Cheshire Observer

COOKERY FOR WORRIED I HOUSEWIVES. By MRS. ALFRED PRAGA. I ("THE CAREFUL COOK"). IV.—VEGETABLE COOKERY MADE I EASY ,11 A very groat economy as regards tne butcher s bill could bo easily effected if the 'foreign custom of serving a separate vegetable course at luncheon or dinner, or both, were to be adopted by the English housewife. Innumerable dainty alad very appetising dishes may be made from vegetables alone, at the cost of veritably only a few pence. And in proof thereof witness the following recipes We will begin w.th our homely old friend the common or garded. cabbage. In its new guise, though but few would recognise it, all will, I am sure, like it. CABBAGE A LA CREME. I Take a large white-heart cabbage and boil it in salted water, together with an onion stuck with a clove. When it is thoroughly done take it out. Drain it carefully, chop it roughly, and then rub it through a very fine wire sieve. Use the back of a wooden spoon for the rubbing process, and every now and then reverse the sieve and scrape off the pulp adhering to the under side. When all the! cabbage is through, place the pulp thus obtained in a. small clean saucepan add to it a bit of butter about the size of a large walnut, as much finely- chopped garl.o as will go on the point of a very small knife, papper and salt to taste, and a penny- worth of cream or a tablespoonful of milk; stir all well together until very hot, then dish up, I conioal-wiso, on a very hot dish, garnish with I finger croutons, and serve at once. FINGER CROUTONS. I Out a slice of bread from a stale loaf-a tin loaf 1 if possible; then free this from crust, and cut it into long strips about the breadth and length of a. finger. Have ready a saucepan half full of a-bsoiutely boil.ng fat—clariifed foeef dripping for preference—from which the blue smoke is rising. Add the croutons, a few at a time only, and fry till of a bright golden-brown hue. "Take out, drain carcfully, and use as direoted. BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH WHITE SAUCE. ■ lake 1 21 lb. of Brussels sprouts, and cook them in salted water; while they are cooking proceed as follows: Place rather more than half-a-pint of; milk in a dean enamelled iron stewpan. Add to it 1' bunch of herbs, i.e., parsley, thyme and bay- leaf, all Led together, a tiny bit of mace, a slice of onion, a slice of carrot, a slice of turnip, and, if it can be had a bit of celery. Cover the pan and simmer glntly at one side of the stove for fifteen minutes, or until the milk tastes strongly of the flavouring herbs, but do not let it boil away even in the slightest degree. Then strain it through a ha.r sieve into a clean saucepan. Thicken it with loz. of flour and loz. of butter mixed to a paste by moms of a little cold milk, and stir until of tiie consistency of thick cream. Add pepper and salt to taste, and a few drops of lemon juice. Make very hot. By this time the Brussels sprouts should bo quite cooked and tender. Drain them very carefully and thoroughly; add them to too ia,u< e; toss until very hot. Dish up on a hot dish. Garn sh with finger croutons, and servo at once. i LEEKS WITH CHEESE SAUCE. YY ash a bundle of leeks very thoroughly in at least half-a-dozen waters; then drain them and cook them slowly in salted water, or, if it can be auordcd. in m;lk. Place half-a-pint of milk in a clean enamelled iron stev?pan. While it is coming to tho boil. mix loz. of tiour with loz. of butter to a pastiJ by moans of a wineglassful of cold milk. Add this to the hot milk by degrees, stir- ring all the time in order to avoid burning, until it is of the consistency of cream. Then add pepper and salt- to taste, and finally 2oz. 'of finely-grated oheese. Any kind most convenient will do, from Dutch to Cheddar, but a mixture of Parmesan and Gruyero gives by far the best results. Stir until the sauce is of a deep ysllow colour. Make very i hot. By this time the leeks should be thoroughly cooked and tender. Drain them carefully, arrange them neatly on a hot dish, pour the sauce over and around. Garnish with finger croutons and serve at once. ARTICHOKES IN THE LYONNAISE FASHION. Peel 2ilb. of white artichokes, and as each is peeled throw it into water to which haii been. added a. little, vinegar—this is to ensure their being of a good colour. Then parboil them for six minutes, Taka out, drain and dry them carefully on a cloau cloth. Add salt to taste znd a gill and a h-'tlf of oil. Place the artichokes in a white china (fireproof) dish. Pour the oil over them, and sprinkle with a teaspoonful of finely-minced garLo and with breadcrumbs. Note,, use the latter thickly. Place in a moderately hot oven, ■and bake till quite tender. Then take out and serve at once.. CAULIFLOWERS IN THE POLISH FASHION. This is a cheap and delicious way of preparing cauliflower. Boil a large cauliflower in salted water till tender, but take care that it does not break, or the appearance of the dish will bo spoilt. When done drain .t very carefully, and place in a hot oven for a couple of minutes in order that the moistura may dry off. Meanwhile, place from loz. to 2oz. (according to the size of the cauliflower) of butter in a clean, deep stewpan. Directly it oils add to it as much finely ininced garlic as will go on the top of a small knife, and a teaspoonful of j br adcrumbs. Then add the cauliflower very care- fully in order that it may not break. Turn it gently in the butter for five or six minutes, and let it got coated well with the breadcrumbs, etc. Then dish up on a hot dish. Pour over it the butter, etc, remaining, garnish with finger croutons, and send to table at once. If the flavour of garlic is not liked, finely-mimced shallot may be substituted for it. I CARROTS WITH GRAVY. This is another nico and very cheaply-made dish. Take lib. of young French carrots. Scrape them very thinly, wash them well, place them in a deep fireproof china dish, and add just enough well- flavoured stock to cover them. Add a lso an onion stuck with a clove. Place in a. slow oven, and cook very gently until the carrots are quite tender, j The time for this varies from three-quarters of an hour to an hour and a half. When &nc?, strain off the liquor in which the carrots were cooked into a clean stewpan. There should be about half-a-pint of it. Tlrcken with loz. of butter and loz. of flour kneaded together and mixed to a paste with a little cold stock or water, and stir till of the consistency of cream. Make very hot; add pepper and salt to taste, and a tiny pinch of sifted sugar. Pour over the carrots. Return to the oven for a few minutes in order to allow the sauca to just set. Then take out and serve as quickly as possible. Old carrots may also be cooked in this fashion, but they should be split and divided into fours, ) and considerably longer time must be allowed for l the cooking process.

I CHESTER'S EVERYDAY DANGERS. I VALUABLE HINT FROM LIVERPOOL. I It is astonishing how many lives, even lie re iii Chester, are wrecked through apparently insig- nificant causes. Sitting OIl damp grass, sudden change of temperature, stooping' at work, bathing too long, getting over-tired, straining, dresing injudiciously—how many deaths ara these seem- ingly slight occurrences re-ponaible for! Every day we lay ourselves open to similar dangers. We get ill, and th0 doctor gives some long name to our complaint; but we cannot understand the cause of it. The great secret of a healthy constitution is healthy kidneys. Weak kidneys invite illness, be- cause they cannot filter the blood properly, and bad blood must eventually prove fatal. A Liver- pool resident glves us the secret of how to make j weak kidneys strong. j Some months ago Mr. J. J,lcManus of'l Court, Rica-street, Hope-street, Liverpool, wrote us as follows "Dear Sirs,-I have been a sufferer from pains across the small of my back for a long time. I seemed hardly able to get about. so severe were they. "Seeing Doan's Backache Kidney Pills adver- tised in the Liverpool papers, I wrote to die pro-, prictois. giving them particulars of my case. They gave me some valuable advice, and this, with som8 of the Backache Pills, did me so much good that I continued the use of this sp!?d'dmedtone.. Now I am ever so much better—indeed, 1 am ablo to go about my work as though nothing had over been the matter with -me. I am very delighted about this, and consider it speaks well for Doall's Pills. I shall always be pleased to take an oppor- tunity of speaking a good word for this medicine.— Yours truly (Signed) J. MeMaiiiis One of our representatives. who was in Liver- i pool recently, saw Mrs McManus. wlio said:- "Although it was some months ago that my hus-i band was cured by Doan's Pills, hp has kept well ever since-he h'1.m't complained once of the slightest return of the illness." If you are ill, write and tell us your symptoms. Wo shall be pleased to give you the best advice in our power, free of charge. Your letter will be treated in strictest confidence. Doan's; Backache; Kidney Pills arc two shillings and runepence a box (six boxes for thirteen sh:llings and mnepence). Of all chemists and drug stores, or posted free on receipt of price by the proprietors, Foster- McClellan Co., 8, Wells-street, Oxfc^d-street, Lon- don, W. j

ATHLETIC NEWS. I FOOTBALL NOTES. 1, Chester failed to improve on the poor results of their holiday matches when they journeyed to Wmsford on Saturday to play the return Com- bination match with that club. The Cestrians played downhill during the first half, and for some time they had the best of the exchanges. From a sudden breakaway Johnstone scored for Winsford, owing to some misunderstanding between the visitors' backs and goalkeeper, who made no attempt to save. Winsford thus led at the interval by a goal to nil. In the second half the Cestrians pressed, and Kelly missed a fine opportunity of equalising when a few yards from goal by skying the ball. The home team returned to the attack and added their second from close quarters. A long shot from the right beat Eardley, who only partiaily stopped It, thus making tne third. The game ended Winsford three goals, Chester nil. The visitors played listlessly. Turner missed his kick frequently, and Riiey was off colour. Sherman played a useful game, but Keliy would have been more effective had ho been a, little more generous with the ball and not taken it so far down. McGuflie was one of the best of his side. Hardacre was injured, and wa" lame for the greater part of the time. Towards the end of the game Delaney, who had been half-back, ohanged with Riley, and the Chester play im- proved, Delaney having hard lines in not effecting a score on two or three occasions. One feels disgusted with a team that allows itself to be soundly beaten by another club whom it has previously trounced to the tune of six goals to nil. The Chester Reserve team have even made a better fight than their seniors. At Chester, in a Cheshire Amateur Cup tie, Winsford were lucky to escape a beating at their hands, and only managed to beat them the next week at Winsford. On Monday evening the Cestrians fulfilled their return engagement with Newton-le-Wrillows, whom they beat a few weeks ago by five goals to nil. The home team led off, but the visitors at once assumed the offensive, and a grand: shot from Hardacre gave Jenkinson considerable trouble. A neat run by Broster changed the scene of operations, but Batter, who had only Eardley to beat, shot high over the bar. After twenty minutes' play, Kelly put the ball in to Hardacre, who beat the custodian with a fine shot. Just afterwards Eardley mulled a shot from Broster, and the ball was let in, making the scores equal. Thus they remained at half-time. Immediately after the interval Delaney passed to Hardacre, who scored while on the run with a shot that gave Jenkinson no ohanoe. A third goal came from a penalty kick againft Rudd, which was taken by Delaney. The final result was Chester three goals and Newton-lo-Willows one. This result is very welcome to the club's supporters. It only shews that they might have done better at Winsford. The final tie of the Chester Senior Cup was fought on Saturday at Whipcord-lane, between Helsby and the Druids Reserve. After a quiet opening the Druids rushed down and forced a corner. The ball was well placed, and knocked over the gcal line during a scrimmage. The scorers had the best of matters for a long time, and pressed hard. A good defonce kept them at bay. Hughes and Cooke made repeated efforts to get away, but they met with little success. Another corner accrued to the Druids, and both sides shewed clever tactics. The ball was finally cleared, and at the interval the Druids led by one goal to nil. Helsby at once attacked on the resumption of play, and from a corner Warburton made a good try, the ball going over the bar. A shot from Cartwright was cleared at the expense of another oorner, but by gcod play this was also el eared. Ju?t afterwards a scrimmage followed, and a hard &hot from close range, was splendidly saved by Westley, the Druids' custodian. TVieo after- wards Westley made marvellous saves, but a third time he was beaten. A oorner had been secured by Helsby, and the ball bobbed in dangerous proximity to the goal for some time. At last Fletoher equalised with a sh<}t which gave the custodian no chance. Several moro abortive corners fell to the Cheshire men, and just on time the Dru-ds broke away, and Hough wac> fortunate in clearing a shot- from Richards. The game thus ended in a draw of one goal each. It was apparent to everyone on the ground that had the Helsby team tried their beat they might have won. Many openings were lost through want of being followed up. The forward rank, unfortunately, was disorganised by the absence of one or two of their regular players. Hughes was the only effective player on the front rank, Boyle, strange to say. being little in evi- dence. Cooke hardly played up to his usual standard, but he was the best of a weak half- back hue. Lloyd played a cool and clever game at full back. and Hough was as good as he usually is. The Druids sent a strong, wel!-ba!anced eleven, and their passing game was much superior to that of their opponents. On Monday evening the Chester Association decided to replav the match between Helsby and Drutds to-day (Saturday) at Wrexham, after the Charity Cup final at Wh:pcord-lane. At tho conclusion of the cup tie on Saturday between Helsbv and the Druids, Chester Reserve encountered WroxhLrn Victoria in a Junior Leaguo match. At half-time the Cestrians were leading by one goal to nil. Earlv in the second half they added another. Wrexham then buckled to and scored twice in rapid succession, thus equalising the scores. The Reserves, by good play, notched another goal, and just before time again scored, and ran out winners by four goals to two. The Vic's, combination suffered from the faC": that they played a man short, but notwithstanding this the Reserves are to be complimented upon the good fight they made against such a strong team. On Wednesday evening Chester Reserves enter- tained the Druids Reserves at Whipcord-lane, in a League match. After a fairly even game the home team retired defeated by two goals to nil. The first pnint. was registered with a high droppincr shot which Price ought to have stooped, but with the second he had no chance. The Cestrians frequently bombarded their opponents' goal, but owing to the custodian's good work and the combined defence of tho Druids they failed to get the ball through. Lloyd and Man sell at full-back effected clever clearances, and Dawson often attempted to score, but his shots were too strong. The last league match of the season was plaved j at Helsby on W ednesday evening, when the local premier eleven met re-xham Viotoria in the re- turn fixture. Helsby were the first to test the visitors' custodian, who cleared from Bibby. The game was on the whole evenly contested, and although the home team gained several corneis they were unable to improve on them, the visitors I defending finely. Several attacks by the visitors j were well cleared by Lloyd. who was conspicuous 1 with some excellent kicking. The visitors' cus- todian cleared a. capital attempt. by Bibby, a cor- ner following. This was splendidly placed by War- burton, and the Vies.' goalkeeper, in attempting to clear, put the ball in the net, thus scoring ttic first goal for Helsby. The homo team vow prjssfd and Bo'10 put the ball into the net for a second t ni(?, but he was adjudged offside. Th.? | player directly after got in an excellent centre across the goalmouth, but no one was up to m?et- the ball. Half-time arrived with Helsby leading by 1-0. Helsbv restarted, and from a free kick Bihby got m a good overhead shot., which was cleared A corner to the visitors resulted in a severe Etruggle in the home goal, tho Wrsxham men -x h an-i m?,n claiming that the ball had gone over the hlC, but the referee t hrew the ball up, and after another scrimmage a fruitless corner followed. Tlw home team then attacked, but could makCl little lieadwav a-ainst tlit, Yisitors' defence- Helsbv were twice penalised for offside, but keep- ing up the pressure they at length scored a seccnd point from a free kick, Jones putting the ball into the net from a parfc'al clearance by the custodian. Directly after Hughes got in a capital run on his own. but, hesitating, lost a good chance of in- creasing the home team's lead. The visitors strove hard to get on equal terms, but the home dc- fence prevailed, and the game, which was finished in semi-darkness, ended in a win for the ham" team by two to nil. Helsbv have thus secured the maximum number of points at the expense of the Vies. this season. I COMBINATION. I RESULTS UP TO DATE. ^-Goals-^ P W. L. D. ForAfrst Pts Wrexharn. 2G.1!> 2. Nantwiclx .21; 1; 7. 4.. ,G9.43.)4 Birkenhead L,]., 7. 4..46.4.;)(I Burslem Port Vale .25 12 7. G.62.34.XI Oswestrv.2G, 14. 10. 2.57.42.W Witton Albion .)i; I I. 7. 8.. 52 451.30 Chester. 2 4. 7. 8.46 43 2(i Middlewich 2<> !• !> 8.42 ..62 2<» *Bangor .25. 8. 8.52. 60.24 Rhyl 24 7.13 4.. 50.62.18 ^Winsford 25 8 13. 4.50 53 ..18 Newton-le-Willows 24.. 6.15. 3 44.. 72.15 Tranmero .26.. 4.17. 5 .30 64 .13 Chirk. 25 4.18.. 3. 36.71.11 *Two points deducted. White Star Wanderers J withdrawn -record expunsred. CHESTER & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION L RESULTS UP TO DATE. -Coils, P. W. li. D. ForAirst, Ptsu Druids Reserve 12. 1. 2 30 12 20 I Helsby .13. 8. 3. 2.43 20.18 Wrexham Yics. 7. 3.. 2.. 44. 18 16 Chester Reserve 12.. 6. 4. 2.39 2.1i. 14 Connah's Quay, 13. 6. 5. 2.33.37.. 1-1 Rhyl Reserve t 1. 3.. (». 2.12. 25). 8 Cambrian Athletic 12. 1.$,. 2 28 58 4 Gresford 1;3, 1. 2.27.50. 4 CHESTER & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE Divwrox II. RESULTS UP TO DATE. ,-Goals, ,Goals, P. W. L. D. ForA?Pt- Hoole 14 1L.. 1. 2.67.13.24 Wrexliani S. Giles. 11.10. 1. 0.48. fI 20 Garrison 14. 7. 3. 4 58.29.14 Little Sutton 13. 4 <> 3. 24.48 11 Whitby C. A 12. 4. 7. L 28 39. 5) Sealand Road. 13 4. 8. 1.18.35. 9 Great Saughall .1.1. 4. !) 1 11) 65 9 Chester United 13.. 1. 10 2.13.37. 4

CRICKET PROSPECTS. I While we have had plenty of sunshine during the last week end, we have not had the warmth suggestive of cricket. According to the calendar, however, we are at the end of April, and it is time to make our preparations for the forthcoming season, which already is almost upon us. Locally a good time is promised, but a much better one would no doubt be in store for us, could a little more interest be raised in the popular summer game. An instance of the lethargy displayed by Cestrians in general Is by the now defunct Chester C.C. Last season an attempt was made to run a club worthy of the name of Chester, but mainly owing to the lack of support the effort has resulted in a deplorable failure. A brighter outlook, we are happy to state. is granted the BJughton Hall C.C., the members of which are looking forward to a continuation of the good seasons experienced by the senior club of the district. A great change, however, has taken place. That veteran player, Mr. E. Hodkinson, has been compelled, owing to ill health, to relinquish the secretaryship, after holding the position for 20 years Fortunately he has not given up cricket altogether, and doubtless many during the seruson will be made painfully aware of the fact when they ?me to face his wily lobs. A worthy successor to Mr. Hodkinson has been found in Mr. J P. Douglas, formerly the treasurer of the club, who may be relied upon to carry on the work so ably performed by Mr. Hodkinson. Glancing through the list of fixtures one notices the names of many old clubs who have often met Boughton Hall in friendly rivalry. The season commences to-day (Saturday) when their old friends, Rock Ferry C O. will be visited. New fixtures have been arranged with Sa.ndiway, East Lanes Wanderers. Bromboro' Pool, and Crosbv Old Merchant Tavlnrs, while the engagement with Mr. C. C. MoWs XI. no longer appears. The familiar names of Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead Victoria, Winnington Park, Oxton, Birkdale, Knntsford, Willington Hall, the Western, and last, but not least, the Northern Nomads, are still in the list. The ) personnel of the club will remain much the same, I save that Mr. P. M. Morris-Davies having left the district, will no longer be able to Dlay. In him the club loses one ot their best and most consistent batsmen. Once a start has been made, it is expected that a strong eleven will be available. A visit to the Eaton Park club has long been regarded from a cricket point of view as an eniovable i way of spending a Saturday afternoon, and there is ) every promise that it will be as pleasant as usual this season. A better laid-out ground, and one mow prettily situated would be difficult to find. With the continued assistance of many of last season's players, one may confidently expect as successful a time as last year, when not a single match was lost on tho ground. Many good games are foreshadowed by the fixtures already arranged by the secretary, Mr. H. E. Crane, including engagements with Boughton Hall, Chester St. Mary's. Helsby. Willington Hall, Hoole, Tarporley, and Tattenhall. It speaks well for the prosperity of the club when applications have been received sufficient to fill every Saturday twice over. The season will be commenced on Saturday next, when Sefton Park Extra XI. will be met. Our neighbours in the "little paradise "—for so Hoole has l>t'f'n named by a certain gentleman with oratorical aspirations—are looking forward to another successful season. Keen struggles are expected to take place with the following among other clubs: Birkenhead St. Mary's, Mollington, Chester St. Mary's, Hawarden, Barrow, Gwersyllt, > Liverpool C?Iedorunn", Map&fen, Ashton, and their old rivals Eaton Park. A-- I iton, an d t b eir, A tastefully designed fixture card from the Neston and District Club betokens hearty support and a sound financial condition. The majority of last year's players will be available, including Mr. F. Cramer Roberts, whoso ability WM so marked in last season's matches. Mr. Andrew Barrett will again head the eleven while the secretarial duties will bo undertaken by Mr. T. J. Gleave. Fixtures have l)een arranged mainly with local clubs, and 1 include Boughton Hall. Tarnorley. Northern, and Mold. An enjoyable timo should be the club's lot. Cricket is evidently a thing of the past at Sandy- j croft: enthusiasm seems to have died out altogether, and this is partly due, no doubt, to the unwilling. ness of the landowners to let their fields for the 1 furtherance of the national game. Apparently, they look upon (ticket as something to be abhorred as a j thing which renders their land useless for agricultural j pnrpOR. It seems a pity that a village which at j one time Ixiasted a team second to none in the county, is now practically dead to the glorious pastime once so popular here, and it is hoped that before long s'me interested persons will take the matter in hand. The Frodsham Athletic Club, which originally comprised cricket, tennis and hockey sections, was recently completely severed and subsequently re- organised on entirely different lines. Each section honceforth is quite separate from and independent of the other, and will each manage its own business This action on the part, of the committee I was considered to lie a wise one in the interests of I cricket, and is anticipated to be productive of more Ienerey and enthusiasm among the members and i inhabitants generally. The newly-formed cricket club will commence the season with a considerable deficit, but a resolution has been passed to increase the fee for membership, an action which was happily received with universal unanimity, and it is expected that the season now about to be entered npon will he a successful one in every way. The club has made a request for entrance to the Chester Cou, but as vet no reply has been forth- coming. The Hev. T. V. Gamer wiil be n worthy captain, with Dr. J. T Selby as his understudy, j The latter gentleman has also generously taken over the secretaryship, Mr. Graham Hutehings occupying the position of treasurer. All last season's players fortunately are available and have promised to assist-, with the exception of the Rev. R W. Colston, who has recently left the neigh- bourhood for Tattenhall. His services with the bat will be greatly missed, but a new player in the I person of C Carson is expected to strengthen the ) team. The initial match will probably take place I on next Saturday, j The cricket section of the Helsby Athletic Club, vrho open their season, on Saturday, May 2nd. when they vi-it Garston. are leoking- forward to as successful a. year as last. In addition to the club named, the first eleven will meet in home and away fixtures Liverpool 2nd, Widnes, Frod- sham, Mold, Eaton Park, Tattenhall, and Liver- pool Caleionians. They will again enter the Chester and District Challenge Cup oompetition, I and intend to make another bold bid for the cup, which they won in 1901 but lost in the final tie with Tattenhall last year. The second eleven will meet in home and away fixtures Garston 2nd, Barrow, Ince, Alvanley, Runcorn, Mollington and Liverpool St. Cyprians. Praotically the whole of last season's players will be available, and with the probable inclusion of one or two new players, the first eleven should give a good account of themselves both in the cup ties and ordinary matches. The second eleven will be muoh the same as last season, with several additional promising young players, and should do equally as well as they did last searon. Mr. James Taylor having resigned the captaincy of the first eleven, Mr. Jos. Crosland, who held it for several years but rot-ired from the position a few sea-on-; back, has been induced to again take up the reins, and will have Mr. F. Cole as vice- ca.pta.in, while Mr. T. Harding again captains I the second eleven. with Mr. T. Hmde as vice- captain. Mr. H. Knight has been again elected as hon. secretary, with Mr. E. W. C'rosiand as j his assistant. The groundsman. Mr. C. Ilopley, is at present working hard on the ground, which should be in a good condition for the opening match. I From Ince, comes the message Prospects good, though the nuttiber of fixtures is small. The clubs I with whom Mr. Wm. Brown, the secretary, has arranged matches are Helsby, Mollington, Ashton Hayes, Barrow and Alvanley. The ITawarden Club has every prospect of a good season. Twenty-two matches have been arranged, the opening game (with Neston 2nd) taking place on May 2nd at Hawarden Park. Dr. Roberts is again captain of the club and Mr. Andrew Williams is the iiort. secretary. For the most part the matches will be plaved on the picturesque ground in the park, which is always such, an attraction to visiting teams. The financial condition of the club is satisfactory. The prospects for the coming season at Shotton are bright, although the club hai-e lost the services of two of their best and most consistent players. Matches have been arranged with the leading clubs of the locality, and a snecessM season is anticipated. Arrangements a.re being made with a view of relaying the pitch at the end of this retsoii. The officers for the season are lHr. J. N. Harris, presi- dent Mr W. Garrett, captain Mr. N. Austin, vice-captain; find Mr. G. Jones, hon. secretary. The first match talces place on Saturday, May 2nd, at Buckley. The Ro-sett Club, which hail a most successful season last year. have elected a good working committee, who have been busily engaged during the past year in relaying the ground. They have joined the Wrexh'im League and will meet with some strong competitors during the forthcoming season. No fewer than sixteen matches have already been arranged. The old-established Gresford club, which has a proud record, is starting this season with almost entirely new officers, and have also wisely decided to join the Wrexham League. The first match wkil be played at home on May 2nd, the competing team being Pontblyddyn. Altogether 23 fixtures have I been arranged. T'ie seis-on of 1903 is being anticipated with an unusual degree of interest among Mold cricketers. Thanks to tho sportsmanlike conduct of the I president (Major Lloydi and Mr. J. J. Lewis, the club have again at their disposal the best ground in the county. The groundsman, W. Blackwell, conies from Tunstall bearing high credentials, commences duty on Monday next, and there- will be found ample mpe among the young' blood for tho exercise of his coalhing capabilities. As a legacy to his 5nCCC5S0', the retiring secretary (Mr. J. M. Lowsby) has left behind a list of fixtures which reflect very credit- ably upon him and at the same time ensure good; sport and no depreciation in the status of the club.

CUT THIS OUT. CUT THIS OUT. SPRING CLEANING, 1903. ORDER FoiUJ :— Sen d for. Carpets on and return N a n1 e. A ddress. If to be relayed Yes or No 11 I Cll ? rrD J-O NES,J BRID(?M STREET, CHESTER.

FIXTURES. The following matches will bo played on the ground of the first-named club to-day (Saturday) Rock Ferry v. Boughton Hall l'oi eston and District A v. Rock Ferry A Birkenhead St. Mary's v. Hoole

CHESTER GOLF CLUB. The second round for the monthly competition was played on Saturday, the 18th inst and resulted in a win for Mr. C B. Toller. Eighteen cards were taken out and the returns were as follows Gross H'eap. Nett. C. B. Toller 91 12 79 O. Okell 83 2 81 H. A. Jenner 102 18 84 C. W. Kellock 95 10 8,5 L. ltowley 87 scr. 87 F. W. Hayes un 2 88 J. P Gamon 97 9 88 Dr. Eyton Jones 101 12 89 G. C. Heasman 103 12 91 T. H. Smyth 101 9 92

AN APRIL OUTLOOK. If there ever was an instance of winter lingering in the lap of spring it may truly be said that it is being experienced at the present season in its most acute form. There is no need to repeat, here what everyone knows in regard to the vagaries of the weather. It is sufficient for the purpose of placing it on record to note that the sc-ero fronts and abnormally cold winds have reduced very much to a minimum the prospects of U>th farmers and gar- deners which some threo weeks or so ago were full of promise for an early and fairly bountiful season. Not that some of us, who can look back 1ll<\f\ )0;r8 th'tT1 would cover the term of a generation as generally accepted, are strangers to such experiences. The writer well remembers having in Worcestershire, a promising patch of early potatoes cuf otf by a severe frost oil a midsummer day some quarter of a century ago, and a fine row of scarlet runner leans in blossom in Oxfordshire killed in a similar manner on a fifteenth of July in the early sixties. Perhaps, however, these are not very remarkable instances when it is considered, as we are told, that there is a frost every day in the year in some quarter of the globe. And wo know that what ha< happened once is likely to occur again. The hitter weather has played sad Havoc with, if it has not entirely killed, the blooms of early prnrs and stone fruit much to the disappointment of the fruit- o, Kent and Worcestershire, especially in the Vale of Evesham, where they are to a. very material extent dtJptJuclent on their early produce, to compete with foreign producers. But something in the way of com- pensation may bo iiia(le, with tile ad vent of more seasonable weather, in regard to nipples ari(I-tho later varieties 6f pears while strawberries under similar conditions may turn out t,) Ir.j not irreirievahly ruined," as some are disposed to think. The weather has been sufficiently drv to '•na.h.e a good deal of leeway being made up in Octt and barley sowing, and potato plulltin. which ought to lie nearly completed by now, but a good deal of tillage work remains to be done. Reports uf tne growing crops of wheat and early sown spring corn are hopeful, though in some cases they are "patchy and yellow," the effects of the winiry weather. Very much of the tender foliage, too, is blackened and withered from the same cause. Neither has the grass grown a deal during the past fortnight. Warmer weather and April rains would be much welcomed just now. A RECORD MILCH COW. Last week's issue of the "County Gentleman" gives, under the heading- of "The Animals' Who's Who," all account- and portiiit of "Grace,' a Dutch cow which gave fifty toni of milk in eight years. Of this animal (the property of Mr. Fredk. Noamo, of Alacknade, Faversham) our contempor- ary remarks —"Everyone knows Dutch cheeses, but tho famous Dutch cows which produce the raw material are not, so familiar to us in this country. Tho Dutchman's haid-won pastures are too precious to bo grazed by infor or kino, and his jealous care of cattle and polders has developed a race of cows which for the quallUy of milk they produce are unrivalled throughout the world. Somo authorities even aver that a Dutch cross in days gone by did much for the milking powers of our own dairy shorthorns; and whether this be so or not, there- is no doubt that at the present, day the big black-and-white c'ows are great favourites with o,,rtaiii of the Kent and Essex dairymen. Their yield of mlk is probably about double that of an average cow, but even among Dutch cattle Mr. Ncumo's "Grace" is a most dis- tinguished animal, for within less than eight years she yielded no [;s than 11.300 gallons, or about 50 tons of milk; It is truo she is scarcely a beauty, in spite of her name but she is twelve years old, and although she has averaged sixteen quarts of mJk daily for the last eight, she still looks the picture of health. She was born in Hol- land and biought to England in 1889. A cow which has been famous in her native lal1(1 some- times resents her change of resid n e and never does so well afterwards; but Grace has more than fulfilled her early promise, for Mr. Neame has about fifty cows, I'itbt", Dtltch or Dutch shorthorn crosses, m his hc-i d, but none of them equals oid Grace. It often happens, too, thn.t the animals of all others one would wish to see muit'plv exceed- ingly are disappointing In this respect- Some wonderful milkers seem to exhaust all their energies in pioducing milk, and leave no living offspring to r. pres -nt them when they go to the happy pastures- This was not so with jGraco, for she has had nine calves in England, but alas six of them were bulls No doubt one or two from such a famous mother would have been most de- sirable for the kndlt of the herd; but- in a country where the demand for Dutch cattle is strictly limited, six was rather too much of a thing. Her three daughters are all capital milkers, t-hongh not equal to their mother." SUGAR BEET. borne enthusiasts have it notion ttJat sugar ne-t may be grown to advantage and piofit in thi country, notwithstanding the fickleness of our climate, and now that, the time for sowing Is ap- proaching are advocating a more general exten- sion of tho crop than hitherto, which has only been on an experimental scale. Mr. Sijinund Stein, who (IKS the reputation of being an autho- rity on the matter, declares that the crop can be grown here equal in quality to those pro- duced in the best beet-growing countries on tiie Continent; moreover, tkat larger quantities can bo produced from tii!, aorc-r-cliei- in qualitv and purity, and possessing a lower quantity cf non-sugar tilnu is proctuccd abroad. W hat ap pears to be the great stumbling bloek in the way. j however, although Mr. Stem doesn t say as much, is the large outlay required for refining purposes. | He estimates that a sugar refinery, working 30000 tons per annum, would cost L 120. 000. Thirty of these would bo required, costing £ 3,600,000. Reckoning one hand for the cultiva- tion of every five acres, it would mean employ- ment for 200,000 h.Mid s to produce the sugar we would require. A factory turning out 5.000 tons of sugar would cost from £ 60.000 to £ 80,000. and it is estimated that 300 factories would be re- quired. having an invested capital of £24000,000. which, with the cost, of < stablishing refineries, would represent. £ 27,600,000 securely invested n) this industry, Fi ve per cent, on this would be £ 1.380,000 annually. These figures no doubt took well on paper, but if the farmer has to writ- for j their on before finding a market- for his, crop the time for giowing sugar beet, we venture j to say, is not yet -_u_' I COOPERATIVE FARMING. Co-operative farming, like many new projects, has not hitherto commended itself to or made much lieadv/ay with country folk. Now and then we come across an instance that shews satisfactory results, but at the. best, thev do not appear to be money-making concerns. The Coin St. Aldwyns (Ctoucestershi;-?) (?-op?i-ativt" Farn-iin? Society, Ltd., which mav be said to hav? passed tho ex- perimental stage" has recently published its eighth annual report. At the incorporation of the society it was estimated that a sum of £ 1.500 would be required as a. working capital for a farm of 192 acns Since then there has been an addition of 60 acres. The amount of the subscribed capital is 21,130, As securing this capital, the valuation made of tho live and dead stock and acts of hus- bandry, at tlie end of 1902. shewed a total of --1,671, of which £ 559 is treated m the. ac-c-ounts as a reserve fund, for, as the report points out, it is clear, from the society's exper once, the farm, now of 252 acres in extent, requires a working capital of more than £ 1,600. The accounts shew a profit, of jE:175 15a. 4d., and, on the suggestion of the committee, tno shareholders have been paid a dividend of 5 per cont., absorb ng about 256 10s. Last year the dividend was 7 £ per cent. The de- tailed accounts of the farm present, as usual, some interesting facts. The payments have been heavier thn.u those of the prev.ous year. Thus, "purchases" amounted to £ 219, as compared with B107 in 1901; and salaries and wages were 2267, against £ 240. On the other hand, rent, rates, fcaxo- and insurance were Elo less— £ 135 against £195; and other expenses of management £13 Ic--£61 against JE74. The sales during tlie year amounted to £ 786 or £ 86 moro than. in 1901. The- valuation at the end of tho year is made up as fol- lows:—Live d()ck £966, implements £ 130, coin. £ 299, acts of husbandry £ 274; total, £ 1.671. MANGEL SOWING AND GROWING. The time is fast approaching when prepara- tions will be going forward for the reception of this m-cst useful and necessary crop, which, next to hay, in some respects and under some circum- stances may be considered as the sheet anchor of live stock maintenance. In this contiectict) some hints in an article in the current "Journal" of the Royal Agricultural Society may well be of service. The writer comments on the con- tinuous growth of mangels for twenty-seven years on the same piece of land at Rothamsted, under the auspices of the Lawes Agricultural Trust, and concludes generally as follows:—(1) That mangels may be grown continuously on the sam", land without injuring the tilth cf the land or the health of the crop. (2) That a liberal dressing of farmyard manure forms the best basis of the manure for mangels. (3) That the crop will further respond to considerable additions of active nitrogenous manures to the dung. particularly of nitrate of soda. (4) That a free supply of potash salts is essential to the proper develop- ment of the mangel, hence a specific potash manuring is desirable even when dung is used in large quantities and on a strong soil initially rich in potash. When nitrogenous manure- aro used in addition to dung the potash salts should be increased pro rata ir order to maintain the health and feeding value of the. drop and to bring it to maturity. (5) That in conjunction with dung, superphosphate, or other phospbatio manure ia hardly necessary, and will give little appreciable return, especially when the crop is g-rown in rotation. (6) That as soluble alkaline sa ts are beneficial to the mangel crop either as direct foods or as economisers of potash, a dress- ing of salt should always be included among the manures for the mangel crop. Mangel- as a rule pay for cultivating; but the land must be "done" well to bo a success. The root is a. veritable gourmand. so to speak, and should be grown on a rich, and deep soil.

Cant you guess?" A handsome lithographic reproduction of this oil painting sent post free to butter makers sending us the addresses of at leflst three other buttermakers not using a cream separator. Thousands of buttermakers still continue to employ old-fashioned methods, and thereby lose at least 111). of butter in every 6. The Melotte turns one-third easier than other separators, has the largest gale in the United Kingdom, has beaten all others in com- petition, and is sent on free trial for 14 days by the- Molotte Separator Sales Co., Ltd., Bristol. It pays to sell a cow and buy a Melotte the same quantity of butter will he made, and the cow's feed and the necessity of milking and attouding to it will be saved.

OUR FOOD SUPPLIES. I ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED. I 1-1 ine -frvss. Association h authorised to state that the King has been pleased to approve the appoint- ment of a Royal Commission to. inquire into the i onditions affecting the importation of food and raw material into the United Kingdom in time of war, and into the amount of reserves of such sup- plies existing in the country at any given period. and to advise whether ;t is desirable to adopt any measure in addition to tho maintenance of a strong fleet by which such supplies can be better se- cured and the violent fluctuations of prices avoided. The following are the names of tho Royal Com- missioners :—H.R.H. the Prinoe of Wales. Lord Balfour of Burleigh (chairman), the Duke of Sutherland, Lord Burghclere, the Ric;ht Hon. Henry Chaplin. M.P., th:, R ght Hon. J. L. Whar- ton, M. P., Vice-Admiral Sir Gerard H. C. Noel, Sir John Colomb, M P., Sir Alfred Bateman (Clomptroller-Genera.1 of the Commercial, Labour, 5 and Statistical Department of the Board of Trade), t Sir H. Sston Karr M.P., Mr. Henry II. Culi?vii ham (Assistant Under-Sccretarv of State, Hom? u Office), Mr. Robertson, M P.. Mr. A. Emmott. t| Omcp), Mr. Robcrtson, M.P M r A. Emmott. g M P., Mr. John W Is?o)i..P. (Mid-Durham), Pro fessoi* Erskine Holland (Profes or of International Law, Oxford University). Mr. A. S. Hurley (Messrs. Glyn, Mills. Curric and Co.). Mr. J. E. Street (Chairman of Lloyd's). Lieut,-Colonel R. Montgomery, V.D. (President of the Liverpool Corn Trade Association). Mr. W. II. Ciark. Board of Trade, wili act. as Secretary to the Com- 1 mission. 1^ !1liSdon.a

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I wish to assure you that if you are in bad health you can he cured if you will but give VITADATIO a fair trial. This remedy has cured V many sufferers, both old and young, aud if you will only try it you will soon bo convinced of its merits. jt Many people have testified that they have found I" great benefit from the contents of the first bottle, Jf and have then continued its use, and have been cured of complaints which have baffled the great j specialists of the present day. My reason for introducing VITADATIO is that j] it has cured me after the doctors had failed to do so. I Pamphlets giving full particulars of my cure, and also the cures of many others, sent to any address. VTTAD ATIO is pleasant to take, and can be given to delicate children with safety, and it has cured people over seventy years of age. so do not let the opportunity of being cured pass you. No man has suffered more than I have done, and VITADATIO has cured me. I am a living witness £ to prove the wonderful powers of this g-reat dis- I* covery. f HEAD WHAT PROMINENT CITIZENS OF NEW ZEALAND SAY ABOUT MY CASE. d F em the Mayor and Justices ,.f tte Peace, and the 1 Kev. Mr .i)"es, of InvercargHl, NT- w Zealand, where j%Ir. Palmer lived for abmt t5 e ivs. THIS IS TO CEKTIFY that we, the under- t signed, hme known the bearer. Mr. S. A. PALMER. | as :t resident of luvercargill, New Zealand, for a J great many years. We know he has been a great sufferer during the past fourteen year, and he never was expected to recover, but as the result of taking a couMe of VITADATIO he has quite recovered I his long-lost health, and now appears to us to be [ quite a new man. We have pleasure in recommend- ing -him to the public wherever his lot may be c?st .4 as an honourable m?n. and worthy of the conndence ?  of all with w hom he may come in contact. JOHN SIKCLAIR, Mayor, Invercargill. J\0. W. MITCHELL, Merchant, J.P., 1'1-:TEP.. In\'ercarJl. PETER WRIGHT JONES, Primitive j Methodist Minister. I G. FROGGATT, J.P., Im-crcargiIl. t OLt?nnbIe locally from ALFRED EVANS, ) Wholesale Grocer, Cheater, 85, St. Anne-street; j 1. Lower Bridge-street: 51, Foregate-street; 52, f Brook-street; 40, Watergate-street: 118, North gate- street: and at Buckley and Connah's Quay. Also t from BOOT, Cah Chemists. I FROM ALL CHEMISTS & GROCERS. I t The pric" of Medicine is 4 0 and 2 9 per bottle. j j For further particulars, 1 S. A. PALMER, I MOUNT PLACE, BROOK ST.. MCHESTER I 'i Correspondence invited. W rite for Testimonials. I 1