Importance of improving Cottage Gardens. 129 



Art. hi. Some Hints on the importance of improving Cottage 

 Gardens. By an old Florist. 



In looking over the last number of your Magazine, I was much 

 pleased with an article from your correspondent, Mr. R. Murray, 

 respecting the neglected state of cottage gardens, or perhaps, more 

 properly, the gardens of people in moderate circumstances in life, 

 in the immediate vicinity of Boston. This is an important subject 

 for discussion, and one which requires to be handled by persons 

 who are competent to suggest methods for improving them. I 

 have observed, in travelling through the villages in this neighbor- 

 hood, many places that lay entirely waste, or but very little im- 

 proved, that might, by bestowing upon them a small portion of 

 time and care, be made a great source of amusement, if not of 

 profit, to the proprietor or occupant. This state of things is apt to 

 strike the eye of persons unaccustomed to such, very unfavorably ; 

 and they oftentimes judge precipitately. It is very rare in Britain 

 to see the gardens, even of the poorer cottagers, lie so neglected. 

 A small, neat flower garden in front of the house, in which a few 

 choice flowers are grown, and with the honeysuckle, jessamine, Sic, 

 climbing over the walls, and running up the sides and over the 

 door, adds very much to the appearance of the premises, especially 

 if the house is an indifferent one. I have frequently thought, when 

 the subject has occurred to me, that this must in some measure be 

 owing to the very long cold winters which are experienced in this 

 climate, and which prevents gardening from being carried on here 

 but a limited part of the year. Yet, however, I have found, that 

 many plants which I should have expected that the cold winters 

 would have killed, live through them with but little or no protec- 

 tion, and flourish as well as in England. 



The horticultural and floral societies which abound throughout 

 Britain has tended greatly to encourage gardening among the 

 people : numerous prizes are awarded to individuals who are not 

 members, but who produce any thing worthy of exhibition. I 

 have never attended a meeting, but what a part of the room has 

 been set off for the productions of the cottagers ; and at certain 

 times, the secretary and two or three members visit all the gardens 

 within several miles of the place where their meetings are holden ; 

 a report is drawn up of the state in which they find them, and a 

 prize is awarded to the person who keeps his under the highest 

 cultivation. By this means emulation is produced, and the neigh- 

 bor of the person who has gained a prize, begins to devote his 

 leisure hours to the garden, rather than idle them away in places of 

 dissipation ; his family also receive more of his company, and the 

 money that would perhaps have been uselessly spent, is apphed to 

 some good purpose. I do not know of any thing that ever gave 



VOL. II. NO. IV. 17 



