The Welshman

It has been a favourable week for farmers in the pastoral counties, and the north and north-west of England, as well as Scotland, Wale?, and Ireland, have benefited very materially by the cooler air and frequent showers. It is doubtful if the greater area of wheat and barley growing land has derived much advantage from the weather change, while the condition of the first samples of the new crop has been prejudiced. The news from the Fens is favour' able, a good wheat crop has already been secured in some of the leading districts. But in the Isle of Thanet, another forward district, the crop is very light, not 28 bushels to the acre, where 34 is an average, and with straw only a bout 20 inches in height. Lord Randolph Churchill chose an infelicitous moment for congratulating wheat. growers on the fact that they could at least make a profit out of the straw." The price of English wheat remains stationary at about 25s to 30a for red wheat, and 28s to 32s for white. The Kentish, Surrey, Sussex, and Middlesex markets are 2s to 3s dearer than those from Essex to Northumberland up the east coast; but the cheapest markets of all just now are those of Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall, where the last sacks of the old crop are being cleared at 23s to 27s per qr, prices which tell very prejudicially on the general average. In the Midlands value is better as we go east and north, worse as we go south and west. The chief central markets, like Nottingham and Leicester, approximate very closely to those of East Anglia in prices quoted. Foreign wheat is not the subject of much alteration from a week ago; the markets naturally rest upon the harvest reports.

I LONDON MARKETS, MONDAY. English wheat to-day was firm but dull for old crop, but the quoted average seems low to those who go round the stands and meet with few samples offering under 28s per qr, and several making 30s to 31s, the latter, however, are per qr of 504 lbs. Foreign wheat was neglected, the weakness of America causing buyers to hold off in hopes of a decline on this side. As the situation, with short crops in the States as well as here and in France, warrants advance rather than retrogression, holders appear amply justified in standing their ground. The American crisis is a fiscal and not an agricultural one. Barley at Mark Lane to-day was steadier for all sorts, but sales were not so good as during the May and June drought. Oats were Is lower from the best prices of early July, but these were 3s better from the lowest rates in June thus about two. thirds of the total advance is kept Maize was 6d cheaper for all sorts, and increased offers from North and South America are expected. Beans and peas were held for firmer prices, but there were few buyers thereat. Of middlings, bran and pollard, our esteemed correspondent, Mr Doggett, writes in a separate report. We fear that his rather pessimistic view of prices-opposed as it is to his own interests as a seller of milling offals—must for the moment be regarded as only too well justified. The season, however, remains so uncertain, and the duration of the present showery spell so very unassured, that to admit any important reduction just now might prove a moat mis- taken policy. The oilseed, seed oil, and oil cake trades have rallied a little from Wednesday and Friday last. Flour to-day was dull for all sorts, but not quotably cheaper. Ameriean bakers' grade made 17s per sack. Shillings WHEAT, White 30 — 39 Red 28 34 FLOUR, per 2801b, London top price nominal 28 Town-made whites 26 24 Do. households. 24 24 Country Flour, best makes 23 25 Do. Norfolk and other seconds 19 25 BARLEY, Malting 31 40 Grinding 19 20 MALT, English 32 42 Scotch. 37 40 Old 32 32 Brown. 30 32 OATS, English 18 — 23 Scotch. 20 24 Irish 17 18 RYE 30 39 TARES BEANS, Winter 32 30 Tick 35 44 English Mazagan 32 34

I THE CATTLE TRADE. The late general rains experienced have had the effect of shortening the supply of beasts at this market; graziers keeping their stock back to better finish them off. There was a better attendance of country buyers, with a decidedly firmer trade, rates being to the extent of fully 2d per 81bs in favour of vendors. For best quality 53 per 81bs was freely given, and rather than pay more many Hereford buyers put up with Lincoln Shorthorns, for which there was a decided rise in value, anything very choice making 4s lOd per 81bs. A clearance will be made. The supply of sheep and lambs was rather below the average of the last few weeks so far as numbers were concerned best quality, however, was well represented. A few very choice Southdowns made 2d per 8lbs over our top quotation of 5s 4d. Trade was of a rather slow nature, butchers not caring to give more than last week's rates, but being eventually compelled to do so. The advance in values must be written at fully 2d per 8lbs, and applied to all descriptions of both wethers and ewes. For lambs there was a good demand, but no higher rates are quotable. A clearance will be made. Calf trade nominal. No pigs on offer. Milch cow trade very dull.

COUNTRY CATTLE MARKETS. I BRISTOL, Thursday.—We had a fair supply of fat cattle to-day. Trado wes* firm for the best at 63s per cwt; other sorts 54s to 60s. Sheep and lambs were plentiful, best wethers made 6id to 7d per lb ewes, 5d to 5d. Lambs were not much in demand, and sold at 2s to 4s each less to-day. We had a moderate supply of pigs. Trade steady for pigs, 6 to 9 scores at 10s 8d to 10s lOd per score porkers, lis. No trade for store cattle. CANTERBURY, Saturday.-Ralll having fallen, there was a little more vitality in the trade to-day. Tegs were selling at 26s per head, and lambs 103 a-piece. Horned cattle were unsaleable. LEICESTER, Saturday.—Although the supplies showed a slight improvement trade ruled very depressed, and prices extremely low. Milch cows made X15 to .£17 per head for best qualities secondary, X I I to .£14 per head in-calf heifers, X7 to X 10 per head bullocks, X9 to J612 10s per head; calves flat, at 7s 6d to 15s per head.

SEED MARKET. Trifolium is dearer, the French crop apparently proving much shorter than was anticipated. New English winter vetches are now coming to market. For spring tares there is still a good inquiry. Seed Giant rye, of this season's growth, and showing excellent quality, can now be bought on moderate terms. Italian ryegrass moves off freely at full rates. For trefoil unprecedented high figures are realised. As regards canaryseed, the con- sumptive demand keeps in small compass holders, mean- time, maintain great firmness. There is no change in hempseed. For blue peas and haricot beans the inquiry is meagre.

HOPS. The first pocket of New Kent bops arrived in the Borough this morning. The effect of the rain on the hop plant that has fallen during the last three weeks can now be seen. It has freshened up all, but the Golding hops in Mid and East Kent have benefited the most; the bine is now full of sap, and the foliage of a very dark green. They want no more rain this season, every drop now would encourage mould, which already threatens the bramblings, but with fine hot, dry weather from now until picking we should estimate the Golding grounds to give a crop of 8 cwt per acre. With regard to the Fuggles on the heavy clays of the Weald and Sussex, the rain came too late to increase the crop much. These hops, with the earlies, such as Prolifics, Hobb's Seales, may produce an average of 3 to 4 cwt per acre. But if the red spider that is running very fast through most grounds does not prevent the development of the hop cones many experienced growers thinks there will not be a pocket per acre picked in those grounds that are badly with spiders. The market is firm.

WOOL MARKET. CARMARTHEN, Saturday.—To-day the trade was very brisk, best quality selling at lOd and lid per lb. A few small quantities of lower quality changed hands at from 9d to loid per lb. LEICESTER, Saturday.—Only a moderate turnover in the local wool market. Consumers still decline'to increase their stock unless they can do so on favourable t(= Prices remain firm, and the outlook remains favourable. In woollen yarns trade is rather quiet; stocks are light. In the hosiery trade there in a slight improvement in fancy and plain goods, but the influx of orders on both autumn and winter account is much delayed.

PROVISIONS. LONDON, Monday.—The arrivals last week from Ireland were 2,507 bales bacon, and from foreign ports 7,469 bales bacon. The bacon market ruled firm last week, with Irish from 66s to 733; Davish, 62s to 71s; at the close 2s to 3s more money was asked for both Irish and Continental, and made in consequence of reports of decreasing supplies from Ireland. The butter market was suddenly extremely quiet, and sales pressed at quite 8s to 10s under rates ruling previous week. Lard a steady trade. CARMARTHEN PROVISION MARKET, Saturday.—The quantity of butter brought in to-day is larger than it has been for the past two months. Prices firm as follows Cask butter, finest quality, 13d per lb; other qualities, 10id to 12d per lb. Fresh butter, 14d to 15d per lb. Cheese, 18s 6d to 23s per cwt.

A RARE APPETITE.— When depressed, Double to eat with relisb, try Pepper's Quinine and Iron Tonic. HOLLOWAY'S PILLS. -Impurities of the blood.-To ensure health it is absolutely necessary that the fluids and soli(is of the human body should be kept free from those impurities which are continually getting ad- mission into the system by erroneous living, unwhole- some atmosphere, or disordered stomach. The only safe and certain way to expel all impurites is to take Holloway's Pills, which have the power of cleansing the blood from all noxious matters, and at the same time removing any irregularities which their presence may have already produced in any organ. Hollo- way's Pills expel all humours which tllint or impoverish the blood, which they purify and invigorate, and give general tone. They are applicable to all alike-young or old, robust or delicate. GIVEN A W AY.-Clever recipes for Dainty Dishes are given away with every Packet of Bird's Custard Powder. A 6d Packet contains sufficient for three pints of choice, delicious Custard, withoot Eggs.

BORDERLAND AND ITS DANGERS. Mr Stead is establishing a new quarterly to discacs and discover in some measore the borderland between the seen and onseen. He has invited and invites any help that the public can give him as to the best methods of dealing with suoh a subject, and promises, in the words borrowed by Professor Huxley from St Paul, to "suffer fools gladly." He has already received a good deal ot foolish advice from wiae people, and sometimes perhapi wise advice from foolish people, and a good deal that has both wise ani foolish elements in it from average people. Bat if he will take a little advice from one of the latter type, it would be to discriminate oarefally between the fools he suffers gladly and the fools he ignores, for it will not pay him to suffer all fools gladly. And especially we woald urge him to avoid mere rhetoric. He says that he is going to explore the borderland of the immense ocean of truth," which Sir Isaac Newton saw before him when he likened himself to a child playing on the sea-ahore. If Borderland is to be of any use at all, that is not the sense in which he most define its province. Sir Isaac Newton's fiods were mostly in a very special region, the region of mathematical analysis, which is carefally explored by a daily increasing number of highly trained men, with whose labours Mr Stead will not find it in the least profitable to meddle. What be really wants to do, and seems to have not a little capacity for doing, is to compel men of sense aad discrimination, like the Bishop of London, who has as yet resisted and resented the notion of attempting to make use of the half-lights which come to us from what is generally regarded as the domain of super- stition, to reconsider their opinions and look strenuously and oarefally, thoagh without any disposition to gulp down credulously 11 that gives them a thrill of awe, at the many evidences which are beginning to accumulate on every side, of real knowledge derivable from eoarces hitherto regarded as either preter-natural or purely imaginary. The Bishop of Loudon says, very modestly, that perhaps he is not competent to give an opinion as to the use of any sach investigations, and then he goes ontojastify the conjecture which his modesty bad suggested to him by saying that, so far as be knows, there is no prima-facie case for the profitable parsait of any such investigation, and that the only" result is likely to be a great multiplication of self-deluded investigators who will delude others as well as them- selves. That has been, undoubtedly, a very common frnit of such investigations, and will be a very common fruit of many more. But it will not be the only fruit, Ht men as shrewd and competent as the Bishop of London engage in the investigation to any consider- able extent. The Bishop of London can scarcely know bow large a number of pore physicians bave given themselves to the subject now known as hypnotism, and how curious and definite are the results which they bave obtained of the existence of state of mind, — in which what are called the effects of mere suggestion," produce. a very real impression, and sometimes a most salutary impression, on the bodily organism. Nothing can be better established, if principles of evidence sach as the hardest oommon-sense accepts, are to be accepted. And nothing can be more astonishing We may say with the fullest assurance that, under certain con- ditions, of which the operators tbemBolves do not understand the meaning, they can a patient who (as the world says) has totally forgotten that be ever received any directions on the subject, break off suddenly at a hour from the professional work he is engaged in,—not being in the least conscious when he breaks off of what he is aboot to do,—and go and do some very arbitrary and foolish act which has no maaning in itself, solely because in the peculiar physical condition which is called hypnotic, be was told to do so. Well, that is not by any means an example of the usefolnessof these investigations, except go far as it exemplifies the extent of a power which may be used, and is used, to make drunkards refrain from drink, and to break other mischievous habits which could not, so far as we know, be otherwise broken. But it is at least a specimen of the reality of a kind of influence of which we do not in the least anderstand the working, and which may produce an indefinite amount of both good and evil in the fature to the human race. Mr Stead tells as of two instances in which even positive predictions were made of what seemed, to those who knew the conditions best, most improbable future events, by the help of some of these unseea and half-understood agencies,—both of which predictions were fulfilled. One of them was as to the Newcastle by-election, when Mr John Morley expected a crushing defeat, and really obtained a great majority. Mr Stead tells us that the evidence as to the reality of this prediction is in the hands of Mr F W H Myers and Professor Sedgwick (surely he means Professor StdgwickP), and if so, the Bishop of London baa the easiest possible means of convincing himself that these investigations are not all illusory. As Mr Stead is anxious for counsel as to the method of his Borderland investigations, we will offer him a suggestion which be may, we think, find of consider- able use,—namely, to try to introduce a striot standard of troth and honour into the treatment of these very complicated sobjects. Even in the medical sphere it seems to us that the healing influence which the new hypnotists employ so freely under the name of "suggestion," is a sortot experimental white-lie. The hypnotiser tells the patient that he will go to sleep at a given hour, when he only knows that in various other cases this result has taken place, that he will find train-oil the most delicious of drinks, or that salt-water is exquisite champagne; and in the case of all the more sensitive patients the hypnotised patient's organism appears to respond to these fibs with the most astonishing docility. And the same thing goes on in a deeper and more voluntary region. The patient is told hit cannot move from his chair, and he is unable to trove. He is told that he will loathe alcohol of any kind, and he does loathe it. Now, do not all these frequently false and yet most efficient suggestions—made by way of experiment, of course— tend to produce a very dangerously amalgamated person- ality between the fibbing hypnotiser and the credulous hypnotised? Wa will take a still more dangerous instance from Mr Stead's own experience, as reported in the Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research for June. According to the statement there made, Mr Stead has the extraordinary power of tapping a friend's mind, as the Southeners used to tap the electric- telegraph when they wanted to know what General Grant's or General Sheridan's orders to his subor- dinates in the great Civil War were. Acoording to the statement,—which we confess we look upon as yet as very questionable,—Mr Stead's hand can write out the thoughts which are occurring to a distant friend's mind, say as to bis money-diiffculties, without Mr Stead's mind knowing in the least what he is going to write. And yet the writing proves to be a real tapping of that friend's mind: — Last February, I met a correspondent in a railway oarriage with whom I had a very casual acquaintance. Knowing that he was in considerable distress, our conversation fell into a more or less confidential train, in which I divined that his difficulty waS chiefly financial. I said I did not know whether I could be of any help to him or not, but I asked him to let me know exactly how things stood, what were bis debts, bis expectations, and so forth. He said that he really could not tell me, and I refrained from pressing him. We parted at the railway station. That night I received a letter from him apologising for not having gifen me the information, but saying that he really could not. I received that letter about ten o'clock, and about two o'clock the next morning, before going, to sleep, I sat down in my bedroom and said, You did not like to tell me your exact financial position faca to fa.oe, but now you can do so through my hand. Just write and tell me exactly bow things stand. How much money do you owe?' My hand then wrote, c My debts are £ 90.' In reply to a farther inquiry whether the figure was accurately IlLated.. ninety poinds,' was then written in fall. 'Is that I asked. My hand wrote, Y 8S, and how I am to pay th«m I do not know.' 'Well,' said I, 'bow much do JOil want for that piece of property yoa wish to sell?' Mf hand wrote, 'What I hope is, say, j6100 for that. It seems a great deal, but I must get money somehow. Oh, if I could get anything to do, I would gladly do anything!' < What does it cost yoa to live ?'I asked. My hand wrote, I do not think I oculd possibly live under £200 a year; yoo see I have to keep some relatives besides myself. If I were alone I could live on JE50 per annum, but there is rent and everything. Where can I get this? I oannot tell.' And, acoording to Mr Myers, this statement has been absolutely verified as representing literally and accurately the actual thoughts and worries of Mr Stead's friend at the time Mr Stead's band wrote it, thoagh that friend had not the slightest idea of communicating them to Mr Stead, and indeed intended to keep them from him. Yet we are told that the mind coald no more communicate a secret which the Ego did not wish to be known, than the tongue would be guilty of suoh an indiscretion, for tongue and mind are alike servants of the real self." We are afraid that Mr Stead's experiences do not bear out this doctrine. In two oases at least, the minds of Mr Stead's correspondents appear to have communicated to Mr Stead what they said at least that they did not wish to be known and it appears to us that Mr Stead and his correspondents live a curioos sort of amalgamated life, which must, we think, bring up a great number of very delicate moral problems as to the laws of truth and honour in these matters. There iø something of the same tendency in all these curious revelations of sympathetic consciousness to confuse the boundaries between mind and mind, that there is in the modern socialism to confase the boundaries between mine and thine. In both regions alike, there is a tendency to the springing-up of a sort of moral collectivism which seems to us the greatest of ail the dangers of the new era. If Mr Stead can tap his friends' minds without their consent, and even act on knowledge whioh he so acquires, a sort of compound personality arises between him and his friend in which, so far as we can see, there is a good deal of danger of the arising of a compound conscience (for which neither he nor his friend is wholly responsible, though each is partly responsible). Of course, all pnblio opinion, and all class-opinion, and all family opinion, is to a certain extent an amalgam prodoced by the minds and consciences of the society which the public, or the class, or the family, constitutes. But when we oome to minds which enter into each others' secret thoughts without any sort of leave taken, we come to a great exaggeration of the danger involved in the reciprocal action of the different element* in society Qn each other. And we apprehend ttrat this very exaggerated form of personal intimacy, if it really exists, will bring very great dangers with it, and perhaps prodooe a pulpy state of conscience in which the "Borderland" between right and wrong will be passed as easily and as freqoently as the Borderland between the seen and the unseen. It is hardly possible to conceive either a stranger or a more formidable agency than the power to tap other men's thoughts without their consent. Spectator.

A MARE WITH CATARA.CT. -I have a valuable brood mare with cataract in one eye. I am afraid tbe other eyes is going the same way. She 16 in foal to a first- class blood sire, and should breed some extra good on r, but if totally blind she might kill her foal. Can the seeing eye be saved ?-[We cannot give yoo much comfort. When the structural changes in the lens which cause tbe opacity and prevent light reaching the nervous membrane on the back of the eye have com- menced, uo treatment can arrest them. Nor can any remedies protect a sound eye from these insidious changes. The disease is certainly hereditary, and bence no animal with cataract should be need for breeding. The opacity is removed in human patients usoally by excision, and the resulting imperfect focal power is ramedied by suitable spectacles. But these cannot be worn by horses, and as faulty vision in then is more dangerous than actual blindness, the operation is not ptirformed. I JUDGING DAIRY CATTLE.—MILKIXG.—The council of the British Dairy Farmers' Association have done well in decidirg that, at the dairy show to be held in the automn, the judges will take into consideration the yield and quality of milk before awarding the prizes. Hitherto the ordinary class prizes have been awarded on the appearance of the animals, separate prizes being given tor the milking trials, and it has often happened thst a cow which gained the first prize in her class has oat a comparatively poor figure when submitted to the milking test. There is every reason to believe that the milking of cows in large dairies by machinery will soon become as common as the cutting of corn and grass is on large farms. During the last few years two or three inventions have been brought into practice, with results so nearly satisfactory as to encourage mechanicians to further efforts towards perfection and, last week, a new machine, patented by Dr Shiels and Mr Elliot., was tried at the annual show of the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire Association, greatly to the satisfaction of the dairy farmers present. The novelty of the invention lies in the action of the teat caps, which is a combina- tion of suction and pulsation, and a remarkably close imitation of the sucking of a calf. At least, ihis is the verdict of the Scottish Farmer and the Farming World alike. EFen resti'e cows, it is said, soon prove sus- ceptible to the soothing influence of this ingenious con- trivance. By means of it one man can milk five cows at" a time.

FIFTY YEARS OF BRITISH FARMING. I The North British Agriculturist in its last (Jubllee) I number has the two following very interesting I artioles PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. Daring the last fifty years agricultural science has done a great deal for the development and progress of agriculture. When the Agriculturist waa started, the famous Rothamsted experiment were being commenced, and these experiments have reduced to an exact science the feeding of plants by means of natural and. artificial manures. Guano and disolved bones had been intro- duced before the Rothamsted experiments were commenced, and dissolved bone manures are still in high favour, while many would still prefer to use guano if it coald be got of the same qoality and at the same price as it was in these early days. Nitrate of Boda bad also been introduced fifty years ago, but it was very liule used then, whereas it is now very largely used as one of the cheapest and most effective fertilisers that the agriculturist can sow. In 1845 the British Association at its Cambridge meeting called prominent attention to the fact that the phosphatio rocks which exis'ed to a great extent in England might furnish a most usefal and very cheap source of the phosphoric acid which is an essential element of plant food. Hence the development of the trade in mineral superphosphate which has grown to suoh great dimensions in ltiter times. About the same time, Mr John Saier, who held the Fordyce Lectuieship in Aberdeen University, affirmed that extreme fineness of division in the case of either bone or mineral phosphates would render the phosphates about as readily available to the plants as they were in the dissolved state, and in that way the considerable cost of dissolving the phosphates in solpburio acid might be saved. Professor Jamieson, who now holds the same lectureship in the Aberdeen University, insisted strongly on the same point, and a wide experience has since shown that, in the lighter class of soils at least, ground phosphates in a very fine state of division are about as readily available for plant food as dissolved phosphates. The same idea soon led to a new mine of phosphatio wealth being tapped in slag phosphate, a bye-product in the manufacture of steel through the dephosphorisation of iron. By means of Analytical Associations, and the joining of Agricul- tural Societies, whose members are entitled to get chemical analyses at specially low rates, farmers in Scotland at least have learned during these later days to protect themselves against the harpies who not only plandered them, bat also inflicted a real injury on the honest members of the chemical manare trade. In many other ways, also, agricultural science has rendered great service to the agricultarist. As elsewhere noted, veterinary science has made great strides during the last fifty years, and our veterinarians of the present day are much better equipped for combating the ailments of farm liye stock. The agricultural botanist ha3 also given much valuable information in regard to the best grasses and grass mixtures to sow on different soils for varying leases of time. By means of seed analysis, farmers can also gaard themselves against loss tbroagh low germinating powers of seed and much credit is due to Professor M'Alpine, the botanical adviser of the Highland Society, for hiving brought this important matter to the front. The life-long labours of Miss Ormerod in the field of agricultural entomology hive also shown farmers the best means by which they may protect their crops against the ravages of inj urious insecta, and the country is under a deep debt of grati- tude to this noble lady for her totally disinterested labours on their behalf. Science has also shown the dairy farmer bow he can immensely improve the quality of his cheese and batter. In fact, it was the application of science which first enabled the foreign producer of dairy products-the Canadiaos and the Danes, for iostance-tj obtain such a firm hold on our maikets bat the home producer is now becoming fully alive to the value of science as applied to dairy practice. Science has always shown the farmer how by the grow- ing of leguminous crops—clover, vetches, beans, ness, &c.-be may obtain from the atmosphere a large supply of nitrogen, which is the costliest manure he has to purchase. The value of agricultural soience is now being very fully recognised in every department of farmiag business, and a large proportion of County Councils throughout the country are now employing agricultural experts in the cause of agricultural education. TROGRESS IN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE. I Great progress has also been made in agricultural practice during the last fifty years. It is quite true that at the commencement of that period some of the pioneers of agricultural progress-such as Mr Mechi, for instance—were carrying on a system of intensive farming which embodied mostly all the best points in the agricultural practice of the beat farmers of the present day. In these early days, too, the late Marquis of Tweeddale was advocating and practising the principle of deep cultivation, whose value has again been brought prominently forward just now by M Girard in France, and Mr Thomson, of Clovenfords, emphasis the same point in another column. But the rank and file of the farming classes were then far behind these early pioneers of progress in innumerable I ways, and the progress in agricultural practice daring the last fifty years has consisted largely of levelling up the practice of the rank and file of the agricultural classes to that of these early pioneers plus the use of improved lappliances wbich did not exist in these early days. Another most important feature of progress is to be found in the great improvement of oar farm live stock through the careful selection of breeding stocks and the registration of pedigrees. The breeding and registration of high-class and high-bred animals have wrought an immense improvement in the character of the farm live stock of the present day, and in our cattle and sheep stocks the quality of early maturity has been immensely developed by such means. By careful attention to the "pedigree" of seed stocks also, onr farmers are now able to produce better crops than they otherwise would, and most of the best farmers regularly obtain a supply of carefully selected seed, grown under the supervision of the leading seed firms. The production of now varieties of potatoes, which are much less liable to the attacks of the potato blight than the older varieties, ha.s fIlo become an important busi- ness. Through tho use of improved methods and improved appliances, a vast improvement has also been wrought in the quality of our dairy product. On all hands the signs of progress are abundantly manifest, though it most be cordially conceded that some few of the earlier pioneers of progress were little, if anything, behind the most advanced farmers of modern times.

The Editor of the Medical Annual speaks in the highest terms of CADBURY'S COCOA as a beverage and a food for invalids on account of its absolute purity, high quality, and great solubility; counsels the Medical Profession to remember, in recommending Cocoa, that the name CAD- BURY on any packet is a guarantee of its purity. 6974

THE FARMER'S COLUMN. THE WEATHER.—Rain has at last (remarks the Farmer and Stock-Breeder) become general. Every- where it has been falling in abundant measure. The country generally has already assumed qnite a different aspect under the change the brown, scorched grass lands of the past three months having given place to green healthy looking pastures, while every other sort of vegetation has heartily responded to the inviting character of thu weather. If the rainfall during the next three menths should be fairly libera!, we may expect a vigorous growth on pasture and meadow lands. The earth possesses an unusual store of genuine warmth, and is also, we should qkv, well stocked with nutriment for plants, seeing that so little has been absorbed by the plants this season. All that is required to set tha process in full operation is an ample supply of moisture. And this essential element now seems pretty well assured. Nothing could be more welcome to the English farmer than a growthy autumn. If the dry intervals are sufficiently frequent and prolonged to permit the safe ingathering of the grain crops little more will be desired during the next three months. A good autumn will go a long way towards relieving the anxious apprehensions re- garding the supply of forage fare for the coming winter. The longer the fields will afford ample food for the stock the better in a season such as the present when house-food will be so limited and so costly. It may be possible also to somewhat increase the winter's supply between now and the end of Sep. tember. If it is not convenient to procure it in the form of hay, the valuable aid of the silo migh>, be called into operation in preserving the aftermath and the products of waysides, policies, 4c. Farmers should adopt erery possible means of adding to the meagre supply of forage derived from the ordinary rotation. CATCH CROPS AND FODDER SUPPLY.—Tbe Board of Agriculture believe it, may be useful to draw attention to some of the leading special and catch crops, which, in the event of an early harvest, may, under favour- able conditions, prove of utility in providing green food for stock in the coming autumn, winter, and spring in districts where the recent severe and pro- longed drought has seriously diminished the ordinary hav and fodder crops of the season. The policy of resorting to one or other of these catch crops most in every case be determined by the varying local circum- stances of soil and climate, and cannot be made the subject of geseral recommendation. RYE, if sown at once, might afford good food for stock early in the autumn, or it might be mown for hay if the land were strong and in good heart. It would furnish very early food in the spring for stock, or it could be made into ensilage. Rye in the, early stages of its growth should be top-dressed freely with nitrate of soda. OATS put in promptly would give food for soiling or cutting in the autumn. The crop might also be- made into hay, and it is equally useful for converting into ensilage. TRIFOLIUM INCARNATUM on suitable soils and under favourable conditions, in its three varieties, early, medium, and late, may be largely sown in proper proportions to follow in succession in cutting. It might also take the place of red and other spring- sown clovers that have failed. ITALIAN RYE-ORASS sown very thickly, and as early as possible, would, nnder favourable conditions, yield some good food in the autnnan, and in the following- spring. This crop provides good fodder for dairy stock. It may he sown after vetches or grain crops* from July to September, but will require a heavy manuring of nitrate of soda or other ammoniacal manure. TRIFOLIUM PRATBKSE, OR COWOTtAgg, if sown at once, either alone or with Italian rye-grass, might with sufficient moisture yield a good crop in the autumn. It should be simply brushed or rubbed in, or harrowed in by a chain harrow, and a rosier run over it. Nitrate of soda and superphosphate may be used as manures. This clover can only be mown once,. but it would afford excellent feed throughout the late- summer and autumn after its crop of hay. A mixtore- of rapid growing grasses and clovers, such as the above, with the addition of cocksfoot, trefoil, and alsike, should, with the necessary moisture, yield P, good crop bv the end of September. Brank or hnck- wheat may, in some instances, be grown with advan- tage where climate and soil permit. WHITE MUSTARD grows very rapidly, and may bee Bown where turnips and mangolds have failed, or upon sttibble. If plenty of seed he used. and eom& pbosphntio manure applied to the stuhble, there, should be good sheep food in six weeks or less, but, this crop does not stand a bard winter. A peck of seed per acre, sown as late as the end of August, ilt, said to yield good food by the end of November. RAPE, in the form of giant. ripe, may be drilled in the old drills where mangolds and swedes have- failed, or on fresh ploughed stubbles. In a favour- able season there might, be time to single it and get a good crop, or it. might be left unboed. Dwarf or ordinary rape can be sown broadcast in Julyand August on land where crops have failed, and should be harrowed in. On stubbles it may be sown broad- cast with three or four cwt. of superphosphate per acre, and will furnish good food for the spring. THOITSANTWIEATIED KALE, if drilled at once, well manured, and afterwards singled, might supply a valuable and verv bnlfey food for both sheep and cows in etrly spring from February onwards nnder favourable conditions. If kale plants are available, time would be saved by their being transplanted where other crops have failed. Thousand- beaded kale has. in many districts, taken the place of rare as being a more heavy bearing crop. JSOIIT.-RAIU might, in certain cases, be still put in where turnips and mangolds have failed, and where turnips could not be again sown, hut in most districts the season would he too much advanced for a large cron to he looked for. VETCHES sown after an early cereal crop, where the- stubble has been heoken up either by a piougb, grnhber, or harrow, might afford much food, even in the late autumn, on well-farmed land. They should be sown with a mixture of oats, wheat, beans, or rye- to kpep them up. WINTFR OATS AN1) BARLEY, if put in speedily, will furnish a good yield of food for bay, soiling, or ensilage. If the weather is unfavourable to quick growt h these crops will still furnish excellent food for stock in the spring. PEA HAULM, if made into hav, should form a useful addition to the stock of fodder for winter feeding-. Hop BINES may also be made into bay. For this the finer bine! which are often trained on cocoanut fihrt* strings, may be specially used. But care must, be taken to pull out these strings so that tbev are not eaten by cattle. In making bop bines into hay th& bines niust. be got together directly they are hayed," and not left till the end of hop-picking. In view of the present high prices of hav it will pay to take up the bine-hay when ready the neglect to take this. precaution is the prohable cause of the hop-bine bay frequently turning out poor. LATE SWEDES, TURNIPS, &c.-Where mangolds and swede-, haveJfaiJed to come up. it would not be too- late to run in the same drills, either with )e without i manure, some of the following—viz., the late swede, hardy swede, the orange jelly, golden ball turnip, green globe turnip, six weeks turnip, or the grey stone- turnip. There ar* several varieties of turnips which* might be sown in this way which would produce con- siderable quantities of keep, and stand the winter, even wbpre sown broadcast, some of which may be. sown upon stubbles, as the harvest will be early, and they would have nearly three. months to grow in-

I ITA rE gone into the silk business," said a man to his neighbour. So I supposed^as I saw you reeling all day Testerday." You are always making a bittt of me," said* a chap, in not the soberest mood. You are always making- one of yourself." was the reply. THE only difference between a pig making a glutton of itself and a man making a pig of himself, is that the pig at some future day will be cured. GLASS eyos for horses are now made with such per- fection that the animals themselves cannot see through he deception. A LADY of the jnmped-up type sat in her draw- ing-room. She showed a marble Cupid to an admirer, who had called upon her. It is your boy," said the admirer, who wished to imply that his- adoration led him to regard the lady as Venus. Another jumped-up lady called later on in the day. Who's that ?*' she said, pointing to the Cupid. My own boy," replied lady number one, catching at the new idea inspired by her former visitor. Oh,, indeed," answered lady number two and that is your daughter, I suppose ?" she continued, as she pointed to another statuette of Venus, attired in her tisual thoughtlessness as to costume. A WRITER in a South African contemporary, in describing a ball-room, says, "The dreary old build- ing was prettily decorated with the youth and beauty of Humansdorp, and a few supplementary flags." A CLAIM has recently been proudly put forth in New York by a family of the name of Moss to be the most ancient family of whom there is any record and scientific proof. They base their claim on tbe- statement of 'a well-known professor, that the origin of life was the moss-grown fragments from the ruins of another world." AN Irish gentleman having purchased an alarm- clock, an acquaintance asked him what he intended to do with it. Och," answered he, sure I've nothing to do but pull the string and wake- myself." THE general impression about wrinkles is that they are caused by worry,.but the truth is most of them come from laughing. To know how to laiicrii is j tizir, as important as to know when to do it. If you laugh with the side of your face, the skin will work loose in time, and wrinkles will form in exaot accordance with, the kind of laugh you have.