264 General Results of a Gardening Tour : — 



end, and behind them a space of about 2 ft. in width for fuel 

 and lumber. The furniture and utensils, though scanty, were 

 clean and neat; more especially when contrasted with the 

 floor, which, underneath the beds, was of earth, quite loose ; 

 though, near the fire, were laid some flat stones, which the 

 woman said her husband had picked up and put down him- 

 self. The cottage window, as already observed, was fixed, 

 and incapable of opening to give air. There was no back 

 door, and no opening either in the roof or walls for ventila- 

 tion, except the entrance door and the chimney. There 

 was no appendage, or garden ground of any sort, behind these 

 cottages ; but, across the road, in front of them was a narrow 

 strip of ground, divided so as to allow one fall (36 yds. square) 

 to each cottage. In these gardens there was no structure of 

 any kind. 



We repeat, that we cannot believe that the Duchess of 

 Buccleugh is aware that there are such cottages on her hus- 

 band's Scotch estates : probably even the duke may be 

 equally ignorant ; and, in that case, the blame must be con- 

 sidered as attaching to his managers; and these, again, may 

 very probably excuse themselves (for there are always plenty 

 of excuses for every thing), on the ground of not feeling jus- 

 tified in departing from what is deemed customary in like 

 cases. This confirms what we have always stated ; viz., that 

 the reform and amelioration of any class of society, to be ef- 

 fectual and permanent, must proceed from that class itself. 

 When the labouring; classes have a decided taste for an im^ 

 proved description of cottages, and for larger gardens, they 

 will, as we have said before, never rest satisfied till they have 

 procured them. 



But, though we maintain this doctrine, we hold also that 

 something is to be expected, in favour of the poor and ignorant, 

 from the generous feelings of the enlightened and wealthy ; and 

 therefore we consider it to be the duty, as we are certain it 

 would contribute to the happiness, of«all proprietors who can 

 afford it, to endeavour to raise the character of the human 

 beings on their estates, by improving their dwellings. No 

 man can compel the Duke of Buccleugh to issue an order 

 that no cottages shall be built on his estates with less than 

 three rooms, and other conveniences, and a garden of at 

 least the fourth part of an acre unalienably attached ; but all 

 who are aware of the immense extent of the duke's posses^ 

 sions expect more from him than they do from less, wealthy 

 proprietors. 



Having described the sort of cottages erected for farm-* 

 labourers in Dumfriesshire, we shall now notice those erected 



