THE FARMER.

AGRICULTURAL PAPERS. ■ “ THE AGRICULTURALIST.” Part 11. STATISTICS OP THE UNITED KINGDOM., total Home produce can now be correctly calculated from the annual returns.' The, collection 'of returns was instituted. in Ireland at time of the potato famine in 1847 . It only since 1867 that- they 1 have beet yearly. The information is col- by the Constabulary, a semi-military stationed it all parts of the country, is arranged by the - Registrar-General, annually printed. . experience, of has created such' a fund yf local knqw- thatthere cap now be.no doubt eritor- of tke substantial accuracy of the re- Hunu. Miiiuts accuracy is not expected or , but sxe comparisons from year to show the relative correctness obtained be sufficient for all practical..purposes, value of this information is powerfully forth in -the following statement, show- comparative t quantity and value of ■ Home and foreign agricultural produce ■ consumed annually in the United King- Table showing comparative quantity and value of Home and foreign agricultural produce annually consumed for 1877: —-

It is shown, from the above, statement that the, total value of the home crop is more than .that of the imported,' but the proportion of vegetable and animal food is singularly close, as will be shown by this further arrangement of figures :—r Home growth. , £ £ Value of Corn and vegetable pro duce ... ... 1*5.737.50° 52.537.5°° Value of Animal produce ... 135,000,000 58,170,006 260,737,500 110,707,500 The quantity of Indian corn imported in 1876 was nearly f 40,000,000 cwts, an amount quite exceptional and unpre cedented, and therefore not included in its frill amount in. the preceding ; 'tahle ; Table showing average price of British wheat, barley, and oats in the United Kingdom, per imperial,quarter ot 8 bushels, in each of the 16 years 1863-1878. . , . . ~

barley, 375. 6d ; oats, 24s gtl. These averages will no doubH he of in terest to the New Zealand agriculturalist, ■and may he lookec.', upon as valuable re cords, not only for the lisa of those directly occupied ingrain growing—but of considerable interest to others. The following is the analysis extending over sixteen years. This staten lent shows the maximum and ' fninimu: rn yearly average price realised for whes vt, barley, and oafs, and the general average prices per Imperial quarter for the peri< id referred -to, namely, 1863 to 1878. WHEAT. s. d. Mix'mum yearly average per Im perial qliarter 64 6 Minimum yearly average per Im perial quarter ... ... 4* o General average' per Imperial quar ter for sixteen years ... ... 51, 5 BARIEV. Maximum yearly aveiage per Im perial quarter ... .. ... ... ,44 11 Minimum yearly average per Im perial quarter ... ... ... 39 9 General average per Imperial quarter lor s xtceh years ... ,37 6 _ , OATS. Maximum yearly avei-age per Im-" perial quarter ... ... ... -28 8 , Mwriruum,yearly average per Im perial quarter. ~i., 20 7 General average per Imperial for sixteen years ... . 24 9 . " jpßqpoQzios - or lanoownekb the rCHITRn KINGDOM TO , TEE WI lOXE POPU , kvsO.OOO -to ,33,000,0 30. _ - r The 41 Doomsday Book ” for the United ||j|aagdoin, lately published, divides the

landcfwnei's into two classe*—those who have loss than one acre of land, and those who Jiave one acre and upwards. The former comprise 70 per cent, of the whole, but as none of this class has so much as an acre and they hold altogether less than, a two hundredth part of the land, they may be regarded as house holders only. Excluding these, as not . properly agricultural landowners, it may then, fairly be said . that one person in every huh«jred;of .the entire population of the United Kingdom is a landowner. Subdividing that figure- by -the- average number Of each family, it may. be con cluded, that every twentieth head' of a family is;an owner of land.

THE MOST STRIKING PBATCBBS OP RECENT ACRICTH/TUBAL PROGRESS.

Before entering on a more detailed description ■ of the principles which •generally regulate • the' management of agricultural and other landed property ■, it may , pehaps', be Advisable briefly to notice the progress recently made, together with the changes which science and art, or the operation of other combined l causes, in connection with the ; present position of the British farmer, and the effect of such in regard to competition, which may have been in consequence thus forced upon him.

"One of the most striking features in connection with agricultural progression is the general introduction of the fanner’s real friend —the reaper and binder, which has multiplied the effects of human labor to a most wonderful extent, and that, too, at the most critical season of the year.—harvest time, when the salvation of tho entire crop at times depends on the expedition with which it is gathered in. There is also iii use a machine for haymaking, pos sessing similar advantages. It ■ would, indeed be difficult to estimate, generally speaking, the benefits which have accrued from the introduction of these two highly important labor-saving machines. Next to the economy of labor may be ranked the continued increase of produce, brought about by the expedient of taking two com crops in succession. Where the land is clean, and in high condition, and where the agriculturist is free to follow a rational system of farm ing, the four-course system of alternate com and green crops, wheat, turnips, barley, and grass, have two great advan tages—first, by alternating restorative and ; cleansing crops with corn ; and second, by regular distribution of labor throughout the year. This is now the most modem system followed in Great Britain.'' It is pointed- out with great force how such a course might be. bene ficial, and become an instrument of groat national value if any unforeseen occurrence should cut off one of the main supplies of wheat —that of Russia for example. If only the twentieth part of the com land of the United Kingdom were called on to bear an additional wheat crop, tho loss would be at once made good, and with no perceptible strain on the present agricul tural system. By this means, if all Europe were shut against Great Britain, she would be quickly able to meet the in creased home demand by double cropping, to the extent of one tenth of her com land. It is clear that at present Great Britain possesses, in this power of taking a second wheat crop, a latent reserve force, which might on very short notice bo brought into action; and this is without reckoning anything on the immense reserve power of eereail production which is stored up in the pasture lands, ready in case of need. It is a power, moreover, that will check any con siderable permanent rise in the price of wheat, and which would dispel all predic tions likely to arise at anything that high settled rates can rule. A decline in the acreage under wheat is, when not caused by a bad seedtime, the natural result of low price ; but when the price rises, increased acreage quickly follows. Were the price to rise steadily, and show signs of permanence, the second crop system would extend, and effectually check the rise in price. (To be Continued.)

NOTES FROM SEAFIELD.

from otjh own correspondent. In my List I promised you that I would give further information about the crops in this district, and I will now attempt to inform your readers as to the progress on the plains. The weather has been so extraordinarily favorable to the light land in this district, I will venture to say that, taking into consideration the high value set on land in other districts, and the low estimation in which the farms on the plains has been held, our crops will astonish some of the proprietors of land valued at from L2O to L6O per acre, since our pro rata yield, according to cost of production, will be enormously beyond anything in Canterbury. About Seafield proper, the wheat is looking remarkably well, hut is in most cases Late. This, I think, is in its favor, as we have a saying in the old country, “A late harvest, a full barn.” I noticed one peculiarity about some of the farms here which I. should like some of the proprietors on whose crops it shows most to Some fields have yellow patches and strips, and this will occur where the surrounding crop is quite green. lamquileat a loss to account for it, and would be obliged to some of my friends to render a reason therefor.

Some'of the barley ancV oat crops are looking first-class, and I will notice them more particularly in my next letter. There are some fields of seif-sown corn which look a deal better than the first crop did last year. The hay harvest has already commenced, but I think some are cutting it rather early for seed. The Kyle farmers are all in good spirits in the hope of an abundant harvest, and they have first-rate prospects at present. About the Wakanui creek, on the rich land, everything is looking first-class ; but the farmers here could do with a good deal less rain than they have had. I will not venture in this letter to give you an estimate of the yield per acre, as last year’s judgment on my part com pletely threw my old English notions into the shade, but as the crop comes out in ear I will then make a guess at the num ber of bushels per acre throughout the I may here mention that thero is a large area in potatoes this year, and the tops look very promising. I was also glad to notice, as a sign of renewed confidence, that the plough is, at work on the tus socks again, getting new land ready for next year’s crop. A few years and a tus sock will be a thing of the past in bea field, unless grown as a curiosity.

THE CROPS ON THE WINCHMORE ROAD.

The crops in this direction are looking well and giving promise of an abundant yield. We have not recently inspected the cultivated portions of Mr. Hart’s rim, but from the appearance of growth on inferior land, we have no doubt that that portion of the country under the able management of Mr. Stitt is doing well. Mr. Petty hiiallO acres of wheat of great promise, and some barley and oats almost as good.. The wire worm has affected portions of the oat crop, but we think the average yield on this farm may be fairly estimated at 25 bushels per acre. Mr. Spring has about 300 acres down in cereals, comprising wheat, oats, and barley. The wheat is late sown, but of a very healthy color and general appearance ; part of the oat crop is good, but the balance and t!ie greater part of the barley is only fair. The barley is sown •on new land not sufficiently worked, and to this the partial failure of the crop must be attributed. Mr Baldwin has 60 acres of oats, and about 40i of barley. The whole of the crop is looking fairly well, but about ten acres of the oats will not yield heavily. Mr. Hercock bos the best crops in the neighborhood, and wo think quite equal to any growing in the country. Ten acres of barley are really splendid, and will be an early crop, for which its enterprising grower should realise a high figure. Fifty acres of oats, and 70 of wheat are almost equally promising, and the lot cannot go much less than 40 bushels to tho acre. The land is quite light, similar to the x'est of the plains, biit Mr. Hercock is a thorough fanner, who would be an ac: quisition to any district, arid has worked his holding in an admirable manner. The Akaroa borough reserve is still unoccu pied, but tho Ivuiapoi reserve of 2000 acres is leased by Messrs. Saunders Bros., and they have a large quantity in crop, looking very well. Mr. Campbell has 55 acres wheat, 20 acres barley, and 60 acres oats, all looking well, one piece of tuscan of about 28 acres being especially , good.

LONGBEACH ROAD BOARD.

Tho usual monthly meeting of this Board was held at the new office on the Longbeach road on Saturday, the Cth inst. Present—Messrs Grigg (Chairman) Clark, Dawson, and Taylor. THE DIVIDED BOARD. A letter was read from the Bank of New Zealand, Ashburton, advising the receipt of the sum of L 760 15a 4d from the Treasury in favor of the Ashburton Road Board, and as this account was now closed, asking to bo informed to whom Hie money should be credited. Tho Chairman was asked to see the Chairman of the Wakanui Road Board, in order that they may together write to the Treasury, explaining that the Ashbur ton Road District had been divided into two districts, and that the money should also he divided. WATEPTON POUND. A letter was read from the Ashburton County Council, asking the Board to nominate a poundkecper for the new pound at Waterton. It was resolved to advertise for tenders. INSURANCE ON OFFICES. Mr. George Parkin, tho contractor for the erection of the new Road Board offices, wrote, asking for a refund of money paid for insurance of the building. The matter was referred to Mr. Bruco, tho architect. THE WEATHER AND WORK. Mr. Samuel Anderson, the contractor for the formation of Ford’s road, wrote, asking for the extension of the contract time, owing to tho wet weather which has lately occurred. The request was granted. SIDE DRAIN BRIDGES. Messrs. Donaldson,, Morgan, ■ Moses, and Read, wrote asking for bridges to be placed over tho large side drains on the Waterton road, in order to give them access to their properties. In terms of a former resolution of the Board, it was decided to supply the tim ber at Ashburton, the applicants doing the work of carting and erection. SURVEYOR’S REPORT. The Surveyor’s report was read as fol lows :—l. I have the honor to recom mend that a footpath he formed on parts of the Great South and Graham’s roads at Tinwald, with a timber korbing and side channels. 2. That tho ruts on Bell’s, Longbeach, and tho Great South roads be filled in. 3. That the road between the Islesworth and Lowcliff stations be re paired where already formed, by drainage, the manager agreeing to contribute half the cost of an outfall drain. 4. That tho approach to the Hinds Ford on the Low cliff Beach Road be repaired. 5. That a culvert be placed on the main road at the Waterton school, and another at the blacksmith’s shop at Waterton on the same road. 6, And that the Upper Ash burton Road Board be asked to enlarge the present culvert over the Tinwald creek on Road alongside of railway. The first four clauses were adopted, together with instructions to put about teii additional yards per chain of shingle on 120 chains of the road between Winslow and Willowby. The remaining two clauses were deferred until the drainage scheme was definitely arranged. RETURNING OFFICER. Mr. W. Cuthbert was appointed to be the Returning Officer for the district. THANKS. Instructions were given to the Clerk to write to tho Willowby School Committee, and also to the schoolmaster expressing the thanks of the Board for the use of the schoolroom during the meetings of the Board lately held in it. MISCELLANEOUS. It was resolved to insure the new Road Board office and cottage for L4OO, and the stables for LIOO, in the New Zealand In surance Company ; and to advertise that all outstanding rates for the year ending 31st March, 1879, would be sued for. Accounts amounting LS29 17s. 2d. were examined and passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.

SOUTH RAKAIA SCHOOL COM MITTEE.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above School Committee was held on Tuesday evening last. Members present; Messrs. A. Makeig (chairman), Wm. Kem ble, Sharp, and N. Welsh,. The Chairman informed the Committee that he had signed the salary cheques for November.

The schoolmaster’s report for the month was read, shewing an increase in the at tendance of 19.

On the motion of Mr. Sharp it was decided that Mr. Hall be requested to obtain for the use of the school 3 dozen small slates, chalk, pens, etc. It was resolved that a fortnight should be allowed the children for Christinas holidays ; and that Mr. Hale’s requisition for the use of the school for night classes should stand over till next meeting. A letter was received from Mr. Laurie with reference to his account.

• ,Oa the motion of Mr. Sharp, it was de cided that Mr. Laurie be informed that the Committee were not responsible for timbet purchased by contractors. The coi/tractors in this instance had to find the material, but any amount for coal and firewood included in the account would be paid by the Committee, the balance he would have to look' to the contractor, Thos. Byrne, for. From Mr. Hall and Miss Jack, with reference to the amount of salaries, which they declined to accept owing to a dis crepancy in the amounts, and asking that the mattler bo referred to the Board of Education. The Committee, in referring the letters of Miss Jack and Mr. Hall to the Board of Education, considered that they had a just and equitable ground for complaint, not only on the reduc tion of their salaries on being appointed to a larger and more important school than that which they had resigned, but having a large daily increasing at tendance of children. This Committee Urgently requested the Board to recon sider the amount of salaries passed for them, they being less than the amount of salary allowed to the last master and mistress. The Committee consider the salaries inadequate to their position and below the standard scale—the average on the roll now being 100. It was resolved to inform the Board that owing to the increased attendance at the school the present building is quite inadequate for the proper teaching of so large a number, and the daily increase renders it necessary that more room should be provided. The Committee pointed out to the Board that so many children confined in a room measuring 50ft. x 17ft. is not conducive to the health of the children and teachers, and urgently requested that the Board will take immediate steps to have an addition made to the building. They further brought under the notice of the Board the advisability of erecting a close fence across' the play-ground to separate the sexes. ■

It was further resolved that the Board of Education should be written to, asking them to sanction the appointment of Charles Heating as pupil teacher to the South Rakaia School. It was decided to invite tenders for needful repairs, &c., on the grounds, fences, and gates of the school, and the Chairman and Mr. Welsh were appointed a committee to accept the best tender. ■ The master was instructed" to apply to Committee for any school-books, slates or other requirements for the use of the school and a sub-committee was appointed to fix the price. It was decided to call a special meeting to consider the time and place for giving the school-children their annual treat. The Committee then adjourned.

CHISPA’S LETTER.

(From the Ashburton Herald, December 6.) “ I am not yet so bald that you can see my brains. ” — Long fellow.

The imposition of new duties by Parlia ment this session has had a most alarming effect on my grocer’s bill ; and as I was under the impression, from reading your Wellington reports, that tobacco was the only item that 'had a dead set made at it, by our legislators—(Mr. E. Gr. Wright don’t smoko) —I was a little put out, when buying provender for the week to find that every article I wanted had risen on account of the tariff. What was more incomprehensible than anything else was the information I got from the fussy purveyor that Moffat’s flour had also risen in price, on account of the “ rise in the duties, you know'and the informa tion was given with such a childlike and bland smile that I felt compelled to swallow - it.

Those County Council buildings are going to be made safe against intrusion on the part of the common herd. A post and rail fence is good enough to make most places secure, but the Council’s buildings are of so sacred a nature that although the house only cost some L 350, it requires a L4OO fence to enclose it. The County when they start to spend money, don’t stick at a pound or two, but this fence is a little too thick, I think. And just in front of these buildings there is a Borough Council job—the plantation in Baring Square. It was intended to be a pattern to horticultnralists, by which they could see the wisdom displayed by the city fathers in the selection of orna mental shrubbery plants, and thereby would he inculcated a taste in young gardeners which would be pleasing in the extreme. However, Baring Square is at present only tenanted by the monotonous pinua insignis, and a splendid crop of weeds, which threaten to exterminate the pines. Perhaps it would be as well for the unit, representing the available manual labor at the service of the Borough, to follow the instructions given at last meet ing and do a bit of wood picking.

The Government are going in for re ductions and economy in all directions. The most trifling case of waste or extrava gance is at once pounced upon, and the expenditure reduced to the lowest re munerative prices. The latest saving they have effected is in the direction of gum on the post and duty stamps—(such is the evi dence given in a case hoard in Christ church yesterday)—and it is a saving which cuts both ways ; because, if one of the new stamps is stuck on a document, and the gum isn’t strong enough to keep it there, why, it is necessary to buy an other one, and the Stamp Act revenue is doubled at once, besides the saving in gum. It Is an ingenious dodge; because nobody

buys stamps except those with plenty of money, so that it becomes a sort of indirect tax on capital. Clever Johnny Oritork. Cadging for advertisements is quite a science ; the following letter which was received by a tradesman in town (the names only being altered) shows what an advantage a man who combines scripture with business possesses ever an ordinary mortal : “ Nov. 15, 1879. “ Sir, —I am agent for the “ Cloudy Leader,” which is puhlishedsunultaneously at Bullcloudy and Meltem. If you will have a part of your advertisement in serted in that paper. It is an 8-page paper, containing a large amount of reading,, so is much read in many dis tricts by.just the class of people who are sure to try your articles. I shall not speak in praise of it, the proof of the pud ding is the eating of it, but if I did not believe very many would try it I would not say so. No—not for the paltry little sum I should get by your advertising—that would not compensate fordoing wrong— wo must bear'in'mind that all we do or say, that one day we must all stand before a Judge (yes, the Judge) if you wish it inserted I will do it at 60s a year, payable quarterly, but not in advance. Take my advice and try it: depend upon it, you wont regret spending los a quarter. “Let me have an answer by return of post, so as if you wish to do so, it may ap pear in our next issue, and let me have the advertisement signed.” As the writer didn’t sign the letter him self our fellow townsman took it for a hoax, but a few days afterwards the fol lowing arrived ; 28th Nov., 1879. “ Dear Sir, —Kindly lec me have an answer tu my letter of 15th ulto., and oblige yours truly, W. F. TISIDERXiUTCHBK. P.S.—I know you : would lind it bene ficial to you, to have your advertisement inserted, if people don’t sow seed in their ground they can’t expect a crop, but as a rule if they do, they gather one.” It is perhaps superfluous to remark that the columnsof the “Cloudy Leader” stillappear without the coveted advertisement. The Brass Band has been giving con siderably more satisfaction to the music loving portion of our community lately.— They don’t practice so often. Chispa.

The Doctor in the Kitchen.

Mr. Earnest Hart writes in the ‘ ‘ British Medical Journal,” in continuation of a previous article that the public mind is not sufficiently awakened to the importance of a thorough and active campaign against the waste of food which characterises the habitual dietary of rich and poor in Great Britain. A good doctor, it has often been said, must be a good cook ; and it is re ported of a cynical physician of great repute that, being seen to issue from the kitchen of a large institution which he was visiting, he said, on being interrogated, “ I always go to salute the cook: the cooks are the doctors’ best friends ; if they were not so bad we should have but few patients. I owe half ray income to bad cooks.” A bad cook is wasteful of material, of money, of fuel and of health; and, with a few-exceptions, English cooks are all bad cooks in, one sense, or other ; unskilful in executipn or. extravagant ip selection, and destitute of sound and economical traditions ....

In the French household the little piece of stewed meat is preceded by a pleasantly-flavored soup, made with the bones and parings of the meat and some of the remnants of yesterday’s dinner, with perhaps crusts of bread and some vege tables added; the meat itself is served with stewed beans, or carrots and onions, or potatoes. If the joint of one day be a piece of beef, next day the cold meat ap pears, perhaps cut in slices, with oil and vinegar, or with a mustard sauce. The cold potatoes and cold stowed beans or cauliflower of the previous day make an excellent salad next day, with perhaps a tomato added, cut in slices. The macaroni and cheese left over from a previous meal reappears at the next, - reheated with other sliced cold vegetable, celery or salsify, or whatever else, and covered with a little browned scraped cheese. “ The commonest fish is served habitu ally with a little ‘ brown butter ; ’ and and neither workman nor epicure need despise the nourishing and toothsome dish. Cold fish reappears either ‘ a l’huile,’ or with a sauce of oil and mustard beaten together into a cream, and is at least as welcome as on the first day, when eaten hot; or, with bread-crumbs and pepper and salt, a ‘parade’ is made, in which much bread and a little fish make up a most nourishing and appetising ‘plat.’ Even conger soup and dog-fish soup are not below the appreciation of a maritime population ; and those who have tasted both on the coast of Normandy can answer for them being botli palatable and nourishing. ‘ Bouillon baisse,’ the fish soup of Marseilles, is a specialty which it might not be easy to import ; but anyone who has tasted it, either in Marseilles or in the Rue Boieldieu, in Paris, will not think it a dish to ho' despised. What a plebeian and usually coarse and tasteless dish is tripe as usually prepared in Eng land ; how digestible, nourishing and cheap a dinner may be made off ‘ tripe k la Caen ’ at a hundred restaurants in Paris; and ‘soupe k la fromage,’ the plebeian ornament and charm of many a ‘petit souper fin ; ’ and the whole tribe of vegetable purees—potato soup, carrot soup, turnip soup— so simple, so nourish ing, s« inexpensive, and easily made. They are not unknown in England ; but how rare ! Again, in the art of cooking potatoes and fish, when shall we learn to fry fish, say, as the poor Jews in White chapel do 1 or potatoes as is done at the corner of every poor street in Paris ? this mode of cooking is physiological ; it is scientific; and, properly done, it is econoiliical and'delicious. English cooks use shallow frying-pans—in which it is impossible to fry properly—chiefly because they are too careless to strain or clarify the fat or olive oil which they have used once, and to make it serve again and again, as all economical and reasonable cooks do or should do. Olive oil is the best material for frying either potatoes or fish, and if used carefully, and strained, and from time to time cleansed, may be used over and over again. Any who chooses to take a lesson in frying potatoes at the corner of the street may see the wire bowl plunged into a deep saucepan full of boiling fat, and rapidly cooked and browned in a sea of fluid without ever 1

having touched the bottom of the vessel ; j and if he choose to carry off a pennyworth j in a paper bag ho will observe that they are of a delicate aml'er color ; the water having been driven off by the great heat, they are dry, floury, digestible, and nutri tious as they are savory ; and the proof of the perfection of the operation is that they do not grease the paper hag. “We are reminded that we spoke last week of pork and beans as an economical and physiologically excellent food, unusually popular in some parts of America ; and that bacon snd beans are much used in rural districts of England. It is true, and bacon and beans make an excellent food ; but as they are generally boiled, and as the beans are often tough, the dish is open to improvement. Cooked in a * Warriner ’ pot, in which the liquor of the meat is not lost, and the beans are well steeped and softened first, and cooked 'with the bacon and impregnated with its juices, bacon and broad beans are an ex cellent dish ; and boiled as it is usually— if the liquor be not wasted, but used for next day’s pea-soup ; and if the beans be soft, and if what are left be used with the sliced cold boiled potatoes for next day’s salad —wo have nothing to say except in praise of the dish. It becomes, however, monotonous, and the beans, unless young, are apt to have hard shells, which are not easily vanquished. The American pork and beans are prepared by placing a piece of fat pork on a little iron tripod in a pie dish, of which the bottom is filled with haricot beans well softened or partially stewed, with a little salt and pepper strewed over the beans ; this is put in the oven, and the fat of the pork as it falls upon the beans, softening them, adds its carbon to the nitrogen, and makes a dish

of the smallest possible cost, on the level of the lowest culinary intelligence, and yet which may tempt any honest appetite. ' “Im the simplest things the grossest ignorance prevails. Fried steak and onions is a sort of bourgeois specialty of England ; and yet how few English cooks can prepare a fillet to equal the Chateau briand of a French cook -and how few cooks know how to make a good purse of onions. The onions should be fried first—Breton fashion. • “At the dinner which the German Emperor gave this week to the great officers of State and of the army of fetrashurg cooked, no doubt, by a French cook —the piece do resistance was a gigot Breton. What is a gigot Breton ? Nothing else but a leg of mutton roasted, served in a dish with haricot beans stewed closely in stock gravy, and a of onions fried and rubbed through a sieve. It is a dish for a king, for an emperor; hut it is the simplest of bourgeois luxuries, within the means of every well-to-do artisan or small tradesman.

“ The grave side of this question is that with improved cooking power and with a wider range of selection of food comes greater economy. All vegetables— beet root, radishes (which hardly ever appear at our dinner-tables) ; celery, which we mostly eat in chips ; raw chest nuts, which our cooks hardly know except roasted or boiled at dessert ; red beans, white beans, maize, rice, coarse fish, cold fish, scraps of meat; the previous day’s remnants of vegetables—these' are among the elements out of which a reasonable and economical .cook constructs a savoury and nourishing diet-list, with-tt-due pro portion of meat chosen not always from the choice • parts. The servant of the tradesman learns in time to practise the like ingenious and pleasant economies in her own home ; and 'the French artisan lives twice as well as the Engish working man, at half the cost, and that, too, in a capital such as Paris, where bread, butter, milk, sugar, coffee, in fact most of the necessaries of lifa, are frem 20 to 50 per cent, dearer than they are in London. ”

The Worsted Stocking.

“ Father will have done the great chim ney to-night, won’t he, mother ?” said little Tom Howard, as he stood waiting for his father’s breakfast, which he car ried to him at his work every morning. “He said he hoped all the scaffolding would be down to-night,” answered the mother, ‘ ‘ and that will be a fine sight; for I never like the ending of those great chimneys, it’s so risky. Thy father’s to be the last up. ” “Eh! then, hut I’ll go and see him, and help ’em to give a shout afore he comes down,” said Tom. “And then,” continued his mother, “ if all goes Tight, we are to have a frolic to-morrow, and go into the country, and take our dinners, and spend all the day among the woods.” “ Hurrah,” cried Tom, as he ran off to, his father’s place of work, with a can of milk in one hand and some bread in the other. His mother stood at the dcor as he went merrily whistling down the street; and then she thought of the dear father he was going to, and the dangerous work he was engaged in ; and then her heart sought its true refuge, and she prayed to God to protect and bless her treasures.

Tom, with a light heart pursued his way to his father, and, leaving him his breakfast, went to his own work, which was at some distance. In the evening, on his way home, he went round to s e how his father was getting on. James Howard, his father, and % number of other workmen had been building one of those lofty chimneys, which, in our manufacturing towns, almost supply the place of other architectural beauty. This chimney was one of the highest and most tapering that had ever been erected ; and as Tom, shading his eyes from the slant ing rays of the setting sun, looked up to the top in search of his father, his heart almost sank within him at the apalling height. The scaffolding was almost all down, the man at the bottom were rer moving the last beams and poles. Tom’s father stood alone on the top. He looked all round to see that everything was right, and then, waving his hat in the air, the men below answered him with a' long loud cheer, little Tom shouting as heartily as any of them. As their voices died away, however, they heard a very dif ferent sound —a cry of alarm and horror from above : “ The rope 1 the rope !” Tho men looked round, and coiled upon the ground lay the rope which, before the scaffolding was removed, should have been passed over the top of the chimney for Tom’s father to come down by. The scaffolding had been taken down without their remembering to take the rope up. There was a dead silence. They all knew it was impossible to throw the rope up high enough or skilfully enough to

reach the top of the chimney ; <>r, if they could, it would hardly have been safe. They stood in silent dismay, unable to give any help, or think of any • means of safety.

And Tom’s father ! Ho walked round and round the little circle, the dizzy height seeming every moment to grow more fearful, and the solid earth further and further from him. In the sudden panic he lout his presence of mind, and his senses almost failed him. He shut his eyes ; he felt as if the next monteu t he must be dashed to pieces on the ground below..

The day had passed as industriously and swiftly as usual with Tom’s mother at home. She was always busily em ployed for her husband and children in some way or other, and to-day she bad been harder at work than usual, getting ready for the holiday, to-morrow. She had just finished all her preparations, and her thoughts were silently thanking God for her happy home, and for iall the blessings of life, when Tom ran in. His face was as white as ashes, and he could hardly get his words out: “Mother! mother ! he canna get down !” “Who, lad? Thy father?” asked his mother.

“ They’ve forgotten to leave him the rope,” answered Tom still scarcely able to speak. His mother started up, horror-struck, and stood for a moment as if. paralysed ; then, pressing her hands over her face, as if to abut out the terrible picture, and breathing a prayer to God for help, she rushed out of the house.

When she reached the place where Her husband was at work, a crowd had col lected round the foot of the chimney, and stood there quite helpless, gazing up with faces full or horror.

“He says he’ll throw himself down,” exclaimed they, as Mrs. Howard came tip. “ He’s going to throw himself down !’’ * “ Thee munna do that, lad,” cried th« wife, with a clear, hopeful voi6e. “ Thee munna do that. Wait a bit. • ; Tak’ oft’ thy stocking, lad, and unravel it, and letdown the thread with a piece of mortar; ■ Dost hear me. Jem ?”

The man made a sign of assent, for it seemed as if he could not speak ; and, taking off his ■ stocking, unravelled the worsted thread row after row. The people stood round in breathless silence and sus pense wondering what Tom’s mother could he thinking of, and why she sent in such haste for the carpenter’s ball of twine.

“ Let down one end of the thread with a bit of stone, and keep fast hold of the other,” cried she to her husband. The little thread came vvaving down the . tall chimney, blown hither and thither by the wind ; but at ■ last it reached the out stretched hands that were waiting for it. Tom held the ball of string while his mother tied one end of it to the worsted thread. “Now, pull it up slowly,” she cried to her husband. And she gradually unwound the string as the worsted drew it up gently. It stopped—the string had reached her husband. “Now hold the string fast, and pull it up,” cried she. And the string grew heavy and hard to pull, for Tom and his mother had fastened the thick rope to it. They watched it gradually and slowly uncoiling from the ground, as the string was drawn higher.’ There was but one coil left. It had reached the top. “Thank God! Thank God!” exclaimed the wife. She hid her face in her hands, in silent prayer, -and tremblingly rejoiced. The rope was up. The iron to which it should be fastened was there all right; but would her husband be able to make use of them ? Would not the terror of the last hour have so unnerved him as to prevent r from taking- -the necessary measures' for his safety ? ■ She did not Know the magic influence which her few words had exercised over-him; she did not know the strength the sound of her voice, so calm and steadfast, had filled him with, as if the little thread -that carried him the hopfe of life once more, had conveyed to him some portion of that faith which nothing ever destroyed or shook in her true heart; she did not know that, as he waited there, the words came over him, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art though dis quieted within me? Hope though in God.”

There was a great shout. “ He’s safe, mother ; he’s safe !” cried little Tom.' - “ Thou’st saved me, Mary 1” said her husband, folding her in his arms.■ *»:But what ails thee ? Thou seem’st more sorry than glad about it!” But Mary could not speak ; and if the strong arm of her husband had not held her up, she would have fallen down. The ' sudden joy, after such great fear, had overcome her.

“ Tom,” said his father, “let thy mother lean on thy shoulder, and we will take her home. ”

And in their happy home tl ey poured forth their thanks to God for His ■ great goodness; and their happy life together felt dearer and holier for the peril it- had been in, and for the nearness that the danger hud brought them unto God. And the holiday, the next day—was it hot- a thanksgiving day ? . . .

4

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

fTUESDAV, December 9, 1879



Description. Home Growth cwts. Foreign Growth. - cwts. Total. cwts. Value of Honie Growth. Value of Foreign Growth. Total Value, ■ Wheat ... SI,000,000 55,000,000 110,000,000 £32,187,500 187, seo £64,375,000 Barley ... 44,000,000 11,000,000 55,000,000 19.800,000 4.950.000 24,750; 600 Oats 64,000,000 12,000,00b 76,000,000 28,800,000 5,400,000 34,260,000 Beans and peas... 14,000,000 5,000,000 19,000,000 .6,360,000 2,250,000 8,550,000 Indian corn 20,000,000 20,000,000 7,000,000 . 7,000,000 Total corn 177,000,000 103,000,000 280,000,000 87,087,500 51,787,500 138,875,000 Potatoes ... .. 111,000,000 5,000,000 116,000,600 16,650,600 750,000 17,400,000 Butchers’ meat, bacon, ham,- and pork 24,500,000 6,000,000 30,800,000 87,000,000 22,050,000 109,650,000 Cheese and butter ... 3,000; 000 3,100,000 6,100,000 13,500,000 14,000,000 27,500,600 Wool 1,214,000 3i 160,000 4.374. coo 8,500,000 22,120,000 30,620,000 Milk ... ... ... ... ... Hay for horses, agricultural & not agri- 26,000,000 •••■ : - 26,000,000 cultural ... SO; ooo, 066 80,000,000 16^00, 000 - 16,000,000 Straw, sold for town consumption . . 40,000,000 40,000, «oo 6,000,000 6,000,000 Total 1 436,714,000 *20,560,000 557.274.000 260,737,500 110,707,500 37* 445-wo.l



Year, Wheat. Barley. Oats, s. d. ?. d. s. d. 1863 44 9 33 “ 21 2 1864 , 40 2 29 n 20 1 1S65 4110 29 9 21 IO 1866 49 « 37 5 24 7 1867 64 6 40 0 26 I 1S68 63 9 43 0 28 1 1869 48 2 39 5 26 0 1870 , 46 IO 34 7 22 IO 1871 56 IO 36 2 25 2 1872 57 0 37 4 23 , 3 1873 ... 58 8 4® 5 3 5 5 1874 55 9 44 11 28 IO 1875 45 2 38 s 28 8 1876 46 2 35 2 26 3 1877 56 9 39 8 25 11 1878 5 40 2 j 24 4 General average for 16 years—Wheat,' 51s 5<1;



One day in spring Sir Walter Scott strolled forth with Lady Scott to enjoy a walk around Abbotsford. In their wan derings they passed a field where a number of ewes were enduring the frolics of their lambs. “Ah,” exclaimed Sir Walter, “ ’its no wonder that poets, from the earliest ages, have made the lamb the emblem of peace and innocence.” “They are, indeed, delightful animals,” returned her ladysliip; “especially with mint sauce.”



Scene on a Jury.— Last month an inquest was held touching the death of a woman named Margaret Collier, at Hereford. The jury con sulted a short time, and then ashed to 'be allowed to retire. The Coroner granted the request, and ordered the sergeant-at-mace to keep them without “meat, drink, or fire.” A Juryman ; Do I understand that we are to stop there without meat, drink, or fire? The Coroner ; Yes. The Juryman.: Then I think we are agreed (laughter). The jury were then locked up, and in half an hour one of the number said eleven were agreed, but the other was not. The Coroner : You must carry the other one. At 9.40 p.m. the same juryman came to the coroner and asked if there were any beds (laughter). He said the dissentient said he would not alter his opinion if he stopped there g month, sp it was no good stopping there all night. The eleven wished to bring in a verdict condemnatory of the husband of the deceased, but Mr. Hart, the dissentient juryman, would not agree to it. The jury were brought in, and the coroner went through the evidence again. Mr. Mills : What do you think of it now, Mr. Hart? Mr. Hart ; lam of the same opinion as before. The Coroner threatened to bind them over to appear at the assizes. Mr. Mills ; We have decided by a majority in this room before. Mr. Hart : It has been done by tossing (laughter). The jury attempted to win over their dissentient brother, but he was firm. They then abused him, when ; he said “there were eleven dogs and one bohe. ’’At lo.ijp.m,* the prospect of being further locked up having become unendurable, the eleven gave way to the one, and brought in a verdict that the deceased died from “spinal apoplexy, caused by excitementbut the eleven added a rider to the verdict that the excitement to cause the spinal apoplexy was caused by the husband.