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

DRESSMAKING AT HOME. By SYLVIA. A Remnant or Renovation .Suggestion. 1 The. sight of so many remnants at the various bra-gain counters of the big d.rapery establishments during the recent sales, and the thought that many of you may have picked up some odd lengths cheap which you are not quite sure how to utilise, has induced me to give a suggestion this week in No. 1,981 which may help you either to make up a new or renovate an elderly blouse. This model, as you see, consists of a bolero- like top scalloped at the lower edge, and apparently worn over a loose undar-blouse. Now, though these two portions form one blouse, there is no reason why th-ey should Pattern No. 1,961. The Blouse sketched is an excellent Model for the Utilisation of Remnants, or for Renovating a somewhat worn Blouse. Quantities of Material needed two yards of double, or three yards ot 32in. width Goods. not be made of two materials, the lower one, let us say, of the same material as the skirt, whilst the upper part coold be of soft silk, satin, brocade, or velvet to match this. Again, the under part could be of cotton or silk voile or ninon—plain or fancy—when the sleeves would correspond, and the bolero por- tion could be carried out in the materials mentioned. Lace, too, oould be utilised for the blouse and sleeves, veiled with plain or Coloured net or ninon. To Cut Out. The pattern consists of half of front and back of bolero, also half of under-part, which is cut in one, half of collar, al&o sleeve and cuff. Place the centre front of bolero to the selv- edges, and centre back to the fold of the satin or silk, the centre front of blouse to the aelvedges, the sleeves on the straight, and the Guffs and collar as may be most economically arranged. Having marked round the outline very care- fofly, also the scallops, finish off the latter by a piping, or by neatly turning in the edges and stitching them round by machine, being very careful not to stretch them. For this reason, unless you are quite an expert, it wiH be better to tarn them up over soft tissue paper, and to stiteb this in with it, as it wA tear away quite easily when done. The fronts are only scalloped half way down, the re- mainder being turned in and neatened, fastened with small hooks and eyes, the edges just meeting, the drop orochet buttons be merely added as a finish. Having done and pffoood the join the uader-arm seams, gather the saoolder- parts, and draw up to fit the foundation fronts, which should have had the centre edges turned in, stitched, and finished off with the necessary fastenings; join at centre back, then arrange and tads bolero in place an this, tack a.nd stiteh at shoulder, open, neaten, and press seams. Note.—If it be rather thick, it will be best to join up bolero and foundation shoulder seams separately, and seewe together afterwards. Now make the cottar, which may require stiffening at the points with very fine wire, arrange and secure to neck, and finish off. Make the sleeves, also the cuffs, which are scalloped at the upper edge to correspond with the bolero; arrange and sew into the armhole, and finish off neatly. The waist-part should now be secured into a fairly wide band, and finished off with hook- and- eye fasteners. Comforts for "Tommy Atkins." Not long since, when making inquiries at a d-epdt for soldiers' and sailors' comforts, I was informed that there was a great demand for vests and "ahofts" such as those re- quired for footballing, not only for this pur- pose, but for wear as pants, as they were easily changed and washed. Pattern No. 1,96a. These two Patieins are of use either for the Home Worker or for Comforts for the Men at the t'ro-ni. Quantity of 36m. Flannel ior Vest 2 yards, for the "Shorts" I-2 yard. Here, then, in No. 1.962, you have a pattern of these two garments, such as those of you who are working for" Jack" and "Tommy," whether belonging to your own fajpily or not, or for the man who stays at home, will be glad to see. The vest is a. very simple affair to make up, and can be pro- vided with sleeves if wished, as the pattern will be included if asked for when ordering.

Materials and Mailing. For these under-garments, flannel, of course, is the only material to be used, and of this there are many varieties to select from, be- ginning with the grey L'.Eion make; the white, however, is more likely to be selected. For the shorts," football material or warny soft cloth can be used. To make the vest, join the shoulder and uuder-arin seams by means of running and herring-boning, using fine cotton for the latter, and being careful to keep the seams as narrow and a- flat ae possible. Turn in and neaten the front and lower edges, also those of neck and a.rmhole-if sleeveless—with narrow tape, which stitch at the edge, taking Care, however, not to draw the tension too tight. Make the buttonholes, and sew on the buttons. ,z For the shorhs, join the seams and finish off in the same wny, if flannel be used if not, a flat stitched fell may be employed. Finish off the fronts in the u ~?al way, turn in the waist- edge, and neaten with tape, binding, or a strip of material, run a tape through, hem lower edges, and fasten off.

HOW TO OBTAIN THE PATTERN. Our paper patterns are specially cut for us from designs expressly prepared for this column, and the cost of each complete pattern Is Bid. post free. Address all letters, enclosing stamps for patterns, to Sylvia," Whitefriars House, O.rmelite- street, London, E.C. P><- sure and mention the number of the pattern required when ordering. Patterns will be despatched within three days of the application being received.

AGRICULTURAL NOTES. BY A PRACTICAL FARMER. ? COSTLY MISTAKES. Mistakes are easily made, however much care is taken to prevent them, and in these times of extraordinary labour difficulties, firms with the best intentions of giving cus- tomers full value for their money may be ex- cused for discrepancies and errors. But that should only make the buyer all the more care- ful to see that his purchases are what they are represented to be. In buying artificial fertilisers, particularly those sold as compound manures, farmers cannot be too much on their guard. But the only way of making absolutely certain that the manure is what it is described as being is by having it analysed. This is easily done, and at a trifling cost. How much money it may save is well shown in a case reported the other day by Dr. Voelcker. A Herefordshire farmer sent for analysis in October, 1915, a sample of "oat fertiliser," twenty tons of which he had purchased at £ 7 7s. 6d. per ton, carriage paid. On analy- sing it Dr. Voelcker found that while the phosphates were in excess of the guarantee the nitrogen was very much less. The ven- dors, on being informed of the great discre- pancy, explained that this was the result of bad mixing, and expressed their willingness to meet the purchaser fairly. The master of difference in value being left to the analyst, he assessed the allowance due at 30s. per ton, and the vendors made this in full, sending the purchaser a cheque for £30 in settlement, expressing their great regret at the mistake made. This was a very satisfactory ending to the transaction, but the fact remains that the farmer in question would not have recovered his £ 30 if the analyst had not revealed the mistake, while the resulting crops would have been disappointing on account of the short- age of nitrates. As it is, the farmer has ample time still to apply the latter. Looking through the report of the consult- ing chemist to the Highland and Agricultural Society, I find similar instances occur of the need of having samples analysed in-order to. detect mistakes. A sample bag of basic slag, guaranteed to contain 37 per cent. citric-soluble phosphate, contained only 27'92 per cent. A mistake on the part of the vendoin was ad- mitted, and they prc-A,nisA to make a proper reduction. Another wampte of slag dust, guaranteed 22 per oent. phosphate, was found to contain 18'23 per cent. A sample of nitro- lim, guaranteed 18 per oesot. nitrogen, tested only 14'72 per cent. A QUICK-GROWING FODDER CROP. Sorghum 13 being recommended as a fodder crop worfo the notice of British farmers. In America it is well known and extensively grown. Experiments in Esoex last year showed that it should not be sown till danger of damage by frost is past, and that in a suit- able season an excellent supply of succulent green fodder may be obtained by the end ot July, but the maximum yield is not reached till about the middle of August. The crop is usually cut green and fed in the same way as maize." It. is specially valuable for feeding to dairy cows in late summer when the pastures begin to fail. If the whole crop is not used for feeding green, the surplus may be made into hay if the weather is favourable, or be converted into silage. Although not quite 80 productive as maize, sorghum is described in a Board of Agricul- ture leaflet as possessing at least two advan- tages over that crop: it is ready for cutting a week or two earlier, and the cost of the seed is less. Where sorghum and maize will grow well, they will probably yield, at much leee I. oost and in a shorter time, at least as much dry matter per acre as an average root crop, grown under the same conditions. An addi- tional advantage is that the shade they give has the effect of keeping down weeds. Although, so fax as is known, no harmful effects have followed the feeding of sorghum in this country, it is well to indicate that is other countries, both tropical and temperate, green sorghum has been known to produce in- jurious and even fatal results. In America it is considered dangerous to feed second- growth sorghum, but the first cut is generally regarded as quite safe. In view of this element of risk, sorghum should be fed in moderation as cut fodder and not grazed, reaping only at or immediately after the flowering stage. It should be used along with dry feed of some kind. SULPHATE OF AMMONIA. As a. result of very strong representations by the Royal Agricultural Society and other bodies, the Government has, at lest decided to stop the export of sulphia-te of ammonia. Before this decision waa made, the export to Holland, of certain quantities of sulphate of ammonia had been allowed in view of repre- sentations made by the Dutcii Government in regard to th.3 shortage of fertilisers, more especially nitrate of soda. The Dutch Govern- ment undertook to distribute tbe quanlitiss imported direct to farmers through the medium of an official committee, ond1 in other ways to ensure that no re-export to enemy countries, took place. It has been pointed out that the exports since the outbreak of the war have been less than usual, and the Board of Agriculture argues that there is no ground for supposing that such increase in price as .has taken place is attributable to the relatively unimportant quantities whipped to Holland. Nevertheless, the export has been -topped, and in the statement n.r.pouncing this fact I Lord Selborrae "confidently hopes, that far- mers this 3-ear will greatly increase iheir de- mands for fertilisers of all description's so ae to stimulate so far as practicable the produc- tion from the land and thus reduce the impor- tation of foodstuffs. This stimulus is; the more necessary to counterbalance in some degree the hindrances' to production arising from shortage of labour and other causes. Lord Selborno therefore appeals to farmers gene- rally to justify his belief in their enterprise and patriotism by availing themselves of the opportunity now provided to secure plentiful supplies of fertilisers. Farmers are especially urged to .place their orders for sulphate of ammonia at ooiee so as to enable the expected' increased demand to be met without undue delay or c^Rcvlty. THE BEET SUGAR FACTORY. Although this is the eighteenth mo-nth of the war, we have sYI1 only one beet sugar factory in the British Isles. There has been time, at any rate, to erect a dozen; hut the unrivalled opportunity, as many regj,rdedi it, has been allowed to slip away, and it looks as if we are still to be dependent on foreign supplies for the enormous quantity of sugar we consume. At a recent meeting of the-* company which owns the beet-sugar factory at Cantley, Nor- folk, the chairman made some statements of considerable interest to those who have been watching the progress of the movement in recent wars. He said: It has now been amply demonstrated that the success of the Cantley factory, or any other factory. which may be erceted in th\$country, mainly de- pends upon the willingness- of the farmer to grow a sufficient qll:1nt;ty of beet. During the year just closed, we have had for the first time something like an adequate quantity of beet actually grown by the far- mers themselves. Deliveries amounted in all to about 20,000 tons, or, roughly, about one- third of the maximum quantity which could be dealt with at the Cantley factory with its present equipment. The weight of A.he beets on the whole was good, and the per*nt-age of sugar contents e-xeelJ-enr, This is distinctly encouraging, particularly having regard to difficulties arising irom shortage of labour. We have aold our sugar production at a very fair price, and I think it 1:.n" g.?ne-r- ally admitted that the great bulk of farmers who have grown beer, for us this season have 0 done uncommonly well. On our sliding scale of prices they have received 30s. 8d. per toP f.o.b. for washed roots. As for the current year, we hope to be able to secure satisfactory supplies in spite of the shortage of labour, and in sp:te of the high price which, can he obtained, for cereals and other crops. What we want is that a large number of farmers should each put a small a-rea of land under beet cultivation. In times of scarcity of labour it is definitely better for each grower td apply himself diligently to a small area, which he can keep in proper con- dition, rather than attempt cultivation on a large scale and run the riA of faihire through Irani of suitable care and attention.

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CASH ADVANCED PRIVATELY, -4 From £ 10 to CS,000. To Tradesmen, Professional Gentlemen, Farmers and Re pee'nb'e Householders. WITHOUT sE"pnTV or FURETIE, A WRITTEN PPOMJSE TO REPAY IS ALL WE REQUIRE. No FKEH or FINES. STRI( TEST PRIVA(' GUARANTEED. REPAYMENTS to suit thi convenience of BORROWERS, TERMS mutually agreed upon before Business completed, DIS AN jE NO OBJECT. LOANS from 5 per cent, can be arranged for persons entitled to money, investments, or property tinder WILLS or SETTLEMENTS. Such advances may remain unpaid for any number of years. CHAKLiiS STEVENS LTD., Tel. No. 165 Hayes Buildings, Cardifl, I ft Robert Williams & Sons, LTD. ~~r r~ SOLE AGENTS FOR Blackstone's Celebrated Oil Engines. Chaff Cutters. Root Cutters. Grinding Mills. Meal Sifters. í Ploughs. Harrows. Corn Drills. Manure Distributors. IN GREAT VARIETY. Sheep Racks. Cattle Cribs. Farm Carts. Harvest Wagons. Good Quality Large and Cobble HOUSE COALS Delivered In Truck Loads to all Stations between Hereford and Brecon Inclusive from 24s. 6d. per ton. FIREWOOD, 20s. per ton. 'I S ADDRESS Iron mongery } Furniture and Implements ) Coal Depot and Building Mater English & Foreign1 Timber Works (General) ¡ High Town, HAY. Lion Street, HAY. ¡ Station Yard, HAY. S a M I Is., HAY