The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

THE FLANDERS CAMPAIGN. LOCAL SUCCESSES NEAR HOOdR GAS CYLINDER CAPTURED. Sir John French reported 0Ilt Saturday fooo r* headquarters follows: Chi Friday north of Hooge me occupied Armani trenches oil a front of 260 yarda wiliell the enemy had been forced to abandon Dwing to our other local saooeeeee there. As result of the fighting in this neSghboariiood ur I fcUTing the week we have captured 213 Prisoners, including two officers, and have taken tilree machine guns and a full gas cinder. North-ea/st of Armentieres we exploded Several mines last. night (Friday) and de- stroyed a portion of the trenches. Our artillery and rifle fire inflicted casualties On the enemy wlii-le trying to escape after the explosioii. The electric power station at Ls Bass" was successfully bombarded yesterday (Friday) by OUr airmen.

THP ADVANCE ON SOUCHEZ. ENEMY LINES TAKEN IN LORBAINS. Sunday night's Paris communique «H as follows: In the sector to the north of ArrM, being Masters of the Buval Bottom, we delivarad an attack towards the east in tJie direction of Souchez, and advanced about a third at a lle. The artillery duel continues to to very violent. In the west of the Argonne we repnlwd violent enemy attack, and took some prisoners. On the heights of the Meuse our troops Attacked, in the sector of the Calonne trench I Slid captured two enemy lines, taking seventy prisoners, including two officers. In Lorraine, near Reillon, we captured aa centre of resistance and repulsed two counter attacks. A third counter attack ftorn,ciltarily drove us back, but we almost im- ¡ mediately recaptured the whoie position. A I fourth counter-attack was stopped by our Are. We took fifty pardoners. I VIOLENT COUNTER-ATTACKS. The Saturday night's French official report ■aid: We hold the slopes of Hill 119 (south-east ol Souchez), where our troops have clung to the ground beyond the last German trenches, Notwithstanding the enemy's counter-attacks, To the south of these slopes our front was car- ded forward to the north-east of the Laby- rinth. A counter attack of extreme violence Recaptured from us last night a part of a large, Communication trench which we had eeiased. We retook it in the daytime and repulsed the enemy's attempts there. In the whole Gector the artillery duel has been of continu- ous intensity. In Alsace our advance continued on both hanks of the Fecht, notwithstanding a dense R*t and torrential ram. We hold on the left bank of the western Fecht the ridges of the fcraunkcpf and of Hill 830, Leichwaldie, the tillages of Steinbriick, and' Altenhof.

THE KEY TO LENS. "U STORES AND PRISONERS TAKEN BY FRENCH. The Paris correspondent of the Times, in an Account of the fighting for the roa-d to Lena and Lille, writes Of the villages through which the fighting rages nothing remains save jumbled heaps of bricks and mortar, but new villages have been dug out under the stumps of the old walls. It 16 a-s though the whole pilace has been turned upside down. Huge chasms, lined with sand- bags, twist and turn through the village •treete. Under cupolas of armoured steel, under the arched cellar windows, in bloek- oousee of sandbags and armour plate, «n^cmne-g'Uns have been placed in such quantities that it is no exaggeration to say that the whole district bristles with them. f Fighting in such positions is naturally con- fused. It has to be carried on by means of heavy bombardment, though the enemy has i burrowed so deep into the earth that bom- I bardment has lost much of its efficiency, ■ showers of hand grenades, and short but ■ furiously determined rushes of infantry, rapid bayonet work, and patient clearing of captured positions by rounding up those of the enemy who have been overlooked in the first dash and attempt to fight on in a block- bouse or some inner recess of the trench maze. Since this battle started the' French have taken more booty in war stores than fell to them as the result of the victory of the I' ^arne. They have made over 10,000 pri- soners since the offensive was startood, and bare inflicted extremely heavy losses in killed I *Qd wounded.

r ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT. GRODEK LINE FORCED. RETREAT OVER THE DNIESTER, t The battle of the Grodek line has been ugbt, and the Germans assert that they a'»<• been victorious at nearly all points. The line which the Russians defended north *iJ(l south of Grodek extended for a. length of fifty miles from Rawa Rusk a in north Alicia down to the Dniester Marshes. The ^in assault seems to have been delivered in I e northern sector, beginning at Janow, fifteen miles west-north-west of Lwow '^ombrx'g). Here the Russians were posted I1' several successive lines of trenches along a ,|°nt of twenty-two miles. Almost all of Qse trenches, according to), Berlin, were p^°rmed on Saturday afternoon, and in the .yeniug the Russians withdrew behind the l!?b road which runs to Zollciow, fifteen "jlfes north of Lwow. The enemy's success on this northern flank, Times, if further followed up, obviously make Lwow untenable. I he R>>rlin communique asserts fhat under Proni the defeat, to the north the Rus- oiln,s have already evacuated the line .south of t[] tOdek, while, in conformity with this move- the Russian army which held out suc- ^y south of the Dniester below Lwow Tjl, withdrawn to the r.orth bank. W- Russians themselves say, in their bul- issued on Saturday, that on the front Vn'n' V'!r,arno noHh to Kamienobrod rhe ad- J10- guards of the enemy tried to force a <}ri" lurough the Grodek Lakes, but were vexi back.

THE ISONZO FIGHT. AUSTRIAN POSITIONS STORMED. ^ALIAN ATTACKS WITH BAYONET. cd .Spatch from the, Italiaai. Commandcr-m. I/W'l-VS: '1"cr details have been received regard- fight, which lasted two days and a k-fl i for the conquest of the heights OJll the vij|aaS"ik of the Isonzo commanding Plava, a )'1 b situated at the bottom of a. pase shut flovr s*<2ep wooded slopes, between which swift, and deep river. The bridge destroyed: by the enemy. By dint and eourai^o'us efforts pontoons were r> ^Vn across during the night, and at dawn our troops opened the attack. Ii :s;<}i<'a.vJ though > owing to the re- aN-, though > owing to the re- °* the enemy an-1 live serious obstacles. |'y '^eluded solid enin"u-h»nents protected network^of stout barbed wire- re- §< Hs by Iron bars; while numerous heavy .Hir» ;Umnig which were even pieces of 305 ■Mb i,0^'T€s calibre, were hidden at command- Nevertheless, supported by the fire "hcat 1at^erics, our troops succeeded, alter I'tg assaults with the cold steel, in carryI 6 which still remained in the }Jji^on,e the enemy. We took over 500 i^l'«d Is' including four officers, and eap- ^■ioQ quantities of rifles and ammu- abd one machine-gun. Our losses are > but the results obtained are important.

ADVANCE NEAR FESTUBERT. OERMAN TRENCHES TAKEN. The Field-Marshal Commanding the British forces, in France reported as follows on Friday: Fighting int the northern and southern por- ;iou-s of our front continued throughout the 16tli in co-operation with the attacks of our Ally about Arras. East of Ypres all the German first-lino irenches which we captured remain in our nan (Is, in spite of two counter-attacks, which iverc- repulsed' w.Tn heavy loss to the enemv. We were, however, unable to retain those 3t the enemy's second-lino trenches which we had occupied in the morning. East of Festubert. as the result of a further attack on the afternoon of the 16th, we made a slight advance, and, judging by the number of dead Germans in the trenches entered by us, our artillery fire was very effective. [A German statement was issued on Friday that we had suffered a new defeat near La Bassee, but, there is no confirmation of this from British sources.]

ARTILLERY DUEL. m FRENCH GAINS MAINTAINED. The French official report issued on Friday ni(_'ht was as follows: Jn the sector to the north of Arras the day was marked by a violent artillery duel. The front has undergone no modification. We re- tain all the ground won. In A!-a<•<• we consolidated the positions :• i, yesterday, and continued to make pro- Our patrols at the close of the day reached the outskirts of Metzeral. Wc gained ground on both banks of the FHllt, and we hold the eommnnicatioiw of the enemy between Metzeral and Munster under the fire of our artillery and infantry. We took more prisoners and captured machine guns and a very large quantity of material, pari icularly rifles and cartridges. [The victories of the French to the north of Arra, are acknowledged by the German Head- quarters' report.] ——————————— )

SOUCHEZ IN RUINS. GERMANS LOSE 10,000 IN TWO DAYS. A correspondent in Northern France, writ- ins on Fridav. says: The battle which is now in progress in the n6rth of France is on a larger scale and of greater intensity than any of the fighting which has taken place since the French offensive commenced at the beginning of May. The Germans are clinging despe- raielv to Souchez, the last enemy stronghold the French advance. Which, com- ipi' v iia from the main road between Arras and Belli HUP, has successively carried a net- work of well-nigh impregnable positions. Souchez is little more than a heap of ruins is the result of the axalanche of French shells by which it has been swept. In its defensive organisation Souchez is even stronger than the positions already captured, but it is now closely invested on three sides. Its capture will mark an important advantage for the French, and th 1 offensive will then enter upon a new stage, for an advance will open out on the plain of Lens, and progress should be accelerated. The bayonet and hand-grenade fighting which has been a feature f recent combats has been of the fiercest character, often last- ing for hours witliout interruption, The Ger- man losses ¡'Il the last two days are estimated at 10.000. The ce-meiery of Soueliez was cap- tured after a two hours' sanguinary struggle, and was promptly fortified. The appearance it presents to-day is such as to suggest. that it has been wrecked by an earthquake. The dead have been disinterred by the construc- tion of German trenches and by the ha.i1 of metal which paved the way for the final assault. Broken tombstones litter the ground, encumbered with the German dead.

AUSTRIA CLAIMS SUCCESSES. The following official communique is issued from Vienna Our troops advanced in the Russian region in their pursuit of Russian forces north of Sieniawa. We reached the hills of Kroszow and the valleys of Tanow and occupied Tarograd. AROUND JANOW. Russian military forces which were between the San and Weichsel r^tr^ated at different points. We took possession of Sieszanow and of a hill north of that town. Strong Russian forces are concentrated in the mountainous land east of Niemirow, and in the region near Janow. Attacks took place on the Wesizka. Our troops occupied some places east of the river. SITUATION ON THE DNIESTER. The Russians retreated,1 south of the Dneister. After violent fighting north of the pass near Zitynda, towards the direction of Kolodsidy, our troops reached, the mouth of the Wesizka during the pursuit. The situation on the Dneister is otherwise unaltered. Eight Russian attacks between the Dniester and the Pruth were repulsed with heavy losses by the east wing of General Pflanzer's army. IN THE BUKOVINA. The enemy, who made desperate attempts to derive back our troops in the Bukovina, sus- tained heavy losses by artillery fire and' re- treated in hUTried flight. We made eight officers and 1,000 men pri- WNn and captured three machine-guns.

THE BRITISH LOSSES. THE ENEMY'S SHRAPNBL. MARBLES IN SHELL& The special correspondent of the Meriting Post near the front says the British losses during the few days of battle at Festubert amounted to a- good many, but there is an UD- usually high percentag,e of very slightly so Wounded. There is also an uncommonly big c proportion of shrapnel wounds, which con- firms, says the correspondent, his report as to the renewed' use of this shell by the Ger- mans in this district. The correspondent points out that in its opening phases this was a war of shrapnel, that the Germans were routed and' chased from the Marne by shrapnel, and it was not tlptil this extraordinaryr L new species: of mole warfare had developed that the value of high explosives began to be appreciated, even by the German.; themselves. METAL HELMETS. The shrapnel that the enemy is using is filled with the most extraordinary collection of scraps of everything likely to hurt. From one of the Fcstubfert wounded was taken a gramophone ik- .die. In uui, bulls, scraps of iron. even marbl. • and chips of flint are com- mon. It is in larg-e measure be cause of shrap- nel wounds, a high proportion of which, are in the head, that the French military autho- rities have decided to revert to a metal helmet for all troops. CROSSBOWS AND STINK POTS. The correspondent refers to other loans from the arsenals of the past," including crossbows for bomb-throwing, "stink-pots," &(- but, he adds, "with annoying persistence the wind holds to the, north. We have not yet had the steady westerly breezes usual at this season, and which would be useful to us." DARING SPIES. One cannot avoid the cor- rc.-pondent. to the German spies and dis- guised agents behind and even in Ollr lines. They exhibit the utmost daring, although the inevitable penalty is immediate death. DÍis. giii-ed snipers lurk behind our .lines to pick off officers, and even cunningly concealed niaehii■e-guus buried in underground shelters so-mvtimes open fire at night from the rear Of oLl".

THE BREEDING OF HORSES. OPPORTUNITIES IN AUSTRALIA. The action of the War Office in authorising the Hoard of Agriculture to arrange for the sale of mares which have been returned from the front as no longer suitable for use with the Expeditionary Forces, but which, ha-ve been specially selected as types suitable for breeding purposes, show.4 that increased at- tention is likclv to be paid to horse-breeding on account of the demand made by the war operations. There is probably, says the High ..Commis- sioner of Australia, no portion of the British Empire which offers better natural oppor- tunities for horse-breed/n g on a.n extensirve scale than the great continent of the Com- mon wealth. A hundred years ago there were about 200 horses in Australia. Fifty years ago the number was about 1,500,000. To-day there are well over 2,000,000. From the earliest times the suitability of the climate and pas- tures of Australia for the production of ser- viceable breeds of horses has been recognised., 'but there are still immense areas capable of maintainimg large numbers of horses not nearly as heavily stocked as they might be, and in other partlS miles and miles of good horse country are unoccupied. The Northern Territory has great areas where thousands of horses could be cheaply reared, where the natural gifisses and the abundance of good water would be the chief factors in economy of production. For years India has drawn on Australia's resources for remounts; the war authorities have recently had representatives in Australia buying up suitable stock, and in view of the increasing demand it would seem that capital might well be expended in Australia in establishing horse-breeding stations on an extensive scale, either under State supervision or by private enterprise.

"STILL THEY ADVANCED." HEROISM OF THE flUSH GUARDS. A simple but vivid story of the heroism of the Irish Guards, fighting against tremendous odds, is told by a private who enlisted at the outbreak of the war. The following extracts are taken from his letter, which appeared ia the Dally Ohroll ide: Our platoon officer told our section com- manders that we were to push on that night and take a farmhouse at the point of the bayonet. On we went, and then crossed our own trenches, and made for the Germans', which we found in a state of ruin, with plenty of dead Huns lying about and everything showing what a hurried departure had been made. Now the machine guns began to spit otit at us, and soon the lads began to fall. So for a while we had to be in the open until we got the order to dig ourselves in. We did so for a couple of hours, and then got ready to ad- vance again. The order was countermanded, and again we began to dig right up to dawn. I can fell you we were tired, but were told to be ready, to chajge. The snipers began to be busy, and a good many more lads were bowled over. We could at last see our ground, and a veritable death-trap it looked. There were about 1,200 yards to be covered, and the Germans, were able to enfilade from the left. About four o'clock the advance proper began, but then the Jack Johnsons began to fall like hail- stones, and whole sections were wiped out, but still the lads advanced in short rushes. It was soon evident that to capture the poøi- tion was almost imposisible, as we were not being supported on the right and left, and consequently the Micks were getting a hell of a shelling. It seemed minder to ask a battalion to go on, but section by section, ¡ platoon after platoon, and company aftei company, went forward, as the Irish Guards have always done. After a eeuple of hours, when but half the battalion remained, word was given to dig in. I w,as then on Che stretcher-bearers, and hard work it was bring- I ing in the poor 'l't>,1 1.<1" W. bitil toO, carry them for nearly a mile to the dressing- | station.

MURDERED HOUSEKEEPER. MISS LAYARD GUILTY BUT INSANB. Miss Violet Granville Layard, who was in- die-ted nt Kent Assizes for me murder of bei housekeeper, Miss Mary Summers, aged fifty, eight, at Bromley, by striking her on the head with a hammer, was found guilty but in. sane at the time, and the Judge ordered hei detention as a criminal lunatic. Miss Summers had been in the Layari family for many years, and it was alleged thai Miss Layard conceived lue idea of killing hel housekeeper in order that she should not b8 left alone if her mistress were put under re- straint. The two were on terms of extrsp ordinary affection.

BREACH OF DEFENCE ACT. Sentence of three months' hard labour hM been passed at Eastbourne upon Irvine Graham, said to be a native ok Dunfermline, Scotland, who was charged on remand with a serious offence under the Defence of the Realm Act. The Chief Constable and the officer com- manding the troops both said that, in the 9 public- interests, the ease should be heard is .-ariK va, and the magistrates agreed to adopi this course. In ."cnt-encing Graham the chairman said .here were many circumstances of great sua- aickui. and the prisoner would be given the joaefit of the doubi.

THE WEEKS GARDENING. It tie not difficult to secure two crops of | bloom in the year from both the delphinium I and the pyretthrum, if directly the first lot of flowers commence to fade tihe stems are cut fairly low down; but in the case of the del- phiniums do not cut too low, as the younger spikes of bloom grow from the lower port-ion of the old stem as well as from the base h self.. The plants should be strengthened by surface mulch of rotted manure and good loam, mixed, and put on 2in. deep around the plants. The seed of herbaceous calceolarias ShOll', be sown, sprinkling it thinly and as evenlv possible on the surface of a pan filled with fine compost, and just covered with son sandy soil. Well moisten by immersi' nearly to the rim in water. Stand in & sha< place, cover with a sheet of glass, and fnrtht shade when sunny with paper. The seedli: when large enough will need carefully prid- ing off, and must be placed where they wil be free from attacks of slugs. Carnations v,ant staking during this month and a fertiliser worked into the salt wi" greatly improve the size of the HoOm Partial disbudding g::nl!y necessary, r- as to relieve the flowering stems of the jma'1» buds, which come to nothing. In dry weather weak liquid manure is a great help to the pro due tion of blossoms. Staking dahlias at, the same time ae plant- ing is the best way to avoid injuring the roots. The stake should go to the back of the plant, t, an inch or so away from the ball of soil, and with a slight backward inclination. Use good, eiout. stakes, their length and thickness de- [ pending, however, on the nature of the plant. For the tall-growing cactus and show varie- ties they should be from 5fr. to 6ft. in length pompones will require smaller stakes. Tie each plant to its stake so as to make it firm and yet not cramp it. One of the dahlia's most destructive enemies when top growth becomes active ia the slug. The steins of the plants will natu- rally be a little tender, and the slug" are apt to attack them about the ground line. A ring of cinders will help to keep the pests away; iso, too, will dusting with soot or quicklime, but Uletie Mioii lose their efficacy in wet weather, and must be renewed until' the stems become hardened. Hollyhocks revei in deep rich soil, and a coveiAig of manure on the -oil in the summer proves beneficial. Seed may lw sown out- doors in June in drills on a su-nuy border, to obtain plants for flowering the following year. In due -course thin out the seedlings, and it is advisable- to Winter them in a frame, planting out in late spring. In a sheltered and warm district it wiil li, safe to remove them straigfht to their flowering positions. Any of the varieties of bortcole or kale which -are sown during June will furnish plants in ample time for good late winter and early spring crops. Sown in rows 1ft. apart the plants will be L ready to go where the early I potatoes or shallots been lifted or where old strawberry plants have been uprooted I after the fruit is gathered. Early pot-a-toes a-e or <1011 will be. ready for digging. As they are dug they may Oesnrted into sizes fit for eating, others for seed, and. the small uneS' for chickens. *The seed size may be put in boxes and left in the sun to get green. Those for table use are best used, from day to day as dug. American cress, which is a variety of the Commoir winter cress, is extensively used abroad for its briskly-lfavoured leaves as a salad vegetable. Seeds may be sown now in shallow drills a foot apart, and will yield leaves for cutting jn- autumn and winter. The plants will yiekl two crops of leaves if the outer leaves only are gathered in the first, instance. Most seedsmen offer seeds of this cress. Brussels sprouts must be got into position as early as possible. The plants should be well fed with liquid manure during August to ensure a good early crop. Good sprouts can only be produced when the plants are given at least a moderately well manured ground. It should be made quite firm before planting is attempt-eel. and a space not less than 30in. must be allowed each plant. Constant stirring of the soil has most beneficial effects upon the crop. I I Make a sowing of turnips at once to come in for use in August and September. The I white-fleshed varieties are the best to use, as they do not run to seed so readily, and the flavour is mild, in spite of the hot weather. It is useless to sow the seeds on a poor, hungry soil, as the growth will be slow and weakly. Select a plot of ground that has borne almost any crop previously except cabbage, broccoli, and the like, and then spread over the surface a, thick layer of manure. Dig in about nine inches to a foot below the surface, using a fork to get it into a fine friable condition. If the soil is at all heavy, a liberal dressing of charred wood ashes should also be forked into it. The drills are drawn not deeper than half an inch and about fifteen inches apart. Along the bottom scatter a very light dusting of superphosphate, aud then the seed is sown thinly, a little soil cast over it, and another sprinkle given of the fertiliser before the rest of the soil is added. Ourled endive is best sown on a border facing north, so that the plants may grow freely i.n spite of hot weather. Before b the seedlings get crowded they should be thinned oUjt to a foot apart. To blanch the plants, th^y may be tied up like lettuce; but a more effective way is to cover each plant either with a large pot, stopping up the hole, or with a small box. Broccoli seedlings should be now planted out. allowing plenty of room. If the. weather is dry, a way to ensure steady root growth is to make the holes with a dibber and fill them with water. After the plant.* are put in the ground and covered over water should again be give'n, to induce the plants to start growing at once. Pears in some districts are much troubled with thr pear-midge, whieh lays its eggs in the flower, the grubs living and feeding inside the fruit. It is wise to look over the trees during the next week or two, and examine them for fruits that appear to be swelling rapidly. These, rn Being cut open knife, will probably be found full of the grubs. Destroy them by burning, and those that fall should be similarly destroyed, as they are likely to contain grubs. To encourage the growth of good-sized pea 1""(1, niripli off H, tops of the climbers, and thin out the pous. It is a great mistctke, though a common one, in gardens at the pre- sent time, when gathering peas, to drag tuem as if it were renuired to pnll them up by the roots instnnd of Irking the nods off.' Such a practice is. of oeurse, very destructive to the plants, and it should be remembered that if the nods are clipped off many successive omesli may be saved.

TIlE WEEK'S WORK. II Stake and tie border plants as needed. ¡ Frequently stir beds to prevent caking. Sow herbaceous calceolarias. Cut back arabia and aubrdetias after flowering. Sow hollyhocks. Cut back overgrown lilacs. Water runwr lw-ans liberally. Plant rid so cucumbers. Lijt earliest potatoes. Cease cutting asparagus. Give plenty of air to ripening grapes. Water vegetable marrows copiously. Remove blooms and fruits from recently- planted strawberries. Remove suckers from fruit-trees.

A(R!'ICUJ/RUITAL NOTES. BY A PRACTICAL FARMER. ROYAL^SHOW AT NOTTINGHAM. The forthcoming show of the Royal A:u cultural Society of England is to be" held Wollaton Park, Nottingham, from June ;2:; to July 3rd inclusive. The entries of ] stock are stated to be as follows: liorse, cattle sheep 575, and pigs SG0; tc; 2,:Wi. In addition there are nearlv 1.; eniriv/\ of i"ffer-ei»fc varieties of poultry'. Fr the milk competition, open to farmers i Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Perhv shire, sending milk daily to Nottir^hnn there are W3 entries,. In conr.cetic- v, these, a le',ter has had% be sent to those ha.d entered intimating that, owing to ili{ large number of en-tries received, there is i probability of competitors receiving the same number of points, and that. in the evetit oi ties occurring it is proposed to divide the' prizes equally, and to issue a prize card tc each of such competitors. In the implement section- there are sopie separate stands, which is verv satisfticien considering the circumstances of the prcseni year. The falling off in the head of live sice'; entered is also smaller than had be- n ex [M-Cied. TJIl entries compare remarkably (I; with the corresponding figures for the prc-vi ous meeting at Nottingham in 1888. and though fewr horses have been entered the number of pig entries is more than double that of 1888, and cattle and sheep are also more numerous. The King again gives his subjects a' good lead, no fewer than thirty-eight entries havina been made on. his behalf. Yorkshire coach hordes are again beins sent from Buckingham Pabuv, while from Sandri; gh-iin will eome three Shires. In the cattle classes 1 M».i- sty will be represented by Red Poll" as well a" by a number of Dexters. while Son Ol- io wn sheep and Berkshire pigs. also will repre- sent. h s Norfolk farm. Shorthorns. flerf '(') re- and Devons from the Windsor herds have like- wise been entered. » FATTENING UNPROFITABLE DAIRY COWS. Thi" important question was, the subject of in carried out at Wve Agricul- tural College recently. It was designed to 3b:am further information as co the advis- ability of substituting a fattening ration for the normal milk production ration in the case nf barren witli the view of fattening :110!J for' slaughter when they dry off. Five Shorthorn cows were utilised; they were in healthy milking condition, and typical of. the which occurred year by year in a herd if coni-s. The test was divided into three periods. During the first peiriod, from October 24th to December 19th, each cow received ori the average a maintenance ration of 401b. swedes Dr mangels. 71b. meadow hay, 141b. oa.t straw. 21b. Egyptian cotton cake, and lib. molaseuit per day, and as a milk-producing ration each animal was given 41b. of a mixture of equal parts of Egyptian cotton cake, crushed oats, gluten feed, and bran daily for each gallon of milk she prodxtced. The financial results of the first period were as follows: Value of 3,8521b. of milk, £ 12 16s. 9Ft; value of 122Jb. tive weight increase. £ 2 5s., less cost of main- tenance ration, Y.9 18s. 4d., and- of milk-pro- duction ration. £4 2s. 6d.. giving a profit over the cost of food' of 91 Os. Hid. for all the cowe. 2 • it LOSS ON THE THIRD PERIOD. Throughout the second peyiod, from De- cember 19tli to February 13th, the cows were confined to stalls and, received, in addition to the food, previously allowed, a fattening ra- tion of 61b. each per day of a mixture of two parts linseed cake and one part each of Egyptian cotton cake, dried grains, and gluten feed. The returns of the second period were: Value of 3,8071b. of milk, E12 13s. 9ld.; value of 4541b. live weight increase, Y.8 7s. C4d. less cost of maintenance ration, £ 9 18s. 4d., milk-production ration, £ 4 Is. 7d. and fatten- ing ration, £ 5 15s. The excess of the "returns over the cost of food was thus XI 6s. 5d.. During the third period, from February 13th until each cow was sold, the average dura-t-ioyi being seven weeks, the milk-production ration wa.s discontinued, and 41b. per head per dly of Para rubber seed cake were added to the fattening ration. The cows were dried off as quickly as possible and sold when sufficiently fat. The results for the third period were: Value of 8951b. of milk, £ 2 19s. 8d.; va'lue of 5571b. increase in live weight, £ 6 11s. 9d. cast of maintenance ration, £ 8 lis. 5d., and cost of fattening ration, £ 8 8&. 6d. The cost of the food thus exceeded the returns by £7 8s. 6d. The result-s suggest that the milk yield of a barren cow should not be allowed to reach an unprofitable level before a fattening ration j", supplied. The introduction of such a ration to a cow in milk and already suitably fed will arrest the normal decline in milk yield, and produce a considerable Eve weight increase. The results of the third period, made it evi- dent that the interval between drying off and sale should be made as short as possible. < CAUSES OF BLINDNESS IN HORSES. The horse suffers more than any other domestic animal from partial or total blind- ness, which is entirely due to the various senseless ways in which the poor creature is only too often treated by those who should know better. In most stables the racks are above .the mangers, so that the horse has to raise his bead to get at the hay. Often dust, seed, aud sharp-bearded grain fall into the animal's eyes, setting up inflammation, often leading to the loss of an eye, all the more because the owner of the horse never suspects the cause of the malady or even notices it, and so makes no effort to cure it. The pungent vapour of ammonia in most stables makes the eyes water, and is equally injurious to the eyes of horses. Add to this the bad lighting of a stable. To light a stable properly the light should fall from above. Experience abundantly showe that blinkers are of no use, but are, in fact, actually in- jurious. They make a horse timid, and increase the very ill they are supposed to cure. According to a Swiss paper, rn Berlin, by order of the police, cab horses are no Longer allowed to wear blinkers. More often than is realised the end of the whip flicks the eye of the horse and ruptures a blood-vessel, causing inflammation and blindness. This is not only the case with reckless and cruel floggers; even the kindest driver, who is fond of his horse, may blind him by simply playing his whip round the Animal's head carelessly by way of enlivening him. < < onr T\TT?T>C! TVT LT 17 H»ypiTfT H I It is interesting to learn that the military I authorities are tailing steps to meet the short- age of agricultural labour for the hay harvest, I by promising to give furlough to a limited number of soldiers of the New Armies and of the Territorial Force. The furlough granted to each soldier will last only for such number of days, not exceed- ing fourteen, as he is actually required for hav-niukiny; and Lire einployiiiciit of soldiers I in the hay harvest will be subject to certain I sonditions. Among these conditions are that suitable labour cannot be obtained in the locality, and that the farmer will undertake to pity each soldier sreiit at his request 4s. a day I if the soldier provides his own board and lodg- ing; or 2s. 6d. a day if board and lodging is provided by the farmer. The farmer is ex- pected to provide conveyance from and to the nearest railway station, but no charge will be made to the farmer for railway travelling expenses. The promise is given that every endeavour will be made to ensure that the men released have been accustomed to farm work, but no guarantee to this effect can be given. It is pointed out that these arrangements will not apply to the corn harvest, in respect of which fresh regulations will be issued. Ever since the present labour shortage began the authorities have continued to press farmers to use the Labour Exchanges, and now the official notice states that applications from farmers who desire to employ soldiers 11 in the hay harvest must be made as soon at possible to the Board of Trade Labour Ex- changes, when the applications will be ^trans- mitted to the military authorities. Forms foi the purpose are obtainable from the local Labour Exchange, the address of which oao be obtained from the nearest Post Omoe.

I (Copyright.) MISS LOBELIA, AUTHOR, Mist Lobelia took her place at the Main waring*' breakfast-table and picked up, with a trembling hand, the letter which lay on her plate. Her corre- ipondence was not extensive; it consisted chiefly of rejected manuscripts. For Miss Lobelia, greatly lo the amusement of her lively nephews and nieces, wrote stories. Not one of them had ever been printed. But about five years before a local now- paper had scceptc, I an eight-line "poem" from Miss Lobelia's pen. They never paid her for it; still, she didn't mind that, the glory was sufficient reward. Since then she had taken courage and persecuted harmless editors with her productions with redoubled vigour, and her "scribbling," as she called it, was the chief pleasure in her life. Miss Lobelia was very sensitive of ridicule, and she knew that her stories were a standing joke in the Mainwaring family. Occasionally she made a confidante of her favourite niece, Ellis. But Ellis was not particu- larly sympathetic. She was engaged to Wilfred Evans on, a bank clerk, and he and her "biking" filled up all her spare time. Just now Ellis, was At daggers drawn with ner aunt about this same "biking." Miss Lobelia had sketched such terrible pictures of the immodesty and danger of girls riding bicycles that Mr. Main- waring flatly refused to give Ellis one on her birthday. Mn. Mainwaring did her beat to comfort hw daught&r. "Perhaps we shall be able to talk father round,* she said. But 4% WM really very stupid of your aunt, only, oi course, old maids don-I nndetretaod." Miss Lobelia asked permission to read hoi letter, and as she scanned its contents her faof flushed a little. "Another story oome hackt asked Mr. Mainwaring, with a sly wink to the others. "No, Henry, it it not, said Miss Lobelia, with dignity. She did not forget that her brother was fond of making at her expense. After breakfast she called Ellis into her bed- room. "You JleJDemtier I told you I sent a story, Agatha Graft' week to Messrs. Bendem and Co., well-known publishers! Well. read that." Miss Lobelia thrust her letter into Ellis's hand. The letter stated that Messrs Bendem's reader had> reported favourably on the story submitted to them, and they were prepared to offer seventy pounds down and a royalty of threepence on every tenth copy sold. Hoping ^ese terms would meet with Miss Lobelia's approval, they remained, etc." Had Miss Lobelia been more businesslike she would have noticed that this wonderful epistle was written on plain paper, not headed with the firm's address as is usual. But. she was not of a sus- picious nature, and Elliti did not point this out.. "It is very-nice," she said, handing the letter back and trying not to laugh. I shall go into the City immediately and see my publishers," said Miss Lobelia, grandly. "A personal interview is the most satisfactory." "Oh, aunt, shall you ? Said Uiil, looking rather horrified. "Don't you think it would look too- eager t n "It is best to be prompt" said Miss Lobelia. Then she kissed Ellis. You are the only one I have told," she said. "Don't say anything until it is all settled. I want to surprise them." Ellis watched her aunt start and felt very uncomfortable. Somehow her joke did not so funny in realisation as it had done in anticipation. It was a lovelv October morning, rather froety, and Miss Lobelia had Dot gone far before she slipped on the pavement Ana. hurt her ankle. She limped back to the house with difficulty. "I am afraid I can't go after all," she told Ellis, with tears in her es, caused less from pain than disappointment. Will you go for me dear ? Ellis got red. I don't like to, auntie. But yes, if you want me to go I will." She trusted that some way Of i escape out of all this entanglement would present itself to her as she journeyed Citywards.. Miss Lobelia called Elbs to her lust before she went. T I •' I want to tell you I am going to do with that money when I get it" she Pered. « BBfe, I shall give it to you f°r f wedYi!"g-present; a present before the day, dear» .en y°u_and Wilfred will be able to start housekeeping■ all the sooner." "O auntie!" Ellis a s< £ She felt herself the most contempt^ eJj*.r ™e world. "Seventy pounds I" sal 1SS, softly. "A nice little sum, and I am,'so f«r your sake. An old woman like me does" uio;: y. She was only forty-five- But then, her life ht4 not been very happy, and tba^ fcs ope feel old* Ellis met Wilfred hurrying along through the Strand, but he stopped when he saw her. "Hullo, Ellis, darling; are you off to P Somehow or other ° whole 6U'-Tthought it would be 9"c'1 fun to play off • joke on Aunt Lobelia, »nd_ 1 felt mad about the bicycle. Oh. what aW^- dfred. sh# fini-hed, dismally. "I >w cheaP I feel, about two for three" Pe e- 11 "Well, it certainly ■ra1J r ,on the lady," said Wilfred, his good-na.ured lace cloud- ing over. Of course, vu'*r„L1Lhe di*Z s appointment would be too ^7 way I can see is for the book to &n.f. ^ou and I .must defray the cost T £ put off our marriage a bit, 1 J z else can be done. 9 „ i '•O Wilfred, don't yoti hate me 7 as-;pd Ellis, hU"S1oy>T don't dear, but I tW^ Were little amv." said Wilfred. "Weil, I suppose you had better go and see what arrange y u can come to with Messrs. Bendem. "'oa „ ie Jf I could. Au revoir till this evening,, Ellis was ushered fr -Bendem a private sanctum, having saJ e on very particular business." She found it very difficult to explain what that business was to the grey-hfl'rf\ (-'en enian who greeted her with a profesSi B"1 • "I must consult mv jumor P r» he •aid, When she had stumbled thrcwg fe -e explana- tion. "This ia avery ^Vou8 D<\Jou know that you are g111^ Sery> Miss Mainwaring ?" i „ « The junior partner was a handsome, well set-up "fle^ toof did not seem inclined to treat the TtJS^u have behaved h« said. "You do no' th^ > m*tter should be hushed up. I have our r^a book. It was to hare been re ay. It is a nice little story, bat doe;5 u')t iunch literary merit. ILnvtvor, I darÐsay It could be touched up. Who did you say "u n or is My aunt, Miss Lobelia Mamwarmg, said Ellis, faintlv. i The iunior oarim-r ut^rt-u ua carnation. "Miss Lobelia Mainwaring I Do you know if she ever lived at Banbury ? "Yes, that was hlr home bUore godmother died," said Ellis, surprised. 'W. "Ah, I knew liur » Will you tell her that I will upon her this evening to-to talk about the book t Some things end better than they. be<nn. It was So in this case. The paruier proved to be an old lover of Miss Loje1,a -L'iey ha<] bees separated by a foolish q";1 r"\ lost sight of each other. He had married, but his wife was dead. So now—well, he verJ lonely, and Miss Lobelia had loved always. Ellis made a full confession of her stupid practical joke, and Miss Lobelia-it was just like her—forgave her readily, "It was only a bit of filn, dear," she said, "and It has really been the means of making me verj bappy." In time Miss Lobelia s doojs was published. 5"he junior partner suggeS'e^ cerlain improvement* and alterations, so they practically re-wrote it together, It enjoyed a modest circulation, and Miss Lohelia wa? '—J, Miss Lobelia and were married OB thi day. [TIll to,3

AUSTRIAN FORT SILENCED. MORE SUCCESSES ON THE ISONZO FRONT. The following official communique was issued in Rome on Saturday: During the night of June 17th and the follow- ing day the enemy attacked our advanced positions, supported by artillery fire, on the Tirolo-Trentino front and in Cadore, and was reputed. In Carnia artillery Are for the demolition of Fort MaTborghetto was continued. The fort attempted to reply, but was reduced to silence. Further details concerning the action in the Monte Nero zone confirm the statement that the operations effected by our mountain troops were worthy of admiration. On the Isonzo front the fighting near Plava u resulting in more important successes. A floating battery of the Royal Navy fired with success upon concealed artillery near Duino (twelve miles from Trieste). During the night of June 17th our dirigibles bombarded positions at Monte Santo and trenches near Gradisca, partially destroying the railway station at Ovcia Draga. and the railway from Goerz to Dornberg. All re- turned safely.

A CHECK BY RUSSIA. AUSTRO-OERMAN FORCE REPULSED. Petrogirad announced' on Friday night that the Germ an-Austrian advance over the fron- tier between the Dniester and' the Pruth had been: thrown back. The Austrian communique, whilst claiming many successes elsewhere, refers to the situa- tion in this region as unchanged.

FOUR-MILE CLOUD OF POISON-GAS. The Russian communique from Head- quarters says: In the region of Mouravieva and Shavli and on the Dubissa fighting on the 17t)h inst. pro- duced little change of any importance. An nrtiUpry duel occur red on the evening of the' same day on the Bzurn-Rnvka, front from Kozlov-Biscoupi to Volia-Chidlovskaia. Near Coalmine the enemy spread a. cloud of asphyxia ting gas along a front of four miles. On the. right of the San, oar troops with- drew, fighting across the River Tenav and the line of the Gorodek Lakes. BoLveeii, the A I.UIUA tne >11.iv ->t-e.! Llit enemy who crossed' the frontier lately have been thrown back into Austrian territory.