and Cottage Economy. 181 



regular employment, from six to six o'clock in summer, and from light to 

 dark in winter, ought to lose one hour ; and, likewise, the man who would 

 require to be taught how to crop his ground the second year, would require 

 it all his life. No person can go wrong if he but change the crops as much 

 as possible in rotation, and observe, if the ground is of greater extent, the 

 same proportions of different vegetables, potatoes and cabbages being 

 always considered the most important crops. With regard to a few herbs *, 

 any gentleman's gardener could, in one season, supply a whole village with 

 as many as they could possibly require : a sage bush, a bit of thyme, a few 

 roots of parsley, with balm and mint, are enough, and to spare. 



In concluding these remarks, I may observe that I am perfectly aware a 

 labouring man and a very small family usually consume a greater quantity 

 of potatoes than I have allowed. The cause, I apprehend, will be found in 

 the want of other vegetables, and good bread and meat. If a man has 

 14 score of bacon every year, this alone will afford him upwards of three 

 quarters of a pound for every day, a greater quantity than 99 poor families 

 in a 100 have throughout the country; indeed, no man wants to cram such 

 a quantity of watery stuff down his throat, when he has a good slice or two 

 of boiled bacon, cabbage, carrots, and good wholesome bread and ale. 



II. i" shall now consider how a Man and his Wife, with from Seven to Eight 

 or Ten Children, may be supported ivith the assistance of a Cow ; show the 

 Advantages of keeping one; what Ground is necessary, and its Culture; 

 and also treat of Rabbits, Pigeons, fyc. 



Poverty will never enter the dwelling of an industrious labouring man (I 

 proceed on the supposition that he is constantly employed, at from 9s. to 

 12s. a week), if he once can obtain possession of an acre of ground at a 

 moderate rent, and a cow f, provided that it please the Almighty to bless 

 him and his family with health. J So numerous are the benefits derived 



of two grown persons and four children, and the latter, at an average, of one 

 pig, three rabbits, three hens, and three ducks. This quantity of land will 

 be found enough in a stiff soil ; but if, on the contrary, the soil is rich and 

 light, a less quantity may be found sufficient, and will certainly be more 

 advantageous to the labourer in every respect, as it will require less time to 

 be bestowed on its cultivation, and yield earlier and better crops. — Prac- 

 tical. 



* A collection of herbs are very necessary, as distilled waters, wines, 

 decoctions, and infusions, which may be obtained from the cottage-garden, 

 might ward off diseases, and save the disagreeable appearance of a doctor's 

 bill. — Shibboleth. 



-j- To keep a Coiv, upon hay and grass, will require 2\ acres of land capable 

 of producing H tons of hay per acre. A couple of Leicester ewes will prove 

 much more profitable than a goat ; they will bring at least two good lambs 

 in the spring, that will sell well ; and, should they be milked after the lamb 

 is weaned, they will produce about one quart per day each, for three months. 

 Their fleeces will help to clothe the family, either manufactured, or in wad- 

 dings for bed and body clothes. — A Countryman. 



Should the Puruk sheep of Ladusk be introduced, and be found to 

 succeed as well as Mr. Moorecroft anticipates (Trans. R. Asiatic Soc, 

 vol. i.), they will be found invaluable for the cottager. They are said to 

 be as easily kept as pigs, to give two lambs in twelve months, and to admit 

 of being twice shorn within that time. (See Mag. Nat. Hist., vol.iii. 

 p. 144.) 



\ A Cow added. — Now comes by far the most useful animal to the cot- 

 tager : here is a caterer for him and his family. That man who possesses a 

 cow and a pig possesses a means of maintaining his wife and children in 



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