mid Cottage ~Economy. \ 7 7 



a sharp frost or two upon them. Be that as it may, when the crop is taken 

 up they should not be pitted very close, else they will heat and rot : avoid 

 this, and any place free from rats and mice will answer the purpose. Three 

 or four roots, planted early in the spring, will yield plenty of seed. 



For Cabbages, three rods of ground will afford upwards of 500 the first 

 cutting, and double that quantity during the summer and autumn ; consi- 

 derably more than half of which, together with the leaves, will go, when 

 boiled, into the hog-tubs, forming, altogether, no trifling quantity of food for 

 the pig. 



To make sure of an early crop of cabbages, the seed should be sown 

 about the middle of July and the first week in August, of the Fulham kind ; 

 but be sure to get a good sort, for there are numerous varieties. Prick out 

 the seedlings as they advance in growth ; and finally plant out, for the win- 

 ter, the first sowing in the last week in August, and the second sowing in the 

 last week in September. The prickings-out and final transplantings may all 

 be done on the ground, which is now being daily cleared of early potatoes. 

 The sugarloaf and drumhead cabbage-seed may be sown in August, and left 

 in beds to be planted out in the spring, where and whenever a corner can 

 be found for thenu A few seeds of the early York and sugarloaf may be 

 sown likewise in the spring, to fill up with, or even to plant whole rows, as 

 it may appear necessary. If, towards the winter, the plants of the first 

 sowing appear very strong or topheavy, a little earth may be drawn about 

 them to keep them steady ; but it is not a good method to earth up cabbage 

 plants before winter, unless, as I have observed, they are very early : it 

 enables the slugs to get to them with greater ease ,• it is apt to make them 

 long-legged, and, what is worse, late in cabbaging. Cabbage plants should 

 always be transplanted in dry weather. Two or three of the best may be 

 marked when cut, and left for seed. * 



French Beans, or rather scarlet runners, may be planted in the middle and 

 latter end of April, with great advantage, round the cabbage bed : they will 

 benefit rather than injure the crop, and need not take up more than a few 

 square yards of ground. They should be staked early, and carefully pro- 

 tected from the frost. A second sowing, in the latter end of May, will be 

 found of great service when the first sowing has become nearly unproduc- 

 tive. In dry and airy situations, scarlet runners should not be allowed to 

 run more than 5 ft. high : they will break out below, and bear plentifully. \ 



* A cottager might often make a few shillings by saving seeds, and selling 

 or exchanging with his neighbours, or with the seedsmen. In different 

 parts of Scotland this is done by labourers, weavers, and other mechanics. 

 Torrieburn is, or used to be, famous for its seeds of German greens ; an- 

 other village near Stirling for leek-seed ; Dumfermline and Paisley were also 

 noted in this way ; and what are called the Russian stocks are raised from 

 seeds saved by the weavers of Silesia and Saxony. — Cond. 



-f- If sticks are scarce, sow the scarlet runners 18 in. apart, stopping the 

 runners as they advance ; and, by this means, they will bear most abundantly, 

 till the frost destroys them. If they are to be supported by sticks, sow 

 them in lines in different parts of the garden, as they bear more abundantly 

 when detached from other plants. This is a very useful vegetable ; and, if 

 preserved in the German manner, by salting, like sauerkraut (Gard. Mag., 

 vol. iii. p. 343.), these and many other vegetables will be rendered of great 

 value to the cottager. — Shibboleth. 



When sticks cannot be got, strings will do. Stretch a strong string, or a 

 straw rope, horizontally, 7 or 8 ft. above the row, supporting it by a stick 

 at each end, and at every 10 or 12 ft. distance ; stick a peg in the ground, 

 at the root of each plant, and from that stretch a string to the horizontal 

 cord above. — Cond. 



Vol. VI. — No. 25. n 



