The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

HINTS FOR ALLOTMENT HOLDERS. By SPADE-WORKER- GETTING READY FOR NEXT YEAR. "Successful gardening lies in doing the right thing at the right time," is a motto that should be taken to heart by the allot- ment holder. If he would remember these words and practice the advice which they give, much labour would be saved and r-u- sults generally would be satisfactory. The chief work in the allotment during this month is to prepare the ground for next year's crops. Spring may seem a long way off. but there is really little time to lose. Christmas will soon be h, and early in the New Year one begins to think about choosing seeds, making plans for the ar- rangement of crops, selecting and preparing seed potatoes, and other things essential to the successful management of the allotment. There are many advantages in getting the digging finished in autumn, and every op- portunity ought to be taken so that it may be completed as soon as possible. If your plot is ten yards wide, I advise you to run a line down the middle, from end to end, thus forming two plots, each five yards wide. I always find it less laborious to dig two plots, each five yards wide, than to dig one large plot, ten yards wide. So far as the average allotment holder is concerned, I am of opinion that he need dig only two spits deep; by a "spit is understood the depth of soil that is ordinarily moved by the spade when digging. If he wants really excellent produce, and has an eye to the prizes at one of the local shows, then he may well dig three spits deep. MY WAY OF DIGGING. The way in which I proceed is as follows* I take out a trench one spit deep across one end of the plot—or across one end of the .divided plot if it is large; the soil taken out is placed where the digging will finish. If the plot is not divided, the digging will finish at the opposite end; if it is divided, digging will finish alongside the first trench. The first spit of soil having been removed, I proceed to dig over the second spit, breaking it up thoroughly with spade or fork and mixing in such manure or green rubbish as I may have. It is a mistake to place the manure in a layer, it ought to be well mixed with the lower spit. The open trench No. 1 is then filled with the next lot of surface soil immediately behind; we now have the first trench completed and the second trench opened one spit deep. The same procedure is carried out along the plot. USING BASIC SLAG. My soil is heavy stuff, and despite the fact that it was limed last winter, I shall give another slight sprinkling of slaked lime when digging is finished. In addition, I shall use basic slag at the rate of 6oz. per square yard; this and the lime will be forked beneath the surface at the same time. Basic slag is one of the cheapest of artificial manures, though, like most other articles in these days, it is not as cheap as it was. It is an excellent fertiliser for heavy land, and I strongly advise allotment holders to make use of it. It is slow in action, and it ought to be applied now. Such treatment as I have outlined will do much towards bringing the ground into good condition for vegetable cultivation next year. The surface should be left rough, and as digging proceeds a sharp lookout must be kept for wireworms, a large number of which can be got rid of by hand killing. A NOTE ON BROCCOLI. The large-headed varieties of broccoli are not so popular with allotment-holders as the purple and the white sprouting broccoli, which are so useful in spring*. Nevertheless, those large white heads, especially of sorts that are ready in late autumn, are very good, and they make a pleasant change in the vegetable fare at this season. I "Heeling over broccoli a protee- I tion from frc-ot. A method often practised to save the broccoli heads from injury by irost is to "heel them over," as snown 11 the accom- panying sketch. A spadeful of soil is taken out from the north side of the plant, the latter is pressed down, its head facin-g the north, and the soil taken from behind the next plant is used ill. covcrilJ the stem of the other. I PRIZE WINNING HINTS. V\ L.i' .G 1.1 Á-. With reference to my recent note on the value of co-operation among allotment- holders, I have received the joho\»ing letter from the fcetre:ary o: a h allotment- holders' association; it is è') iau-reiting that I have awarded -ijo of the weekly prizes to the sender: "Your .IG d inuoducing1 a competition into your weekly article de- serves a. first prize, Lccau.-e it opens out a field for the exchange •: tiews on a subject of vital importance at the present time. The best hint I can think of for allotment- holders i to Ic.-e no time in forming an as- sociation having for its object the purchasa of gu r.-JcK requisites in bnJlc. Our associa- tion was culy formed last February, and we i" struck out and obtained from a. leading- firm of se'dstreri a 25 per cent, redaction on cata- logue prices for all and tools (pota- toes excepted). Allotment-holders, and their wive. too, will remember the state of the potato market last spring, yet we bought and delivered to our members thirteen tons cf main crop potatoes, such as "Arran Chief" and Kmg Edwards," • at the aver- ,1gC price of Is. 5->d. per stone. What would these have cost purchased by individual members? Two hundred tons of manure were delivered on to the allotments at the price of 2s. per lead." Another prize book goes to Mr. R. Bland for his note on "How to Prevent Onion Fly and F-o many good hints have been sent in that I must award a third prize this week, and this goes to Mr. R. Gallop for a suggestion for getting- rid of wireworms. Unfortunately, owing- to lack of space, I cannot publisn these now, but I hope to do so shortly. I have received many interesting letters from several readers, and in due course shall hope to refer to rome of the questions raised. Meanwhile, will they please accept my best thanks and acknowledgments. The plans showing how to crop the allotment have come in, and I think the kvsojis they teach will be really usefhl. PRIZE COMPETITION FOR ALLOT- MENT HOLDERS. Owing to the great interest which has been created by this column, I have decided to present two prizes weekly to readers sending in the best allotment hint or recipe. This week the prizes will consist of useful gardening books. All entries for this compe- tition must be addressed "Spadeworker,* care of Editor of this paper.

ECONOMICAL A RSUABLE. BORWIGK'S The best BAKING POWDER in the Worlt NO HOUSSHOLD SHOULD BE WITHOUT THIS VALUABLE PREPARATIon.

Poultry. CHRISTMAS POULTRY. It is not too early to begin to think about poultry for Christmas and the method of deal- ing with them. No matter how few chickens are bred there is sure to be a few cockerels more than will be needed to run on for stock and these can be kept steadily growing till a little nearer the time for killing. Where there is a big lot they can be pushed along and marketed as soon as ready, because all ea"ble stuff now is making big money and you had better have their room than their company. Poultry just now is a cheap meat despite the price, because the whole of it can be used and 1 it makes the sweetest joint of meat anyone can have. It can be roasted, and then cut as 'much as possible without wasting any of the bones or carcase and then these will make a splendid stew with the broth very nourishing besides the odd bits of flesh left, can be easily taken off the bones and with care will make a dinner for two or three people. Everyone who breeds fowls should be able to have one in the house at times, and none of the old hens should be cleared from a small yard but kept for home consumption. In these times when food is short it would be a waste to overfatten the birds, so that while putting on plenty of flesh do not cram to cause internal fat. I know that in ordinary feeding the bird must carry a certain amount of waste fat, but not nearly so much as before the war when they were crammed for all they were worth on purpose to add weight and in- crease the width of breast. Much of this fat comes away when the bird is drawn hence it is nothing better than good food wasted besides time and labour. Birds shut up in the orthodox coop are liable to drop some food over the side, so be sure and have the trough big enough or do not put in too much food at a time. When in the run always give soft food in troughs, for then you can see what is being eaten and how much is left. Never leave food about before birds which you want to fatten, because they soon get off feed and the sight of food sickeng them quickly, so when they have had their fill take the rest away and regulate the supply accordingly next time of feeding. When finiishing off fattening, do not give any drinking water but make the mash rather more moist like a thick cream, and though the birds will not be eager at first, they will soon get on with it particularly when they have to eat one against; another. Need- legs to add birds like this should not have corn but only soft mash at each time of feeding. The crammed chicken is good, but a very useful bird can be made by letting them stop on the ordinary run, and feeding with plenty of soft food both morning and night and then giving a small feed of grain before they go to roost. This should only be enough to stop iin the crop till morning when the next mash is ready, then they go along and keep growing at the same time as carrying flesh. The proper way is to have a coop with open spars all round and at the bottom about flour feet long and two feet wide, in which you can put five or six bids, then feed all they will eat for three weeks. But the man who rears a few in a back yard probably has no coop of this kind, hence he is bound to adopt some other plan. A small house or combined house and run will answer well, but it must be kept clean. There is an advantage in the proper coop because the dropp:'ngs all go thceugh and can be picked up with a shovel, but any sort of place will do if only the floor is kept clean and sweet. For feeding such stock, there is nothing better than Sussex ground oats, which is only a naiMe applied to the way they are ground, that is the oat with the husk all ground up \like flour. These can be had in nearly all parts of the country and most mills' can turn them out although not perhaps so fine as the Sussex miller, where they are ground between stones, especially set for the purpose. This meal is dear naturallv just now, but it can be cheapened by the uie of barley meal and maize meal if the colour of the flesh is not so important, but then add any kind of fat which comes to hand, or mix the meal with milk.

= JJENS lav best if they get plenty of exer- cise, and Armitage's Intensive Mixture give them this. It should be fed in conjunc- tion with Armitage's Mor-Egs Laying Meal. Sold in bulk, or 3s. bags by corn merchants and grocers everywhere. Ask for free pamph- let on the Intensive System.—Armitage Bros., Limited, Nottingham.

PEARS' ANNUAL FOR 1917. A REMARKABLE PUBLICATION. This old favourite of the Christmas Annuals, now in its 27th year, has never presented a more attractive feast of seasonable literature and art. Its pictures are a great feature- things of beauty,' every one including three fine presentation plates in colours, of a good s ze, suitable for framing, reproduo ng a famous Lady Hamilton painting by Romney. a charm- ing study of contrasted animal and human beauty by Margaret Collyer (a mezzogravure), and a humorous character subject by A. W. HoJden. There is also a superb four-page sup- plement in colours illustrating old Christmas S.'mpson, R.B.A., Lionel Edwards, R.I., and days, contributed by John Hassall, R.I., Jos. Harry Rountree. The cover too is artistically notable for its fine coloured picture—"Home Once More," by Joseph Simpson, R.B.A. The r terary contents comprise a rich collection of stories and poems illustrated in tl'nts by well- known authors and artists. There is a West Indian tale by Eden Pliill- potts, a naval stoTV by "Taft'rail," a humorous Irish sketch by G. A. Birm, ngham, a present- day Christmas narrative by Mark Alierton, a cheery Christmas tale of rural life by J. E. Backrose, and special Christmas poems by Jas. Burnley. All the storieg are powerfully illus- trated. It i's astonishing how in these days such an all-embracing collection of Christmas attract"ons can be put forth at the popular price of one shilling.

It is estimated that the country needs a sale of National War Bonds to the extent of F,27,500,000 per week. To keep up that average calls for real effort, the kind of economy that people have to go in for when they lose theii money. But in this case they will get it back with a bonus.

Answer it Honestly! Are not the opinions of Aberystwyth Residents Better than those of Strangers? The above is a vital question. It directly concerns Aberystwyth people. It can't be evaded or ignored. The Aberystwyth woman who speaks here, speaks for the good of the district. Read right through for yourself and acknow- ledge the truth of these facts. On January 1st, 1913, Mrs. A. Edwards, of Park-yr-Onen, Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth, said :Next month I shall be seventy-three years of age. Now and again I have been bothered with backache and headache, and sometimes I have felt very sleepy and tired in the mornings. "I expect my kidneys were a little dis- ordered, but soon after taking a few doses of Doan's Backache Kidney Pills they were quite right again, and I have felt free of the trouble. I always speak well of Doan's Pills, and have given some to my friends to try when they have complained of backache.—(Signed) A. Edwards." On February 10th, 1916 ever three years later Mrs. Edwards said I am all right now, thanks to the use of Doan's pills. I always speak well of them." With advancing years the functions of all the organs of the body become weakened, conse- quently elderly people are particularly subject to backache, stiffness and rheumatic pains in the muscles and joints, gravel, and difficulty in controlling the bladder. Doan's Backache Kidney Pills will be found of special benefit to people of advanced years, as this medicine has a direct tonic stimulating and strengthening effect upon sluggish and weak- ened kidneys. Of all dealers, or 2s. 9d. a box from Foster- McClellan Co., 8, Wells-street., Oxford-street, London, W., 1. Don't ask for Backache or Kidney Pills—ask distinctly for Doan's Back- ache Kidney Pills, the same as Mrs. Edwards had. I | I Youve heard of called Miss Muffet I I who ate g and was frightened by amr I I Once she had a lovely r{ made with I I Birds 0 Substitute, so nice that I I forgot to he when the samespider I I but gave him a sweet 9: and I I a big and they ate up the 8 I I in(f^|j),all because f- made ii so good I I j tJBircls I Substitute I I is the remedy for the present 1 I scarcity and dearness of eggs. ■ I Invaluable in the kitchen. One teaspoonful of this golden powder imparts the richness, I | flavor and appearance of new laid eggs to puddings, cakes, buns, batter for fish, etc. ■ 1 A single tin is equal to 3/6 worth of Eggs — and see how it saves household expenses. I I Excellent recipes with each tin and packet. ■ m &s.6M Bs

Pedigree Stock. IMPORTANT SPEECH BY LORD RHONDDA. Lord Rhondda, as a patron and enthusiastic supporter of the distinctive' Hereford breed of cattle, received on Saturday about 200 mem- bers of the Hereford Herd Book Society at his Lang.stone Court Farm, where his herd (now probably the largest in the kingdom) was inspected by the visitors. The herd was gener- ally voted the finest representative collection from calfhood to maturity that the members had seen for some years. His lordship, accompanied by Sir Humphrey Mackworth, Bart. (his son-in-law), Mr Rickards (his agent), and Mr. Trotman (farm manager) met and gave the visitors a hearty welcome. A STICKLER FOR HEREFORDS. After the herd had been inspected luncheon was served, at wlv.'ch Lord Rhondda presided. Sir J. R. G. Cotterell, Bart. (lord lieutenant of Herefordshire), a member of the Council of the Hereford Herd Book Society, in giving the toast of "The Herd," said the members of the Herd Book Society were deeply grateful to Lord Rhondda for mviting them to Langstone and showing that again he was a great stickler for the Hereford breed of cattle. The gather- ing was the most representative of Hereford breeders he had seen. He (the speaker) had been struck with the beauty of the cattle, and he could not help remembering a remark which Lord Rhondda (as he was now) used to make at sales years ago, when he said, "Don't let the best cattle go to South Wales," and afterwards they found that Mr D. A. Thomas had bought them. (Laughter.) AN EXAMPLE OF FRUGALITY. Lord Rhondda said the company had assembled not to hear hi'm as Food Controller, but as a breeder of Hereford cattle. He did not want to apologise for the frugality of the lunch, because as Food Controller he wished to set a good example, and he wanted his friends to do the same. Some members of the Herd Book Society visited Llanwern eight or n'ne years ago, but he thought they would find now (thanks to Mr. Trotman) that the herd had been very much improved. He did not want to kriow that it was merely the largest of its kind in the kingdom, but the best. His lordship spoke of the advantages of the Hereford breed over other breeds—their hardihood, their beef qualities, and the high prices that they com- manded, not only in this country, but in America-and said he had made a study of them on scientific lines of heredity and on Mendelian principles. THE VALUE OF SCIENCE. Those farmers who thought that, science could be ignored were not on the right path; Science could not be ignored by wise people. (Hear, hear.) Personally, he had, perhaps, too much food on the brain and not enough in the stomach-(Iaughter)-but still he wanted to carry out the instructions of the Board of Agriculture as far as he could, and he was anxious to back up his old friend Mr. Prothero in every possible way. The Germans had shot ahead of the farmers in this country in the past twenty-five or thirty years, "but (said Lord Rhondda, amidst laughter and applause)* we are oing to teach them a darned good lesson before we have finished." Hfe asked the farmers to increase food production and to breed from the best animals in the country, because he was sure that the dearest beef was produced from the poorest animals. MAXIMUM PRICES AND PEDIGREE STOCK. "I am now going to make," said his lordship, "an announcement of considerable importance to the pedigree stock breeders of this country. There is no restriction upon the sale of pedigree stock for breeding purposes. No Order has at present been issued compelling live cattle to be slaughtered or fixing a pricf; at which live cattle must be sold. The prices fixed for live cattle bought to be slaughtered for the army are maximum prices abcve which the army buyers will not pay. "If it should become necessary to make an Order fixing maximum prices for live cattle- and that seems very probable in the near future—sales of pedigree stock for breeding purposes will be excepted, and the price to be paid for other stock will depend' upon the quality and weight of the animal. "An Order has already been made fixing maximum prices for live p'gs, but sales or pedigree sows are excepted." If, .continued his lordship, the Prime Minister had known that he (the speaker) was a breeder of Herefords he supposed he would not have had the job of Food Controller, and anyone now could have it from him for the asking. (Laughter.) Perhaps it was the fact that he was a Hereford man which was almost his un- doing. Hereford cattle, being hardy, would thrive out on pasture where Shorthorns or Aberdeen Angus cattle would starve, and he fixed the price of beef in such a way that he had to revise it afterwards.

A booklet has been issued by the Business Statistics Co., Ltd., of Cardiff, showing the capital, last balance sheets, profits, and divi- dends over a number of years of the South Wales Shipping and Dry Dock Companies. The booklet will be found interesting to all who are connected with shipping. k

Carmarthen, Saturday.—The supply of cask butter showed a diminishing tendency, and that of fresh pats was not equal to the demand controlled prices ru'led—2s Old for cask butter and 2s 2d per Ib for pats (wholesale), and 2s 2d and 2s 3d per Ib (retail); eggs, good demand, 37s 6d to 40s per 120; poultry—chickens Is 6d per lb, fowls 2s 6d to 3s 6d each, ducks Is 5d to Is 6d per lb.

SUPPLIES OF SEED WHEAT. The Food Production Department. desires fO inform farmers that it will not be possible to guarantee to fulfil orders received after the end of November for supplies of the specially selected seed wheat (1917 crop) which are at present being offered by the Department. The pr.:cc of this selected seed, which is of the varieties known as Little Joss, Browick, Vic- tor and Wilhelmina, is 90s. per quarter of 480 lbs., including new non-returnable sacks, f.o.r. at a number of storage centres throughout England. All four. varieties are heavy crop- pers; and all are suitable for growing on wln good loam soils. Little Joss is particularly suitable for light loams and for fen soils; BRID- wick, Wilhelmina and Victor do best on stiff loams and clays. Orders accompanied by cheque should be addressed to the Director- General, Food Production Department, 72, Victoria-strteet, London, S.W.I., nbt later than November 30th. I- I

INDMSTIOM r,i". i mmmmr tain your ||ffj| gftfMlijr digestive M organs in a state gp of healthy activity, you will never be ^0- troubled with indigestion p? or kindred ailments. In nine cases out of ten it is because the stomach, liver and bowels are unable to per- form their work efficiently that '0- people suffer the pains and pen- alties of Indigestion. Mother <0. |p Seigel's Syrup H gpj tones, regulat es and strengthens d§ stomach, liver, and sff <0 bowels, and' fp 0 thus ensures 0 p good diges- jZm VIJ|| |p tion which is jdfjf jj-j 10. the founda- M/iI -'A'V \fi, |p tion of good (// gp health. Put || ifl m it to the test i I /„ M 1 next meal. MOT, ISEpESi — -J ,f0. J What is your favourite g 1 Perfume ? [| You will find it in one of the || 1 21 delightful varieties of || 1 FRIPP'S I I TOILET SOAP Sample free for the asking from EEJ M CHRISTR. THOMAS & BROS. LTD., RTI 488 BHOAD PLAIN, BRISTOL. FI8 tttj O? I Give a standing order for the "Cambriaul i News." INV PAINTS 4 JAMES R.UDMAN. Cal^OitoW^RBTM^ Pan werthir yr wyau yn bedwar am 'chwech,' Fe fyddai yn fendith cael rhywbeth yn drech Na'r 'cle^d' bryd hynny,—ond ofer i gyd Hyd yma fu meddyginiaethau y byd; 10nd mwy os yn bendrist, heb flas at. ei bwyd, Yn cwato'n y cornel yn lie myn'd i'r glwyd Y bydd Mrs. Dicen,-tra bo ynddi chwyth At DAVIES Y CHEMIST prysurwch yn syth. ————— [ THE CLEFYD POWDER FOR POULTRY In packets at Is. 6d., postage 4d., or three for I 5s. post- free from the Manufacturer— John J. Davies, M.P.S., DISPENSING CHEMIST and PHARMACIST; LLANYBYTHER. Have YOU tried the Only Reliable Remedy for aD p DISEASES IN FOWLS* o/' 'lC!J!1 4 Y"'l" Pel' p ON 1Ito- f Prepared Pe^ only by William Jones M.P.S., THE A ERON PHARMAOY, ARERAYRON. d404 I tpIG POWDERS" I 12 Powders, 9d. 54 Powders, 3s. If your Pigs are not doing well try our Powders. AGENTS WANTED. Liverine, Ltd., Grimsby I CORVUSINE D.G. the original and famous non-poisonous Liquid Seed Dressing for protecting Corn Fields from Birds, Vermin, and Crcund Rot. Also a Smut dressing. Wheat. Peas. Beans. Barley. Oats. Net Size of Can. Vetches Maize. Rye. &c. Prices. Buckwheat. &c. No Bushels. Bshls. Bushls. £ « d 1—Containing 16 ij ft in 2. sufficient 40 3d 30 0 10 3. Corrusine 80 70 60 1 0 4. to dress 1 100 I 175 1 150 2 5 0 Other seed not mentioned in above table must be judged according to its absorbent qualities in comparison. Avoid worthless and injurious imitation*. Sold by all Chemists, Corn Seeds- men. and Ironmongers! everywhere.