July 21, 1863. ] 



JOTJENAIi OF HOETICXJLTURE AND COTTAGK GAEDENEK. 



55 



mention one curious consequence of the cottagers m this 

 vUlage having neai-ly all a garden— a consequence which 

 certainly was not anticipated when the aUotment-scheme 

 was introduced. Owing to the large quantity of cattle and 

 horses kept by the fanners, hundreds of cartloads ot farm- 

 yard manure are carted-out along the highways dunng the 

 winter season. Traces of the passage of the carts used to 

 be disagreeably manifest to the wayfayer, and much that 

 mio-ht have contributed to the fertilisation of the sod was 

 converted into a public nuisance. At present the value of 

 the fertiliser is too well appreciated for even a few shovel- 

 fuls to be left upon the road ; a pleasing sight may almost 

 daily be witnessed of small children, with theii- mmute 

 spades and wheelbaiTOws, gathering up the Htherto-wasted 

 fragments for the increase of the muck-heaps in their gar- 

 dens. Indeed, a more efficient band of little scavengers 

 than that which the allotment-system has called into esist- 

 ence could not easily be found. 



Enough has perhaps been said to show that m the parish 



of ."at least, garden allotments have proved a powerful 



auxiliary in ameUorating the condition of the agricultural 

 poor ; and the temporal improvement of that class of the 

 community is intimately connected v/ith their spintual ad- 

 vancement. Indeed, whatever tends to raise the condition 

 of the poor, places them in a favom-able position to be 

 influenced by the teaching and example of those whom 

 Providence has placed in a superior station of life, and who 

 deshre to make use of the advantages that station gives 

 them, to further the well-being, both temporal and spiritual, 

 of their feUow-creatm-es in the lower gi-ades of society. _ The 

 poor man must be persuaded that the rich man is a friend, 

 before he will listen to him as a counsellor. 



For the pui'pose of showing that others have derived the 

 same benefit as myself ft-om the allotment system, I quote 

 the words of a writer who has evidently had much expe- 

 rience on the subject, and who has published the results of 

 that experience in an interesting little work, to which I 

 would refer those who desu-e further infonnation respecting 

 it It is entitled " Sketches of Country Life and Country 

 Manners, by one of the Old School : London ; Eivingtons : 

 1840." " Should the labourer," he writes, " unfortunately 

 be unable to obtain any employment from the farmer, he 

 will, at aU events, have sufficient in the produce of his httle 

 plot of ground to keep himself and family from absolute 

 destitution, without applying to the parish for assista,nce 

 until a new demand for his services occui-s. And, should a 

 more favourable state of things take place, and the labourer 

 be fully occupied mth work during the whole year, the little 

 gains of his allotment wfll proi-ide him with a few comforts, 

 or become a little store to which he may look in a season of 

 distress or sickness." While cordially approving of these 

 and many other remarks in the work fi.-om which I ha,ve 

 borrowed these words, I would not be understood as coin- 

 ciding with the author in all his opinions on the subject of 

 country life and country manners. 



Let me also refer my readers to another short treatise, 

 published likewise by Ei-vingtons, under the following title 

 — " Some account of a system of Gai-den Labour-, acted upon 

 in the parish of Springfield, Essex ; by the Eev. Arthur 

 Pearson, Eector of Springfield." The reader will there find 

 an estimate of the nett value or clear gains to the cultivator 

 of one-eighth of an acre ; tliis the author puts down at 

 £\ 183. 2d., or X2 16s. id. for a rood. Such an estimate, how- 

 ever, I consider to be higher than the average clear gains in 

 this part of the country, where— as it is one of the most 

 favoured agricultural districts in England— the labourer, it 

 13 probable, is more constantly employed than in most 

 others, and has less time to spend upon his own garden. 

 The clear profit here, I have said, it is difficult exactly to 

 estimate ; but I believe that it may be fairly stated as not 

 under 3os. or ,£2 the rood. 



From an article in the QimHerly Review (vol Ixxiii., p. 477), 

 we borrow the following statement, written in the year 

 1844. " Of all immediate remedies for pauperism, the allot- 

 ment system offers the most cheering prospects ; the expe- 

 rience of almost every one who has travelled in Great Britain 

 will have afforded examples of the benefit resulting wherever 

 land is appropriated to garden culture by the labourer in 

 such small proportions as interfere not with his ordinary 

 duties as a servant to the farmer. 



I have now briefly given the result of my personal expe- 

 rience of the advantages arising from the mode, which is 

 yearly becoming more prevalent in England, of distributing 

 to the poorer classes of the community small portions of 

 laud at a reasonable rent, and under regulations neither 

 too numerous nor stringent, and have endeavoured to cor- 

 roborate my testimony of its utility by the evidence of 

 others, who have had a similar experience with myself. My 

 motive in doing so has been chiefly to gratify a wish, often 

 indulged in. to throw into the balance of public opinion the 

 weight, trifling though it be, of a country clergyman's 

 practical appreciation of the good resulting from the mea- 

 sures I have endeavoured to describe. I would, in conclu- 

 sion, most earnestly urge its adoption on all land-owners, and 

 even on large tenant-farmers, who might, for such a purpose, 

 doubtless readily obtain the sanction of their landlords. 

 But most especially would I advocate a fair trial of it to the 

 beneficed clergy in country parishes, most of whom have 

 more or less land at their disposal. I am very far from 

 asserting that it is the first or the most important improve- 

 ment to be introduced by a new-comer in a rural district 

 where the temporal and spiritual wants of the inhabitants 

 have been hitherto neglected ; but it is my full conviction 

 that it will be found a most valuable auxiliai-y to aU other 

 means of improvement. Indeed, in one respect, it has a 

 prominent advantage over most other modes of benefiting 

 the poor ; an advantage which the minister of the parish — 

 who has often a great portion of his income to spend in 

 objects of charity— will duly appreciate. It will be found as 

 profitable to himself as it is to others ; and, while obtaining 

 a higher rent for his land, he will also, for the most part, 

 have a more thankful and contented class of tenants than 

 if he had let it out in larger quantities to two or three 

 farmers. Like mercy — to use the well-known words of our 

 oreat national poet— the allotment system proves itself 

 ° t-svice blessed," for "it blesseth him that gives, and him 

 that takes." * — {Macmillan' s Magaziiie.) 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEN. 



Eeadicate all seed-weeds before they shed then- seed; 

 pull them up by hand, as cutting them up with the hoe, 

 and allowing them to remain on the ground, is nearly as 

 bad as letting them stand; for although the seed may not 

 be ripe at the time, the sun will soon matui-e it. We allude 

 particularly toGroundsel, Shepherd's Pui'se and Sow Thistle. 

 Broccoli, finish planting-out these and Winter Greens as 

 speedily as ground can be obtained; for unless the autumn 

 should provl very favourable those planted after this oime 

 will not attain much size. Cauliflowers, the mam crop for 

 autumn to be planted on a rich piece of ground Itns 

 vegetable, when planted at this season, becomes useM after 

 the Peas are over. Celery, pay strict attention to the early 

 crops; let them be gone over with the hand, and aU the 

 oflsets taken off, and, if convenient, let them have a thorough 

 drenching with d'ong water, after which, on the foUowmg 

 day, give a slight covering of earth to prevent evaporation ; 

 it should be remembered that this plant in a state of nature 

 is an aquatic. Ca.hha.jes, make a sowing of Ea^t Ham for 

 early spring use, and the last sowing of Coleworts. Endive 

 plant it out on very rich soil. Lettuces thm and transplant 

 a sufficient quantity for use. Keep them watered durmg 

 the continuance of dry weather. _ Parsle;/, sow immediately. 

 If any has been left for seed let it be gathered as it npens 

 or the best of it will be lost. Peas, earth and stick the 

 Evincing crops. Sadishes, t^e Black and Wiite Spamsh 

 to be now sown for winter use ; also so^tl^e.Jf'T"^ ^ 

 for successional crops. Spinach, a good breadth to be sowri 

 For the northern counties the Flanders should ^e substituted 

 fortheEound-leaved; but it is time e^o^^^^ 1°^*^* ™, 

 more south. Strawien-ies, dig down exhausted plantations, 

 and plant the oround with Winter Greens. Use all <iiii- 

 gencerfilHng-S^ vacant pieces of ground as they become 

 Sble with Broccoli, Borecole, ^russeb Sprouts Cote- 

 worts, &o. ; and where ground is scarce crops bkely to come 

 . M«oh valuable information on the •■ AIlotm»t System '• -''1 b^^J"""* 

 in 8 very well written article on the 'ubject in '»>e firs vo . o^J^ear 

 supplement of the rmiiy Encychpxiia. Also m i^iiammia 

 Journal, New Series, vol iv., p. 101. 



