In some out-of-the-way districts of Northern England, Scotland, and Ireland, cottages are built of “loose stone”—_i.e._, stones fitted together without mortar, and are thatched with peat. Sometimes the angle-stones, window and door openings, have mortar joints, the rest being left open. In all stone counties of England walls constructed in this manner divide the fields instead of hedgerows, the top row of stones being fastened together with mortar when the wall is more than breast high. This is a very ancient method of building, and is found in almost every country of the world. H. W. BREWER. (_To be continued._) [Illustration] “MY FAVOURITE CONTRIBUTORS” COMPETITION. PRIZES OF ONE GUINEA. Jessie Offin, Loughton, Essex. “Christabel,” Poole, Dorset. “Pansy,” Beverley, East Yorkshire. “Rose,” North Muir, Forfar. “Wild Orchid,” Croydon Grove, Croydon. Agnes Ward Strong, Moseley, Birmingham. Nellie Turner Godfrey, Redhill, Surrey. Ada Alice Gaze, Norwich. Emma Elizabeth Epps, Redhill, Surrey. Elizabeth Kerr, Port Charlotte, Islay, N.B. PRIZES OF HALF-A-GUINEA. Edith Mary Foyster, Brentwood, Essex. Félicie Buisseret, Namur, Belgique. Evelyn Agnes Forster, Crowthorne, Berkshire. Edith K. Ellis, Highgate. Florence Marie Benton, Swavesey, Cambs. Lilian Grundy, Lynwood, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. M. Evangeline Hulse, Carlisle. “Modest Violet,” New Whittington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Mary Agnes Parker, Peterborough, Northampton. Agnes Mary Vincent, Warwick Square. HONOURABLE MENTION. Mabel Jenks, Cambridge; E. Flesch, Brünn, Mähren; Gwendoline Doughty, St. Leonards, Bridgenorth, Salop; Kate Kelsey, Crossleigh, Montpelier, Bristol; “A grateful old woman,” Ballymena, Ulster, Ireland; Millicent H. Warwick, Manchester; Mary Adèle Venn, West Kensington Park, W.; Helen Elizabeth Howitt, Dunoon-on-Clyde; A. Park Pearson, Halifax; Laura Buck, Potters Road, New Barnet; Alice Dunn, Brisbane, Queensland. * * * * * REPORT.