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ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.

SUITABLE FOOD FOR STORE PIGS.

THE WOOL MARKET.

ALSYKE.

SUCCESS IN PIG-KEEPING.

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IN THE GARDEN.

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1A TEST FOR MILK.

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AMONG THE CHICKS.

FOWLS AT LIBERTY.

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MORE EGGS WANTED.

. AMUSING ANECDOTES.

THE COAL-MINING INDUSTRY AND…

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.I THE EXCAVATIONS AT " CAERSWS.

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I THE EXCAVATIONS AT CAERSWS. BY PROFESSOR R. C. BOSANQUET. Some weeks ago passengers on the Cam- brian Railway have had their curiosity aroused by strange unagricultural diggings in the rich pasture fields adjoining Caersws station, a mile beyond Moat Lane junction, on the line to Machynlleth and Aberystwyth. Few of them knew that the railway station stands on the angle of a Roman fort, or that the name of Moat Lane points to one of the best-preserved mediaeval earthworks in the kingdom. The Moat and the Caer are there for the same reason, because the fertile plain of Caersws, a meeting-place of many valleys and roads, is one of the strategic centres of Mid-Wales. The object of the excavations is to ascertain when the Ro- mans' first planted a garrison here and how long they maintained it, and in general to collect data for reconstructing the early history of Wales. They are being carried out by the Powysland Club, that fine old county archaeological society which has its headquarters at Welshpool, and by the Liverpool Committee for Excavations in Wales, formed a year and a half ago to co- oprate with local societies in work of the kind. It is too early to draw historical con- clusions from the work that has been be- gun the following summary is provis- 9 ional, and liable to modification by future discoveries. Built on gently-rising ground beside the Severn, the fort enclosed within its huge clay ramparts about eight acres-one and a half time the area of Roman Manchester and more than twice that of Melandre. The dimensions cannot be exactly given, since on two sides the outer face has not yet been found, but will probably prove to be about 660ft. by 600ft. As at Melandra, the clay rampart had a revetment of stone, and the question arises whether this formed part of the original fortification or was a later embellishment. The stone used was old red sandstone, which is not found locally, and was probably brought from a quarry near Welshpool, twenty miles away. Na- turally, the fort was used as a quarry by later builders it must have furished the quoins and arch-stones for several neigh- bouring churches. Only the scantiest traces of the facing 'remain in position outside the rampart, although the packing of red sand- stone chipping behind it is well preserved. The rampart does not show the character- istic streaked marking of a turf-wall, and consists of almost unmixed clay founded on a pitching of river cobbles. Only one angle has been examined there was no sign a stone tower, but two post-holes" were found passing right through the clay bank into the subsoil, besides doubtful traces of a horizontal sleeper," and these are thought to be part of the framing of a wooden angle-tower. Of the gates, those on north and south seem to have been obliterated by later roadways that on the west has been located, but not yet cleared that on the east will be accessible after hay harvest.. The roads within the fort, formed of river gravel, are easily traced. One, doubtless the via principalis, runs through from west to east, and north of it is a range of stone buildings, three of which are shown on the plan in its normal position at the centre of the fort is the Prtetorium, a. block masur- mg 100 Roman feet from back to front, which affords an opportunity for ingenious in-and-out digging, since it extends under the farmhouse and its gardens and out- buildings. The tenant of Pendre Farm, as well as the present owner, Mr David Davies, M.P., Llandinam, and the future owners, the Montgomery County Council, have given the excavators every facility. The back wall of the Preetorium has been traced across the farmyard, and within a few yards cf the back door a deep cellar or Availed pit has been opened out—undoubt- edly the strong room under the floor of the Sanctuary of the Standards." A few years ago a similar chamber was discovered by Professor Garsthng at Brough in Derby- shire, and there are several examples in Northumberland. Large sums were deposi- ted by Roman soldiers in a saving bank, of which the standard-bearer of each corps was the treasurer there could be no safer place than a vault under the regimental chapel, which was always situated in the inner court of the headquarters building. Three moulded fragments may be parts of altars set up here in honour of the stand- ards and of the Emperor. The cellar also yielded a fine series of box-shaped flue-tiles and of stone roofing slates. The other buildings are a typical storehouse and granary with external buttresses, like one which was recently explored by the Man- chester Classical Association at Ribchester and a block with a frontage of 55 feet which lies west of the Preetorium. The lat- ter promises to be rich in minor finds the handle of a bronze strainer, of a type'that occurs at Pompeii, and pieces of delicate pillar-moulded glass have been found in it. The Samian pottery found here and elsewhere in the fort includes several first- century pieces, but it would be premature at this stage to discuss the date of the occupation. The work is being superin- tended by Professor R. C. Bosanquet, Mr J.. Eyre Evans, and Dr E. R. Rees, with help from Liverpool and Aberystwyth students.

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BUTCHERS' HIDE, SKIN AND WOOL

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SUCCESS IN PIG-KEEPING.