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». FIELD AND FARM. (From" The Agricultural Gazette-I j. THE KBOKST BAHLAY JCXIUBITIOK. An elaborate report on the barley at-the recent Brewers' Exhibition in London has been issued bj the judges. They say that. there was a larger collec- tion of high claw barleys than on any previous occa- sion but otherwise they do not express any opinioc opon.tha general standard qf quality. Oneof theniosi striking features in the report is the uniform heavi- ness of the exhibits shown in tabular form.. Out of 195 samples weighed, only one was under 531b. pei bushel, and that was a foreign exhibit. Only on< sample of English barley was under 541b., and only nine lots were under 551b. Of the other 145 samples of English 144 were from over 551b. to- over 581b., and one weighed over 591b. These weights were exceeded in 1896. when out of 162 gamples of English barley 59 weighed over 58tb. per bitshel, 4€ over 591b., nine over 601b., and one over 611b. The -average weight per bushel of all the English and Welsh barley was 56,91b„ and the lowest average for any county was 551b., while the highest was 58-ilb. Does not this uniformity of heavy samples for malt- ing barley show that there is no reason to fear that growers of such barley would lose by selling at per bushel of a given weight?- Evidence in favour of early sowing is afforded by the fact that out of 67 prizes 43 were won by barley sown Dot later than the first week of March. BOTATFOXS AND CKtlSAL CROPS. Referring to rotations and catch crops in a paper read before the Glasgow Agricultural Discussion Society, Mr. Gilbert Murray said that a con- tinuous repetition of similar crops for a lengthened period tended to exhaust the natural chemical constituents of the soil, entailing extra oxpenso on the cultivator to supply the deficiency by artificial manure. Tenants were generally bound -down by stereotyped covenants, the evasion of which! TWM visited by pains and penalties. The growing intelligence of the farmer, guided by the light of science, was now generally giving place to a more -expensive system, removing many of the ancient trammels which hampered the efforts of the intelli- gent cultivator. More freedom of cultivation, with the most profitable and economical system of -disposing of the produce, beneficially affected the interests both of owner and occupier. 80 long as the tenant continued to keep the land clean and grow good crops, the prospect of deteriorating the latent capabilities of the soil was remote. Where the land was well farmed it was profitable to take a second white straw Q'Op. By the intelligent use of artificial manures most of. the finest malting barleys were grown after s wheat crop, where the tillage land was allowed to remain in seeds or mixed grasses for a period of two -or three years. tender the four-course system the one year's seed layer was broken up for wheat during the latter part of September or eany in October. In the case of a two or three years' ley, oats instead of wheat should follow the breaking up, a special ad- vantage of which, to a stock-farmer, was the four or five months' foggage on the land, which need not then be broken up before the middle or end of January. On light soils, in an early district, mustard might follow the oat crop, and either be fed off or ploughed in as a contributor of manure to the Soil. Three or four cwt. phosphatic manure, and three-quarters of a cwt. of sulphate of ammonia, ap- plied when the seed was sown, would, under ordi- naay circumstances, produce good crops of wheat. The seed should be sown not later than the first. week in October. He much preferred the drill system to jthat of broadcast sowing. The advantage of the drill was the more uniform depth of depositing the seed, which in the case of barley was of the first im- «ortance. On suitable soils the returns might » largely increased by an improved method of '-sowing. The usual quantity of seed was four bushels per imperial acre. An ordinary corn drill cover«jp a breadth of 9ft. The drill coulters were placed eight or nine inches apart. This left the seed much too thick in the rows, consequently the plants were overcrowded. By altering the gear- ing of the drill from a capacity of four to that oftwo bushels per acre, nd going over the ground twice- once lengthwise and once across—the seed was placed regularly over theland. The plants as they grew up had, so to speak, more breathing space and stood forcing better, because as a rule the straw was more bony. The increase of grain was. seldom less than 2qr.' per acre, and frequently considerably more, whilst the extra expense was not great. A pair of active horses, with a boy to drive and a man to at- tend to the drill; would in fairly-sized fields easily get over 10 or 12 acres a day. CATCH CROP& Equal results could be obtained at much less cost by a Succession of catch crops. Italian ryegrass I where the soil is suitable, and liberal dressing of manure applied, would produce from 14 to 16 tons per acre. The crop could either be .'cut green and consumed in the yards, or eaten off on the land by aheep, or made into hay during the spring months. Bape might be grown either after a seed layer or an early cereal crop, and was particularly well adapted for the feeding of sheep. The chief value of mustard was for ploughing in green in preparation for a cereal crop. About five tons per acre was an average crop. The cabbage, like the turnip, was rather a hazardous crop, incapable of withstanding the con- Ptinued effects either of rain or frost. On suitable soils, trifolium was a productive and useful crops. For the purpose of the sheep-farmer there was 110 forage crop with which he was acquainted equal to thousand-headed kale, both as regards its pro- ductive qualities, its nutritive value, and its capa- bilities of withstanding the most severe frosts. The chief hindrance to the more continuous growth df catch crops was the difficulty of keeping the land clean. The cheapest method of attaining this most desirable object was the growing of tares fed off on the land by sheep. All forage crops freely responded to nitrogenous manures. There was no cheaper or more efficient system of increasing the productive powers of the soil, at a moderate cost, than that of consuming on the lands by sheep cheaply grown crops--particularly:wheat supplemented by auxilary foods. Catch crops could likewise be efficiently used for dairy cows or cattle in the yards. BARLr HATCHING OF CHICKEKS. The natural time of year for fowls to hatch (re- tnarks Mr. Edward Brown) is during the spring, and if permitted to follow their instincts there would be very few hens sat before the end of April, except the season were an unusually open one.. Domestication has had the effect of causing hens to sit earlier than this, and thus hens which do not get broody by the date named are regarded as very late, except they belong to the non-sitting breeds, when they are not expected to become broody at all. As chickens get so plentiful about May and afterwards, they are cheap when compared with a few weeks earlier, and, consequently,, those who seek to make the keeping of their fowls a source of profit, at least where the sale of chickens is regarded as an important sidto the end in view, endeavour to have the birds out as early in the year as they possibly can, so as to obtain the highest prices. This rules throughout, and the poultry-keeper who can have chickens when they are scarce, and eggs when they are dear, is more likely;to make money than he who is content to go Jn t^le jog-trot style, allowing the fowls to lay batch just when they think best. Chickens hatched at the latter end of December or during January, if properly fed and attended to, should sell for four times as much as those hatched in March or April. The latter appear at an ordinary, the former at an exceptional, time. To obtain eggs at this season of the year requires some previous arranging, and it will not be sufficient to simply look for eggs from any kind of birds. In the first place it is necessary to have pullets, as the old hens will not commence laying for a few weeks yet. Some of the last year s birds, if they have got nicely through the moult, may have begun to lay, but as a rule it will be found that the hens do not commence before January or March, according to their age. Then, in order to obtain eggs, the pullets must themselves be early hatched to have begun 'to lay, or, even if they have begun, we should not care to use the first eggs laid by the pullets. These are generally small, and we make it a rule never to use eggs for hatching until a bird has, in its first year, been laying about six weeks; but those hatched in February, or even in March in the more precocious breeds, will have been laying for that length of time. If the pullets have been early hatched, it will also be necesary to force them a little in order to get eggs, and this is done by seeing that the houses are warm I and comfortable, and by giving them hot food in which some stimulating powder has been mixed. They should also have plenty of green food and old mortar or coarse gravel, and nest-boxes must be given, so that there may be no crowding. Then there is another question-namely, that of the :z ¡ fertility of the egfe, as it may be quite possible to obtain eggs early enough, but few or none of them may be fertile. In order to secure this there are two thin-#; nee;ac-A-firat, a young and vigorous cockerel, early hatched and very active in his habits; and second, that only few hens be put with him- not more than three for such breeds as Brahmas, Cochins, Langsbans, and other heavy breeds, and four or five for Minorcas, Leghorns, Houdans, and those lighter in their nature and more active in their habits. It will (soon be noticed if more hens are re- quired, asthenthey are driven about by the cock, and begin, to get bare of feathers on their backs.
"GARDENING GOSSIP. -"..""';I
GARDENING GOSSIP. I (From Gai-dmiiyg Blusirgeted.") CONSERVATORY. Well-grown Cinerarias are valuable now. They wm not difficult to grow when the conditions are suit- able, but they will not bear much heat, and if they are permitted to suffer fronvwant of water they are sure to be infested with green-fly. Liquid-manure should be given as soon as the Rower-buds appear. The plants are not so good nor so well grown as they were 40 years ago. Cinerarias are not now thought of suflicientiHiportanceto make selectionsfor naming, &ad they have disappeared from the prize schedules of- horticultural societies in country districts, flood loam two-thirds, one-third two-year-old manure, preference being given to, cow-mahttrfe, with enough sand to enaure reasonable porosity, combined with firm potting, will grow Cinerarias to perfection. A cold-frame in a shady position for summer, and a low span roofed house witH the frost kept out for winter; occasional fumigation or vaporisation with Tobacco or nicotine always as soon as the first fly is teen-these are conditions which are not difficult to obtain, and will suit Calceolarias and many other things besides Cinerarias. There is often, a difficulty in getting seeds of a good strain, and it is disheartening to find when one has lavished a good deal of care on a house of plants to Bnd most of them worthless. As fast as the Chrysan- themums go out of bloom cut them down and remove them to a cold-house or pit, and when the necessary cuttings have been taken many of the plants may be thrown away and the pots will come in for something else. We generally fill up with late-flowering Narcissus. Rhododendrons lifted from the open ground, Dielytras, Solomon's Seal, and other useful decorative subjects which are taken out of the pots and planted out in spring after the growth is made. See that Camellias in the border have sufficient water. Weak soot-water is excellent for these and many other things, including Azaleas, when the buds are swelling. Dead leaves and flowers must be removed daily. Tropaeolum Fireball dangling from the rafters and other points of vantage are bright now. 1 ° STOVH. Winter-flowering Begonias are, or should be, a special feature now. There have been Begonias.flowering in winter for many years, but the hybrid forms of B. socotrans are far in advance of anything we had before, and will no doubt be much Bought after, as everybody with a wartu, greenhouse may grow them. They are charming in a cut state for filling vases, not to be crowded in with other things, but arranged lightly in separate colours with Maidenhair Fern or some other light foliage. Perhaps one may be permitted to express the hope that we may not be. overdone wiih numerous too-much-alike varieties. A night temperature of 65deg. will suit most things now. Give no quarter to mealy-bug. If not cleared out now there will be little chance of doing so later when the busy season comes. Among flowering plants there is nothing brighter than Euphorbia jacquinaeflora. To obtain long sprays for cutting, plant it out in a warm house against a sunny wall. I have had it cover a wall 12ft. high at the back of & lean-to forcing-house. r¡ZfIS. The Pine grower is not now so much depending upon fermenting materials for bottom-heat as he used to be in the past. Queens and others intended for summer fruiting will now be kept a little drier to rest them and induce them to show under the influx of heat and moisture by-and-bye. The Black Jamaica is one.of the best winter-fruiting kinds; and during the time the fruits are swelling give them a night temperature of TOdeg., with corresponding humidity until ripening commences. L. Very little syringing will be required now. but the walls and paths may be damped when the atmosphere is dry. On bright days a little ventilation along the ridgo for a couple of hours in the middle of the day will be beneficial. PEACHES IN BLOSSOM. In the depth of winter with frequent igunleas days very little moisture will be required in the atmosphere, as if the pollen is not dry in forenoon the fruit will not form. I have used thi syringe to set Peaches, but it has been later in the season when the weather has been bright outside and the atmosphere inside dry. At such times a dewing over with the syringe disperses the pollen better even than shaking the trellis. Now, of course, haphazard work will not do; at least enough blossom should be fertilised with the camel's-hair brush or the rabbit's-tail to ensure a crop, operating as far as possible on the upper side of the branches, so that the fruits may be fully exposed to light and sunshine. Night tem- perature now 50deg. to 55deg., ventilating at 65deg., but avoid cold draughts and close early! the syringe should. not be used in dull weather. WINDOW GARDENING. Frequent sponging of the foliage of all foliage plants is very desirableand refreshing to the plants, If there are worms in any pots they may be taken out by turning the plants out of the pots and run- ning a thin wire through the ball. A lady's hat-pin is a capital instrument for the purpose. The sweetest plants in flower now for rooms are Roman Hyacinths and Violets in pots. Well-grown Myrtles are charming room plants, and if turned out into the garden in summer many of the plants will flower. The fragrance of the foliage is delightful when touched or rubbed against; and they are not difficult to propagate from cuttings. Cuttiilgs inserted when the growth is getting firm in autumn will form roots during the winter. I have seen them rooted in the pots round the side in which the plants are growing. FRUIT GARDEN. There is always some work of a cleansing nature to do in winter among fruit-trees. Lime and soot, made into a wash and syringed over the bushes and trees, cleanse and brighteri the bark and many insect pests are got rid of. They cost nothing beyond the labour, and when ultimately washed down to the roots-beaefit the trees. It is very important that the toots of- stone fruits especially should have a firm root-run. Digging among the roots of fruit-trees does much harm, though the mischief done is frequently assigned to some other cause. Takeadvantage of open weather to train Peaches and Apricots on walls. Old walls full of nail-holes are bad for Peaches, as they are such hiding-places for insects. If the-holes can- not be pointed up with mortar, the walls might be thoroughly washed with a strong insecticide. A Strong solution- of soft soap andi petroleum will make an excellent wash, and is easily applied with a white- washing brush, and will save much labour and ex- pense in keeping down insects later in the season; but I have never had any difficulty in keeping Peach trees clean by using Tobacco powder in good time before the leaves get curled up. VKGRTABLR GARDKJT. A special effort should be made to keep up a good supply of Seakale from this onwards as long as possible; and this means that a large number of roots with strong crowns has been provided. This in fact, is the most important, item in Seakale management. Most gardeners, when they lift the roots for forcing, cut off the thongs, or small roots, which grow from the sides of the main roots, cut them into lengths 4in. or so long, and lay them in sand with a little litter over them, and by March. which is the usual planting season, the root-cuttings will have formed miniature crowns, which when, planted in rows 15in. apart and 12in. apart in the rows, will develop into strong forcing crowns during the summer. Seakale r oots may be raised from seeds, but root-cuttings make the ■twn^st crowns in the same time. Seakale is forced either in the Mushroom-house or in any k' cIose Plac6' with » temperature of „ ?g" °f, 8°> but very rank manure should not be rS forc|ng, or the Kale may have a bad t nching and manuring is important ,th'8 to a krge extent is based thV Buccessofthe future crops. A ridge of soil drawn up alongside young cabbages will shelter and hasten the gro*th:, £ °le™*» form a useful green crop now, and better still are the small Tom Thumb Savoys, which were planted in August thickly Radishes sown now on on a hot-bed of leaves and mmntT will sooa germinate.
".... "OUR LADY OF THE SLUMS."
"OUR LADY OF THE SLUMS." There I" said Miss Sophie Steel. I don't believe I can do more foryou, Sid, during thiscoming month of March." If More for me1 Yon exile me and talk such non- sense I" 11 For the good of us both, my dear. Anothet Jump of sugar, dear! For a whole month you are debarred from bringing your beloved sentit-tiental countenance intolthis my studio. Have another lump of sugar to help you through it. Besides, I expect a masterpiece from you, too." It's a disgusting hole, that fourth floor in Hardy- wtreet.. I fear that nothing great will come of it. But can't I see you in the evenings ?" Neither evenings, mornings, nor afternoons, dear. When I concentrate as you know, I concentrate. And you must do the same. For my farmyard picture, I want nothing but my farmyard studies. One look at you, Sid, (I say it in all respect and- something eWe) and there'd be the risk of putting human expressions on to the faces of my horse, my oxen, and the one forlorn ass by the farmyard gate. For my part, and art apart, I shouldn't object; but neither the Academy nor the great British public can be expected to put up with sentimental cows and a love-lorn donkey." Sidney Withers winced. He was that kind of sus- oeptible person. "Thank you, Sophie," he said. But, before he could continue she was again upon him. You'll thank me seriously afterwards, you dear sensitive product of a high state of ciyilisation 1" she exclaimed. And, really, you might be worse O^J Mrs; Wilkins is a most respectable person—she does washing for three dear friends of mine who shall be nameless, and she declares the air of Hardy-street is the best in London—there's nothing so nice to sniff aa a tannery, she says." This time Sydney laughed, in spite Of his sundry irritations. You will be a minx to your dying day, Soph," he said. Well, since it must be, I submit. But I shall come and gaze at your windows regularly in the afternoons." At what time, dear r Oh, between four and five or so, unless some- thing unforeseen prevents me." Thank you, Sid. Maybe I'll peep out at you then. Solitude's good for the soul, when the soul's on work intent." It all depends on the work towards which the ,pe soul is bent, he replied. When, at length, this ambitious young woman hinted in the plainest fashion that she would not put any more tea in the pot, he rose dismally. Well, if it has got to be," he exclaimed, and he drew the girl towards him. "Some maidens wouldn't be so bold," he added. Some maidens wouldn't be so brave, either, perhaps dear," said she in answer. There was ambi- tion and confidence and strength in her face; and just then infinite tenderness besides. As Sidney Withers kissed her, he told himself, and his eyes told her, that he had never loved her so fondly, "I trust you, dear," she said coquettisbly. You can trust me to keep on thinking that you are the sweetest girl in the whole world," said he. More than that I know not." More than that I think I care not," said she.. Then, with a last caress, he went down the stair- case, and made his way to Hardy-streets She was for the lau rel wreaths of art, and he for the laurel wreaths of li terature. There were times when they affected to believe-that their love for each other was a secondary hope. Yet they were both very young,, and when together could generally get a laugh even out of their keenest dis- appointments. But that evening—that breezy March, evening- as Sidney Withers sat-at the window on his fourth- floor apartment in a mean house, and looked at his environment, he fatt. cold at the heart and melancholy. The odour of the tannery was strong. The discordant cries of unkempt children grated on him. And he had not yet grasped the core of things in that life of the slums which he meant to delineate with the pen of genius. He was still thus waiting for inspiration when a lamp was lit in a room on the opposite side of the street., level with his room. The light illumined the profile of a girl with hair loose on her shoulders, who was switching bard at something. Suddenly she looked up, and the lamp-light shone full on her face; she seemed for a minute or more to be gazing yearn. ingly at the space above, where stars ongbt to have been. Then it was stitch, stitch, again. But Sidney Withers had seen enough in those few seconds. I never beheld a more lovely madonna-like face I" he said to himself, as he got up and began to pace the room with quick steps, » His strange new infatuation really began with full sonnet he composed on that evening. It was entitled Our Lady of the Slums," and, of course, was well steeped in imagination. When it was finished, the blind was drawn to the window opposite, and the dim shapes that made shadows on it were yet another problem to him. The next day Sydney saw the girl again. She was not stitching this time, but yawning. Her teeth were snowy white, as seen across the chasm of Hardy- street, and herchest expansion was decidedly good. Nevertheless, on the whole, it gratified him to learn from Mrs. Wilkins that it was probably the crippled Sharman girl who had caught his fancy. "I don't pay no attention to neighbours in a general way," said Mrs. Wilkins not having the time, and they being mostly a queer lot in London streets I keeps myself to myself. But I've heard tell of them Sharmans. They're orphans, and there's three little children." The situation more and more appealed to Sydney. He was thinking of the poor cripple working her fingers to the bone when he strolled round to Sophie's studio. Her blinds were down, although it was the very time he had told her he should do homage to her window panes. She cares for nothing except her lay figures and paint smears," he said to himself in a temper, and then he made his way back to Hardy-street. Thus returning, he contrasted the life of this poor cripple with the life of his Sophie. The one was self-sacri- fice in its noblest form the other a merely vulgar striving for popular admiration. Sophie had a pretty face, but no soul to speak of. Besides, she was oppressively domineering, often. Being this, as an irresponsible maiden, in the name of conjecture, what sort of an imperious matron would she develop too? And then he created a vision of the perfect wife— a gentle, loving and lovable girl, with golden hair and sweet, appealing blue eyes one who would esteem it her greatest happiness to be caressed by the mascu- line idol of her idolatry; one who would have no will apart from her idol's. On such a basis it was easy for this emotional young man to go wildly astray. To be sure, he did not see his madonna again that day. But his pen ran all the faster in portraiture and eulogy of her when his own blinds were down and he forgot his surroundings amid the flow of his fancy. A fortnight passed, and not once bad he seen Sophie. He believed that it was not accidental. It could not be. Now and then she might be absorbed in her picture; but it was ridiculous to suppose that this could happen as regularly as half-past four in the afternoon came round. It occurred to him strongly, too, that it was not nice in any girl to work on Sundays and week-days and to insist even on taking her constitutional airing by herself. All this time the absurd Sidney contented himself with merely an imaginative interest in Violet Shar- man. He bad found out the cripple's other name, and it suited her.eyes, and, no doubt, her sweet re- tiring nature besides. But now, in the third week of his separation from Sophie-with two solid inches of written manuscript on the chest of drawers in his room to prove his industry-now he saheined how he could make her acquaintance. It was strange, yet true, that he had not dared even to nod to her from his window: On one occasion she had noticed him pointedly. She must have said something as well as shaken her golden hair in his direction, for two or three other faces came to the window and looked on him. The con- spicuousness, however, hurt his sensitive nature, and he had then promptly retired into a corner. TTi:s was his nearest approach hitherto to friendship with, his Hardy-street madonna. Now he wrote a letter and delivered it at the ground floor of the opposite house. "DEAR MISS SIIARNIAlir,gincere admiration is a wrong to no one and the due of such as you. I should esteem it a privilege to be allowed to expret 8 in person the feelings you inspire in me.—Your vis-a- vis and well-wisher, SIDNEY WITHERS." r f p j' Such was his note. But nothing came of it. The golden-haired girl looked towards him no more than before; even less, indeed; no-that Sidney found him- self constrained to think that it was intentional. Then he upbraided himself cordially. He had, it seemed, shocked the modesty of one of Nature's gentlest daughters, and so, after much cogitation, he wrote again, imploring pardon for his shameless audacity," yet also asking if he might not in person week the pardon he craved. I cannot tell you what you have become to me," he wrote this time; nor did he, on reflection, think he wronged Sophie in the words, for he was nearly convinced now that Sophie was nothing serious to him. He and she had enjoyed their intercourse, but it was not the kind of intercourse that argued wtfl for a marriage as its sequel. He no longer troubled about Sophie's window. The window over the way was more dear to him. But to t his second letter also there was no reply. And yet, by the expenditure of a shilling, he had as- certained that both it and its predecessor had reached the hands of the crippled Miss Sharman. In the state of mind that ensued, Sydney found it easy to be brutal to Sophie herself. The month was up, and her postcard to remind him of the fact (" Ready for you "), revolted him. He did not goto her studio. His work, however, went on apace. Yet it did not satisfy him. Nothing satisfied him, indeed, until, about a week after Sophie's release from the farm- yard picture, he received a note from over the way (in reply to his third) inviting him tq the Sharmans' parlour: 1 Please to come in at three o'clock. VIOLKT SHARMAH." That was all. But it was ample. Sidney climbed the stairs over the way with a beating heart and knocked on the Sharmans' door. j But, instead of an answer, the door opened and the !> golden-haired girl came forth with a jug. She smelt 9 of stout, and her stare at close quarters was not a grace in her. Won't you go in, if you're that Mr. -Withers?" she said to him rather pertly, when he stood aghast, for she was coarse at close quarters as well as per- fumed by stout. This said, she scampered down the stairs. Sidney would have followed her-after an interval-if some- one had not taken him by stotm from inside. You dear, foolish, old muddlo-headed dreamer!" cried Sophie, as she slipped an arm into his. You've been working yourself into a nightmare, I can see. Come in here at once." K This, my dear," she added, nodding to a plain fltitl of about twenty-three, who was mending stock- ings, is Violet Sharman, one of my many friends in this street. She sent me word how terribly you were working." Sidney flashed a look at her. She looked good as well as plain. His gratitude was immeasurable. "You met her sister on the stairs, didn't you, Sid ?" continued Sophie. She's on the boards in one of the theatres in these parts; poor girl, I wish she wasn't 1" t Sophie sighed, and so did Violet Sharman. It's a terrible temptation for Sarah," murmured the latter. My picture is a success—I feel it, dear," then said Sophie. But mayn't I come with you to Mrs. Wilkin s ? I didn't dare at first. I didn't know what great work I might be spoiling." Then Sidnéy's common-sense returned to him. Come with me at once, if you will, Soph," he said, blushing crimson with shame. "I don't know really what I should have done if you--good-bye, Miss Sharman, good-bye," he said hastily, and he put all the gratitude of bis soul into the squeeze of the hand of the poor, unromantic, and quite unat- tractive little cripple.
BOERS IN A CORNER.
BOERS IN A CORNER. A Reservist from Norwich in the 1st Coldstream Guards, has written to a friend as follows: We bave bad a very rough time of it, I can tell you. What with running short of water and waiting for food, we have not felt all 0 K. The weather out here is terribly hot. I am as brown as a berry, and have also grown a fine crop of whiskers, which I don't fancy add to my good looks. Our battalion has been in three engagements. They were Belmont, Graspan, and Modder River. The last one the Boers made a good stand, and kept at it for just thirteen hours. At last they had to give in, and leaving their dead and wounded for us to look after they cleared off. We were one side of the river and they were the other, and they had been making ready for just a month before we c&me up, so they had every chance of making a decent stand. I think we are driving the Boers into a corner at last, and the wind-up won't be long taking place.
LORD ROBERTS'S VOYAGE.j
LORD ROBERTS'S VOYAGE. Writing to a Stockport paper, a gentleman on board the Dunottar Castle says in a letter published by the Daily Telegraph, the" passengers have had splendid weather, and even the dreaded Bay ef Bis- cay was moderately calm. He continues We have on board a number of naval men going but to com- mission her Majesty's ship Thrush, and all branches of the Service are well represented. We have also about aùozen Germans, who, it is said, are going to assist the Boers, while I have heard there are also Boers on board; but I have not seen any of them yet. Lord Roberts seldom appears on deck, and I have only seen him on two or jthree occasions. He was on the forward deck this morning, feeding his horses, of which there are four beauties, with carrots. Yesterday was Christmas Day, which we spent in a quiet but not less hearty manner. We bad no music or dancing, out of deference to Lord Roberts, with whom we all sympathise in his sad bereavement. Lord Roberts seems to be very busy below, and I learn from members of his staff that he is constantly en- gaged on his plans.
MAKE HIM PRINCE PATRICK.
MAKE HIM PRINCE PATRICK. The appointment of the Duke of Connaught to be Commander-in-Chief in Ireland recalls (says a writer in the Dail: Chronicle) an incident, which deoided the Queen to give bim tbe name of Ireland's patron saint. When the Queen and Prince Albert visited Ireland in 1849 an old lady in the crowd, which welcomed her Majesty to Dublin, exclaimed (as the carriage in which the Queen sat with her husband and elder, children passed, 0 Queen, dear! make one of them dear children Prince Patrick, and all Ireland will die for you." The hint was not forgotten, and when a year later the Queen's seventh child was born. he received tbe name of Arthur Patrick Albert. The soldier Prince was further connected with the Emerald Isle when he was made Duke of Connaught. ■'
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A FRENCH pbysiciet, M. Perreau, haw found that, selenium is not acted on by Hertiinn electric Waves in the atmosphere as it is by light, that is to say, its electric resistance is unaltered. The Eontgen rays, however, dimmish the resistance of selenium after the manner nf light. WIIAT fruit do we take from France? A good deal, says the Fruit-Grower, Fruiterer, and, Florid. In 12 months we take on an average about 180.0C0 bushels of apples, 21,700 oranges, 193,000 of cliervies, 6500 of grapes, 296,150 of pears, 509,930 of pltimp,, and various other fruits to the extent of 133,400 bushels. At the present time choice pears, walnuts,, chestnuts, apricot pulp, prunes, and crystallised and bottled fruits are being sent into our ports weekly in enormous quantities; and if the French fruits had been boycotted during December only, which would include he supplies for Christmas, their fruit export trade would have been paralysed and the ruling prices in their own markets would have been forced down 50 per cent. at least. Then with respect t.q French vegetable produce. We buy from her mer- chants each year potatoes to the extent of something like 1,150,000 bushels, and of onions 400,000 bushels. In addition, we take hundreds of thousands of pack- ages of salads. LoRD KMBBRLEY, it appears, grants pensions of 6s. and 7s. a week to his aged servants. One of these ancients conceived the bright idea that in addition to the pension from his lordship, he was entitled to out- relief frcm the guardians. Accordingly, he made an .y application, which was refused on the ground that he was already in receipt ofa sufficient pension. The old man went straight to Lord Kimberley, and asked if it was fair. On being assured that it Was, hb at once offered to resign his pension and go into the workhouse, for," he declared, I won't see your lordship done over this." The story was cited as a proof that the dislike of the workhouse is not so general as is supposed. It probably only showed the old man's desire to save his master's pocket at the expense of his own feelings. Happily, however, he did not eo into the workhouse.
'"-. --PERILS OF THE KILT.
PERILS OF THE KILT. One of the; Highlanders writes from the front: "The kilt proved to be tco conspicuous, and the sporran offered a splendid mark for the Boers, so we have discarded the sporran, dyed our hosetops to a dirt colour, and wear a khaki apron over the front of our kilt, also we have a strip of khaki sewn over the brass buttons on our khaki jackets. Some of the Free State Boer prisoners that were brought in this morning asked their escort if we were men or women.
SPREAD OF COMMERCIAL
SPREAD OF COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. The Intelligence Branch of the Commercial Department of the Board of Trade has been tstabliehed with a view to meet the constantly-in- creasing demand for prompt and accurate informa- tion on commercial matters, so far as it can be met by Government action; In deciding to establish this new branch the board has been largely influenced by the recommendations contained in the report of a Departmental Committee composed not only of repre- sentatives of the various Government Departments concerned, but also of prominent representatives of commercial interests, which won appointed by Mr. Bitchie, the President of the Board, in July, 1897. The committee was requested to consider and advise as to the beat means of collecting and of dissemin- ating among those interested prohipt and accurate information op commercial subjects, and as to the col- lection of samples, especially of goods of foreign manufacture competing with British productions, and thê- exhibition of such samples to manufacturers and traders in this country. As a result of their deliberations the committee recommenededthe estab- lishment of a new office, under the Board of Trade, on lines which the board have followed generally in [ the creation of the Intelligence Branch, and this branch is consequently intended to become a centre at which information on all subjects of commercial interest shall be collected and focussed in a form con- venient for reference. In addition, it will be the duty of the branch, as far as circumstanoes permit^ to afford information in reply to all inquiries on commercial matters which may be addressed to it, whether written or verbal. The new office, which is temporarily housed at 50, Parliament-street, was opened on October 23 last, its principal officer being Mr. T. Worthington, who recently acted as Special Commissioner to the board in an inquiry into the condition and prospects of British trade in certain South American countries. The Intelligence Branch will endeavour, on applica- tion being made to it, to supply information with re- gard to commercial statistics, matters relating to foreignandjcolonial tariffs,excise and consumption duties, port, harbour, and tonnage dues, and other r.harges on shipping, customs regulations, consular fee,iforms ofjcertificates of origis, regulations concern- ing commercial travellers, trading licences, foreign and colonial contracts open to tender, foreign and colonial bounties, lists of firms engaged in particular lines of business in different localities, &c. An in- quiry room at which copies of official publications, directories, and other works of reference may be con- sulted, is reserved at the offices of the branch for the convenience of personal applicants. The Board of Trade Journal will be the principal medium through which intelligence collected by the branch and intended for general information will be ionveyed to the public. The journal, which has up to the present been issned monthly at the price of 3d., is now issued weekly at the price of Id. It is intended shortly to give effect to the recom- mendations of the committee referred to above in respect of the collection and exhibition of samples, md the arrangements necessary to enable this to be 3ohe are now under the consideration of the Board af Trade.
RUNAWAYS FROM HOSPITAL.j
RUNAWAYS FROM HOSPITAL. A striking illustration of the spirit animating our men is afforded by a recent incident. The wounded af a certain battalion are being cared for on board the hospital ship at Durban, and of these twenty had nearly xecovered, but had not been officially certified as cured. The other day the whole twenty were missing and on inquiry it was ascertained that when the 2nd Battalion of their regiment arrived at Dur- ban they left the-ship, unobserved, hid themselves in a coal-shed until the trains began to leave, and boarded one of them at the last minute. They are now with their comrades at the front.
THE GROWTH OF THE NAVY. I
THE GROWTH OF THE NAVY. In the lunphithentre of the Royal United Service Institution, in London, the other afternoon, Com- mander Scott-Wilcox delivered a lecture on "The Growth of Our Navy from A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1900," illustrated by lantern slides. I The lecturer explained that by the growth of the Navy," he meant not the numeiioal growth but the improvements effected. The subject, he said, divided itself into four parts, the days of wooden ships pro- pelled by sails, of wooden ships propelled by sails and 3team, of ironclads propelled by sail and steam, and ironclads propelled by steam only. A number of pic- :ures of ships were then thrown on the screen, begin- aing with a viking's ship, a half-decked boat with one mast and square sail and oars, then an English ship of the 13th Century, and one of the 14th Century with its three masts and rudder, now introduced for the first time, and cannon on the castles. The Santa Maria of Columbus was shown, then the Great Harry, which cost E14,000, and had eight guns. Then came the Harry Grace a. Dieu, launched in 1515, with four masts and a bowsprit and two decks, and the first Royal Sovereign (1637), of 1500 tons and 102 brass guns, costing Y.40,833 for the ship and £ 24,001) for the uns. Then were seen the Foudroyant, 80, on which Nelson hoisted his flag in 1799; then sinking of the Royal George, 100, at Spithead in 1782; then the Victory, built at Chatham in 1765 and partially re- built in 1800, and finally views of the Britannia under full sail on her way from Portsmouth to Portland in 1862, and of the Eurydice before her capsizing off ventnot in 1878, The second period showed the Duke of Wellington, 500 h.p., a three-decker with 130 guns the Gibraltar, a screw line of battle-ship of 81 guns, then some frigates, and the first composite vessels, in which the frame and beams were iron and the deck itrid sides wood, such as the Active and the Alert and Discovery, in which Sir G. Nares sailed to the Arctic regions. In the t.hird period, that of iron ships with sails and steam, the lecturer showed the Black Prince, launched in 1860,380ft. long and 85ft. beam, with i-3-in. of armour; the Minotaur, launched in 1863, a fire-master of 10,600 tons, a broadside ship with 5in, of armour, steaming 15 knots, and the Sultan, once the flagship of the Duke of Edinburgh, I with 9in. armour and guns in batteries. Then came the last period, in which were shown the Devastation with her turrets, and the Inflexible, launched in 1876. After these ships the discovery of Harveyised steel was made, and the Howe's arm- our, thanks to it, was not so thick. Views of the MagnUlqent. and the Canopus, tho latent battleship put in commission, were presented, and then variqt* r,riii.serg, torpedo gun-boats, the Royal yachts the troopships, snrreyin ships, destroyers, and torpedo- boats, concluding with photographs of the Bermuda floating dock and the Calliope steaming out of Apia in the teeth of the hurricane. Miss Scott-Wilcox then recited the "Handy Man," sppropriate views being cast on:tbe screen; and after, & vote of thanks t§b the lecturer the first verse of the National Anthem was sung, and the procceedfngs closed.
I A PROPHET IN HIS OWN COUNTRY.
I A PROPHET IN HIS OWN COUNTRY. The contrast between the military officialism of Germany and Great Britain is not inaptly illustrated: (says the Chronicle) by the following item relating to the hero of Mafeking. While Colonel Baden-Powell's book on scouting has to be purchased by our soldiers at its published price, its estimated value on the Con- tinent can be judged from the fact that within a week of its publication it was translated, published, and distributed without cost to every soldier in the Ger- man army.
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DAUGHTER: When I marry I shall consult my <wn heart I" Mother: Very well; but don't leave your head- entirely out of the conference I" Mas. MCCARI>KM Thot piano lamp ye sold me is no good, an' Oi want yez to take it back." Dealer; "Eh? Why?" Mrs. McCarlem: "Niver a cliune con we git out of it."
"-NOT A PICNIC PARTY.
NOT A PICNIC PARTY. A young Scots Guardsman, writiag to Mr. H", Macintyre from Moddw River, uader date Dec. says: Just a card, wishing you a Merry Christina* in& a Happy New Year. (Enclosed was a eard, with the new colours which were presented to the Scots Guard*- at Windsor by the Queen just before their departuft) I am still alive up to date, although we have had ifc rough since we left England, having been in thraa engagements now. I was at Belmont, where We had a very rough time. Then at a place I think they call Grass Pond, and last at Modder River, where we m the warmest battle we've had yet, as it lasted thirteoa hours and a half. I never expected to live througfc it. However, we managed to clear them at last, an4 we expect another at Spitfontein, then one before wo get to Kimberley. I think they must soon get played out, as we are gradually driving them towards Riak. betley, whsre I expect the grand finale will take pladtt I can tell you I shall not be sorry, as it is not exactly a picnic party for anyone. Hoping God may. us all to meet again, with best wishes to all old COla- rades.
EXTRAORDINARY RECOVERY.
EXTRAORDINARY RECOVERY. A private soldier, an Annan man, in ths 2" Battalion Gordon Highlanders, recounts an extaw ordinary personal experience in the following letter: We, the Devons, Imperial Light Horse, and others had a fight at Eland's Laagte with the Boers, anell never enjoyed myself eo much before. You first haiv6 to get christened to fire, and then you think nothing of t be shells bursting about you, and the bullets which go whistling past like bees. We went forward -by fifty yard rashes and at every rush yon could hear a groan, and down would go one of our comrades, eith" killed or wounded, poor chaps. When we were mile* from the enemy they opened fire on us with shell, and as we were going along in mass one of the shells burtffc on the left of the company, and one of our menof aty section—Bobby Hall—got shot dead with a piece o! the shell going straight through his head. That waifc- what made more than one wish to turn and run. But what wduld Britain do if her soldiers ran from the enemy ? At last we got to where we could get ifc shot at the Boers with our rifles, and you may bet gave them more than one, as, perhaps, the paper* have told you. I got through the rifle-fire down to the bayonet charge on the hill side, when I felt a sting in the left arm, and looking down found I was shot in the wrist. In changing my position I got shot in the centre of the forehead. The bullet did not ga straight through. It glanced off my nose-bone, and came out above my right temple. On look* ing round I was just in time to see the blood squirt from the first wound. I shifted my position in quick time, for I did not want another from the same riflfta I lay still after doing this for a while, when the thought came to me to get my wrist bandaged, and try to shoot again. On changing my position I got a bullet right in the "napper." I was out of action then, for all was dark. I heard the officer I way- going to to get the bandages from say, Poor chap, he's gone." But no, I am still kicking.
MAKING READY AT ST. HELENA.
MAKING READY AT ST. HELENA. The Standard, and Diggers' News publishes a re- port that Longwood, the former Imperial residence at St. Helena, is being renovated for the reception oj President Kruger after the war is over. The paper adds that the report has created a very bitter feeling in Boer official circles.
ONE MEAL IN THIRTY-SIX HOUTA-
ONE MEAL IN THIRTY-SIX HOUTA- In an interesting letter to his wife, at Lowei Gordon-rpad, High Wycombe, Bucks, a private of the Royal Medical Staff Corps, serving under General Buller, wtiting from Frere Station, South Africa,^oa November 28, says: I shall never forget that battle (Willow Grange)-* shells and shots flying all around.us, some even strife ing the stretchers we were carrying the wounded oft I thank Almighty God that I escaped being shot, aa did all our corps, not one of us having been woundect though how we escaped is a marvel. The number at Boers killed and wounded is not exactly known, bu1 is estimated at nearly 1000. The wounded told us the Boers treated them kindly. The Boer stretcher bearers actually told us that they were tired of the war, and that they would be glad to come back with us to our camps, as they got no food or anything to drink for days together. Among them were several Englishmen who had been commandeered by the Boers at Pretoria to attend their wounded. Some OJ. the wounds were dreadful—heads half-blown &we# and legs smashed, a terrible sight to gaze on. W. were without food from twelve a.m. Friday till 4. p.m. Saturday, when having buried the dead, we went to a farm where the Boers had looted, and fouiid some chickens and ducks, caught them, killed theii% and had them for tea—the first meal for thirty-oil hours 1 On Sunday two Boer spies were captured by our scouts with important despatches from Bruges to General Joubert.
DRIPPING WITH BLOOD.
DRIPPING WITH BLOOD. A private of the F Company, Argyll and Butheri- land Highlanders, writing to his parents from Modder River Camp, says: ,) The battle lasted from five o'clock in the mornin* till 7.30 at night. It wasn't properly over tiH next morning. We had no food and only one pint of water for 48 hours. We were rushed up to the front in tha hottest. The bullets were whizzing all round us, men dropping dead. I was in F Company which was tJae first to charge the river. I came out on the othoe side, dripping with water and blood a lot of deaA horses and men had fallen in. One of my' chufltt got half his foot blown off, tyr6 'were shot jn the rlyef; and one of Mac's chums lost an arm. This was only in one bend of the river. Modder River is like < large country village atter the home style, and moat of the people here are English or Scotch. All docks and chickens were killed and cooked by our chaps, as they were all hungry after the fight. For myself I bad a nice sucking-pig, and went into a kitchen and got a fire, and stuffed this pig with something of everything—some lard, bread, onions, cabbages, and carrots. The Boers stole all the booze.
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THE Germans are adopting a new pavement. A mixture of coal tar, sulphur, and chlorate of limo J8 cooled and broken into bits, which, with furnaca slag, are pressed into a mass forming the pavement. As the supply of ivory is becoming OFj' "^>wd balls of cast steel are being made in Sweden. By making them hollow, the weight J. made to cotts, spond with that of ivory balls. Two or three large items headed the lists that came to hand on the first day of 1900 for the Daikf Telegraph's admirable ,Shilling Fund" for our Soldiers' Widows', and Orphans. Four thousand shillings were from Mellin s x ood, Limited, accom- panied by a suggestion with which the Daily Tdø- graph at once complied. The firm are not content with supplying stores to the Maine, but have decided to open a children18 collecting fund in aid of tha children rendered fatherless through the war, aad» in order to aid and stimulate their young friends ia their endeavours, they are undertaking to add one shilling to every five collected upon cards furnished by the finn. Application for these cards should be made to Mellin's Soldiers' Children's Fund direct at the works of the company at Peckham. The mane, thus gathered in will be sent to the Daily Telegraph for acknowledgment from time to time, and by this everybody knows it will be promptly and directly dis- tributed throughout the country to boys and girls of' joldiers killed in the war.
I TOMMY AS A VOCALIST.
TOMMY AS A VOCALIST. A private of the 2nd King's Shropshire LigM Infantry, "lth tbe South African Field Force, hM written, under date Dec. 12, a letter to friends at home in which he says: We had a good voyage, but it was the worse ooa for grub that I ever was on. We only had fresh meat twice all the voyage-cnca on the day we sailed, and again on the day we landed. We are camped on a veldt or plain, close to Orange River Station, and hav4 been here five days now. We get plenty to eat a drink, but everything gets full of sand before we get it. The sun is very hot, and the veldt is nothing but sand, which seems to throw -back the 'heat of the sun. The troops are in good spirits, though, and we bsva some lively times at night with concertinas and mouth organs. We sing till Lights out" sounds. We arrivod just a day too late for the Modder River fight, but. saw a lot of wounded and Boer prisoners on the. way to Cape Town. We were told that the troops. behaved nobly, and drove the Boers back time aftV time. The prisoners tell us that they don't mind-our bullets, but they cannot face the bayonet. We had a sergeant and a private shot the other night (Friday^, through not answering the sentry on outpost properly. They are dangerously hurt, and the sentry has got a general court-martial, but I expect he will get off because he only did his duty. The troops aaa all looking well. We are as black as niggers, and wa don't shave. I have a fine beard, and quite frightened myself the other day when I looked into a piece af bright tin.