NOTES. 77 



In proportion to the quickness of its growth, and that none have so ill a flavour, 

 as those on poor soils, ill manured, that will not advance them sufficiently 

 quick. It is the quick-formed juice that is the sweetest ; and thence, it is con- 

 tended, that the rankest and most putrescent manures, give the finest taste, be- 

 cause they make the plants shoot away with the greatest celerity. Young's 

 Annals of Agriculture, vol. xxxix. p. 303. These doctrines are supported, by 

 the high repute in which the unusually large and luxuriant vegetables are held, 

 which are grown at Mr John Gratian's garden at Belper, by the aid of liquid 

 night-soil, and sewer-water, applied in the way of irrigation. Derbys/iire Re- 

 port, vol. ii. p. 209. On the other hand, it is maintained, that vegetables raised 

 by abundant fetid manure, can never be so well tasted, nor so wholesome ; 

 that London brocoli, for instance, has a strong, and most disgusting flavour ; 

 and that a turnip from a common tillage field, is much superior to what can 

 be obtained from a rich garden. On the whole, it would appear, that when a 

 large portion of dung is used, the vegetable is forced so rapidly, that it is insi- 

 pid, or deficient in flavour, that a moderate quantity of dung, produces plants 

 of a better quality, but that vegetables, grown luxuriantly in a fresh maiden 

 earth, are the sweetest. In such soils, the leaves of the brassica, or cabbage 

 tribe, are sometimes so superior in quality, as to be nearly transparent. 



416 General Report of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 94. When sea-weed could be 

 had at Kirkcaldy, at a reasonable rate, the crops of onions were remarkable for 

 their produce. Sometimes from eight to twelve pecks were got per fall, and 

 sold for 4s. per peck. Ditto- Onions thrive well when transplanted. Der- 

 byshire Report, vol. ii. p. 212. 



417 Soapers' waste is found to check, and to destroy the club or bodge, so 

 destructive to the growth of the brassica, or cabbage tribe. This disease is oc- 

 casioned by a maggot perforating, and depositing itself, in the stem part of the 

 root, by which the juices, intended for the growth of the upper part, are pre- 

 vented from ascending, and are converted into a hard substance beneath the 

 surface, which sometimes weighs a pound or more. Soapers' waste might pre- 

 vent a disease of a similar nature, to which turnips are liable. 



418 Vanderstraeten's Improved Husbandry, p. 162. 



419 See this subject very ably treated of in the Chapter on Gardens, by Mr 

 P. Neill ; General Report of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 105. 



420 Middlesex Report, p. 330. 



421 The expense of glass used in artificial gardening, to force an earlier pro- 

 duction, is very considerable. They are of two sorts, hand-glasses and globe- 

 glasses. The former cost 5s. each, the latter 8s. But these are not now to be 

 purchased, except at sales, even at that price. If bought new, they would cost 

 from 10s. to 12s. each, in proportion to their weight, according to which the 

 duty is levied. 



422 From 200 to 300 acres of celery may be annually grown in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the metropolis, to be consumed as a salad, to flavour soups, Sec. 

 Celery is considered to be a powerful antiscorbutic. 



423 General Report of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 90. 



424 Near Devizes, and other towns in Wiltshire, many families subsist by 

 occupying from two to five acres each, as garden ground. The soil is sandy, 

 and applied to the produce of esculent vegetables, for the consumption of the 

 neighbouring towns and villages. Wilts Report, p. 82. So productive are 

 gardens, when well managed, that three brothers, who followed the art of gar- 

 dening, supported as many families, very decently, and gradually acquired some 

 wealth, by the cultivation of about five acres of land. Berks Report, p. 301. 



425 The Rev. Mr Hoblyn thinks, that gardens in the country, are more ad- 

 vantageously cultivated by the plough than the spade, for as much work is done 

 in a day by the one power, as in a month by the other. In his own garden, the 

 first ploughing is carried to the depth of nine inches, the second in the same fur- 

 row to six more, the whole depth fifteen inches. Having a command of space, 

 the ground was only cropped once a year, nnd by this means it was kept clean 

 pnd in good condition. 



