164* Cultivation of a small and a large Gar'den. 



It may be here asked, if I mean to affirm that it requires a 

 more skilful and learned gardener to manage the garden of a 

 cottage than it does to manage that of a mansion ? To which 

 I answer, undoubtedly it does, if all the kinds of products are 

 required out of the small garden that are required from the large 

 one : if, for example, forcing in all its departments is to be car- 

 ried on in both ; if there are to be miniature crops in the cot- 

 tage garden of all those crops which are grown in the mansion 

 garden on a large scale ; and if there are to be an arboretum 

 and a flower-garden laid out according to the natural system: 

 if these, and corresponding results obtained on a large scale 

 from the mansion garden, are to be also obtained, in proportion 

 to its extent, from the cottage garden, then I state, without the 

 slightest hesitation, that a more skilful, experienced, and atten- 

 tive gardener is required for the latter than for the former. 

 More skill is necessary, because more is required with less 

 means ; more experience is requisite, because it is only by ex- 

 perience, joined to skill and knowledge, that success can be ren- 

 dered certain in all cases ; and more attention is required to 

 watch the progress of favourable or unfavourable circumstances, 

 because, on a small scale, these circumstances are more imme- 

 diate and fatal in their operations, and their results, if unfavour- 

 able, are more severely felt. But, fortunately, the objects and 

 products of a cottage or suburban garden never include all these 

 objects at the same time ; though there are none of them that 

 may not be produced in even the smallest garden, according to 

 the taste or means of the proprietor ; and a gardener or a pro- 

 prietor may succeed perfectly well in one or two of even the 

 most difficult points of gardening on a small scale, who could 

 not attend to all the departments of the art. As a proof of this, 

 I may refer to the gardens of mechanics in the neighbourhood 

 of large towns, who far surpass professed gardeners in the cul- 

 ture of florists' flowers, and certain fruits ; and to the gardens 

 of small tradesmen and shopkeepers in the neighbourhood of 

 London, from which some of the earliest and best grapes, 

 melons, &c, are sent to market. 



It thus appears that to manage a small garden to the greatest 

 advantage is not quite so easy a matter as it may at first sight be 

 imagined to be by those who judge by mere size ; but by limit- 

 ing the number of objects, by acquiring a thorough knowledge 

 of the nature of these objects, and by constant attention and 

 assiduous care, any person whatever may succeed; and the re- 

 ward of comfort and enjoyment received will be in proportion to 

 the labour, skill, and care bestowed. 



London, Jan. 1842. 





