CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Cast all one’s votes for what’s pleasantly rounded (5)

4. Slang is adaptable for such messages (7)

8. Action ran out when clove pink was cultivated (9)

9. Companionable number to be found around the West (3)

10. Sort of buildings one grows attached to? (4-3)

12. It may be a reef supplying an elaborate flower-bed (4)

14. Something shocking about first corn in an open shoe (7)

17. One is about to start blossoming as a bird (4)

18. No wells like this can be risen into waves (7)

20. A particle charged to take one on (3)

21. Help rinse it out and fill it up again (9)

23. Present made of an old wind instrument (7)

24. One who has a brush-up at work (5)

DOWN

1. Odd traits may be special: true, one repeatedly makes them (13)

2. Tumult may result from our rap (6)

3. Rehearsal may be a doctor’s business (8)

4. Sort of whale that turned up in Friesia (3)

5. Go past? Is past! (4)

6. Is on the stage and taking higher rank temporarily (6)

7. Posh man’s strip designed with a sense of fair play (13)

11. Of which the Song was Solomon’s (5)

13. Noble lady noses around a saloon first (8)

15. Victor took Wren in by mistake (6)

16. Watergate perhaps is clue to it (6)

19. A family takes its pedigree to be a growing thing (4)

22. Remove stones from seats in the theatre (3) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 2. Swoop 5. Gash 7. Drop 8. Delusion 9. Dissents

11. Tell 12. Characterised 15. Agog 17. Careless 19. Compiler

21. Bags 22. Wean 23. Sands

Down: 1. Tarnish 2. Sup 3. Olden 4. Pelisse 5. Gas 6. Spoil

10. Scrag 11. Trill 13. Cockles 14. Ensigns 16. Grove

18. Rerun 20. Pun 21. Bis