The Cardiff Times

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. _— BY MABON, M.P. THE WAR "OF TARIFFS. I may now be allowed to produce an article which would have been in print three weeks ago had not the misunderstand- ing with respect to the so-called Truck Book No. 2 necessitated my clearing up some points in the Truck Acts, so as to remove some difficulties that seemed to be in the way of a large number of my special friends, the colliers, in complying with the condi- tions of that Act. Thanks, Mr Editor, for your assistance in that respect. We are very uroud to see that the service rendered in that respect has not been in vain, and that the delegate meeting at Cardiff came to the wise—but inevitable—resoluticn in the matter passed on Saturday. There will be no further impediment in the way of each colliery making arrangements which will strictly answer the purposes of the several Collieries. THE TARIFF WAR. Generally speaking, the past year has not given universal satisfaction to the English trader. The home ma.ket, on the whole, has been brisk, but the foreign market slack; and since returns are available tach month relative to our foreign trade, it is from th. upward or downward movement of these that many opinions are formed and reasons formed. Here, at once, the South-Walian will find the reason for the rapid downfall in prices that threatens our coal trade in the last two months of the year, l»ut which, happily, to some extent, has bfcen stayed Somewhat since. The foreign trade has not only been slack, but it exhibited a decrease, which was mainly due, though to bad export business. This feature of our national business has called into life a very spirited concern as to the future Customs tariff of foreign States, and lends an additional interest to a cursory view of the present position 'of affairs in the Continental war of tariffs. COMING CHANGES. We find that in no previous period in the history of international commerce has such an important point been reached as will mark the beginning of next month for European trade. Vast changes are in prospect in view of the general expiry of the French commercial treaties with tariffs. Also we find that there are immense changes in progress all over the Continent, and the general aspect of affairs is worthy of attention. Undoubtedly, a tariff war, if pursued with vindic- tiveness, can be productive of more evil than an actual clash of terms. In the one case, if several nations of industrial importance think fit to indulge In economic eccentricities, the effects upon Production may be so widespread as to bring about disaster both at home n.nd abroad as disastrous as the waste of blood and treasure ^suiting from actual war between nations. However, we are told upon very good authority that some mysterious influence has been at work, and, when the danger sesmed greatest, has produced work that augurs well for future international com- merce. TRE CASE OF GERMANY. Germany seems to have been strangely instrumental in this matter. Whether it is m consequence of certain political alliances, contracted by her or not, the new Custome tariff that will, from the beginning of ttext month, come into operation in the Zollverein is &TI important improvement on Existing arrangements. The German Emperor haS, through Count Caprivi, also hfceri able to negotiate with Belgium, Austria-Hungary, Switzerland, and Italy the terms upon which their commercial intercourse is in future to be conducted, and which terms, we are assured, are Noticeable by the reductions they entail on existing duties. Furthermore, it is now declared that there are negotiations progress between that country and Holland and with Spain, that may produce 8nail;ir results in the customs tariff of one England's most formidable industrial rivals. UNGENEROUS FRANCE. France, on the other hand, by the German negotiations, and by the prompt ?ePly of Spain to the threatened mcrease of the wine duties, has been brought to recognise that her power is not omnipotent nor her will law. And on what ground can that nation, claim- Ing as she does to be the most enlightened Nation on earth, justify her treatment of British traders ? Knowing that the British Government has not the disposition to modify the fiscal policy of the country, France has taken up the moral standpoint °f refusing to deal fair because the other aide is too magnanimous to use its power to retaliate. RUSSIA STILL WORSE. Russia, notwithstanding the new engage- ments constructed through and by nations concerned in the Triple Alliance, will not bUdve from her position of receiving all she can get whilst giving nothing—" The cwbl i ft a'r gweddill i Shon fy mrawd." Even France, the country willing to assist where others feared to tread in financing the late loan,is notconsideredio have sufficient claims to warrant special tariff treatment, and this heing the case there is no probability of any concessions being made to other nations. However, it remains to be seen whether Russia, having in view her own immediate further financial help, can long continue this hne of policy. In Italy, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, and Switzerland, reduced tariffs are following the treaties with Germany, and no extreme Protectionist tendencies are likely to be exhibited in these States, especially as the treaties with Germany are made for a Period of twelve years. AMERICA. Passing from the Continent of Europe, and glancing at the American Conti- nent, we are informed that quite a series of measures have been brought forward for modifying the McKinley tariff. Whether thebounteousness of nature as exhibited in the United States will generate generosity remains to be proved but if the political promises of the party now in power in the Congress are ful- filled effectually the McKinley Tariff Bill cannot have a very long existence. Doubt- less in the Southern American Repub- lics credit has not recovered, and the Custom Houses are likely to be still made the chief source of motional revenue. Much cannot be expected from them in fclu way of liberal reductions while their finances -fti-e in an unsettled condition, and while, also, their political matters are in the same state. However there is a strong opinion that their great natural resources afford the basis for a firm belief that in this part of the world lie future markets of very great Wealth, which may have to be waited for, but which, in the course of events, must be developed. THE FOREIGN TRADE OF THIS COUNTRY. The foreign trade returns of the United Kingdom for last December show that the ye?r just ended leaves 1891 in a deficiency as compared with the previous year. The deficiency of December on the previous December is j31,544,455, but the deficiency of the whole year as compared with the previous year amounts to the value of 6,258,312. There are some quarters in which the lessened business with the United States will be charged with this decrease on the ground that the tariff abnormally increased shipments in 1890, but even the value of that view of the case is diminished when we state the fact that the exports .,f laat year were actually below those of 1889. With the many disturbing elements b be taken into account-tariffs, harvests, general credit, and, to say nothing of political Matters, notwithstanding the hopeful view we have taken of the tariff war, the immedi. ate future prospect, we are afraid, is not one that can altogether be contemplated with confidence.

FACTS FOR FARMERS. Current Notes on Agriculture. By a Practical Farmer. COMBINATION AMONG FARMERS. If farmers could, by combining, increase the price of their produce, how would it affect the cost of the production? Farmers, and tenant farmers especially, would find that this factor in their business could, by combination, be favour- ably influenced as readily as could the other. There is hardly a limit to the direction in which an efficient organisation could be made to lessen the cost of production. FARMING IMPLEMENTS. Take the implements which the farmer must, of a necessity, obtain. These, through the lack of unity on the part of the purchasers, cost from 15 to 25 per cent, more than they would if far- mers combined. Farmers, through their organisa- tion, could deal direct with the manufacturer, who could then dispense with the service rf the middle- man or his agent, and the money which the latter now receives could be pocketed by the farmer. If the value-of all the various farming implements annually sold in South Wales were computed, it would amount to a respectable sum. Of this sum at least 15 per cant. would, under the circum- stances described above; go to the pockets of the farmers, or rather, I ought to say, farmers would have to pay that amount less than they now do. This would do a little torttdacethe cost of pro- duction. FERTILIZERS. Take the fertilizers again These pass through various hands before they reach the farmers. The manufacturer receives about 70per cent., and ev*n in many instances less than that, of the amount paid by the farmer. By combination amongst farmers this 30 per cant. could be put in their own pockets. But the evil does not end here in respect to this necessity. There are large quantities of these so-called fertilizers palmed on the unwary farmer which are absolutely worth- less for the purpose for which they are bought, This could be remedied by the union having qualified persons to inspect all manures before they were purchased. SEEDS. Various seeds again pass through too many hands, Take clover seeds, of which such large quantities are annually imported, in fact the major part of the bulk usedindeed for the coming year there will be but very little English clover marketable. This foreiem clover, if it passes through so many hands before it is imported as it does afterwards, the difference between what the farmer pays and what the foreign producer gets, must be great. On this side of the water we'find them in the hands of the broker, the merchant, and the retail dealer, and naturally at each stage there is :t growth in their price, so that before they arrive at their destination, the farmers hands, they have wry likely doubled the original or first cost. Here again purchasers are at the mercy of the dealers. Only adepts can detect doctort-d seeds from last season's growth, which all seeds are pro- fessed to be. By unity or co-operation among farmers the middlemen would be done away with, the risk of imposture minimised, and the farmer would thereby get pure and Aieaper seeds. FEEDING STUFFS AND CONVEYANCE. The same thing holds good in purchasing different feeding stufPs, which are so largely used by the farmers of the present time. These feed- ing stuffs are not always up to the standard which the sellers of such wish to make us believe they are. Combination, too, could effect a reduction of the cost of conveyance, either in conveying the various necessities to us, or transferring the prodUC9 to our ct.1stomers. Thus combination among farmers would be a potent factor to reduce the cost of production, as being the means of giving us cheaper implements to work with cheaper and better manure to fertilise the laWrf purer s&eds at a decreased cost, cheaper feeding stuffs to produce meat. etc., and cheapor conveyances, etc. Thus far combination is encouraged by the landlord and tenant alike. The most Conservative landlord favours the com- bining of farmers for the purpose of increasing the price of produce as well as for the purpose of lessening tha price of production. So far, then, as I have fcftiimorated, landlords not only have no objection for tenants to combine for the pur- pose of lessening the cost of production, but en- oourage them to do so. HOW LANDLORDS VIEW COMBINATION. There is, however, one exception, and against any movement tending 10 this direction landlords sternly set their faces. Tenants dare not openly combine for the purpose cf reducing the price of land. Wh*n tenants combine fcr the purpose of increasing the price of produce, landlords com- mend the action; if they combine to have cheaper implements, manure, seeds, &c., or even were they to combine for the purpose of reducing the labour-wage, ws should have the landlords backing us up. Eut if we combine to have cheaper land, they say it is a wicked thing to do, call us all sorts of names—traitors to our country and what net—declare that we want to disturb the pleasant relations which have existed between landlord and tenant. To judge by the sentiments they express, hanging would be too good for us if wo did such a thing as to combine for tha, purpose of cheapening the land we till WHO WOULD PROMT BY LESSENING THE OOST OF PRODUCTION ? But would combining for the foregoing pur- poses only benefit tenant farmers ? On the sur- face it appears that it would that by effecting an increase in the price of the produce, and lessening the cost 4»f production, tenant farmers could not possibly fail to be gainers. This is a very natural conclusion to come to. But would that be the right one? I maintain it is not, and that it is not the farmer who would benefit, unless they combine also for the purpose cf securing their land at a. reasonable rate. It would be a waste of time and trouble combining for other purposes. Many of my readers will ask why 1 What is rent? To explain I cannot do better than to give the meaning of rent. So long as the present competition of farms in Wales lasts, a competition which forces their values upwards, rent will mean to tho farmer the ■utmost he can possibly see his way to give for his holding rather than lose it, and see it taken by another. Thus combining merely- for the purposes already enumerated will only! place competitors in a position to give more rents., They will be in the same position after as beforef combining, unlass land also bo included. Bent now is the utmost farthing a fanner can pay, and; rent after combining for nothing further than the foregoing purposes would bu increased in propor- tion to the competing farmer's increased means of paying. Next week I will deal with combina.* tion for the purpose of farmers securing land at, a reasonable prioe.

1 How Landlords Help Ttieir Tenants. I have received the following letter:— DEAR PRACTICAL FARMER, — I thought the following would not be uninteresting to the readers of the Facts column, who are mostly tenant farmers like myself, and are fond of hearing or reading of practical sympathy being shown by our landlords towards us at the present crisis in <;ur business. This sympathy my land- lord has been notably, and I may say originally, generous towards myself and fellow-tenants on his estates—for he has more than one"being also reputed' one of the wealthiest men in South Wales. Some three weeks or a month ago we, tho tenants on the Carmarthenshire estate, sent a petition, signed by all of us, to our landlord, asking him to take into consideration the present state of farming, the unfavourable weather which we experienced during the past year, and which had been in its results so disastrous to the crops and the well-doing of our stock generally, the ruinous prices at which we were compelled to dispose of our saleable stock, &c., and that he would on the approaching audit see his way and please remit us part of the rent then due. Such was the pur- port of our petition. After its despatch we anxiously awaited the reply, which in due course arrived. He had taken the matter into consider. ation, ad th3 result was that the tenants wore to forego their annual rent-audit dinner, and th", pricn of suoh was to be given to each tenant! Wa paid our runts last w9t.k in full; half-a-crown was given to each, but we were minus our usual di,nDer.-I un, &0., A TBNANT FAMOtB.

WELSH GLEANINGS. I By Lloffwr. The Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald pub- lishes the following interesting reminiscence of the visit of the late Duke of Clarence to the Principality Everywhere throughout North Wales there have been numerous and sympathetic public references made to the lamentable death of H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence and Avondale. H"re we may add a few reminiscences of his tour through North Wales, m company with his brother, Prince George, and attended by their father's former tutor. Canon Tarver, ftbout 16 years ago. On the 21st of June, 1875, their Royal Highnesses paid a visit to Carnarvon Castle, over which they were escorted by Sir Llewelyn Turner, the deputy-constable. It was understood at the time that the Prince of Wales particularly wished that his two sons should see for themselves tho picturesque old fortress within which Edward II. is said to have been born. Prince George was then a. boy of ten, and the story goes that when taken to the Royal Sportsman Hotel for luncheon, and asked what he would hay; the young Prince replied that if there is anything I like better than another, it is roast mutton, rice pudding, strawberries, and cream." During this tour the Princes visited Eaton Hall, Chester, Llangollun, Conway, Menai Bridge, Holyhead, and Gwydir Castle, Llanrwst. In the spacious tapestried drawing-room of this fin- old mansion arc deposited the chairs used at the coronation of George III., being massive gilt frames richly upholstered in crimson velvet. It appears that these with other things were th", perquisites of the noblo lord who at that time held the ornce of Lord High Chamberlain. Upon the curator pointing thes" out to the Royal visitors, then of a somewhat playful age, Prince George jocularly asked his elder brother to taks his seat in the principal chair, to see "how he would look as king." The elder prince modestly declined, and they both good-naturedly tried to jostle each other into the chair. Prince Albert eventually succeeded in pushing bis brother on, and held him down firmly, saying, "There you ar*. King George the Fifth, and in releasing him said, "Arise, King George." This playful incident only served at the tunc to show the lively fealing existmg between the youthful princes, but now it may be regarded as a most remarkablo and significant coincidence. In after years, the late Duke was known to take great interest in Wales, and to have expressed the wish to attend the National Eisteddvod when opportunity afforded. It was, we believe, either in February or March, 1886, that his Royal Highness assisted at the opening of the new buildings of the Cambridge Union Society, when our worthy countryman, Mr Ellis Jones-Griffith, of Ty Coch, Llanidan, Anglesey, as president of that institution, occupied the chair at the banquet which followed the opening ceremony. It will be remembered that, last year, the Duke visited South Wales, where ho was warmly received and when he was made a freeman of Cardiff. And this fact reminds us that when making arrange- ments for the household he was destined never to be the head of, ?e selected General De Winton and Mr Walsh, tho member for Radnorshire, as keepar and treasurer respectively of the Royal stables. By the way, Sister Victoria, the lady who attended the Duke during his last illness is also connected with South Wales, being a native of Hanelly. We note that the suggestion of Colonel Cornwallis West, in the Times, that the funds originally subscribed for the purposes of pre- senting his Royal Highness with w-dding gifts should be utilised to iorra a. dowry iov Princess May is being well received on all hands. That Wales meantime deeply sympathises with the Queen, tho Prince and Princess af Wales, and their family, and particularly with the young Princess, who has been stricken with such tragic sorrow, is abundantly evident from the cor dial messages of condolence. The Archdruid Olwydvardd has com- posed the following stanzas of greeting to the Welsh Lord Mayor:— I::> Yn ei swydd ein Evwis syw—sy'n wron Synhwyrol dilcdryw Dyn iV wlad, doniol ydyw, Cymro o waed, hyny yw. Priodol i wyr Prydain—a chyfiawn, Ddyrchafu'r gwr mirain; Wele fo, y Cymro cain, Wr llondeg, yn Faer Llundain. Argiwydd Faer, Maer uwch Maerod-yn ei rwysg Mae'n rhaid ei gydnabod; Gan bawb drwy'n tir clymir clod Gorhaenus i'r gwr hynod. Ein Evans ni, ni anghoSwn—ei enw Gwych anwyl ddyrc'nafwn: A phawb drwy Gwalia'n gyfa grwn Yn ei lwydd eorfoleddwn.

GARIBALDI'S RED SHIRT. As the readers of this paper are aware, the Marquis of Lorne has written the life of Lord Palmerston for the Prime Ministers series. Notwithstanding his access to Imperial documents, his production cannot be termed a success. He seems to have made a considerable mess over the I I Garabaldi- Sutherland incident. A correspondent professes to set him right over this, and states that the following is nearer the real truth When the General paid his visit to England lie was received with special favour at Stafford House, and the Duchess made herself very con- spicuous by her devotion to her guest, even going so far, it is said, as to superintend the mending of the historical red shirt. But at that time the General had a wife alive, and in a jocular conversation as to whatwas to be done in so terrible a crisis—" Oh said Lord Palmer- ston, "let's send for Gladstone, and he will ax. plain her away." At Rome are preserved many of the habili- ments of Garibaldi. They comprise his cloak, articles of uniform, saddle, etc., etc., but I looked in vain for the redishirt. Pos- sibly in a rash moment the General had sent it to a steam laundry, or may be when the Duchess had done tinkering with it the shirt was not fit to wear. However, the only garment which we associate with Garibaldi r is not among the remains of his wardrobe.

FILIAL HOSPITALITY. JENKINS: "Holy Moses; old man. What is; itr PERKINS: "I've an unolein the Sooth ParaSc trade, who brought it tu me. You ought to w-o how thoroughly my governor enjoys it when he comws to see me. He's fond of DubHn stout and Jamaica rum mixed, you know, and it pleases him to find, whcn h> sobers up, that he's seen something* real."

-_ø_ Havt- you change for half a dollar ?" asked a tramp. "Yes," replioo tbe flentleman. "Where is the half dollar ?" I haven't any, but I thort if you had change for ba.If dollar you might have a dime er two fer a poor man wot's seen better days. All the gents I have asked fer help said they hadn't any change." Worry kills more than work. The appetite for millions keeps a man on the keen jump, and knocks his tissues into a cooked hat. By the time he gets all he wants he finds out that tM doesn't know what he does want, and so tumbles into apoplexy and gives his impatient heirs a chance. The man who makes a bad break ought not to bf employed on A railroad train,

[ALL RIGHTS RBSERVED.-] SMALL CULTURE. — No. 5.—PROFITABLE VEGE- TABLE CULTURE.—I. BY W. d. May, Esq. (Author of Vegetable Culture for Amateurs, &c.,&c.) As a, rule the inhabitants of the kitchen garden are grown for either their roots, foliage, or fruit, although the flower-heads of some are used. With the odoriferous herbs, however, both leaves and flowers are used, but these form such a. small pro- portion of the general crops that they can scarcely be termed vegetables. For general work the soil of the kitchen garden should be of a medium nature, well drained and deeply cultivated, this latter provision usually preventing the crops drying up in droughty weather, as the roots descend to a greater depth and thus are less affected than would be the case if they were compelled to remain near the surface, owing to shallow working of the soil. A fair amount of manure is necessary with all crops, but excessive manuring can always be dispensed with if a proper rotation of cropping is kept up and systematically followed from year to year. In the present article root and fruiting crops will be dealt with; and in a future one, graen crops and salads will have attention. BEANS. Of these there are three chief varieties STown in this country, and all are of sufficiently easy culture. Broad beans, as they are called, are grown for the seeds, which are used in an unripe state; while French beans of both the dwarf and climbing forms are used entire before the pods pass from a tender state. Each section is treated separately, as they have different application and culture. BROAD BEANS. Thise are of the easiest possible culture, and are not in very large demand in many places, a few dishes usually being enough in each season. In February se&ds of approved sorts should be sown in double rows about nine inches apart, and the seeds should be placed about the same dis- tance asunder in the rows, arranging them alter- nately. Nothing more will be necessary than to keep clear of weeds and gather the crops when ready. Both broad and long-pod beans should be grown, and the rows should be as far apart as possible, on account of the fly which attacks this crop at times. About three sowings will be found enough in general practice, and these may well be made in the first and third weeks of February, and the second week of March. FRENCH OR DWARF BEANS. These need different treatment to the pre- ceding, but so far as the soil is concerned it must, with all beans, be deeply trenched and well manured, and must also be in an aerated and friable state when the seeds are put in, or the result will not prove too gratifying. At inter- vals, from the middle of April till the end of May, seeds of locally approved varieties should be sown thinly in rows, having the seeds say from five inches apart in the rows, and from two to three feet from row to row, aooording to the habit of growth of the plants. The whole of the growth should be kept clear of weeds, and when the beans are three jr four inches high they should be slightly moulded up to prevent wind-waving. During dry weather liberal applications of water can be given with great advantage, and a mulching of half-rotted manure will also be found very useful in preventing excessivo evapora- tion. When in bearing the pods should be picked off twice a week at least, to keep th»» plants in good bearing order, for so soon as seeds are allowad to form the plants cease producing the younp pods. The following are six good varieties, and will keep up a constant supply in succession through the season — Newington Wonder, Golden Dun, Osborn's Early Forcing, Black Canterbury, Policy's Prolific,and Canadian Wonder. CLIMBING OB RUNNER BEANS. These are essentially everyone's bean as they can be grown with more or less success by everyone who has a piece of ground exposed to sunlight, a.nd so long as the soil is dMpJy dug and well manured they are sure to thrive. Preferably, runner beans do best in highly manured, deeply worked soil of a medium character, and in posi- tions where they can be well watered during the dry weather, for here they give the heaviest crops, and providing the rows stand singly, orfrom ten to twelve feet asunder, the results will be excellent. Of course the space between the rows can be cropped with other subjects. Seeds should be sown some time in the middle of April in the same way as described "for broad, beans, and so soon as the planta are in rough leaf, they should be slightly hilled up, and at once staked, using stakes about seven feet to eight feet in height, somewhat stronger than those used for peas, and perhaps not so bushy. There is then nothing more except to give copious waterings in dry weather, and keep the beans well gathered at least twice a week as they become ready. BEET. This is an easily cultivated root crop, requiring friable, rich soil, but not such as has been re- cently manured, or the roots will become forked. Seeds should be sown in drills about fifteen inches asunder, some time during the last week in April or first fortnight in May, and when in rough leaf the young plants should be thinned out to a foot asunder in thv rows. Nothing further is necessary, save keeping clear of weeds, until October, when they should be carefully lifted, the leaves wrung off, and the roots put away in dry san< £ in a cocl cellar or shed where frost cannot reach. As. quality is preferable to size, Dwarf Waterloo, Dell's Crimson, and; Sutton's Dark Red, should be chosen among the long kinds, and Egyptian Turnip-rooted for very shallow soils, but the long varieties are usually tb" best. CARROTS. These do best on sandy soils, but fairly good produce can be had from almost any good garden soils, always provided that it is free from fresh manure, which makes the carrots become forked in growth. For table purposes the Horn varieties are the best. but for sale the Ion: sorts are. most profitable, as they are the most showy in appear- ance. Seeds of the long varieties should be sown in ApriHn drills about 18 inches apart, and when large enough the plants-should bu cut out to about nine inches asunder in the rows. All that has to be done with these is to keep clear of weeds till storing time, and then to put away in sand, or pit in the samo way as potatoes. With the Horn varieties seeds should be sown on a warm border in February, March, and early April, and in the open quarters in May, June, and July, so that a suooession of frash succulent roots may be maintained. These should be sown in rows about a foot apart, and the plants should be thinned out to 4 inches asunder in the rows. Of course, they must be kept clear of weeds, and the later sowing will possibly need water in very dry weather, but toomaeh of this should fete indulged m* MLft makes the roots come forked, and in some cases fibrous. Good sorts of long carrots are Än- trmcham, Long Red Surrey, and James' Inter- mediate, while of the short varieties, Early French Horn, Scarlet Shorthorn, and Carter's Improved Early Horn will be a good selection. CKLKRIAO TURNIP ROOTED CELERY. This is a little grown vegetable, but it is useful in soups, and for other purposes. The simplest form of culture is to take out trenches about six inches deep, and half fill with rotten manure which should be thoroughly mixed with the soil. These trenches should be about 30 inches apart from centre to centre, and about too middle of April a rowof seeds should be sown thinly along the centre of oach trench. When the plants are largo enough, thin out to a foot apart, and keep well watered and free from t. cads. When the plants have made good growth in July or August, three or four inches of soil ahould be drawn up around them, and when ready the roots can be lifted for use. For early crops, which, however. arc rarely needed, the plants should be raised and treated in every respect like ordinary celery, save ia the earthing process. OUOUMBER-OUTDOOB. As a rule the English seasons are too variable f-T successful work with outdota- cucumbers, except in some favoured spots, but still a few plants can well be tried. Seeds should be sown in gentle heat in April, and the young plants potted off—two in a four-inch pot, getting them well hardened off—by tho last week in May. Meanwhile a trench three feet wide and a foot apd" half deep, should be ttaam^Mt in a wae* position in the kitchen garden, and about the third week in May this should be filled with long manure, making it into a ridge about a foot higher than the level of the soil, and treading it down firmly. Cover with seven incites to nine inches of soil, and in the first week in June place the plants about three feet apart along the top of the ridge, protecting with handlights or cloches until the end of June, or, possibly later if the weather is cold. Keep the beds clear from weeds, and water as necessary, not stopping or in any way interfering with the plants, only to direct the main shoots so as to prevent overcrowding. If the season is a hot one, good crops will be had, but if oold and rainy the return in the way of fruit will not be worth having. FRAME CUCUMBERS. The cultivation of cucumbers in frames gives a certain supply where a sufficiency of heating material can be obtained, but unless this can be had at a comparatively low price where pur- chased, it is better to buy one's cucumbers ready grown. March is quite early enough to start frame cucumbers, a thick lasting hotbed being made for the purpose, care being taken that the manure is properly prepared before the bed is made up. In the centre of each light of the frame about a couple of bushels of good maiden loam should be placed in a conical heap, and after this has laid for a week toget thoroughly warmed, the plants should be put in, and will soon start running. The temperature of the frame should be about 70 degrees Fahr. Water must be given as necessary, and a handful of light litter should be thrown on the glass when the sun is very bright, to prevent the foliage being burnt. Ventilation will be wanted at all times, but discretion must be used in its application so that the requisite temperature is kept up in the frames. A certain amount of stopping of the shoots, and reducing the number of fruits will be necessary, but this must not in any case be carried to excess. Practice can only make any one very successful in cultural work of this description, as no written directory can be made to apply to all the climatal peculiarities of this country. Good sorts for outdoor use are Stockwood Ridge, Bull's A 1 Ridge, and for pickling Sutton's Fortyfold. For frame work, Masters' Prolific, Rollinson's Telegraph, Cuthill's Black bpino, and Hamilton's Market Favourite will be found among- the best, and will give a good return of useful fruit. KOHL RABr. This is-a useful vegetable on any soil where turnips will not thrive, and ia as easy to grow as cabbage. In fact all that is needed is to make sowings in the same way as cabbage, and when the plants are of sufficient size they should be put out in rows which are 18 inches sunder, the plants being 15 inches apart in the rows. All after cultivation necessary is to keep clear of weeds. Sowings should be made in March, April, and May, using Kohl Knol and the green Kohl Rabi. LKKK. To have good leeks sc-iae trouble must be taken, and poor leeks are not worth the ground they occupy. To grow them to the best advantage the following procedure should be adopted. About tho end of February seeds should be sown thinly on a slight hotbed, and the plants should be grown on, and got well hardened off by the end of April. Meanwhile trenches should be prepared as for celery, and about 30 inches between centres, and the leeks.should be planted in these, keep- ing them about IS inches asunder. Weeds must be kept down, and water applied as neces- sary to keep the plants growing freely. From August onwards the leeks should be earthed up to blanch the lower part of the stems, and fine produce will result. Unless leeks have a long season of growth, and very rich soil in which to grow, they are suro to be small and poor. The best kinds are Musselburgh, London Flag, and Ayton Oastle Giant. ONIQNS. Fhese are a necessity <|Bfrywhero, and require some care in their cultiv^fmi. Generally speak- ing, it pays only to grow what are termed spring onions, as the winter onions are not useful pro- portionately. Rich and deeply workf?d soil is very necessary to produce good onions, and the position should be an open one. A good surface dressing of wood ashes lightly forked in, ie a good dressing for this crop in addition of plenty of sound decayed farmyard muck. The ground should be got into good tilth in February, and at the end of that month, or in March, according to tho weather, seeds should be sown thinly in drills at least a foot apart. The beds must be kept clear of weeds, and when the young planta are large enough they should be thinned out to from 6 inohes to 9 inches asunder, according to the variety grown and the quality of the soil. During the season of growth two or three liberal appli- cations of soot, or soot and wood ashes should be broadcasted over the beds, as this very largely prevents the ravages of tho onion maggot or fly. Of course weeds must be kept under, and. a sharp hoe should always be used, or there is danger of injuring yhe onions. By the end of August, or early in September, the growth should be completed, and any in which the foliage is erect should be bent over to cause the bulbs to ripen as much as possible. Before ithe end of September, but earlier if sufficiently ripe, the onions should be taken up and tied in fair sized bunches, hanging in a cool airy spot, where they can remain until used, cr until pre- pared for sale as the case maybe, The small ones, and those which are from any cause unfit for storing should be used first, leaving the finest specimens for keeping purposes. The culture of potato onions is practically the same as eschalots, save that they should be set rather wider apart in planting. Good sorts of onion for general cultivation are White Spanish, Brown Globe, Jame3' Long-keeping and Queen (for early crops.) PARSNIPS. This is a productive crop of very easy culture, and, where there is room, should be largely grown, especially if a pig or two forms part of the garden arrangement. Deeply worked ground, free from crude manure, but fairly rich, shouid be selected, and in March this should be lightly forked over to get it into good tilth, and care should vbe taken to break all lumps in the process, as long con- bifurcated rootaare a desideratum. About the end of March or early in April according to the weather, shallow drills should be/drawn out about 15 inches apart, and in these, at intervals of say a foot, three or four seeds should be dropped, and the beds then raked level. Weeds must be kept down, and when the young plants have two or three leaves, they should be singled out, and all that will be required afterwards is to keep clear from insects. Parsnips may bo taken up and stored like oarrotsor be left in the ground till wanted. New seeds must always be used, and good sorts are the-Student and and large Hollow- crowned. PSåB. Good peaa are ;as -a rule always in demand throughout the season, and, as if good sorts are chosen and proper cultivation afforded, these can usually be had, there ia no reason why thejMjhould not be grown in [any garden of sufficient size. Deeply worked, rich soil is essential in growing peas welt *nd after tins oomee the provision of sufficient space, in fact in this latter respect peas should be treated in the same way as runner beans. Successional sowings will keep up the supply throughout the season, but after French beans become plentiful, so many peas are not neededias before. The first sowings should ;be made in February, then twice m March, twice in April, and once in May sowings should be made, the size of the sowings being dependent on the requirements of the house. In sowing drills about six indies wide and three inches deep should be drawn out, and th. seeds should be sown thinly, afterwards raking in the soil. Tall or strong-growing varieties should b&allowed more space between the seeds than the weaker growing kinds, but in no case should the seeds be less than threo inchta asunder. At aU times the ground should be kept clear of weeds. and as soon as the young plants, are up they should be slightly hilled up and staked with bushystioks,of a height suited to the varietyof peas being dealt with. If the ground is deeply worked nothing further is needed, but on shallow soils liberal supplies of water will be needed im xdry weather. A good selection of peas for general work is. Sutton's Ringleader, American Wonder, Kentish Inviota, Nelnon's Vanguard, Sangster's No. 1, F-ortyfold, Telephone, Yorkshire Hero, Veitch's Perfection, British Queen, and Omega. Seeds should always be obtainvl from a reliable source to ensure that they are 1;\1\16 to name. VI TheM like a well work.,d, noh aoil, but it must of. too loQMcfBdrai6 or in dry seasons the plants suffer. Frequent sowings are necessary, both to ensure a successive supply, and to provide the best quality of produce, as for cooking pur- poses turnips should be of medium size, solid, and free from hard fibres. Sowings should be mad? each month from the first weak in March until the first week in August, having the seed in drills about 15 inches asunder, and when the plants are large enough, thinning them out to the same dis- tance apart in the rows. Keeping clear from weeds is a necessity, and in some cases liberal applications of water may be advantageous in dry weather. Otherwise the culture is simple in the extreme. For sorts use in the order given Carter's Jersey Lily, Early Six Weeks, Sutton's All the Year Round, and for winter work Jersey Navet 1 and Green-topped Six Weeks. VEGETABLE MARROWS. Two or three methods of growing this very j popular vegetable are adopted generally, but possibly the best plan is to put out strong plants in April on a declining hotbed, and to afford pro- tection until all danger from frost is past, thus securing both an early and continous crop. Failing this, plants should be put out in the end of May on very rich soil, or on ridges prepared as for outdoor cucumbers, and with care in protec- tion and the application of liberal suppliesof water when the plants need it, heavy crops will be ob- tained. Marrows can be set out under warm walls, on manure heaps, or in fact anywhere in the garden where they can have a rich and free root run, and, to the fullest degree, the full influence of the sun. To raise the young plants the same method should be adopted as for outdoor cucumbers, care being taken to get the plants well hardened off by the time they are wanted for planting out. As large vegetable marrows are, as a rule, not wanted for private use, the following will be found a good selection — Moore's Vegetable Cream, Hibberd's Early Prolific, and Muir's Prolific Hybrid while for preserving or jam- making, the ordinary Long White is as good as any. NOTE.—-The second article will be devoted to foliage and salad crops.

Members for Glamorgan. < ° [BY W, R. WITiLIAMS, SOLICITOR, TALYBONT.J i The Second Period-1603.1660.1 The first Parliament summoned by James I. met at Westminster March, 1604, and lasted nearly seven years, being dissolved February, 1611, and the Honourable Sir Philip Herbert, Knight, was the member for Glamorgan. He was the younger son of Henry II., Earl of ¡ Pembroke, K.G., married (1):.January, 1604,Lady Susan Vere, daughter and eventually co-heiress of Edward, 17th Ear] of Oxford; she died March, 1629, and he married (2) June, 1630, Anne, only daughter and heiress of George, Ea.rl of Cumber- land, and widow of Richard, Duke of Dorset. Ho was a great man at court under James I. and Charles I., for he only sat for the county from 1604 till May, 1605, when he was raised to the peerage of Earl of Mont gomery, and made one of the Lords of the Bed- chamber to the King. created a Knighfcf the Garter. 1608, succeeded his elder brother, Wil- liam, as fourth Earl of Pembroke April, 16150, was Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household 1650-40, nominated by the House of Commons Lord- Lieutenant af the counties of Wiltshire, Meri- oneth, and Carnarvon February, 1642, elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1647, and appointed Lord Warden cf the Stannaries of Cornwall. His lordship died January or March. 1650. No mention is made in the Returns of his successor for the county in 1605, but one authority states that Sir Thomas Manse! (first elected 1597) was again returned at that date, as also to the next Parliament, which only lasted April to June, 1614. Then coraes January, 1621, to February, 1622, William Price, Esq., who sat also for Cardiff in the last Parliament of James I., which met February, 1624, and again May to August, 1625, and February to June, 1626. His daughter married Sir Anthony Mansel, Knight, who fell at the battle of Newbury fighting for his King,and their son Edward eventually succeeded his grand- father, Sir Francis Mansel, of Middleseombe, Carmarthenshire, as second baronet. February, 1624, Sir Robert Mansel, Knight. This gallant sailor was the tenth son of Sir Edward Mansel, of Margam, M.P. 1554, and brother to Sir Thomas Mansel, M.P. 1597, and having entered tht- Royal Navy, he was knighted by the Earl of Essex for his valour in taking Cadiz 1596, and in the reign? of James I. and Charles I. he held one of thf highest naval appointments, that of Vice-Admiral of the. Navies of England. Sir Robert married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Knight, Keeper of tho Great Seal, and sister to Lord Chancellor Bacon, and sat for King's Lynn (Norfolk) October to December, 1601 (being then Vice Admiral), a borough which his father-in-law had represented in the previous Parliament; for Carmarthenshire March, 1604, to February, 1611, and probably again April to June, 1614 again for Glamorgan May to August, 1625, and February, 1628, to March, 1629; and for Lostwithiel (Cornwall) January to June, 1626. February to June, 1626, Sir John Stradling. Knight and Bart., of St. Donats, who was the son of Francis Stradling, married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Gage (son of Sir Edward Gage, Knight of Firle), and having succeeded his kinsman, Sir Edward Stradling, Knight, in the estates 1609, served as High Sheriff 1620, was knighted, and afterwards in 1611 created a baronet, and died 1637. Sir John graduated at Oxford University 1583, and appears to have been possessed of literary tastes, as he published a volume of Latin epigrams. Beati Pacifici," 1623, and a book of Divine Prtems. February, 1628, to March, 1829, Sir Robert Mansel, Kt., again returned. There was an interval of elevon years till the next Parliament. March to June, 1640, Sir Edward Stradling, Kt. and Bart., eldest son of Sir John Stradling, M.P. 1626, whom he succeeded, 1637. married Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Mansel, of Margam, M.P. 1597, and being a devoted Royalist he acquired the rank of colonel in the Army, and, fighting bravely for his Sovereign, was taken prisoner at the Battle of Edgehill, and dying in 1644, was buried in the Chapel of Jesus College, Oxford. THE LONG PARLIAMENT. Oct., 1640, to Apnl, 1653 Philip, Lord Herbert.—This is tbd celebrated "Long Parlia- ment," which continued pitting in spite of the execution of King Charles I., Jan., 1649, until it was expelled by Cromwell, April, 1653. The events which took place during its existence form one of the most remarkable periods in the history of this country, and much interesting information of the part which Glamorganshire took in the episodes of the Civil Wars will be found in the late Mr John Roland Phillips's "History of the Civil Wars in Wates and the Marches." This Lord Herbert was the fourth but widest surviving son of Philip, Earl of Pembroke and Mont- gomery <soe 1604), and married (1) Penelope, only daughter and heiress of Sir Robert Naunton, Knt., M.P., Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries, and Secretary of State to James I., and widow of Paul Viscount Bayning, and (2) Catherine, daughter of Sir W m. Villiers, Bart., of Brocksby, Leicestershire (brother of Goorge Dulco of Buckingham), he took the Parliamentary side during the Civil Wars, and was appointed by Cromwell Lieutenant of the counties of Glamor- gan, Brecknock, and Monmouth, which gave him the control of the* militia in those parts. He succeeded his father 1650, and died Uth Dec., 1669. Thewis no mention of anyone having been elected in his room for the county on his elevation tt the peerage, but th* disturbed state of the nation atrthafc time woujd account for that. The journals of the HoaseofCommons state that An Assembly, nominated by Oliver Cromwell, and a Council of Officers, was summoned to meet at Westminster, 4 July, 1653, by Letters under the hand ofthù Lord General Cromwell. This Assembly dcclarod itself a Parliament 6th July, and resigned its powers to the Lord General, 12th December, 1653," and one authority states that Bussy Mansol (see 1679) represented th « county. Another Parliament was summcned to meet September, 1654, and was dissolved January, 1655, and several knights were ordered to be returned fcr each county, not many bnrgesscs." Thus Glamorgan. CROMWELL'S PARLIAMENTS. July, 1654, to January, 1655, ^Phibp-Johnes, Eso.. one of the Lord Protector's Council, and Edmund (return torn). The second member was Edmund Thomas, of Wenvoe Castle (quaere son of Edmund Thomas, of Wenvoe, High Sheriff. 1626), who served as High Sheriff, 1664 married Sarah, daughter and heiress of J. Powell, of Flemings ton, and whose eldest son John was created a barom-t, 1694. He seems to have been one of Cromwell's House of Lords, under the title of Lord Thomas, and was present at Crom- well's funeral His colleague, Colonel Philip Jones, of Llangy- felach, made his name famous, for good or bad, in those troubled times, and an interesting corres- pondence, which threw a good deal of light upon bis career and character, took place a few years ago in the defunct Red Dragon." He was born at Swansea 1618, th. son of David Johnes, or Jones, of that town, and married Jane, daughter of William Price, of Gelliher, Gower, and sister to John Price, of the samo place, who was High Sheriff 1647, and M.P. for Cardiff 1654. During the civil wars be warmly attached himself to the Parliamentary side, and distinguishing himself by his military ardour he attracted the notice of Cromwell, and having been granted the rank of colonel-there were very few generals in those days—was made Governor of Swansea 1645, and of Oaxdiff, and from his military command became, for that time, one of the most powerful men in the county. In July, 1654, he was elected both for Monmouthshire (being described as the Hon. Colonel Philip Jones) and for his native county, but preferred to represent the latter, and in August, 1656, he was returned for Breconshire as well as Glamorganshire, but again elected to serve his native county till the dissolution, February, 1658. He was evidently a man of great service to Cromwell, who made him one of his Council and Comptroller of his Household, and he seems to have acquired a seat in the Usurper's House of Lords under the title of Lord Jones, and having been made Lord-Lieutenant of the county, be was named by the Parliament one of the Oommifwioners for the Propagation of the Gospel in Wales. He is mentioned as having been present at Cromwell's funeral, but at the Restoration he made his peace with Charles II., who confirmed him in his new office of Custos Rotulorum of Glamorganshire., and having served as High Sheriff, 1671, be died in 1674 at his seat, Fonmon Castle, whieh he bad purchased, about 1649, from St John, Earl of Bolingbrokc. December, 1658, to April, 1659, Evan Leys, of Boverton. He was the eldest son of Richard Leys, of Boverton and Swansea, and having practised many years as a barrister, he rose to the rank of Serjeant-at-Law. He also took part in Cromwell's funeral precession. He had a sen Richard, whose eldest daughter, Anne, married Peter, Lord King, Lord High Chancellor. "In May, 1659, the officers of th" Army having, by a Declaration signed by direction of Lord Fleetwood and the Council of Officers of the Army, invited the members of the Long Parlia- ment, who continued sitting till April, 1653, to return, letters were sktnt to the several members of this present Parliament, now out of town, who have subscribed their names to the Parliament roll of subscriptions to the engagement, and are not disabled to sit by the judgment of this Par- liament." In October, 1659, the late principal officers of the Army, whose commissions were vacated, placed guards about the dcors of the Parliament House, and interrupted the members from coming to the House but in December the Parliament was restored, and not till March, 1660, when a Bill was passed 'for dissolving the Parliament begun and holden at Westminster, November, 1640, and for the calling and holding ot a Parliament at Westminster on the 25th April, 1660. And so ended the Parliament cf the Common- wealth. Up to this time there do not apptsar to have been hardly ever any election petitions, and it is doubtful whether contested elections ever took place. It sesms as if a few of the leading country gentry met together and selected one of their number a* mClD her-a. man of wealth and influence, with pknty of horses, or perhaps a coach, to carry him up to Westmin- ster and home again. The voters were few, and the roads were bad it was no time for travelling about in idleness; and there were no news- papers to stir up the electors, or any post- men by whom election addresses might be circulated, and if there had been, there were few who knew how to read them. But at the Restora- tion a great change had come ever th* oountry, and in its first Parliament it is especially notice- able that contested elections and double returns and election petitions figure in great number. And at this time Parliaments began to be held in a regular manner, not merely called together to vote certain supplies wanted at the moment, but sitting session after session, a fresh Parliament b-ing summoned almost immediately after the dissolution of the preceding one-ast-ate of affairs which has existed ever since, with the exception of the brief periods of 1681-5 and 1687-9, when Charles II. and James II. roigned without a House of Commons. (To be continued.)

THE ROYAL NURSE A SWANSEA WOMAN. Sister Victoria, who was engaged as nurse to Prince George, and subsequently to Prince Edward, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, has been stated to be a native of South Wales. This much our Cardiff contemporaries have announced; but they have been unaware (says the Cambrian), or else unwilling tc acknowledge, that Sister Victoria has had a long and close connection with Swansea. Miss Haliam, who is known as Sister Victoria, from the fact that she was engaged as Sister in the Victoria Ward of St. Mary's Hospital, London, is the daughter of the late Mr Haliam, who lived at Upper Forest Hall, Mornston, and was engaged many years ago in tho tin-plate trade, in partnership with Mr Henry Madge. Tin- plate making in those days was not so pros- porous as now, or, at any rate, all tin-plate makers w--xe not equally prosperous. Mr Hallam and his wife retired to Carlton-torracc, Swansea, whue they both subsequently died. Miss IlaUarn nursed them with the tenderest solicitude, and gave, such evidence of her fitness for the profession of nursing that she was recom- mended by Dr Padley to become a nurse. These were the days beforl, professional nursing had come to bj ths popular thing it now is, and before the distinctive costume of the professional nurse had become, as it is now, in our streets, as common as the costume of nuns in Continental cities. brlizs Haliam entered St Mary's Hospital as a probationer, and grew up into the position of Sister, or Superintendent, of the Victoria Ward for Female Cases. It is pleasant tu read, from notions which have appeared of Miss Hallam in The Queen and in other papers, that she is one of the wry b.st nurses that St Mary's Hospital evir possesssd, and yet that she entertains an extremely modest notion of her own merits. Miss Hallam has a brother in the employ of the Wesbvrn Tin-plate Company, at Llanelly, and a younger sisfcr engaged as a nurse in the surgical wards of the same hospital as hcrself.-Carn.brian.

ILLUSTRATED ADVERTISEMENT. A young man, moving in high circles, who is in temporary embarrassment, would like a per- manent position of some kind.

It was in thf Sabbath-school class, and little 'Liz'beth had been listening with much interest to the Scriptural illustration, of the shepherd and his sh«ep. Now," said the teacher, Ml me who takes care of the sheep." "The shepherd," replied the class in chorus. "That is right and who elst ?" There was silenca for & momtmt, Then a little hand was raised with, "I know, teach or." "You may telL" And 'I.iz'both a,n- bwered with sincere emphasis, Bo-p^ep." Men ridicule women because they are so eager to follow the prevailing fashion bat they are not half so eager to foUotrtbe fashion R the men seem to be to foDew tbe-women.

Musical and Eisteddvod Notes. BY MAELGWYN. IN MEMOKIAM META SCOTT. How hard it is to realise the dreadful truth that poor Miss Meta Scott has passed from our midst to the Great Beyond; and that never again shall we see her on the concert platform or in front of a competitive choir True, we had missed her from her favourite post for consider- ably more than a year, but we knew that she bvod, and Hope bade us look forward to the time when we should see her again. But Hope, alas was deceptive. That slight, fragile figure for whose reappearance we so often looked, and sighed when we found we had looked in vain, now lies cold and immovable in the Cefn Ceme- tery. She who was wont to thrill vast audiences with her marvellous performances on the piano- forte and the violin will never again waken the melodies of earth. She has gone to waken sweeter music among the angels. Yet poor human nature refuses to be comforted with this knowledge, for frightful to all men is death, from of old called King of Terrors," and we mourn with heavy hearts the loss of one who in public was a brilliant musician, and in private a true and sincere friend. It is not necessary to enter into details of the career of the deceased lady those details have already been given by the daily papers. Her career was, as everyone knows. brilliant from first to last. Hers was a life of assiduous labour from her very childhood; she was in very truth a slave to her art. The amount of hard work the poor slight figure got through was really remarkable, and there can he but little doubt that her end was brought about in the same way as that of Kirke White w.ns. There is something unspeakably sad in the theught of one who had toiled so hard, aud who was in very truth a child of genius, passing to the tomb just at the msmenfc when the gates of fame wer* open to her. Poor Miss Scott was a favourite with all classes wherever she went. She never appeared at a concert without calling forth unbounded enthu- siasm from her audience, and as an eisteddvod accompanist she was eagerly sought after. On many occasions have I heard her praised by the adjudicators for her excellent playing with the choirs. Her last days were full of incident? cfac intensely pathetic nature. She was tak'n ill shortly after the Brecon Eisteddvod, but she continued her work until imperatively com- manded to desist by her medical adviser-fighting the fell consumption, that was gnawing her young life away all too soon, with a courage that none who knew her imagined she possessed. But as months of gioemy illness succeeded one another, and that poor fragile form grew weaker and weaker, the sufferer lost hope, and realised that she had been all too surely "nipt by the winds' unkindly blast." She saw that all the high hopes which her friends centered m her, and that the career which bad opened out so brilliantly and which promised such a glorious future were all to be buried in the merciless tomb. On the first day of the present year she dictated a little poem which she bad composed on th" death of the old year. It was the wail of farewell which the stricken child of genius poured out upon the world she was so soon to leave. A friend came to visit her, and the sufferer on being given her violin attuned its strings and played Lead. kindly Li^-ht." There," said she at the close. you have heard ms play for the last time on earth." A few hours ere her poor body lay tenantless she heard the singing of a funeral party that was passing1 along the road. She requested those near her that at her own funeral the srand old hymn, "Bydd myrdd o ryveddedau shoulder sung. Reader, canst thou think of that pathetic request without shedding a tear And her re- I quest was granted. When 1 heard that old I hymn sung with such wonderful iiupressiveuess at Swansea Eisteddvod last August I little thought that fre six months would pass it would be sung by a host of sorrow-stricken men :1nJ women < vsr the unclosed grave of poor Meta Scott. But so it was. She whose career had been so meteoric in its brilliancy and whose end was so inexpressibly sad, was laid to her rest amid the strains of the hymn she had asked them to smg at her funeral. It is not Merthyr alone, but the whole country that is poorer by her loss. Miss Scott gained three medals while she was at the Royal Academy of Music, viz., the bronze and silver medils for pianoforte playing and the bronze one for proficiency on th. violin. She was also an associate of the Academy. MISS M. JONES MOREWOOD. This justly admired singer made her debut as an operatic artiste in Birmingham last week. She took the part of Arline in the Bahemian Girl, and all accounts agree that she was very successful. One of the papers says:— The lady has a pretty soprano voice, at present small in volume, but of bright quality and of extended compass. At present there is, of course, the absence of dramatic experience and especially as regards by play but one must allow for the nervousness inevitable at a first apperancc. She sang the familiar I dreamt that I dwelt with simple grace, and was awarded the usual encore. In Come with the gipsy bride the fluency of her vocalisation was apparent, and in the concerted pieces her bripht upper notes told out well. If her demeanour in the more exciting scenes lacked warmth and impulse, in every case her bearing was refined and srentl*. One little touch that showed the possibilities before her occurred in the last act, when her dignified yet modest rsquest to the assembly was uttered :— Your pardon, if I seek with my father alone to speak. This, in its way, was perfect. Miss Morewood is a vocalist already that she may soon attain the craft of the actress all who witnessed her debut must wish, fer there is the promise of a decided acquisition to the lyric stage. SHORT NOTRS. Miss Maggie Davies, our brilliant Welsh sopranos forms the subject of a fuil page plate picture in the Glasgow Bailie for January 13th. The pc rtrait-a. bust-is the best likeness of the young lady I have ever soeu, and tb* proprietors of the Bailie deserve a word of praise for the very excellent manner in which it has been pro- duced. The Bailie also contained a brief sketch of the life of our popular singer. Miss Davies had scmL-thing like 25 engagements during the month of January, and next week sho sings on four successive nights in London. She has aheady b*-n secured for a number of cncerts which will not be held until July. I am very sorry indeed to note that the pro- moters of the forthcoming Easter Mcnday Eisteddvod at Neath have resorted to the miser- able habit of boycotting the alto soloists. For their own sake I hope the omission has been an accidental ?ne, in which case an alto competition should be at onoe included in the programme. There can be no justification whatever for the unfair way in which alto singers have been and are still being treated. Even the Swansea Eisteddvod people laid themselves opt..n to the charge which I havs so often preferred against the promoters of local eisteddvodau. They in- cluded two soasrano, two ten jr, and two bass solos, but only one alto s;,)1-. The RhyI Eistedd- vod Committee, following in the footsteps of Bangor, have included two. Must we for ever be content to take our lessons from North Wales ? Now, good friends at Neath, set the matter right without further delay. 8 The promoters of the Neath Eisteddvod deserve every commendation for their treatment of drum and fife and brass bands. They havo engaged a practical man as adjudicator, and they offer very good prizos. For brass bands thero aro three prizes of the respective value of JB12, J38, and JC5, and for drum and fife bands there is a first prize of £ 5 and a second prize of £ 3. Well done, >Neath! At the Bridgend Eisteddvod next July the test piece in the chief choral competition will be, "Hark, the degp tremendous voice," from Haydn's Seasons. The adjudicators will be Mr David Jenkins, Mr Tom Price, and Mr Turpin. On Thursday in tho present week the Merthyr I Philharmonic SocKoty—the recently-formed choir conducted by Mr Westlake Morgan—are giving a performance cf the Messiah. TheMerthyr Philharmonic Society, the Merthyr Orchestral Society, and the Dowlais Harmonic Society sent wreaths for the coffin of Miss Meta Scott. The Dowlais wreath bore the simple but effective, subperscription, "In loving remem- brance of our dear fnend and accompanist." It is understood that the chief prize at the National Eisteddvod to be hvid at Pontypridd next year will be 200 guineas (JB210). This was the sum given at the Liverpool Eisteddvod, and no eisteddvod committee has up to the present taMtloand wwsoiative enough to eo bevond it.

I Jottings for Colliers. BY BRANGWYN. A RHONDDA COLLIERY AGENT AND THE EVIDBKOI OF MH BOBSOK. Mr Ray, agent of the Bwllva and the Maindy Collieries, two cf the seven large pits belonging to the Ocean Company, gave evidence the other day before the Royal Commission on Labour on beholf of the Rhondda Colliery Officials' Associa- tion. I have carefully perused various reports of the evidence of both witnesses, and I have oome to the ccnciusiou that Mr Ray has really misrep- resented the views of Mr Robson, her Majesty's Inspector of Mines. Mr Ray says, according to the reports, that Mr Robson stated that aa much care should b? taken in timbering good roof as in the ca.?e of bad, became goon roof was responsible for more falls than bad roof." Mr Ray remarked, according to the report in the South Wales Daily ITcwe, that he desired to contradict that assertion." I shculd like to know where Mr Ray has seen the statement alleged to have emanated from Mr Robson. 1 take this from the report of Mr Robson's evidence. "Mr W. Abraham: What is the source of the great number cf accidents?" "Mr Robson: Practic- ally 50 per cent. from falls of rocf. It would be a grand thing if people would look upon eotlierias with a good or middling roof as upon one with a bad roof, and use the sairu: precautions with one as with the other." Now this does not mean that" good roof was responsible for more falls than bad roof." Further, Mr Ray observed, "The difficulties with which managers had to deal were not sufficiently taken into acceunt. Sometimes the roof broke down suidenly, nnn that accounted for the acci- dents." Now this is simply corroborating what Mr Robscn really stated, namely, that it would be a grand thing if the same precautions were used with a,. ood or middling roof as witn a bad &n". I dare say that from his great experience Mr Robson has come to the conclusion that a large percentage of accidents from falls of roof and sides arc due to the fact that workmen in various collieries n gleet to u,s<> the necessary pre- cautions. TIMXNKING IN COLLIERIES. While dealing with the question of timber- ing in mines, it would be interesting to those employed in mines to have :80 few more remarks about that novel colliery prosecution which took place at Pontypridd police-court a few days ago. Two colliers, father and son—the latter was 25 years of age, and both were experienced workmen-were empbyed ill & stall in the Albion Colliery, near Pontypridd, when the manager one morning unexpectedly called upon them. The stall, or the distance allotted to them in the fac-, was about eierht yavds from end to end. The father was busily engaged hewing the coal on one side, and the son on the other. The official immediately called the sen's attention to the hug-e piece ot coal over- hanging his head where he was hammering away with his mandril, and remarked that he should be punished for working in such a dangerous place or >^thoui thoroughly" spr&gging" or putting a prop against the coal bulging over. The father's attention was also called to the matter, aDd he was told that he would be summoned for the violation of the special rule regarding Buell work, because he was the workman m charge of the stall. Now I don't think such a prosecution has ever occurred in South Wales before. The father consideied it very hard that he should be punished for the negligence of his son. who had worked ten years in similar *eams, ar d explained that if he had cautioned him it would have caused a row be- tween them. or he would have been told to mind his own business. The father further explained that the wages earned were shared equally be- tween them, consequently one was considered equal to the other as regards com- petency. It sometiir.es happens that the miner who is lomiualiy responsible for the stall 1m had considerably less experiance than his companion, isuppiwe, for instance, tlw. the father in that cMe which I have just mentioned were absent from wafk for & day or twt, and the son, an ex,'3ri»nced collier, wore f<#1.1lld employed in a part of th) stall considered dangerous by the manager, which of 11M two would he prosecute! Ca.se- ot the kind occur semetnnjs. If the official bad discovered matches in the son's pocket would he have prosecntwd the father? In tho past the parson actually committing the *l'eno» has invariably been held responsible for the violation of the special rales, and I think it is the ion that should have been punislie^ and not the father, for the alleged ;tierce, at the Albion Colliery. Generally when the men are not paid for standing timbers such its sprigs and props in the bee, they arc- blamed for not erecting some, but with rvgard to timbers sucii as cogs and double timbers for which they n,re paid, it is said they stand too many an 1 sometimes they are not paid fcr the work or timy have to take them out, and in many collieries the men are cautioned not to erect any without receiving instructions from tho management. fb it is eviôenc in order tC. have fair play for the comers there, should be t number of sub-inspeetors appointed to thoroughly examine the workings. MR KAY AND THE QUESTION OF WORKING MEN INSPECTORS. Mr Ray stared before the Commission that he produced a resolution passed by the Rhondda Colliery Officials' Association to tlie etfect that nc person should be appointed as an inspector o} mines unless he bad h?^d at Last five years' experience as colliery manager in an important colliery. T1' Association, however, would cordially welcome tb appointment of men wh»i had risen from th- ra<?ks, provided they had had: the oxperi--nce r-fcrred to. Now this is reported to have come from the mouth of a colliery agent who had, accord;re; to his own admission in his evidence, been working' as a collier for thirteen years" out of the forty h„ had been engaged underground. Into what capacity was Mr Ray raised from the rinks when lie was first invested with the title of a colliery official ? Was it not into that of a fire- man ? And what is the duty of a fireman ? Is it not to thoroughly examine the workings, prohibit miners from working in dangerous sections ot placs whore there are accumulations of firedamp, instruct workmen to repair various places, to improve the ventilation, and to look after the general condition of thf mine, and also to report to his superiors any defect or any unsatisfactory state of things which might cither imperil the lives of the men or interrupt the operations of the mine. Such is briefly sam" 01 the most important d ities of colliery managers Now, Mr Ray, durins? the many years b" occupied such a responsible post and performed such onerous duties, gave every satisfaction. I have no doubt, to his employer? in fact we should assume so without a doubt, otherwise he would not have been promoted to the honourable position which he new so worthily holds. We must really believe that Mr Itay discharged "his task while in the capacity oi a fireman excellently, for no explosi--ns or serious accidents have occurred in the collieries where he has been engaged as an official for a very large number of years. And still Mr Ray had had n "five years' experience as a colliery manage in an important colliery" when he undertook the function of daily examining the larg? colliery. Mr Ray had had no educational advantages, and this fact, although it now reflects considerable credit upon him, yet some- what damages his assertion regarding the "necessary qualifications of a w rking man inspector of mines." ARE THERE WORKING MEN QUALIFIED FOR TH* PROPOSED INSPECTORSHIP 1 It ie well-known fact that in every miatag district in South Wales there are a number of colliers—young men from 25 to 30 years of ape—- hqlding managers' certificates of competency— certificates identical in every respect with those officials new appointed to superintend large collieri s. Tqcy are young m.n who have worked for 12 or 15 years underground, and consequently one would think they are ia every respect competent at least to act as sub-insp«9torThe lead, rs cf the men, cr the Parliamentary Labour r pr-.s> ntativos, do 1Mt for a moment urge that illiterate collicrs should be appointed to the post- of sub-inspect -rs they have nov^r whispered anything so ridiculc-ue j they have never mad.; th. slightest hint that uneducated or unqualified colliers should be sebcteJ to act in such a capacity to diciat- t" the colliery managers, or "ven that those that art qualified should b.* invested 7/ith a legal authority to caus. a radical change in the development oe tho- management of the mines. The snb-ins pec tor* would necessarily call the attention of the chief inspector of mines to any defect or any violation of the Coal Mines Act, and the latter, if neoes- sary, would institute legal proceedings ag&iaet the offenders. Titer* 1.. a good deal of misappre- hension r warding this important question anting oollicry officials, or colliery managers wilfully pervert facts to snit their own purposes.

Mr George Augustus Sal" is always known by his white waistcoat. I have worn a white waistcoat," he says, "for five-and-twenty years, tlvcry day, pummer and winter. Once, ill Parian at a sh-„p where I us.d to buy my gloves, a derving-woman said to me, You always wear a white waiatdoat, Mr Sala. Yes, I wear one all the year round.' All the year round she ox- claimed. A ck-an one every day ?' Yes,' I said. 4 Oh,' she exclaimed, raising her bands, if I had only been your washerwoman Teach or Can anyone help Jchnny to finish the fourth commandment i Small Boy: Yeth'm. And the Lord blessed the Tbaturday, and madf it a holiday.