The better weather that we have been having in August seems hardly likely to make up for the miserably cold wet spring and early summer their effects on the partridge season. Prospects in most directions North Wales seems likely to prove an exception. In Derbyshire and Hampshire the nesting was good but hundreds of young birds perished in the prolonged wet, In the Eastern Counties, where many birds are Feared by hand, good bags are expected. Elsewhere the season may be fair but is likely to be delayed owing to the slowness of birds to The early wet and recent warmth. however, have done gxecllently for the apple harvest which is generally reported at least 25 per cent. better than last year's. One hopes there will be no later stories of apples left fon the trees to rot because It dace not pay to pick them.
It is also said that the plum har vest will be very good. All T know is that plums T have tasted so. tar this year are not worth eating, and mreengages (one of the most dellelors of all fruits except when made into jam) 1 simply have not seen, Another curious feature of the year may be mentioned, namely the tastelessness of that usually admiral creature, the vegetable marrow. Gat-deners say it is because, through want of sunshine, the marrows have been so long in growing, Like let-tuees, they must" grow quickly in order to be at their best.
014 Confidence Trick The persistent success of the confidence trick, and that on the oldest, most advertised. lines. remains endless sauce of wonder, The Latest. victim isan elderly American, Mr. Thomas Seberry, who, having made a fortune in Pitteburg, might have been expected to have a weather eye well open, Out side the Horse Guards and again outside Buckingham Palace he got into conversation with a man why gave the name of Buchanan. They strolled up Constitution Hill to. gether; a man ahead dropped a little ursa;' Buchanan picked it up and restored it, The purse-dropper uttered fervent thanks. The purse was fan old family possession; anyone who lost it always died soon after.
Then the purse-dropper gave the name of O'Connor, and described how he was looking for two hone, men to help him in distributing $1,000,000 left by a defunct brother, fo the poor. He suggested that Buchanan should "take £1000 for Australia (his alleged country) and Mr. Scberry £1,000 for America: But, of course, they would not be insulted he hoped, they must give evidence of being men of means.
Buchanan thereupon handed over what looked like a £100 note envelope, Mr. Seberry handed over what certainly was £70 10s, in por fectly good notes. O'Connor tosk both offerings and disappeared.
The detectives have got him, or somebody whom Mr. "Soberry is positive Is the engaging O'Conn sr. Whether the magistrate thinks 80 will not be known before this letter
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.