Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

¡. HOME HINTS. AtrrtJMN Him.-Blankets, curtains, and all woollen goods which have been put away during the summer are apt, when brought out, to smell slightly musty and unpleasant, and the best and most effectual remedy for this ia to choose a bright sunny day, a few of which we generally enjoy during October, and hang the articles out in the air for a few hours, being most careful to bring them indoors again before the sun goes down, as after that the air so rapidly becomes damp. This will entirely get rid of the odour of camphor, cedar-wood shavings, insect powder, &c., which may have been used by way of protec- tion from moths, and will thus render the wearing or using of the things decidedly more wel- come than would otherwise be the case. If, how- ever, the sun is not available when the things are likely to be required, hang them for several hours in a warm room, turning them about frequently so that the heat and the air may have free access to every part. In the putting away of all such things as white curtains, anti iiiacassars, blouses, thin stockings, &c., it is always wise to do any needful repairs pre- vious to the articles being washed, then see that after washing they are made thoroughly dry, as this pre- vents all danger of mould or mildew. Curtains, &c., when intended for putting by, should never be starched, but should just be smoothly folded and mangled. BRAISED ONIONS, SPANISH OR ENGLISH.—Take off the outer skin of four onions, melt a piece of butter the size of a walnut in a saucepan that will allow each onion to be turned about frequently; when the butter frizzles, put in the onions, and let them get a nice brown all over. When all are nicely brown, put on the lid and set the saucepan on the stove, where it will keep as hot as possible without burning; this will take quite an hour if very large. Serve them with the liquor from the saucepan poured ever them. APPLE JELLY.—An excellent recipe for the making of apple jelly-a dainty which should, if possible, be prepared towards the end of this month—is as follows For red jelly, which is generally preferred to white, choose rosy-skinned apples,!and, after remov- ing the cores, cut the fruit in slices, but leave the skin on. Next put the apples into a preserving pan, with sufficient water to cover them, then stew them gently, stirring very frequently until they have entirely fallen, after which turn the whole into a jelly-bag, and strain off every drop of liquid, but do not squeeze or press the fruit in any way, as that would spoil the clear, bright appearance of the jelly. The liquid must now be measured and put back into the pan with a pound of fine loaf sugar, broken very small, for every pint, and also a small piece of thin yellow lemon rind, or two or three cloves, and the whole boiled together very gently for about half an hour, or until a little of the jelly poured upon a plate appears to set nicdly. Stir almost constantly and skim very carefully during the process; then, when done enough, pour into small properly-prepared jars, and when perfectly cold tie down and store in the usual way. For white jelly choose a whiter apple-Colvilles or orange pippins being the best-and remove the skins pre- vious to cooking, SILVESTER'S REMEDY FOR DAMPNESS.—The process consists in using two washes or solutions for covering the walls-one composed of Castile soap and water, and one of alum and water. The proportions &re three-quarters of a pound of soap to one gallon of water, and half a pound of alum to four gallons of water, both substances to be perfectly dissolved in water before being used. The walls should be per- fectly clean and dry, and the temperature of the air not above 50deg. F., when the compositions are ap- plied. The first, or soap wash, should be laid on, when boiling hot, with a flat brush, taking care to form a froth on the brick-work. This wash should remain 24 hours, so as to become dry and hard before the second, or alum wash, is applied, which should be done in the same manner as the first. The tempera- ture of this wash, when applied, may be 60 or 70deg. Fahr., and this also should remain 24 hours before a second coat of the soap wash is put on. These coats are to be applied alternately until the walls are made impervious to water. The alum and soap thus com- bined form an insoluble compound, filling the pores of the masonry, and entirely preventing the water from entering the wall. STORING FLOUR.—Be careful where you keep flour. Like butter, it absorbs odours readily. It should not be kept in a plaoe where there are oniqes/fish, vege- tables, or other strong-smelling substances, nor in a damp room or cellar. Keep it in a cool, dry, airy room, where it will not be exposed to a freezing tem- perature, nor to one above 70dfeg. Always sift before using. A great saving in the temper of the co ok and an added excellence in all kinds of pastry can now be obtained by using the pow Pajeiev flour-a prepara- tion of corn flour, which obvfetes the necessity for the employment of either yeast or baking powder. It is used with the ordinary ilour of the local miller, in the proportion of about one part Paisley to three or four of the other, according to the nature of the matter in hand. CARROTS BOILED, PARSLEY SAUCE.—Scrape and wash a dozen young carrots, and put them into a saucepan of quite boiling water with a little salt and sugar. If young, they will be done in 20 minutes if getting old, a little longer; but it is the safest plan to try them with a fork. If easily pierced, strain them off at once put them into a hot vegetable dish, pour over them some nicely-made parsley sauce, made by melting a piece of butter the size of a walnut in a saucepan. Wnen melted, stir in as smooth as possible a dessertspoonful of flour. When this is quite smooth, pour a teacupful of boiling water in, a little at a time, stirring well; let it boil five minutes, with a little pepper and salt, and a heaped tablespoonful of finely- chopped parsley. CHIMNEYS ON FNTTT.—The most ready way ot checking or extinguishing the fire is to stop the draught of air ascending from the fireplace. Throw some water on the fire, and fix tightly before the fire- place a piece of thick old carpeting soaked in water. The carpet thus thoroughly wet will be for some time impervious to the air. If there be a damper in the chimney it must be first closed. These methods will either put the fire out altogether, or greatly reduce it. A little flower of brimstone should be thrown on the fire before the wet carpet is placed if it be at hand, as the brimstone fumes ascending the chimney will help to extinguish the flames. How TO MAKE HOME HAPPY.—No trait of character is more valuable in a wife than the posses- sion of a sweet temper. Family life can never be made happy without it. Let a man go home at night, wearied and worn out by the toils of the day, and how soothing is a word dictated by a sweet disposi- tion. It is sunshine falling on his heart. He is happy, and the cares of life are forgotten. A sweet temper has a soothing influence over the minds of the whole family. Smiles, kind words, and looks characterise the children, and peaco and love have their dwelling there. Study then to acquire and re- tain a sweet disposition. To TRUSS A TURKEY OR ri OWL.rO truss a turkey or fowl for roasting, put the liver under one wing and the gizzard under the other through a hole in the sKin twist the top of the pinions backwards, so that the tips are under the body, and cut off the leg-bone close below the knee. Now place the fowl breast downwards, then force the legs well down upon the board and into the sides of the body, making the breast stand up and look as plump as possible. Thread the trussing needle with fine string, and run it through the second wing-joint into the upper joint of the leg, through the body, and out at the corresponding joints at the opposite side draw it through, and turn the turkey on to its breast. Fold over the loose piece of skin at the neck, catch it up with the needle, and fasten down by a stitch taken through the mother-in-law's wing- bones, as they are called; this, when the string is pulled tightly, forces up the other end of the bone and raises the breast. The string is now to be securely tied to the place where it started from. Now for the other end: Run your needle into the back just below the parson's nose press the legs closely together and pull the skin of the breast well over them on each side take a stitch through it at one side, pass your needle from side to side under the legs, through the skin again to catch it down on the other side, and out at the back, whero it must be tightly fastened. A TASTY Disii.-Well spread with nice sweet drip- ping a pie-dish large enough to hold 21b. of steak peel four large onions, cut them in slices and line the pie-dish sprinkle freely with chopped parsley, lemon- thyme, and sage. Cut the steak in four pieces, well flour it and lay it on the herbs; pour over enough boiling water to half fill the dish, put a thick layer of sliced onion over the steak, and cover with bread- crumbs; bake this in a moderate oven an hour and a half. Scald four large tomatoes, pbel them, take the pie-dish from the oven, cut the tomatoes in slices, lay them on the top of the breadcrumbs, set the dish in the oven for 10 niinules, and serve at once.

ART AXD LITERATURE. "THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS" has been translated Into 203 languages and dialects. THERE is no feature in connection with Art more hopeful than the yearly increasing attention bestowed upon it in the great Midland capitals. It was only nine years ago that the noble Museum and Art Galleries of Birmingham were erected at a cost of £ 80,000; the Liverpool galleries, in which city a rate of Id. in the £ in support of the institution, and pro- ducing £ 12,000 a year, is levied, dating back some eight years earlier; while Manchester established her existing City Gallery in 1883; and Nottingham has restored her historical castle, and devoted a peerless suite of its rooms to Art, at a cost of E30,000, in 1878 (the cream of the lace trade years); and all the huge commercial centres except, perhaps, laggard Leeds, have, as a writer on art topics in the Echo points out, been vieing with one another during the past decade as to which should prove the most magnanimous patron of Art. The creation of these noble treasure houses has called for more exhibitions; and the splendid autumn Art loan shows in the Midlands increase each year in attractiveness and merit. With Manchester and Liverpool, two cities which have divided the best fruits of the late R.A.'s in their rivalry, we have dealt. Sheffield has secured many of the best works of this year's salons. Nottingham and Birmingham opened last week. THE Nottingham Galleries enjoy an unrivalled situation. They form part of the New Castle/whieh has been rebuilt on the top of the hill which domi- nates the town, and the rock base of which is still honeycombed with the dungeons and fortifications of feudal and later days. They are en suite, admirably lighted, not so lofty that pictures can be skyed, and at a sufficient altitude above the smoke of commerce to secure clear pure atmosphere, the lack of which is the curse of the National Gallery. Outside, on the Castle esplanade, the visitor commands the whole country. To site and other advantages is added the inestimable one of an ideal director, Mr. G. H. Wallis, a man of ideas, taste, and energy, devoted to his work, and to whose single and unaided efforts are due the collecting and judicious hanging of the 220 pictures of the Newlyn School, which at present offers so full an opportunity of the works of an energetic body of young artists, who are leaving an indelible mark on British art. MR. WHISTLER has summed up once and for all the difference between French art teaching and English. At a dinner given by the "American Art Association" in Paris he is reported to have said: In Paris there does remain the tradition of the schools. In France at least it is known, and we are taught, which end of the brush not to put in the mouth. In England this is still a matter of taste." He might have gone further and explained that on this side of the Channel the art schools, for all that they have to show in the way of real painting, have as yet hardly realised that there exists at all such a thing as a brush. In Eng- land we are taught to produce what Mr. Ruskin calls tinted drawings" to draw a hard and definite out- line, and fill it in with colour of a sort; but if we wish to loam to paint we have to go abroad. A CORRESPONDENT received the following note some time ago from Mr. Stopford Brooke, the author of 'Tennyson: His Art and Relation to Modem Life': I do not know what books to recommend you about Tennyson. There have been many written, but 1 have not read a single one of them! A remarkable mem. from the New Age. ON the 25th inst. Messrs. Cassell and Company will issue the first part of a new serial work entitled The Story of the Sea." This has been prepared under the editorship of Q," author of Dead Man's Rock," The Blue Pavilions," &c., and will contain a series of Rew and original illustrations by the following, amongst other, artists: W. H. Overend, J. Nash, R.I., Gordon Browne, Paul Hardy, W. C. Symons, C. de Lacy, C. W. Wyllie, R. Peacock, Wal Paget, W. Hatherell, R.I., W. H. Margetson, Fred Jane, and H. C. Seppings Wright. THB Society of Friends is interested just now in the discovery of a supposed genuine portrait of George Fox. Several portraits with more or less doubtful claims to authenticity already existed, two of them being accredited to artists of no less note than Gerard Honthorst and Sir Peter Lely. The Honthorst" represents Fox as a young man as he may have appeared in one of his solitary walks in the fields during his first wrestlings and exer- cises but this portrait has never been popular with the Fniends, the rapt expression on the features of the young enthusiast being little in consonanc# with Quaker sobriety of feeling. The Lely," on the other hand, makes the man of the leather breeches" look like a prosperous banker. Other portraits are but little more satis- factory. The newly-discovered portrait has turned up, at all events, in the right part of the country- Cumberland-the county in which Fox found many of his staunchest followers, and also his wife, the wealthy widow of Judge Fell. It is described aa artistically excellent, being not only well drawn, but of very pleasant colour." The discoy of an undoubted contemporary portrait of George Fox would certainly be a matter of national as well as Quaker importance. But whether this be it or not is a question which can only be settled by those dread- fully uncertain people-the experts. APROPOS of a rather startling imputation made in a Society weekly and coincidently in a letter by a trade union official published in a London daily, it is satis- factory to learn on the best of authority—Mr. Lyttelton Gell, secretary to the delegates of the Oxford University Press, Mr. Horace Hart, printer, and Mr. Henry Frowde, publisher-that there is no truth in the statement that Oxford University Press Prayer-books have ever been printed in Germany, or, in fact, outside the walls of the Oxford Press. Natur- ally the Oxford University Press people are much annoyed at the hasty and unfounded suggestion that they would get such peculiarly English books" made in Germany." A DISPUTE, it appears, is now raging over the skull of Sir Thomas Browne, which has for almost 50 years been one of the notable exhibits in the museum at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. In 1840 the skull was removed from the coffin of the author of Religio Medici," when his grave was by accident opened by workmen engaged on some alterations in the Church of St. Peter, Mancroft. It was then in all probability sold by the sexton to some local col- lector who knew what he was buying. In 1837 the skull came into the possession of the hospital. The two parties in the argument are divided over the right destination of the relic. One says it should be restored to the earth; the other, that it should remain where it is. So precious a treasure is, in fact, not likely to be relinquished by the present. holders. MR. FRANK STOCKTON'S new work, Pomona's. Travels," is now being published by Messrs. Cassell and Company, and is being issued simultaneously in America. In this work Pomona of Rudder Grange fame takes a journey across the Atlantic and records her impressions of England and Scotland. The work is fully illustrated by A. B. Frost. No kind of impostor is so common as he who brags of an acquaintance with literature that he does not possess. Why this variety of fraud is so fre- quent it is hard to say, since it can be the means of procuring no real gain, and is very easily detected. A 6tory comes from America of an amusing bungle made by one of these boasters. Colonel James Russell Lowell-any relation of Hosea Biglow, we wonder ?—met in Chicago a man who had a great deal to say of his travels in Europe. Colonel Lowell remarked that he greatly enjoyed French literature, and that George Sand was one of his favourite authors. Oh, yes!" exclaimed the Chicago gentle- man, I have had many a happy hour with Sand." You knew George Sand, then ?" asked Colonel Lowell, with an expression of surprise. Knew him? WeL|y I should rather say I did," cried the Chicago m™^ihd then he added as a clincher, 1 ie roomed with im when I was in Paris."

FARMING- NOTES. I OCTOBER. This (observes Prof. Wrightson in th Agricultural Gazette) is the best month for sowing wheat. The question, therefore, of how large on area to plant of tue dethroned cereal is important. Having thought out the subject, we have come to the conclusion that it is scarcely advisable to grow it. Wheat is now relegated to the position of a feeding crop for stock. It is, however, after all, not suitable for the purpose. That wheat may be used in moderation we do not doubt. It must be diluted by mixing with other grains, such as maize, barley, oats, and rice meal. The glutinous character of wheat renders it dangerous for ruminants unless corrected by a large proportion of other feeding-stuffs. It appears probable that wheat values will not rise, and it has been explained with considerable clearness that a system of gambling ia in vogue which unnaturally depresses wheat below its actual value. The tendency is at present down- wards, and we have even said in our haste that it would be a good thing if it sunk still further, in order to render its extended growth impossible, and thus peremptorily stop its unnecessary production. In any case, we lay it down as sound economy that if wheat is to be fed on the farm it is high time to sub- stitute some more suitable crop for the purpose. A ton of hay is as valuable as a ton of wheat, costs less to produce, and is more likely to agree with animals. Many persons to whom we have expressed this view object that the straw is now the principal object, but there is no reason to hope for the prices of straw of this and last year. If all begin to sell straw the price will soon fall, even although the area under wheat ia restricted. For stables wheat straw will always be a desideratum, and the growth and sale of wheat straw will, in some cases, continue to be an object. To most farmers, however, this source of income is not available, and, even if it is, it is doubtful if it is suffi- cient to induce them to continue sowing wheat. A more common reason is the difficulty of finding a suitable crop to take its place. We have already suggested oats, and have heard a fear expressed that they will also depreciate in value so as to become unprofitable. It is impossible to foresee the future, but it appears to us that as wheat is now cattle and pig food, quite as much as it is food for man, any bulky fodder crop is as good, or better, for farm pur- poses. We should therefore recommend that land intended for wheat should, if in clover, be left awhile in its present state. If in roots; it may be reserved for oate or barley. If in high condition, mangel wurzel or potatoes will soon take out the superfluous fertility. The course we have ourselves taken during the last 12 months has been to divide the land which formerly would have gone into wheat between oats, peias, potatoes, mangel, turnips, cabbages, and wheat. WORK DONE AND TO BE DONE. Highly favourable (observes the Journal of Horti- culture) has the weather been for the sowing of autumn crdps. the first sown being trifolium incar- natum, then came rye, winter oats, wheat, and winter tares. We have been told of some slovenly practice with rye which has been sown on poor land as a catch crop unworthy of particular care. Apart from the fact that every farm crop should be well done, rye is worthy of our best care, because it affords us green food earlier in the year than any other crop. But bulk and earliness both depend on fertility of soil; and where anyone has been so foolish as to sow it on poor land we advise the sowing of lcwt. per acre of sulphate of ammonia at once, and a similar amount of nitrate of soda about the beginning of next March. With a thick plant of rye there need not be any fear of low from the use of a nitrogenous manure this autumn, and the growth will be so robust and early as to well repay one for the cost of the manure. If winter oats are suffering at all from poverty of soil they should have a similar dressing. What wheat has to be sown on the home farm should certainly be got in before the end of the month, so that the only sowing left for October is a successional crop of tares. See now that yards and all buildings used for live stock are in perfect order for winter. Frosts are already beginning in valleys, and cattle should have shelter in good time from cold and wet, one of the beet safeguards being a commodious open hovel out on pasture, with the floor kept clean and unbroken. Straw is plentiful enough, but where rough litter and brackep can be had there should be an ample supply in staeks in or near each yard. Drains and water pipes dhould be examined, roofs, ventilators, and windows also, and any faults set right at once. To have a full supply of eggs in winter laying hens must have snug quarters where there are no draughts, and where they can have access to dust and grit. We were recently shown a poultry house with the floor mised a few feet from the ground, and we advised that the space under the floor shoaid be enclosed with wooden sides, with plenty of glass for light on the south side, as it would then be a capital dusting place for the fowls during winter; openings from it into a boarded enclosure on the south front would afford them a run on fine days. Fowls are very susceptible to cold and wet, and never wander far on wet or stormy days. SIR J. BENNETT LAWBS ON THE WIIEAT CROP. Sir J. B. Lawes gives a decidedly favourable aocount of the wheat yields on his experimental plots at Rothauistcad, and he anticipates a large crop throughout the country generally. The present crop is the 51st that has been grown at Rothamstead. and it was much damaged by the heavy rains. Had there been a dry July, Sir John thinks he would have grown over 50 bushels per acre on the highest manured land, but some of the less highly manured crops will yield well, and, taking it altogether, he considers it to be a year of great abundance. Every crop is good, some remarkably so." WIID MANURE8 AND MIXED FEEDING STUFFS. The Rural New Yorker has extracted from Sir J. B. Lawes an expression of opinion on the use of mixed fertilisers that is well worthy the attention of farmers. The question was asked whether, in the opinion of this eminent agricultural chemist, farmers would not do better to buy bone flour, nitrate of soda, &c., sepa- rately, instead of buying "fertilisers," in which nitrogen and phosphoric acid are used in varied forms. Sir J. Lawee is very candid in his reply. He quite understands a manure-maker preferring to sell a compound manure, as he is able to make a large profit. The prices of nitrate of soda, bone flour, and rock superphosphate are well known, and a farmer can mix them in the proportion he requires with much less cost than he can purchase the mixture. The same holds good in food. We have any amount of cattle cakes in the market. A man goes into the market, purchases various grains, &c., grinds them, calls the substance a cake, and charges about £ 2 or ES per ton above the cost of the raw substance. To call a thing a cale does not increase its feeding pro- perties. Sir J. Lawes once wrote a paper on the subject, poiiting out that cotton cake and linseed cake were the refuse of the production of oil, and that they couldstill be made even if farmers did not purchase them. So they sell exactly for the price that farmers think it worth while to pay for them, and no &ore. GRASS LANDS. Italian rye graia for a crop either of that alone or sown with trifolium may yet (observØB the Man- chester Weekly Tifhes) be sown, but had best be got in during wet weather. So also the manuring of grass lands and of young clovers should be done this month while the ground is dry. Well- rotted farmyard dung is still the best dress- ing tlyit can bo given to either old grass lands or clovers. It thould, however, be borne in mind that all autumnal dressings of manure are wasteful except when the land to which they are applied is properly drained. A mere surface drainage enables the rain to more readily wash away the more soluble fertilising matters laid upon it.

YOVlfG WIFB: Just to think, Hqjry, dear, my new hat blew into the street to-day and was run over by three waggons, four carts, and an omnibus." Harry: "Humph! That means a new hat, of course." Young Wife No, truly. It was rescued, and I took it to Madame Wayuppes, who was perfectly charmed. The waggons and things had mangled it into the most fashionable shape imaginable." A CERTAIN justice of the peace having arrived pre- vious to a trial, at a conclusion upon a question of law highly satisfactory to himself, refused to enter- tain an argument by the opposing counsel. If your honour pleuses," the counsel replied, I should like to cite a few authorities upon the point." Here he was sharply interrupted by the justice, who stated "The Court knows the law, and is thoroughly advised in the premises, and has given its opinion, and that settles it." "It was not," continued counsel, "with an idea of convincing your honour that you are wrong, but I should like to Jshow you what a fool Blackstone was." Ilia: You want to know what I'd be were it not for your money?" She: "Yes I do." He: "A "jchelor."

GARDENING GOSSIP. (From Cottaqe Gardening.") FLOWER GARDEN. Those who are thinking of altering ta-, arragement af their flower borders may soon get to work. One of the facts of present-time gardening is the certainty that hardy plants will be in larger demand in the future than they have been in the past. And when I speak of hardy plants I take in all hardy things that are not too large for the position they are to occupy. In every garden there is room for a few trees and shrubs—and fortunately there are in the nurseries, ready to our hands, trees and shrubs suit- able for every position. But before anything is planted, have the ground thoroughly prepared and, if necessary, manured. Break it up as deeply as it will bear-not necessarily bringing up the bad subsoil to the top, but let the air into it, and so take the first step to its per- manent improvement. The position for Roses must, be treated liberally in the matter of mam re, and new soil may be added, if possible. Those who attach importance to what are termed Garden Rosee, must not neglect the Teas, only make the soil a little lighter by adding leaf-mould or charred garden re- fuse. The last-named material helps to drain and warm the soil, and Tea Roses appreciate it. Besidea the Teas, the Polyantha Roses are charming for grouping, and Turner's Crimson Rambler—the latest addition to the Polyantha class-will be a. charming thing for the small garden, to clothe arches and hide dirty walls. I shall have something more to say about the best plants, shrubs, &c., during the autumn; in the meantime get the beds and borders prepared, so as to be ready to plant not later than the middle of October. All darly-flowering bulbs such as Daffodils, Snowdrops, Scillas, Crocuses, &-c., should be planted soon, and the single and double scarlet Anemone should be got in early. What a pity the beautiful double scarlet Anemone does not succeed everywhere! In some places it grows like a weed, in others it gradually dwindles and disappears. I have always found it do better where the land has been heavily dressed with leaf-mould and charred refuse. There is no difficulty in getting plenty of tufted Pansy cuttings now. Very often rooted cut- tings may be plucked from the centre of the plants, and these, if dibbled in the cutting bed, will make good plants. PRUlT GARDEN. This is the season to make arrangements for plant- ing fruit-trees and bushes. In small gardens we want the best kinds only. In nearly every garden there are worthless fruit trees and bushes, which are permitted to remain because a blank space is objected to. Better have a blank space than a worthless tree. However, it is not necessary to put up with useless trees or blank spaces. When a tree is cumbering the ground grub it up, break up the ground, and change some of the soil by biinging fresh from the vegetable quarter near. If success is desired, it is not wise to plant a young tree in the same soil from which an old tree has been removed. I can recommend the follow- ing dozen Gooseberries for cooking or preserving green, or to ripen for dessert: Crown Bob, White- smith, Ironmonger, Green London, Red London, Lancashire Lad, Warrington, Industry, Berry's Early Kent, Telegraph, Rifleman" and Keepsake. Goose- berries do well trained as espaliers, and the large- berried varieties should be grown in this way for des- sert they are easily protected from birds. Wire is cheap enough, and anybody can make a Gooseberry trellis. The best Currants are—Red Grape and Raby Castle, White Versailles, White Trans- parent (good for dessert), Black Champion, and Lees Prolific. Do not crowd the bushes. Gooseberries should be six feet apart, Red and White Currants five feet apart, and Black Currants 6ft. apurt. Norwich Wonder and Baum- forth's Seedling are good Raspberries. Very few people think of manuring their fruit-bushes, but really fine fruit cannot be obtained without help occasionally. This help may be given in the forin of a mulch of manure spread over the surfaoe beneath the bushes, as soon as the pruning is done, to be forked the bushes, as soon as the pruning is done, to be forked in later on when opportunity serves. Remove all surplus growth from open-air Grapes. I am afraid these will not ripen this year, but even green Grapes make excellent home-made wine. Black Cluster, Miller's Burgundy, and White Muscadine are the best for the open air. VEGETABLE GARDEN. During the autumn look up everything likely to be useful as manure, as it is impossible to garden profit- ably without manure. Study the character of the soil; for heavy soils use stable manure, and anything of a light nature, such as decayed vegetable matter, charred material, or burnt earth. Manure light land with the softer, moister manure from the pigs and cows. Lime may be freely used in old garden?, especially where fruit-trees are growing. Scarcely anyone uses enough lime more from want of knowledge than because they wish to starve the garden. Artificials are useful for pushing on a crop and to give finish. Heavy retentive land may be manured during winter, and the manure may be used in a fresher condition than would be thought desirable for light land, where a good deal of the strength would be washed away before the roots could reach it. Sort the Potatoes carefully as they are lifted, and do not leave diseased Potatoes lying about the land, nor yet heaps of tops to harbour slugs and snails. Green Potato tops will not burn, or else I should recommend that they be converted into manure this way; but if they could be withered and dried a little, they might be burnt, if a good fire were made first with old pea-sticks, cuttings, hedge- prunings, and other similar material. Cover Cucum- ber frames at night now. WINDOW GARDEN. Look over Ferns in case, and with a small pair of scissors trim out all dead and discoloured fronds. The common Club Moss (Lycopodium denticulatum) is a very pretty creeping plant for covering bare places among the Ferns and, where plants are grown in pots, a few pieces planted round the edges will hang down gracefully. GRASSES IN POTS. Many grasses, even common ones, are worthy of being grown for their ornamental qualities, especially for table decoration. We grow some kinds in pots, and employ them for the greenhouse, where their light delicate forms harmonise in a pleasing manner with those of the ordinary occupants of such struc- tures. The kinds which we principally grow f this purpose are the different sorts of Quaking Grass (Briza), some of the smaller sorts of Agrostis (especially A. pulchella), Lagurus ovatus, whose white cotton-like heads of flowers are very distinct and pretty, and the lovely Feather Grass (Stipa pennata). For this purpose we sow the seeds early in spring in 6in. pots, and then place them in a frame. A slight heat will assist their germination, but it must not be continued after they are above ground, otherwise weak and attenu- ated growth will be the result. As soon as ours show themselves we give plenty of air whenever possible; and as thts become full of roots we give them a little manure-water occasionally. In other respects they get but ordinary care and at- tention, the principal point to be considered being to see that they do not get too dry at the roots, for if that happens the foliage soon wears a sickly hue and the beauty of the Grass becomes lost. The Brizas are especially susceptible of drought. In sow- ing the seed care must be taken not to sow too thickly. The Quaking Grass and Lagurus dislike being trans- planted, though the Agrostis and Stipa will succeed very well if pricked off in little clumps when about an inch high. The bearded Hordeum jubatum is also very pretty, but it does not last long its flower- heads soon drop to pieces. We sow a few rows of a great many Grasses in the open ground, and find them extremely useful in a cut state. TROPiEOLtTJt SPECIOSCtf. Some people find a difficulty in growing the desir- able climber. I do not think it matters so much, after all, about the character of the soil in which it is set so long as it is sweet; and as regards hardiness, I fancy the plant not only endures our worst frosts, but is often expected to do duty in situations too warm for it. The most important but simple part of the business of establishing it, I take to be the observance of the proper time for dividing the roots; they ought, according to my experience, to be planted in pots about the end of the year, just when they are push- ing, and should be newly dug-out tubers; they should be allowed to start naturally, plunged in moist sand in the shelter of a cold frame (no water should be given), and in Aprrl they may be set in their per- manent quarters, a cool, half-shady corner, whero winds cannot rend the runners, being best. In short, a cool eituation, timely planting, and preservation from wet until growth begiue have yieklecl Satisfactory renults.

AMERICAN HUMOUR. BROWN What tobacco are you smoking most of now ?" Bunker Other fellows' Tiie bride's father gave her away, did he not?" More than that. He threw in 150,(500dol. to boot." Hn: "She has very handsome teeth." She: Why shouldn't she, when her brother is a dentist ?" WIIAT'S Cholly doing?" "Trying to collect hia thoughts." Poor fellow. He isn't the first to have trouble with bad debts." WILL you marry me ?" I am already engaged to four men." But you can only marry one, you know. Let me be the one." So you are not going to send your son to college?" Uncle Oatbin "'Tain't no use; don't care nothin' fur games an' never did." NELL "What makes you think your new suitor is entirely too honest ?" Belle Because he wouldn't even steal a kiss." ETHEL: What did you do when your fianc6 said he was going to have his moustache shaved off?" Maude: Oh, I set my face against it." YABSLEY You fellows came home from your fishing trip empty-handed, didn't you ?" Mudge: ,,e Yes, our hands were empty." HE: You are the only girl I ever loved She Oh, never mind that. The main question is, am I the only girl you ever will love?" WHAT did the lecturer say when the cabbage hit his chest?" "He said that such attentions quite took his breath away." J ESS I've had over a dozen offers of marriage already this season." Bess: Good gracious Who from ?" Jess: Jack." HERDSO: Why didn't you defend your wife's suit for divorce ?" Saidso I had known for years that what she said was law." Wiyu And did Mr. Gay really say I was posi- tively dove-like ?" Husband: Something of that sort. He said you were pigeon-toed, I believe." WIFE: "That new girl sleeps like a log, and I never can get her up in the morning." Husband (struck by a bright idea): Let the baby sleep with her." BASHFUL BACHELOR: Say, didn't you find it pretty hard work to pop the question ?" Bold Benedict: Not at all; you see, I married a widow." MRS. HILAND "I don't like to see girls throw kisses. It is so immodest." Mr. Hiland: Yes and then they are usually such poor marksmen." "How did you come to break with Miss Sweet- lips? You always said she was as good as gold." Yes; but I got acquainted with a girl who had the gold." SHE was eight years old, and I said she looked ten, And the little maid was glad; But at eighteen I took her for twenty, and then This same little maid got mad. "YOUR wife takes great interest in the woman question." "She does, sir she is so much taken up with the rights of woman that she forgets men have any." MRS. BINGO Can't I have a bicycle, dear ?" Bingo Pshaw! you'd never learn." Mrs. Bingo Well, I've had enough practice working the sewing machine." JOIINNY, you're not tanned much for a boy who has been at the seashore." Nope I've been good. Mommer said she'd tan me if I didn't behave, an' I behaved." THEY say Sphoftley was badly bit by that hand- some Miss Phlirtem the other night." I'm not surprised. I saw her throw her eyes at him several times." EDITH What makes you think that Charley is in love with you ?" Maude: Why, ma talked to him over half-an-hour last evening, and he really seemed to enjoy it." EVERETT WREST Lady, if you would like to have some wood sawed-" Mrs. Potts "We burn gas." Then perhaps you will let me turn on the gas for me breakfast." CUSTOMER: "How soon can you cut my hair?" Barber "John, run over and tell the editor if he's done editin* the paper to send me my scissors. Gentleman waitin' for a haircut." SAY, I don't believe that story about Mrs. Dan- son's hair turning grey in a night, do you?" Susie: Mercy, yes! That's nothing my mamma turned hers yellow in half a day." WYLIE (talking over college days) "And whatever become of Duller, tlia only fellow in tin «lau wbu was always at the foot 1" De Biggs: Professional chiropodist, the last I heard." HE asked the maiden for a kiss— His love he could not smother; She said (in fun) Should you take one, You'd surely want another I" He shook his head and firmly said I will not ask for two With sweet surprise she murmured: "All The other fellows do!" Do you think Sickles will recover soon ?" asked the invalid's friend. H'm'm," replied the physician, thoughtfully. My answer depends on whether you mean phvsically or financially.' "I CALL him a bouncing baby," said the father, toitsing the infant in the air, considering the fact that we're raising him on the bottle." How else do you raise babies, sah ?" inquired the Kentucky colonel, eyeing him sharply. "HERB'S somethin'great—simply great!" exclaimed the street fakir, as he blocked the path of a portly citizen. I don't doubt it," was the reply. But I belong to the class of people, sir, wno object to having greatness thrust upon them." A REMARKABLE story comes from Salem, N. J., con- cerning a hen which was buried under a barn for four months and brought out alive. The story is told by a Philadelphian who claims to have been on the ground, and he tells it as though he, at least, is fully convinced of the truth of his statements. About a year ago, so the narrator begins his story, my boy was down in Salem with his dog, which unearthed a nest of 'possums in a barn. As soon as the boy and dog got down there this year the dog went right for this same spot in the barn. He created such an uproar that everyone thought he had found another nest of the same kind. After the boards of the floor had been torn up an old hen was pulled out. She was so weak, that she could not stand, and every time she attempted to she fell forward on her head. She did not try to eat much, but drank water for two hours with but few intermissions. The old hen had been buried in that hole for months without anything to eat or drink, but she is doing all right now." He 0' explained that he knew the hen had been there at lease four months because there were two sheddings of feathers. A hen, he says, sheds its feathers every two months. A FEW nights ago, on a train coming east on the Michigan Central road, the porter of a sleeping-car aroused half a dozen of the male sleepers to ask if they had anything to cure a case of colic. A drummer for a city hardware house fumbled around in his coat and finally said Here's a box of soda- mints which may help him. He can use the whole box and be hanged to him, for he's no business to have colic!" Nothing further was heard of the case until morning, when a strapping young man, with a far west look to his hair, came into the sleeper with the mint box in his hand and inquired for the drummer and said Took 'em all but one, and they smashed my collic right in the eye. How much to pay?" Nothing, sir. I'm only too glad to have been of service to you." When the other had gone the drummer opened the box and we saw his hair trying t9 climb up. "Great Scott, boys, but what do you think?" he gasped. What is it ?" I gave him the wrong box, and he's swallowed eleven bone collar buttons!" YES, sir," said the clerk briskly, we have lace of all kinds. Would you like to see Valenciennes or point lace ?" It's a shoe lace I want," explained the customer. HE was a testy old chap, and when he found there was no steam heat in the hotel fthis happened last January) and it would cost him half a dollar for a .fire in his room, he got into a huff, and went off to bed in the cold. It was real cold, too, and the old fellow almost froze before he could undress, and when he got under the cover, it wasn't much better, for there wasn't enough cover in the house to make that room warm on such a night. About three o'clock in the morning a loud rap came on his door, followed by a lot more. What do you want ?" he asked with his teeth chattering. Get up, quick There's a fire in the basement!" came the alarming response. Go 'way from there and let me alone," he shouted back. There were several kicks on the door, and the man in the hall yelled: "Get np; the house is afire, and you'll be burned up." Go 'way from there, I tell you," shouted the testy guest. I'm glad to know there's a fire somewhere in the house, and I'm going to stay where I am till it gets up here. I'd like to know what this room would feel like if it was warm." Twenty minutes later a fireman from a ladder took the testy guest out of tht window.

THE WOMAN'S WORLD. VBRY long ostrich plumes, the longer the better, are coming into favour. Some of the new ones wind around the crown of the hat and fall over at one side. An extreme style shows the plume sweeping the shoulder. This was formerly a very popular fashion, and will doubtless prevail to quite an extent during the coming winter. The only difficulty will be the impossibility of getting fine and softly curling plumes such as one desires to wear on the finest hats. GLOVES of black undressed kid are fashionable. They are not always comfortable to wear, and should be avoided by ladies whose hands have the slightest inclination to perspire. CIIILDRHN'S suits are made of two colours, with hose to match. A dress of blue and grey has the yoke, sleeves, belt, and stockings of blue, the rest of the costume being of grey. FUR-LINED circulars are among the coming proba- bilities. They are, of course, the legitimate outcome of the present fashion for capes. Capes are growing longer, and, as the cool days come on, they will in- crease in length and be of heavier material. DRESSES with narrow skirts may be made fashion- able by ripping the breadths half the distance up the skirt and setting in these openings A-shaped sections of any suitable material. A stylish dress of this sort is a thick peau de soie, with the added sections of velvet draped with lace. THE autumn hosiery (according to the Morning Advertiser) is very varied, and the colourings and combinations of shades show much judicious selec- tion. The present craze for athletics of all kinds has produced suitable stockings in which tweed and heatner mixtures predominate, and checked and tartan hosiery manufactured in any style or colour to match the costume is exceedingly popular. A decided novelty is seen in some blacK cashmere stockings shot with various colours, euch as blue, white, old gold, green, and pink. Some shooting hosiery has a woollen foundation with a small silk square on it, this being of a lighter shade than the groundwork. Somewhat startling are the black cashmere hose with coloured stripes the whole length of the leg, whilst another make has these in various combinations, such as red and white, blue and old gold, &c. In some cases the stripes are diagonal, but the generality of stockings have perpendicular lines. Spun silk hosiery is more popular than any other kind at the present time, and its reasonable price is not one of its least attractive features. These are to be had in an endless variety-openwork lace- fronted, striped, plain, and embroidered. A black spun silk stocking is of that hue only half-way up the leg, the remainder being of pale blue, pink, green, heliotrope, or old gold. Very taking are the suide shades made to matoh the popular suede shoes. In lighter makes there is the comfort- able Lisle thread hosiery, manufactured in all colours, and in designs as varied as those to bo found in the spun silk. For those who do not care for the open- work lace fronts there are some stockings with &tripes formed by a drop stitch, which give a slight trans- parent effect. The designs in embroidered hosiery are multifarious, and the more elaborate Samples show combinations of openwork and em- broidery in the highest degree artistic. Amongst the novelties in evening gloves are some very dainty French ones in suede and kid in pale abades, finished off with a double frill of cream- coloured lace, run through with coloured bebe ribbons. These draw the glove in to fit the arm closely. This style is also adopted to day gloves, which are necessarily much shorter and in darker shades. In black sufide stitched with a colour these are exceedingly stylish, and there are many lovely shades of fawn, grey, and mushroom similarly treated. The lace on these is usually black, and the points and buttons correspond. Another new evening glove is of suede or kid to the wrist, with a continuation up the arm of fine black lace, which harmonises with the garniture on the gown. For day wear there is an infinite variety of thick suede and cbevrette, and of fur-lined and trimmed gloves. A comfortable kind has the hand lined with IambswooJ, the wrist having white rabbit-skin. Natural raccoon, beaver, golden-otter, and mmW used £ ov glove garni- tures to harmonise with the fur on tile jacket or mantle. The buttons on gloves are much larger than formerly, and when possible match the prevailing tone in them. A NOVELTY is a double glove-tiiat is, an outer one of kid, lined with suede, which renders it doubly warm. It is equally as soft and pliable as an ordinary glove, and is more becoming to the hand than the fur-lined ones. The Biarritz glove without buttons is a shapely model much favoured by our Royal ladies. None but neutral shades will be worn with evening toilettes, and perhaps the most popular shade is a lovely delicate one of pale heliotrope. Another novelty, which is quaint rather than pleasing in appearance,is aglovewithalacehandresemblingthe old-fashioned mitten of our grandmothers' days, only with the addition of whole fingers instead of having these cut off a little below the second knuckle. As is usual at this reason, there is (observes the Standard) quite an embarrassment of now materials of all kinds suitable for autumn and winter wear. Caraculb cloth is one of the leading novelties; cor- duroy cloth is very durable. The new friezes in dark shades have tiny flat loops of a lighter shade; others having little raised black patterns on coloured grounds. Of tweeds and checks tiae Braeniar and to Rathlin" may be named; the former, a very small brown check with an overcheck of larger pattern in faint lines of brown and yellow, on red and green. This makes up admirably. The Welsh tweeds and serges are of ex- cellent quality, good colouring, and effective de- signs and the soft, curly-surfaced boucló cloths, in all the latest shades of colour, make warm and stylish winter gowns. Most of the new cloths show black designs in bold relief on colour, green, red, brown, and blue grounds. One called the Normandy" much resembles chenille in effect. Those cloths interwoven in two colours in imitation of basket work are popular, as are the diagonal Harris" cloths, which always appear to keep in fashion. In moires the most recent introduc- tions are the grain de poudre and the caméléon, in which, as the name implies, there are changes of colour; the watering is very bold and handsome, brown on petunia, light pink on blue, pervenche on deeper purple,and green on gold, being good examples. The satin brocades shuw fine colourings, especially the floral kinds; a brocade called guipure," is in light grounds, with a lace pattern in black over it. Black on colour is characteristic of silks and satins as well as cloths. The Empress and Duchess Irish poplins are in lovely shades of the new reds, pinks, blues, greens, and greys. In silks the "Verglae," with- its horizontal cords atld pretty silvery surface, is charming. Chené silks still keep their place, and the early Victorian period is very evidently being drawn on for both design and colour- ing. The grounds are chiefly shot with spots of vague colours misty greens and blues, indescribable yellows, browns, and reds—having a grandmotherly appearance. Two materials are now being combined in most dressos, and woollens are trimmed with silk, satin, or vel-fet. Chenes are useful, as they blend well with the colourings of the thicker fabrics.

PRISON VISITOR "And what brought you here, my poor man ?" Convict: Having too much time on my hands." Visitor Ah is indeed the parent of crime.3 Convict: "Thataint it, sir. I was caught with three watches in my pocket that I couldn't account for." A YoyNG YorLshireman joined the 60th Rifles some time ago, and in one year and seven months' service, through breaking leave and general insubordination, he passed 13 ninths in gaol. The colonel at last determined to give him hIs discharge. lIe was brought into the office, and placed before his com- manding officer. After being severely spoken to by the colonel for his past conduct, he saluted, and asked if he migi. be allowed to speak. Yes," said the officer, and be sharp ;il- iut it." Please sir," replied the man, when shall I come for my pension ?"