 'Signed) M. L. VATTG-HAN DAYIES. House of Commons, May 11.

AGRICULTURE IN WELSH SCHOOLS. 4 QUESTIONS FOR MR. AUSTIN JENKINS. To the Editor of the Weekly Mail." Sir,—As the registrar of the University College, Cardiff, has given notice that at the next meeting of the Central Welsh Board he will direct attention to the need of instruction in agriculture being given in the schools under the control or supervision of the board, I crave permission through your columns to induce Mr. Austin Jenkins to make the following inquiries:- (1) In how many schools supervised and influenced by the central board is agricul- ture taught? I do not think there is half a dozen in the whole Principality, and I believe I am correct in stating that not one of these is located in Central and South Wales. (2) As the central board hold practical examinations in dairy work," it would be interesting to learn where and how it is taught, the syllabus of instruction, the length of the course, and the methods of examination. (3) As the central board also gets the lion's share of the whisky money" given to counties—the quota from Glamorgan amount- ing, I think, to between 17,000 and £ 8.C00 yearly-it will be interesting to learn to what extent the agricultural interests have been and are catered for by the central board in this oounty. If the agricultural committee of the county council had at their disposal 15 or 20 per cent. of the whisky money," it could, no doubt, materially further various forms of agricul- tural education for the benefit of farmers. As this money, however, is in the hands of the central board, will the Cardiff College registrar find out to what extent they have fostered "rural teaching in rural schools," and how? (4) The last point is, Who drew up the central board's agricultural syllabus? Were aoy practical men or any of the leading agricultural societies consulted? One is not astonished, when the syllabus is studied, that few schools have taken up this ultra academical syllabus. The general way of drawing up an agricultural syllabus is for a few superior beings to put down the things they think a farmer ought to know, and which they think will do him good to know. The syllabus of the central board is of this type. On the other hand, the practical way is to find out what a/re the farmers' views, what are the things they want to know, what are the points experience has taught them should be emphasised, and what are the points they consider of practical valne. Some of the syllabuses issued by the Irish Depart- ment of Agriculture are of this type. If Mr. Austin Jenkins will extract some information on these points he will do yeoman service to the Welsh farmer.—I a.m Ac., VILLIOUS. May 18.

WEARY WILLIES AT f WORK.' AMUSING TIME AT A WORKHOUSE FARM. Life on a workhouse farm is not without its humour. That, at any rate, is what one gathers from the report of t-hfe labour master of the farm of the Manchester Union, who was as-lied to report on conduct of' some of the men at test work, xrero are a few of his comments:- A.-Does not like work; an old hand at workhouse. Instead of working he will sit in the barrow. C.—A living statue. Whilst mittrng sods in a barrow he stood beside the barrow for tun hour and a half without moving, and only when the bell rang for dinner did he make any movement. D.—Had the forenoon off to go and look for work. After dinner did not turn up, although he was at dinner with the others. He will not take his overcoa-t off, even upon a warm sunny day. When asked to take it off he said that he had not taken it off for nine years, and would not take it off now. G.—Complains that he is always tired, amd won't work. H.-Ra.mbles from field to field as if he had a rambling commission. Won't stay at work, and when reprimanded uses vile ajid abusive language. I.—Flatly refuses to work except by way of playing with it. He lies down in the field, arnd won't do anything. J.—Found on Monday away from where be should have bean working in an-othcr field some distance from his work. Stopped for that afternoon he asked why three men oould go to sleep under a bodge aaid not be stopped, and why he should be stopped for such a. trifle as going to ask for a match to light his pipe.

EVERY MAN HIS OWN GARDENER, QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED. By J. MUTR. 50, Bouyerie-st-root, Fleet-street, Ix>na<ta~ Name of Flower.—" C. C."—The Spanish Ins. Name of Flowering Shrub.—B- Gross. A white broom, Cytisns albus. A Stag in the Poultry Yard.—"Eex- — le term "stag" is applied by some t/ ;Tt1' birds, but is not recognised S'6I,ier,a11^' is the old turkey cocks only that are called stags. The First Rose of Summer.—'The first rose, bloom opened in my garden on -vla^* was produced on a hugs bush grown a wall on a south aspect. There are hundreds to follow. The variety is the always gen^rou Gloir de Dijon. Ducks Laying Weak-shelled Eggs.— C- T- Get some old mortar, crush it qjnte sraaII. and put it in their mas, or ]K>WCKi ,a ,?!'an~ t-ity of oyster and other^sheLs, and & handful of this in with their sofu tood e^-iy morning. Eggs Not Hatching.—Rustic. '—As n<vt one of them contained a chick, unfertile from the first. I;nslst i"Lced a £ £ xne-nt as to unfartile-s being replawd being; carried out. Buff Orpingtons lay orown eg=sj of good size. Young Peachas Falling °" of Cook.—Give the roots a f,7i^ewith lime water at once. Spray the ^lth tepid water about four P-™- mjc dryness at the root is the cause Ox you., mis fortune. <( A Large Flowering Clematis^— Ma-gnifica is one of tlvs largest ] clematis. It is reddish purpl^ iu c m John Gould Yeit-ch is a large the Queen a mauve violet six mehe., m diame-, ter. Chickens in Orchard.—'VV. A- cannot possibly have a better place., V chicks than a grass orchard., It• w ideali for the purpose. They will find piejity^oi and enjoy the shade of the trees. IX i^t« shut the hens up in coops, but kt tlu-m at: liberty with the oliicks.. Sample of Poultry Grit—" Vanity FaiT. — The grit you send a sample oi 113icixc* 'i;n stuff for fowls. It is a good subst-n-ute for shell, and is very cheap. -Make use ot it ny all means. I am interested in you s>«nd of your poultry-lreePing' publish your remarks.. Name of Flowering Tree.—G- Roberts.—It is the Judas tree—a very uncommon and inte-1 resting subject. The botanical name is Cer-: cis Siliquastrum. jn northern parts it requires a wall, but it is a bea-utuul bush in many parts. It is propagated by seed, out that is the work of the nurseryman. Seed Pods on Daffodil Plants—Fanny Knox. —All seed pods ought to removed betore they develop, as they are a great cncwK to tho perfecting of the bulbs. I pani*i you to go in for raising seeding d^ffodi-ls. It would be years before you had any return from them. Sowing Seeds of Perennials.—" Intert^ted Subscriber."—Seeds of daisies, polyanthus, sweet Williams, primroses, wallflowers, a-nd other porennia-ls may be sown from now till the middle of June. Give them, a mdly position and a generous soil, a-nd tney wni srrow into good plants and make a nne dis- play next year. Chemical Manure for Grass FioW- Small- holder."—The only manure you. <'aI^ Put <rl] now that will act this season i? nitrate of soda. If you give one hundredwei?ut, at once per acre it will increase the crop wonaeriuny. Keep tho stock out the field for ten aays ajter putting the manure on. Soot would make no impression on gross now. Slugs Bating Sweet Pea.—" A •P'lff&J*—Oh, there are mere than "duffers" have their sweet peas eaten. It is difa-pp°i'n't'inf y com" men. Shake a little lime round and along the sides of the rows. Ii rwtij dry water wit-h soot water, aT1, t-ney will soon grow out of reach of the slugs. *i;ne, sharp ashes are as useful'a-s f°r keeping them off. Apple Tree with Canker-" Your description points to canker, wtuon generally proceeds from the roots. is most apt to develop in a gravelly soil, wrak the roots well with oow dung water. This; will induce a more generoais growth- Make ui) a thick paint from cow d«i« and water, and paint all over the ^agsred pa,rts A° lorra a coa-t. In dry, hot weather spr^ J' tops all over in the evening. Asparagus Weakly than I^tj Tear—| Anxious."—In neglected beds the roots and growths naturally become mo-e weakly every r year Cutting off the last head8 now and only leaving the little twiggy shoots to grow weakens them very much. Sprinkle the -sur- face of the bed with salt and soak the roots now and occasionally in June and July with liquid manure made'from oow or horse dung, Clay s, guano, &c. Crocus on Lawn.-M. Thomas.—As. the oro- cm leaves are still quite green, would! weaken the bulbs considerably to mow them ott in cutting the grass. This is what I am always decrying, and I am sorry I cannot! make an exception in your case- Jt will make the lawn rather untidy for a while to allow them to remain undisturbed till the. leaves ripen, but that is the only cV,rT^t thing to do. Mow between, and cut al. the grass you can, and put up with the111 a little while longer. Lawn as Bowling Green.—" Hotel Manager." —A level, well-kept lawn is quite suitable as a bowling green, and very ma-ny lawns attached to hotels and private houses are delightrully appropriate as bowling greens. As you have an ample lawn with a good ^ir^06- y°u would be extremely unwise to make a new bowling green Tt- is only in STtiiaWT1(I have distinction «ie excelW + youT lawn. The present is an driio-titf i 6 k°. itittxiduce bowling- 18 a coino- J game in the evening, and once set it«s attractions are irre«sistibl^' S*°w for Sii7>plies.— thl cow will delight yw anima l^ny other breed. She is a small, lovable her nr^nira? e in form and colour, and and tJs ex^"ent, the milk, butter aualit^ Sh^HnB most P«rf«ot in colour and the \vrshire T, mr.cf mil^ a-s rior She is' ^Ut, the quality is much supe~ more hardv a-ccommodatod, a-nd far cow alxut thro" is ^n^a-lly known. M a. cow a-pout tniee 0" four vea-rs old that has! r^oontly brought her second calf and you have a-n a-mmal in full profit at once. Pla,nte for Tubs and Baskets in Front of i' hotels a-re greatly beautifled by such floral decorations you propose. Drain the tubs carefully, a-nd fill! them with rich soil. Fill the centres of them with large geraniums, put tuberous begonias round the sides and edge with drooping olants, such as the canary creeper and the, °Pa:o1111? 1 obbia-nu;ri The various coloured are beautiful tub sub- ii? t n,e your baskets "with ino-ss, mLrich soil plant diffe- rent kmd, of fuchsia* in the centre of each, and edge them with double and single petu- ni-as. Gne these close attention, and the dis- play will be exceedingly charming.

RURAL JOTTINGS. VALUABLE HINTS AND INFORMA- TION. PLANT 'DECORATION OF l-IitEPl.ACES IN SUMMER. Hougewives like gla,ss-houss ownsR, are hoartny ^lad wheal fire« ca-ri disr^n-s^d with in summer. it is a great saving in labour and the coal bills; but a vacant fire- plaoe is not looked upon as an attraction. IVS^^+p°n<^iQd llnder some drapery or a,rt decoration, but the most charming of all ways of ornamenting them is to use them as receptacles for plants or flowers. There is no position m a room which lends itself more readily to floral ornamentation, and every fireplace ca.n easily be converted a.nd main- tamed as a beauty spot. The vacant fire- nlaoOO m summer, particularly when the IS not dosed—and this is unhealthy -is the fireplace. Cut flowers remain a sur- prising >y long time fresh when arranged hea-e, and plants in pots agree with it. In introducing the latter a little bank of foliage should be formed. A graceful palm or aspi- distra plant m the centre with some foliage plants around and an edging of flowering plants have a delightful appearance. Ferns can be used free-ly. Stand ea-oh pla-nt in a saucer or dish, a.nd do not over-water. Empty the surplus water from the saucers fre- ouently. Change the plants once a week. All with greenhouses will have no difficulty in keeping up a succession; but those with no greenhouse or no pot-plants and only a.n open-air garden may have all the means of decorating their fireplaces gaily. Cut-llowers should be employed by all. Once anyone begins to decorate here it is found irresistibly fa-soinatmg; indeed, the fireplace is a great opponent to the dinner-table in Cower deco- ration, and may be kept quite as pretty. As a, reroptacle for flowers it has every adapta- tion. Ine flowers may be in small quantities or m banks. The latter are exquisite when attention is devoted. I do not say a word in urging the employment of choice flowers, beca-uae the most common when nicely arranged are peculiarly pleasing, and ha.rdy subject a-re as effective as exotics. An a-rm- ful of May blossom placed on the dinneir- taola migbt not be tasteful, but put it in the firopla-ce, and the inclination is to go down oil the kneas in d-evotio,n, The bulk of hardy trees and shTubs call for the same comment, .juch subjects sweet to think of, and most gladsome in reality. Foliage of various tints, too. make a complete decoration, a-nd when blended with blos-soms the effsot is delight- ful; mti-eed, the subjeoto from the opeai air that can be employed to embellish the fire- plaoo are endless, and these with a various and good supply decoi-a>te almost daily at this sea-son. Put all in glasses of water, and change the liquid every time the flowers are renewed, or oftener. STOPPING THE FIRST GOOSEBERRY CATER- PILLARS. No plants are more injured and spoiled tham gooseberry bushes from the ravages of the caterpillars. They defoliate them more or less. often completely; them they are all absolute failure, as the fruit never swells. A very easy a.nd considerable preventive is to keep a look-out for the first appearance of the caterpillar, and from the time the flTst leaf is seen to be bitten examine the bushes daily, and kill every one met with. Robust bushes and fine crops ære the compensations for this. INJUEIN-G PLANTS IN WATEBTNG. Ambovgk tHUUiiuw Is near, the nights arre still a little chilly, and this will continue through May, or, maybe, later. The day tem- peratures are counteracting in some ways, but harm can be increased in watering thoughtlessly. Plants suffer least from oold when dry in the leaf, and suffer soonest and most when damp. They catch a chill readily then, and many afre retarded by watering them in the evening. It lowers the temper^ ture iound.them, and has a checking effect. Avoid, therefore-, watering in the evening so long as the eoil and the atmos- phere are chilly, and do 3111 the water- ing in the mc-ming, when the day tempera- ture will assist them; but here, again, there is a caution to be gi-vei and observed. When the leaves are all wet and the sun shines upon thecal they are very apt to lose their colour. They become dim. They may not be unh-ro, but they are somewhat un- sightly. If there ar-3 waterdrops here and there on the leaves they often become burned spots when the sun shines upon thcrn, •! and this, too, is unsightly. To avoid all this, do not water the leaves when the sun shines, but give it to the roots only. Later the foliage can be refreshed and cleaned by even- ing spraying. REGULATING -THE PE.^HES. Xo fruit forms more thickly than tho peachcs. They are like rows of beads, and ll'° shoulders with each other before they are much larger than peas. Three parts of them have generally to be taken off. Avoid this, and the fruit will not bo worth looking a.t. Pin sivo and high quality are never secured in crowds. As soon as the fruit a-re the size of peas, thin them to three inches apart. Take off the smallest and leave the most prominent. As soon as the stones ha.rden in the centre, thin again to six inohoc apart. This is good culture. R EG U LATJIVG THE GRAPE CBOPS. Ville owners grape growers have all a tendency to be greedy. Vines a.re rn-y found bearing a too light crop, but- very many of them suffer from over-cropping. It is a mistake. It cripples the vines for siic- cteding years, and prevents the attainment It the highest quality for the time being. Vines cropped with consideration go on bear- ing capitally for many ye>3.rs, but when over- cropp-od they depreciate greatly. The vines lack robustness, the bunches are small, and the berries are void of aiK) and lusc-iousness No intelligent cultivator ta-kes a pride in displaying what a great number of bunches his vines will carry. That is nothing to 00 Pvoud of, and is only a road to ruin; but fine bunches a-nd huge berries in mode- ration, a.nd the height of good grape-growing has been attained. It is a. somewhat diffi- cult matter for the inexperienced to arrive a-t a correct quantity in cropping, and the subject should bo considered closely. Very luxuriant virlce may be cropped to their fullest, but be ro with tha weakly. They may be under-cropped for a year to help them to recruit. The crop should be regulated before the berries swell to any extent. Do not rejnove too many of the bunches till it is seen which are the most acceptable. This can readily be noticed a soon as the berries form and before thinning these proceeds. IVever leave more than one bunch to swell a.nd grow on one stem or shoot. Twin bunches are excessive. Always let the beet formed and situated bunches remaiu. One bunch on every alternate side shoot is gene- rally a suita.ble crop, OT one pound of fruit to every foot run of the rod is acceptable e-onerally. Consider how previous crops per- fected, and take them as a main guide. THE CANARY CREEPER. The botanical name of the canary creeper is Tropaeolum peragrinum. It is a favourite with many beoaure it grows fast and ra.mbles gracefully. It is termed the oarta-ry-bird flower, as the flowers are all a canary colour, the seed should be sown now in the position the plants are to grow iii. It succeeds in town Ir country, and in eha-da or sunshine. Give it a c'ee/-n' rather porous, soil, and s-eo that the snails do not eat it over when small. THINXIXG YOUNG VEGETABLES. Young vegetable plants have not hurried into a crowded state so quickly this spring as in some former years, but all are now pushing on. and great ca-re should be taken thêvt further hindrance is not offered them by neglect in thinning. It is agreeable to see young vegetables bulking up in the rows, but no success or progress can attend them till they are thinned and singled so as to let eaeh plant stand clear of its neigh- hour. Pail in this, and all will ba a trashy mess, but when grown apart quantity is assured and quality is inevitable. The time to thin is as soon as the young plants get into the rough leaf a.nd while still dwarf. Thinning must be done systematically afld with a view to further things. At the first thinning, leave the plants double the thick- ness they will sta.nd when thinning is com- pleted. Thin onions two inches apart, carrots three inches, turnips three inohes, parsnips four inches, beetroot three inches; then, when t.he plants grow and meet again, remove every other one. This will leave the crops at distances which will suit capitally. If the oil is hard a-nd the plants will not pull out without breaking off by the collars, soak the roots to-night and thin to-morrow, when they will be extracted easily. After thimving hoe the surface all over. SOOT l''OR ONION AND CARROT BEDS. I am anxious to keep soot to the fore because it is both a preventive of grubs and a fertiliser of pl-amts-two valuable qualifica- tions. Amongst Vegetables none are more often and severely injured than the carrot and onion crops, and no preventive is moro cheap and generally available than soot. Do not wait till the plants are becoming yellow and drooping from the injurious attention of the pests, but act on the defensive, and apply soot as soon as the plants are well formed. Scatter it over their heads and between the rows. Fork or hoe it slightly under the Siur- face a-nd close up to the necks of the pla-nts. Tlll soot should be dry and put on sum- ciently to blacken the surface all over, but burying the plants in soot is excessive and injurious. Distribute regularly, and do not forget to apply early, as this is the secret of evading grubs. A PEST OF BROODY HENS. In February and March we were all crying out for broody hens to hatch early chickens. ,,ow our tune is wholly the opposite, as there are too many of the layers broody, and there is a general desire to oheck this and get them on to the list of egg-producers again as soon as possible. A hen that has beon laj-ing long and well merits a rest. Her way of taking it is to become broody. She becomes one of the unemployed then; but those that become broody time after time and persist in this lodl habit inordinately must be ta.ken seriously in hand, as three pa.rts of their il.me will be engaged in doing nothing. Those a rest should not have it continued too ong. Ten d.ays or a fortnight is ample. Those frequently broody should be given no law. them sit for a few days, then hustle I™' *s a rnost' profitless nuisance to have a lot of hens sitting idle in a broody state for wooks together, and this is what many of them are inclined to do, especially as the warm summer weather comes on. There are various ways of checking the broody condi- i!l" have known the hens to be given a ooid bath. Tliis is futile. It only worries thorn, and makes them long for the comfort <Y1 A n'es! Putting them on a cool place and on a brick or stone floor with no bed- ding or anything else to sit on disgusts them. Having coops w-ith wire bottoms some dis- tance up from the ground and giving the broodies thi6 floor to meditate upon is a very sure way of causi-ng them to give up the game quickly. The free ventilation and dis- comfort soon disgust them. AU extensive poultry-breeders should have pens set a.part with wire-netting bottom's in which to place the broodies. "THE SMALLHOLDER'S GUIDE." • Ir1? 18 e u 11 assuming title of a new book lust issued. I have read it from beginning to end, and I am delighted with its accurate, efficient, and sound teaching; indeed, I regard it as the most helpful book published both to those engaged in smaHholdings and to those oocn tern plating that step. The fact of the matter is, the market has beea flooded with unsound literature pretending to help the smallholder. A mere walk round or a week-end spent on a smallholding has been the only qualification some writers possess to assume authorship on the manage- ment of srma-llholdings. This is deplorably misleading, and can only have one moest regrettable result to all who trwst to saich for guidance. But The Smallholder's Guide" under notice has most qua-lifted sponsors. The writer is Mr. E. M. Bear, a most credi- table and one of the best known amd revered mames in farming circles, and t-he editor, Mr. T. X, Sanders, F L.S., Ac., is universally known as a master-hand. A book issued from such authorities oaiinot fail to take a for,- most pla-os, and it has only to be con- sulted to verify this estimate. It consists of 106 pages, instructively illustrated. It is pub- lished by a well-known firm, Messrs. W. H. L. Oollinridge, 148 and 149, Alderegate-stree*, London, at the popular prioe of Is. The sub- jects dealt with are too numerous to men- tion, but the following are the leading tonics: — Prospeicts for Smallholders,' Market Garden Holdings," Mixed Farm Holdings," ''Fruit-growing on Smallholdings," "Dairying on Smallholdings," "Pigs on Small- holdings," "Bee-keeping on SmaJTholdings," "Goat-keeping on Smallholdings," "French Gardeirri-ng," "Co-operation for Smallholders," &c., &c. IMPROVING "WEAK LAWNS. These are always disappointing. Perfect lawns are a mat joy. and they should be thickly furnaaheid Mke a carpet all over. When patchy, thick here and bare there, they are an eyesore and a discomfort, but it is surpriismg how readily they yield to good treatment, and it is not difficult to improve them at this time. Every plant is inolined to grow now. Give them the least enooarrageinent, and they are off, but surface dressings are not of any use at present. Liquids must be given, amd all weakly lawns should be soaked ones a week with manure water. This may be made from oow, horse, or pig dung, or gmesno or day's in artificials. Make the dung liquid tihe colour of stout, and use one ounce of the others to a srailofi of vato. if the earta s dx^ aoak this evening and again to-morrow to get all wet, then once a week tall August. EARTHING UP EARLY POTATOES. Early potatoes are not noted for their smart rrowth this season. The earth wae so thoroughly chilled in March that it hae not yet re-gained that amount of warmth needed to induce free growth in such a tender sub- ject- as the potato, but it will soon move' Quicker, and attention must not be lacking to push th<*m on to keep up to the usual time of securing this important crop. Very few potatoes were peeping before the 1st of May. They came up. too, rather weakly, par- ti-cularly where the soil was unkind. If there is any nitrate of soda about, sprinkle a litve, round the stems, but not on them; then earth up. A dressing of soot as a substitute for the nitre is acceptable. If the soil is friable earth up with the drag hoe. If the sva-fa-ce is stiff use a fork. The plants delight in having; loose earth on the surface, and when the fork is it makes all agreeable.

WELSH AGRICULTURE. f COUNTY COUNCILS ASKED TO CO-OPE HATE. At the ouarterly meeting of the Cardigan- shire County Council at Lampeter on Taurs- day, the Iter. William Griffiths, Maenygroee, New Quay, was unanimously appointed chair- ma.n for the ensuing year. The governors of the University College of South Wales wrote suggesting that greater attention should be given to the teaching of agriculture in the colleges and schools of the Principality. A letter was also read from Mr. Vaus-ha-n Davies, M.P., stating that he keenly felt that more effective action and organisation should be taken in support of Welsh a-gri- culture. Mr. Peter Jones (Aberystwyth) proposed that the various county councils be asked to co-operate in the matter. This was agreed to. and the letter of Mr. Vaughan Da-vies, M.P., was referred to the finance committee. "A FEUD AT THE BOTTOM." The small holdings arid allotments com- mittee recommended the council to defer the exercise of its compulsory powers of acquir- ing Bronllangv.rda Farm, near Aberystwyth, for small holdings. Mr. C. M. Williams (Aberystwyth^ said it was certainly not to the credit of the Car- diganshire County Council that they had done nothing during the p-ast year in regard to small holdings, although over 150 appli- cations had been made for land. Mr. Peter Jones said the fact was that the county was a district of small holdings. The truth in regard to Bronllangwrda Farm was that there was a feud at the bottom of the whole matter. An ex-warden and a vicar could not- very well agree, and the ex- warden wanted the field which the vicar occupied, endeavouring to utilise the Small Holdings Act to gain his ends. The recommendation of the oommitt-ee to defer compulsory powers was rejected.

SMALL HOLDINGS. 4 FARM TENANTS' CLAIM TO COMPENSATION. The Earl of ONSLOW in the House of Lords on Monday called attention to the ma.ny difti- culties experienced by county councils in the administration of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 19J8, and asked the President of tbe Board of Agriculture whether he would introduce. a Bill to amend that Act 80 aa to expedite the establishment of smal; holdings and the creation of a class cf ocou- pying owners of the land. He ventured to think that until they received proper com- pen&at-ion neither landlords nor c on n tv councils would be prepared to sacrifice sitting tenants even for the purpose of creating 6mali holdings. The Ea.rl of HARROWBY asked the Preei- dent of the Beard of Agriculture whether the Government were prepare-d in app-roved cases to remit the charges at present made for the visits of Government inspectors in connection with advances of loans, and to make advances or loans to landowners direct- on terms similar fo those on which advances j could be made to looal authorities and co-operative societies. Earl CAR KINGTON said Lord Harrowby's questions raised important financial consider- ations which concerned the Treasury and the Local Government Board. So faj- as the Department of Agriculture was conoernt-I j•here was every desire to promote economy and cheapness, and he would consider the matter raised with a view to see whether anything could be done. The Earl of Onslow had sugtfested the difficulties in the way of the creation of small helpings. What ap->eared in some counties to be inaccessible mountains were Ü1 other counties small mole- hills. He considered the difficulties in the way of the c-reation of small holdings had been somewhat exaggerated. He pointed to the great success which had attended tht- working of the 1908 Act. There was special force in the argument that the tenant of a farm acquired for small holdings had a special claim to compensation. A Bill had bean -promoted m the House of Commons by Mr. Carrie Grant dealing wit-h this matter, Rnd he thought he might go so far as to say that the Government would approach the consideration of the measure with sympathy a.nd with a full recognition of the rights ct the case. It must, however, be a matter of agreement, as it would be ridiculous to com- pensate a man with more land than he could manage or the tenant of a large farm who was only asked to give up a few acres. After further discussion the subjec-t dropped,

PENABTH MAY HORSE SHOW! The finest weather prevailed for the thirteenth annual horse show, which took place on the cricket and foo;.ball ground, Penarth, on Wednesday. There was a reoord number of entries. The judges were Messrs. W. J. Tatem, Thomas Nickolas, Dav-id Jen- kins, S. R-adcliffe, F. Akers, and R. Wiltshire, j Chief officers:—Messrs. John Pavey, J.P., i president; E. S. B. Ward, chairman; W. I Mules, vice-ch.airman; F. W. Morgan, treasurer; and George Ilnwley, hon. secre- tary. Awarde:- Cart bor.->e (heavy) in van or wag-on, Penaith Urban Authority: 1st, C. Chick; 2nd H. GouM. Cart horse (heivyj in wa-pon, trolley, or cart, builders, contractor?, and hauliere: 1ft, Henry Green; 2nd, South Wales Portland CXi.T.ent CO!lJJ)3.ny. Cart horse (lig-fct) in wa-tjoc, troiley, or cart, builders, contractors, hauliers, and oorn ;n-ir{'hint:: 1st, J. Moon and Sonf; Znd, Wm. Lewis and Sons. Cart horse in ha",d (farmer's.-): 1st and 2nd, Morgan Eros.; r, A. T.- Stephene. 0 Horr-e in crank-axle tradesmen's cart or watron, wine and spirit merchants, and other tradesmen for whom a class is not provided: let, C, A. Short bouse; 2nd, Fulton, Duniop. alld Cel. (Limited); 3rd, A. Brooke. Horse in cart, trolley, or wagon, ccal merchants: k-t, E. Lewis; 2nd. W. Best and Son. Hor.->e, tewn hacXnev carriage: 1st and 2nd, E Matthews; 3rd, W. Leddington. Pony, carriages, and governess cars, driven bv liceneod driver, in rerular UtJe on beach, not above 13.2: 1st, G. Salter; 2nd, S. White. Horse, beach hackney carriage, driven by lioensod driver, and regularly worked on stand, over li.2: 1st G. Salter; 2nd, S. White. Donkey and carriage: 1st, J. Xormaa; 2nd, G_ Salter. Horse and cart, bakers and grocers: 1st, Deverali and Pawley; 2nd, J- T. Walker; 3rd, W. H. Lewie. Horee and cart, butchers: 1st, J. C. Bidd; 2nd B. Guy; 3rd, W. R. Evans. Horse and c-ajt, fifth, merctmcta or greengrocers: IF-t end 2wi, C. Sadler. Horoe end hawkers' cart (flat): 1st, B. Sadler; 2nd, H. J. Hale; 3rd, H. Line. Horse and cart, milk: 1st and 3rd, D. Beee and San; 2nd, J. Edmunds. Horisc, harness, and vehicle, used for trade purposes: 1st, Deverall and Pawley; 2nd, J. C. Ri-dd; 3rd, W. E. Matthews. Cob, not exceeding 14.2, speed and action to be oonsidexed: 1st, W. R. Evans; 2nd, D. Griffiths. Horse, over 14.2, speed aud action to be coasidered; 1st, J. C. Ridd; 2nd, C. A. Sliorthouse. Cob, any height, in harness (operw: 1st, Jabes Gough, Mountain Ash; 2nd, David Richards, Ponty- pridd. Cart gelding, of three yeare and upwards (open): 1st, J Hill and Sonp, Mountain Ash; 2nd, F. J. SpartesJ Cardiff. Trotting handicap *open): 1st, John Williams's (Pont- newynydd) "Honest Tom"; and, H. Dowell's (Pont- newynydd) Onward." Jumping class (open): 1st, T. and W. Stager, War- minster; 2nd, John Williams's (Pontnewyxydd) Black Dess 3rd, Arthur H. Jones's (Merthyr) Edna May." Donkey race: 1st, S. Bnekland; 2nd, E. Brooks. SPECIAL PRIZES. Horse (light) in either trade or private vehicle j. c. Ridd. Cart horse (light) In wagon or cart: J. Moon Lud Sons. Cart horse (heavy) In hand, or in wagon, trolley O. cart: Morgan Bros. Pony, not exceeding 11.O: S. White. Cob, over 13.0 and not exceeding 14.0: J. Edmund* Horse (light) over 14.0: J. C. Eidd. District champion class: 1st, T. Evans 2nd Cn Cardiff; 2nd, S. Batten, Cardiff; jt c_ Penarth.

GROSS CRUELTY TO A PIG. GLOUCESTERSHIRE FARMER HEAVILY FINED. Sidney Hart, a farmer and dealer, of C-leeve, Westbnry-on-Severn (who was repre- sented by Mr. Melville Hacrvey, solicitor, Glou- cester), appeared at Lartt<ledea,n (Dea-n Forest) PoKoe-coart on Friday to answer a charge preferred by Inspector W. G. Neville, on behalf of the Gloucester and Weet- Gloncesterahire Society for the Pre- vention of Crnelty to Animals, of ill- t/restiting a pig on the 23rd nit. The evidence was that Waiter Gleed, a neighbouring farmer, was in diffletritiee with a young sow, whereupon defendant offered ajasist-anoe, instead of giving which he set his dog upon the a,nimal. Tho pig wae bitten so badly that it died. Prosecutor told the court that the oarcase bore evidenoe of 40 to 60 double- punctured wormds. Defendant, had to pay the fall penalty of -£6, -with £ 3-3e. id- ooste.

CANADA BRITAIN'S NEAREST OVERSEAS DOMINION. IN THE EMPIRE. UNDER THE FLAG. BRITAIN'S BREADBASKET. 160 ACRES GOVERNMENT LAND free for farming. IMPROVED FARKS on Easy Terms. TWO YEARS' RENT of an English Farm will Purchase outright partly improved farm of equal area near prosperous settlements. HAPPY HOMES & CONTENTMENT CAVTLE-RAISIKC successful. INDEPENDENCE early mine. BOUNTIFUL HARVESTS, HEALTHY CLIMATE. LICHT TAXES* GOOD MARKETS for aU producs. Profitable DAIRYING. Unexcelled FRUiT. For free maps, pamphlc's and full particulars, apply to Mr. H. M. MURRAY, Canadian Government Agent, 81, Queen Street, Exeter; or to Mr. J. OBED SMITH, Assistant Superin- tendent of Canadian Emigration, I I and 12, Charing Cross. London., S.W. fOYIDYNEJ m o R r«O? n H For prever.rmg Fever, Tapeworms, H S Scour & ail Sromac'n or intcshnal B Worms in Lambs and Calves. || COSTS ABO L; T i i 1 PER DOSE REQUIRED ■ fl Lambs should be dosed BEFORE H WEANING so as to destroy the germs gl « of'disease ar The ONSET—They make a[ g wonderful progress afterwards. H -4 "R I Price it) -Per Gallon ) I Enough to dose 106 Lambs t PAY. S^HjEWTTT^^Dto^setS^LondonJwJ^ ASSISTED JKf EMIGRATION to WESTERN AUSTRALIA Farmers, Farm Labourers, Vignerons, Orchardists, Market Gardeners, and Domestic Servants. 50,000,000 ACRES AVAILABLE FOP. SETTLEMENT FREE GRANTS of 160 ACRES. EXCELLENT CLIMATE. Work carried on all the year round. ASSISTED PASSAGES From £5 to 17. 1 Os. For Illustrated Pamphlets and further particulars apply to the Apent-General for Western Australia, 15, Victoria Street, London. S.W. '11 !Your Garden now requires | attention. S JPARDENiKSU if n? ^.1 W FOR I I THE MASSES 1 A HANDBOOK it Containing all tie informatlon j6 required about g PLANTS AND FLOWERS for the Amateur Gardener. t I Also A YEAR'S "WOBK IN THE GARDEN, WEEKLY BEMINDEES. HOW TO COOK VEGETABLES. 8 ANIMALS PSO FIT ABLY ASSOCIATED I WITH THE GAEDEN. 1 Price, 6d. Cloth, 1/-1 Sold by all "Western Mail" Agents. I WHOLESALE: 1 iWestern Mail Limited,! CARDIFF. I 1 62 r^.om eekiy service from LiverpooL FAal Luxurious cerths at moderate tarvs. Emig-rants met at Liverpool ry LI>E C. P officials. For sailings, parn- pblets. -.nd information as te TO OPPORTUNITIES IN CANADA Canadian Pacific Railway. CAINADA,18, St. Augrustine'p-parade, Bristol. Ic-r i-R] a.y^rite pverr-where. wlT50

A FAITHLESS FARMER. The Under-Sheriff held a court at Bristol for the assessment of damages under a judg- ment which was obtained by Ethel Louise Pullin, spinster, of Compton Greenfield, acsdnst George Arthur Garrett, farmer, of Washing Pool Farm, East Compton, Almonde- bury., in a suit for breach of promise of marriagt?. i<^r in the month of Jiine, defendant made an offer of marriage to plaintiff, and asked plaintiff if she would wait two years for him She agreed to do so. and he g-ave her an enfagement rinp. Eng went on all right for a while, but, uriortunntely. in 1906 defendant made ^rtain orerturee to plaintiff. Last Marcii she became aware of her condition. She thercup-on communicated with defendant. and asked him what he waf going1 to do about it. He said he would "sleep over it," let her know, but he never did. On March 29, not bavins: heard from him, she t.oe makin? a.n appointment for that eveii- irig- That appointment he did not keep; in fact. sirsoe March 23, when she told him of her condition. she had only met him once. On that oocalsion the matter was discussed with plaintiff's brother. Defendant eaid he must have been a fool, and ought to have his brains blown out; but notwithstanding that piow wish, he had not married her, and he (couneei) was informed that defendant was now in Canada, and had left no address. The jury iivrarded damages at £ 200, and jadgment was entered accordingly.

GANDER AND TAME RABBIT A correspondent of tho "Countryside" tells a good story of a gander and a rabbit. The rabbit was always escaping from its hutch, and the explanation is thus given by the correspondent. We were sitting at breakfast, when a loud gabbling of the geese attracted our attention. They were standing before the rabbit hutch, and in the midst of them was the old gander, with neck outstretched, working the peg of the door about. He did this so persistently a.:><] to such good effect that in a few minutes he had it in his beak and dropped it on the ground. All this time the rabbit, seeming to knew by his formei experiences what was going to happen, h3.(;" been standing on his hLnd legs at the wira netting of his doer. As soon as the peg wae withdrawn the door gave way, a::d OUT jumped the rabbit. The geese seemed very pleased with their work, as far a.s ge.e53 car show pleasure.

FIVE ACRES, SIX VOTES, A five-acre field, sold the clher day at Wig-ton (Cumberland) for JE71, has against it six perpetual annual rent charge.- of El., 2s. each, which entitle Mr. SypeaJier Lowthtr, Lord Muncastex, MJ. Gerald Lowther, and three other prominent Cumberland gentlemen to a ParJiamentary vote in Mid-Cumberland, the Speaker's constituency. i

t.. from £ 11 to £ 12. Carters a-nd were from £ 30 to £ 38. Few heavy cart horses were offered at Waen Fair. Five-year-old cobs from 14 to 15 hands sold about £ 15 to £ 16. Yearlings were from L3 to L5. A good trade was done in Welsh ponies- At Abergavenny some specially fine carters fetched up to 75 guineas. Mountain poni-ee at Hay were from A:5 to -CIO, oobs from L12 to £ 16, hack- neys JE16 to £40, and carters P,24 to X40. At Neath cobs ranged from j535 to JE35, and ool- liers about £ 35. BUTTER. Butter prices have ruled strong, the dry weather and shortage of grass affecting sup- plies. Cardiff quotations areIrish cream- eries 107s to 110s, Irish factories 90s to %s, choicest Danish 118s to 120s, Siberiaoi 102s to 104s, Australian 95s to 98s, and Nerw Zealand 105e to 1093. Cork prices on Wednesday were —firsts 90s. seconds 85s, and fresh from 86s to 98s per owt. London pri-ces were—Danish 112s to 114s, N^w Zealand 103s to 105s. Siberian 98s to 101s, and Irish creameries 107s to 110s. Country market prices have ruled as fol- lows Whitland, oask lOJd to lid, rolls lid to Is per lb.; Na-rberth, cask loid to lid and fresh lid; Llandilo, oask lid, fresh is; Haver- fordwe.st, lOd to Is: Carmarthen, cask lid, fresh is; Rhayader, lld to Is; Monmouth, Is; Hereford Is to Is ld; Hay, 11; Talgarth, Is; Built.h Wells, Is to Is ld; Ross, is ld; and Abergavenny, Is Id. CHEESE. The demand for cheese has been more active. At Newport on Wednesday there was a smaller supply and a good iTKjniry. Oaerphillys sold from 44s to 50s poor ewt" fancy dairies 50s to 54s, and Cheddars from 63s to 68s. Cardiff quotations were—Oaerphilly 45s to 56s, Cheddar 65s to 75s, and Oanadia<n 66s to 70s. In London Cheddar was 76s to 80s, Canadian 66s to 70s, and Butch 52s to 5Gs. At Carmar- then new Welsh cheese was 25s per cwt. at Haverfordwest 4d to 7d per lb., at Llan. dilo 5id to 8a, and Brecon 5d to 8d per lb. POULTRY. I Poultry markets ha-ve hardened, supplies offering being short. Na.rberth prices were— live fowls 4s to 6s per couple, ducks 5s to 5s 6d; Hay, dressed fowls 5s to 6s 6d, live fowls 4s to 5s per couple; ivionmouth, dressed fowls 6s to 6s 6d per couple; Whitland, live fowls 4s 6d to 5s 6d, dressed nd to lOd per lb.; Uandilo. chick-ene dressed Is per lb., live fowls 5s to 6s per couple, dressed lld per lb., ducks Is per lb.; Carmarthen, fowls 14s 6d to 6s 6d, aud ducks 6s to 7s per couple; Rhayader, dressed fowls 4s 6d to 5s 6d per couple, live 4s to 5s per couple, ducks dressed 5s to 6s; Hereford, dressed fowls 5s to 6s, ducks 5s to 6s 6d per couple, live fowls 4s 6d to 5s 6d, and ducks 5s to 6s; Talgarth, live fowls 4s to 5s and dressed 4s 6d to 5s 6d, ducks 5s 6d to 6s peir couple- Builth Wells, live fowls 4s to 5s, dressed fowls 4s 6d to 5s 6d. EGGS. The demand for eggs has been good, but supplies -are less plentiful and prices dearer. Cardiff wholesale quotations are from 73 9d to 8s 6d per 120 for Irish hen. Country market prices were highor—-Monmouth 16 to 18 for ls, Whitland 18, Narberth 18, Llandilo 16, Haverfordwest 18, Oaxtmarthen 16, Rhay. ader 47, Hereford 16, Hay 16, Builth Wells 18. Talgarth 18, Ross 16, and Abergavenny 16.