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•FARMING NOTES.
• FARMING NOTES. P UNCOMMON ArRIL CRorpINGS. Owing to March not having tee-i a favourable month for despatching spring tillage work, 11:1' majority of fanners it may be presumed (writes J. D. in be Agricultural Gazette) will have enough tc do to get over their customary sowings of barley end oats in good time for mangel-sowing this year. As most experienced farmers are fully aware, April is the proper month for putting in the mangel wurzel crop but as often as not this work is driven out till May, and some farmers in the South of England are accustomed to put in mangel very late in that month. fn the ea,l), p,,rt of the century they were unknown, and, incli,eil, in some districts mangels are stiil considered an un- common crop for spring cultivation. In recent. years it has been depended on more and more red taken every successive j ear a larger shire of the root crop well-nigh throughout the Southern half of England, as the Agricnltnral Returns sufficiently prove. What, then, are the uncommon crops "hiqh are sometimes put in ? There are a few which have special value in the eyes of farmers here and there, who would not neglect their culture on any accouut whatever. Of course I do not regard potatoes any more than mangels as an uncommon field crop, for it has always been made one of the principal ones in many districts; but there is flax, the advocacy of cultivating which has been revived of late. Flax ought to be put in not later than the middle of April if sown at all, not being likely to come to so great a height of stalk or to get the stalks covered with so much fibre if put in later. I am not going to discuss the advantages or disadvantages of flax-growing, which may be dis- missed in a few words. In districts where there is a ready market for the fibre or the straw it is worth growing, because it occupies the land a very Bhort period, for, sown in April, it is ripe and fit to harvest in July in sufficient time for a turnip or silage crop to follow; and I have known a green crop to precede it in spring on a good deep arable Boil, so that three crops were actually realised in one year. It requires a great deal of knowledge and skill, however, to produce flax fibre fit for our linen manu- facturers, and it is no longer worth while growing it for the sailcloth manufacturers, who get their raw material cheaper from the Continent than British farmers can afford to grow it. As hemp is another crop requiring to be sown for in April, it can scarcely be passed over without mention, especially as early ia the present century it was grown rather extensively on some few rich deep soils. The plants grew 5ft. or 6ft. high, and, being leguminous, appropliatcd a great deal of nitrogen from the atmosphere. But one great objection against it was that stripping off the fibre had to be effected by hand. Field women and other cottagers were supplied with a few bundles each of the hemp sheaves every day, that they and their children might strip the stalks of the valu- able fibre at their own homes in the evenings. The necessity of hand labour was what drove the crop out of cultivation and although farmers of the present day are strongly advised to reintroduce it, on the plea that effective scutching machinery baa now been invented to separate the fibre from the Etalks both of Baj: and hemp, this reason has not proved sufficient as yet to cause the latter crop to come into favour again. When first introduced the scutching machines for flax were very wasteful of the fibre, causing a large proportion of it to go to tow. This may possibly be the reason why flas has not been re-' introduced anywhere to any very general extent, while the advantages of hemp-growing are entirely ignored. Turning to the three green crops, cabbage, kohl rabi, and thousand-headed kale, the only question that arises is whether their seeds should be drilled in April into the fields intended to grow them, or whether nurseling plants should not rather Le raised in beds of good rich land was to be planted out later in the season. The latter system suits the majority of farmers best, for two reasons, the chief one being that, April being such a peculiarly busy month for crop- ping, if it can be relieved of this work it ia a great advantage. The other reason is that by properly" marking out breadth reduced to a nice tilth in Mny or the early part of Jiire the plants can be transferred to the places where they are intended to grow, and pricked in there by women or boys whereby the expense of singling out-one of the most techiiical- operations the labourer is called on to perform-is entirely saved. There are some farmers, however, who fancy they get heavier weights both of kohl rabi and autumn cabbages by drilling the seed in April where the crop is intended to be raised than by transplanting later on. The late Professor Buckman, and before him the Rev. Anthony Huxtablp, were great advocates of growing cabbages in this way. Thousand-headed kale is grown very much in Kent for lambs to feed on in autumn, becoming a substitute for rape when this is done, and being pre- ferred to rape because it dees not engender gases In the stomach like the latter, which is sometimes the cause of great losses. If kale is to be got forward for this object, earlier maturity may probably be obtained by drilhng in the seed where the crop is required to be grown than by adopting transplanting. Rape itself is usually sowed or drilled in in April when required to serve the same object of sheep feeding in autumn, and there are numerous flockmasters who will tell you that whatever else they neglect they Yousr, put in a field of rape for the ram lambs or the fattening wether lambs to have dainty forcing food early in autumn. Some prefer a mixed crop of spring vetches and rape to serve the same object, and two reasons have been advanced why this is better than rape alone. Some- times it is said the summer turns out more favourable to the spring vetches than to the rape, and in other cases it is the reverse; the grower gets the benefit either way, both kinds of produce being exceedingly nutritive. The other reason is that there is not so much risk of the lambs contracting gastritis or colic when the spring vetches are grown with the rape. When this mixed crop is grown it is generally put in in April. Carrots are a field crop occasionally very highly appreciated, and the seed ought certainly to be de- posited rather early in the April month because it takes considerable time to germinate. Our leading seedsmen have brought field carrots to a high degree of perfection, and a considerable weight per acre can be obtained of the White Belgian kird. which, although not so nutritions or well adapted for horses as the Red Altrincham, must be regarded as admir- able food for milch cows in winter. There are stone brash soils better adapted for carrots than for swedes, and probably this root would be adopted much more generally into field culture than it is at present but for the seeding-time falling at a period when most farmers require to be busy with other things. In the North of England and Scotland where farmers are unable to grow those winter catch-crops winch in the Southern half of the kingdom are a grand resource for silage, it has been found very neces- sary to put in a mixed corn crop in spring to be con- verted to silage when matured. This is a departure which has been taken on heavy land farms in the neighbourhood of Darlington. A mixture of oats, spring vetches, with sometimes spring wheat and rys included, is considered far better than one kind of grain seeded alone, and the April month, after the Lent corn-sowing has been completed, is gene- rally chosen for this kind of cropping. Beans have sometimes been added, and probably no greater bulk of crop can be raised to serve the object than beans and vetches, especially if it could have been planted in February or March. Heavy-land farmers find that they are more and more thrown on the ensilage system to provide succulent food for winter stock- keeping. A silage crop of the kind indicated can be raised much cheaper than a root crop, whether it be swedes or mangels, on most heavy soils. Hence it is by no means unnatural that experienced farmers in t ue North should regard it as of undoubted impor- tance to put in a crop of the kind in April. There is still another uncommon crop, although pei haps the oldest of all, which is the one of mixed corn called dredge, with which many South-country farmers in olden times were familiar and remarkably fond of. Very early in the century, and probably J- ng before, it was customary after the oats, barley. and peas bad been put in to make a mixture of dif- ferent varieties of corn to sow into other breadths that there might be a provision of horse corn for the w nter. There was always a very prevalent impres- sion that the more kinds of grain were mixed together the better the crop would be. At all events they pro- teased to have made the discovery that a mixed crop cf. barley and oats would yield more grain than either of those varieties sown into the same land singly, but no! a few of the old farmers were accustomed also to mix smaller proportions of rye, peas, and sometime* taring wheat with the baretyacdottta. C J
j...GARDENING GOSSIP.
j GARDENING GOSSIP. (From" Gardening Illmstrated.") CARJTATIONS.. < Although by sowing teed raised from carefully hybridised flowers wp get good plants of healthy, vigorous habit and well-formed blooms, there are only two methods by which we can be certain of get- ting phnts of any desired colour. These are by layering and cuttings or pipings. -The latter method of increase is more usually practised with the beauti- ful forms of tree or winter-blooming varieties. Nor does the habit of this section lend itself so well to layering as the border and Malmaison varieties. A piece of young growth should be pulled out—say, 3in. long, a few of the lower leaves or grass carefully removed, the bottom of the piping cut off clean with a sharp knife, and then slit up about half-an-inch. This is not absolutely necessary, but we find it rather more successful. It presents a larger surface for callus and root formation. A very sandy compost is wanted;- Some growers use sharp sand only, but the addition of a little light loam is an advantage. Place 10 or 12 around the edge of a 51-incli pot, thoroughly drain, water well, and 2 let the surplus dry off a little before placing them in a close propagating-case, or even a box covered with glass. A temperature of 65deg. to 70deg. is good at this season, but the chief points are toavoid damping off and to keep them quite close until rooted. Shallow trays of about three inches are often filled with a sandy compost, and a layer of dry sand placed over all before dibbling in the pipings. In a month or so, provided other treatment is correct, a mass of little roots will be formed. Inure them to a little more air before placing into single pots, and then use deep thimble-pots, in the bottom of which drop a small pinch of sifted ashes as drainage. Add a little leaf-soil to the compost they were rooted in, and pot fairly firm. Stand in the case again for a few weeks, gradually giving more air and re- ducing the temperature to 55deg. and 60deg. Pot on as occasion demands, and gradually afford a richer compost. Carnation-pipings need careful watching, as they are apt to damp off freely. It is also well to select growth neither soft nor hard, but upon the soft side rather than otherwise. Carnations rooted now and grown on from the first will give an excellent crop of winter bloom. During the end of September and until November they are gay, and again early in the I spring months. After the pipings are taken, and spring bloom past, it is not much use keeping the old plants round for a second season, as those rooted each spring not only thrive better, but are less trouble I¡ as regards culture and room required. The rooted pipings may be planted outside if you are short of I' house room and pots. Make up a bed of sandy loam, in which a little coal-soot has been mixed, and plant them out 6in. to 9in. apart. De very sure that no wireworms infest the soil, nor slugs have I access to the young plants. A very gentle dusting of dry coal-soot occasionally will help them, and be obnoxious to insects at the same time. Before turn- ing the young plants out harden them off in a cool pit or frame. Do not transplant until early or aiid June. Lift again and pot early in September. Place in the cool pit for a time, and then bring, into II the cool greenhouse for winter and spring blooming. HARDY FERNS. A collection of hardy Ferns forms an important addition to any garden,-and if arranged as far as possible in a natural manner, they may be made to assume almost as beautiful an appearance as they do in a wild state. It is difficult to lay down upy definite rules for the construction of a fernery, eo much depending upon the position which it is to occupy and the space a command. In fixing on the site, the firstthing to be aimed at should be a slightly- shaded, secluded nook. not one that can be seen from the windows of the dwelling-house, nor yet from the flower garden, but a part that is unexpectedly come upon when walking around the grounds, (and this may be done in a very limited spnee). The I situation for such a fernery should be one that is sheltered from boisterous winds. Moisture, too, is essential to the well-being of hardy Ferns, but this cannot always be given in sufficient quan- tity to carry them safely through 'hot summers, so that provision for watering when required is; ad- viable. In forming a fernery, some object to tree- roots because they often breed fungi; but I have never found any inconvenience in that way from their use. Anything like straight lines must be avoided, If the space to be occupied be long rather than broad, it should be broken up here and there so as to form miniature dells, recosses, and projections but all should have as rustic an appearance as possible. The j plants in all cases should be allowed sufficient space in which to develop themselves. Where outdoor Ferns have hitherto failed to do well, they have very often been cramped for space. What is wanted is breadth and length of ground, height being of 9 secondary importince. If the fernery be so arranged that it can be traversed by a narrow pathway, from which the plants could be examined, all the better. The stones and roots employed should be placed in as natural a manner as possible. Any- one who has searched for Ferns in their native haunts cannot fail to have observed that they luxuriate in a light sandy soil, and this must form the main bulk of the soil of the fernery. I have, however, many times used cocoa-nut fibre mixed with turfy loam, and it has always appeared to answer admirably. For very delicate sorts of hardy Ferns a compost may be formed of peat, leaf-mould, and loam, with a sprinkling of silver-sand to keep ail open and porous but the stronger sorts wi)l succeed best in loam without the addition of. peat. When I have used cocoa-nut fibre I have found that it retains a considerable amount of moisture without becoming sodden. Fern-roots of hardy kinds being generally of a wiry nature, they will often grow in almost any soil that is of ordinary. texture, but it ought not to be heavy. Ferns generally dislike manure, whether it be solid or liquid. In arranging the plants I would not separate the evergreen from the deciduous kinds, but so dispose of them that when the foliage of the latter dies down in winter. there would ftill remain enough evergreen kinds to inte- rest the cultivator. I would, therefore, plant plenty of sorts that would retain their verdure throughout the winter-such, for instance, as the Blechnumq, Scolopendriums, Polystichums, and Polypodiums. In planting, an error of too common an occurrence must be avoided-viz., that of planting too deeply. Generally speaking, the crowns of the plants must be kept well above the soil, but they should be made firm, and the stronger-growing sorts should be planted first. Dwarf-growing varieties, with fine fronds, should have the most sheltered nooks assigned to them. If a very damp spot exists in the fernery a place must be afforded for the Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis). A liat of the many hardy Ferns is not given here, inasmuch as most cultivators have their own particular favourites. I may, however, add that a small hardy fernery may be constructed in any shady corner where flowering plants will not succeed, and if arranged with good taste and judgment, it wiU alwavs be a source of enioyment to the cultivator. CHRYSANTHEMUMS AGAINST SOUTH WALLS. These plants do well against fences or walls with a south aspect, such warm quarters suiting them during their flowering season. The plant will succeed if grown in long window-boxes, providing attention as regards watering, &c., is given them during the grow- ing season. They will, however, give a splendid return if planted out in thn ordinary garden soil in such a position. For October bloom- ing the following are free-flowering and pretty Mme. la Comtesse Foucher de Cariel, old-gold Rye- croft Glory, bronzy-yellow Rio des Precoces, deep crimson Vice-president Hury, yellow, shaded red Sam Barlow, bright salmon-pink and Notaire Groz, a lovely lilac-mauve. For November try Mr. Chas. E. Shea, bright yellow; Source d'Or, old-gold Mile. Lacroix, white; John Shrimpton, rich crimson Miss Gorton, cream, tinted rose and Pallanza, rich yellow. For a south window indoors a few easily- grown sorts are Emily Silsbury, white W. Soward, deep crimson Clinton Chalfont, rich yellow Wil- liam Tricker, delicate rose Viviand Morel, silvery mauve and Chas. Davis, rosy-bronze. —
[No title]
BOBIHSOIT bad to severely reprimand his little girl the other day for some act of naughtiness. The child flew into a temper, and started howling, and kept it up for ten minutes. Suddenly she stopped abruptly. Well," said Robinson, thankfully, you've finished at last, eh ?" No," said the little one, ferociously; I'm just resting a bit, so that I can cry more." Mas. HRNFECKEU is one of those wives there is no pleasing. On the return of her husband from the City last week, she treated him thusly: "Oh, Adolphus," ahe exclaimed, how abort you have bad your haircut I" "But, my dear Angelina," replied Mr. H., meekly, I haven't bad my hair cut at all." j "Then it ia high time you bad," returned Mrs. U., jwerely.
AMERICAN HUMOUR. ,,..--....-.
AMERICAN HUMOUR. MRS. WRIGHT has bad her portrait painted as a surprise for her husband. She takes him to the studio, the arttist steps to the easel, draws asidB the drapery, and stands very expectantly. Mr. "Wright looks attentively at the painting, and says: Aw- very well done-interesting subject—who is it'" I AM inexpressibly sorry, Mr. Smithers," she said, "to learn that when you called the other day Tiger bit, you." Oh! that's all right," be said, with a forced effort to be cheerful. No, it isn't," she sobbed; the poor little fellow has been ill ever since." i- HOJACK I hear that you are building a new house." Tomdik: Yes; I couldn't very well build au old one, you know." B. You have a magnificent library!" W.: "Yes. When I think of the amount of money I've sunk in that collection of books, it makes me feel quite intellectual." SCENE: A public eating-hotise. Pert youth addresses waitress: "Bring me one of your dog biscuits, miss." Yes, sir, if you'll promise to eat it on the mat." Miss PLUTUS: "But, Captain Hawleigb, would you love me when I grow old and ugly?" The Captain (gallantly): You may grow older, my dear Miss Plutus, but you can never grow uglier." And be wondered why she rejected him. SCBNB A solicitor's office. Enler excited and perspiring caller. "Here, I want to-I must- Pee Mr. Feeful." Clerk: Very sorry, sir, but Mr. Fee- ful died yesterday." Caller (hastily) Oh, well, but I won't detain him a moment." TUAT'S a nice-looking dog," remarked the kindly old gentleman, who takes an interest in everything. Yes, sir he looks all right," replied the seedy indi- vidual, who was leading him with a piece of rope. He looks like a pointer." Yes, sir; that's what he I looks like. But that ain't what he is. He's a disap- pointer." FftisjUD; you SAki-g -leg-theme days, old fellow ?" Author: Very poorly. Living between the hand and the mouth." F.: UI thought 10 from your appearance. Why don't you give up writing and go into some kind of business in which you can earn a comfortable living ?" A u I've often thought of doing so, but the hope of one day making a strike, as you business men call it, keeps me at the pen however, my new book may bring me in something handsome." F.: You are writing a book, than?" A.: Yes." F: What's its title ?" A.: How to Become Rich.' TnAT delightful Captain Casterbridge paid you a great compliment at dinner last evening." What was that ?" He took you for my sister." VISITOR Who do you take after, Bobby, your papa or your mamma?" Bobby Craggs: "That depends. When Aunt Sarah's here, ma says I take after her folks; and when Uncle Silas Creggs-is here, ma says I am a regular Craggs. They're both rich." Somm dentists speak of the rooms in which they receive their patients as parlours." But they ought to call them drawing-rooms." "YES, I am going to get a. bicycle," 4Dxclai wed: a lady the other day. You see," she continued, "i I have been run over so many times that I intend now to see how it feels to run over someone else." MISTER," said the small boy to the drnggist, gimme another bottle o' them patent pills you sold father day before yesterday." Are they doing him good ?" asked the assistant, looking pleased. I d'no whether they're doin' father good or not, but they're doing me good. They just fit my new pop- Sun" BERNARD: "Why are you sad, Mabel, darling?" "I was just thinking, dearest, that this was the last evening that w uldbe together till to-paorrow." SHE: "And so v-ou've not had so much sport to- day, Mr. Murphy. And you look dreadfully blood- thirsty, too." Murphy (gallantly): Sure, now, Miss Rose, and if I only looked as killing as you do, it' a big bag I'd have at the end of the day, without firing a shot." A LONDON furniture-mover paints in large letters on the side of his huge vans the words, Our. Mott'o —' Keep moving. BALDSESS is supposed to be an indication of intelli- gence, yet a man will comb a few long hairs over a bare spot on his head, and th:nk he is deceiving people. A "ICST, if T were far, far away, could you still lov fieggy, what vi, question! I'm surt .»otier you were away the better I shoulH love you." I' MR. OWIJI "I am a self-made man, i,r, I began Itfe as a barefoot boY." gennord: Well, I wasn't born with shoes ott, eItber. "How is your bronchitis getting on?" said one invalid to another. "How do I know ? I haven't asked the doctor about it this. morning." IT is said that a man could easily carry a million I pounds if the money was in £1000 notes. It is worth while for every man to know this, so as to be prepared for an emergency." "THE people seem to be getting tired of this brand of tea," said the wholesale dealer. We'll have to ohange the name of it. WALKER Did you effect a favourable settlement with your ared,iton Wheeler: Yes, they allowed me to keep my bike." I TELL you, the man I respect is the man who can change his opinions." "And the man I respect is the man who can change a £ 10 note." LADY (applying the test) "Ah! what a pity! Ihe handsomest gentleman in the company has got a splash on his waistcoat." (All the gentlemen present looked down in consternation at their vests.) A WELL-KNOWN vicar gives a curious experience. it was his custom to point his sermons with either "Dearly beloved brethren" or "Now, my brothers," until one day a lady member of his congregation took exception to this, and asked him why he always preached to the gentlemen and never to the ladies. I" My dear lady," said the beaming vicar, "one era- braces the other." But not in the church was the reply of the astonished lady. MOTHER Dear me The baby has swallowed that piece of worsted." Father: "That's nothing to the yarns she'll have to swallow if she lives to grow up." How did Nell Glynn look in her new ball-dress?" she asked. "I don't know," be replied; bnt the large majority of her that was out of it looked st.un- ning." "WHAT can I show you, sir ?" inquired the shop- keeper. I w-Ant-lit me see, what do I want ?" replied the absent-minded professor. "Dear me* I cannofVor the life of me remember what it is. Well, it doesn't matter; give me the nearest thing you have to it." FATHER HEALEY was walking on the seashore with a friend who was drinking the waters of the briny" for health's sake. The invalid had taken one glass- ful, and, turning to the father, he said: Do you think I might venture on another glassful?" "Faith, I don't think it will be missed said the father, with a droll glance, as he scanned the watery horizon. IN the early days of South African colonisation an unpopular man was shot, and the verdict offered by the jury was that it "served the deceased right." This was rejected by the court, as was the juiy's second venture, that "deceased met his death by drowning," inasmuch as theie was no water within miles. But the third attempt was approved by the court, to the effect that deceased came by his death through misadventure." CONGRATULATE me I I have at last found a pub- lisher who believes in me. He has accepted my novel." Good boy When does he bring it out ?" Oh, as soon as he can find a printer who has faith in him." "TilEY do say thot marriages are made in hivin," said Mrs. Flynn. "Yis," answered Mr. Flynn; thot's the principal raison Oi want to go there. Oi want to git a crack at the shpalpeen thot made moine OXYGKN, gentlemen, is essential to all animal existence," said the professor, lecturing; there could be no life without it. Strange to say, it was not dis- covered until a century ago, when- What did they do before it was discovered, professor?" asked a student. YOUNG man," began the aged gentleman, I am seventy years old and I don't remember having told a lie." "That's too bad," the young man replied; can't you have something done for your memory r' I TNINK you should have some chicken broth for yonr dinner, said Doctor Boneset. a queer suggestion t' make t' a man in my condition, doctah," replied Mr. Lipsner. How's I gwine t' git chicken —me lying here in bed and can't move ? You don't suppose Ise gwine t' send my ole woman on sich a risky job as dat, do yo' ?" "I WAS at the courthouse to-day," remarked Gilfoyle, and I saw a man sentenced to the peni- tentiary for three years for bigamy." "He had too many wires, eh f replied Bickers. That's my fix exactly, and I can sympathise with the poor fellow.' You ? Wh/,yoa twrsonlr no* wife. I know j
PARISH COUNCILS. -
PARISH COUNCILS. (Questions and Ansu-crs from the 11 Councils' Gazette.") Notice of Parish Meeting.—I am at friendly issue with our Parish Council authorities on the following point. They hold that they are bound by the L.G. rules to give any Beven clear days' notice of a Parish Meeting and, as a matter of fact, did not wst the notice for the meeting on March 18 until after Sunday, 7th ult. I, on the other hand, maintain that the Local Government rule, First Schedule, Form No. 1, merely re-asserts the provision of the L.G. Act, 1894, First Schedule, Part 1, 2, and that this latter must be read in with Section 51 of the Act, and that, therefore, the notice should have been affixed to the church door before Divine service on Sunday, 7th ult. (1) Which is right ? (2) What effect on the validity of the proceedings on the 18th ult. haa the failure to give the statutory notice-if it be failure ? Answer: (1) In our opinion, you are clearly right. (2) We think that the proceedings remain valid until they are set aside by the Queen's Bench. If steps were taken in the Queen's Bench to tlet Midc the proceedings of the meeting, we are afraid they would be very likely to succeed, but the ques- tion is a very difficult one. Charities.—The following appears in the report of the charities of this parish: "There are six small houses in the parish adjoining the churchyard, but it is not known when or in what manner the parish became possessed of them. They are now occupied by six poor families, who are put in by the agent of the local landowner." The rector of the parish has had the sole management of the houses. It is sur- mised that they were originally built by an ancestor of the landowner referred to for the poor of the parish. I The buildings are in a ruinous state. The Parish Council desire to know what bad better be done. \It is thought £50 would make them habitable, but no funds are available. The Parish Council have appointed no trustees of this charity. What would you recommend ? Answer: The Parish Council cannot pay for the repairs out of the rates, and we do not see that the Parish Council have any power to deal with the matter. May we point out that the report seems to use rather misleading langunge ? If the property belongs to a charity, it is hardly correct to say that "the parish became possessed of it." The probable explanation of the fact that it is not known when the parish became possessed of it," is that the parish is not possessed of it, but it is vested in trustees. You may perhaps get some advice from the Charity Commissioners. Assistant Overseer.—A is the owner of a sheep- wash. He proposes to put it in good repair, and then to make it over to the parish, at a nominal annual rent, the Parish Council to manage it and keep it in repair thereafter. As this is private pro- perty, has the Parish Council power to deal with it in this way ? Answer The Parish Council may accept the property as a gift, but we don't think that they can pay any rent for.it, nor do we think that they can spend any money in keeping it in repair, while it re- mains the property of another person. Rateability of Right of Way.—Sir,—I am not quite sure whether the following question comes within the scope of those who give answers in your valuable paper. I have a farm, to which the proper road leading on to the main road is a bad one, over several fields. For many years "a right of way for carts and waggons has been granted 07er a public bridle path, which is in a neighbouring' parish, and is claimed as private property by the owner of the adjoining land (except as far as the bridle path). A few years ago this property changed hands," and the new owner gave me notice to stop my right (for which I had hitherto paid 10s. a year acknow- ledgment). To save further trouble I agreed to pay 50s. a year. Last year the Overseers of the parish, in which the road is, put me on the Rate Book. I have given notice of appeal for the following reasons: (1) That the road is not in my occupation; (2) That I have only an easement of right of way over it for the benefit of my servant; that the rent of the farm is not increased thereby, and that the farm is rated in this parish, and that consequently I am not rate- able. Am I correct in my law? Can you give me any information or assistance in further resisting the claim? Answer: You are clearly not rateable for the right of way. In order to rate yon; it must be shown that you are an "occupier" of land, and it- has been expressly held that the mere grant of a right of way by the owner of land to another person does does not make that other person an "occupier." Occupation involves the right (speaking generally) to exclude other perwns j and in your case yotf have no rrgliw to exclude other persons, azi&fihid owner of the land could give to hslf-ft-doien other persons rights similar to yours. The first step to take is to grve to the .Assessment Committee notice of objection to the valuat ion list,, and, if you then fail to obtain relief, to appeal to Quaiter Sessions. The Ocerseera have rated the wrong person they should have rated the grantor of the right of way at an increased amount, in consequence of the additional vplue of the land to him. We do not answer questions by post. | I Procedure at Parish Meeting for Election of Coun.. cillors.-If the Chairman at the Parish Meeting for the election of Parish Councillors becomes a candi1- date and vacates the Chair, and the Meeting appoints another Chairman, and be also becomes a candidate, can he legally occupy the Chair after it is known to the Meeting that' he is a candidate, or has the Meeting to appoint another Chairman ? Answeri; The Chairman for the time being, if nominated, must at once either withdraw his candidature or vacate the Chair. For the Chairman would have to decide on the validity of the nomination-papers, including his awn, if he were a candidate, and it is a fundamental principle of the English law that "no man shall b6 judge in his own cause." This principle applies to the Chairman first elected or to any substituted Chairman. Overseers' Balance.—The present Overseers of our (Rural) parish will soon bo out of office, and neW jnes elected by the Parish Council. The; outgoing' Overseers will have over £ 60 in hand, which is equal to a 3d. rate. The audit of accounts for year ending March 25 will not be held until probably September or October next. Can the new Overseers force the present ones to hand over the balance before next ludit day ? If so, what steps must they take to secure possession of the money, so as to reduce the next rate ? Answer It is clearly the duty of the outgoing Oiers-iers to hand over money which they have in hand, but it is very difficult to say what are the steps to be taken if they refuse to do so. We think it very unlikely that they will refuse, and, until the difficulty arises, we hope we may be excused from trying to find the best means of solving it. Joint Burial Coin in ittee.- Please state whether a person holding the post of regis rar of burials under this joint committee comprising five parishes, four of which have Parish Meetings, and Parish A a Parish Council, is eligible to be elected a member of the Parish Council of A, he being otherwise qualified. Answer In our opinion be is not disqualified. Appointment of Overseers. A'. the Vestry Meet- ing, two tradesmen (partners), were appointed Over- seers for the present year, one close on 70 years of age and in very delicate health, the other held the appointment only five years ago. They brkh object (and quite reasonably I think, as there are plenty of others eligible). What is your opinion ? Can they refuse? If so, will it be necessary to hold another Vestry Meeting for a fresh choice, or can the Urban District Council appoint two others at the meeting at which the confirma- tion of Overseers should take place ? Answer: If no order of the Local Government Board has been made dealing with the appointment of Overseers, then the Justices (not the Vestry) make the appointment, and though the Justices very often do adopt the sug- gestions of the Vestry, they are not bound to do so, and the persons appointed may ask the Justices not to do so in their case. Then if the Justices confirm (or rather adopt) the suggested appoint- ment by the Vestry, the person appointed may appeal to Quarter Sessions. In the case above supposed, the Urban District Council have nothing to do with the appointment, and it need not be con- firmed by them. But if the Local Government have made an order on the subject, that order must, of course, be looked at. The probability is that it gives the appointment to the Urban District Council, and in that case the Vestry have nothing to do with it. If the District Council make an order which is objected to, the better opinion appears to be that an appeal iies to Quarter Sessions, but there is some doubt about this. In any event there appears to be no necessity for a fresh Vestry Meeting, unless there is an order specially requiring it, which is not likely, j 1\' ¡ 1:.11 f.. .V
IBETWEEN TWO STOOLS:
I BETWEEN TWO STOOLS: A STORY OF NEW YORK OFFICE LIft. Thomas Hood had a difficult task to perform. He was almost in lore with Helen Remick, the pretty typewriter in the office. He was also almost in love wiLh Mary Talbot, who had not as yet made acquaint- ance with a business office, but intended to do so when she had graduated with honours in double- entry bookkeeping. The reader may justly conclude from the foregoing statements that Thomas was rather more in love with himself than with anyone else. His task was, to decide as to which of the two young women he should honour by an offer of his heart and hand. During the process of deciding the question he maintained a tfriendebip with both. Mary Talbot's home and his were side by side. iT*6 nu° "ous^8 were separated only by a hedge, so that Thomas had excellent opportunities of e'.chatig-. ing ideas with Mary on his favourite subjects, which always happened to be hers, or instructing her in tennis or something else equally agreeable. Mary was a pretty, gentle-looking girl who could express very positive opinions on occasion, but who, in gene- ral, was content with listening to those of other people. Thus, by a most convenient sequence of circum- stances, he was able to carry on his investigations with the least possible loss of time and opportunity, devoting his evenings to Mary and his days to Miss Helen the pretty typewriter at the office. Helen was so much like Mary, who, as he bad told her in everything but plain English, wrs his ideal woman, that there was some excuse for his cultivating her acquaintance in the intervals of business. As she proved more attractive with longer acquaintance he easily formed the habit of comparing her with Mary, much to the latter's advantage at first, of course. Gradually, however, he found it more convenient to leave Mary out of the question, and consider Miss Helen solely on her own merits. Thus he arrived by easy and natural stages at the place in which we find him. On a certain morning be started for the office, dwelling less on the anticipation of seeing Helen than on the retrospect of last evening, when Mary had been unusually charming. She had asked his advice on so many points, and thought his knowledge of office requirements, so satisfactory, that he was almost convinced she was the one girl in the world for him. To-day she was to begin her office life as book- keeper to Quille, Penn, and Company. She was much pleased with the office she was to occupy. She had seen it from the opposite side of the street one day as she walked past, and described it to Thomas. It is at the end of the building, where it joins the next one, you know, and the front is all a plate glass window. I don't think it is very large, so it will be delightfully light, even to the very darkest corners." Thomas laughed at that, being by no means devoid of a sense of humour, and Mary explained that she referred to the corners that would be dark in any other office. What else did you find out about it as you walked past?" he asked, still smiling complacently. Not much," she answered. "There is a lovely desk against the wall, one or two chairs,, and a, big calendar hanging beside the desk." I wonder how much more you would have seen if you had stood still and looked as long as you wanted to," he said, with the patronising smile of a man who puts his pet dog through its tricks in ordr to see how smart it is. I certainly shouldn't want' to stare into 'a window under any circumstances," said Mary, in a quiet voice, but flushing indignantly. I saw only what any person might see at a glance." *3feomas liked her not a hit the less for the touch of anger she showed in fact, it was so unusual as to have all the charm of noveltv. I His thoughts were still dwelling on this pleasant I theme when he entered the office. Turning, as usual, to receive Helen's Good-morning," he was met by the preoccupied gaze,of a etrange young woman who sat at the desk sacred to Miss Remick, and whose fingers played over the keys of her typewriter. 1' How in the mischief did she get here ?' was his inward comment, as he passed to his own desk. Wonder where Miss Remick is! She can't have been discharged, or I would have known about it." His coneern had to give way to the dema'ndaof the moment, but at the first available interval'he secure'd an explanation from another clerk, who apparently had a private fund of information. Miss Remick had an advantageous offer from Oldhoy, Hayseed and Company, and asked the chief when she could leave. He turned cranky at her wanting to leave at all, I suppose, -And said slie might go then as well as any time; so she's gone." Thomas was astonished, to say the least. He was in the habit of considering himself of some import- ance in the offlce, as elsewhere, and to find any change made in the staff without his knowledge re- quired some explanation. He would see Miss Helen and find out why she had not mentioned this offer to him. He concluded that the interest he had shown in her justified him in .considering himself badly treated. He did not aik any more questions of the other olerk, who, he thought, had an air of superiority whichr ought not .to be encouraged. But this may have been imagination. The other clerk was a sensible young man, who, when he knew any- thing, did not object to letting other people, know it too. However, Thomas knew where Oldboy, Hayseed. and Company's place of business was, and at noon turned his footsteps towards the streetin which it was situated. His objective point was the office for which Miss Helen had exchanged her former one, and he trusted to his ingenuity to gain admittance and I find an opportunity for a few minutes' conversation with her. lop As he neared the locality, he suddenly recollected that it was the same in which Quille, Penn, and Com- pany were situated. It must be confessed that ho had given yery little thought to Mary since arriving at the office, and now be lessened his speed and became somewhat thougbtful., His first feeling was distinctly one of pleasure that he would probably have time to catch a glimpse of her before he returned, but with it came an uncomfortable sense of guilt. He did not analyse the latter sensation closely enough to decide whether it had regard to Mary or Helen, forit was merged into a quite dis- tinct hope that the offices of these two young women were not very near together. "Girls have such a way of getting acquainted with e&teh other—and talking;" he thought. And the probability of their discovering in him a mutual acquaintance at an early stage of comparing notes in- creased his uneasiness. Presently he found himself directly opposite the building be sought. As he crossed to the other side his eyes rested appreciatively on a large plate glass window, evidently forming the front of two offices, for he could see a wall extending back from the centre of it. Suddenly he stopped with a horror- struck expression on his face. Euch busy at her own desk, and separated only by the wall, sat the young women with whom his thoughts were so engrossed | There they were, the two whom he most desired: tq keep apart, so near each other that if it were not for the wall they would be face to face! The next, moment he realised his own position. What should he do if they chanced to see him ? This possibility deprived Thomas of the presence of mind which might have averted the catastrophe. His only, safety was in flight, but he remained, and the next moment they both turned and recognised him He glanced wildly from one to the other, lifted hia hat with a wavering smile, then turned and field. He went on his way, leaving behind him two girls, each asking herself the question, It Who is on the other side of the wall ?" It was soon answered. Helen had just left her office that afternoon when Mary ap- peared at her door. Their eyes met, and each knew the other was her unknown neighbour. When Mary reached the corner where she left her car, she saw Thomas waiting for her, and thev started to walk home together. Thomas had been a prey to the liveliest doubts and apprehensions all the afternoon. He saw in his unfortunate adventure a significance that perhaps no one else would have seen. How was it possible, he asked himself, to explain his presence in and his abrupt departure from their vicinity in a way to satisfy each of his divinities ? Would not the true explanation appear to put a slight upon Mary? He had never seemed to care so much for her as when he thought of such a possi- bility. He decided to see her as soon as possible, make what explanation he could, and find out what her feelings were, in regard to the matter. So he waited for her, and they walked home together. But his explanation did not prosper. Mary ex- hibited an unexpected indifference to the whole malter-he attributed this to pique-and in the middle of his haltincr reb interrupted him with the observation: -J..#: A' J I That's a very pretty girl in the office next to mine. You know her, don't you, Tom ? Doyouliks her?" This confused Thomas' opinion, but also nettled him a little. I don't care that for her be replied, snapping his fingers. You must know it is you I car-* for, Mary. Will you marry me ?" Don't talk nonsense, Tom she replied with un- expected decision. I don't know anything of the kind. And I certainly don't want to marry arupona —yet," Well, some other time, then. Will you let meask you again, Mary?" he said, quite humbly, and for- getting all about Miss Remick. "No," she said, after a little pause. It wouldn't be any use, I am sure. So don't waste any more time in thinking about it.' Thomas did not promise to obey this mandate, but walked along in silence. Tell me just this," he said presently. Is there anyone else ?" Mary was about leaving him to enter the house. She paused a moment to answer. No," she said, there isn't. But it wouldn't make any difference. If there wasn't another person in the world I couldn't say anything else to you. It is better for me to tell you this plainly," she went on more gently, so that there won't be any mistake about the matter. Good-bye." Good-bye," he said. Then he "walked away, feeling as if the ground was slipping from under his feet. Gradually it began to dawn on him that he had thought rather more of himself than of anyone else in his love ventures, and that if he had paid a little more regard to the senti- ments of the ladies whom he honoured with his attention, he might have fared better. Nevertheless, he did think that Mary might have been a little more considerate. She needn't have pounced on a fellow in that way," he thought. And he began to look forward with pleasure to seeing Miss Remick again, although after this rebuff be did not contemplate an imme- diate proposal. The next mornipg he arrived at the office-.ao-e- what earlier than usual. There was no one there but the other clerk, who greeted him with unusual warmth. Hello, Hood be cried. Glad you got here early. 1 didn't have a chance to speak to you yester- day. I'm in luck, and I want to let everyone know it. Don't believe in hiding your good fortune under a bushel." In luck, are you ?" said Thomas. Glad to hear it. Tell us about it." I know you will congratulate me," said the other, speaking in a lower and more confidential tone. Miss Remick and I are engaged. You see," he went on, as Thomas made no reply, it isn't an altogether new thing. That is, we've been engaged two or three weeks. She wouldn't have anything said about it while she was here, but now she is somewhere else she won't mind." Thomas congratulated the other clerk in a voice which he tried hard to make somewhat cordial, then walked to his desk and sat down in an unusually thoughtful frame of mind from which he did not re- cover for several days; but during that time it is safe to say that he acquired a few ideas which will probably be of service to him the next .time he tries to choose a wife.
KEKPEES AND TRAPS.
KEKPEES AND TRAPS. As the breeding season is now at hand, the time is not inopportune Oays a writer in The St. James's Gazette) for examining some of the theories which are usually broached about this time of the year on the subject of trapping vermin. We are not approaching the question from the humanitarian point of view; and if we were, we should certainly offer no excuse for the cruelty of pole-traps. Game can be preserved in quite sufficient quantities without resort to such devices as these. la the few remarks we are about to offer we wish to keep in view the practical side of the controversy only. The morality of inflicting pain on the lower aniuxals muiit depend upon the object Vith which it is inflicted; and as regards the present ,jquiry it would open up a field of speculation wholly unsuitable to a newspaper. But if we descend to the region of utility, and to the reasons for and against the destruction of certain birds and beas's of prey in the interest of field-sports, we have a more limited problem to solve, the con- ditions of which are easily understood by any one of ordinary inteiMgcfrcre'1 when they are once brought fairly before him. To begin with, we desire to pro- test against the misuse of words which is so frequent in the discussion of this topic. It is often asked, for instance, whether it, is.worth while to exterminate owls for the sake of paving a few chicks. Certainly not, is the answer. But why talk of extermination ? If the trapping carried on by gamekeepers was calculated to exterminate the owl, he would have disappeared from the country long ago. It is apparently forgotten that there are vast traots of country in Great Britain where game is not preserved at ajl, and many others where preserving means little more than the prevention of poaching and, trespassing. Here the owl, the jay, and the crow, the kestrel and the sparrow-hawk, go unmolested and may rear their young in security. If they are systematically killed down in the great centres of pheasant-breeding these, it will be found, occupy a very small amount of space in comparison with the rest of the country, and there will always be plenty of birds to come in from the outside to take the place of those which are de- stroyed. There is no fear, therefore, of their being exterminated. As to the expediency of destroying them, the question, as. regards the owl at all events, divides itself into two parts, which are frequently confounded together. Does the owl destroy young game? and if he does, is it worth while to kill him for. doing so? With regard to the first question, the testimony of eye-witnesses is not to be overthrown by evidence founded only on the examination of crops. Nor can it readily be believed that an owl sits on a pheasant coop and taps on the., top of it with his beak for the sake of bringing out the rats and mice which aj-e jp^ide. We fancy the owl knows his business better than that. But we do not Require circumstantial evidence of his guiltV Owls have been caught red-handed in the act of killing or carrying off young pheasants; and we must say we have no great respect for.the common sense of such persons as are blind to the fact that men who pass their lives in,the woods, and are there at all hours of the night and day, are likely to know more about the habits of wild creatures than those who have no such experience. r. But it is said that gamekeepers are rrejudiced. So are all the world, and faddists not less than other people. In pleading for the lives of those birds of prey which the gamekeeper considers as his natural enemies, we make a great mistake by denying what he knows to be a fact. We convict ourselves of ignorance; and ignorance on one point may mean ignorance on many others. We ourselves are ready to protest, as loudly as anybody against the wholesale slaughter of these beautiful and interesting creatures. But it is going the wrong way to work to deay that they commit those offences which make the keepers thirat for their blood. We would rather demur to this charge, and say What then ?" Let the keeper be given to understand that his master is quite willing to lose a few of his young birds rather, than see the owls killed and that would be quite enough. But it is just as absurd to deny that they eat pheasants as to deny that blackbirds ent cherries. Lord Tennyson's view of the question is the right one. He allowed the songster to take toll of his black-hearts in return for his melody and we may allow birds of prey to partake in moderation of our ?;ame in return for the pleasure they afEord us as overs of nature. But we do not go sp far as to say that,, just in the middle of the breeding season, suspicious characters of this description who are found loitering about the coops, evidently with some unlawful purpose, should not be summarily dealt with. But they should be shot, not trapped. Stoats and weasels, which are far more destructive than any winged vermin, are usually caught by the body and killed, on the spot. But these traps should not be set for hirds, whicfy get caught by the legs and may linger in pain for hours. We are all for live and let live; but est modus in rebus if owls and other carnivorous birds were not kept down to some extent, we should be overrun with them and be obliged to kill them then in defence of our poultry-yards.
[No title]
Miss BALFOUR, sister of Mr. A. J. Balfour, HM been elected a member of the Whittingfaame School Board. Tin Western Australian revenue for March amounted to 9257,277, against £ 197,630 in the cor- responding month of 1896. Tn. champion shearer of Australia, for the past season, has broken the record by shearing 33,821 sheep, his earnings being E-W.