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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



cottages ; and the rain-water from the roofs of all the 

 houses, collected in a cistern, will supply a jet of water 

 after each occasion in the privy, which will convey the 

 excrements in a sloping direction to the ashes- house, 

 where a rich compost will be formed of the mixtures for 

 the use of the garden. 



Such a cottage as has been now described will cost 

 the average sum of £80 to i,"90 ; and this upon our 

 own authority of experience and much inquiry, which is 

 corroborated by Mr. Goddard's estimates in the prize 

 designs to the Royal English Agricultural Society. The 

 estimates of Messrs. Weaver and Roberts, before noticed, 

 seem to us to be too high. It is wholly useless, and 

 very injudicious, to expend on such matters an ex- 

 pense beyond what the social system will allow, or to 

 force an advancement till circumstances are in existence 

 to support it. It is very: readily conceded that this 

 support is now alive, and has existed for some time, 

 and most loudly demands the extension of an imperious 

 benevolence in the affair of the accommodations of 

 labourers. But with this very strong auxiliary induce- 

 ment, a prudential caution is always to be recommended, 

 as a much too far advanced movement very frequently 

 causes a retro;jression or a noxious stagnation. Palla- 

 dius, before quoted, expressly says, '* ^dificium, pro 

 agri merito, et pro fortuna divi, oportet institui." 



Though this pointed observation may not now apply 

 in direct force at this day, yet the meaning is evidently 

 circumstantial— that cottages be built according to the 

 estate of the inhabitants and the ability or benevolence 

 of the propietor ; for such are the ruling directors of 

 oar times, and by them all movements in such matters 

 must be governed. 



The expression of Palladius is quite in accordance 

 with the fashions of feudalism— that the condition of the 

 labouring class depends on the charity and benevolence 



■ of their employers, and also upon the value that accrues 

 i to the rich from the employment that is exacted. 

 Labour has not yet risen above this degradation, and all 

 the boasted civilization of the present age has not 

 emerged from the mud of the feudal arransiements. 

 In the country, more especially than in towns, the 

 labourers depend on benevolence, and many steps of 

 i advancement remain to be surmounted before the total 

 emancipation be effected. In the meantime a gradual 

 progress goes on very steadily, and the present purpose 

 consists in leading the progression in a judicious man- 

 ner, and by no means pushing so far a-head as to lose 

 sight of the essentially attendant circumstances. These 

 are the social conditions of labour, as marked by the 

 grades of society, and the manners and habits it pos- 

 sesses of following the career of advancement. The 

 latter must be chiefly guided by the former considera- 

 tion, and be regulated by their instructions. 



When cottages are grouped by any number being 

 joined together, an expense is thought to be saved ; but 

 we agree with Mr. Weaver, that grouping is not eligi- 

 ble beyond four dwellings, or rather should be restricted 

 to two cottages, which may be joined by a longitudinal 

 central wall, along which are placed the best room and 

 the kitchen ; the former constituting the front of the 

 cottage, and the latter joining the back area, and opening 

 into it. Such cottages have the ends for front, and the 

 door is in a porch on the side, and placed in the joining 

 of the kitchen and best room. The porch opens in the 

 line of the cottage, and consequently the door enjoys 

 the benefits of the chosen aspect. The end of the cot- 

 tages lines the gardens, through which a side-entry 

 leads to the back area. A number of cottages placed 

 together occasions much scandalizing and gossip, and 

 idle assemblages. 



THE GROWTH AND MANAGEMENT OF AN ORCHARD. 



BY PROFESSOR TANNER. 



The orchards of the West of England do not receive 

 that attention which their merits justify and demand. 

 Their value may be considerably enhanced by adopting 

 a judicious system, and I shall endeavour in the fol- 

 lowing essay to notice the essential points of manage- 

 ment upon which success depends. 



In selecting a piece of land for an orchard we have to 

 consider the character of the soil and the climate of the 

 district. The character of the soil which is most suit- 

 able for the growth of the orchard is indicated by the 

 district in which they flourish most luxuriantly. A 

 review of the apple districts shows that they are on the 

 corn stones and marls of the old-red-sandstone forma, 

 tion. A strong soil is not at all objectionable provided 

 it is of calcareous character, and upon a moderately dry 

 subsoil. They are by no means confined to such soils ; 

 but where they are grown successfully upon soils of an 

 opposite character, it is by artificially producing those 



conditions which are most desirable. For this reason, 

 although circumstances may make it desirable to raise 

 orchards upon land which is not naturally calculated for 

 them, yet this obstacle can be overcome by the adoption 

 of such measures as will be hereafter described. We 

 thus bring the question of soil within a narrow compass ; 

 for with this exception of excessively heavy and light 

 soils, there need be no preventive so far as regards the 

 nature of the soil. 



The subsoils are more influential than the surface 

 soils. We can ameliorate and alter the latter, but we 

 cannot effect any great change in the former. There 

 are none more uncongenial to the apple than poor re- 

 tentive clays, and especially when they are yellow and 

 acrid in their nature. This description of earth is par- 

 ticularly unfavourable for all kinds of vegetable growth, 

 and when the roots of the apple trees pierce into it there 

 is immediately a stagnant growth, which is soon mani- 



