292 SCIENCE IN SHORT CHAPTERS. 



Mr. Liggius, as an old member of the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 felt a great interest in this subject. Among his poorer neighbors in 

 the district of Kensington, cottage and window gardening had been 

 encouraged for some years past, prizes having been awarded to those 

 who were most successful, much to their gratification. This was a 

 novel idea, but he felt quite sure that it would enable those who adopt- 

 ed it to obtain the crops which had been described. There were many 

 collateral advantages which it would bestow on the working-classes 

 if largely followed by them, especially the one mentioned by Mr. 

 Williams, that those who devoted their spare time to the cultivation 

 of fruit and flowers would not be so open to the attractions of the 

 public-house. When travelling through the United States some years 

 ago, he was much struck with the difference in appearance of the 

 houses in districts where the Maine liquor law was in force, and soon 

 learned to distinguish where it was adopted, by the clean, cheerful 

 look of the workmen's dwellings, the neatness of the gardens, and 

 the presence of trees and flowers which, in other districts, were 

 wanting. He was not a teetotaller himself, and was not advocating 

 such restrictions, but he could not help noticing the contrast ; and 

 he felt sure that in all our large towns great progress in civilization 

 and morals would be effected if such an attraction were offered to 

 the working- classes. He believed there was so much intelligence and 

 good sense among them, that if they only knew what could be done 

 in this way they would attempt it ; and when an Englishman at- 

 tempted anything he generally succeeded. 



Mr. William Botly said they were much indebted to Mr. Williams 

 for having called attention to this important subject. He quite 

 agreed with the observations of the last speaker, for his own experi- 

 ence in building cottages showed him that the addition of a piece of 

 garden ground had an excellent effect on the social, moral, and 

 religious welfare of the inmates. It kept them from the public- 

 house, and the children who were brought up to hoe and weed their 

 parents' gardens turned out the most industrious laborers on his 

 property. He had known of instances where houses had been built 

 with flat concrete roofs, and covered in with glass, so as to form a 

 conservatory, in which vegetables and salads grow very well, and he 

 believed the cost was little, if any, more than ordinary slating. 



The Chairman (Lord Alfred Churchill) in moving a vote of thanks 

 to Mr. Williams, said there could be no doubt that if his suggestion 

 were adopted it would lead to great economy, and have many other 

 attractions for the working-classes. During the last few years they 

 had heard a good deal about floriculture in windows, and no doubt it 

 was an excellent proposal, but if they could add to this the growth of 

 vegetables, it would have economical advantages also. The proposal 

 to erect temporary conservatories on the roofs of some of these small 

 houses was an admirable one. He saw no reason why you should 

 not have a peach-tree growing against many a tall chimney ; you 

 would only want a metal-lined tub filled with good mould ; the 

 warmth of the chimney would aid in promoting the growth of the 

 tree, and it could be protected from the smoke and frost by this 

 canvas. One point he should like to know was, whether the fabric 

 would not become rotted by the weather, and perhaps it might be 

 protected by tanning, or some chemical preparation. The effect of 

 the canvas in maintaining an equable temperature was a great con- 



