Giving Land to Labourers. 47 



vegetables in summer, and roots in winter, at a moderate expense : 

 and the value of this benefit is greatly enhanced by the consideration, 

 that it is the fruit of their own exertions *. The varietyflf food 

 thus procured, contributes, not only to comfort, but to health. For 

 the alleviation of some diseases, and the extirpation of others, is in 

 many cases justly ascribed, to the more general introduction of cottage 

 gardens. When a garden is of sufficient extent, the cottagers are al- 

 so able, from its produce, not only to rear, but to fatten a hog, a valu- 

 able acquisition to every farm labourer, and indeed, without the ma- 

 nure obtained from which, the garden could not be cultivated with suc- 

 cess. Profit may sometimes also be derived from fruit ; and in favour- 

 able situations, bees may be kept with advantage. The moral effects 

 resulting from such a system, cannot be too highly appreciated. When 

 these gardens are of a moderate extent, they merely occupy the leisure 

 hours of the family ; thus tending to promote the comfort of the whole, 

 to produce habits of industry, and to cherish a taste for, and knowledge 

 of gardening, in the rising generation f. 



2. The extent of the garden should be such, as not to occupy more\ 

 of the labourer's time, than the regular engagements of the day wijlj 

 admit of. It is calculated, that the whole time which a farming la- 

 bourer can spare from his ordinary occupations, to be employed on his 

 own land, is 273 hours, or about twenty-three days in all j ; but as 

 these consist of fractional parts, and as the greatest leisure occurs, 

 when the spade is least wanted, there will be some difficulty in adapt- 

 ing it to the necessities of the garden. It is probable, however, that 

 matters may be so arranged, that a cottager may, in some instances, 

 with the assistance of his family, cultivate from a quarter to even half 

 an acre, without materially interfering with regular labour, hiring 

 occasionally some aid. But in many cases, without assistance, he 

 cannot advantageously attempt to manage one-half of that quantity ; 

 and it is well known, that a small spot, when properly cultivated, will 

 raise a greater and more valuable produce, than one of double the 

 size, if the management be imperfect. 



/^"3 A cottage garden ought to be managed on a simple plan, while, at 

 the same time, some variety of productions is desirable, as under a pro- 

 per system, it may be made to yield a weekly, and almost a daily tri- 

 bute, to the table of the cottager. Much must depend on the cottager 

 being supplied with good seeds ; for five shillings per annum, laid out 

 in the purchase of seeds, properly selected, and sown in due season, 

 would render his garden doubly valuable . 



bourer is obliged to return home, in consequence of bad weather, he may do 

 something in favour of his little plot, in case the weather clears up, instead of 

 loitering in ale-houses, and other places of public resort. 



' Where a garden is small, it is a useful plan for the labourer, to procure a 

 ridge of land, from some neighbouring farmer, for raising a stock of winter po- 

 tatoes. The cottager manures the land, and gets the produce in return for the 

 manure laid on, the benefit of which afterwards accrues to the fanner. This is 

 an advantageous system to both parties. General Eejiort of Scotland, vol. ii. 

 p. 64. 



f General Report of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 62. 



j Gloucestershire Report, p. 199. 



$ Communication from Mr Salisbury, of the London Botank Garden. 



