432 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



possible. In March and April, if the plants have been properly managed, 

 they will produce abundance of flowers, and consequently will require more 

 moisture than during winter. 



1 29 1. "Where it is desired to have violets in summer and autumn, runners 

 should be laid either in pots or on a hotbed where they are growing, in 

 February, selecting the strongest runners, and pegging them down, with a 

 little soil over the runner, and keeping them moist : these will be ready to 

 plant out early in April, each with its bundle of roots, and will come in :t 

 month or six weeks earher than the others. But they must be placed in their 

 winter quarters early in September. 



§ 10.— Cottage Gardens and Allotments. 



1292. Like gardens of greater pretensions, these require at this time of the year 

 considerable attention. Where early crops have been growing, and are no longer 

 serviceable, they should be removed without loss of time ; the ground dug or 

 trenched, or forked over, preparatory to getting in crops for the winter and 

 spring following. The directions given elsewhere apply, in all cases, as regards 

 the treatment of different crops. The main object is to point out such crops 

 as would be most profitable in a small way. One of the cheapest means of 

 cropping at this time is to sow the ground with turnip-seed : a quarter of a pomxl 

 of seed (about dd). would sow half a dozen rods. If sown on newly-dug 

 ground, it would be up in three days, and would yield many dishes of a whole- 

 some vegetable in winter ; leaving many j^lants to yield useful greens in Mai-ch 

 and April following. Other useful vegetables are borecole and Brussels sprouts : 

 of the former, the green-curled is much esteemed. There are others of equal 

 merit ; all ai'e very hardy and prolific, and furnish sprouts for the table from 

 November to May. If they have not already been planted, it should be done 

 as early as possible this month. Winter spinach is also useful, and, as the 

 seed is eheap, it may be advantageously grown by the cottager. Coleworts, 

 again, are very profitable : they may be planted thickly, and give a good 

 supply of greens for several months in succession. Where potatoes have been 

 planted to any extent, such crops maybe planted between the rows before the 

 potatoes are lifted, so that no time is lost. If the plants are shaded until 

 they are established, it will be no disadvantage ; they will be ready to start 

 when the previous crops are removed : the ground can then be forkedTDctween. 



1293. It is mipossible to over-estimate the advantages to be derived by 

 /forking men from a small garden-plot ; it is a subject worth a little consi- 

 deration from employers. An instance I could cite, of a most orderly and 

 well-behaved set of men, who seemed contented with their lot, and were most 

 respectful towards their employer, who derived their chief pleasure from a 

 small garden-plot allotted to each, for the purpose of profitably employing 

 the leisure hour. 



