CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

6. 7. 9.

Weird sort of brazier (7)

The best guidebook to a gemstone (5)

Oldest tree by the way (5) 10. Taxi I catch full of ministers (7) 12. How troops may advance knowledge? (11) 14. Possibly least sins in this good quality (11) 18. Note recorded as beaten (7) 19. A fibre preparation, but not longlasting (5) 21. Leaves with all debts settled (5) 22. He was slung out of the Bible (7)

DOWN

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Stiff attire I’d put on (5)

Hand over and die (4,2)

Garfunkel’s skill (3)

Vote is changed for Russian (6)

Poor person going back to port beforehand (4-3) 8. Intend to be in torn clothing (7) 11. Catches girls’ toys (7) 13. Fail to agree on nuclear issue (4,3) 15. Things look different after days (6) 16. Sally is mixed up in the Tories (6) 17. Mouth a Greek letter (5) 20. Ornamental ribbon on the front of a boat (3)