COTTAGE GARDENS ASSOCIATION. 527 



ought not to have to wait for the soil to be in a proper 

 condition to work, it ought to be ready at all times to suit 

 his leisure. Depth of soil as well as texture or substance 

 should be taken into consideration. Depth compensates 

 in some measure for want of solidity, as the roots of plants 

 will push deeper in light than heavy soils in search of 

 nourishment and support, A wet soil is always objection- 

 able, and unless such can be thoroughly drained before the 

 allotments are set out, it should be scrupulously avoided. 



With regard to the SIZE OF THE ALLOTMENTS, they 

 should, perhaps, vary from 10 poles to 40 poles each. A 

 man with a family of boys would easily cultivate a much 

 larger plot than one without them, and the larger plot 

 would be a greater boon in finding them healthful and 

 profitable employment in their leisure, and in providing 

 a larger stock of vegetables and fruit for household use. 

 Again, a man whose daily employment was gardening or 

 similar work might probably not care for so large a plot 

 as one whose occupation was sedentary, or whose hours of 

 labour were less prolonged, to whom digging, hoeing, and 

 the various out-of-door operations of gardening would be a 

 change. 



In every branch of the association there would of 

 course be a separate managing committee, and this, with 

 other matters of practical detail, would require a dis- 

 criminating adjustment at their hands. If a large plot 

 once granted was found to be indifferently cultivated, a 

 smaller one should be substituted for it after due notice. 

 There should be a cart-road touching one point of each 

 allotment, and a pathway for a wheelbarrow traversing its 

 longest side. 



These, then, are what I should consider the principal 

 requirements of land purchased or rented for cottage 

 gardens. It is probable that all these advantages will be 

 rarely found in combination, but although all are desirable, 

 all are not necessary for profitable gardening. Hence, in 

 order to secure the right thing, a thorough practical know- 



