Cottage Husbandry and Architecture. 153 



In this way, a considerable part of the advantages of a high wall would be 

 obtained for the cottager's garden ; but, in grafting, he must take care that 

 the scion receives the whole of the nourishment produced by the stock. For 

 this purpose, a double row of plants would form much the most suitable 

 hedge. Where a good fence of whitethorn already exists, rather than remove 

 it and plant another of fruit trees, it may be worth while to cut down every 

 third or fourth plant to the ground, and graft them with pears, apples, 

 quinces, and medlars, all of which will grow on the common thorn ; the 

 medlar more especially. 



Tobacco. — Many cottagers, both male and female, smoke tobacco ; and 

 we do not see why they should not, if it procures them any enjoyment, and 

 does not annoy others. Tobacco, in decoction, is also one of the most univer- 

 sal and efficacious poisons for insects ; and the cottager ought to know, that, 

 with a stock of tobacco which has been fermented in the manner of hay, and 

 with quicklime for forming lime water, he may destroy every insect, worm, rep- 

 tile, or fish, with which he can bring one or other of these articles in contact. 

 Lime water, which is made by throwing a pint of quicklime, in powder, into 

 40 or 50 gallons of water, stirring the mixture well, and letting it stand half 

 an hour to become clear, will destroy earth-worms, snails, frogs, lizards, 

 snakes, and most kinds of caterpillars before they are fully grown. It will not, 

 however, destroy the scaly insect, woolly insect, or red spider, on trees ; or 

 the grub of the cockchaffer, or the wireworm (the grub of a species of Ti- 

 pula), in the soil : but for these a strong decoction of tobacco will be found 

 effectual. Every cottager, therefore, ought to grow 30 or 40 plants of to- 

 bacco. He may sow the seed in a pot, and place it in the inside of the glass 

 window of his cowhouse, where it will get heat from the cow, arid light from 

 the open air, in the beginning of April ; and transplant it into his richest soil, 

 in a month afterwards. When the stem begins to show flower, or has 

 thrown out five or six leaves, he may pinch out its centre bud ; this will in- 

 crease the magnitude of the leaves, which may be gathered just before they 

 begin to show symptoms of decay. The bottom leaves will be first ready, and 

 there will be three gatherings in the season, each of which should be first 

 slightly dried in the shade, and then put under a mat to be fermented in the 

 manner of new hay. After having lain in this state for some weeks, it may be 

 moistened with salt and water, rolled up into balls, and kept in a cool and 

 rather moist place till wanted for use. In the north of Europe, where the 

 common or round-leaved tobacco (N. rustica) is grown by every cottager for 

 smoking, they do not take the trouble of fermenting it, but simply dry the 

 leaves, and keep them in bundles in a dry place, till wanted for filling their 

 pipes. We see no reason why a cottager should not manufacture both his 

 tobacco and his snuff, and we shall hereafter give him copious directions for 

 both. 



Medicinal Plants. — Every cottager may grow two or three of these. The 

 stalks of the medicinal rhubarb are as good for tarts as those of the species 

 generally grown for that purpose ; and the roots of every species of rhubarb 

 partake considerably of the medicinal properties of the officinal species. 

 Chamomile may be grown on a seat, or on the slope of the platform on 

 which, according to our plan, the cottage should stand. Opium is a most 

 important medicine as a general alleviator of pain, and every cottager may 

 produce it either from the common lettuce or the garden poppy. As a sub- 

 stitute for the cinchona, the J'corus Calamus may be grown. But to enter 

 into details of matters of comparatively secondary importance to the cot- 

 tager would exceed our limits. 



A Model Cottage for a Country Labourer, (figs. 30. to 40.) — We pro- 

 pose that, in all cases, cottages should stand on platforms of earth raised 

 from 2 to 4 ft. above the natural surface ; that the minimum accommodation 

 should be a kitchen, back-kitchen or wash-house, parlour, bedroom for the 

 man and wife, one for girls, and one for boys. These accommodations may 



