186 Cottage Gardens, live Stock of the Cottager, 



multiplicity of new names, and long directions, would not only puzzle and 

 perplex the illiterate labourer, but quite discourage him from ever venturing 

 on the management of a garden. 



I shall now endeavour to answer the three questions you have proposed 

 (Gard. Mag., vol. v. p. 714.), in as brief a manner as I possibly can. 



I. What Quantity of Land luill keep a Family in Culinary Vegetables and 



Pork and Eggs ? 



The quantity of land requisite for the above purposes depends on soil, 

 situation, and climate ; but, in answering all the three questions, I shall 

 suppose the land to be of a light sandy loam, upon a dry bottom, in an 

 open situation; worth from 15*. to 20s. per acre at the present time, and in 

 the county of Kent, about 20 miles from London. The plan which I sub- 

 join is rather more than a quarter of an acre, which I think sufficient for a 

 man, his wife, four children (the children's ages being from 10 to 2 years), 

 and two pigs and two hens. 



No. 1. Potatoes and Radishes, 19 yds. long by 4^ yds. wide. Quantity of 

 seed, and price : 2 gals, potatoes, 6d. ; radishes, Id. 



In the last week 

 of February, take 6 P i an L 35 yards hy 40- 



barrows of manure, 

 spread it regularly 

 over the ground, 

 and commence dig- 

 ging at one end for 

 1 foot. Then stretch 

 the line across the 

 border, and cut 

 down a trench 3 in. 

 deep, and plant the 

 early frame potato 

 at 9 in. distance, in 

 the row ; then dig 

 again for 18 in., set 

 the line, make a 

 trench, and plant 

 as before. Con- 

 tinue this for 7 



yards ; then dig and rake the remaining 2 yards, and sow the short-topped 

 radish, which may all be done in 6 hours ; or in 3 days, at 2 hours each 

 day. The potatoes will require hoeing in the beginning of May, half an 

 hour; earthing up in the middle of the month, 1 hour. They will be 

 ready for use by the end of May, and will serve the family until the end 

 of August. Radishes ready in April. 



No. 2. Early Peas and Beans, 18 yds. by 4§ yds. Peas, 3 pts. 1*. ; beans, 

 1 pt. 2d. ; pea-sticks, 6c?. 



In the beginning of January dig all the ground, and then sow 14 yards 

 with early frame peas, at 3 ft. from row to row, and the remaining 4 yds. 

 with Mazagan beans, in rows 1J ft. asunder, taking 4a hrs. work. They will- 

 require twice earthing up : first in February, then in March, a quarter of 

 an hour each tune. The peas must be sticked in March, which will take 

 half an hour. After that, they will only require being kept clear of weeds, 

 and will be ready for use from the latter end of May to the end of July. 



No. 2. a I reserve for sowing small seeds, as shall be afterwards ex- 

 plained. 



No. 3. Early Barnes Cabbage, 9 yds. by 1 \\ ft. 



In the middle of October spread regularly 4 barrows of manure, and let 

 it be well dug, which will take 3 hrs. work ; then plant in rows 1£ ft. asunder, 





1 



2 



a 



14 

 15 



16 

 . . . 



17 



18* 



19 



20 



21 



■ 



f, 



io : 9 



3 : 4 : 5 : 6 : 7 : 8 





ii 



12 



13 



