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

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. The will, as contained in paper writings A and B, with 15 codicils, of the Right Hon. Charlotte Scott, Viscountess Ossington of Ossington, near Newark, Notts, and of No. 13, Hyde-park-gardens, and No. 40, Upper Brook-street. who died on Sept. 30 last, was proved on Nov. 15 by Sir Walter George Frank Phillimore, Bart, and Frederick Cavendish Bentinck, the surviving executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to upwards of £ 409,000. The testatrix bequeaths JE250 to the National Refuges for Homeless and Destitute Children, No. 25, Great Queen-street, for their training-ships; X5000 to the Bishop of London's Fund £ 1000 each to the Society for the Support and Education of the Indigent Deaf and Dumb, the Cbaring-Cross Hospital, and the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society; £7000, on trust, to apply the income in the sup- port of any nursing institution of institutions in the United Kingdom, or in the maintenance and re- muneration of nurses employed to tend sick, needy persons in the United Kingdom; and her executors are directed to rrake up the endowment fund of the coffee-tavern at Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, to (3000. There are very numerous and considerable legacies to relatives, servants, and others, and a large number of specific gifts as tokens of affection and friendship. She appoints Louisa Evelyn Denison, Catherine Mary Phillimore, and Alice Grenville Phillimore joint resi- duary legatees of her personal estate; but, in the event of either of them dying in her lifetime, she sub- stitutes Alice Phillimore as one of her said residuary legatees. The will (dated Sept. 2, 1859) of Lady Mary Selina Louisa Windsor-Clive, late of Oakley Park, Salop, and of No. 77, Cadogan-square, who died on July 12 last, was proved on Nov. 20 by the Earl of Bradford, the brother, and Colonel the Hon. George Herbert Windsor Windsor-Clive, the executors, the value of the personal estate exceeding £ 37,000. The testa- trix, in case her son, Robert George, is living at the time of her decease, leaves her property to all her daughters in equal shares; but if her said son shall survive her and die before all her daughters attain 21, then she leaves her property to all her daughters, except the one who shall succeed to the Oakley Park estate. The will and codicil (both dated June 3, 1889), of Mr. Archibald Travers, F.G.S, F.R.G.S., late of No. 28A, Addison-road, Kensington, who died on Oct. 29, were proved on Nov. 14 by James Lindley Travers, the nephew, and Walter Francis Travers, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to over £ 311,000. The testator bequeaths £ 2000 to each of his executors; an annuity of t300 to his sister, Isabella Meilham; £ 5000 to each of his nieces, the daughters of his brothers Marcus and Roderick, and of his late brother, Samuel Smith Travers; £ 2000 to each of the five daughters of Mrs. Brunton certain properties and reversionary interests purchased by him to the trustees and upon the trusts of the marriage settle- ment of his said late brother, Samuel Smith Travers; and legacies, both pecuniary and specific, to brothers, sisters, servants, and others. The residue of his real- and personal property he leaves to his nephews, the sons of his brothers, and of his deceased brothers, in equal shares. The will (dated Oct. 26, 1887J, with a codicil (dated March 0, 1889), of Mr. George Lloyd Robson, J.P., late of Altwood, Maidenhead, Berks, who died on Sept. 25 last, was proved on Nov. 7 by William James Robson and Captain Henry Denne Robson, the sons, two of the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to upwards of £99,000. The testator bequeaths £ 1000, and all his horses, carriages, wines, and consumable stores, to his wife, Mrs. Mary Jane Robson; his furni- ture, plate, pictures, and household effects to his wife, for life; then, as to the plate re- ceived from his father-in-law, Mr. Denne, to his son Henry Denne; and as to the remaining articles, to his son William James £ 3000 to his son William James; JE4000 to his son Henry Denne: X5000 to his son Charles Robert; and legacies to god- children and servants. His residence. Altwood, and all his real estate in the county of Berks he devises to his wife, for life (she paying JS50 per annum to each of his daughters), and then to his son William James and there are gifts of land and houses to each of his said three sons. The residue of his real and personal estate he leaves to all his children, in equal shares. The will (dated February 11, 1888), with a codicil (dated October 25, 1889), of Mr. Edward William Clarke, late of No. 104, Southampton-row, and of The Chestnuts, East Acton, who died on October 26, was proved on November 7 by Elward Clarke, the son, James Henry Richards, and Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Martin Clarke, the widow, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to upwards of £ 41,000. The testator gives the use of his furniture and effects, his residence The Chestnuts (or the rent), and £ 300 per annum to his wife; £ 100 to the Baptist Missionary Society; JEIOO to the Rev John Clifford, for the benefit of the aged poor and sick members of Westbourne-park Chapel; and legacies to nephews, nieces, aud others. The residue of his real and personal estate he leaves, upon trust, for his said son and his daughter Mrs. Richards. The will (dated Feb. 1, 1S89), with a codicil (dated Oct. 2 following), of Miss Emily Jane Bigge, late of No. 18, South Eaton place, who died on Oct. 13, at Folkestone, was proved on Nov. 13 by Frederick William Bigge and Herbert James Bell, the nephew, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to over £ 30,000. The testatrix gives con- siderable legacies to nephews, nieces, and others and leaves the residue of her property, upon trust, to pay the income to her nephew, Major-General Thomas Scovell Bigge, for life, and, at his death, to divide the principal between his three sons. The will (dated April 29, 1887), with three codicils (dated Feb 23 and Sept. 17,188S, and Aug. 28, 1889), of Mrs. Eliza Hulbert, formerly of No. 5. Stanhope- terrace, Hyde Park, but late of The Cottage, Ayot St. Lawrence, near Welwyn, Herts, who died on Sept. 24 last, was proved on Nov. 12 by Mrs. Eliza Inez Pringle, the daughter, Arthur Barff, and Hector Francis Monro, the executors, the value of the personal estate exceeding £26,000. The testatrix bequeaths £-100, upln trust, for Eliza Rogers, for life; her furniture and personal effects to her daughter, Mrs. Pringle, and legacies to or upon trust for each of her children. The residue of her property she gives to her sons, John Jardine, Frank Russell, and Walter Stanley. The will (dated Feb. 5,1889) of Mr. Walter Rice Howell Powell, J.P., D.L., M.P. for Western Division of Carmarthenshire, late of Maesgwynce, parish of Llanboidv, Carmarthenshire, who died on June -25 last, was proved on Nov 14 by Miss Caroline Mary Powell, the daughter, the sole executrix, the va'ue of the personal estate exceeding fGOOO. The testator gives, devises, and bequeaths all his real and personal estate to his said daughter absolutely his wife, Mrs. Catherine Anne Prudence Powell, being already pro- vided for. -Illustrated London ewfl. .)..

WILLIS I am sorry that your wife opened that business letter I sent you, Harris. You told me that she never opened your letters." Harris She doesn't as a rule, Willis; but you see you made a great mix- take in marking it Private. MOTHER (policeman's wife): Willie, I've L-aen shouting for you this half-hour. How is it you are never about when you are want«d ?" Son: "Well mother, I suppose I inherit it from fathef." ¡,. .trl. L':

GOSSIP ON DRESS, j A THOROUGHLY useful fabric (points out the De- camber issue of Mrs. Leach's Family Dressmaker) is the silk checked gauze; it can be had in many dif- fwent shades, and when it has been worn some time a hot iron will be found to work wonders when passed over the creases. Then again, Indian muslin forms very charming toilletes for young ladies, while liberty or pongee silk is also a popular favourite in the way of material. Russian net forms many of the new ball skirts, and is also a very durable fabric. It is used either for a complete jupe, or else, as is sometimes the case, it may be finished with trimmings of silk ribbon, when it becomes quite worthy of any full-dress occa- sion. Evening bodices are usually made of some material which contrasts with that of the skirt, anless the corsage and train are in one, which they frequently are for reception and dinner toilettes. GIRLS' ball costumes are very simple, and in this simplicity there is a great charm. For small dances tulle and net are used to complete the skirt, while the bodices are either of velvet, broche, or plain satin. Large ballrooms, however, are always full of fashion- ably and well dressed folk, and it is on the occasion of such evening dances that really fresh and beautiful gowns have an opportunity of being worn and seen to advantage. Many pretty skirts are quite full all round, hanging straight from the waist, without a vestige of draping anywhere; they are in every in- stance bordered above the hem with several rows of silk ribbon, sewn on flat like braid or else tucked with iach wide tucks. Others, again, have a jupe of silk, which is finished with three narrow flounces, or a thick ruche round the fe(t, when the gauze or tulle draping is rather scanty, showing the foundation dis- tinctly through the transparent material. A favourite form of trimm ng for these simple frocks is a ribbon girdle, which is made of a silk band, wider than rib- bon, and narrower than a sash, being in fact five inches acmes. It is attached from the side seams of the bodice, below the basque, and crossed on to the right hip, where it is knotted in large loops, and hangs to the edge of the skirt; a trail of natural-looking flowers may be added amid the bows with quite a charming effect. SOME new evening mantles have been received, and are now being shown in some of our West-end shops they are for the most part quite short, reaching only just on to the basque, and are made somewhat similar to a round cape, with the exception that the, shoulder is made to fit perfectly with a seam, which is carried down on either side to the waist. These mantles may be had in very many different shades of silk broche, pale pink and blue being the favourite colours they are lined with white, and finished round the edges with a soft trimming of white swans- down. Other shapes there are, of course, the newest being the short round capes. Fur is frequently used to border the edees, and this trimming is not strictly confined to white, or even light furs, as we find that sealskin, bear, skunk, and many other dark skins are used upon the palest and most delicate tinted of satins. ———— SHOES and stockings have become quite a feature of dress for some time; red and tan shades are quite played out, and we find now many other colours are used, wh'ch correspond with the shade of the costume with which they are worn; when this is not the ease, however. plain black kid shoes are surmounted with stockings in decidedly bright tints of colour, while checked and striped hose are the rage of the day. FOR some time past (observes the Ladies'' Gazette of Fashion) there has been much good taste shown with regard to dress, but there is always some extrava- j gance or eccentricity in vogue. For instance, at the present time the gaudy tartans and huge squares of the Scotch materials, in vivid colours, have for the time taken the place of the plain materials, so long in favour. To wear with these gowns, some of the leading houses are showing check stockings which cannot but give a very ugly appearance to the foot and ankle. Then there are the ugly loose sleeves, wide at the top and the bottom, and any exag- geration in 6leevts always has a very odd and ungraceful effect. The Scotch tartans, which should cnly be worn by those of tall and graceful figure, are generally made on the cross, bodices to match the skirts quite plain, gathered at the back or closely kilted cuffs and collars of plain or plaid velvet. Sometimes the bodice sleeves and tablier are made on the cross, the back of the bodice and the skirt on the straight. A new material this season has a tartan border; this appears on a diagonal ground, and the deep border is woven in velvet. Plain cloth gowns are made with tartan sleeves, and a tartan edge showing beneath the over- skirt, which is slightly raised. The camel's-hair borders to plain cloths are also a novelty. These borders are either carried round the bottom of the dress or carried up the opening in the side of the overskirt. The Jacquard woven stuffs are very handsome in design and colourings a floral design in pink on brown is most effective. There are also black designs on coloured grounds, forming the front of the skirt and vest. The colours in these stuffs are seal brown, navy blue, petunia, dark green, &c. As regards the favourite colours, brown has quite regained its old popularity; red will be more worn than it has been, particularly the new shade called Eiffel," a reddish-brown, all shades of heliotrope, plum, and myrtle green. The russet shades in vicuna cloths make very stylish gowns. The plain cloths in dark colours are fashionable trimmed with fur, otter, or black astrachan and a little velvet. A gown of dark green cloth has a long polonaise trimmed with astrachan slightly caught up to show a skirt of velvet; to wear with this out of doors is a short high- shouldered cape of velvet, with a very high collar lined with fur. Cloth is also trimmed with passementerie in a darker shade than the material, the passe- menterie introduced on the pleats at the sides of the skirt, and arranged at the waist as a corselet. Black mohair passementerie is very suitable for woollen dresses. A heliotrope faced cloth has a handsome border of black silk passementerie, edged with a fringe of thesame. Corselets of passementerie are made in gold, silk and gold, or all silk, and are of various shapes, some high in the front and low at the back, or high at the back and tapering to the middle of the front. Jockeys to sleeves and cuffs are made to match. Yokes and plastrons are also made of passementerie and embroidery. Silver ornaments for gowns are very fashionable; they are used on side pockets, revers, cuffs, and collars. LEATHER is now introduced as a trimming to a cloth gown. The vest may be of tan leather, or the cloth skirt will be bound with leather about six inches deep. White buckskin is also used as a vest, cuffs, and collar. The bodice of a dress now has almost always some kind of trimming, and instead of so many tight-fitting bodices defining the figure, a loose appearance is given by the arrangement of the folds and drapery; a small gathered vest, or a loose one falling beneath the edge of the coat bodice, or the fulness is pleated into one or both shoulders, leaving an opening for a plain vest. A favourite bodice has short, rounded fronts, meeting only at the throat; full chemisette of silk pleated or gathered. The newest chemisettes are of ribbed silk China crape, embroidered or plain crepon, and mousstline-de-sr ie. Another favourite style for indoor gowns has the bodice gathered and fastened at the waist by a band, the sleeves high on the shoulder ornamented with bows of ribbon velvet. The newest bodices have the fastenings concealed by the drapery or passementerie trimming. The passementerie or braiding may be carried down one side of the bodice, and a strip down the front to conceal the hooks. Many bodices have one half plain the other half draped. A favourite style of trimming for a thick cloth is a kind of half- wheel round the arm-ho'e on the front from the shoulder seam to the under arm seam, made of bands of velvet ribbon or braid the edge may be defined by fine gold braid set on in sharp teeth. The trimming is introduced again as a wide belt pointed at the top at the middle of the front, and deep cuffs reaching almost to the elbow, and the upright collar. This fashion of passe- menterie and braiding in pointed designs arranged round the armhole is quite new. A bodice with one side of cloth is fastened from the right shoulder to the left side of the point and bordered with fur; the other side has a V-shaped piece of velvet on the npper part and the rest of cloth. A narrow band of the fur trimming surrounds the armholes. The basques of bodices are cut longer over the hips and shorter in front, and high collars are still worn. The latest novelty is the Medicis collar, opening in front of ftbe neck, showing a close-fitting high collar or a fall mi lace. These collars may now be bought ready made of velvet. LISSB and tulle for gowns are (the Queen says) ex- quintcly embroidered Some of the liase fronts show r empire designs, with sheaves of crrn in gold and garlands of flowers in solid colours beautifully worked. Young ladies are wearing gauze with inter- woven satin stripes, and embroidery of self colours. A great many lisse and crepe gowns are worked in open guipure of one uniform tint; they are nearly always edged with points, which are cut out before they are used, and the colours—peach, green. &c.—are most delicate. These crepe de Chine skirts are to be bad four and a half yards wide. and are intended to form either the entire skirt, or to be halved for the fronts. Some of the applique patterns in gold are of great beauty. Indeed, they are throughout far more magnificent than they have even been the embroidery mostly covers the entire fabric, and only very occasionally forms a border, and then the work is heavier and bolder than heretofore. Black tulle has been successfully treated with multi-coloured embroidery all over metallic threads. Black tulle is the foundation, not only of gold embroidery, but of gold and silver and gold and steel, which blend well. Copper and gold is the newest combination, and decidedly pleasing. White has been treated also with the same class and kinds of embroidery. The white nets are covered with designs in silver-lined beads. In fact, beads now are only fashionable for evening wear, and beaded materials go into smaller space than the embroidered goods. The pompadour metallic bouquet designs are now applied to the embroidery ef dress skirts, and no wonder, seeing the extreme beauty of the patterns and colour, and how well they are suited to dress decoration.

DEEP DALE CAVERN. The Man on the Peak," a chatty and yet encyclo- poedic correspondent of the Sheffield Independent, has the following in his informing Derbyshire Notes of the current week The Deep Dale Cavern is likely to become famous in North Derbyshire, and prove a formidable rival to the Rains' Cave at Longcliffe. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. R. Millett, the son of an old Buxtonian, there has been brought to light a most curious and interesting lot of relics of bygone ages. The cavern itself is of some extent, but there are no less than six smaller caves branching out of it, and it is with these that young Millett has, at some risk to himself, managed to make acquaintance. The lowest of these subsidiary caves is no less than 40ft. below the entrance to the cavern proper. The first chamber is 93ft. in length, from 6ft. to 18ft. in width, and from 10ft. tu Oft. in height. Thesmallestis IS feet long, 7 feet wide, and 10 feet in height. Each of them has been measured by Mr. Millett, and he tells me it was with the greatest difficulty he managed to penetrate these curious but hitherto hidden recesses. He has accomplished, however, what very few persons would care to undertake, but his perseverance has been amply rewarded. The finds he has made are of great importance to the district. One of the skulls found appears to be that of a large- sized bird of a species now extinct. A curious awl or spear was also discovered, and a unique speci- men of charcoal. Access to these chambers is most difficult, if not dangerous. The conformation of the rock in places is peculiar. Apparently the floors have at some period fallen in. Mr. Millett has offered his unique collection to his native town, and his offer has been accepted. Professor Boyd Dawkins, of Owen's College, Manchester, says the specimens are most interesting, and he would like to secure them for the museum at Owen's College. As, how- pver, they would more fittingly find a home at Buxton, Mr. Milligan, the chairman of the Local Board, has started a public subscription to enable the collection to be deposited in air-tight cases in the Free Library at the Town Hall, where there is ample space for such an exhibition.

TEMPERANCE FIGURES. At a meeting of the British Medical Temperance Association, held in London, Dr. Richardson challenged the truth of the statistics recently published from which the absurd deduction had been drawn that total abstainers died earlier than moderate drinkers. A report was read on 279 returns of medical officers i f Workhouses as to the use or disuse of alcohol there- in. Three questions were addressed to the medical officers: 1. Under what circumstances are alcoholic liquors allowed to the inmates of the Workhouse under your control ? Of the 244 who answered this question, 75 per cent. give alcohol to the sick only 8 per cent. to the aged and infirm 12 per cent. to the aged and for extra work and 5 per cent. never give any. 2. How do you consider the health of those paupers to be affected to whom alcoholic liquors are not supplied ? To this 203 reply, of whom 73 state that the health was better; 125 that it wai unaffected two that it was worse and three that the sick were worse without alcohol. One sends statistical data-from 1862 to 1874, 453 inmates died in his workhouse at an average age of 58 years, when stimulants were freely given; from 1875 to 1887 inclusive, 400 only died at an average age of 03 years, that practice having been discontinued. The total number of paupers in the Unions represented from which alcohol is so successfully excluded is 45,584. 3. "Is it your opinion that the lives of paupers have been shortened, even by a few months, by the withdrawal of alcoholic liquors ? To this 223 reply 19 say life is prolonged 160 say it is not shortened, the two together being over SO per cent. 29, or 13 per cent., say it is shortened 15, or seven per cent., say it is shortened in the case of sick persons. The balance of this medical opinion and observation is, therefore, overwhelmingly in favour of total abstinence as conducive to health and longevity.

NEW GAME OF BILLIARDS. A new game to be played on a billiard table is a rarity, and we have not until now, says the London correspondent of the Scotsman, had any decided novelty since skittlo pool," a rather feeble and un- interesting game. The new game has the odd title of Snooker's pool," and variations of it have been played before, but regular rules for it have not been issued until now. It is a kind of "shell out," which, as most billiard players know, is pyramids with any number of players, and not confined to two, as in the ordinary game. Moreover, a certain number of coloured balls are on the table as well as the red ones, each having a different value indicated by a number on it. The players go in rotation, and no one can play at a numbered ball until he has holed a red one, the latter counting one, and the former being counted according to the number upon it. After having holed a numbered ball, another red hazard must be made before a numbered ball can be played upon again. That is the gist of the game, which will be readily understood by billiard players. The rules of Snooker's pool" as issued require a thorough overhauling before they can be considered satisfactory, though they have received the impri- matur of a famous player.

SOMETHING LIKE A STRIKE. The last mail from China brings news of a serious strike amongst the junk and boatmen on the three great rivers which debouche at Canton. The pro- vincial authorities had erected a new customs station at a place called Shekmun, for the purpose of col- lecting inland transit dues. The aim of the establish- ment at Shekmun was to check smuggling. The boatmen, however, objected violently to the new arrangement; they struck on all the waterways above Canton to the number of 60,000, defied the customs officials at Shekmun, attacked the revenue cruisers, destroyed the customs stations, and drove out all concerned in assessing and collecting the tax. To bring pressure to bear on the authorities they stopped all traffic to and from the city, ordered all shops and industries throughout tne district to cease, and compelled private persons to act as if it were a period of general and national mourning, it is usual at the season of the year to keep the festival of the moon by offering fowls, ducks, and other domestic animals in sacrifice to that luminary, but the strikers stopped all this. Boats in Canton were ordered to leave the city at once and to return home empty. No violence was committed, but all traffic was stopped. At length the Viceroy succumbed; he issued a proclamation giving way and requesting the people to go about their business as usual. He promised the withdrawal of the Shekmun station and forgiveness to the strikers. In 1870 a similar attempt to establish a customs station at the same place was resisted, and it had to be abandoned.

CHILLY: "I hear that the engagement between you and Miss Crash is broken off, Muneyseker. Who broke it off-you or Miss Crash ?" Muneyseker: "Neither. Her father broke it ofT." Chilly: HOW was that ?" Muneyseker: II Be failed ..} f

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS. LUCK IN LAMBING Yes (remarks a practical farming writer in the Jourllal of Horticulture), this is the term so frequently heard among shepherds and farmers, and whenever we hear it we feel tempted to ask, What has luck to do with it ? For we certainly cannot agree with the popular but fallacious idea that a certain per centage of loss of ewes in lambing is in- evitable. The flock of the home farmer should con- sist of choice ewes, home-bred, within age, and selected with due care and judgment, and in such a flock under good management a loss is quite excep- tional. But if the flock is made up with ewes of all ages, with a large proportion of full-mouthed ewes, or, as is so often the case, with a good many over- age, then there is a proportionate increase in the risk of losses. So MUCH DEPENDS upon the shepherd; aye! and upon the shepherd's master too. A lazy shepherd will often harass the sheep by a too free use of his dog, and quiet gentle treatment is of especial impor- tance. We have pointed out the evils attendant upon folding ewes upon turnips now, and we would again urge the importance of shelter, quiet, and judicious feeding. The sheep will soon show us how much they appreciate shelter if we only give them an opportunity of doing so. Turn them out on a bleak plain on a cold wet night, and if there is any possibility of shelter from tree belts they will take full advantage of it. Often have we recom- mended the erection of open sheep lodges for shelter on pasture, because we know the outlay to be a sound in- vestment, tending, as it does, to preserve the sheep from harm. Can any reasonable person see ewes in the wretched plight they are so frequently in during the present month-drenched by cold pelting showers while standing in a sea of mud-suppose it possible for them to continue healthy, or, at any rate, to pass through the strain of such exposure without suffer- ing ? What is the result of such ill-treatment but that heavy loss of ewes and lambs which is attributed to bad luck? Let there be an end of such stupidity, and Jet sheep have the shelter they require equally with all other animals of the farm. As THE LAMBING BEGINS the ewes are brought close to the fold or lambing yard, and we always hold the pasture near the fold in reserve for this purpose. Each ewe with its progeny to a separate pen, in order that it may not only have shelter, but be suiffciently under the shepherd's eye for him to see if all is well, or if any special treatment is required. The lamb may not suck aright, the ewe may not take to it" as she ought, she may be deficient in milk, and the lamb may require aid from the shepherd's milk-bottle. Each case must be treated upon its merits, strong ewes and lambs being turned out of the pen after a few hours, others requiring special care, being kept there just so long as is necessary. THERE SHOULD ALWAYS be enough space in the fold to take in the entire flock without crowding. The earliest lambs with the dams are out upon open pas- ture upon all fine days, but there must be no risk run by exposure on very cold days or nights. One can hardly understand the folly which suffers lambs to be exposed to weather which is likely to hurt them, yet it is a nmt common thing to hear of losses arising from such carelessness. IF THE FLOCK HAS THE TAINT OF rOOT ROT every case must be taken in hand at once, and persistently. It is lamentable to see the lambs suffering from this infectious disease,for they then soon fall off in condition. A judicious master will see his interest in allowing ample help to the shepherd at this critical time, and not press so much work upon him that negligence in something or other is inevitable. Keep the shepherd with his flock, and let roots, fodder, and all other things required be taken to him regularly, and then insist upon full attention being given by him to every animal under his charge. When a flock goes wrong the shepherd is blamed, but depend upon it his master is also in fault. Self-interest or the sense of duty should suffice to bring every fault or falling-off under the master's eye before the evil has become serious but when one sees ewes lame by the dozen, with many of the lambs limping too, it may be taken as a sure sign of carelessness that is quite in- excusable. MR. W. S. EVERITT, of Carlton Colville, recently read an interesting paper on cattle management on arable farms at a meeting of the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture, in the course of which he held that cattle require a certain bulk of food. To younger cattle more concentrated food may be given. As cattle grew in age and size the bulk must be increased. Sweet wort from freshly-scalded malt would force a calf faster than its mother's milk. Warm grains could at times be advantageously used for other animals. Instead of starting with calves, the farmer would, perhaps, have to start with purchased store cattle reared under a variety of conditions. What was important to the feeder was that they had been kept in steady-going fair condition without having had a check. But as store cattle were much punished by travel and exposure for sale, they received a scunt, which required care, cost, and time to eradi- cate. Hence cattle direct from the breeder were mostly the cheapest, even if they cost a stiffer price. In artificial feeding, nature must be imitated as far as possible, or there would bo no success. The elements of nutrition must be considered and pro- portioned and balanced, or the animal's time would be wasted, and its digestion disorganised. As time and power were saved by first sifting barley before grinding it, so the digestive organs of an animal would not be given unnecessary work, in- volving loss of power, if it were not given the superfluity of a food. Properly prepared and manufactured food was more easily assimilated by animals. Moistening answered about the same pur- pose. Cooking was not natural, so he did not believe in it; but in the preparation of food there was no fixed lule. Certain animus require i it only roughly, others finely ground. He doubted if any person who had studied the subjeetwould use common cotton-cake at anything like its usual value, as it contained over 20 per cent. of cotton husk and fibre, which was not only indigestible but injurious. Decorticated cotton- cake was the cheapest imported food for mixing, but unless it was deftly used and well manufactured, its great advantages would be thrown away. ABORTION IN cows (observes a correspondent of the Farmer and Stock-Breeder) is undoubtedly due in a large number of cases to the presence of ergotted grasses in the pasture or fodder, but there are many other causes which will produce this untimely disease. A long railway j >urney, sudden fright or excitement, and violent exercise, the eating of frozen roots, or drinking foul water, a blow, an accident, or slight strain consequent on a slip, or even too high con- dition in the mother, may any of them produce it. Once it makes its appearance in a herd, it frequently spreads to the whole of the in-calf cows which are in contact or communication with any which have aborted, or which have come in contact with the aborted foetus or afterbirth. It may be introduced into a herd by the purchase of a cow which has aborted in past seasons, as it is found that once it has occurred the cow is liable to a recurrence of it at the same period of her subsequent gestation. Abortion may also be produced by foul and putrid smells, generated by decomposing refuse, and it is also stated by Youatt that it is due in some cases to some mysterious agency of the atmosphere. THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES are to see that none of the above causes can possibly operate. Keep the cows perfectly quiet, and do not allow them to be frightened or chased by dogs. Do not allow any animal which may be in heat to remain with and annoy them. Avoid ergotted pastures and food, do not permit any decomposing refuse to accumulate. See that they have access to pure water only. As soon as any symptoms of abortion are manifest, immediately remove the affected cow to a quiet and isolated place, where she is totally and entirely out of communication with the other cattle. Give her laxative food, and, if necessary, a dose of physic with gruel, and half-a-drachm of opium with half- an-ounce of sweet spirit of nitre. These precau- tions may be efficacious in preventing an attack, but if not, the calf should be at once buried deeply in a waste place or in arable land, on no account in the pasture. The afterbirth, as soon as it has come away, should be treated in the same manner, but no violence should be used to re- move it. The cow must meantime be kept com- pletely isolated and away from the herd, out of sight and hearing, and, unless she be valuable, she had better be fattened and sold. If she is too valuable as a breeding cow, she should be kept away from her companions for at least two or three months, and should not be put to the bull for the first two or three times she is in season. During the next gesta- "J. tion she must jjbe carefully watched, and a fortnight or 50 before the period at which she previously aborted, she should be removed to a quiet place and receive a dose of physic, being fed on laxative food, and she is better kept apart and quiet till the termi- nation of gestation. IF A CASE OF ABORTION has occurred in the herd, the remainder of the cows should have a dose of physic, and be kept quiet and carefully watched for the first symptom in any one, when she should be at once removed. The place where a cow has slipped her calf should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and in-calf cows should be kept away from it for some time. If the attack is so serious that these measures do not stop it in the herd, heroic measures must be adopted and the whole herd disposed of and a total change effected, care being taken to thoroughly clean and disinfect the houses, and to see that no existing cause is present.

FORTH BRIDGE FACTS. It is the largest railway bridge ever constructed in any part of the world. Its length is 1700ft., nearly four times longer than the Britannia tubular bridge across the Menai Straits. The height of the steel work is equal to that of the golden cross on St. Paul's J Cathedral, and the total height of the bridge corre- sponds with that of the Great Pyramid. In the Forth Bridge there is a horizontal pull of 10,000 tons on the brackets, and a weight of 100,000 tons on their bases. The strength of the brackets is enor- mous. Half a dozen English ironclads, including the Devastation, might be hung upon them without caus- ing any undue strain. Mr. B. Baker, the engineer of the bridge, says that each main pier consists of a group y of four cylindrical masonry piers, 70ft. in diameter, founded on rock or hard boulder clay, at depths varying up to 90ft. below high water mark. These piers were put in place by what is known in the engineering world as the compressed air system." The superstructure of the bridge required the manu- facture on the spot of 50,000 tons of steel girders and other work. In point of magnitude and engineering skill, the Forth Bridge dwarfs the Eiffel Tower, and may lay cla'm to be the eighth wonder of the world."

NOVEMBER TRADE. The returns issued by the Board of Trade furniah proof of a substantial revival of the trade of the country, says the British Jfcrcantile Gazette; and the reports we have received from our own correspon- dents in various parts of the country show that the I improvement has been continued tbrought the past month. The character and the generality of the present improved conditions lead us to assume that they are not the result of any ephemeral excitement, but the result of an improved demand for our produc- tions and of our increased facilties for meeting that demand. Trade is better all along the lino. As might have been expected, we have experienced one of the natural and unavoidable effects of this im- proved trade in the demands of our workmen for more wages. Labourers are always anxious to shire with capitalists any increased profits of production. As soon, therefore, as they observe that tra"e is better they ask for an advance, and if they do not get it they htrike-and so we have had strikes all round us. We are not going to discuss the great labour question here. It is our wish that labourers in every industry should have fair remuneration for their work but if we take the dock strike as a typical one (and we may do so since the strikers are supposed to have obta ined what they wanted) we confess that we cannot see any very brilliant results from it. Looked at in the aggregate, supposing the same men who were at work on the day of the strike to have been re-en- gaged on the new terms the day the strike ended, it will take five years and upwards before the in- creased pay will recoup then for the wages lost during the continuance of the strike. The casual labourer at the docks, for whom the greatest public sympathy was shown, is now worse off than he was before, because his chances of getting casual work aro reduced. The production of our manufactures is greater now than it has ever been. It is important that our merchants and manu- facturers should avail themselves of every means for maintaining, and, if possible, for still increas- ing it. We do not rempmber any period, within the last five years at least, in which the prospects of in- creased exports were so promising. The promise may not perhaps be immediately realised, but the realisation is sufficiently near, and also sufficiently evident, to justify immediate efforts to secure it. In South Africa, in Central Africa, in China, and in Japan there will soon be developed markets that must prove most remunerative outlets for the in- dustrial products of the country that is able to supply them best. Some of our correspondents say that trade is better than they have known it for years, while the accounts from all are good. Throughout the country there is a most decided im- provement in the iron, steel, and coal trades-the staple home industries-while in every branch of engineering there is abundance of work. The engineering centres of Manchester, Sheffield, and Essex are showing more life than they have done for some years past. The condition of the constructive engineering trades has been described as the best index of the state of the trade of the country. If it is so now, the outlook is most encouraging. From all published statistics-the returns cf the Board of Trade, the Revenue returns, the Railway Traffic returns, and the Bankers' Clearing House- we have proof of healthy commercial activity, and there ifl every appearance that the prosperity will be permanent.

AN ENTERPRISING WIDOW. Madame Dhume, a widow, was engaged as a com- panion by Madame Busserolle, living at Riom, in France. The widow first took advantage of her posi- tion to forge the name of her mistress upon a power of attorney. Her accomplice, a notary named Courtial, then helped her to obtain a loan of 50,000f., which they divided between them. Encouraged by this success Madame Dhume and Courtial found another confederate in the person of a clerk named Combe, who passed himself off as Madame Tailhardat Busserolle, and signed a will in the presence of six witnesses, leaving all her property to the woman Dhume. Happily, this latter conspiracy was dis- covered, and the three criminals were arrested. The evidence given was of a sensational character, it being alleged in court that the female prisoner had poisoned her first husband, and the parish priest of Montaigut, who had complained to the bishop of a scandalous liaison, between Madame Dhume and his curate. The trial of this enterprising widow has not yet concluded.

MUSICAL Transports—P. and O. steamers. NOTHING is ever lost by being pleasant and agree- able. An old lady asks for two pounds of steak—no more, no less. One butcher growls that he can't cut off just two pounds, and she leaves him thoroughly vexed. At the next stall, the man of meat hears her request with unruffled visage, cuts off a pound and a half, slaps it into the scale and out again in doable quick time, rolls it up neatly, and says. with a sweet smile, Just two pounds, ma'am." Old lady, as she leaves the shop, says to herself, What a much more agreeable man than the last."

GARDENING FOR THE WEEK. I CAMELLIAS in greenhouse or conservatory must not be subjected to extremes of temperature, moisture, or drought, or the buds will probably fall; and it will be as well now to see that all the plants are really moist at the root, for sometimes after the roots get dry the water passes away on the outside of the ball, without any benefit to the roots whatever. A dry heat is very injurious to camel- lias now. CINERARIAS should be coming on nicely now to bloom. Those selected for the first bloom to be near the glass and in a warm place those to be grown on must have a shift, and be kept as cool as possible. Green-fly must be kept down, and the cineraria grower has enough to do generally in this business. Plenty of air will be required by all alike, and regular supplies of water. CONSERVATORY.—It is undoubtedly desirable to keep the conservatory gay, yet climbers and other per- manent occupants must not be forced into growth prematurely. Heat enough must be maintained to prevent mildew, and to allow of free ventilation, but the cultivator must endeavour to hit the golden maxim of keeping things safe and in order without pushing anything into growth before its time. If muaew occurs on valuable subjects, apply sulphur directly, but any nearly worn-out subjects that are becoming mouldy bad better be got rid of altogether. Be very cautious in giving water; give enough, but not a diop to spare. A good time for a general watering is on those bright mornings when the west wind blows, and it seems as if spring had suddenly set in. Another time when wa tering must be generally attended to is when fires are going to keep out frost, for then it is that plants are likely to be dried up and irreparably injured. GREENHOUSE to have as little fire-heat as will be safe, and to be kept as dry as possible. On the occasion of a sudden frost, there is a tendency to get up a brisk heat at night, and much harm is inflicted on plants by running the temperature up to 60 deg. or more, and then leaving the fire to go out, so that by the morning they are exposed to a tem- perature of 35 deg. or less. The amateur must endeavour to avoid such extremes. By a little watchfulness, it may generally be known when frost is to be expected; the fire should then be lighted early in the day, and allowed to go very low at night, and be banked up the last thing, so as to burn slowly till morning. PELARGONIUMS must be as quiet as possible to be safe. A rapid fogging of the leaves will indicate that the house is too damp and cold; the formation of long delicate shoots indicates too much heat. The plants should be healthy, yet not growing; and in case of damp, a brisk fire in the midday hours will do immense good. STOVE PLANTS at rest may suffer if allowed to become too dry, especially those hiving porous foliage and soft stems. In giving air, take care not to expose tender plants to cold draughts in fact, air should never be admitted in a volume at this time of year. The general collection of stove plants will be satisfied with a temperature of 60deg. by day and 53deg. by night. ORCHIDS require a watchful eye among them so many diverse climates are now represented in our collections that it is no easy matter to keep all at rest together, and it may be better to remove a few that require to be kept growing to the forcing pit rather than risk the safety of others by too high a temperature. STOVE PLANTS IN BLOOM include: Amaryllis, Begonia Saundersiana, B. bybrida multiflora, Bou- vardia Hogarth, B. longiflora, Centradenia rosea, Epiphyllum truacatum, Heterocentrum roseum, Jus- ticia speciosa, Poinsettia pulcherrima, Rogiera gratis- sima, Thyrsacanthus rutilans, Vriesia brachystachys, V. speciosa. EVERGREENS are generally planted at this season, because alterations are in progress, and it is found convenient to plant all at once-deciduous and ever- green trees together. But we question the propriety of moving any evergreen shrubs from November to February. We have always advised planting hollies, aucubas, bays, and other evergreens in August and September, and if not moved then they had best be left where they are till March. Nevertheless it is often convenient to lift evergreens now, and almost everything except the holly will endure the process, if it is performed with care. On wet clays there is more likelihood of deaths occurring through removals now than on warm dry loam". When planters are compelled to move very large ppecimen evergreens at this season care should be taken to close in the roots with a mixture of leaf-mould, fine loam, and sand in a nearly dry state, so that the wounds of the roots will be encouraged to heal quickly, and at the first move they make they will run freely into the tempt- ing mixture. Where it is intended to plant in spring let the ground be deeply trenched and laid up in ridges to pulverise. EVERGREENS especially adapted for planting in gardens in town districts and dusty situations com- prise Aucuba hitnalaica macrophylla, distinct; A. japonica viridis foemina, free-growing A. j. v. mas- cula, very vigorous A. j. aurea. richly variegated A. j. limbata, yellow margin; A. j. longifolia, pretty A. J. maculata, useful; Buxus arborescens semper- virens, very free in growth; Crata gus pyracantha, red berries in winter Elicagnus japonicus, fine for a sheltered spot; Euonymus latifolius, largest leaves; E. I. aurea variegatus, very handsome; E. 1. albo variegatus, pretty E. radicans variegatus, useful for edgings E. r. aureo-variegatus, useful for edgings Ilex aquifolium fructo aurantiaca, showy 1. a. flava, distinct and fine 1. a. pendu'a, very grac,-fill 1. a Shepherdi, has the leargest leaves of any I a Fisheri, fine leafage; 1. a. tortuosa, bold and distinct; I a. aurea marginata, handsome 1. a. aurea speciosa. very beautiful; Ligustrum japonicum, very hardy L. vuigarii3 sempervirens, hardy Osmanthus ilicifolius, pretty Ruscus racemosus, neat and pretty; Skimmia japonica, red berries in winter; S. oblata, red berries in winter; Vinca major, green, useful for front lines V. m. elesantissima, useful for front lines; V. minor, for margins; V. m. aureo-variegata, useful for margins. PRUNING OF STANDARD TREES should consist chiefly of opening out the head and regulating the growth, without severe measures of any kind. Where large boughs require removal it is a proof of neglect of some kind in times gone by; and if many large branches are dead or dying, depend upon it the tree is in a bad state at the roots most probably the sur- face roots are gone altogether. In small gardens old fruit trees are frequently killed by raising the soil about them, and so year by year removing their roots farther and farther fro.n the atmosphere. ROOT PRUNING, where required, should be com- menced without delay. The simplest method is to open a trench on one side of the trees, and cut back the roots to within two feet or three feet of the stems (according to the size of the trees), half round ?ach tree. Next year open trenches and cut back the roots on the other half round, and so on year after year. CABBAGE, SCOTCH KALE, and other standing vegetable crops, when the ground is dry should be lightly hoed between and the plants earthed up: this protects their roots from frost, and supports them against wind and the hoeing removes weeds, and by loosening tbe top crust prevents frost entering so deep as it does in hard ground. CAULIFLOWERS, LETTUCES, &c., in frames and hand- lights must have plenty of air while this mild weather lasts, by removing the glasses entirely on fine days, and keeping them tilted during rains. If any signs of mildew, sprinkle with sulphur. The fine dust from the bottom of a peat stack or the bins of the potting shed will be found useful to strew on the surface amongst plants suffering from damp there is nothing to equal peat dust for the purpose. PEAS AND BEANS just showing through the ground should be covered with a sprinkling of dry earth, and over that some dry light litter; this will check their growth an1 keep them hardy, and in case of frost afford considerable protection. Where sand is plentiful use it in preference to mould, because of its drying nature. RHUBARB AND SEAKAT.E.—-Those who have not begun to force should do so 'now, either in the open ground or by potting. As a very mild heat suffices, this season's leaves and litter, if plentiful in bulk, will do as well to make up a bed for the purpose as dung. If the latter is used it should be turned three times before making the bed, or the heat will be too fierce and too transient. Gardener's Magazine.

BLIFKINS Dodd is out in a new suit, I see. Wonder where he got it?" Black (slowly): "I'm not quite sure, but I've a horrible suspicion that I have an interest in it myself. He won 18s. from me yesterday." A WEALTHY man had engaged a new coachman, who was advised to be very polite if he intended to keep his place. Accordingly, when the master visited the stable the following dialogue ensued: Master: Well, John, how are the horses ? Coachman: They are quite well, air, thank you, and how are you ? r 1 1

TWO BRAZILIAN REVO- LUTIONISTS. General Deodoro da Fonseca, who has led the revo- lution in Brazil, is admitted on all hands to be an officer of distinction. He fought through the cam- paign of Paraguay, and was severely wounded at the battle of Itororo. Always popular in the army, his popularity has been much increased since his disgrace two years ago. It came about in this way. He had a quarrel with the military authorities and organised a demonstration, which had all the appearance of ripening into revolt. But it was nipped in the bud, and by way of punishment for the act of insubordi- nation General Deodoro da Fonseca was sent to do duty in the remote province of Minae Geracs. He only lately returned to Rio, and the result is the revo- lution. General Deodoro da Fonseca is 64 years old. Benjamin Constant has been General Deodoro da Fonseca's chief colleague in promoting the revolu- tionary movement. He bears a well-known French name, and is most likely of French descent; but he is a Brazilian by birth. He has won repute as a pro- fessor of mathematics, and he is a Positivist of the most pronounced type of Auguste Comte's school. Being a doctrinaire, he is of a good sort to promote a revolution, but one of the very worst to guide it. M. Constant has been made Minister of War in the new Government.