Denbighshire Free Press

RURAL LIFE. BY A SON OF THE SOIL. A PIED SPARROW. A writer in that very interesting weekly paper. CarlC Birds, has something to say about pied and almost white sparrows. He remarks that during the last two seasons these anomalies have increased wonderfully, and fl they are such conspicuous birds they naturally attract atten- tion. He mentions in6tanCM of several of them being in his garden, and sharing with other birds the refuse from the aviaries; and although I only one or two mismarked birds were first noticed, there was a big increase in the follow- ing vear. One bird wag almost entirely white, with just a few dark feathers, small and only faintly visible, while another was about three parts white. Although theee birds were plenti- ful last winter they suddenly disappeared at an unusual time. The change of plumage is quite distinct from albinism, for the pure albino is white, or yellowish white, the tint being caused by an entire absence of black pigment in the blood of the subject. This pigment is absent even in tho blood-vessels of the age, and to this the pink eyes of the bird must be attributed. Considering the thousands of sparrows hatched and reared, it is not surprising we should Let some striking variation in feathering. This whiteness of plumage appears to be tho most common form. cinnamon colour or a tendency to I A PIEr; SPARROW. I melanism is very seldom met with. Birds of black or very dark plumage are those most liable to albinism; and, strange though it may appear, snch extremes of colour are not uncommon. In domestic poultry, white breeds occasionally throw a bird of black plumage and vice versa. PICTORIAL EFFECT nr THE GAKDKN. As examples of planting for pictorial effect, standard and pyramidal Golden Yews and uolden Hollies form beautiful permanent pictures. Such as t-he" maka tho preHieet of winter pic- turee, and their colour standi* in warm and beau- tiful contrast with the Pine* and other ever- greens at that n. The white bark of the Birch, the whit, purple, aad yellow bark of cer- tain species of Wiliowa, the red and yellow berries of the Holly, aad 1h. yellow and black berries of the Privet, ara alao invaluable for winter decoration. Of ag the errors likely to occur in the aosooiatioa fli eoiours, any arrange- ment that presence a epotoy appearance is to be specially avoided. Boolean liueoo or irregular shapes of colour eeena more desirable in forming plantation* or belte tiiaa £ tfure« with an easily definable outline. Oit faoe of bolts, or woods, three or in piaafct of a kind may stand in a greup, the outline INDig so broken that tOON are bays or proaiMtories. lia parla and garden*, fciacW treas »r gr^nps ef trees, each group of a dwtinet e*l«ur, «>r «kada of oolour, would gmm swoot approyriatit. A Bhautlkwl ASTTIB. The Aater of which I give an illustration ia of impoeiag appearauoe atul robust kabit. It throw# up a stronr aeatral flower staaa 15i»- to 20in. ta kaigkt, wbieli kagias to Wranak about 4ia. ft<MB t&e grou«4. tfuawiag up four to six 4ia. ftam tUe ScovALI tfuawiag up four to six wafla i»i» memevLm. I aeoondarv flower ataaaa. Tka WOMBS, wbicb are 01 splendid form, are ot j—rnirn size, attaining, with good culture, as wrfa as 6ia. acd 7ia. diameter. The pattds are laag aod ouiiy and si the pureet wkite, the ilawaw maviag aiinoet the appeaaaace of the best Jayaaose Ghryia■ t.hacn<ua Uoom. The Aster aawes aliynet pecfeotiy trua troat eead, and is a vatuabis to Ow gudao, for pot oultura, ac for exhibition. Air BmcTm kusi Puntrt. Tuberous-rooted Begaaiaa ara very effective plants for filling beakets fer suspending in the conservatory; ia this v«/ the drooping habit which naany af tftaa posMas is sean to tee beat adveatage. If the baskete have aot been filled eariia* severni piaate Mkai have Mea grown ia 5-ia. or 6-4n. pate may ba pat tagether, so as to Ell then at oaoe. Where Aahiaieas are «r»w« it baakato they alee be very effeotive bece. aad will oaatiaua te flewer far soine tizue, if they are hardeaed gcadaellf, by plaoiag the- for a short time before Waagtag ia where they wifl reoeiva aomowlkat nor* air thaa they have had in ifce atora where grown. There are a good MOST ftowe«AG stava-filaatn that, om be nada to do good sarrtee ia this structure durinjf the. prmost and 4M foUawtag atanth, it ceze takea iia grnag air to sea that it is admitted ia moderate quentit WlWle pitujtta tre located ia a eaoier plaoe thaa <hey like it is neoeeeary to be very oareful ia giving water, keepiaf ikho tod ia as dry a state as thef will bear without the leaves and gawow. &Wg-c. and wheo water AontMKm. ) is wttl W mtmk better if Jt h used in, a ehilled state—aboat a taatperature of 80deg. will aaswer. During A* time tender atove-plaata are in. tpe cwservatary tha air should be shut are m.the cwservatary tha air should be shut completely off in the night whaa the waatheir happeua to ba oaal. Chorum. According to a. cirsalar just ieeaad, pagiih •grower of red Clover seed have thie waaon aa except ion ai eppertumty fer realising their pro- duos to th'C fullest It &pp6&rs tiiAt the foreign supplies are aauaaally limited, and henee the horaegrower has euly to place hie crop on the market a* tW proper tine in onjer to command a ready sale at highly-reasunerattre fttec If the English producer is to imake fuM his opportunity, however, he must depart his ordinary custom of delaying the throah- marketing of his crop until the spring. Indeed, this latter rewark applies t« a^l aeseena, *ery sufficient reason that the {Med mer- chants must necessarily proeure thairj supplies 6one time before the Meding season arrives fci order that they may thoroughly dead the seed aad teat its gartainatiulk powees. It stands to reason that if the English growers hold mow arops until the spring, difficulty muat pa experi- enced in finding buyers for it, unleea, lot. aoona, the? 08A sell it direct to the farmers, irhioh few sna only small growers «a hope ta do. B«t there is no reason for this delay ia the marketing of the crop.. On the contrary, whatever advaa- tagei at* to be gained will result from early threshing, as in addition to the higMer prioea (hat are then obtainable, the grbwen reoein* MrHar pciaoniga al the xxxsey equiraleok 4 WHEN TO PICX APPLES. This is an important question, and one whicK evevy grower must settle for himself to a b-rcat extent. The colour of the seeds is a good indica- tion of "n apple's maturity. If the seeds are dark it if- an indication that the apples are ready to pick. Another indication of maturity in apples is, that if in lifting the fruit with the hand the stem parte readily from the branch the fruit is ready to pick. Apples picked before' full maturity will keep longer than if left later upon the trees. Growers often a-llow their fruit to re- main unpicked later than they should in order to have the fruit well coloured. This often proves a mistake, for the fall winds arc liable to sweep over the orchards knocking off a large portion of the fruit.. One advantage of early picking is that it gives a longer season in which to do the work, and most men are cramped for time and for labour at this busy period. While ir is desirable to have the red fruit coloured bo- fore picking, it will usually colour'more or less alter picking, particularly if left in piles in the orchard, but no up-to-date grower leaves his apples in such piles. This piling in the orchard causes much loss of time and labour. Apples when taken from the tree should be plixed im- mediately upon the sorting table, where the culls and seconds are sorted oht, and the first-olass fruit is run immediately into barrels and headed up. EGO, PRESERVATION. I have lately been reading the experiences of certain breeders in America, and must say the methods adopted by some of them are strange to English ideas. A Mrs. Moore, of La Retta. Kan- sas. appears to be one of the more sensible hen- wives, and I, therefore, give an extract from the letter she writes to the editpr of the American journal in which the experiences have been pub- lished: Take a new box that will^flbld twenty dozen and put a thick layer of coarse'salt on bot- tom of box then every day as you gather ig eggs fresh from the nests, take clean, sweet lard I and grease each egg carefully all over, then set them in the salt, small end of egg down, until you have a layer of eggs, set on end, and then take salt and put over your layer of eggs, being careful to fill in between each egg, and fill up every crevice with the salt. Put salt between each layer of eggs thick enough to set the ends of your next layer of eggs in solid, so there will be no dancer of the eggs shaking out of their plaees when you are turning the box. Keep on in this manner, alternate layers of greased eggs and salt, till your box is full, taking care to put a thick layer of salt on top, next to cover of box; then nail on your box cover tight, mark on the lid the number of dozens, date of finishing and packing, so as to be sure: and tell your readers, Mr. Editor, to be sure their errgs are fresh, and never put in an egg a week old. or a stale and doubtful-looking eeg. I find the best way is to gather, grease, and pack each day's laying of eggs. I put up eighteen dozen in the above way, on April 19th (finished my box on the 19th), and unpacked January 12th in the following year, and sold the eggs at a restaurant at twenty cents a dozen. That was my experimental box. People that came in while I was unpacking the could not tell which were the preserved and which the freah eggs, as I broke a preserved and a fresh egg in different cups, and one old gentlema-n actually picked on the preserved as a fresh egg. I fried and boiled the preserved eggs, and I know no one could find fault with the flavour. The lord prevents the salt from harden- ing or cooking the egg. I turned mv box only twice a week. I washed the preserved egge ia warm soapsudR, and wiped them dry with an old, soft towel. This has to be done very carefully. The esrgs., after washing and wiping dry, can be packed to ship or marketed at home. Pack in any way most convenient, in bran, oaAk, &c. Of eouree the preserving will not keep them from frewsnag before they are unpaoked or after. Thro«crh the an HI user t-HE Y Must be kept ia a eool, 'dry plaoe. turning twiee a. week. In winter keep in a warm, dry plaoe, but not. too warm, twnmg twioe a week. Tho above ia just as I tlid. with my eggs, and I bad perfeet aucoess. To sunt tm. the errs mwrt be fresh, the lard sweet, So salt dry, then go ahead. POIXEK-COLLBOTINC DEVICE. I illastrate in the accompanying eagraviiig a simple device by nicams of whioh poØcll may be ooliected from certain flowers or blossoms, for I nee ia the manufacture of medioines and the Like. Ia brief, the device oonsisbe of a vessel peo- vided with means for holding the slips or twige bearing blossoms from which the pollen is to be eollected. Tbe vessel is filled with water, which keeps the tw fresh aad ripen#; the Wocfcems. The latter overhang the edge of the vessel, so that the pollen falls oa to a paper on which the vessel is set, and lauy be easily eollceted front time to time. As will be observed, the devise is tho extreme of ciaipheitv. A rectangular tank is used, whioh is preferablv made of sheet metal. Over the top of the tank is a sheet^metal plafca aupported upon two longitudinal and Uwe trans, verse rods, the edges of the plate being beat arouad the rods. Tiwi eover plate is of smalav area than the top of the feaxik. so that a narrow rawaval or opeaing is formed arouad the entire I A POIXBJf-COLUBCTJDiG ATBLLLtKM. perimeter of the plate. The rods projoat aary this opening, their ends being beat over the rtoa of the tank. Into the openings around tho plate fee twigs and branches are inserted, their lewer eods being immersed in water. The branehea are tilted so that their upper ends project be- jond the sides of the tank. To keep taeM ia this position and prevent them from sliding too far into the tank, the cover plate is out at the oentre to form a pair of flaps, which are beat downward, as shewn, and engage the stems. As stated above, the tank is plaocd upon a sheet •! paper, on which the pollen fells ae the btaeeemt ripen. When desired, the water in the tank may be drawn of. without. disturbing the branehea, thtoiigh a tube connected to a stopcock near botfom of the tank, aad fnwh water oan ba Swired through the opening in the eover plat*. andlee are provided for the removal of the tank when the pollen is to be colleoted from the paper. Mr. Ei't&ne Moulie, of Jacksonville, F18. has just secured a patent on this pollen- oollooting deviee. A NOTEL PHEASANT FMTDBH. A gamekeeper inks my opinion abowfe tho Hinimnnt feeder, 6f which I give 8Q illustration* •ad se I have visited some specially big sh«ot- htgS this season, aiad,bave. made. the best possible *se,of my eyes in looking round the rearing, sheds aad grounds, I can give a favourable opinion of the feeder which he asks about, al- though a great many different patterns are used by rearers in various parts of the country. So far I can judge, the main advantages of the feeder under notice are that no other birds can obtain the food by which it "is filled, that tea Or more Pheasants can feed simultaneously, and thit if the male birds attempt to drive the hena ofT the food. as they),ill do sometimes, the last- I A PKWAI(T TBEDXR. homed oan feed 8D the other side. By the use of the feeder a Large quantity of oorn oan also be stored and automatically supplied by the vibrating tray to the birds ae. requited. The hoppers and tray can be easily disengaged front interior of ooops, and when fastened on the ex- tej-ior. they make a complete eoop for rearing purposes. I may add that the small trough at- t&hed to the hinged board which 'fitls up the huf of one *ide of the ooop is intended for do- positing food suitable for young fowls, and the bars in front, being placed about three inches apart, enable them readily, to pass, while the older ohioMens httve to remain outside. •' TESTING YITALITT OF SEKDS. Many growers will be now arranging for their supply of seeds for next season's crops, and it is well to aall attention to the necessity of buyers J making sure that their supply of seeds are of good vitality and free from weeds. A simple test of the vitality of any farm or garden seeds can be made as follows: Place 100 seeds, taken at random from a sample, on a dish of sand, corer, from half to one inch with sand, moisten and keep in a warm place, as behind a kitchen steve, until the sprouts appear. The number of spronta which appear will give an idea of the percentage whioh may be expected t' grow. It is advisable to iewm more thaa one ';eat an be jruided iw k

MINXES- ■ SI 'm :r;; tF; t I' 'f The new ;L:i iirun'-hitis, pine-air Asthma, treatment ifliu md for Coughs .'ther C:i and and Colds, fill -ung Tr-nhles. FL Cf 3 • 1 Of all chttnts. s an > twr past frte trow the Pe/s. Pi it, Co

-p-- j HOME-MADE HOOKS. Everv kitchen should have a plentiful supply of hooks and pegs on which to hang f-aucepans and other utensils. An ingenious device is to nail a plain flit board to the door or wall, and fix to it, by means of brass-headed nails, empty cotton-reels. This is an excellent idea for hat- pegs. i

THE UTILITY OF OLD CLOTHES. 1 The woman who consigns her worn silk petti- coats that to all appeCi r<lWes have outlived their day of usefulness, old silk handkerchiefs that have served their legitimate purpose, and other odds and ends of soft silk to the rag-bag has in very truth parted with friends in need. Nothing makes a better-dust cloth for pianos and other high-policed furniture than a piece of old silk. For wiping the dust from silk gar- ments, silk or chiffon hats, and similar articles of apparel, a piece of old silk will prove so satis- factory that after one trial a brush, no matter how fine its bristle., will be discarded. Black cotton, silk or Lisle thread stockings that are quite hopeless from the darner's point of fiew still have not served their day, for they may be transformed into most excellent floor- oolishers. They should be laid smoothly one upon the other until several thicknesses are formed; then rolled, beginning with the feet, into a compact bolster and sewn securely.

NICE DISHES. TOMATO OMELET.—Scald and skin a large tomato, chop it up and mix in a little minced shallot.' Beat the yolks and whites of three eggs neparatelv: then mix the beaten yolks with the tomato and shallot, seasoning with salt and pep- per to taste. Put li.oz. of butter into an omelet pan, and when it is qiiite hot add the whites of the eggs to the other mixture, turn it into the pan and cook gently for two or three minutes. DROP COOKIES.—Cream one cupful of butter and one d a-half cupful of sugar together. To it ad our well-beaten eggs. Sift four cup- fuls of f r and mix through it two teaspoon- fuls of baking powder. Add this to the cake mixture and grate half a nutmeg in it. Lastlv, stir through it four tablespoonfuls of sweet milk and a small teaspoonful of v&nilla. Drop from a spoon on a buttered pan, place three or four raisins on each cooky, and bake in a quick oven. STEWED CUCUMBERS.—Pare the cucumbers and then slice them thick. Sprinkle a little salt over the slices and put them in a colander to drain. Dip each piece in flour and fry the slices in butter or dripping. To each large cucumber allow half a pint of gravy, a tablespoonful of vinegar, a faint seasoning of pepper, cloves and mace. Stew the slices of cucumber for half an hour in the seasoned gravy, and, just before serving, thicken the gravy with a little flour and butter. APPLE CHARLOTTE RussE. Three or four large apples, oz. of gelatine, 4oz. of Demerara sugar, two eggs, the grated rind and the strained juice of one lemon, some finger sponge cakes, one pint of cold water. Put the gelatine into a etewpan with half-a-pint of the water, and stir over a mild heat until dissolved. PeeL core, and slice the apples, and stew them in the remaining half-pint of water until they are soft; then rub them through a hair-sieve. Add the sugar, the grated rind and the juice of the lemon, and the strained gelatine, and stir for a few minutes over the fire, being careful not to \t it boil. Add the whipped whites of the eggs, ,Lrtd let the mixture cool. Line a mould with sponge fingew, and pour in the mixture. When firm, turn on to a dish, and eerve with custard made of the yolks of the eggs, a little milk, sugar, and vanilla oseeufci) to taste. CHAUD-FROID OF CHICKEN. Remains of boiled fmd. half-a-pint of white sauce, a little gelatine, salad, pieces of cold tongue, and seasonings. Thin is a very dainty way for using up the remains of a cold fowl. Divide all into neat joints, chopping off any superfluous bite of bone. Set each piece on a plate with a rpace be- tween. Coat with white sauce in which a little gelatine has been dissolved. Leave till set, then arrange in & circle on a dressed salad, garnish- ing the chicken with fanciful-shaped pieces of cold tongue and aspic jelly. lIJIIP1" -II

Unvarying in Quality. Delicious to the Palate. MAZAWATTEE TEA A Dainty Aroma. Delightfully Refreshing. Full weight without wrapper. OARLINfiTON'S HANDBOOKS. EDITED BY BALPH DARLINGTON. F.R.G.S. Lord KnoJI/t It commmM by the King to 4 W— thank Mr.Dtrllnt ttnftn cop/ofthiHtw to will tot up, of 'London and Entlront. mothing better sould be wiltaed for."—MriHth WtMfi •'Xkrcaperlor So adLu-7 tsldM."—Anly CATOMMI*. Tuitort to London (and Residenft) thavdd KM DA R L I N GTO N'*S. "Ttty PUU-IIY SOP them all."—Daily Graphlo. a riN rwi N "K briuiM,t b°°k-ta. 7«m. faS/WWIl Particularly g00i.tca<Umf AMD C. COOK and 4th Edition Beviaed ANU E. T. COOK, M.A. G/_ ENVIRONFI 34 Maps and Plana. E I* VIKU 60 Illustration*. Ik* beat handbook to Iiondoa aver lmed. "—XMn-iMol AnlyPaK eo ntus. maps& Plans 5/-1100 Illut. Mapa ft Plana 5/- NORTH WALES. I DEVON A CORNWALL Ttøttol8 to Brighton, Butbovnie. Hastings, St Leonards, YM Worthing, Bournemouth, Exeter, Torquay, Paignton. Exmoath, Bidmouth, Teignmouth, OHwlish, Plymouth, Dartmouth. Dart- moor, Bxmoor, Falmouth, the Linrd, Penxancc, Laud's Bud, Beilly Isles, St. Ives, Newqnav,Tlntuel, CloTeUy, Ilfracombo, Jiynton, Minehead, Bldeford, wye Valley, Severn Valley, Bath, We«tan-«uper-Mare, Malrem, Hereford, Worceeter, Gloucester. Cheltenham, Llandrlndod Wells, Brecon, Koss, Tin tern, Uuw goUen, Abeiryitwyth, Towyn, Bumooth, Dolgelly, Harlech. Criceieth, Pwllheli, Llandudno, Rhyl, Oanway, Colwyn Bay, Ponmaenmawr.Llanfairfechan. Bangor, Carnarven, Beddgalert. Suowdon, Pestiniog, Trefriw, Bettws-y-coed. Norwich, Tar- uioath, Lowestoft, Norfolk Broads, Isle ot Wight, and Chaaaal should UN DARU..roll.. HANDBOOKS I/- «M* Llangollen: DARLINGTON CO.. London; SIMPKUTS, Paris and Now York: BRRNTANOT. The MaOtcav MmkMBt Mt4 MtoMltrt. PHOTOORAPHS.—Beantlful FhotogtmUi* of Soensty, Bains, etc., in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey. BalestlJM, Egypt, also Bngiisk Lakes and North Wrtes.la.aai* List poet Mfc SarUngrton Co.. Uangolloa South Africa Royal Mail Route. Union Castle Line. LONDON AND SOUTHAMPTON To Cape Colony, Natal, Delagoa Bay, Beira, c't. Calling Frequently at :-Madeira Las Palmas, Tenerifle, Aaoension, and St. Helena. Weekly sailings, fast passages, superior accommodation, beet route. For rates of Passage Money and all further Information apply to the Managers—Donald Gurrie & Oo., London" ffi RATS, MICE, MOLES, OQCKROACHES. and'BEETLES, greedily eat Harrison's Reliable Rat Poison. Oats- and dogs will not touch it. Vermin dry up and leave no smell. Prices 6d., Is., 2s. 3d.; and 3s. Od., Postag-e 2d.—G. W. HARRI ON, Chemist, 118, Broad Street, Reading. Sold by Chemists. Agenc for St. Asaph: J. Emry Jones, Chemist. Penbieh Harrison Jones & Co., High Street. Rutbin: Rouw: &■Sons, Cherrists, St. Peter's cquare. Bettwsycoed; R. Parry. do7 THOMAS M.P. EMULSION ■ is an unrivalled remedy for Coughs Colds, Bronchitis, Consumption, and as di€eases of the chest, J.r< ana Lungs It fianlshes all fonnV of "»n oiseaseg, nourish the blood, overcomes «oI^n Prt vents wasting, and pat id healtliy fleah of the wasted body. I1 contains the life-gmng elementa of cod liver oi; io itø. 08t palatablè and digestive condition, combined witti the tonio and recuperable properties of the flypophosphites. Try a bottle toe dily. told ia 1. and 28, bú, tIe8 by om Special Agents, Denbigh tfwoson Jones & Co., C-homists Ruthin: Rouw & Son, Chemittta. St. Asaph: J.mrY8 Jones, Chemist. Rhyl; Parker Davies, Ohemiat. Manufacturaril, L. E. Thomn8 & CJo,rEdge Lane, Liverpool lial ) ibOO RATS KILLED. E0D1NK BAT POISON KILLS ON THB SPOT. Leaves no emell. Mr. G. R. Brown writes :—" Rodinehad excellent results. It killed Thousands of Rats." Dogs and Cats don't eat it. Kat JLifce It, Eat ft, and Oie. Price—6d., Is. 2s., 3s., 5s., Post, 2d. T. HARLEY, Chemist, Perth. Agettt R. D. HOaBfa Chemist, DenbiRh A TYPICAL SCENE IN HOLLAND is beautifully illustrated in HOENIMAN'S Alma nack for 1906. This artistic calerui r is now being Givon Away in every town, village and hamlet, throughout the Uoil..d Kingdom, upon apdication to Muy OF the i5,n(>0 retailers of HORXIMAN'S PURE TKA. There is not a more season- able Christmas or New Year's gift than a parcel of HORNIMAX'S PURE TEA and HORNIMAX'S Almanack. Ask for it at ymir grocers and see you get it. Always good alike. Sold by lIPD' igh Aehfords', groc2rs, High-street. ,t Ayaph Price, grocer. Llangollen: Dtive- Llandysiiio Roberta. Old Cnlwyn Price, WillUms, Evans,Cadwgan Stores. Mold Maldocks & Son, High Street and Chester Street (special whole- pale a rents). Rhuddlan Roberts, grocer. Penmser.mawr Lewis, grocer, Co-operative Society. TEACHRRS' HIGHLAND CREAM. P^AsuEa sSo»s OVL fflp EXTRA A.#"C"" I pl J SPECIAL. W HI SKIES. Quality never Varies. A. ANDRE-W Ss The Old Vaults High Street BOLli AGBNT FOR T' W v r J'¡JAQ.'r;J" PTION S—^ y ■ Ý It is rocogniscd by the. best financial authorities that Call Options offer a prudent method at operating on the Stock Markets. A New Treatise on Options .ha* just been published by the London & Paris X-.c,-zage (Ltd.), Bankers, Baiilacn House, Bank, B.C., and will be sent post free on men- tioning this paper. L WHO'S YOUR LAWYER? 1 I haven't required one siaocf I bought I haven't required one siaocf I bought EVEflY MAM'S &WN LAWtlR/' by A BABRXSTEK, which has- repaid its price 20 timee over in sa*iug lawye-, feet. "New Edition (1906) now ready, price 6 s. 8d. NET (postage. Sd.), from Crosby Lockwood & Son. StaUooajrs' Hall Court. London, E.C. and All BookseMers. "HOBART" ^yclbs ^yclbs VV )} FACf OUYTQ MDEK NO-' ^NOW IT" REVOLCTIONIN THE CTOLE'TRADE" i»^,rect at Rrie«s and tave from to X £ on your new cycle. Pricei from <.4-5>-« easiest of Ea*y Payments,from 5/- Monthly. Write for free Lists to-day. HOBART BlFD.Ll<f,Dept.P. World'r. DirfCt_CxcU Makfrs. Cm^ntrv^ K" "0 FR E EfW e-Osuet nd Adyvoeu rtFisRinFg-E Our Advertising 1 1 POSTCARD ALBUM AND 1§0 POSTCARDS. Send us 1/2- return you will reccive our Ad?crtisin>S^,n>>'e« (incinsive oSet). Mbney refunded tf not fttimud Trade Writg To.Aav Selling Agents Supplied. "*ue ifO-Gay. Wanted. ",p Ti e Lm ^.Xi'.cFAME SUPPLYC0..t PRKEll5 Uaiia. GLASGOW. | FREE J.! lc;o Blai^s Pills PTWELV NO RESTRAINT VtCT.TABLt or OICT W j uu. {:¿t.T'4 .#7E6 t7 '• ■' Pr"o't Now jw and; and OeMMt v „ Ufa of your Boots H PAD' )AS reater >pearanee FIXFD. Notle lit •Woo/aUlne in th A I*° 'whopl'1 OY**y" ^PECIALQUALIT^JI^

the average results. A test of this kind is con- sidered more trustworthy than one in which the Beeds are placed in blotting- paper. A BEAUTIFUL SINGLE ZINNIA. I was surprised the other day to receive an in- quiry about the Zinnia, which, although so great a favourite for beds or mixed borders in really big gardens, is quite as popular among cottagers as can be proved by anyone who takes the trouble to look around the amateurs' section at SWTGLE zmmA. elmo,q any country flower show. It certainly seems surprising to find anyone inquiring about so common a plant. I am, however, always pleased to answer inquiries sent by such men, for it is frotn them that our enthusiasts are gleaned. The single ZijinisF. contain the finest varieties which have been obtained by skilful onltivation from the old Mexican variety. The ainale Zinnia is unique in ferm, and combines richness and variety of cokmr; k is very attract- ive m beds or mixed borders, a»d matches well with Pyretfirum, Asters, &c. There are eight with Pyretfirum, Asters, &c. There are eight distinct varieties which can be reeommended. PLAKTINO Go<xwBrRitm. Bvsh fruits may be planted an through the vmrter, and there is an advantage in getting them planted before the ead of the year. Goose- berries phwvted before the end of this month can be prnaed their first season. This helps to get fkona early htto a good shape f-or fruit bearing. Market growers prune their Gooseberry trees Iterd. reducing them to the appearance of ampu- tated skeletons, but they get much fine fruit in tMMeqwewee. It is almost impossible to have (Toaseborry bashes too open. All old, worn-out jMraaabes ohoaid be eystentatically removed to givo room te the young wood on which the best bai ritn grow. Expert pruttOM aim to train the 0itoaar yoang eh oats. to for* basin-shaped growm the naore thoroughly to tbana light uad air. There are three excellent Gooseberries we eaa augreet to am a tears for eh owe from IManaat tie many good ones offering. The first is K*Opmko. This is a vigorous-growing tree, wklck prodnoes large, bandsowe fruit. Its yel- low berries have a pale greenish tint, spotted with red. They can be picked green very early In the aeason. The skin of the berry is thick. For a red Gooseberry, Warrington is excellent. The bueh grows compact. The bright red fruit haage long, giving good supply late in the sea- son. Grown on clorth walls or in shady places, the tune of fruit aupply can be prolonged. For a large-fruited Gooseberry Lancashire Lad is ad- vised. This is a great favourite both with ex- hibitors and niarket growers. Its large, smooth irurt is deep red in colour, with shading of lighter red. The growth of the bush is eompaofc PRESERVING FBTJIT JUICBS. Bone interacting experiments have been made ia Aamerioa in regard to the preservation of MIIMt eider and ttther fruit juiees free from fer- ■Notation. Frnit jaiøee preserved in this way ora far more wholesome than the fermented drinks made from them, and are particularly ap- preciated in hot weather. Take clean quart beer bottles and fill them with eider fresh from the press, leaving the neck of the bottles empty for air spaee. Ptaee the bottles in a steam chest, so that the Stearn when turned on will circulate freely. around tkem. Then steam, or scald with boiling water, having one bottle open with a sugar-boiler's thermometer in it to shew the tem- peratpro; the thermometer projecting through a hole in the steam oheet. Heat to 160deg. for ten raiaates aad then immediately oork, and tie the eorha down. After twenty-four hours, heat again Mad the next day a third time. If the bottles aro ateied in an npright position the corks must bo aovaiod with paraffin. For home use, where a obmm oheet is not available, nse a wash boiler with aiatn in the bottom to stand the bottles on, and MTIt a small amount of water and a cover to natain the tteam, so that the necks of the bottles win be sterilised. A better way would be to keat the empty bottles to a temperature of lOOdeg., and heat the fruit juice in a porcelain TWMct to 160deg. and ponr into the bottles while both are hat, and oork and seal at once. Lay tike battle neek down, and if ha twenty-four hears tikore are no signs of fermentation heat aifaia at oneo. POULTRY EXPL-IRIMBNTG. As regards poultry experiments which are now being atado, we mast bear in mind that no ex- periaaeatt oaa be repeated under precisely similar aaadhioas. as it oan in, say, the chemist's labora- tory; t&oro the conditions can in all particulars be repeated identically for the purposes of de- HMM*ratien and verification. But a moment's reflection teUs one that such identical repetition masock be secured in experiments with fowls and aggs. Far too much importance seems to be at to the running two or more pens of fowls simultaneously under different methods of b*asiag. feeding, or what, not. Even though the fowls employed may be all of them of the tana rftrarn, and have been hatched at the same tiaao aad reared m the same way, nevertheless, thanann experimentalist has to reckon with M isapeaderahle element of individual per- wmrfity. and temperament, and habits in the Ryfag fubjeote with whioh he experiments; and pen it aaust always be precisely that element which heavily discounts the si^mfieaneo and practical valoa af oomparative avicultural research work, tnvtil thay have been repeated with success ataay times. I* ao dase of such experilnents ia tbata grenter need of ucieatifie oacrtion in form- ing eticng than in the raeubaticm experi- ments, whether tliesa be to test the hatchability of eggs laid by hews fed in eeveral ways, or to test the respective naerita of several types of iBoabator. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. S. W. P.—The trap can be bought of Gilbert- VNljMHl V*B*, Hertford. j