County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

I GARDEN GOSSIP. I Maidenhair, Ferns.—These plants are such great favourites for the provision of fronds that they are almost sure to become somewhat shabby at this time of the year, unless the stcick of plants is very large. When they become un- sightly, the best thing to do is to cut them right down and keep the soil in the pots rather drier than usual with a view to encouraging a short rest, from which the plants will receive substantial benefit. Two Impressive Lilies.—Conspicuous among the grandest of Eastern Lilies are Lilium gigan- teum and L. Monadelphum Szovitzianum. In many respects these are strikingly contrasted. L. giganteum, though magnificent, is exceed- ingly short lived, becoming exhausted with the generation of its vast flowering stem, after which effort the great bidb disappears, after throwing out offsets; the largest of which takes fiilly four years to reach full development. The flowers, which are usuahy ten in number and nearly one foot in length, are of moderate beauty, ivory white, with violet crimson streaks. It is, notwithstanding its gigantic dimensions, by no means so beautiful or fascinating as its most formidable rival, Szovitzianum. The latter is generally described as a native of Mount Caucasus, and the uplands of Persia. Unlike L. giganteum, it has, in addition to its great beauty, the gift of durability, and, after Being thoroughly established, it grows stronger and mora commanding in height and aspect every year. The late Dean of Rochester, with whom it was a supreme favourite, used to may that he had it frequently in his charming, old- world garden, 9ft. high. Its lemon coloured flowers are lovely at all stages, even wben in bud. It is one of the earliest of all Oriental lilies, following close upon L. Davuricum and preceding L. Washingtonianum. Planting Fruit Tmes.-This is work that can be pressed forward at any time during the winter, but it is not by any means desirable that it should be done during the prevalence of severe frosts, or when the land is very wet. If trees arrive when these conditions prevail, the better course is to heel them in in some con- venient position, and there leave them until the work can be carried out in a proper and satisfactory manner. Many people make it a rule not to attempt planting between the middle of December and the end of January, no matter what the weather may happen to be, and one is inclined to think that they are wise, though it may involve the loss of a little time. Labels and Stakes.—It is far too common to find that the fruit trees in many gardens are not labelled at all. This may be considered a matter for regret, as it cannot be disputed that the collection possesses a, greater interest when each variety is correctly and legibly named. The present is an excellent time for examining all tallies with a view to the renewal of those that are becoming worn out, or the correction of those that have been wrongly named in the past. As long as the material will wear well and the attaching ligature does not cut into the bark, it is not of the slightest consequence of what the label is composed. Where fresh planting is done, each label should bear the date as well as the name of the variety. It will also be well to test each stake, and where one is found to be weakening let a new one be placed in position at once. « Rooted Cuttings.—Among amateurs there is always a keen desire to raise fruit trees from cuttings, and as long as they confine their efforts to the currants and gooseberries all will be well but let them save themselves the worry of adopting the same tactics with apples, as they are certainly not worth the trouble. Precisely when rooted cuttings should be moved from the cutting bed depends, of course, upon how closely they were inserted, but they must never be left when there arises the slightest suspicion of crowding. At this stage, the sooner they can be transferred to their per- manent quarters the better for them now, as well as in the future. Red and white cur- rants and gooseberries are usually deeply in- serted, and when they are lifted all the roots that have formed up the stem should be cut off; they have done all the good they can do. and may be discarded. Sprouting Seed Potatoes.—The practice of preparing the seed sets of potatoes before plant- ing is becoming more and more general, and there cannot be much doubt that ere long it will be the universal custom as far as early varieties are concerned. There is no disguis- ing the fact that it entails a certain amount of trouble upon the cultivator, but the advantages are so substantial that it is always worthy of adoption. If we can get fine, healthy sprouts we know that we shall not be worried 'by gappy quarters; we can set the tubers decidedly later, and dig at the same time; and we may be fairly assured that the crop will run more even in shape and size than when unprepared. sets are consigned to the earth. In sprouting it 18. im- perative that the trays or boxes be kept in a light position where an abundance of fresh air can be provided without there being the slightest risk of damage from frost. Herein lies the trouble, but the man who wants to adopt the system may be safely relied upon to :find out the way. 41: Protecting Celery.—If the rows of celery are not already provided with protective material, ready for use directly occasion should arise, the omission ought to be at once made good. We do not want to have the celery permanently covered, of course, but during a frost the tops of the plants must be efficiently protected, or it is absolutely certain that serious damage 'will accrue. It is immaterial what is employed, either hay, straw, or Bracken answering- the purpose equally well; it should be remove? when the frost has gone, but not during its I severe continuance. Laid neatly between the trenches it will not prove at all unsightly, and it can be drawn over as necessary. Bare Spaces Beneath Trees.These are fre- quently a source of annoyance, owing to the impossibility of obtaining a good sward. We have found it an excellent plan to break up the soil as much as the tree roots will allow—or even to bring fresh soil on to the surface-and afterwards plant with Ivy, Vinca minor, or Hypericum calycinum. The work should be done without delav; the plants then obtain a cer- tain amount of roothold before they become shaded in summer. Working Vacant -Ground.-lt is most- desir- able that all land as it falls vacant shall be immediately thoroughly and deeply worked, as the loosening favours the admission of rain as well as frost, and the mechanical condition is at once improved, while there is always a certain amount of fertility added to the soil, of which the succeeding1 crop will take prompt advantage. Just how the land will be worked remains al- ways for the cultivator to decide, but when the wisdom of full trenching is doubted, it is cer- tain that the operator cannot err in bastard trcnchino- to the fullest possible depth. ° » » Indoor Roses.—It cannot be said that the cultivation of roses indoors is as popular as out of doors for the simple reason that their management under glass is not nearly as simple as when the plants are growing in the more natural conditions of the open garden. At the same time, most amateurs like to have a climb- ing rose in their greenhouses, and are willing to take all necessary trouble to ensure its doing well. At this time of the year it is essential to success that some attention should. be given to the plants, especially in the direction of the removal of superfluous shoots and the reduction of others that have overrun the limitations of space, or have not become properly ripened to their full length. There cannot' be any doubt as to the wisdom of the entire removal of some growths rather than the shortening back of all. growths rather than the shortening back of all.

I LITERARY CHAT. Madame Sarah Grand says it takes heit eighteen months at least to write a novel, and she would like it better if she could take two years. Among the new books of Messrs. Skeffington, is one by the Rev. S. Baring-Gould, entitled The Restitution of all Things." Mr. Cosmo Hamilton has finished a new novel1 —a society story-which Messrs. Hutchinsouo; will publish early in the spring. The Luck of the Leura," by Mrs. Campbells Pr.aed, The World and Delia," by Curtis Yorke," and "The House in the Crescent," by Miss Adeline Sargeant, are three novels which-. Mr. John Long announces. Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier-now in his ninety- first year-is the oldest journalist wielding the pen professionally. Mr. Tegetmeier still ranks as one of the first authorities on poultry. Having been referred to in a review as she," Mr. E. K. Punshon has written to the Daily Chronicle," saying: Let me assure you that I can lay no claim to the distinction to which you advance me. Sir, I shave every morning, and wear trousers with as good a grace, 1 trust, as the editor himself. Mr. Fisher Unwin announces Mr. T. H. S. Escott's book, Society in the Country House," which deals with the domestic history of Eng- lish life, and of the hospitality of country gentlemen. Twenty years' experience of work on the- Charity Organisation Society is embodied in. Mr. Arthur Paterson's John Glynn," which. describes social work in the East-end of London- The book will be dedicated to the Princess of. Wales, and will be published by Messrs. Mac- millan. Mr. W. B. Maxwell, who has succeeded con- spicuously with his novels, is to give us a volume of short stories. It will be entitled Odd Lengths," and it is to appear through Messrs. Methuen, who also intimate a volume of tales by Mr. Quiller Couch. Another novel by Mr. Horace Annesley Vachell is to appear with Mr. Murray in April. It is a story of English life and a study in. motherly affection, as the title, Her Son," might suggest. The novel has already been dramatised, and Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Maude hav-u produced it with success in the provinces. A series of "Social Tracts for the Times" is in course of publication by Mr. Charles H. Kelly at the Methodist Publishing House. The first two—"Working Men and Gambling," by Mr. Will Crooks, M.P., and "A Plea for Old- Age Pensions," by Mr. Frederick Rogers-are already out, and others will follow monthly. Few people have devoted as much study to the problem of small holdings as Miss Louisa Jebb. She has not only a thorough, practical knowledge of farming, but she has investigated the special subject of small holdings in various parts of"the country. The importance of this is that the creation of a successful class of small holders depends very largely on local conditions. Miss Jebb has nearly completed a book giving the results of her study and inquiry, and Mr. Murray announces it. The Ameer of Afghanistan, who is now visit- ing India, is the subject of a book, "Under th». Absolute Ameer,* • Messrs, Harper. It is the result of Mr. Frank A. Martin s eight years' residence in Afghanistan, and of an inti- mate acquaintance with its rulers. Mr. Martin was for long the only Englishman in Kabul. The book is illustrated from his own drawings and from photographs. A volume of nature studies by the late Mr. C. J. Cornish, whose work was so familiar in the "spectator," is appearing with Messrs. Longman. It has been prepared by his widow, who also contributes a prefatory memoir, and it has the title, "Animal Artisans." Among the contributors to the new periodical, "Ballooning and Aeronautics," are Captain Ferber, president of the Aviatio Committee of the Aero Club de France, Lord Northcliffe, Major Baden-Powell, of military kite fame;i Professor Huntington, of King's College; Colonel J. E. Capper, C.B., the Director of the Balloon Factory at Aldershot; and Mr. Percival Spencer. The Rev. William Ewing, minister of the Grange United Free Church, Edinburgh, who for five years resided at Tiberias, on the Sea. of Galilee, has written a book describing his travels and intercourse with the people east ef the Jordan. The book, entitled "Arab and lJruze^ at Home," will be illustrated by Mr. lowing s photographs. The publishers ara Messrs. T. C. and E. C. Jack. A book which ought to be extremely interest- ing not only to music-lovers but to a great many people besides is that of which the appearance i* promised under the title of "Garcia, the Ceh- tenarian and His Times." A pupil of the famous musician, Mr. Sterling Mackinlay, is the author, and the volume, it is understood, will be dedi- cated by permission to the King or Spain. Mrs. Edith Wharton, one of America's most cultured writers, has a short series of travel sketches coming out in the Atlantic Monthly sowewhat on the lines of her "Italian Back- grounds." Mrs. Wharton, like a number of other well-known novelists, does much of her Continental travelling in a motor car: hence- the title of her new papers in the "Atlantic, "A Motor Flight through France." Messrs. Harper are publishing a new novel by Onoto Watanna, entitled "A Japanese Blossom —a story of modern Japan the author s native land, where most of her early years were spent. Onoto Watanna is Anglo- Japanese by descent, and, as a novelist, is much better known in the United States, which has been her home for many years than in this country, though several of her books have done fairly well over here. Her first novel was "A Japanese Nightingale," which she wrote while u- iin ns in Chicago, and the profits which it brought her enabled her to go to College0 her com'se in Columbia When the late Mrs. Craigie, the noted nove- list, was in America, she was invited to make an address at a certain meeting. The chairman, a rather stupid person, introduced before her some speakers who were not on the programme at all. It was close on to 11 o'clock when the chairman, with a pleasant smile, bowed and said: '• Mrs. Craigie, the eminent author of Some Emotions and a Moral,' and will give us her address." Mrs. Craigie, it is told in an American paper, rose and said calmly: My address is No. 56, Lancaster-gate* Hyde-park, W., London, and I now wish you all good night, for I am far from home." One of the new books issued by Mr. Murray is Herr Dressler's reminiscences of Moltke in his Home." Moltke under his own roof led the simple life, with quiet dignity. His letters to his wife, which were published ten years ago, throw into attractive, relief the beauty of the great soldier's domestic relations. Herr Dressier whose book has been translated by Mrs. Barrett- Lenriard, knew Moltke intimately in his closing years. Lord Methuen has written an introduc- tion to the translation. It was whilst military attache at Berlin in 1877-81 that Lord Methuen, through his friendship with Moltko's nephew, Herr von Burt, came to know the famous soldier, who, in his closing years at least, was not very ccessible to strangers.

NOTES ON NEWS. If the prosperity of a nation depends Upos Itb.e amount ui coin turned out by its Mint, England should be exceedingly prosperous, for, aceordisg to a return issued by the Deputy Master of the Mint, the total number of coins turned out last year was 1-12,584,817, against 9J787 ,730 in 1905. The number of sovereigns minted was just doubled, being 10,0,00,600, compared with. 5,000,000, while half-sovereigns numbered 4,330,000, against 3,000,000 in the previous year. Gold coins to the value otf £ 2,700,000 were withdrawn from circulation, this being the same as in 1905. Silver ooins value £ 1,765,070, and bronze coins value £300,35 were also issued, while £ 666,340 in silver and £ 18-1,520 in bronze was withdrawn. The total number of gold pieces coined was 14,712,419, the number of silver pieces was 38,475,295, of which 7,032,843 were lor the Colonies; bronze coins numbered 68,581,104, including 4,150,000 for the Colonies and tlsore were also 1,116,000 nickel pieces ooinc-d for the Colonies. Mr. Asquith is oertainly fortunate in the number or millionaires who have died during his year of oftioe as Chancellor of the Ex- chequer, for probate has been granted to yet another millionaire's will, making the tenth to pay duties in tie current financial year, which expires on March 31 next, and there is yet that of Mr. George Herring to come. In the last week of 1906 the Chancellor received from death duties £ 365,000, as compared with the average of t254 000 per week which his estimate of £ 13,200,000 for the whole year required. During the three quarters ended December 31 his total income from death duties has been £ 14,574,873. If this rate should continue his receipts from the duties will be about £ 15,000,000, with a surplus be- yond his estimate of £ 1,800,000, and the total revenue will then probably exceed £ 19,000,000, which is more than the famous year 1899-1900, when the total revenue was 1 millions and the receipt into the Exchequer 14i millions. That was the year in which the estate of Mr- George Smith, of Elgin and Chicago, yielded as Sir Michael Hicks Beach said; £ 900,006, or the price of an ironclad, and although Mr. Smith's estate must thus have been valued at £ 5,000,000 or more, its value still remains entered at less than £ 60,000. A striking instance for the necessity of old- age pensions is furnished by a case given by Mr. Colin F. Campbell, the Hon. Social Secre- tary of the Church Army. An old couple, aged 84 and 82, have recently celebrated their diamond wedding, but after a long, happy, and blameless married life, these poor old people find themselves in danger of having to pass the rest of their days in the workhouse, and one cannot but feel that this would be an inappropriate ending to such a life. The old couple have alvrays been steady, hardworking folk. The husband was a weaver, and wove part of the laee for the decoration for the coronation chair at Queen Victoria's corona- tion, and his wife worked on part of the Queen's robes for the same occasion. Latterly the husband, in spite of his great age, has been working at a mineral water factory, but he has recently lost his employment. Thgy have several children, but all have familiesolf their own, and are not in a position to con- tribute to their parents' support. All that the old couple have to look to at present is a small weekly allowance from the parish. The year 1906 has proved a black one in the matter of railway accidents, and it is sad to have to relate that it must rank as one of the most disastrous of recent years, for since 1874, when the Board of Trade inaugurated its present system of railway supervision in regard to accidents, there have been only three years in which the number of passengers killed exceeded those of the year that has just ended. Those years were 1874 itself, 1879, and 1889, the totals respectively being 86, 75, and 88, while the total last year was 57, in- cluding the recent disaster to the Scotch ex- press. In 1874 the fatalities occurred in a number of minor accidents, but in 1879 all but one were due to the Tay Bridge disaster;i. while again in 1889, 80 out of the 88 were killed by the collision of excursion and pas- senger trains at Armagh. Last year 24 were killed at Salisbury, 11 at Grantham, and 22 at Arbroath. The great increase last year is much to be lamented, because several recent years have been "lean" in railway disasters. For instance, 1901 holds the record as being the only year in which not a single person was killed; then followed six in 1902, and again six in 1904, the intervening years producing numbers which were well within the average. All those connected with the King Edward VII. Sanatorium for Consumptives, near Mid- hurst, from his Majesty downwards, are, it is satisfactory to learn, exceedingly pleased with the work done during the six months in which the sanatorium has been opened. In me respect, however, there has been a dis- appointment, for out of the 66 patients in residence, not one is a first-class patient able to pay eight guineas a week for special accom- modation. The reason for this is said to be that those who can afford to pay the eight guineas for four months prefer to provide a little sanatorium of their own at home. Fourteen out of 99 wards were set apart for these cases, but at present it has not been de- cided what shall be done with them. Hun- zlred of applications for admission have been received, and in many cases the only reason for rejection has been the social status of the applicants, for it seems that only persons of education are admitted. There is no number 13 in the building. The rooms were to have been numbered from 1 to 99, but the King, suggested that it should be made 100 by leaving out the unlucky numter, and so it was adopted. There is to be a big" revival" in the emigra- tion of farm labourers from England to Canada during the next three months. Twenty-five experienced Canadian farmers have just landed at Liverpool, and before the end of the month they will be distributed all over England and Scotland, advising intending emigrants, and telling them of the beauties of Canada and the fertility of the soil. Five of the visitors are to be apportioned to London and the Home Counties, three to Exeter, for Devon and Cornwall, and others will be placed at Birmingham, for the Midland Counties, Liverpool, for Lancashire and Yorkshire, South, at York, for the North Riding and the Northern Counties, and at Aberdeen and at Glasgow, for the North and South of Scotland respectively. Thus, those English and Scot- tish farmers who wish to get back to the land," but who are unable to do so through force of circumstances, but who desire to emi- grate in order to retrieve their former for- tunes, will meet, face to face, practical, ex- perienced men, who will tell them truthfully and candidly what prospects there are for them in the new land across the sea. Their questions will be answered in the language of the practical agriculturist, without any fancy word painting. The farmer-missionaries will spend three months in this country, a period which, it is believed, will be sufficient for them to cover every district.

After remaining up to celebrate the New Year, Mr. Beauchamp Bagenal Jameson, mana- ger for Sir J. F. Brookes and Co., Dublin, wine merchants, bade his brother the compliments of the season and retired to bed. He shot him- self in his bedroom early next morning. He had been much affected by the tragic death of a friend on Christmas Eve.

I AMERICAN SMILES. 1 f JOSH BILLING; PHILOSOPHY. I Traitors are treated like oranges; the juice iz squeezed out ov them, and them they are throwoo away. Thare iz lots ov people that I fcess who kan't enjoy etwuything fust rate tMilesa it be- longs to 13tml one else. We kan neither luv tnnyt'hlni, th It we fear, nor less: oniaything that we lev. The luv ov -fame iz the -Ranie -in ail, from the little rides the winning horse, away up to the last -Berisashun in prima donnas. Civilizashun haz not redused the number ov crimes and vices; it no doubt haz made most ov them more ornamental. It iz a very common thing to make a blun- der, btft it iz a very uncommon thing to own it. I never "hav cum ak ross a man yet who <Jidrit think he waz superior to enjny man in sum respekt. It iz very idiffikult Tor a man to be 'witty,, and at the same 'time be diskreet. I hav seen .men that praze wouldn't hav enny effekt upon. They are like mules-the only way to praze them iz to do it with a 'klub. The best friend enny man haz igot iz hiz eenshienee. Yung man, kultivate all youre pashuns, but be sure and don't let them kultivate yu. Genuinesarka-sm kuts without wounding, but leaves an indellible skar. Thare iz hardly enny karakter more to be e,envyed than the one who wants 'to be loved bi everyboddy. Slander iz like kounterfit 'money—-the one who passes it iz rather more kriminal than the one who manufakters it. Thare iz a grate deal ov virtew in this world that works only for pay; and if the devil should offer better wages, he would be sure to git its services. Humour kan ;alwuss be detekted bi ithe good natur that iz in it. < Lady: "Did the natives like the perfumed soap I sent them?" Returned Missionary: "No, madam, they bit it, and threw it away." "Who were ithe chief beneficiaries under your uncle's will?" "The automobile manu- facturers. Each legatee bought two as soon as they got their money." Employer: "What, then, are your de- mands?" Committee of Union: "We want more money and shorter hours so's we can have time to spend it." < Mother (to Tommy, who has just said his prayers) "Tommy, you forgot to ask the Lord to take care of your baby sister." Lord to take care of your baby sister." Tommy: No, I didn't, ma. I'll take care of her myself." » # "Now, dear," said the hero of the elope- ment, as they boarded the train, "we are safe from pursuit. "And also," said the young girl, radiantly, "safe from starvation. ¡ Here's a cheque pa made out to your order." I I Golacky: H As I'm the special summer correspondent of the New York "Daily Blowhard," I suppose your terms to me will be somewhat different from your terms to regular guests. Summer Hotel Clerk (briskly) "Yes, sir-yes, sir; of course. Our terms to you will be cash in advance." "Does your chauffeur have any perqui- sites?" asked Mrs. Van Uppson. "He had one the first week he was with us," replied Mrs. Neurich, "but I induced him to sign the pledge, and he hasn't had any since." Carlo, you do not love me any more!" \1 "My treasure, why do you say such a foolish thing?" "Because it is impossible for you to love a woman who has worn a dress as long as I have this one!" I Hotel Clerk (suspiciously): "Your bundle j has come apart. May I ask what that queer thing is?" Guest: "This is a new patent fire escape. I always carry it, so in case of I fire I can let myself down from the hotel window. See?" Clerk (thoughtfully): "I see. Our terms for guests with fire-escapes, sir, are invariably cash in advance." Conductor (after a. collision in which everybody was bounced half-way across the car, but no one was hurt): "Gentlemen, I I find that no great harm has been done. We ran into the rear end of a freight-train; and I if some of you will come out and help clear the track, we can proceed on our journey." Fat Passenger: Conductor, are there any more freight-trains on ahead?" "Oh, I sup- pose so." "Well, let's stay where we are." < I Great Newspaper Proprietor (who has made a fortune in trade, and then bought a daily for some reason no fellow can find out) "This is Saturday, isn't itT I want a forty-page paper for to-morrow." Editor: (meekly): But, sir, the whole force, if fur- nished with brand-new shears, couldn't gpt out more than twenty pages on such short notice." G. N. P. (authoritatively) "Let the other twenty pages be filled with adver- tisements. Editor: "But, sir, we haven't the advertisements." G. N. P. "Go out and buy some, then." < Horribly Ugly Woman: "PI'ase, mum, the intelligence mon sint me here. He said as how yer wanted a gurril." Mrs. Blinks (nearly fainting at the sight); "I—I—but stop, I will' hire you, but not as a house-girl. Are you willing to be sent to a teacher to be taught another way to earn your living?" "Yis, mum." "Well, IT lave-you educated fy* a typewriter. My liisoan.i says be vants one." Replying to a Young Author," Mark Twain once wrote: "Yes: Agassiz does re- I commend authors to eat fish, because the phosphorus in it makes brains. So far you are correct. But I cannot help you to a de- I cision about the amount you need to eat-at least, not with certainty. If the specimen composition you sent is about your fair usual average, I should judge that a couple of I whales would be all you would want for the present. Not the largest kind, but simply good, middling-sized whales." A gentle-man visiting Ireland sent a new suit of clothes to the local tailor to be let out." A few days afterwards he went down to the tailor, and said, "What about my clothes?" Most successful, most successful," said the f tailor. Let them out f ir a month at a shil- ling a week." ♦ "Gentlemen of the jury," said the eloquent K.C., "I leave the rest to you. You are Eng- lishmen. You come of a valorous race. As men you would scorn to insult a woman-scorn I to ill-treat one-scorn to sav aught that is un- manly or unbecoming to a member of a weaker sex-" "And only this morning," interrupted a shrill voice from the gallery," that man called me a meddling old cat." It was the K.C.'s wife. He lost his case. First Esperantist (volubly): "Lend me a couple of louis, old fellow." Second Esp.: "I beg your pardon?" First Esp.: "I am begging the loan of a couple of louis." Second Esp. (thoughtfully): "Strange, after all, there are still a few words of the new tongue I don't understand." "Popkins is a clever fellow." "What has he done now?" "He's put a spring-gun in his back yard, a burglar-alarm at every win- dow, an electric mat at each door, and a bull- dog in the kitchen. It cost money, but he accomplished the purpose he aimed at." "What was that?" "He's got the servant so badly frightened that she's afraid to stay out late at night."