The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

"JOLLY" OCTOBER. If at any time this term may be applied it is surely in connection with the month just papsed. For a finer period has scarcely marked the annals of autumn within the memory of the present general tion, and, to go farther, it may be taken for granted that one more enjoyable or calculated to satisfy the requirements of agriculturists can hardly be con- ceived. Farming operations have been carried on without interruption. Considering the compara- tively total absence of rain the land continues to work well, and little ploughing remains to be done- Good progress has been made with wheat sowing, and hero and there about the country the eye is delighted with the appearance of the newly sprung corn. Pastures which a week or two since were fresh and green are beginning to look worn, and those farmers who a few months ago were wise enough to put in catch crops are now reaping the benefit of a further supply of green food. Mangolds or potatoes have mostly been secured, swedes and turnips are receiving aesired attention, and the usual operations on the farms are proceeding with all the comfort to be derived from such an auspicious season. The chief item of complaint is in respect to the potato crop. which as the work of lifting pro- ceeds is found to be much diseased, and though the tubers are cheap enough now, in consequence of the rush on the markets, they will be^considerably dearer as time passes. As the result of the sale of Berkshire pigs of Sir A, Henderson, at Busoot r-r-.ik, an average of L8. 8s. 6d. for sixty head is recorded. The death has taken place reoentiy. at Barr Houso, Taunton, of Mr. J B. Lythail, so well known in late years as the secretary of the Bir- mingham Cattle and Poultry Show. The de- ceased, who was sixty-seven yeara of age, was appointed to the office in 1860, and eight years later instituted the spring shorthorn show and sale. He retired in 1893, and was succeeded in the office by his son, Mr. W. H. Lythall. The Canadian emigration season which has just c closed at Liverpool has been a record one. It is said that 100,000 emigrants left the Mersey for the Dominion, there being a preponderance of British emigrants over aliena Small capitalists such as Canada, wants were plentiful among them men who had booked their steerage passage for E2. 10s. having bank drafts in their possession for over £ 1,000. Earl Onslow, Minister for Agriculture, has in- formed the Rev. H. Newman, hon. secretary of the Bishop's Stortford Beekeepers' Association, that he is willing to introduce- as a Government measure a Beekeeping Foul Brood Bill on similar lines to the Diseases of Animals Bill. He stipu- lates, however, that the county councils shall re- c quest him to do so, and agree to adopt its pro- visions- when the Act is passed. A PLEA FOR ENGLISH CHEESE. In the course of an article under this heading in the "Daily Chronicle," the writer takes up Lord Onslow's complaint respecting the absence of Eng- lish varieties of cheese at "fashionable" dining ,olaces: Gorgonzola they know,-and Gruyere and Cam- omburt, and Canadian and Cheddar, but the finely flavoured cheeses of Cheshire and Lancashire and Wensleydale, and parts of Leicestershire, are hard to find outside the districts where they are made. Whether it is merely a question of cheapness first and quality after, or whether townspeople are forgetting what a re-ally first-rate cheese should be like, it is beyond doubt that the taste for Eng- lish cheese seems to be declining, and there is a constant growth in the import of cheese from abroad. Every year we take cheese worth from six to seven millions sterling from other countries, chiefly from our own colony of Canada, though latterly cheese has come in larger quantities from the dairies of New Zealand. To some extent British cheese--makers complain of unfair competition between this importation and their own products. The greater part of the cheese of Canada is made on the Cheddar plan, in factories which receive- the milk of many dairies. This is a perfectly wholesome article of food, and it is cheaper than those of similar character which are made at home; but it is no more "Cheddar" than a Staffordshire tea set is Worcester china. In the same way much of this imported cheese is sold a3 "Cheshire," though it has never been near that county and lacks the peculiar virtues of its cheese. There are those interested in the Cheshire cheese and dairy industry who complain that.. un- wittingly may be, the public- is deceived, and that the authorities should take steps to prevent the sale of imported produce under what is virtually a false description and an injury to native industry. A subtle change has come over the character of tho Cheshire cheese in the last generation. To retain the trade and to cater for the changing taste the methods of the past, which involved the keeping of the cheese for a considerable time so that it might ripen slowly, gave place to others which secured quick ripening and enabled the cheese to be placed on the market more promptly and with a less capital outlay. This has somewhat altered the character, though it has not dimin- ished the quality of the product, but it is still possible to obtain a Cheshire of the old type, of exquisite flavour and lightness of texture. An expert of many years' experience contends that the natural merits of the Cheshire cheese are in all likelihood due to the faot that under a con- siderable part of the couny there is a layer of salt. Wherever the salt is known to exist under the soil the dairy industry flourishes. The theory is that some peculiar virtue is imparted to the herbage by the saline earth, and the cow imparts it in turn to her milk. It is curious that another excellent cheese is made in the Fylde, or north- west district of Lancashire, where also there are distinct traces of saline deposits under the soil. This cheese is deliciously flavoured, light and crumbly, and it has progressed in quality and flavour in the last few years, until at the present time, quality be ng equal, it commands rather a higher price than that of Cheshire. There are variations in th2, quality of Cheshire cheese which are hard to explain. Scientific training has been welcomed in Cheshire, and the farmer s wife is now often a skilled dairywoman with high diplomas. But they cannot do as well in some parts of the county as at others. One of these clever makers, employing all her tech- nical knowledge, finds that she produces cheese which is still worth 15s. a owt. less than that made by a relative working with the older methods at a favourable point some miles away. The sugges- tion of tho expert is that the character of Cheshire herbage has been changed with the changes in farming methods. He contends, therefore, that while the Board of Trade might insist on the properly candid description of imported imitations of British cheese the Board of Agriculture might undertake a scientific investigation of the herbage and other natural conditions with a view to ad- vising the farmers upon the means they should ndopt to attain the highest standard of quality. BLACKLEG OR POTATO STEM ROT. In a recently-issued illustrated leaflet the Board of Agriculture direct pointed attention to this disease, as they did twelve months since. Last year it was represented as being prevalent in Cheshire, but while in the present autumn we have heard no account of any specific attack in this county, there is, it is stated a suspicion that it is spreading in Great Britain, into which it has been introduced from the Continent by the uso of imported seed. It is sincerely to be hoped that this is not correct, as the disease--a nasty ulcerous scab, eventually destroying the tubers it effects— is so destructive that in Germany occasionally 75 per cent. of the crop is lost. Tho leading symptom, as pointed out in the leaflet in question, is a general shrivelling and yellow discolouration of tho haulm from the root upwards, which becomes black and rotten and finally dies. The number of plants affected in a field of potatoes varies considerably. Diseased plants may be found growing among perfectly healthy ones, but more frequently the disease spreads from one plant to another. Dr. Otto Appel, who has made a study of the disease in Germany, suggests (1) Potatoes, as well as beans, carrots, turnips, cucumbers, vegerable marrows, sugar beet and mangolds, all of which aro also susceptible, to the disease, should not be cultivated for two >ars on land where the diseaso has occurred (it has been experimentally proved that cereals are not susceptible); (2) Potato "sets" should not be cut, but planted entire; (3) Care aKoulil be taken to obtain seed from districts where the disease does not exist; and (4) Limo, or strong nitrogenous manures, especially nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia, should not be used.

CHESTER DAIRY SHOW. PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. PROSPECTS OF THE CHEESE TRADE. FARMERS AND BARBED WIRE. The prizes gained at the Chester Dairy Show were distributed in the Assembly Room of the Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon, when, as usual, there was a large attendance. Mr. Henry To-lle:iiaclie, M.P., presided, and among those present- Oll the platform were Katharine Duchess of Westminster, who was accompanied by Lady Helen Grosvonor. the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. aaid Mrs, Robt. Lamb), Mrs. Henry Tollemaciie, Lord Arthur Grosvenor, Baion Schroder, Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, Mr. Jam s Tom- kmson, M.P.. and Mis", Tomkinson, Mr. and Mrs. George Barbour, Messrs. J. W. Macfie, G. Okell (Barrow), Robert Barbour, Harry Barnston, J. G. Holmes, George Dickson, John Thompson, S. J. R. Dickson, Tom L. Dodd, Rowe Morris, R. Fearnali, R. Challinor (secretary), eto. Apologies for absence were received from the Duke of West- minster (who was away in London), the High Sheriff (Mr. Dewhurst). Colonel France-Hayhurst, Colonel Wdford LLoyd, Mr. Yerburgh, Sir Gil- bert Greenali. Mr. Edward Massie, Sir Horatio Lloyd Capt. Ethelston the Hon. Arthur Stanley, Mr. Charlton Parr. Capt. Fair, Mr. Brocldehurst, the Very Rv, the Dean. Mr. Aldersey, Mr. Behrens, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Welsford, Mr. Mos- ford. Mr. Cudworth H. Poole, and Colonel Drury. Mr. Barbour, as chairman of the council, re- minded them that that was th2 23rd show of the association, and said it was gratifying to the mem- bers, and he hoped to the landlords and tenants of the county, that they were able to record larger entiies than at any previous show. (Applause.) As they knew, there had been a decrease of entries in co-nnection with agricultural shows during the last six months, but he was glad to know that the Cheshire Dairy Farmers' Association was making progress. (Hear, hear.) Unfortunately the trade of the country had been very bad during the last six months, and that had affected the price- of da:ry produce. The depression in trade arose from three points. Ono was that we were only recovering from the terrible war in South Africa. The second was that the United States of America had been engrossed in the election of President, and every man in the States thought: he was quali- fied to be President or to dictate who was to bo President, and so they had given themselves up to the election of President, and perhaps had neg- lected business. However, the election took place in a fortnight, and he hoped the United States ivo, i I d resume their business qualities, and that with an advance of business in the States there would be an advance in England. Then they know the high prices of cotton had prevented the mills in North Cheshire, Lancashire, and York- shire from running full time, but cot-ton was oomin.g in now in great bulk, and he even thought it might be a drug in the market. At any rate, they might look forward to the mills running full time and the vast population in these districts having more money to spend on dairy produce. The men who were working in these mills were the great consumers of their produce when they had money to pay for it. He thought, therefore, they might look forward to an improved time be- fore they met again. (Hear, hear.) Some times ho thought it was a pity that notwithstanding all the accommodation the Town Council gave them on these occasions, it was not within their power to give them better facilities for holding the show. The Town Council was good enough to give prizes for the largest amount of cheese soid in Chester during a oertain period, and the Dairy Farmers' Association had given an equal amount of prizes, so that the city and county alike were working together to bring business into Chester and benefit the city as well as the makers of dairy produce. He was sure they were glad to see Mr. Henry I Tollemache presiding at that meeting. (Applause.) Mr. Tollemache had always taken a kindly inter- est in the welfare of that association, and now he came with even a greater attraction, for he brought Mrs. Tollemaehe with him. He hoped they would often see Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tolle- mache at that annual gathering. Whether Mr. Tollemache was there representing the Eddisbury Division or .came as a private individual he would always receive a warm and grateful welcome from I his old friends, the members of the Cheshire Dairy Farmers' Association. (Hear, hear.) They were especially grateful to her Grace the Duchess of Westminster for kindly coming among them. The presence of the Duchess to distribute the- prizes oc recalled old times, and every one of them must remember how often they were honoured by the presence of the late Duke of Westminster from the earliest infancy of that association, when he so kindly presided over their gatherings and spoke useful words to the assembled members. As long as thoir hearts beat and they had breath within them they would never forget the debt of grati- tude which th" association owed to the late Duko of Westminster. (Applause.) Mr. Tollemache-. in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to her Grace Katharine Duchess of West- minster for her kindness in distributing the prizes said he thought her Grace might congratu- late herself on giving the prizes at a very success- ful show. The pitch had been a very large one, the quality had been good, and if they looked at the catalogue they would see by the numbers of highly commended and commcnded exhibitors that the general make of the cheese was excellent. There were two things they wanted in that main industry of their county—they wanted to get a good article and a good market for it. As far as regarded the good article, he thought they might congratulate themselves that the science of cheese- making in Cheshire was not deteriorating. He noticed a movement, what he supposed scientific c people would call a centrifugal or a western move- ment. which took rather more of their prizes than they quite liked to their neighbours over the borders in Wales. Still that was their own fault, and he hoped the- cheese-makers of Cheshire would put their backs a little harder to the wheel, in order to obtain a proper proportion of prizes. The market, they all knew, had been sadly depressed of late, and all agricultural produce had suffered. Probably in Cheshire they had suffered as little as most agriculturists, but he thought, as their good friend Mr. Barbour had said, there was no doubt that if they could see better trade in the country, and if they could see all those great mills in Lancashire, Cheshire and Yorkshire working full time, then they would see a better demand for that great product of Cheshire, namely, cheese. There was no article of food! in general consump- tion that the workingmen in the large centres of population liked better than cheese, and it was for

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WIRRAL AND BIRKENHEAD AGRICUL- TURAL SOCIET I.-At a meeting held on Wednesday at the Society's offices, the council unanimously resolved that next year's show be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the 15th, 16th and 17th of June.

LADY CONSTANCE SWETTENHAM'S SUIT. 0 In the Divorce Division, on Tuesday, before the Right Hon. Sir Francis Jeune (President), the case of Swettenham v. Swettenham was heard. This was the petition of Dame Constance Sydney Swottenham. nee Holmes, for a decree of restitu- tion of oonjugal rights against Sir Frank Athel- stone Swettenham, K.C.M.G. Mr. Barnard said that the parties had been married on February 21, 1878, at Harrow Parish Church, and there had been no issue of the marriage. Owing to the fact that the respondent was engaged in the Diplo- matic Service, the parties had resided at Singapore and other places in the Malay Peninsula, until 1394, when, owing to the effect of the climate upon her health, the petitioner, with her husband's consent, returnea to England; and since that time the parties had not cohabited, although the re- spondent had occasionally visited his wife when in England. In January last, however, the respond- ent instituted proceedings against his wife for divorce, making certain allegations against her, which were absolutely untrue; and accordingly. when particulars of those oharges were asked for, the husband's petition was, on March 31, dismissed. Subsequently, on May 2, Lady Swettenham wrote as follows to her husband:—"Dear Frank,-I need not tell you how mticli I have suffered by your recent proceedings against me, although I knew that they could only end in one way. Why are you always so hostile to me? I assure you I have but one wish, and that is to do my duty. I boar no resentment about the past, and I am only too anxious to let all bygones be bygones. I beg of you to believe this, and to return to me and let us live together again. If you do, I promise you to do all I can to make you happy in every way, and I hope you will not refuse this request.—Yours always, Sydney Swettenham." To this Sir Frank replied, on May 6 :Dear Sydney,—Your letter of May 2 has been forwarded to me. and I hardly see that there can be any profitable discussion of the proceedings. Hitherto I have not been in a position to act independently, because my own concerns had to be. subordinated to others of greater importance; the circumstances of my em- ployment. my public duties, and the necessity which was upon me to live in a distant and un- healthy country, have probably been against us, but after ten years of separation it is more than ever impossible for me to acoede to the wish you now express. To this refusal, which is definite, I do not wish to add anything which it would be kinder to leave unsaid. Let us say that any fault is mine; but there are some mistakes which are more unpardonable than faults, and if I agreed to your request I should be responsible for making a mistake of that kind. When, in 1894, I declined to join you, I said the decision was unalterable, and nothing has occurred, or could occur, to change that determination.—Frank Swettenham." There- upon Lady Swettenham- instituted the present suit.—Evidence having been given in support. of the petition, the President granted a decree for restitution of conjugal rights, within 14 days, with costs.

Mr, William Jones, provision merchant, Bridge- street, Chester, has purchased the first prize (silver medal) Cheshire Cheese at the recent Cheshire Farmers' Dairy Show. Mr. Jones is also sole agent in Chester for Harris's celebrated Wiltshire Bacon, HOOTON PARK AUTUMN MEETING.— The entries for these races, which take place on Friday and Saturday next, are now complete, and will provide capital sport. The indefatigable clerk of the course (Mr. W. S. Gladstone) is to be congratulated on the promising aspect, the final acceptances for the two "500 pounders" being all that could be desired. Fine weather alone is necessary to make the meeting one of the best

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them to supply it. They might send their cheese to London, and to a certain extent it might be accepted, but it was in the great centres of popu- lation they must look for the reward of their labours. He sincerely hoped better times were in store for them, which would mean more prosperity for the operatives of the large towns and for tho cheese-makers of Cheshire and the adjoining coun- ties. (Hear, hear.) He was toid that the Duke of Westminster,, Mr. Barbour and Mr. Harry Barn- ston wore very kindly going to continue to give prizes to those excellent agriculturists who had no wire in their fences during the hunting season. He really thought that farmers in that county had seen for a long time that it was to their own ad- vantage to encourage squires and rich men to live in the county for hunting purposes, and if they wanted to see them spending their money they would bei consulting their interests if they met the Duke of Westminster and others by taking the wire down. His duty was to propose a vote of thanks to the Duchess for coming there that day. They all knew what interest. tho family of Gros- venor had taken in every good work that had come forward in Cheshire for gt-nerations past. It would indeed be an evil day for this couihy and England generally if those great noble exa.np.es were not continued to perpetuity. In her Grace were not continued to perpetuity. In her Grace they had one who had endeared herself to ew-ry Chesh re heart by words, of kindness and sympathy. (Applause.) Mr. Rowe Morris seconded, remarking that it was very kind of her Grace to distribute the prizes, and they hoped it would not be the last time they would sec the, Duchess there. (Applause.) The vote of thanks was passed with acclama- tion. Lord Arthur Grosvenor acknowledged the com- pliment on beha.li of the Duchess, and said it had given her Grace great pleasure to attend that record show. It was a matter for regret that the price of cheese had not boon so good as it ought to have been, but they could not always get the top standard. He was glad to see, however, that prioes were improving. He hoped there had been some compensation for the low prices they had received for cheese in the good harvest they had experienced. The Duchess wished' to thank the Chairman for the kind words he had spoken, also the president for the able way lie had got through the list of prizes, together with Mr. Challinor and the committee and officials for the able manner in which they had performed their duties. She also thanked the audience for attending in such largo numbers. On tho proposition of Colonel Cotton-Jod-rell, seconded by Mr. Harry Barnston. a cordial vote of thanks was accorded the Mayor and Corporation for the facilities they had granted the association. The Mayor, in responding, congratulated the association on the magnificent show they had had. Mr. Barbour had dropped a word about the ac- commodation for th3 cheese fairs. It was the first time he had heard thoy were deficient in that re- spect. Ho would mention it to the proper quarter, and if there was any deficiency in that respect it might possibly bo remedied. A vote of thanks was accorded the judges, stewards and other gentlemicn who had helped to bring about such a splendid show, on the pro- position of Mr. George Dickson, seconded by Mr. Macfie. Mr, Cowling (Leeds), in responding, said this year's show was one of tho best, if not the best, that tho association had ever held. There were many exhibits so equal in quality, style, texture and colour that tho judges had extreme difficulty in some instances in coming to a decision. One reason why tho consumption of Cheshire ehcesa was not so great in London as it ought to be was that their Cheshire., Lancashire and York- shire friends, when in London, forgot to ask for Cheshire cheese, and very often in hotels Cheddar was brought forward and given the. first position. Tha same thing applied to towns in the north of England. He advised farmers not to keep their cheese too long, especially the summer-made ar- ticlo. He could quite understand that everyone wanted to make the best price he could for his produce, and therefore kept it in the hope that the market would improve. The taste for cheese had undeigone a change in his lifetime. He could re- member when most people liked to have their cheese tasty, but what was wanted now was a newly-made cheese. They made the serious mis- tako sometimes of holding their cheese too long, with the result that the merchants had the greatest difficulty in helping them to get rid of it. There was some room in some of the dairies" at any rate, for a more stylish cheese. This was an age when art played a considerable part even in commerce. While the public did not want to pay extra for Si. VtO. at the same time a stylish, well-made checse would always sell better than one of the rougher description. Baron Schrodor proposed a vote of thanks to the- chairman. Mr. Challinor, in seconding. said the show was far ahead of any show that- hr.d been heid either in Chester or any other place in the county. Tho entries were something like 50 in excess of those last year, and last year's exhibition was a record. With reference to the- Cheshire cheese trade, he thought this year had been the worst he remem- bered. Ho was told by experts in the trade that they would have to go back to 1379 to find a year equally as bad. They had felt it more acutely be- cause last year was an exceptionally good ono. Prices fell very much earlier this year than was customary. As a rule, prices did not fall before the end of May or beginning of June, but this year they fell about the end of April. Now, how- ever. there was a better tone in the market. (Ap- plause) The Chairman returned thanks. £ 6 A CWT. PRICES AT THE FAIR. At Chester Fair, on Wednesday, there was a pitch of 40 tons, and, with a large attendance of buyers, a speedy clearance was effected. Finest Chesh;re was quoted at 60s. to 66s. per owL medium at 52s. to 57s., and lower gradea from 55s. The pitch in the show was 95 tons. The champion gold medal cheese made 120s. per cwt. Other first-prize lots realised from 80s. to 905. second-prize lots 70s. to 75s., and "commended" lots 60s. to 68s.