206 
THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 
[Aprin T, 
of the large pot very often proves injurious, for it some- 
times fits so closely on the bottom, that a very small 
space is left for the water to escape, and in spite of the 
moss, it will carry to the bottom fine particles of soil, 
which will in most cases effectually prevent the escape 
of the water, excepting through the hole in the bottom 
of the thumb-pot. It is preferable to use three or four 
rather large potsherds, placing the concave side,down- 
wards, and putting a rather thin layer of moss over 
em, not more than a quarter of an inch in thickness, 
or it will act the part of a sponge and retain the water.” 
All this may or may not be the case ; but it has no 
more to do with the question of frequent shifting than 
pruning has. 
Since we first directed the attention of our readers 
to the state of the labouring poor, and the destitution 
which so frequently results from mere want of em- 
ee without any fault in the individual, we have 
ad numerous communications on the subject from 
many of our friends and correspondents. Our limits 
would not permit us to publish many of these, which 
are replete with excellent practical observations ; but 
we have not neglected to peruse them carefully ; and 
as they one and all confirm the opinions we entertained 
before on the advantage of letting small allotments of 
land for cultivation to Agricultural labourers, we 
shall only extract from some of them such facts as 
will clearly show the result of numerous experiments 
of this kind, which have now stood the test of many 
years’ continuance. We add them as a confirmation 
of our own experience, and as a guide to those who 
may be inclined to follow such laudable examples:— 
An Account of numerous Allotments let by the 
Marquess of Lansdowne—* The quantity of land let 
out to the poor by Lord Lansdowne in the parishes 
of Colne and Burnhill is 500 acres, in allotments from 
half an acre to two acres each, the number of tenants 
being nearly 700. The price per acre is the same as 
was given by the farmers previous to giving up the 
ind, and varies from 40s. to 60s. per acre. The 
crops chiefly grown are Potatoes, the Cabbage 
tribe, Wheat, and Barley ; the grain and green crops 
alternately, and generally winter Tares are sown after 
Wheat, and dug in for Potatoes in the spring, with or 
without the assistance of manure. ‘The rents are 
ly paid, with very few exceptions, and the pro- 
duce of the land is invariably good. A Horticultural 
Society in Colne has been the means of promoting 
much good amongst the cottagers by giving prizes 
annually for vegetables, fruit, and separate prizes for 
allotment-cultivation and specimens of Wheat and 
Barley in the ear. From the interest taken in this 
Society by the neighbouring gentry and landowners I 
have no doubt that from 30/. to 40/. will this year be 
distributed amongst them.” 
A much-valued correspondent, Sir Henry Bunbury, 
who is most zealous in the cause, writes thus :—‘ Five- 
and-twenty years ago I began to assign some small 
ortions of land (for I had but little at that time) to a 
few labourers. In every instance I found that the 
man improved in his circumstances, and as his circum- 
stances became more easy he became more domestic 
and respectable in his conduct. With this encourage- 
ment I gladly seized opportunities of letting pieces of 
land to cottagers; and afterwards, having a good deal 
within my power, I extended the practice very widely: 
nor have I ever seen the slightest reason to doubt of 
its beneficial effects. I do not tie myself down to any 
fixed quantity of ground; generally, I let but little 
(say one rood) to a beginner: for the young labourer 
has no money laid by, and rarely owns a pig (that 
rerum necessarium). But there ought not to be any 
dry rules about the exact quantity of the allotment, or 
as to the mode of working it. One sharp active fellow 
will turn his bit of land to double the profit that 
could be earned by a dull one. But the crops of the 
former soon render his practice an object{of imitation, 
and all around him make progress and improve. 
‘When there are one or two pigs in the sty, and the 
land appears in good condition, the advancing labourer 
gets hi an acre instead of his original rood, 
and so on, Some few of my people have come 
now to hold one, two, and even four acres—an 
industrious and thriving fellows they are. But as you 
ask particularly concerning the size of an allotment, I 
should recommend half an acre. I find that the man, 
with the assistance of his wife and children, can keep 
it in very good condition : nor is hesomuch occupied 
by it as to be diverted from his daily labour under the 
farmer. I am inclined to suspect that gentlemen 
make the mistake of meddling too much with their 
allotments as to details. I should say, do not cramp 
the labourer—let him feel the pleasure of being a free 
man—stop him when he is going decidedly wrong— 
give him useful information—and encourage a pride 
in him as to his crops, and his pigs, and the neatness 
of his ground.” 
een! who has devoted much of her attention to 
pour sone Pee small portions or allotments to 
as paupers, la y erwise would have been Sean 
answer to some questions sent to her, of which we will 
here give a short abstract. She began with 50 allot- 
ments in 1830, and they now amount to 404—varying 
from eight poles to three, four, and fivé acres each, 
Each occupier signs the following conditions :— 
Allotments of Land, 
Mrs. —-—— agrees to let, and; 
to hire No. of the "in the’parish 
of estimated at a. Re P. 
until the 29th of Sept., 1843, at the rent of £ 
and if this rent is not tendered before the 11th of Oct. 
following, he agrees to forfeit, and give up immediate 
possession of land, buildings, and crops, without further 
notice from the owner of the land. 
Also to give up the same at any season of the year if 
convicted of a mi i or three 
householders not renting more than himself. 
Also, if the whole or any part is assigned or under-let 
without leave in writing from the owner of the land. 
Also, if more land is rented of any other persons ex- 
cept the garden of the house he occupies, and to forfeit 
double the rent till Michaelmas. 
Iso, if he removes, or suffers to be removed off the 
premises, either any hay, straw, or manure, and to forfeit 
double the rent. 
Also, if any land has been” ploughed with horses, and 
to pay twopence a rod over the rent’ for every pole so 
ploughed. 
Also; if two crops of the same or different kinds ripen 
their seed without a green or root crop intervening, to 
be consumed by the Tenant’s family and cattle, or other 
person’s cattle, fed off on this land; and in no case to 
be sold off the premises. 
Also, if Game is killed, or permitted to be killed. 
Also, if Furze is cut on land not hired. 
Otherwise, the land to be occupied till one of the 
parties give notice in writing to the other to quit and leave, 
on the day of 
Any damage done by a gate being left open to be made 
good within one week, or his goods or crops seized to the 
amount, on the valuation of two allotment tenants, 
To forfeit sixpence for getting over the wall, or a hole 
being found in the wall or hedge. 
Do. for leaving manure or rubbish on the road. 
; Hee for trespassing on each other’s or the adjoining 
and, 
Forfeits to be kept and divided between the tenants of 
the same piece. 
In any of the above instances the Landlord shall be at 
liberty to re-enter without any process of Law. 
itnessed by Signed by 
There have been only four defaulters in the whole 
number in twelve years: no legal steps are taken 
against them ; the only consequence of default being 
the loss of the allotment—they are even allowed to 
take off their crops. Only eight of the number, who 
have a cottage and four or five acres of land, and keep 
a couple of cows stalled up all the year, and some pigs, 
live chiefly from the produce of the land. All the 
rest are day-labourers, and for these from 20 to 40 
poles are sufficient: 20 of them have manure tanks. 
A peculiarity in the granting of allotments by this 
benevolent lady is, that previous good conduct is not 
essential to their obtaining allotments, All that are 
ire to subscribe to the conditions and belong to the 
several parishes are admitted ; and she has found that 
regular occupation and profitable industry have gener- 
ally been the means of correcting vice, when not too 
deeply rooted, and greatly encouraged honesty. 
But all this, however satisfactory, is not intended 
as aremedy for that superabundance of agricultural 
labourers which we desire to see usefully employed : 
we must show how the proprietors and occupiers of 
land may employ more manual labour on their land, 
not only without loss, but with a certain profit ; thus, 
no doubt, increasing the expense of cultivation, but 
also increasing the produce so much, as to repay the 
additional outlay with a fair and ample remuneration. 
If we can do this, we shall have done much to solve 
the problem.—J/. 
HEATHS. 
In the following advice to the young Amateur, and a 
detail of my plan of Heath-growing, be ble to your 
colour. Nine times out of ten such a plant will bloom and 
die ; but occasionally it will recover by being repotted, 
decay not having reached the centre roots. It will, how- 
ever, lose the foliage for a considerable distance along the 
stem, in which case it is advisable to cut it back. Even 
then the plant in the 48 will have the advantage, having 
fresh roots, and nothing to check it in its onward course. 
When your plants are unpacked, supposing it tobe March, 
which is the best time for the purpose, it will save much 
troubleif they are examined before being placed in the house, 
to ascertain whether they require shifting. In this particu. 
lar the greatest discretion must be used. If the roots are 
evenly distributed round the pot, it seems reasonable to 
suppose that a larger pot would suit it. I confess I have 
lost many a healthy plant by my anxiety to push it on and 
shift it before it was ready. It is well known that the 
roots of plants, when repotted, seek the sides of the pot in 
the first instance; afterwards the centre is gradually 
filled up. Therefore, examine the plant closely, by taking 
out the crocks and turfy drainage ; and if the roots do not 
make their appearance in the same strength in the centre 
as the exterior, be assured that the plant had better re- 
main as it is, with the addition only of a little fresh drain- 
age. Experience may, however, prevent this trouble, for 
there is a peculiar lightness and elasticity to the touch that 
will show when the exterior and interior of the mass of 
roots correspond. Some, no doubt, will require a change, 
and an important question then arises, into what sized 
pot they may be shifted. 
‘here are some gardeners, who, anxious to spur on their 
favourites, would not scruple to give them a second size 
larger; and with some of the free-growing sorts, | admit that 
even three sizes may not be too much; but a beginner has 
not the means of discrimination, and the safer plan is to 
shift from size to size. In some cases you may obtain 
two shifts in one year—in February, and again in July or 
August; but if you attempt te force on Erica Massonii, 
aristata major,“ depressa, and’ some others of the slow- 
growing 'sorts, which, owing to their tardy movements, 
cause but a slight demand upon the roots; long before 
the latter reach the sides of the pot, they become exhausted. 
by the continual wash of the,water; the mould becomes 
sodden, growth is checked, they sicken and die. If 
E. aristata major isin a 48, be content if, on shifting it 
into a 36 in March, it fills the pot during the summer, 
and is in a state to receive a further movement in spring, 
after having increased two inches in the length of the 
shoots. Not so, however, with E. tricolor, elegans, and 
some others. The former has made a growth with me of 
8 or 10 ins. in a year, although it had been advanced two 
sizes. But to proceed with shifting the plant from the 48 to 
a 36 :—Let the pot be perfectly dry ; make the hole at the 
bottom rather larger, and place over it a piece of crock ; add 
some smaller pieces half an inch square, to the depth of 
half an inch. Select some dry.turves of fibrous peat 
(shaking out the mould), and lay it over the crock an 
inch in depth. Having collected some small round 
pebbles of the size of a Horse-bean, mix a dozen with the 
first handful of mould, that is, before you place the plant 
in the pot ; then insert the Heath, having divested it of 
the former crock and drainage. Fill in round it with the 
fresh mould; and firmer than with other plants ; be very 
particular that no fresh soil covers the stem, but that it 
e raised above the level of the sides, so that in watering, 
the moisture should fall to the sides, and on no account 
lodge in the centre. Do not water for one or two days, 
and during that time place the plant in the shade, The small 
pieces of crock, drainage-peat, and small pebbles must be 
increased according to the size of the pot. I would 
advise that before the plant is placed in the house, it 
should be staked out in the form in which it is wished to 
grow. The tender twigs may be brought down, but when 
hard, they become stubborn and inflexible-—Fvrica. 
(To be continued.) 
DESCRIPTIVE;LIST OF CARNATIONS AND 
PICOTEKS. 
(Continued from p. 156.) 
PURPLE FLAKES. 
Mango (Ely’s).—One of the best in its class, the pod 
being good, and the white pure; of medium size, and 
the colour, violet purple, well laid on; it flowers early. 
Beauty of Woodhouse (Mansley’s).—A new flower of fine 
properties; with me it is rather deficient in purple 5 
the stripes are broad, and white very pure. 
readers, they are much at your service. Supposing, then, 
that the cultivator has entered into the merits of a well- 
grown Heath, and prefers a bushy, thickly-foliaged plant 
to one resembling a timber-tree, he will no doubt be desir- 
ous of obtaining 100 of the best and most beautiful varie- 
ties. He ought therefore to procure two of each ; travel- 
ling or other incidents may cause the loss of a single plant, 
and for this reason it is best to have a duplicate. One may 
be grown for aspecimen, and the other to propagate from 5 
but the latter may live to see better days, when cuttings 
arepretty numerous. In making a selection of plants at the 
nursery great discretion is requisite, and it is seldom that 
those in large pots can be recommended. I would advise 
the amateur to take up the nearest 48-sized pots contain- 
ing the sort which he requires; if the foliage is healthy 
and clothes the stem as well as the upper branches, and if 
on turning it out of the pot the roots are ofa silvery white, 
it shows that the plant is ina growing state. Such a plant 
may be set aside, and the remaining 199 should resemble 
it. I would, however, caution him against a large plant 
in a small pot, with a tolerably healthy appearance, but a 
thick woody stem, which when turned out discovers the 
roots, matted together, and for’ the most part of a sandy 
ophon (Leighton’s).—This stands first in the Lan- 
cashire Show-book, though decidedly second-rate, the 
impurity of the white being a serious drawback. 
Princess Charlotte (Yurner’s).—An old flower, of large 
size and fine colours ; it is extensively grown, and is a 
safe sort to depend on. 
Premier (Milwood’s).—Raised a few years ago at Derby ; 
the white is apt to flush, but the petals are large and 
well-formed : when clean it is a fine flower. 
Squire Meynell (Brabbin’s).—One of the best we have 5 
the flower is large, pod good, form and colour excellent. 
Sir J. Plastain (Bates’).—Very large, white impure, ra~ 
ther loose in its habit; with me second-rate. 
British Queen (Elliott’s).—White pure, but often defi- 
cient in a fair proportion of purple. 
Invincible (Simpson’s).—An old flower, liable to the 
defect noticed in the- preceding variety ; when grown 
strong, however, the colours are better distributed. 
Major (Spray’s).—Good form and white pure, but often 
short of colour. 
Miss Thornton (Hudson’s).—A strong grower ; flowers 
large and well marked ; although esteemed in Lanca« 
shire, it is considered rather thin for Nottingham, 
Enchanter (Pearson’s).—-Guard leayes rather too large 
