On Cottage Allotmefits. 6S 



leave only a certain number of timber or ornamental trees on 

 any given space ; or timber and ornamental undergrowth. 

 This scientific mode of planting has been admirably illustrated 

 by Mr. Lawrence (X. 27.)' Mr. Rogers's mode of laying out 

 a nursery is founded on the principle laid down in the second 

 edition of our Encijc. of Gard., § 7350.; and new edit., § 6898. 

 Mr. Rogers, like most other planters, prefers opening his pits 

 in the summer season, and planting in November. In very wet 

 clayey soils, where pits are formed, spring planting is generally 

 considered preferable : but, with the perforator, or by slit plant- 

 ing, even on such soils, the autumn is equally good. Mr. 

 Rogers is laying down stools of the single camellia ; and intends 

 to use these as ornamental undergrowths, in common with 

 the different rhododendrons, azaleas, kalmias, &c. Notwith- 

 standing the elevation of Mr. Rogers's nursery, all the plants 

 which stand out at Southampton appear to stand out equally 

 well there. 



(To be continued.') 



Art. II. On Cottage Allotments. By Selim. 



As a sincere wellwisher to the labouring classes, I, of course, 

 take an interest in the success of the cottage allotment system, 

 which is especially calculated to increase the comforts of the 

 poor. Hitherto, I believe, the system has succeeded : and, 

 should it fail eventually, the failure will arise, T think, from the 

 impoverished state of the soil, which is cropped annually without 

 the necessary dressing of manure. In most places the cottagers 

 cannot procure animal manure beyond what is produced in their 

 own pigsties, and the little they can collect upon the roads ; and 

 this will be found insufficient to afford a slight dressing to the 

 garden and allotment every alternate year. How, then, is this 

 deficiency to be supplied ? I answer, principally by good 

 management, which will often do as much as money : and, with 

 respect to management, the labouring classes are, in too many 

 instances, lamentably careless and ignorant. But a sensible 

 cottager will generally take a hint from a superior in rank and 

 information ; and those who wish well to the allotment system 

 will promote it most effectually by hints as to management, and 

 by pressing upon the occupiers the necessity of collecting every 

 description of manure, if they would be certain of remunerating 

 crops. To show what may be done in this way by a little 

 management, I will instance a garden I am well acquainted with, 

 which is made almost to manure itself; and I believe I may 

 safely assert that, for the last twenty years, it has not had the 

 benefit of a single cartload of yard or stable dung: yet the 

 crops are abundant, and the vegetables of good quality, though 



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