The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

The Harvest and the Crops. Mr. Saunders on, the celebrated land valuer, sends the following account of the crop in England to the Times. Ha VIE g, during tlie last five weeks, minutely inspeoted, probably, a larger area under crop through- out the United Kingdom than any other person, I HOW lay before your readers my opinion, based on I many years' experience of testing the field estimate by the barn floor results, of the. farm crops of 1865. In my interim report, written in the end of May, which appeared in your columns. I alluded to the late and barren spring, the rapid growing of the crops caused by the singular forcing weather in May, and to the extraordinary prospects which the luxuriant state of the crops then warranted, and indicated that a third crop in succession would equal the great crops of 1863 and 1864. These prospects were soon blighted, and a sudden check given to the luxuriance of all cereal crops, and never was the brilliant promise of early cummer followed by such indifferent results. On the morning of the 12th of June a severe frost greatly injured the crops, especially on soft, peaty, and moorish soils—their luxuriant hue being suddenly changed into a blanched appearance, while the vigorous and broadly developed plant assumed a stunted and spiral form. It was chiefly, however, the absence of rain and the prevalence of singularly hot weather that continued throughout June which lessened the yield of straw, of which the crGps, at an earlier date, indi- cated such great abundance. Fortunately, all early sown crops had passed the ear-forming stage before they suffered from the severe drought, or otherwise the scarce year of 1826 would have been reproduced in 1865. This circumstance accounts for the long ears of all the cereals compared with the length of straw. In the first week of July copious rains improved in bulk the later sown crops, but the earlier were too far ad- vanced to be benefited, hence, in many cases, espe- cially on light soils, the ears of the corn scarcely got clear out of the hoe. Cutting commenced in Eflst Kent, South Essex, Hertfordshire, in the earlier districts of Norfolk and Suffolk, and in Berkshire on the 24th of July, and fortunate have been those farmers who in the last week of that month secured the grain then cut as it was, from the overpowering sun that prevailed, in the best eondition. With August came very unsatisfactory 'harvest weather—heavy rains falling every second day, and, being, accompanied with a humid temperature, 'harvest operations were not only almost daily inter- rupted, but grain from discosouration and sprouting considerably injured. The cereal crops being all ripe, farmers were at a loss whether to cut them in a wet state or to allow them to get over-ripe. The latter evil was doubtless tha least; but where crops were laid and twisted from heavy storms, or becoming choked with sown grasses, their only resource was to cut them. Although a few fields are still to be seen uncut in the south and south-eastern counties of England, yet these are exceptional, and the great bulk of the crops in these counties has been carried. In-the Midland bounties, too, cutting is all but finished, and three- fourths of the crops are in the barn-yard. In York- shire, Lancashire, and Cheshire three-fourths of the crops are cut, and fully one-third secured. In the most northern counties of England the greater pro- portion of the crops are in sheaf; but up to the end of last week scarcely a stook was carried. In Scotland, too, where the farmers, anticipating more favourable weather, delayed cutting, nearly one-half of the crops previous to the present week were uncut, and, with the exception of a very small area in the earlier coun. ties, little grain had been carried. As the operations of cutting and carrying have been uninterrupted this week, from the extraordinary favourable change in the weather, a very large area of corn has been carried in excellent condition, and with another such week there will be few fields outstanding. "It is worthy of notice that in the upland districts harvest has not been so early since 1826, nor have crops ripened so equally since that year. Indeed, cutting commenced nearly as soon in the Vale of Tweed as on the banks of the Thames; while, frem the hot sunshine that prevailed throughout June and July, crops in the upland districts have been as early as those in the lowest. This simultaneous ripening of the crops in the different districts caused, where reap- ing machines were not used, a short supply of hands, which, added to the frequent interruption from weather, has made the present a lingering harvest. "All cereal crops have been so variable this season that those in a county or parish can scarcely with accuracy be designated. Indeed, it was not uncommon to' witness two adjoining fields on the same farm, the one yielding a good the other an almost worthless crop or two contiguous farms where the crops of the one were a full average, and those of the other light. The wheat crop irst claims attention. In East Kent, South Essex, on the deep soils in Wiltshire, and the strong red soils in Worcestershire and Warwickshire, in Leicestershire, Lancashire, Cheshire, Roxburgh, Berwick, the Lothians, and in the Carse of Stirling this cereal in point of bulk reaches close upon an average. Indeed, on all deep, strong, and alluvial soils the wheat crop has nearly the usual length of straw, and large and closely set ears, and plump, well-filled grain. Even on the best soils, however, there is a slight deficiency of plants. On the best soils in Surrey, Sussex, and Hants the wheat crup reaches the low average yield of these counties. Barring the rich loams in the north-east of Norfolk, the marl soils, which form a comparatively small area in Lincoln, the strong and well-farmed clays in Northum- berland and Yorkshire, this cereal is in these counties decidedly under avorage. Spring-sown wheat is' most deficient, being short in straw and thinly planted. Rust attacked the wheat plant in the second week of August; but, with the exception of wheats on fen land and those late sown in spring, the ravages of this disease have been comparatively limited. Like the quantity, the quality of wheat is very variable. The small breadth early secured is yielding a good bright sample, but the greater proportion carried previous to the present week, being in a soft condition, will be some time before it is fit for market, and even then the grain will be coarse end rough; with the exception of some of the earlier varieties, such as Talavera and Australian, little injury has been caused by sprouting. Barley—happily termed by Mr. Caird the wine crop of this country—in many instances is now substituted for wheat; therefore, the area under the crop is rapidly increasing. This may partly be ascribed to the comparatively higher price now realised for barley, but chiefly to the fact that as stock husbandry is becoming more appreciated, and as barley is the best intervening crop between roots and grasses, it is the crop in the usual rotation teat conduces most to the extension of stock farming. Early sown barley on deep soils has cut up well, being thick on the ground, and having a long, fall, and closely set ear. In Norfolk— the great barley producing county, with its varied soils of clay, loam, sand, and gravel-the crop varies as the soils vary. On all the light soils which skirt the eastern coast the crop has suffered greatly from drought, in several instances being burnt totally up. On the loamy soils, which form a considerable area of the county, barley, though far short of last year's crop, is nearly average. Everywhere late-sown bar- leys are deficient, being thinly planted, the extreme drought having prevented the plants from tillering. This cereal has suffered most from the weather, all of it being discoloured, while a considerable portion of the earliest cut in every county has sustained con- siderable damage from sprouting, so that maltsters will ook in vain for the silvery-tinged samples of last year. Where the practice is carried out, as in the southern counties, of allowing the barley to lie in swathe, and net put in stock when cut, the loss from sprouting and discolouration has been great. Is dead, this mode of allowing grain to lie on the ground in wet, muggy weather is the most effectual way to cause sprout. The oat crop is by far the most deficient of the cereals. Indeed, a bulky crop I have rarely seen. This season the best crops I have witnessed were on the deep soils in Oxfordshire, in South Devon, and in the western counties of Scotland. In Aberdeenshire, one of the largest oat-growing counties, the crop is about one-third deficient. Excepting on early light soils, where the sample is shrivelled and husky, the quality is good, the grain being full and plump and, on the whole, the oat crop has sustained little injury from the weather. As the ears of the grain are large, so theyie'd will be great, compared with the length of straw." —♦— —

HINTS UPON GARDENING. --+-- AURICULAS.—If infested with green fly, shake a little dry fine sand amongst them, and then Mow it j out with force, when the insects will be blown 1 out with it. Caterpillars must be sought for dili- gently, and picked out by hand, or they will soon make general havoc. Keep the soil clean, free from dead leaves and weeds, and stir the surface gently. Shade from bright sunshine, and protect from heavy rain. 1. BEDDERS to have every necessary attention to keep them in proper order. If seeds are allowed to ripen, the plants will begin to decline in bloom, 'so remove them promptly, and serve a twofold purpose thereby. Take cuttings. of geraniums in plenty, and to save further trouble, put them in pots or boxes as they are to remain for the winter. Use plenty of drainage and a poor sandy compost now, in order to check growth and harden the wood. CABBAGE to be planted out for spring supply on ground well manured. Coljards planted close will now be getting crowded, so draw for use as soon as possible every other one, and ply the hoe .between them. CARNATIONS.—Layers to be potted or transplanted, as soon as rooted, in sandy soil; avoid rich soil or stimulating manures, as they must not be encouraged I to make much growth, or they will get a gross habit, which will be very detrimental during winter, for then it is necessary that they should rest. Place the pots in a close frame for a few days till fresh roots are made. CAULIFLOWER to be pricked out into frames for the winter, and to be kept as hardy as possible. ENDIVE to be planted out on warm well-manured borders, to stand the winter. GLADIOLI to have very little water now the bloom is declining when the soil in the pots is nearly dry lay the pots on their sides in the full sun, to promote their ripening. Those in beds will take care of them. selves till time to take them up. GREENHOUSE and CONSERVATORY must be cleaned thoroughly at once, and got ready to receive the plants which are standing out of doors, for as boisterous winds, heavy rains, and sudden changes are. to be expected now, it would be well to stage the choicest and tenderest of them at once. Remove dead leaves, &o., from the plants, and see that the drainage is faultless. Give all the air possible, and only reduce the ventilation when there is an unfavourable change in the weatker. HELIOTROPES to be kept in healthy growth for winter flowering. LETTUCE to be sown again for the last time. For management of the autumn and winter crop refer back. LILIUMS to be treated the same as recommended for gladioli. Give water till the leaves begin to fade, then lay them on their sides. MiNT to be potted for spring forcing. There is in almost every family a demand for mint before it can be supplied, and the only way to make sure of it is to pot it, then it will be an easy matter to push it on as wanted. PEACHES AND NECTARINES must be looked to as soon as the last fruit is gathered; if any are infested with red spider, dust them liberally with powdered sulphur early in the morning before the dew is off the leaves, or else syringe them well before the operation, so that the powder may adhere. PINEs.-In favourable weather, give air to young stock grown in dungpits, so as to avoid weakly growths, which are the certain productions of plants grown in a close, warm atmosphere; but keep a sufficient com- mand of heat by means of linings to allow a little air to be given at night and on cloudy days. Where the pits are heated by hot water this can be done more readily. PINKS.—Plant out the old stock plants 'that have been grown in pots into borders, and keep the beds of young ones perfectly clean and free from weeds. PROPAGATE all sorts of bedding stuff that will be wanted for next year as fast as possible. As soon as cuttings are rooted, pot them off, or place in boxes as recommended above; keep them in a close pit or frame for a week or ten days, and then expose them to the weather for a short time before housing them for the winter. ROSES may be propagated now by inserting cuttings in a bed of light soil in a frame or pit. But a more certain way will be to prepare the cuttings and insert them in damp sand in a shady place, and keep them frequently sprinkled till they callous, and then pot them, and plunge them into a gentle bottom-heat. Sow mignonette for winter blooming. SPINACH must be thinned till the plants are about six inches apart; vacancies to be filled up by trans- planting, and if the ground is heavy or trodden during the operation, loosen it with care, so that the roots may have the benefit of the air. ViNEs.-Pinch off laterals as it is too late for the plants to benefit by leaves formed now, and remove useless growths. VIOLETS for bloom during the winter and early spring should be taken up now with good-sized balls, and potted in forty-eight or thirty-two-sized pots in rotten turf, or a mixture of left-mould and road-sand, and then placed in a pit or frame near the glass.— Gardener's Magazine. mmm

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. PARTRIDGE SHOOTING AND THE 1ST OF SEPTEM. BER. Partridge shooting commenced throughout England on Friday, and from the reports which have been received from various parts of the country it appears that the supply of birds is extremely good, and that it will afford ample sport. It is illegal to shoot partridges before the 1st of September, but it is surprising to find what an extensive slaughter there must have been at a very early hour on that morning. As soon as the shop doors of the gentlemen licensed to sell game" in the various parts of the metropolis were opened, a fine supply of partridges was exhibited for sale, leading to the inevitable conclusion that they must have been shot very near to London or very soon after the legal hours had set in. Any other view of the case would, of course, be extremely uncharitable. CURIOSITIES FROM THE MOORS,-The Earl of Cawdor last week shot a very curiously-coloured grouse, and has sent it to Mr. Macleay, bird-stuffer, to be preserved. It is of a uniform pale ash colour, nearly white, and when killed was plump and in fine healthy condition. Mr. Hanbury, Ord, has also sent Mr. Macleay a strangely-marked grouse, the prevailing colour of which is a faded yellow, a few of the feathers being a light brown, the wings and tail ash coloured. Other two have been sent by D. H. Mackenzie, Esq., of a peculiarly mottled grey colour. 1 CRICKET ON THE CONTINENT.—The grand cricket1 week at Homburg-les-Bains, near Frankfort, has been a great success As previously announced in the London journals, the" Administration" bad invited Elevens from England and France to take part in a series of international matches. The invitation was readily accepted, and a capital week's play was the result. Franco and Germany first entered the lists, and after a well-contested game, France won by six wickets. Wednesday, August 16th, was the great day, eleven gentlemen of England being pitted against seventeen of the rest of Europe. Mr. A. Infelix having had the task of getting up theEnglish "team" entrusted to him, was fortunate in securing the services of a first-rate Eleven all round; and after three days' brilliant cricket, England had the honour of winning both the pre- liminary and the return match. On the side of the Eleven, Mr. Infelix's bowling, Mr. Round's wicket- j keeping, and Mr. P. F. Law's fielding were deservedly and frequently applauded; while for the Seventeen, Mr. Greenfield's slows and Mr. Harper's long-stopping were first-rate. The lovely ground was thronged each day with a brilliant assemblage. The Duke and Duchess of Manchester, the Marchioness of Down. shire, Lord and Lady Clanricarde, Lord St. Lawrenee, &e. &c., were amongst the English visitors present at the game; and balls and other festivities in honour of the cricketers brought the grand week to a pleasant termination. THE season for taking salmon in England and Wales (except by angling) closed with the month of August, and the fence time commenced on the 1st of Sept. Salmon, however, may be sold for three days longer, and anglers have two months' grace, angling for salmon (not for sale) being permitted up to November 1. The fish are already, many of them, out of condi- tion, and it is the general conviction (except on the part of anglers themselves) that the extension of the angling season ought to be more limited, as no doubt it leads to the destruction of many fish that are almost ready to spawn. The take of salmon in the season just closed in those two important salmon rivers, the Severn and the Wye, has been moderate. An unusual number of fish have been taken that were marked as if by the bite of some creatures, sup- posed to be porpoises. 1

Mackerel Fishing. 1 A correspondent of the Field says :—The mackerel having now entered the harbours on the south coa-st of England and north of France in great abundance, some of your may perhaps be interested in knowing how best to turn these visits to account. From my intercourse with various seaports, it appears to me that Plymouth is rather in advance in this class of fishing. Morning and evening amateurs are scarcely pleased with their sport if they take less than four or five dozen in the course of a couple of hours some, indeed, take as many as eight or ten dozen, which is not very surprising when it is considered that they pull them in three, four, and sometimes even a dozen at a time one at a time is an exception to the rule. The mode adopted is by whiffing with a line of the following character. First. A hemp or flax line, tolerably fine but strong, twenty or thirty yards in length, to which is attached a 2 oz. boat-shaped sinker, if pulling slowly, or a 4 oz. one if sailing. Beyond the sinker a snood of about three yards of gimp (some use five, six, or even eight yards), and on the end of the gimp a gut collar, either of twisted or single strong salmon gut, of from one to two or four yards in length. A silver-spinner termi- nates the gut collar, and at every knot of the collar is looped on a white or red feathered hook, the number varying from three to a dozen or twenty, at the caprice of the fisherman. Armed with a couple of these lines, towing astern of the boat, the fisherman plies his oar, or gets some one else to do it for him, and prowls about in search of his prey. Presently the longed-for tug is felt, and this is succeeded by another and another, and in comes the line, and it-is difficult to tell which glistens most, the finny victims, as they sheer about to the extent of their tether, or the eyes of the fisherman as he welcomes their approach, and lifts them one after the other into the boat. Much of the success depends on the make of the feathered hook. The usual practice of dressing the hook with a couple of strips pulled from a goose pinion, which stick out like a pair of slender wings, is very objectionable. These collapse like two thin straps in the water, and imitate nothing in nature. If, however, the hooks be dressed with perfect breast-feathers, placed face to face, so as to include the hook between them, and project from a half to three-quarters of an inch beyond the end, these will maintain'their shape and size, and look just like a shoal of little fish cutting through the water. The silver-spinner at the end acts as a lure, and half-a- dozen mackerel may be seen rushing at once after it, one more fortunate than the rest secures the glittering prize, and the others immediately make for the feathers. Possibly this plan may be familiar to many of your readers, but it may be new to others, who will find themselves well repaid by the adoption of it.

SAD COLLIERY ACCIDENT. Two Miners Killed. A fearful accident occurred last week at Messrs. Appleby's ironstone pita, Revishaw, near Chesterfield, by which two miners were instantaneously killed. There are sixteen pits at Revishaw, all worked by one engine, which sets in motion two winding drums. A number of men and boys were being lowered into one half of the pits, while a number of loaded trial corves were being raised in the other half. In No. 2 pit William Booth and another miner were going down, when, whilst near the bottom, the cage stopped, then descended, and with a jerk threw Booth's companion out. Before the deceased Booth could follow, the cage whirled up the shaft again to the pulley, the rope broke, and Booth and the cage were hurled to the bottom of the shaft, a distance of 168 feet. When found Booth was quite dead and shockingly mutilated, and the cage was smashed to pieces. While this was going on, in the next pit a similar fearful scene was being enacted. Daniel Cook and two other miners were descending there, and felt tho same check. Cook's companions leaped out, but he had not time to follow, and was carried up to the pulley, where the cage struck and broke the rope. Cook seemed to hang for a moment doubled up at the pulley, and then fell headlong down the pit, dead, and awfully dis- figured and crushed. The cause of the accident was, that the weight on the second dram broke the cog- wheels by which it was- connected with the firbt and evidence was given at the inquest showing that it was not a good thing to drive sixteen shafts with one engine.

SOCIAL ASPECT OF THE SOUTH OF IRELAND. A special correspondent of Saunders's News Letter gives the following account of the progress of the people:- "Unless the peasant mistakes you for a spy, a gauger, or a valuator going to raise the rent on him, his intelligence and practical knowledge are very valu- able in enabling you to go below the surface, and learn the true condition of the country. The first great apparent change is in the improved condition of the dwellings and dress of the people. In Wexford, Kil- kenny, Tipperary, and Waterford, one no longer sees the normal dung pit and pool of fetid water in close proximity to the house, the unfailing friend to typhus fever and dysentery; the roofs are new fairly thatched and the walls whitewashed; and not rarely may be observed some little attempt at ornament in the way of a hedge row, or flowers in the potato garden. But it is in the dress, espe- cially of the women, that the most marked progress has been made. Twenty years ago the wearing of shoes and stockings was the exception and not the rule, and on a fair or market-day, when the little pro- prieties of life were to be observed, these articles were carried until the owners reached the environs of the town, and were then put on, more for ornament than use. But at present the neatly-shaped boot is to be found inside the house, while a more clumsy shoe is available for the rough work in the fields; and on Sundays the road glitters with the variety of bright colours suspended on the crinolines, which fashion has imported into the most primitive districts. It may, however, be asked, has this external improve- ment been gained by running into debt,- or, if not, from whence can the money be obtained? The solu- tion is an easy one; the price of butter, of poultry, of eggs, &c., has increased enormously, and the demand is still more than equivalent to the supply; and ship- pers who send to England have their various agents going about and opening depots, where purchases are promptly made; so that eggs, which used to be sold for three or four a penny in any village, will realise in summer from 7d. to lOd. a dozen, and in winter go up as high as even IE, and chickens that were a drug at 6d. are readily taken at Is. and more: The daughters of the small farmers are allowed to rear fowl for themselves; and one woman, whose flocks of turkeys in a wild part of the county Water- ford constituted quite a picture, stated that she paid the rent of the ground she held-namely, .£33 a year, by this one source of revenue. It is in the matter of food and creature comforts that no equal progress has been made; and from my observation f should be led to the conclusion that those of the Irish who are a little elevated over the hand-to-mouth condi- tion of the mere labourer, display a wonderful amount of prudence, forbearance, and cheerfulness of mind, under what would try the temper and incite the improvidence of the same class of people at the other side of the Channel. They are grateful for the Returning supply of wholesome and cheap food. given through the agency of the potato, and buttermilk is an indulgence, while the use of fresh milk would be a luxury only to be occasionally gratified. Rarely, even on a Sunday, does bacon accompany the pot of cabbage, and pigs, butter, fowl, and even eggs, are reserved for sale, not for personal enjoyment. No doubt 'starvation' will, and must demoralise, but the peasantry here, who certainly enjoy but a restricted and little-varying dietary, are not debilitated, and even the most prejudiced must admit that the virtue of the women is a fine feature in their character. With respect to the diminished numbers of the people, from the effects of the famine years and subse. quent emigration, the result of inquiry from various quarters leads to the conclusion that while the soil if worked adequately would sustain more than were ever on its surface, yet that, in the present state of agriculture there are hands enough to do the required work, and that without the employer being obliged to pay more than a decent rate of wages. There were periods when a man, willing to work for 3d. a day and his diet, could not even be secure of that; and surely the average of 6s. or 7s. a week for one who, most likely, has others dependent on him, is not in excess of what the most cold-blooded of political economists would sanction, when balancing his favourite rows of figures against the shrinking and sensitive objects of I j = humanity placed in the opposite scale. Many of the farmers are 11w beginning to buy o# hire reaping machines, and m the very busiest period of the harvest 2s. or 2s. Gd. for men, with their diet, and Is. 4d. to Is. »d. for binders, constituted no very ex- cessive tariff.

FACTS AND F ACETI-Æ. A minister, having occasion to refer to the battle of Armageddon, said, Armageddon, my friends, is a Hebrew word. I could explain it to you, but if I did explain Armageddon to you, ye would not be any the wiser." A-doring.—A husband complained of his wife be- fore a magistrate for assault and battery, and it appeared in evidence that he had pushed the door against her, and she in turn had pushed it against him; whereupon the counsel for the defendant said that he could see no impropriety in a husband and wife a-doring each other. Needn't- Feel so Grand.—At Lynn, the other day, a Sunday-school teacher asked a little girl who the first man was. She answered she didn't know. The question was then put to an Irish child, who answered, "Adam, sir," with apparent satisfaction. "La!" said the scholar, you needn't feel so grand about it-he wasn't an Irishman." Quid Rides ?-As our friend Bloater-a model of every manly virtue—was sitting in the stalls of the Prince of Wales' Theatre the other evening, a nautical playgoer in the gallery dropped a used-up "quid" on to his elegant summer pants." Bloater, however, merely smiled as he threw away the unsavoury morsel, al^I UP to the gallery, he convulsed the house with, laughter by shouting out to the donor of the quid "—" Pro quo ? "—Porcupine. quid Pro quo ? "-Porcitpine. A. Curious Sculptor.—At a soiree the other evening one gentleman pointed out a dandified looking individual to his friend as a sculptor. What! said his friend, such a looking chap as that a sculptor! Surely you must be mistaken." He may not be the u? t^i 0ne ^ou may mean," said the informant, but I know that he chizzled a tailor out of a suit of clothes last week." Matrimony.—When bent on matrimony, look mote than skin-deep for beauty, dive further than the pocket for worth, and search for temper beyond good humour of the moment, remembering it is not always the most agreeable partner at a ball who forms the most amiable partner for life. Virtue, like some flowers, blo6ms often fairest in the shade. The Cold, Cold Stream.- f Xet drinkers quaff the ruby, Extol the blushing vine," Andsing the praise of Bacchus These are no joys of mine. No, not your milder liquids, Let spinsters have their tea, But give me of the cold, cold stream, The cold, cold stream for me. I hate your. flery liquids, Let drunkards have their gin, And drink the scorching liquor, Sink deeper in their sin. But give me of the cold, cold stream, With a drop of sumniut in. National Peculiarities.—A bet was once made in London, that by a single question proposed to an Englishman, a Scotchman, and an Irishman, a characteristic reply would be elicited from each of them. Three representative labourers were accord- ingly called in, and separately asked What will you take to run round Russell-square stripped to the shirt?" While the Englishman unhesitatingly answered, A pint of porter," the humorous response of the Irishman was, A mighty great cold! Th e man of the North, however, instead of condescending upon any definite consideration," cautiously replied, with an eye to a good bargain, "What will your honour gie me ? We should never remember the benefits we have conferred, nor forget the favours received. It is wiser to prevent a quarrel beforehand than to revenge it afterwards. Many a man keeps on drinking till he hasn't a ooat to either his back or his stomach. Provision is the foundation of hospitality, and thrift the fuel of magnificence. A bath that everybody gets into once a week.- The Sab-bath. The Genius of the Age.-A fast youth was taken from college by his father to a solicitor to be an articled clerk. The agreement was made, and the notary remarked, For the first six months from to- day you will not receive any salary; after that = £ 80 a year." Very well, sir," said the youth, I shall re- turn at the end of six months." The London Conundrum and Punning Company (Limited) has eclipsed its former efforts in the follow- ing specimen: Why were the Cambridge crew, when pulling forty-two strokes per minute, like a well-known Yarmouth fish ? Because they had a hard roe." A Bachelor's Idea of a Wife.— What, Tom, you feel lonely ? well, get a young wife To share all your pleasures and sweeten your life." No, no! Jack, I need no such solace as theira, They share all the pleasures-but treble the cares." Capsized.—Bonnets worn at theatres, when they intercept the view of the stage, give much offence to those that are prevented by them from seeing) and who often declare such bonnets should be cap-sized. Recently the wife of one of the city fathers of New Bedford presented her husband with three chil- dren at a birth. The delighted father took his little daughter, four years of age, to see her new relations. She looked at the diminutive beings a few moments, when, turning to her father, she inquired, Pa, which one are you going to keep P" Nice Distinction.—Two fair dames, not very happily mated, were comparing the merits of their lords and masters. "My husband," exclaimed the one, as a climax, "is a perfect brute!" "Mine is much worse," said the other, he is a beast!" No Comfort.-At a late fire, the wife of the householder was rescued with some difficulty, whilst all his goods and chattels were consumed. A friend congratulating him on her escape, he confessed, with a sigh, that in comparison with" what had gone er loss might have been a light affliction. A Lady's Age—"What is your age, said a huissier of the Palais the other day to a wit- ness. "Between twenty-six and forty, monsieur." How is that, madame? Do you not know better than that ?" was the rather »ng^ of the huissier. "Well, monsieur, I conn my money and my jewels, because that is property I might lose, but I'm sure no one will take »y 2?^ „n<^ a^d them to theirs. Therefore, I take no hee<i my age." The lady's wit permitted her age to Paas unknown. Queries. "-What tree is that which is not af. fected by the season, and brmgs forth neither blossom nor fruit ? The boot-tree, vv hat is the difference be. tween a general and a commissary-general P The one bleeds his country, whilst the other bleeds for his country. A Succession Of Storms.—A gentleman talking to another on the subject of marriage made the following observation:—"I first saw my wife in a storm; took her to a ball in a storm; courted her in a storm; was betrothed to her in a storm; married her in a storm; lived with her in a storm all her life bat, thank Heaven, I buried her in pleasant weather." A Feeling Witness.—A lawyer, upon a circuit in Ireland, who was pleading the cause of an infant plaintiff, took the child up in his arms and presented it to the jury suffused with tears. This had a great effect, until the opposite lawyer asked the child— What made you cry ? He pinched me!" an- swered the little inmocent. The whole crowd was con- vulsed with laughter. Improvement of the He venue.—An intoler- able and exceedingly poor scribbler (who was often not even penny wise) used to account fer his neglecting to put the Queen's head on the envelope as arising from a wish to increase the Post-office revenue. My letters," said he, are worth more, and pay twopence instead of a penny." At the Glass-blowers' entertainment, a few even- ings ago, Mr. W. R. Cogswell took the prize for the beat conundrum on the steam-engine: Why is a steam-engine a most inconsistent piece of maohinery ? Answer. Because it will not work until supplied with steam, and then will not work till it is allowed to eseape." After the above was read to the audience, a disappointed candidate for the prize gave the following; J I; "What is the difference between tha glass steV engine and the prize conundrum ? Answer. The <jfe < you can see through, and the other you can't." T* prize for the best-looking young man ia the hall vr" not disposed of, as it was impossible ta get a co?;' mittee of ladies to decide the point. 1. Comical Epitaphs.— t&' This little hero who lies here, j Was conquered by the diarrhoea,' t Here lies Robert Cairns, Fj With two wives and fourteen barns!" 1 I am coming, sweet Willie, I And so is your m a, I For to meet you in glory I Along with your pa. 11 Come meet us a flying, And light on each breast, I Then we'll sing hallelujah l At home with the blest." |

THE MURDERER'S DRElM. He seemed to see both ends of the bell.t once-fa bell hanging silently by his bed, and th bell-hands hanging silently by that other bed, wherdt seemed 10 I him the shrouded form still lay. And irhis dream a cold, strange fear crept over him: supose the o4 man should want him once more appose the bell should ring ? He dreamed that he ose up and got himself a light, and determined togo down to Anthony's room, but that he could not fid the door; wherever he stepped the floor seemed t have great openings—deep, jawning gaps—down wbh he dared not look. Then he thought he let his caille fall, and as he went down on his knees to search fe it tJ..úl'lJei¡ lang: The Etrength seemed to pass from is limug aa he listened, and his hands, as they groed for his candle, touched all sorts of strange thing that came up from the gaps in the floor. Now they semed 10 be feeling along the cold empty shelves c the safe again, where other cold clammy haids seized and shook them, and mocking laughtef miigled with the ringing of the bell. Now and then he nearly got hold of his candle, blih vrves- that seemed half of black water and half of fire, rose up under it and bore it away. Scenes tiiat he had passed through seemed to be going on siiU dovro those gaps in the floor, that opened upon him So sud- denly that several times he nearly fell into tlem. one he saw Anthony kneeling at his uncle's hed; another, Esau, waving the old smock frock. Then he saw himself in his uncle's room with the officers, and seemed to be watching his own face with breathless, sickening interest. Even while the bell rang, ItÍé. his hair streamed with perspiration, ho vatcied iu9 picture. Rocking on the waves, he saw the officers walk from the alderman's room satisfied, andwait at the door for him. Then he saw himself trying to follow them, and he writhed with anguish to aee his foot had become glued to the floor by some blood that he had trodden in. He saw the men outside tie door, waiting and wondering; he heard Anthony calling him; then the lawyer, and the pompous doctor, and Sleuth, looking down in the gap, shrieked to histhadow to try and move; but in vain it wrenched and Yrithed; —the foot was glued immovably. All thehou3e- lio'd came pouring in at the door; the shrouded figure on the bed sat up, and pointed him nut to them; then the whole pictur e fell into the waVfe, and Sleuth dreamt he was still in the dark, groping about for his candle, with the bell ringing over his head. It rang more loudly than ever, the darkness grew blacker, and all the floor seemed breaking asfay, and letting the room fill with strange, hideous things. Sleuth dreamed that he went back to the bed and leaped upon it, and flung himself down to stop hi3 e&rs with the pillows. The pillows! Where were they ? Gone, and there was a gap-not such a gap as Sleuth had made in the alderman's pillows-but deep, interminable; aild down it, with headlong haste, Sleuth fell, and fell. He caught at strange things that he passed in the darkness; at birds, bllt they tore his hands with their beaks; at trees, but theif branches broke like tinder; at slimy walls, touch only seemed to increase his fearful speed- Sometimes faces he knew passed hira going up. I as he went down. Phillis passed, wan an3! shadowy-looking, all her youth and freeh "beauty but rising slowly, with clasped hands ,§v^sgazin| straight upward. She looked at Sleuth as she passed him, and let fall a tear on his face. It seemed to drop upon him like a stone, and drive him down faster-^ faster. Then the alderman's daughter passed not as he had heard her—a wretched, remorseful woman, but as the alderman had loved to talk of het, a little golden-haired child. But now she seemed to Sleuth to have bright wings, which, together with, her hair, made a light that scorched his eyes. She w not looking up, like Phillis, but down, and flying slowly, and singing and beckoning with her arm.s to something beneath her. This something Sleuth soo11 passed. It was Silas Maude, with his white head throw^ back, and his arms outstretched, struggling upward towards his little daughter. Sleuth would fain hav looked back to see if he reached her; but drops of blooc from his uncle's wound dropped on him with such a fear- ful weight, that he was borne down, faster—faster. Th lower he fell the more horrible became the things h £ met. At last he thought he saw, at the bottom of a black sea, on which one hideous white bird swam by itself. Long before he came to the bottom he sa,? this bird spread its wings and fly up towards hi*0. As it came nearer it grew larger and flatter, till at la'"i it looked more like a coat than a bird; but be only ust had time to see this when it seized upon hiJJ1. and wrapt itself round his head and face tighter an/* tighter, till his breath stepped. His hands tote at madly, but in vain: it tightened round him like livizg sinews; it dragged him down and down, till he heard th « black waves roar, and leap up to catch him, and then—" Sleuth woke. The sun was shining in at the t^ round windows. The sunshine streamed upon tS bed where Sleuth sat whiter than the linen shea that, in his dream, he had rent from top to botto trembling so that the old fringes of the bed shoók, aA the sweat poured from his face and hair. He fl1111 himself from the bed, dragged himself to one of the windows, and tried to kneel and put up his hands ilJ prayer bat the sunshine and fresh breeze were to much for him—he fainted away.— "Bound to Wheel," in Cassell's Illustrated Family Paper. —

The City authorities are taking active steps regard to the cattle plague. On Thursday inspector of cattle were appointed, and one of them-Mr. Tegt —proceeding at once to his duties at tie Cattle, market, condemned over forty cows in a diseased state, which had been sent to the market for sale.. Ballads.—Ballads and songs are often confound' together as ay nonymoua terms; they certainly have iuaoo, in common, and it is difficult at times to draw the life between them. A ballad, however, may be briefly fined as a species of poetry of which narrative is tbt essential element; a song may be called a epitoe Os condensation of the ballad, of which sentiment is JL element. Diffuseness or de^u 13 "pt forbidden in ballad; it is entirely destru°tive the spirit of song, which must be short and pithy. Ballads always exercised an important influence OH the their habits, and modes of thinking; so much so th5 the sentence of Fletcher and Saltoun is often quo as indicative of this-" Give me the making 0 nation's ballads, and I care not who makes its This, doubtless; like all pithy sayings, although c<? 0 taining much that is exaggerated, contains much j that is perfectly true; for it is to be remembered g. ballads were in the olden time what our newspSoPto are to us and, repeatedly recited by the minstrels^ rambled over the country, and by the Penple, oJJ%y another, they were not only communicated frofl* triot to district with amazing rapidity, but they VvtlhlbO embalmed, as it were, by constant repetition, J/ memories of the people. They were, in fact, tb0 medium by which their opinions could be made ^0$ the only vehicle by which they could convey a 2° of their real or fancied wrongs, by which demand their rights, or hurl their contempt, afla*etf out the lashings of their wit or satire. They also the only means by which the news of sortle oøÐ battle, some cruel wrong done or redressed, pathetic love story was spread over the These ballads were, doubtless, very numerous; is evident that those only which were the fa"? of the people would be treasured up m their mef* hence we may predicate with safety that thos0.$0 have been handed down to us are those most highly esteemed by our ancestors. Ballw* 0}' always ministered powerfully to the nationaiy^i^ people; nor less to a cultivation and appf^jt amongst them of a love of true poetry. hard to say how much our poets themselves ha' yt ,-d indebted to the spirit of a ballad minstrelw' 1 Quiver.