376 Cottage Gardens, 



2 in., particularly observing to give a greater space between the side bars 

 than between those in the middle. The bars are fastened at each end to a 

 projecting band of the hive by means of a wooden peg, or by nails known by 

 the name of clouts : the latter are, however, apt to rust, which sometimes 

 impedes the extraction of the comb. In regard to the height and breadth 

 of the hive, they are entirely a matter of option ; it is, however, a mistaken 

 notion that the larger the hive the greater the produce of honey. Too 

 much space is as injurious to the bees as too little ; but, in adopting the 

 medium, the apiarian must be guided by the climate in which he lives, and 

 by the fertility of the district in which his apiary is situated. My hive is 

 now generally made of about 16 rands of straw, and averages about 20 in. 

 in height up to the projecting rand on which the bars rest. The breadth 

 should be nearly equal to the height, observing particularly that the upper 

 part of the hive be broader than the lower, in order to prevent the falling 

 of the comb, as no sticks are ever to be used in one of my hives. 



I believe I have now answered the different queries of your Indian cor- 

 respondent ; and I take the opportunity of informing you, that, in a very 

 short time, I will transmit you an article on the poiver of the common bee to 

 generate a queen; which fallacy has been lately industriously circulated 

 by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, on the mere autho- 

 rity of Huber, whom I hesitate not to designate the Munchausen of api- 

 arians. I am, Sir, yours, &c. — Robert Huish. May 18. 1832. 



Art. VII. Cottage Gardens, and Gardens to Worlhouses, Prisons, 

 Asylums, fyc. 



I believe there is no nation that thinks more of its poor, or is more 

 alive to charity, or more anxious to relieve the distresses of the wretched, 

 than the people of this country. I think, however, that some of the 

 best-intentioned philanthropists are deceived in their exertions to be of 

 service to mankind. At this moment wealthy and liberal landlords are 

 apportioning to cottagers an acre of land, more or less, hoping and be- 

 lieving it will afford the greatest benefits to the humbler classes. Your 

 Magazine, and the public press generally, are caught with the good it will 

 do ; and I am therefore less confident in my opinion upon that subject than 

 I otherwise might be : but, anxious, as a landlord, to do good to those 

 around me, I would most willingly give my labourers and cottagers land, if 

 by such a system I could persuade myself it would be for their benefit. Sup- 

 posing a nobleman or gentleman had fifty day labourers, each having his 

 acre of ground. As a gardener, I need not state to you at what season, or 

 what time during that season, it would be requisite that the labourer should 

 work upon it. I think I have read in your publications, and in other 

 works, that an acre of garden ground is sufficient to occupy the entire of 

 a man's time ; but, for argument's sake, suppose I say that two months' 

 labour would suffice. To do justice to his ground, the labourer would be 

 engaged just at those moments his master would require his work on the 

 farm to be going on ; and it could hardly be supposed that a landlord could 

 employ such a peasantry on his estates, taking only half days and quarter 

 days of his men's coming to work; four days in this week, three in another, 

 one in another, and so forth ; the remainder of the man's time being re- 

 quired to manage his own acre. 



This, in my mind, is the first objection to the plan ; but there is another, 

 which appears to me as powerful, that I wish an answer to. I am really 

 seeking information, to follow the steps of others (if persuaded), anxious 

 to ameliorate the condition of the poor in my own parish. 



How would you recommend the cultivation of the said acre ? Potatoes, 



