98 071 Cottage Economy and Cookery. 



the conviction that whatever is calculated to improve the health 

 will add to the strength of the labourers who work for them, and 

 thus increase the permanent welfare of the whole body. Every 

 landowner and farmer has it more or less in his own power to 

 contribute to the comforts of the peasantry, and to enable them, 

 by honest industry, to guard themselves from the humiliating 

 prospect of parish relief. Their attention to it tends to foster a 

 kindly feeling between man and man in the different ranks of 

 society, and to encourage in the poor man's breast that wholesome 

 sense of independence, without which he must feel himself de- 

 graded in the scale of creation. It can be done by goodnatured 

 advice, and occasional assistance, even without any advance of 

 wages. A small loan of money, to be gradually repaid out of the 

 weekly wages, will go far to put an end to that system of credit 

 which renders him dependent on the village shopkeeper. The 

 adoption of money-payments, instead of allowances in beer, would 

 also be desirable; and, in short, the farmer who stretches forth a 

 helping hand in aid of a sober, industrious servant, will reap his 

 reward not only in his own sense of benevolence, but also in the 

 increased attention of the labourer. 



The most anxious wish is entertained by the Royal English 

 Agricultural Society to better by every means in their power the 

 condition of the rural peasantry, as that portion of the community 

 may justly be considered the most peaceable, orderly, and useful 

 of the labouring classes. The allotment system has already done 

 much towards creating a peaceful sphit of social as well as pro- 

 fitable family employment in the occupations of the garden, with 

 increased attachment to home, and, aided by that light of religious 

 education which is now shedding its benign influence over the 

 land, will, it is devoutly hoped, eventually lead to that domestic 

 happiness of which it is the surest foundation. 



A plot of ground allotted as a garden around a cottage is, how- 

 ever, far preferable to one placed at a distance ; for the cottager's 

 wife is equal to work, and would fain employ herself frequently 

 in her garden, if she had it within her reach. But she cannot 

 leave her infant in its cradle, nor the child crawling upon the floor 

 and requiring constant attention. She is, therefore, deprived of 

 the means of thus assisting her husband in his labours ; and even 

 when he returns to his home, how much more pleasant will he 

 find his cot when surrounded by the smiling produce of their toil, 

 than if that be not under their view. 



We recommend the little tract on ' Cottage Gardening,' pub- 

 lished by Mr. Main, under the superintendence of this Society, to 

 the attention of every cottager ; for he will there find, for a penny, 

 every necessary direction regarding the management of his ground 

 and cropping, in the most simple and efficient manner. We only 



