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

FIELD AND FARM. (From the Anricxd'ural Gazette.") SEASONABLE NOTES. 2 1 The season still (writes Professor Johw Wright son) Continues favourable, and all crops loolt wonderfully well. After so many years in whirh I must have become a chronic grumbler, it is pleasant to be able to write in good spirits. Every one is talking about the season almost more than the price of wheat, As to this-last item, it has, of course, taken us all by surprise. We knew stocks were short, and that prices were on the upward gradient, but this we had known for long. Ever since the enormous differences between wheat in sight" in 1897-8, and wheat in sight" in 1895-G had been perceived a general feeling has prevailed that wheat must go up. But when it would go up, or to what degree, were secrets which no one could attempt to I-) solve. Had we known we should not have threshed, and had it been known in the trade prices would have gone up sooner than they did. The great cause was no doubt deficiency, and this has been helped by war. If thore were peace to-morrow the deficiency would still be there, and, how can it be met but by a bounteous harvest ? Bu1; harvests are not confined to one or two months of the year, but are due now, and as the world is round they may be said to never -Cease. A world's deficiency must take many months to replenish, and [1, high average yield throughout the world is not particularly probable. It is true that we must fix our attention upon Europe and North America, but even then a great departure from a general average is not likely to occur. There is more timidity than sound judgment in the doleful utter- ance of your correspondent B." from Durham that wheat may possibly be making below 30s. when next harvest comes round. Durham is not so favourably placed as most counties, and there the farmers will not have the opportunity of sending new wheat into market quite so early as Southern farmers. The fact that wheat is scarce is reassuring, and it is not likely that we shall see 30s. a qr. for wheat until 40s. stimulates to greater production. WHEAT PRODUCTION IN ENGLAND. It is strange that our average production per acre of wheat should range from 26 to 30 bushels per acre, or about the same as was recorded 50 years ago Our worst land has gone. out of wheat cultivation, for we can presume nothing else, and artificial manures have come into general use, Still the average yield has not increased. This is matter which is rather puzzling, and shows how difficult it must be to raise the standard,of production throughout the country. If this is the case in England, how unlikely it seems that America can raise her annual produce per acre by the use of artificial manures. Her wheat area has long been at a standstill and there is reason to think cannot be greatly extended. Not so Canada; and it is in the great North-west that a permanent rise in price might stimulate wheat cultivation on a great scale. High prices have, however, been too short- lived, and are evidently too precarious at present to produce an immediate effect. PIG DOCTORING. Although it is a fact that the administration of medicine in the form of a drench to a pjgjs attended with considerable risk, and a lot of patience is often required to avoid choking the patient, yet, in my experience (writes Mr. A. H. Archer) no animal responds more rapidly to medicine, judiciously and carefully administered, than a pig, and the idea "that it is no use dortoritvg a pig when it won't take the physic itself is far too common, consequently the precept that the best doctor for a pig is the butcher," is often unnecessarily acted upon. There are four common ways of administering medicine to pigs-viz., (1) in the form of a drench, which is poured into the animal's mouth (2) in the form of an electuary, that is a stiff paste, which is placed on the back of the patient's tongue with a flat stick (3) by mixing it with food or-drink, (4) by injecting it into the bowel from behind. The following is a simple, easy, and comparatively safe way of giving a drench. Take an ordinary pig- r, catching cord-that is, a cord having either a loop or a ring at one end, put the other end through the loop or ring and so form a noose; slip this noose into the pig's mouth, taking care to get it well over I the tusks put the free end over a beam or through a ring, and pull up the pig's nose sufficiently high to allow the fluid '-to rup towards the throat, but be very careful not to pull the pig off its fore-legs, for if this be done it is almost sure to choke. Then take an ordinary cow's horn, such as is used for drenching horses and cows; pour the medicine into this, force just the edge of it into the mouth between the teeth, then slightly tilt the horn so that the fluid gradually runs into the pig's mouth, and as it is swallowed pour in morei. Never pour a large quantity into the mouth at one time, nor tie the loose end of the cord that is over the beam or through the ring, but let an assistant hold it, so that the patient's ..head can be depressed, which it is instantly necessary to do if the animal begins to cough or make a"gur-,bng noise in the throat. Some pigs are very '"reluctant to swallow. Others, especially when the air pa8sages.are diseased, can onlj swallow. with considerable di^pulty, ^nd it is these cases which require a lot of time and, patience besf^fved on them,■ n)^.i:, ,31jfhflufd harp igentjpn that in tie.where thore',fcs b\pekage.,o| -$*ei nostrils .through fuelling, &c., causing, difficult breathing, hei^d; should be raised by placing a string underneath the bottom jaw, and not put in the impuili in the usually. 1" Electuaries are made 14 mixing the medicine with treacle or some such simple and harmless material with í1o,ur or fine mejl" or sometimes both treacle and meal- in suffiqient quantities to make the whole into a stiff paste, and in such, bulk that a piece about as large as a small walnut forms a single dose, which can be placed on the tongue with a flat stick. Electuaries are very useful when the throat is very •ore, or it is impossible to,give» dreqche^ £ rom, ^her causes. In giving medicines in food or drink care should be taken that it is evenly distributed throughout the whole, especially 'when several pigs are being so dosed at one time, and this is best done by mixing the medicine with a portion of the food or drink, and well stirring it together before adding it to the bulk. A proper enema syringe is required idr the administration of medicine by injection into the rectum or posterior bowel. WORK OF THE MICROBES. Slowly, but surely, the way to success in the making of cheese and butter is being cleared of ignorance and misconception, and we are all coming to know that the service of the infinitely little is needed in a sense supplementary to that of cleanliness and order, and that temperature has much to do with the result. Of the different species of microbes which abound, useful ones have been successfully isolated and propagated apart from interference with the rest, to be subsequently employed in creating the slow and beneficent fermen- tation which is necessary to develop flavour in cheese or butter; or, in other phrase, to ripen these products of the dairy in the manner desired. And these "puije Cultures of bacteria are now a marketable cont- modify to be used in an artificial manner in milk and cream, just a8 the brewer of ale, or the baker of bread, uses yeast as a ferment, to produce the effect be desires. In an unscientific and unintelligent way, though successfully all the same, the butter-n\aker of scores of years ago had, in certain limited districts qf the country, used sour buttermilk in' the cream qt churning time, because the result had been found beneacial, though no intelligent explanation of the why and wherefore of it was forthcoming until recerlt 7i9' u- ln way, in one marked instance well withm my ken, it was discovered (observes Mi. J. P. Sheldon) in a purely accidental way that aci curd kept for a day and mixed with fresh curd produced cheese much superior m character to what had beeh previously made in that particular dairy, at the farm where first I saw the light. Of cleanness and order in the daiiry I am distinctly in favour, but I recog- nise the fact that these qualities in themselves— excellent though they are, and within limits indis- pensable-are not to be considered all-sufficient in themselves for plenary success. And I have an im- pression that, in many dairies which turn out inferidr butter or cheese, it is the misfortune rather than the fault of the dairymaid. On the one hand she is handicapped by ignorance of first principles, and, on the other, she has to contend with prodigious num- bers of microbes which she cannot see, and of whose tactics she knows absolutely nothing. Let it be understood by all concerned that the presence of particular bacteria which produce the slow ferment known as lactic acid in milk or cream is in- dispensable from first-rato cheese and butter dairies, as we term them in this country. Let it also he un- derstood that the wrong sorts of microbes may alj»o he present in too great abundance, in which event the useful work of the right sort of microbes is commonly Interfered with. And perhaps utterly destroyed. Titio. indeed, is more or less the case when ws have stringy milk, or "frothy" cream, or "floating' curds, when butter or cheese is ill-flavoured rwad goes to the bad before ,t ought to do, or when milk or cream behaves itself in an extraordinary manner, and is difficult or impossible to do any good with. These nefarious microbes come from some foul and evil source, and they are seldom to be 'found incon- veniently plentiful in well-ordered dairies.

GARDENING GOSSIP. (From" Cottage Gardening.") Cyclamen seed may be svwn, from November to February, in pans of good loam, leaf-urould, and mnd. -I\lch deep and 1-inch apart. A temperature 3f 60deir: to 65deg. will be found most snitable. eg I When the seedlings are largo enough -to handle, :ransfer to thumb-pots filled with a similar compost :0 the foregoing, and place near the light. To the inexperienced a hint may be given about this first, potting. Do not be in too great a hurry, as with a little increased growth of the seedlings a second type :)f roots is formed, stronger and more fleshy. As :hese roots form the main support of the plants, it is much safer to pot after these appear. With the idvent of warm weather the plants may be stood in frames and lightly' shatted from the hot sun, but never sufficiently to draw" them. By the end of Jnn the plants should be ready for potting into the flowering sizes, viz., -1in. or 5in. for very strong 2 1 plants, a suitable compost being good loam und leaf- mould in the proportion of five to one, with sum- cient sand to give porosity. In the early autumn the plants should be housed and grown on in a cool temperature, giving liquid-manure twice a week when the flower-buds form. Shade in summer and plenty of light in winter are essential requisites for successful culture, with freedom from insect pests. Thrips are partial to these plants, but are easily dis- posed of by dipping the plants in a solution of some approved insecticide. After flowering, the foliage dies down, when the plants may be stood outdoors in a shady place if the season be sufficiently ad- vanced, and repotting may be done when' the new growths have attained an inch or two iri height. In addition to the type, C. persicum, with white petals and pink base, we have the cultivated varieties, album, pure white roseum, rose; rubum, -red Vulcan, intense crimson giganteum, a magnificent white Butterfly, a white, with spreading petals; and a novelty of recent introduction, Bush. Hill Pioneer," a remarkable crested form. TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. The seed should be sown in the early months of the year, in well-drained .pans of fine soil; as the 3eed is very small, it should be very carefully sown, and not covered with soil; a pane of glass should be laid on the seed-pan. When watering is necessary, the pan should be immersed in water for a short time nearly to the rim-a temperature of 65deg. is requisite for the successful germination. The seedlings, when ready, may be pricked out or .potted on in a mixture of loam, leaf-mould, and sand. For those who have not the requisite heat, corms may be purchased cheaply which have been raised from seed the previous year. These may be planted rather thickly together in boxes or pans, and given a good start in a little artificial heat ere potted- singly; When finally potted off, use fibrous loam, a little old Mushroom- bed manure well broken up, and sharp sand. Place ihe plants near the glass, provide a good circulation of air, with plenty of water at the roots when making free growth. The seedlings may have leaf-mould substituted for the manure, and should flower the first season, but, of course, not with the freedom of alder plants. After flowering, which is prolonged into the autumn, the foliage dies down and the corms or tubers may be stored in saad in a cool place through the winter. L, FUCHSIAS. Old plants kept over should have the side growths ut hard back and then be started into growth again in the early months of the year, and repotted when the aew growths attain an inch or so in length, in a com- post of turfy loam two parts leaf-mould and mush- room-bed manure one part each. Cuttings may be ;aken about the middle of April, and rooted easily potted on when ready in compost as above.Stop and train as required syringe freely, and grow in a noderate temperature. This is one of our most. jseful of amateur plants, thriving equally well in the greenhouse and in the cottage window. I>uke.pf Coi*-N naught, Elegance, and President are very good dark! coloured kinds Lye's perfection, Beauty of Laving- -on, Princess May, light-coloured kinds; Duchess of Edinburgh, White Giant, double whites. ZONAL PELARGONIUMS. These seem to be so well known and universally p-owri as to need but little description. Thriving in ilnjost any soil, enduring an arid atmosphere and scorching sunshine with impunity, combined with a freedom from insect pests, what can be more easily grown yet, with a little care and attention, what can be more beautiful when ilicely trained and covered with a mass of brilliant bloom ? The cuttings may be struck in March for form- ing flowering plants the following winter, potted on until the 6in. sized pot. is reached in July, stood outside in an open situation for a month or two, stopping the shoots as required, and picking off all flower-buds until September, brought inside and given a light position; then the grower should be rewarded by a good display during the dreary months of winter ana the early spring. Here, again, singles are preferable, Favourite, Edith Pearson, George Gordon, Kitty, and Lord Rosebiery being very good among the crimsons and scarlets Duchess of Marlborough, Gertrude Pearson, pinks and Swanley Single, white. CIITNESE PRIMULAS. The single varieties are readily raised from seed, the double by layering or from cuttings. For the present let us consider the former. Seed may be sown from March to May in pans in a moist compost of loam, leaf-mould, and sand. As the seed germinates very irregularly, it should be sown very thinly to enable the foremost plants to be lifted without disturbing the surrounding gbil. Transfer to thumb-pots when ready, and pot on until the flowering size is reached-riz., 5-incli pots. Stand on ashes in frame, away from direct sunshine yet freely exposed to the air. House the plants in September, water carefully throughout, and grow on m a cool temperature. The flowers begin to open in October, and remain for several months in full bloom. Primulas make capital table plants; or are equally at home in table decorations- &e. With the exception of a moderate heat in which to raiae thp seed, the above should be treated as cool-house sub- jects. Mention may be made of a stellate form, the Star Primula, which will become pooular when better known. ONIOlf8 > The Onion (Allium cepa) is one of the oldest df cultivated plants, aniindeed its origin is practically unknown. The Leek, Shallot, Garlic, and Chives, as well as the Underground or Potato Onion, the Tree Onion, and the Welsh Onion or Cibonle, are all included in the genus, and all are more or less esteemed and cultivated for flavouring and other purposes. The Onion delights in a deep, rich, and mellow, yet free and warm soil of a loamy nature, inclining to be sandy rather than stiff or clayey. Good Onions may be grown on a heavy staple, bnt a good deal of care in the preparation of the beds is necessary and in a wet season the plants do not become sufficiently matured, and run too much to leaf and neck," while the bulbs are small and keep badly. The two extremes of anything like poverty and over-richness of the soil should be avoided, certainly where a heavy crop of medium- sized found roots is desired, though the large Onions seen at shows demand a good deal of nourishment, both in the soil and supplied in a liquid, form, or in the shape of artificial manures while the plants are growing. The surface of a good Onion-bed must be worked up to a very fine tilth, so that it is advisable to leave the surface ui quite rough for the winter (the ground having been well treinched and manured in the autumn, of course), and the first fine dry weather in March, or even February, if the season is mild and the soil in good condition, rake the bed or beds down to a very fine and even surface, and sow your seed. This is best done in drills, which may be Sin. or 9in. apart for the small to medium-sized varieties, and 12in. or ellfln 15in. for the larger kinds. The shallower the grillsi an? ^the better, sq.leng as the seed is fairly ,o- !'• a>n. in depth is plenty. It is also impera- tive t !tr.t. the 80il be made quite firm, especially wheiie Ü i" of light or sandy nature.

"Il t it, absurd to expect a pretty girl to be can- did ?—Because she cannot be plain. WHAT IS it that goes up the hill and down the hill, 'lot lVrer moves ?-The road. V I I AT -11-WC 9 a grocer do with all his thingt before h« theiii ?—-Gives them a weigh.

AMERICA AND SPAIN. CERVERA'S SQU.A-DRa'N.A, MERICA-V UNEASINESS. There were contradictor/statements on Monday with, regard to the whereabouts of the Spanish squadron under Admiral Cervem. It was asserted in some quarters, and denied in others, that he had left Santiago de Cuba; but there seemed to be no certain knowledge on the subject. In the meantime, the certain presence of his squadron on the Cuban coast continued to give much uneasiness to the Washing- ton Government and the American public. It waa feared that lie will be heard of at vulnerable points on the Atlantic coast. Impatience at the delays of the United States Government in carrying out an actual invasion of Cuba has beer .accompanied by growing doubts as to the efficiency of the Cuban insurgents asallies. A descent on Cuba Vas,however, regardedin official quarters in Washing- ton, as inexpedient until Admiral Cervefa's squadror had in some way been dealt with. Preparations foi the despatch of a United States military expedition tc support Rear-Admiral Dewey in the Philippines art going forward. It is again stated that as many regular troops as General Merritt requires will be sent. Admiral Camara is to return immediately tc Cadiz and resume the command of the Reserve Squadron, which will sail at once with sealed orders. CERVERA SAID TO BE TRAPPED. The monotony which had for some time cha- racterised the war news was on Tuesday, a little Varied by what appeared to be a genuine encounter between the two fleets. That Commander Cervera has been entrapped-or caught napping—was the .conclusion to be arrived at from intelligence to hand on the date mentioned. It seems that the bay is so narrow that it will only permit of one warship leaving at a time, consequently as each one emerges it will be subjected to the fire of the blockading fleet. The first to run the gauntlet faced the situation for a quarter of an hour and then sought sheltur again, in .the harbour. Admiral Camara's squadron was stated to be under ^orders to leave Cadiz, and though the Philippines is said to be its destination the Cuban waters are given preference., A Gibraltar telegram, via Paris, declares the Spaniards to be preparing a third squadron. Preparations are being made in New York for organising 70,000 volunteers, and arrangements are practically completed for reinforcing the Manila ex. pedition.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The annual meeting of this society was held on Monday at its rooms in London. The president, Earl Spencer, was in the chair. The Earl of Coventry waa dectcd president for the ensuing year. The secretary read an abstract of the annual report, showing that the finances of the society were in a satisfactory state, Thie number of entriet. for the forthcoming Birming- ham show, though less than for the exceptional Man- chester show of 1897, were considerably above the average of recent years. The show will be held in '1899 at Maidstone, and in 1900 at York. The report was adopted. Mr. Walter Long moved a vote of thanks to Earl Spencer for his services as president during the past year.. ),

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. The annual meeting of this society was held on Monday at Burlington House, in London. The Founders' Medal of the BoGiety was conferred on Dr. "SVeIÍ Hfedin for his exploring work in Central Asia; the Patrons' Medal to Lieutenant Peary, U.S.N., for hi#<Grtefottlatld explorations'; the Murchison graint on Mr. H. Warington Smyth the Gill memorial to Air. >rE. J:"Garwood and the Cuthbert Peek gtfayit to Mr. Parlett Weatherley. The president, Sir Clements i'Mftrkham, then delivered his annual address, in which he reviewed the work of geographical explora- tion and the advances in, geographical science during the past year.

y, "■ ■■ '1 "if "■ :v [; FRENCH ELECTIONS. The results of 177 out of the ISfO second ballots in the French elections are now known. The following candidates have been elected:' 66 Bfepubli6ans, "IMbetwis, Progressists, and Rallies; 61 Radicals S;!1 Socialists; and 10 Monarchists. The ReptrHitians ind Rallies lose30 seats and gain 14; but as they had gained 10 at the first ballot, they are! left with a, loskI of only six on the balance. The Radicafe'Ios» 18 and gain 20; The Socialists lose 9 and gain 16. The Monarchists lose three and gain 10. M. Lebon (Minister of the Colonies), at Parthenay, has been defeated. The elections, generally speaking, have passed off quietly. The announcement of the de- feat-of MM. €terault, Richardy and Goblet was re- ceived with shouts of "Down with the capitalists," Long live the Social Revolution!" In consequence of his defeat at the elections, M. Lebon, Minister for the Colonies, called upon M. Meline on Monday morning in order to tender his resignation to the Premier. The latter xequested him. to defer taking that -step until tlw matter had been discussed by the Council of Ministers. 1 d an r. • 'õ .f7'f;.i;t v THE 6}IU>RCH aIjt WAIVES.

:t 'IJ The Arahbishop of Canterbury presided on l^Ion^y -it a-iiieetiig held at the Chqrchfhouee, Westminster, to draw attention to some of the needs of the Church in Wales, and set forth the special reasons which entitle the Welsh Church to outside assistance. Resolutions in accordance with the object of the meeting were spoken to by Lord Tredegar, the Bishop of Llandaff, Mr. Boscawen, M.P., Mr. \v. S, De Winton, the Hon. L. Brodrick, the Bishop of -7St Asiiph, the Bishop of St. Dafvid, and others, And carried.

ACCIDENT AT MORECAMBE. ■OHT MSH SERIOUSLY INJUREDIAT THE KEVOLVINQ TOWtB. A serious accident occurred on Saturday afternoon at the new Warwick Revolving Tower now being com- pleted at Morecambe. The cage was being hoisted for the first time, when one of the wire ropes snapped. The cage descended rapidly, and seven or Bight men were more or less seriously injured by the violent impaet, and several had to be conveyed to the Lancaster < Infirmary. The tower .consisted ot a framework 15 feet in diatueter and 130 feet high. The framework was practically completed, the 'structure being intended to be ready for the opening for Whitsuntide. In order to test the wire cable used for twisting, as well as to attach the balance weights, the cage was the other after- noon hoisted to a height of, about 10ft. On it were seven or eight workmen and the weights intended'for balancing, the total weight to be lifted being about 25 tons. Before the weights could be attached, how- ever, one of the wire cables slipped the coupling, and the sudden, jerk caused the other cables to give way in a similar manner. The cage dipped with a tremendous crash to within a few feet of the ground, the whole of the men on it being more or less seri- ously injured by the recoil and the falling cables. About six were conveyed to Lancaster Infirmary, suffering from concussion, shock, and scalp wounds. One or two others were removed to their lodgings.

TUB DEAR LOAI.- The present price of wheat is havin"1 a serious effect upon the Corresponding price n of bread, and some people are telling us that we shall soon have to pay 9d. for a 41b. loaf. If this be so, surely we had better buy Hovis and go without meat; for we are frequently told that a loaf of this bread is worth a white loaf and a beefsteak. We don't Bka«g«ing a gratuitous advertisement, but we have the infti'ests of our feirow-creaures at heart. DURING tfye last three years ove^: DUO miles of light railwava liaicg been constructed to the eastward of Stettin, connecting all the principal agricultural centres in that area with Stettin, and so enabling the produce of the, estates and manufactures of the town to be cheaply,and rapidly e«n.v#ye<l to a large central market. There are incladed in thhght railways 27 lineSj With a present length of 630 miles. The expenof laying,these lines is-arranged for on the basis of part guarranted payment fly tlhi province of Pomerania, the districts through which they run, and share payment by those interested,: country towns, estate owners, and farnifers. The total COst amounts to €364,131, of which £ 308;339 hay? teen paid. The financial results are not very encduragli%» Only one of the 27. lines paid a dividend of per cent; several oft he-others -have beenworked at a ;1088, and the remainder iust hoid tfteir^own. these lfnes are meffeiy in tfctf .^n^n^ncemeiTt/ • TH* €tymna»tio Xiled *t the Military Tournament was suppli«?d by Gamage'», of Hoi bora, the well-known Athletic Outfitters.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.-MAT 23. ,The Royal assqnt was given by Commission to the Special Juries Bill, the Bajl Bill, and a large number ot private and provisional orders confirma- tion bills. Lor${Salisbury, repprted to their lordships that her Majesty had been graciously pleased to give Iier assent to the prayer of the Address from both Houses of Parliament in respect to the public funeral of Mr. Gladstone. Subsequently he alsp moved that the House should attend, the funeral in Westminster Abbey on Saturday.; and the motion was unanimously agreed to. Lord Camperdown having asked a question as to the progress of the negotiations with France in regard to West Africa, Lord Salisbury replied that the negotiations were still proceeding and could not, therefore, now properly form the subject of Parlia- mentary statement or discussion. Lord Hardwicke, in moving the second reading of the. Aliens Bill, explained that it reproduced the pro- visions contained in the bill introduced four years a-go by the present Prime Minister, so far as they re- lated to the restriction of the immigration of aliens whose presence in. this country was both economically and socially .injurious. Lord Dudley supported the broad principle of the bill, the objects of which he held to be highly desirably, Lord Herschell contended that any legislative pro- posals Qf, that character ought, if introduced at all, to be brought in by the Government itself, not by a private member; and that, moreover, they ought to be preceded by. further investigation than had yet been devoted,to that subject. He t^lso criticised the machinery of the bill, and while pointing out that the problem to be solved was not so simple as its advo- cates appeared to suppose, be expressed serious doubts whether in its practical working the measure would not dp more harm than good to British industry. [ After some remarks from Lord Monkswell and Lord CJifden; Lord Salisbury said he saw no reason why a bill of ttjafc kind should not be proposed by a private member pf the House, and he pointed out that important measures dealing with factory ilabour and similar matters were introduced by the late Lord Shaftes- bury and other independent members of Parliament. As to the suggestion that they should institute further inquiries by a commission into the subject ,>f the bill, he looked almdst with dismay on the increasing pile of Blue Book? on the table of the House, remembering' as he did a commission which sat for five years and printed as much evidence as would cover half an acre of land. Most other countries, whether despotic or democratic, and aotably the United States, had found it necessary to idopt legislation of that description; and he con- ceived that we had the right, and ought to exercise it, of refusing to undertake the obligation of receiving all the abjectly destitute often thrust by other countries on our shores and relieving them at the expense of the unfortunate over-burdened ratepayer, who was now practically left to the mel-cy of every spoiler. Lord Kimbferley held that the question was not really an urgent one, as was shown by the fact that the Government did not take it up themselves'; and he thought their lordships would do-well not to assent to the bill. As to the argument that otbefr nations had legislated for the exclusion of aliens, there were some matters on which our practice had always dif- fered from that of other countries and on which he hoped that we should ,be guided by our own interests instead of looking abroad for instruction., A division was then taken, when'theaecohd reading of the bill was carried by 81 votes to 19. The Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners) Bill and the Lunacy Bill afterwards passed through Committee; and the Parish Churches (Scotland) Bill was read a third time. The House rose at.'20 minii^s past Six o'clock until Thursday, :June S>, for the Whitsuntide vaca- tion: HOUSE OF COMMONS. Lord G. Hamilton, replying to a question from Mr. Cohen, said no steps had been taken by the Government of dia, aince the dosing of the mints in 1893 to the free coinsage of wlveiryin the direction of the establishment of a gold standard; The assent of the Secretary of State and of Parliament would be necessary, as a prior condition, to the issue of any loan in London for the purpose of establishing a gold standard in India. Sir J. Fergnsson asked whether it was true that IS the British Government appeared to have acquiesced in the notification or the Consuls at Chi-fu and Tien- tsin that no Englishman or other foreigner would be allowed to land at Ta-lien-wan or) in the Xeao-tong peninsula without having a passport visild by the poft, Russian Consul. _j Mr. Curzori replied, that the Matetnent was entirely without foundation. On the contrary, her Majesty's Government were informed-by the Russian Government that the circular in question respecting the Vise Of passports was issued by the Consuls with- out the knowledge of the Imperial Government, and that the Russian Charge -daffdires at Peking had been told to instruct the Consuls to withdraw it. The Chancellor of the Exchequer informed the House that a telegram had been received from Bal- moral stating that the Queen gate her assent to the Address from both Houses of Parliament respecting Mr. Gladstone's funeral. A letter had also been re- ceived by thePrime Minister fcom the right hon. mem- ber for Leeds, writing on behalf of Mrs. Gladstone and the fitmity, gratefully accepting on-certain conditions the pro pose d h o nou r to Mr. Gladstone's memory. The funeral was fixed to take pflice on Saturday morning in the Collegiate Church.ol St. Peter, Westminster, and the Duke of Norfolk, as Earl Marshal, was making the necessary arrangements. The right hon. gentleman conclude4 by moving that a select com- mittee should be appointed to consider thp circum- stances relating to the attendance pf, this House at the funeral. 7 The motion was agreed t o. The Speaker communicated to the House the con- tents of a telegram which lie had received'from the President of the Chamber of deputies at Athens, wiio in tlie name of his colleagues of the Hellenic Parlia- ment begged to transmit to the members of the House of Commons the expression of their grief at the loss of the eminent statesman and friend of Greece, Mr. Gladstone. J The report of the resolution passed in Committee with reference to the death of Mr. Gladstone was brought up and agreed to. The remainder of the sitting was devoted to the further consideration of the Local Government (Ire- land) Bill in Committee. A considerable number of clauses were agreed to, after discussions on points of detail, most of the amendments proposed being eventually negatived or withdrawn. On Clause' 59, containing special provisions as:to qualifications and elections, Sir C. Dilke moved the omission of subsection 1, which provided that a person, being a regular minister of any religious denomination, should not be eligible as a county or district councillor t Mr. Rentoul supported the amendment; Mr. Dillon considered that the subsection was an insult to the Catholic clergy and to the people of Ireland; Mr. J. Redi- mond explained why ho was unable to vote for the amendment, and expressed his opinion that the provision in the bill ought to be maintained; Mr. MacNeill protested against the malignant, hateful, and bigoted proposal of the Government; Colonel Saunderson asserted that the clergy of the disestablished Church of Ireland did not object to the introduction of this provision intc the bill; and Mr. Carvell. Williams thought the Government were taking a retrograde step. Mr. Gerald Balfour defended the subseption. A similar clause had been in operation in connection with the Poor Law in England for 60 years. He had received communications showing that a great many Roman Catholic priests and laymen in Ireland thought that the Government in excluding ministers of. religion from these new bodies had taken a wise course. After further discussion the amendment was nega- tived by 146 to 68.

AT the Middlesex Sessions on Saturday, Sarah Sherwin, -10, was sentenced to., 12 months' hard labour for having cruelly teaten, ill-treated, and neglected her stepdaughter, Beatrice Daisy Sherwin, 15 years of age. A CUTLER; named Charles Robertson, in the service of the Hon. George Keppel, was, on Saturday, at the Westminster Police-court, sentenced to three n,ont lis' hard labour for stealing jE40 in bank notes, the property of his employer. The prisoner said he lost the money at Doncaster and Kempton-park races.

THE REDUCED TOBACCO DUTY. HOW WILJJ THU SMOKER, BENEFIT ? Who will benefit most by the reduction in tho tobacco duty which recently came into force? This is a question which naturally interests the smoker, but t,o. give a direct,answer is by no means easy. We Y. i' e have made inquires (says the Globe) of some of the leading manufacturers and retail houses, and very .divergent opinions are expressed. Whatever may ba the feeling of the consumer, who appears to have visions of a substantial reduction in the price of his tobacco, the dealers seem to be singularly ungrateful in regard to the concession of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. They say the change was not wanted, and has put them to a great deal of trouble and in- convenience, and that the 5 per cent. reduction in the moisture limit cuts away quite half the boon. of tho( sixpence' off the tobacco duty. Nevertheless, calculate how you may, tbej-e is at least one "Tartiling per ounce tq the benefit of sonlepne, and the question is of whom. It appears that the smoker of the higher grade tobaccos is sure to get the full advantage, perhaps to the extent of a halfpenny (an 8d. reduction would have much simplified matters, being exactly one halfpenny pgr ounce), but the man who buys tke cheaper kinds of tobacco, although hs will get mora to the ounce, is hardly likely to secure anything like such a reduction in price. It must not be forgotten, too, that the drier state of the tobacco will lead to more rapid consumption, so that the benefit to the poorer class of smoker is reduced almost to vanishing point. This question of mois- ture is a most important one. Tobacco on which a duty of 3s. 2d. a pound is at present charged must contain at least 10 ..per cent. of natural moisture —that of a lower percentage pays 3s. 6d.—a pro- vision made in the days when importers had the leaf dried in the Channel Islands a practice which re- sulted in lighter weighing when the Customs had to be reckoned with. The higher grades of tobacco are so rich in oils that they refuse to take much moisture—not more than lO per cent. can, as a rule, be added:—so that the man who pays 5d. an ounce forfeits less than he who gives 3d. for his common shag, which is generally moistened up to the limit. Indeed, it is calculated that the latter pays nearly 2'78d. of his 3d. to the national Exchequer. Under the new arrangement, therefore, the better tobacco gains the full advantage of the 6d., for being already- well within the moisture limit it makes no concession, cm that score. The 6d..will go to the manufacturer, and he, in turn, will be compelled by competition to give the whole or greater part of the .advantage to the consumer. But with the commoner tobaccos (representing about three-fourths o.f the total consumption of the country) it is often the moisture alone that allows the manufacturer and the retainer his profit, so that here the 5 per cent. reduction is a' serious consideration, each, 1 per cent. of moisture representing a little over one half- penny. I', But a,fter all, it may be .said, there is still a far- thing to the,goo(i under tlie. new arrangement. True, it is ]ust:possLble that thp working maft..who buys his tobacco by, the ounce may,benefit,to tfc^fc extent. How many. off.6 there,. however, who purchase in smaller quantities ? According to one of the leading manufacturers; there are thousands who never buy more than half an ounce at a time, and it will readily be seen that with the best intentions in the world the retailer can hardly split the farthing in two. Of course, the tobacconist might getover the difficulty by putting in less moisture than the 30 per cent, which will now be the statutory limit, but is it a question whether the working man would appreciate having the purer and drier, if more quickly smoked, articles -far his money. Nothing would appeal to him but less money paid over the counter for his 'alf ounce o' shag," and how he is to get the benefit of that half-a-fartb ing it is difficult to. see. In the opinion of a well-known London importer of cigare, the concession will certainly benefit the British cigar manufacturer. He will pay less for hit leaf, while thp duty on imported cigars remains at 6s. and thus a great and growing industry will have an advantage over Continental cigars. Here, again, the man who buys his single "Britisher" (for the reduction in duty means a saving of about 7§d. on 100 cigars) will gain nothing, but the concession will tend to stimulate thp home in- dustry, and in tiipie competition should result in the production of a better article at 2d. or 3d. There are other directions in which benefit will accrue, but again the advantage will lay less with the consumer than the retailer. In addition to the 6d. reduction on the 3s. 2d. duty, 7d. is to be taken off the 4s. duty (imported cigarettes),, and already at American tobacco company, who are large im- porters of cigarettes, have announced their inten- tion of reducing the price per 1000 by Is. (3d- This will be to the advantage of the shopkeeper, but the buyer of a packet of ten cigarettes will find it difficult to get hit lOOth part share of that concession on the wholesala price. To gum- up, while the consumer of the best tobaccos will reap the full benefit of Sir M. Hic8 Beach's proposals, neither losing nor gaining in the quality of the article smoked, the man who fills his pipe with the cheapest tobaccos willget a better article at possibly a farthing lower price if he buys by the ounce, but, per contra, will, by reason of the reduced moisture find that his pouch empties quicker and contains more dust. It is the retail dealer who will reap the surest profit from the concession made to manufac- tured tobaccos and imported cigarettes, and no one, certainly not the consumer, will grudge him any legitimate benefit. These are the days of cutting prices," and the small tobaemnist, with his long hours and lean profits, can well do with a little encourage- ment. At the same time, he will be selling an article which will of necessity be of purer quality and greater bulk than at present. While on the subject of tobacco it may not be without interest to state that as a result of inquiries we are led to believe that the war in Cuba will have little effect on the price of the best Havana cigars as sold by retail dealers of high standing, at least for more than a year to come. Thosi possessing the requisite capital were able to make provision against the inevitable trouble they have laid in large stocks of cigars, including the 1897 crop, and in the circumstances business with- the regular customer whose orders are a consideration, will be carried on at normal prices. The small shop- keeper who can only purchase in limited qnantities, and who is naturally affected by every fluctuation of the market is already paying more for Havana cigars. What will happen if the war is a!protracted one it is difficult to foresee. No 1898 crop has been sown, and all the tobacco growers have left Cuba.

SIR JOHN MOWBRAY. I look pretty well foi; a m^n who was born a.fort- night before Waterloo, cli ? Sir John Mowbray sometimes remarks, adding, laughingly, according to wr ng a writer in the World, that with a slight stretch of imagination he may be said to have even seen Napo- leon, for he was carried in his nurse's arms along the beach of Teignmouth when the Bellerophon, with the Despot of Europe on board, was anchored in Torbay. And Sir John, may hand to you from a corner in the room the cane which the Enrtperor used at St. Helena, and which was sent on his death to his grandfather. On looking round the study at Warennes Wood, Mortimer, you will have no diffi- culty in discovering that Sir John's tastes are dis- tinctly classical both in art and literature.

11 JULES VEENE S marriage was quite a romance. He was at that time a quiet, shy young man, with an apparent dislike to feminine society. Being induced, mu<v against his will, to serve as beat man to a frier s, he had a fit of forgetfulness on the very morning of the ceremony, and finally arrived at the house to find that the whole party had left for the church. There was no one remaining at home but the bribe's sister, a young widow, who had been un- willing to intrude her weeds on the bridal group Verne fell in love at first sight; two years later he married the lady, and he has since proved the kindest of stepfathers to her two daughter*.

A TRIO OF ROYAL CRAFTSWOMEN. The Home Arts and Industries Association, whose offices and studios are at the Albert Hall at South Kensington has for some years been pursuing and extending its most useful work of teaching to work- ing people such minor arts and industries as wood- carving, inlaying, metal repousse, basket making, leather work, spinning and weaving and embroidery. This is done in a manner to make home occupations in the leisure hour a pleasure rather than a task; and amongst the results achieved besides good moral and technical training, may be reckoned the revival of old English handicrafts which were dying out. The yearly exhibitions are a great stimulus to excellence amongst the hundreds of classes now at work in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and the 14th of such annual object-lessons was opened the other day, as on previous occasions, in the circular npper gallery of the Albert Hall. The Princess of Wales not only founded and promotes the highly efficient technical school at Sandringham, but is her- self a regular exhibitor, and her contributions this year is an embossed leather settee which she has worked from her own designs. The tall lilies of the back are most artistically embossed by her Royal Highness, and visitors may be forewarned that this roomy and well proportioned piece of furniture, which at once suggests the comfort of the ingle nook, is not for sale." It has been made up as a solid piece of framework by a well-known firm, and the broad seat and sides with the rich brown of the leather and the brass-headed rails of the arms, give it a decidedly old-fashioned appearance. The Princess Victoria of Wales has also sent a specimen of her own craftsmanship in;the shape of a pokered leather photo screen after "Home Art Work" designs. This dainty exhibit need not go begging for customers, for though it was moderately' priced at £ t>, the word seld is already written athwart the figure. The third Royal exhibit is a screen embroidered from French designs by the Duchess of York, and made up by the Warwick class. The general collection from the Sandringham school is one of the best in the hall. The exhibition throngliotit shows a gratifying advance in the 105 classes exhibiting as compared with 97 last year, and in almost every case there is a larger number of objects Bent. The Welbeck class have a fine altar cloth made for,the Duke of Portland, and amongst a capital dis- play by Mrs. Watts Compton's class are a massive oaken door and a stand of noticeable pottery. In connection with the British and Irish Spinning, Weaving, and Lace School, there will be daily de- monstrations with the distaff. There are eleven Irish classes exhibiting Keswick is represented by the Ruskin linen industry, and amongst the classes will be found the Soho Girls' Club, the Bed Cross (Southwark), the Campdeh Institute, Brabazon Em- ployment Society, and the Developed Industries of Birkenhead, Haslemere, and Chiswick. The Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal family visited the exhibition, and took a lively mterest in the different exhibits.