The Abergavenny Mail

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. The Lawn Tennis Association has arranged that, in the event of England defeating Bel- glum in the Davis International Cup at Folke- stone on July 7th, 8th, and 9th, the team will meet France at Wimbledon on July 11th, 13th, and 14th. Should England be again success- ful, the British team will leave for America two days later to take part in the finals at New York on August 6th, 7th, and 8th, when either Australia or Canada will be met. Harry Vardon, one of the members of the famous "triumvirate" of golfers, won the open golf championship on the Prestwick links on Friday for the sixth time, thus establishing a record that is likely to stand for a long time. He was followed home by his great rival J. H. Tavlor, who has won the cham- pionship five times; but the other member of the "triumvirate," J. Braid, also a five times winner, played disappointingly, and was some way behind. Mr. J. L. C. Jenkins, the amateur champion, finished first of the amateurs. The four great professionals, Vardon, J. H. Taylor, Braid, and Duncan, visited Turn- bertv on Saturday and took part in two in- terna ;onal matches, Vardon and Taylor re- presenting England and Braid and Duncan Scotland. The English pair were beaten in a four-ball match in the morning by 4 holes up and 2 to play, and a foursome after luncheon was halved after a grent struggle. Before a crcwd of about 10,000 people the Polytechnic sports took place at Stamford Bridge in very hot weather on Saturday. The competitors included nearly all the present- day crack English athletics, and the perform- ances accomplished were correspondingly brilliant. W. R. Applegarth, our champion sprinter, twice ran 200 metres in 21 3-5scc., equalling the Olympic record held by A. Hahn, made at St. Louis in 1904. Another record in which Applegarth took part W,;8 made by the Polytechnic Harriers, who raced against a Rest of England team of famous sprinters, and won the mile relay race (com- posed of eight separate furlongs) by 20 yards in 2min. 55 3-5sec. The promoting club were also successful in retaining the Lord Kinnaird trophy for the aggregate points gained in a series of events, their runners-up being the Surrey Athletic Club, who were a good second. The Marathon race for the Sporting Life. trophy over the road between Windsor and London was started from -the Royal Park by the King, in the presence of the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. A very strong contingent of foreign long-distance runners took part in the event, including a picked team from Sweden, and two splendid runners from North Africa competing in French colours. One of these, Djebelia, wrested the lead from Studholme, of Small Heath, after going nearly twenty miles, and, keeping in front, he reached Stamford Bridge in 2hr. 46min. 50sec., beating West- burg, of Sweden, for first place by nearly 5min., the latter's time being 2hr. 51min. 19sec. Another Swede, Griiner, ran third. Studholme, the first Englishman to arrive, was fourth, Townsend (England) fifth, and Moulond, the other French-African, sixth. The entries for Henley Royal Regatta, which will be held on Wednesday, July 1st, and the three following days, closed on Friday. There is a very full list, although the total of 73 is four short of the "record" of 77 in 1909 and 1913 In the Grand Challenge Cup event Thames Rowing Club have entered, and, in spite of rumours to the contrary, will put on a crew for the chief event. With four Colo- nial and foreign crews engaged the racing will be particularly interesting. The entries from the Oxford colleges are the smallest for many years, being limited to two eights (University, the head of the river boat, a/id Christ Church) for the Ladies' Plate And two fours (Brasenose and Mag- dalen) for the Visitors' and Wyfold Cups. There are twenty-one entries of crews and scullers from Cambridge. Five schools com- pete for the Ladies' Plate, and the Thames Cup is again a very popular event. The entries for the four-oar events are below the average. Only two English crews compete in the Stewards' Cup, and the entry list for the Visitors' Cup is a very poor one. The entries for the Wyfold Cup include a pro- vincial four from the Union Boat Club, of Nottingham. The total of sixteen competitors for the Diamond Sculls has only once been exceeded, but there may be one or two with- drawals before the draw is made on Saturday afternoon. There was some exciting racing at the Royal Mersey Yacht Club's regatta at Holyhead on Saturday. The fixture was favoured with a aplendid sailing breeze from the southward, and this gave the boats a broad reach, a close naul, and a beat to windward. This just suited Hispania and Bloodhound, which scored popular victories. That of the first named was in the match for the cup presented to the club by the King. This is the second Royal trophy won by Mr. J. R. Payne, Hispania's popular owner, the first being" at the Royal Cork Regatta a few vears ago, when he won with the 15-metre Vanity. The King's cutter Britannia was again a winner in the big handicap class, though only by the bare margin of half a secoxid, from Wendur, her only opponent. Soplius Nielsen, of the Frem Football Club (Denmark), who played inside left in the team that recently won the amateur inter- im «ttn>fial match with England, has been ap- proached by two or three English clubs to P-n professional forms, and he will be seen ill the Liverpool or Crystal Palace team next season if terms can be arranged, says the Sporting Life Sophiis Hansen, the Danish goalkeeper, who will be following his profes- sion -it. during the 1914-5 football sea- son. win play for the famous Queen's Park Club (Glasgow). The results of the deliberations of the In- ternationa] Board have been announced b v the Football Association. The alteration to ten instead of six yards for an opponent's distance from the ball in the case of any free kick became law, and striking was added to the list of malprnctices that constitute foul play; also that the referee's decision on points of fact shall he final so far as the re- sult of the game is concerned. It was de- cided that an injured player sha]] be at on?c removed outside the nearest goal or touch- line, and the game resumed, and that after such suspension of play the ball shall be dropped, not thrown down. Willie Ritchie, who meets Fred Walsh for I the light-weight championship of the world at Olympia on July 7th, .will probably do his work for the contest at the same training quarters as Wells is occupying at Briglitoll, Ritchie has expressed himself as delighted with his probable training camp. Bombardier Wells, who meets Colin Bell for the heavy-weight championship of the British Empire at Olympia on June 30th, states that he has set his mind on defeating three men before he puts the gloves "aside. The ambition of his life is to challenge the winner of the Gunboat Smith-Carpentier con- test, and afterwards, if successful, to take part in the contest for the heavy-weight cham- pionship of the world. I was in anything but my best form on the two occasions on which I met Carpentier," he stated, on Satur- day, and I was suffering from dysentery when I met Gunboat Smith in America. To- day, however, I am better than ever I was in my life." The London championship lawn tennis meeting concluded at Queen's Club, Kensing- ton, on Saturday, without any surprises. F. G. Lowe and Mrs. Larcombe retained their titles in the ladies' and gentlemen's championships respectively without much jlifficulty. N. E. Brookes and A. F. Wilding Non the doubles, and in the mixed doubles A. W. Dunlop and Mrs. Larcombe had an aasy victory. «

TWO AVIATORS RILLED IN RUSSIA^ I Lieutenant Borislaweky, a pupil of the I St. Petersburg School of Aviation, and a passenger fell from a height of 200ft. while flying in a Farman biplane on Monday. Both were killed.

I REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE. The rainfall has been liberal and the heat seasonable. Crop prospects are generally im- proved. The thunderstorms have produced brid floods, but it is surprising how quickly the moisture has been absorbed. The grow- ing wheat and also the winter oats are of re- markably short and strong straw, so that little has been beaten down. The spring-sown cortt is coming on well at last, and both beans and peas should be good crops. The wheat gradient this week is between the Midlands and the far North. No very low averages are recorded Leicester, 35s. 7d. Berwick, 32s. 7d. range. 3s. The barley gradient is between the same two regions, but it is the Midlands, which show only inferior feeding to be on offer, and the North where somewhat better quality lingers: Berwick. 26s. 6d. Nottingham, 22s. t, 4d.; range, 4s. 2d. Oats are dearest in the Southern Midlands, cheapest in the West. but no very low prices are accepted anywhere: Banbury, 21s. 9d.; Worcester, 18s. fid. rarice. 3s. 3d. —Murh Lane Express, CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR IN MARK LANE. LONDON FLOUR. (Cash ex Town Mill.) Top Price per 2801b. 3116 Town Whites. I 30 8 Town Households 26/0 Hungarian Process. 34 0 Best American London Grottiid 29 "If London Standard, 80 per cent. II 28/0 COUNTRY FLOUR. Cash at London Terminus.) Best Price per 2801b. 27/0 Good Patents 25/0 Straights „ 24/6 Roller Whites „ 24^0 Stone-Made 24/0 BRITISH GRAIN (OFF STANDS) s. a. Wheat, White per 50-1 lb. 37 to 39 Red .37 to 38 Rivetts 34 to 3f) Poultry per •»8<>!t>. 33 to 34 Tailings per 448tb. 3] to' 32 Barley, Malting per 4481b. 28 to 30 Poultry 27 to 28 Feeding per 400Th. 22 to 24 Malt, English, Beat per 331itb. 43 to 44 ft Fine „ 40 to 41 II Ordinary 38 to 39 Scotch, Fine „ 41 to 42 Ordinary „ 38 to 311 Brown 31 to 35 Black. 34 to 35 Crystallised „ 35 -o 39 Oats, Fine Scotch „ 2G io 27 ]:1\ 23 to 24 Good Gartons, Old 22 to 25 New. 20 to 21 Tartary, Old „ 21 to 22 New 20 to 21 Winter, Old Black. „ 23 to 24 New 21 to 23 Old Grey „ 22 to 23 New „ oi to 22 Common, New per 31211>. 211 to 21 Inferior. New p..r 304ih. 19 to 20 Beans, Pigeon, 1!)12 per 5321b. 51 to 53 ]913. „ 43 to 45 Winter, 37 to 38 ,t ]9]3. 35 to 36 Spring, ]!H2 37 to 41 „ 1913. 35 to 36 Peas, Marrowfats, Fine per 5041b. 81 to 85 Sound 71 to 75 Common. 41 to 45 Partridge,Fine „ 41 to 42 Common. 39 to 40 Maple, 1913 39 to 41 Dun 1913 34 to 36 Rye, Essex per 4801b. 27 to 28 Tares, Best Spring, 1911 per 5321b. 57 to 59 Good 1912 „ 49 to 53 Fine, 1913 43 to 45 Common, 1913 II 35 to 39 Winter, 1912 II 49 to 50 Fine, 1913 43 to 45 Common, 1913 „ 35 to 39 Gores, ]911. „ 99 to 111 1912 i II 83 to 91 „ 1913, Beat „ 59 to 67 „ Common 1913, 43 to 45 Buckwheat, Heavy. per 4161b. 34 to 35 Common per 40olb. 32 to 33 Linseed, Lincolnshire per 424lb. 52 to 54 Rapeseed, Best. per 4161b. 74 to 75 Common 68 to 70 Mwterdaned, Brown per 4481b. 98 to 110 White. 90 to 98 Common 76 to 80 Canary seed, Essex per 4f»4!t>.95 to 100 Teazleseed, Somerset. per 1121b. 17 to 18 Sunflower8eed, Suattex per 1121b. 15 to II -Mark Lane. Express.

"Aa txceUtnt Fo?d. admirably ad&Pted to the _at. of lafaata":— Sir Ch«a A.C»p*rw.C.K..M.P. Øea:£'Od Useful Bo*klet"Hinta about Baby"freo. Sample fer td. portage. Meatioa this paper. JMIAB 8. WEAVE & CO.. FordiBgfcrtdge (2l  ,o eo "You can taste the Cream."

I WORK AND WORKERS. Lord Lilford having declined to meet repre- sentatives of the National Agricultural Lab- ourers' Union in reference to the dispute which has been in progress for some iim-e his Northants estate, the union lias {.elided that the employees affected should be called out. About 150 men will, it was svutecl, join in the strike. At a demonstration of Lancashire farm lab- ourers, held under the auspices of the National Labourers' Union, at Down Hol- land, near Ormskirk, to celebrate the anni- versary of last year's strike, Mr. Tom Muck- lay, national organiser of the union, said he hoped at the end of the year to ha\e a mem- bership 30,000 strong, and next year they would make the cry of the agricultural lab- ourer ring from one end of the country to the other. They wanted higher wages, shorter ,atur d a y and hours, a one o'clock svop on Saturday, and the abolition of that damnahle tied cottage system, which turned the labourer out when he dared to havf an opinion other than employers. Speaking al Barry on Sunday, Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., referring to the railwaymen's national programme, said it would deal with two great questions—hours of labour and rates of wages. Past programmes had suffered be- cause of the amount of detail which had been included, and by the consideration of trifling matters they had lost sight of the greater and more important demands. In the negotiations up to the present time the men's representa- tives had been met in a free and courteous manner. There was itll absolutely free ex- change of opinions, unrestricted by formalities or the semblance of red tapeism, and when they met in that spirit it was always a good omen. In regard to Conciliation Boards, they were suing for the abolition of the so-called independent Chairman, who was invariably secured, from anywhere but from the labour side. Mr. Bellamy, president of the National Union of Railwaymen, speaking at Neath on Sunday, said momentous decisions were ar- rived at by the Swansea Conference. A 5s. increase would not wipe out every injustice, but they regarded it as a first instalment. He looked to the new alliance to prevent spas- modic strikes, which had done so much injury in the past. He was confident the federation of railwaymen, miners, and transport workers would make for greater peace. The non- unionist should be no longer tolerated. Nationalisation must not be purchased at the cost of civil rights. The National Union of Railwaymen has decided to make a grant of tl,ODO for the locked-out building workers. Other societies are also giving considerable financial assist- ance, but the plight of the wives and children of the labourers is stated to be pitiful. The National Conciliation Board for the Building Trades decided on Saturday to re- commend the appointment of an arbitrator in the London building dispute. They suggested a Board of Trade official or some nominee to be agreed upon by both parties. This de- cision was arrived at, it is said, after hearing the latest proposals of the men for settlement. Their representatives asked that the no vic- timisation clause should not apply to non- union men employed by the London Master Builders' Association during the twenty-two weeks of the lock-out. They were also set on, the wiping out of the "obnoxious disability" clause. These points the master builders have resolutely refused. The men have become so embittered against the non-union men as a result of the long-drawn-out struggle that they are pre- pared to break any agreement rather than work with men w hom tney consider traitors," declared an official. Returns of the men's ballot show that the terms of peace have been rejected by some 13,000 votes to 5,000. A complete deadlock is thus created, as this is the third rejection of amended terms." The men's leaders have decided to inform the employers that they have gone as far as they possibly can towards compromise. They will, therefore, invite the employers to make itirtlieroffers for submis- sion to the men. Reports from the provinces indicate that very few employers are prepared to support a lock-out throughout the country, and mere is no indication that they regard the-position in London as justifying such an extreme step. It is, therefore, expected that the London masters will try further negotiations. The men of the Metropolitan Electric Tramways have decided to demand all-round improvement of working conditions, and have formed a charter emuodying the following points needed to make lite worth living: Minimum wage of 6s. 6d. per day after six months' service. Working day of eight and a half hours; "spread over time not to exceed twelve hours. Double pay for Christmas Day. The demands have been put forward by the Amalgamated Association of Tramway and Vehicie Workers, and the men press ior an immediate reply. Tliey point oiu that their present rates oi pay are lar below those won by the 'busmen, and the hours are muen longer. The Flimby Colliery Company, owning the Watergate Tit, near Mary port, which em- ploys aoout ouU hands, have usKcct for a reduc- tion in wages equivalent to a.uoLtL lu per cent., and tHe output of another tub ihoiiu.ig about lOcwt.) per newer per uay. the farm state that otherwise they might have to eiose tHe colliery, owing to the lngli cost of production. The men have declined to agree to the reduc- tion, because of the long distance they have to "trail" the tubs, ana other difficulties. A meeting of representatives of various Labour organisations was held on Saturday at Durham to consider the desirability of form- ing a Labour Representation Committee lor the Mid-Durham division. Representatives were present from four miners' lodges, three biancnes of the Independent Labour Party one mechanics' lodge, and one branch of the Railwaymen's Union. It was agreed to form a committee for Mid-Durham, and a constitu- tion on the lines of the National Labour Party was drawn up. When the crew of the steamship Adams, of Newcastle, trading between Hull and Cron- stadt, received their wages at Hull on Satur- day the engineers were given the increases agreed upon. But when tiie crew were being signed ou, and it became known that the second mate was only ottered k9 instead oi £ 10, the men had a warm discussion, as a re- suit of which sailors, firemen, cooks, and stewards refused to sign on unless the second mate received the increase. The vessel was accordingly held up. At South Shields on Saturday the owners of the steamer Riverton conceded the advanced rate of wages to the engineers. A collier steamer was held up in the lyne on the question of wages, when the seamen adopted the policy of their union to boycott any vessel that reiused the advance to the engineers. The new scale was eventually agreed to by the owners, and this ended the trouble. In the case of the West Hartlepool steamer Fishpool the engineers were engaged at the old rate of wages, the seamen and fire- men taking no action. There were few ship- ping movements at Sutiderlaiid on Saturday, and no fresh developments occurred in con- nection with the strike. Messrs. Westoll are still fighting the union, and on Saturday re- ported they had that morning despatched the steamer William Middleton from West Hartlepool with a full complement of en- gineers at old rates. No development took place in the marine engineers' strike at New- calltle on Saturday.

 THOMPSONS' c? CLOTH. 50 in. wide. lold. per yard. Write for Patterns THOMPSONS' Ltd.. Tottenham Court Road. London. OUT OF THEIR OWN MOUTHS. [i i i i t ( n THE ROCK AHEAD. jj Mr.R.D.Holt,M.P.,President of theNorth- -Jir. v ern Liberal Federation, speaking at the an- i, nual meeting of the organization at New- castle, on June 13th, warjied his audience that the maintenance of Free Trade was impossible if the present heavy national xpenditure were continued, since he'did not think direct taxpayers could be induced to pay the heavy taxes necessary. He thought it his duty to speak frankly and I R&LsJRTy/vljj lw openly on this subject, because he believ ed this matter of national finances was 1 -one of the most dangerous rocks ahead I r k for the Liberal Party both in Par- Wjgm j { liament and in the Country. 2 BRITISH WORKING MAN :Tariff Reform dead P" Why, your own people are telling you that we can't get all the money we want for Social Reforms so long as we stick to Free Trade."

I CHIPS OF NEWS. Among the birthday honours are an Earl- dom for Lord Kitchener, Peerages for the Master of the Rolls, Sir Edgar Vincent, and Major-General J. F. Brocklehurst, and a K.G. for Earl Beauchamp. An Austrian army dirigible balloon ex- ploded on being struck by an aeroplane which was attempting to pass over it near Vienna. Nine lives were lost, and both machines were destroyed. Five revolver shots were fired in Paris at Baron Henri de Rothschild, who was wounded in the leg. An aged dairyman, who states that he has been ruined by the Roths- child cheap milk supply," was his assailant. The death is announced of Baroness Bertha von Suttner, the famous apostle of peace. Mr. Asquith received a deputation from the East London Federation of Suffragettes on Saturday, and promised that their arguments should have his careful and mature con- sideration." The Chancellor of the Exchequer spoke at a Liberal demonstration at Denmark Hill on Saturday, dealing with the Ulster question and the Budget. At the opening on Saturday of the Wembley Hill Garden Suburb Mr. Long, M.P., re- ferred to the difficulties of the black coat man of the lower middle classes on whom the burden was heavier than on the work- ing man. The Admiralty have decided to abandon the salvage of the stranded hospital ship Maine. The Mediator, now fitting out as an additional hospital ship, is to take her name. The air rac-e from London to Manchester and back was won by the American airman, W. L. Brock, who also won the air Derby earlier in the month. The King has appointed Mr. Frederick Temple Barrington Ward to be Recorder of HVthe, in place of Mr. Beaumont Morice, who resigned on hiA appointment as stipendiary magistrate at Bradford. John Thomas Black, an overseer of Anstey, Leicester, has been found drowned in a reservoi r. 1 The German Emperor visited a wireless station near Hanover, and exchanged wireless messages with President Wilson at Washing- ton, on Saturday. After striking the last chord of a piece he was playing at the piano, Dr. A. B. Plant, borough organist of Burton-ofi-Trent, fell dead as the result of a heart attack. Islands to the north of British New Guinea .sli New Gu i iiea have been devastated by a thunderstorm and an earthquake. Hundreds of houses collapsed, while a number of natives were drowned. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Douglas Graham, who lost their lives in the Empress of Ireland, were buried at Paddington Cemetery on Saturday. The aged widowed mother of Mr. Graham resides at Acton, where the family are well known. The Bishop of London dedicated the western addition and chancel of St. Augus- tine's Church. Ilighgate, on Saturday. In view of the declared intention of local Suffra- gettes, church members acted as special guards, but nothing occurred to mar the service. John Howard, of Nottingham, was drowned whilst bathing with three companions in a canal near Sheffield on Saturday. A Midland Railway engine-driver, Fred- erick Blakelock, of Sheffield, was cut to pieces by an express train while stepping off his engine. A horse attached to a heavily-laden cart bolted at Llandilo on Saturday. A number of people fled for safety to a stationer's shon at a corner, but the horse leaped into the shop door, bringing down a large window and injuring several persons. The death took place in Clonmel on Satur- day of one of the oldest Crimean veterans, Joseph Perridge, who served in the Burmah War. the Crimean War, and the Indian Mutiny, and retired after twenty-one years' service. He was at the storming of the Redan. While a Sunday-school was being de- molished in Hornby-street, Hevwood, twenty tons of bricks and mortar fell, burying a man named Peters, who was instantly killed. Another man had his ankle broken, and several other workmen had miraculous eseades.,

ACROSS THE TABLE. Society groups have been much interested writes a correspondent, in the nullity of Miss Torfrida Lethbridge's fun away Scotch mar- riage. The parties in the case, and those who are immediately associated with it, are all highly connected and well known among the "upper ten." The fair ward in Chancery's mother, Mrs. Yarde-Buller, was married in 1912 to Lord Churston's uncle, the Hon. Walter Yarde-Buller. Two years previously Mrs. Yarde-Buller had obtained a divorce from Sir Wroth Lethbridge. When she married Sir Wroth in 1892 6he was Miss Alianorc Pole, a granddaughter of the Earl of Harrington, and Miss Torfrida is a daughter of the union. The Hon. Walter Yarde-Buller had also been married before he joined his fortunes with Alianore Lady Leth- bridge, as she styled herself after her divorce.1 There has, therefore, been a good deal of marrying, remarrying, and unmarrying in these interesting families. Miss Torfrida's fatheV, Sir Wroth Leth- bridge, is a middle-aged ex Grenadier Guardsman, and very good-looking. He traces descent from a chief Baron of the Exchequer in tIe1 time of Queen Elizabeth. Miss Tor- frida's mother, Mrs. Yarde-Buller, has been a great traveller, with a taste for adventure in the wilds and placcs women do not usually penetrate. She has stalked elk in Norway, and motored many thousands of miles in vari- ous countries. She is one of the handsomest and best-dressed women in society. From town as well as country-house guests comes murmuring about "tips." It requires some moral courage to resist what are becom- ing the tyrannical claims of both men and maidservants. Hosts and hostesses are awakening to the fact that the tax must be put down. Nevertheless', says the Lady's Pic- torial, some strange stories are afloat of heavy prices that have to be paid, not only for week-end visits. but for; dinners in town. None of the diatribes against golf recently published in the Times can be said to equal Mr. H. M. Hyndman's description of that pastime as one which "combines boredom and complications in about equal measure; and for the development of human men- dacity, uncouth technicalities, and bad language transcends any diversion I have yet encountered in any part of this planet." The present Solicitor-General once gave a quaint definition of golf as he .plays' it. Pleading before Mr. Justice Scrutfon on a point of law with regard to land, his lordship interjected, "We must not forget that golf is not an agricultural pursuit." "Mine is," re- plied Sir Stanley Buekmaster. A pretty story is told of how Prince Oscar, the Kaiser's fifth sen, became engaged to the Countess Ina von Bassewitz, to whom he is to be morganatically married. The ec^mtess has a voice of wonderful purity. Two years ago, the Dciity Express says, at Schwerin, she became acquainted with the Kaiser's only dauglvr, who is now the Duchess of Bruns- wick, and sang to 1 er. They became close friends, and the Princess introduced the countess to her brother Orear, and was per- suaded to sing to him. Prince Oscar became infatuated with the countess, who then met other members of the,Imperial family, all of whom were in turn bewitched by her singing. When the Prince asked his father for permis- sion to marry the countess, the Kaiser, who did not know ber, opposed the match, but finally gave way to the eloquent support which was g iven to the F -ince by members of the Royal Familv who had met the countess and heard her sing. A' coincidence The young gentleman in the cafe was discussing his office colleagues, who, from his account, were not an attractive lot. One was "a regular cad," another "a swine," most of the remainder fools. After a long analysis of the present staff he became reminiscent, and ended with a sigh and this pronouncement: "By gad, what a lot of decent fellows have left since I've been there." Lady Heneage, who celebrated last week her golden wedding with Lord Heneage, is not the only one of Queen Alexandra's brides- maids of fifty-one years ago who will have a golden wedding this year, for Lord and Lady Thurlow will have a similar anniversary in October. Four more of Queen Alexandra's bridesmaids are still alive, namely, the Mar- chioness of Lothian .(sister of the Duke of Buccleuch), Emily Lady Ampthill (the widowed mother of Lord Ampthill), Lady Feo Bertie (the daughter of one noted British Am- bassador in Paris, the first Earl Cowley, and the wife of another, Sir Francis Bertie), and Lady Agneta Montagu (whose husband is the heir to the earldom of Sandwich). Only two are dead—Lady Diana Huddleston, who mar- ried the famous Judge, Baron Huddleston, and Lady Victoria Howard, the only one of the eight who never married. In the last Junior Scholarship examination of the London County Council the candidates were asked to explain the advantage it was I to children to be taught to sing. One youngster rather evaded the U"'J- epigramatieally answered that Singer's work I is like earning a penny for eating a piece of chocolate!

MARKETS. ) LONDON CORN, MONDAY. ENGLISH WHEAT.—There was a fair attendance, but trade was slow for home wheats, which are becoming rather nominal: White milling lots, 36s. to 38s. ditto reds, 36s. to 37s. 6d. per qr. FOREIGN WHEATS.—The market was not very brisk, and prices were often 3d. to 6d. down on the week: No. 1 Northerns, 37s. 3d. No. 2 ditto, 36s. 9d. ex ship; Russian, 33s. upwards; Australian, 38s. 9d. Indian, 37s. 6d. upwards landed. MAIZE.—The demand was moderate, and prices ruled somewhat below the recent best: Plate, 25s. 6d. upwards; Odessa, 26s. 3d. to be landed. OATS.—There was not much trade to test prices, which favoured buyers on the week: Plates, 16s. 3d. upwards landed; Bahia Blancas, 16s. 9d. Canadians, 19s. upwards; heavy Russians, 22s. upwards landed. BARLEY.—Grinding and feeding barleys met a slow sale, but prices are held steady by scarcity: South Russian, 23s. 9d. Canad'.m, 23s. 6d. landed. Malting lots were fi/inly held for late rates: Russian brewing quality, 26s. to 27s. 6d. Canadian brewing quahty, 25s. 9d. to 26s. 3d. Chilian, 30s. to 34s. per W lbs. BEANS AND PEAS.—There was a quiet trade, prices being unchanged. LONDON FLOUR, MONDAY.—The market has drooped a little on the week, and the in- quiry is slow Town-made Patents, 28s. fid. to 30s. 6d. ditto Country-made, 25s. to 27s. American Patents, 27s. 6d. to 29s. 6d.; ditto Bakers', 23s. 6d. to 26s. per sack. LONDON CATTLE. MONDAY. — Beast en- tries on to-day's market numbered 750, an in- crease of 30 compared with last Monday. Trade ruled slow. even for the best bullocks, but there was no quotable decline: Scotch, 5s. 2d. to 5s. 4d. Norfolks, 5s. 2d. exception- ally, 5s. 4d. Shorthorns, 4s. 8d. to 5s. Dub- lins, 4s. 9d. to 4s. lid. Fat slaughtering cows and bulls cleared very slowly The former fetched 3s. lOd. to 4s. 2d. and the latter 3s. 6d. to 3s. lOd. exceptionally, 4s. Five thousand and sixty shep\ were penned in the market, an increase of 630. Trade ruled dull, and the ten-  Down tegs, dency was in buyer's favour: Best Down tegs, 5s. 8d. to 6s.; best half breds. 3s. 2d. to 5s. 6d. best Down ewes. 3s. 8d. to 4s. Lambs, 6s. 6d. to 6s. lOd. per stone. No calves offered, Twenty milch cows arrived, and were quoted from £17 to k23 each. LONDON MEAT, MONDAY.—Trade quiet; supplies good: Beef, English. 4- to 4s. 4d.; American. 4.s. to 4s. 4d. Scotch, 4s. 4d. to 5s.; Argentine hindquarters. 3s. to 36. 8d. Mutton, English wethers, 4s. 8d. to 5s. 4d. ewes, 3s. 4d. to 3s. 8d. Scotch ewes. 3s. 4d. to 3s. 8d. tegs. 5s. to 5s. 8d. New Zealand, 2s. 6d. to 3s. Lamb. English, 5<s. 4d. to 65.; New Zealand, 3s. to 3s. 8d. Veal, 4-s. 4d. to 5s. 4d. Pork, 3s. 2d. to 3s. 8d. per stone. LONDON PROVISIONS, MONDAY.—Butter quiet: Danish, 114s. to 118s.; Normandy, 100s. to 116s.; New Zealand, 100s. to 116?; Irish, 100s. to 112s.; Australian, 96s. to 108s.; Russian. 96s. to 100s. per cwt. Cheese quiet: Canadian. 62s. to 70s. Dutch, 56s. to 64s. per cwt. Bacon steady: Irish, 60s. to 78s.; Conti- nental, 50s. to 72s. per cwt. Hams quiet: American, 70s. to 82s. per cwt. Eggs slow. LONDON POTATO. MONDAY. Trade steady for fair supplies. Quotations: Old Scotch, 90s. to 100s. Blacklands, 65s. to 75s. per ton Jerseys and Guernseys, 8s. 6d. np- wards St. Malos, 8s.; Cherbourgs, 7s. 6d. upwards per cwt. BRADFORD WOOL, MONDAY.—The mar- ket here is doing no more than marking time. Wool prices are altogether out of proportion to the prices which can be made for tops, the latter are firm at recent quotations, except in the lower sorts of cross-breds, which are a shade easier. In English wools there is stin no movement, users being very cautious, and those in yarn trade are still loud in their com- plaints.

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I AGRICULTURAL NOTES. I BY A PRACTICAL FARMER. I SMALL HOLDINGS. Up to the end of last year the Small Hold- ings Act had been the means of providing small holdings for 17,035 applicants in the six years since it came into operation, and it is of interest to learn that at the present time the unsatisfied demand from applicants who have been approved as suitable by County Councils is less than it has been at any time since the Act was passed. There has been much discussion as to whether these holdings would pay, and if the punctual payment of rents is any guide we may take it that the majority of them are being worked at a profit. Inquiries h:n? shown that, with a few exceptions, the rents charged for the small holdings have beea paid punctually. Many of the Councils have a very considerable area of land umler their management, and it is not unnatural that there should be some arrears, especially in view of the fact that it is customary with agricultural tenancies to allow one or two months' grace, and not re- quire payments on the actual dates when rents are due. Official information shows, in- deed, that the position as regards arrears of rent from the statutory -small holdings com- pares very favourably with the position on most large estates. Judging by the number of tenancies determined by notices to quit, which represents a proportion of less than 1 per cent., unsatisfactory tenants are very few indeed. I A NEW TILLING MACHINE. The introduction of machinery has effected such remarkable changes in agriculture in the past few years that we have good reason to suppose that further great developments are in store in the near future. Those who ha'e had an opportunity of seeing it in trials have been astonished by the work performed by a new soil tilling machine of Swiss invention. The machine, which is driven by a petrol motor, and weighs about two tons, has four rows of tines or teeth on a cylinder, which revolves at the rate of 150 revolutions per minute, and can cultivate to a depth of from 2in. to 12in. at a cost of 12s. to 18s. per ac-re. It is claimed to be equally able to deal with hard and soft land of all kinds, and trials which have been carried out on hard, stony land in Kent showed that it was reduced to a condition of fineness that could only have been otherwise obtained by spade work. As the tines follow the wheels the compressed earth is broken up and left loose, so that there is no possibility of anything like a plough pan. The machine works in widths of 3ft., 5ft., or 7ft., and is capable of dealing with from seven to fifteen acres in a day, while it can be made to draw a seed drill so that the land may be, if desirable, tilled and sown in a single operation. It is to be hoped that demonstrations of this machine will be arranged for in all parts of the country, so that it may be subjected to every variety of practical test, and if found to satisfy them may be brought into exten- sive use as quickly as possible. The demand for labour-saving devices was never keener, and when they can do better work than is done at present their employment needs no advocacy. I SELLING BY LIVE WEIGHT. I This is a question that has been discussed for a good many years past, without much being done to give it practical effect in more than a few districts; but farmers have not overlooked the remarkable way in which opinion divided itself when the Board of Agriculture for Scotland held a conference recently on the question of compulsorily weighing store cattle and fat cattle in markets and auction marts. Speaking gener- ally, farmers showed themselves to be in favour of the proposal, while auctioneers and salesmen were against it. Their chief reasons, of course, were those of practical difficulties, but some of them were indiscreet enough not to confine their arguments within these limits, and suggested that the use of the weighbridge reflects upon the sound judg- ment of those who have stock to sell. This seems to suggest that they are confident of having advantages over farmers, and think it best not to let them slip. The selling of cattle by weight has really everything to recommend it, and this applies nearly, if not quite, as much to stores as to fat stock. It is a more scientific way of arriving at a proper basis of value than any rule-of-thumb method. To be good at weight guessing or judging, whichever you call it, requires years of practice and experience, and even then mistakes are bound to arise, and we may be sure that dealers take good care to allow a sufficient margin to cover any they may make. It is only by the use of the weighbridge that accurate records can be kept of the progress of animals during fat- tening, and the extensive provision of weigh- bridges throughout the country would do much to encourage a stricter watch over the economics of feeding. < < A GREAT CHARITY. The report presented at the recent annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution showed that there are now on the books of the Institution 281 male pensioners, costing £ 6,242 208 married pensioners (104 couples), costing £ 4,095; 665 female pen- sioners, costing £ 12.994. At the meeting there were added 20 males, 18 married couples, and 60 females, at an increased annual charge of £ 2,440. These, vjith the pro- posed admission '-of the whole of the octo- genarian candidates at a further charge of L500 per annum, would increase the total liability of the Institution under the head. of annuitants to £ 26,271. This year again, therefore, half the number of applicants on the list would be relieved either by pensions or by grants. In order that the Council may be enabled to maintain this high standard, still greater efforts will have to be made to augment the income of the Institution, especi- ally in the direction of annual subscriptions. Many of those who have benefited by the good work „of this Institution have in their time been farmers in a big way, and it must be a compensation now to some to remember that in those days they were subscribers. CHESHIRE CHEESE POOR IN FAT. Hitherto the law has been very vague about the quality of cheese, and has permitted much to be sold which was undoubtedly inferior. This is robbing the long-suffering consumer, of course, but it is also robbing, or unfairly | competing with, the honest cheesemaker, who would not dream of extracting any of the cream from the milk before its conversion into a cheese intended to be soid as "full cream. t A contractor was recently summoned for supplying cheese which was not Cheshire sheese, as it was deficient in milk fat to the extent of 29 per cent. The prosecution alleged the cheese could not possibly be Cheshire cheese. The Board of Agriculture had not lize4 any standard for cheese, but preferred that each county should fix its standard to protect its producers. (It might have been added that the Board has recently decided that Cheshire cheese is Dvt honestly escribed if not made of whole milk.) Interesting evidence was given by Mr. Wil- l-ila lieurv Hohson Af Gnnalpv Furm. iiiacnt'iniitii, wno statea tnat lie had tor twenty-five years made Cheshire cheese, and had probably won more prizes than any man in the world for cheese. Cheshire cheese was cheese made from whole milk. Cheese con- taining only 17 per cent of butter fat (as alleged in this case) he v-tuld call half-meal cheese, or skimmed-muk cheese. He added that cheese made in Cheshire from Cheshire milk would not be Cheshire cheese if only 17 cent. of fat was contained. He agreed there could be various qualities of Cheshire cheese, but he did not think it could be Cheshire cheese if 17 per cent, cheese was made from whole milk. The Bench, in fining the defendant £1 and costs, .stated that from the evidence they were of the opinion that Cheshire cheese must be made from practically whole milk, and it could not be produced from practically whole milk with a leas percentage of fat than 24 per cent. This judgment will no doubt be followed in the case of other kinds of cheese.

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