Denbighshire Free Press

CYCLING NOTES. A dustman has been sentenced to 14 dava hard labour for throwing a rope at passing cyclists. Now is the time to put on the broadest mud- guards obtainable, a good lamp, and a good brake. The winter rider needs these accessories above all others. lies One of the French regiments of military cyclists is to be increased to 200 men, and is to become a permanent addition to. the French army. The world at large is under a heavy debt to the Dunlop tyre. It put the world on wheels and gave an unquestionable fillip to a pastime which is now pursued by millions. The recent rains have put the roads in good order again, albeit they are now rather moist and muddy. Still the country wanted rain badly, and no doubt a little later on we shall 1 nap the benefit of IL The people of Sheffield have a grievance and tkat is thai cyclists proceed at too fast a pace. A deputation of residents is approaching the authorities with a view to getting the trouble [ removed. The usual story about a '-hard winter" is asin going the pounds of the press. The f'hiZ, ond haws are said to be numerous, and a snre sign ot a tart rioter Cyclists will prefer to wait and see. Cyclists will prefer to wait and see. ffvcling ia 80 bound up with irksome restric- tions^in Bussia that it is not surprising to hear turns m tw0 Cy0hng papers m the that there af gantry, and one of these, HM.'SSSbediacontinued owiBgtotaokof support. ThP exoerienced cydist can generaUy be iTo* S^rtyl^.h; ISTEZ&SSIf. ^M* £ SO?5S and growls at every anf.vonraMe m.teoroloeioui system Fashion is a wonderful and obstinate thing. Veils are dear to all feminine eye#, and v^win he worn an inns? as thev remain fashionable. They are Jwefer. venr'hartW to th. ^t, more especially-when used on cycling exenraons. .When riding over rough ground the• will save his machine many severe shocks by raising himself on the saddle when obstructions are being ridden over: The machiDfl wUl tnen hound over whatever is in tbe way, and will merely have to lift itself over the obatrnotion, as it were. The Surveyor to the Hayward'fi Heath Urban Council has found his duties press heavily upon mm, and he has consequently founditneceeaary to acquire a bicyole. The Council have ac- oordmgiy agreed to increase tb* Surveyor s salary by £ 10 in order to meet the extra expense. A Scottish cycling pwaer is the crusade which was madesometUne S(0O»gainit the.^o^ £ oonditioq nf thq atraete izL £ t2O0fil» I and Ectlnburgn. 7Me wrlEer of an aručIe on I the subject says that we are half a-centuary behind." If that be true, then the roads must be very bad indeed in and asound the Scotch towns referred to. r The strain put upon pneumatic tyres during I winter is obviously greater than that incurred when the roads are smooth and free from cart ruts, thick binding mud, and other disagreeable features. It should be remembered that Dunlop tyres have been extremely tested on all kinds of roads, and in all weathers, and have always come out of the ordeal satisfactorily. The Dunlop is essentially a tyre for hard usage, and .therefore for use during the winter months. The fact has often been published that, on the Continent, special paths are provided for cyclists besides the roads proper. At the .first thought this appears a liberal .concession, but when it is remembered that Continental, roads are inferior to many English ones, it does not appear to be such a gain after all. The roads of Britain are better than any to be found elsewhere. We have this on the authority of a person who has visited nearly every country in the world. The council of the Irish Cyclist's Association is considering the advisability of approaching the Municipal authorities with a view to getting porae reformation in the present lavish and dangerous practice of flooding the streets with water. Shop windows are splashed with mud thrown up by passing vehicles, and the streets are rendered dangerous not only to cyclists, but to other users of the road, and pedestrians also. What applies in Dublin is equally true of some of the roads in London aud other large cities. If cyclists who take the centre of the lines ever which tram cars pass, on muddy and slippery days, only knew what a nervous tension seizes the passengers on the car following, then for that one reason alone these daring wheelmen would endeavour to strike a side line of their own or else dismount altogether. The writer has heard middle aged persons declare that they are quite upset physically, for the time being, when they see cyclists slipping from side to side almost under the very noses of the horses. The vegetarian cyclists are very proud of the fact that they always pass by on the other side when flesh meats are about. Fruit, vegetables and farinaceous matter is good enough for them, and as they sware by the combined good qualities of these, any opinion to the contrary will not cause them to divert from the path of vegetarianism. They are proud of the races their members win too, and whenever they score over the misguided meat- eater, there is joy in the camp and an extra plate of cherries is indulged in.

DENBIGHSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. [CONTINUATION OF LAST WEEK'S BBPOBT.] The following is a report of the remainder of the business transacted by the County Council at the Denbigh meeting last Friday, the opening part of the proceedings at which meeting (including the election of Mr Lumley as chairman) we gave in ouf last issue:— MR GEE'S PLACE ON THB COMMITTEES. The following appointments were made to fill the places on committees vacated bv the death of Mr GeeBoundaries and Local Government Act Committee, Mr Bennett Jones, Denbigh.-Finance, Sal- aries, and Election Expenses Committee, Mr Christmas Jones.—Standing Joint Committee, Mr J Roberts, Plas Heaton.— Steam Roller Committee, Mr Beaz Jones. —Joint Education Committee, Mr W G Dodd. County Governing Body, Mr Thomas Gee, solicitor, North John-street, Liverpool (eldest son of the late Mr Gee). THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF WALES. I Col Mainwaring and Mr Jf £ Powell were re-eleeted the representatives of the county on the University Court of Wales. Col Mainwaring said that, as he took a deep interest in the question of education in Wales, he appreciated very 'highly that he was allowed to take his part in the highest authority of edacation in the Principality, the county of the University of Wales (applause). He had spent the last two days at Aberystwyth, in connection with the opening of the new hall, and he had noted with much interest the progress which was being made in "111 departments. There were 400 students now at Aber- ystwytb. He took his degree 82 years ago, and he was not in the habit of wearing his robes, but he was very proud at Aber- ystwyth the other day to wear his robes as a Master of Arts at the Old University of Oxford, and to walk side by side with young Wales at the University of Aberystwyth (applause). The Chairman remarked that they wonla all be much pleased that a gentleman in that Council was taking such interest in educational matters, and would give his time to attending these meetings (applause). UNIVERSITY COLLKGB OF NORTH WALES. The following were elected members of the Governing Body of the University College of North Wales, Bangor:-Col Mainwaring, Messrs B F Graesser, W 0 Hughes, Simon Jones, A Foulkes, and Thomas Parry, A 0 Walker (Colwyn Bay), Owen Williams (Glanclwyd), T A Wynne Edwards (Denbigh), and Boaz Jones. The last-named was elected to the vacancy caused by the death of Mr ltee. Mr William Davies, Llyafasi, not having attended any meetings, Mr A 0 Walker was elected in his place and, for the same reason, Mr R E Birch's name was struck off, and that of Mr Preston inserted. The representatives of the Council on the Board of Conservators for the fishery district of the river Conway and its tribu- taries were elected as follows :—Mr David Jones, solicitor, Llahrwst; Mr Roger Hughes, Felyn Newydd. Eclwysfach Mr Robert Jones, Tynyborth, TalyCarn Mr 0 Isgoed Jones, Plaayndre, Llanrwst; and Mr J Blackwall, Hendre, Llanrwst. A 8TEP TO THB BEA-B. STEAM ROLLERS NOT TO BE ADOPTED. The committee appointed to consider the advisability or otherwise of adopting steam rollers for the repairing of the main roads of the county, reported against the pro- posal, on the ground that the extra cost involved would not be compensated by the improvements in the highways. Mr David Jones, Llanrwst, moved that the matter be referred back te the committee. He was in favour of steam rollers himself, and they were- in use in the county of Carnarvon. Wherever the Denbighshire reads abutted upon those of Carnarvon they contrasted very unfavour- ably with the latter. Mr Dodd seconded the motion, which was rejected by a large majority, LLANRWST COURT HOUSE. The Llanrwst Court House Committee reported the approval of the plans for the alterations, etc., at the Court House, with some miner amendments, and a discussion I then arose at to the next step in the under- I taking. It appears that the plans for the work were ordered to be prepared by the I Standing Joint Committee, who, having received tenders, decided to submit the matter to the County Council. The County Council delegated the matter to a sub- committee, whose report now came for confirmation. The Chairman pointed out that the tenders were in the hands of the Standing Joint Committee, and before they could get them it would be necessary to ask the Joint Committee to hand them over. The vice-chairman, Captain Griffith- Boscawen, said he did not know what was to be done in the matter, as they seemed to have got to an impasse. Although the Standing Joint Committee had ordered that this matter should be referred to the County Council, it had always been his opinion that it should be dealt with by the Standing Joint Committee. At the last meeting of that committee a motion was adopted, being seconded by Mr Lumley, that a case should be stated in the High Court to avoid such disputes with the County Council as to who should carry out enlargements of police buildings. The following resolution was then agreed to Ihat the tenders received and opened by the Standing Joint Committee, for the work at the Llanrwst Court House, be acted upon, and that the Standing Joint Committee be applied to for tenders for that purpose." THE RUTHIN FOOTPATH IMPROVEMENTS. COUNTY COUNCIL REFUSE TO PAY THE CLAIM AGAINST THEX. WORK FOR THE LAWYERS LOOMING UP The following minute appears in the re- port of the Denbigh District Main Roads Committee, which was proposed to the County Council for confirmation The resolution passed by the County Council on the 29th July ordering the payment of X115 16s Od claimed by the Borough of Ruthin for footpath improvements, by in- stalments of principal and interest combined extending over the same period as the loan obtained by the Borough of Ruthin, was read, as well as the resolution of the Town Council declining to accept the payment by instalments and again applying for payment in one sum of A115 168 Od, which has already been certified as correct by the County Accountant and the District Sur- veyor of the county, and intimating that if the claim is not paid the Town Council will feel reluctantly compelled to enforce compliance with the contract." No action was taken in the matter. OOLWYN BAY ROADS. After a debate, the Council decided to confirm the decision of the Main Roads Committee with reference to the mainten- ance of the main roads in the area of the Colwyn Bay District Council, namely, that the county should contribute for this pur- pose XI20 per mile per aunum for the period of three years from the 1st of April last. THE FLOODS AT LLANRHAIADR STATION. THE LANDOWNERS CANNOT BE COMPELLED TO ASSIST. The Clerk, in accordance with the resolution passed by the Denbigh Main Roads Committee on July 15th, advised the committee with reference to the pro- posal to compel the landowners to deepen the bed of the river Clywedog above the Drefechan bridge, near the Llanrhaiadr station. Mr Adams stated that in his opinion the Council were powerless to compel the landowners to deepen the bed of the river to prevent the constant flooding of the road between the station and the bridge crossing the road. THE MAIN ROADS OF THE LLANRWST URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL. A.s this newly formed Council were not in a position to state exactly what the cost of maintenance of the main roads in their district would be, it was decided to postpone the matter for the present in order that the I Council might have experience thereon before the price was settled. GLANYWERN BRIDGE. The question of erecting a new bridge at Glanywern was (after an abortive reference to the Parish Council to decide the amount this authority would give for the work) wai again referred to a sub-committee. THE EXPENSES OF THE DENBIGH DISTRICT, Mr John Roberts, in moving the adoption of the report of the Denbigh District Main Roads Committee, of which we have given the mere interesting parts, stated that he was glad to remark that, in- stead of the cost ef their operations in- creasing, as had been alleged, it was really decreasing, and they were becoming more economical. The report was adopted with several modifications. THE PANDY STREAMS. The committee having offered to give £ 200 towards the cost of bridging these streams, Mr Isgoed Jones moved that the sum be £100 only. He remarked that the road was not a main one, and it was in the borough of Denbigh, and it was only fair that Denbigh Corporation and the St Asaph District Council should pay each a third, ot the cost. Mr A 0 Evans spoke in favour of the X200, on the ground that the cost of the bridge, instead of being X200 odd, as now estimated, wouH probably be X400 odd before it was completed. Mr Gomer Roberts was in favour of the amendment, for it would be really unjust to the county to pay more. After some further conversation, the amendment was carried, fixing the contri. bution at X100. THB ST ASAPH (DENBIGH) RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. The County Council agreed to pay the sum of C95 to the St Asaph District Council as A contribution, at the rate of £ 10 per mile, towards the maintenance of the highways in that district. THS QUISTIOU OF THE ASYLUM DRAINAGE. IS THERE ANYTHING CONCEALED? Mr Boaz Jones Said he would like to ask, upon the question of the drainage of the Asylum, which was & very important thing for the town of Denbigh, whether there was any correspondence on the subjeet which had net been brought forward. The Chairman stated that there was no correspondence received by the Asylum Committee that was not referred to in the report from that Body (hear, hear). ALLOTMENTS AND THE SMALL. HOLOIMGfl ACT, Mr simin "JOk", St"f that this committee had been called twioe, and no quorum had beett forthcoming en these occasions. But there was an important communication, which had been sent to that committee, and which had been waiting for two years, and that was a petition from the parishioners of the township of Sutton Isa Coed, for compulsory powers to obtain the lease of some land that they wished to lay out in allotments. He wished to ask when this matter was to be settled. The Chairman said the observation from Mr Jones was a very important one, and he trusted that the members of the committee would attend when next they were sum- moned. LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS FOR WALES. On the motion of Mr Dodd, the Council decided to endorse the resolutions passed by the Flintshire County Council a short time ago, on the proposition of Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., in favour of museum grants for Wales, and the establishment of a national museum, art gallery and library. THE REAL FOOD VALUE OF conEBED SEPARATED MILK. The Council decided to approve and support the petition of Parliament from the Vestiy- of Camberwell, to secure a law compelling manufacturers of separated con- densed milk to print on the labels of their tins a notice to the effect that the substance does not contain the proper quantity cf cream. TRAVELLING OF SHOWS ON SUNDAY. The Synod of the Welsh Wesleyan Church submitted a resolution they had passed, askicg all the counties in North Wales to exercise the powers invested in them to prevent the moving of menageries, circuses, and other shows from place to place on the Lord's day, as such move- ments interfere with the conducting of religious services and are opposed to the wishes of the large majority of the residents. Mr Boaz Jones gave notice that at the next meeting of the Council he would move that steps be carried out to conform to the suggestion so far as the county of Denbigh is concerned. THE LIGHTING OF AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES. A PROPOSAL TO RESCIND THE RECENT BYE-LAW. Mr John Jones, Plas-yn-llan, had given notiee that he would move the rescinding of the lighting bye-law so far as it relates to agricultural vehicles, by eliminating therefrom the following clause; If Within a distance of half-a-mile of the homestead of the owner thereof," which would except all agricultural vehicles from the bye-law. At present the bye-law applies equally to all vehicles with the exception of agri- cultural vehicles within half-a-mile of the homesteads, which exception is intended to prevent the necessity of lighting up when passing from a field on the farm to the homestead. Mr David Roberts, of Glyndyfrdwy, Llangollen, had given notice of a similar motion. When this part of the agenda was reached, the Chairman informed the Coun- cil that they could not deal with it, as there were not two-thirds of the members present. It was then unanimously agreed that the motions should stand first on the agenda for the next meeting. This concluded the business, and the Council rose a few minutes before 4 o'clock.

( Copyright.) RURAL LIFE. BY A SON OF THE SOIL Tffi INDIAN BUKKSR Ducx Far the second time within twelve months I have been asked to give a description of the Indian Runner Duck, a variety slowly but surely coming into public favour. Miss Wilson-Wilson, of Kendal, has all along been a very staunch supporter of the variety, and from what I glean from this lady's circular the demand for Indian runners is now far greater than has been the case for some years. They are excellent layers, and for this reason are much sought after by breeders They also are very hardy, and will thrive on almost any land; but in point of flesh-forming qualities they are not nearly on a par with the Aylesbury, still the favourite of the many breeds now being reared for maket. I I nrrvvKp |»TTrn. A fortnight ago I was in Buckl. and had a gooa walk of close on ten miles through the heart of the poultry-rearing district. After what I saw I require no convincing as to the great success of farmers ia this part of the country. They have tfone to work in no half-hearted manner, and the industry never was more flourishing than it Is at the present time. One of these days I may give a lengthened account of my visit to the Ayles- bury poultry yards. In Kent also, particularly in the Weald district between Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells, where I spent a quiet Jay very t recently, I noticed how duck-rearing ia being taken up by farmers. They are the easiest I managed of -n fowl. and well pay 1ÍIC their rearing. A SERVICBABIJ? MILE FLOAT. *y. East Anglian correspondent will find, on inquiry, that sbe will have to give a far higher price than the one named for the combination milk float lihe is anxious to introduce into the village. Smart in appearance, it is exceedingly well made, coach-painted, lined, and varnished, clearly a conveyance that will attract custom. ÅI1 Irish friend of mine, whose people were farmers years ago near Exmiskillen, was never tired of telling me what a fine stroke of business the purchase of a good float turned out to be. He had a good milk round for a start, but once I he turned out with a smarter conveyance than | — A MTTJFC FLOAT. { ,r'f :¡"4t .:f""t: any possessed by his neighbours his connection speedily .increasedso much so that in a very short time he had two instead of one float at work every day. In a couple of years he had cleared the cost of his smart little milk carts, and the last time I heard from him he war in a fair way towards securing a larger far fy much for enterprise The float of v h h I give an illustration can be had for about iC2S -OJQ- plete, and I shall be pleased to supply fuithat particulars 6n hearing from any of my c orre- spondents. One of a similar pattern is gene- rally on view at the Islington shows, and o&A be seen by any of my. southern readers. j NARCISSI AND THKIB AETISTIC US*. Bulb catalogues are now being very widely circulated, and judging by the prices quoted tJie more popular varieties are cheaper than ever. It is as well, however, to be careful in selection, for veiy frequently the cheap lots sold in the streets and brought round to the door by hawkers are absolute rubbish. Years ago I was sold in this way, and for any good my cheap lot was when spring came round I might just M well have flung the money into the street. I have a list of reliable dealers I shall be pleased to send to any inquirers on receipt of a stamped addressed envelope, but, as with dogt and poultry, my readers must please understand that I do not undertake to supply them free ot charge. The stocking of my oviu garden amounts to quite a large sum every year; conser quently, if bulbs or plants were to be had for the asking, my own name would quickly be aD the free list." Good things are not as a rule given away, even for the sake of advertisement. There is scarcely a garden in the kingdom that is not disfigured by vain attempts to grow treef, shrubs, and flowers that are not really luitable, and it would often be much wiser to devote attou- tion to things that are absolutely hardy in otf* HABOISSZ. country, like most narcissi, to which the hardest winters make no difference, and besides, wo know from their distribution in Nature how fearless they are in this respect. As to the kinds we may naturalise with advantage, they are almost without limit, but generally it. is better to take the great groupe of the star narcissi, the poet's, and the wild daffodil, of which there are so many handsome varieties. We can be sure that these are hardy in our soils; and, moreover, as we have to do this kind of work in a bold and rather unsparing way, we must deal with kinds that are easiest to purchase. There is hardly any limit, except,.ttie one of rarity, and we must for the most part put our rare kinds in good garden ground till they increase, though we have to count with the fact that in some cases narcissi that will not thrive in the garden will do so in the grass of a meadow or orchard! The fine distant effect of narcissi in groups in the grass should not be forgotten. It is distinct from their effect in gardens, and it is most charming to see them reflect, as it were, the glory of the spring sun. It is not only their effect near at hand that charms us. but as we walk about we may see them in the distance ia varying lights, sometimes through and beyond the leafless woods or copses. RAISING POTATOBS. There are such a number of early and second early potatoes now, which ripen off at such varied times, that it is not safe to advise any precise time for raising. It muat be left for every gardener to dig when the particular varieties are ready, and to judge when the tubers are ready by the visible signs which are- observable. But no mistake must be made in *his, for a tuber raised too soon will neither Store to be fit for cfcoking nor for seed. &his, for a tuber raised too soon will neither Store to be fit for cfcoking nor for seed. The haulm is the first indicator. As soon as it dies off naturally it shews that the tubers are no longer served by it; hence they get no support, because they only feeg. from the haulm-at least they ought not to, There are now and again exceptional caseSi in peculiar seasons. when second growth takes place; then the tubers throw out shoots and pro duce a second crop. It is just possible this kind of undesirable growth may take place this year, for it comes -to pass when the season has been dry until towards late August or Septem- ber, and is followed on by heavy and constant rains. Still, second growth being no good, it behoves the gardener to harvest the crops as soon as ready, and that in any case. The writer has ere now had a crop ripen all right, and through carelessness in leaving it in the ground rot has set in to a degree, through wet weather prevailing. Wherefore, uie common plan of leaving potato- raising to be done at any indefinite and convenient time is not good enough, for great losses may be sustained thereby. As regards further signs i of ripening, the tubers are always fit to raise I when the skins are firmly set, but so long as tne .skin may be rubbed off with the thumb with tolerable ease they are not fitr to take up. It is better that all the earlies which are forced should be exposed to the sun for a week to green, because then they will keep in the stores, all the better. TURKEY BREEDING* There are several points which it is desirable to keep in view when we breed turkeys, says that prolific writer, Mr. Edward Brown, and which are not met with to the same extent in other races of poultry. The generally acknow- ledged weakness ot young turkeys is due primarily to the use of immature stock as breeders. It must be remombered that a turkey does not attain its maturity until it is three years of age. I do not say that it is a mistake to breed from it until that time. but it is acknowledged that the best progeny are obtained from fully developed animals, so far as natural vigour is concerned, and that tbe continued use of immature parents on both sides is certain to cause enervation. It is an undoubted mistake to hatch from the eggs laid by year-old turkey I bens, and it will ultimately, be found much T'a.hln t r"p -j; znr>vPT twelve iuuuiu* OcliUo UIP.I vf,5s Wv UuiAi. ,U» the two-year-old liens an oiu male bird will be better than a young one. Of course, sometimes old turkey" Toms are too heavy for the hens, and if their spurs are not cut or fled down the are apt to injure them. The latter can be avoided, and the former may be greatly mini- mised. Turkey hens can be used for five or six years as breeders, and when more than three years of age we can risk using one or two-year- old mala birds, if this is necessary. It may be mentioned that there is no advantage In very early hatching (If turkeys, for the demand is in the winter, chiefly at Christmas. and birds Hatched during As ril of early in May will be quite as big as these brought out sooner, and sometimes larger. Hence there is not the same need for using young stock to secure early eggs as in chickens and ducklings. The old hens will lay quite soon enough. There can be no doubt that the striving for size in turkeys has had an adverse influence so far as vigour and stamina are concerned. Any animal which, is abnormally big for its race is seldom as strong as those occupying a normal position. The best results are not obtained by using the largest specimens for breeding. Frequently they are bad breeders, but generally the progeny are weakly. Hence it is better to use moderate sized specimens; but by this we are not advocating dwarfs. That would be the other extreme. Two-year-old turkey cocks and hens, weighing 221b. to 251b. ,in tbe former ana 161b. to 181b. in the latter, can be used with confidence. Size in the birds to be killed will come by rearing and feeding. And the breeders should be in lean condition, with as little surplus fat as possible. To this end they should be fed chiefly on bard corn, giving some steeped beans or peas daily prior to and during the breeding season. The male bird should be kept apart until the beginning of March, and if the flock be a small one, only be allowed access to them two. dWe a week. A COBBEOnOK. I am obliged by the not*"received from a Brighton correspondent respecting the manu- ,_g facture of. tomato sauce for winter use. He draws my attention to a palpable error. The pulp should, of coarse, be laid in layers of salt, not futt,? I was made to state. My wretched, caUgnpfap^gftin, I suppose.