273 



JOURNAL OF HOETICTJXTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ October 4, 1864. 



no diiEculty in producing them as sound and firm as at 

 Christmas. 



It is much to be desired that our friends would respond 

 to the wish of the Editors by trying the experiments re- 

 corded at page 257, as we fear we cannot afford the time 

 ourselves ; and if we did the result would be of little use to 

 us, as we have already detailed how by rich sui-facings of 

 Mushroom-beds we obtained the Mushrooms too thick and 

 massive for successful cooking. If we were sure that such 

 heavy Mushrooms would be desirable, then we might strive 

 -to obtain them ; but at the weight spoken of we do not see 

 how they could be cooked without slicing them into a 

 number of pieces. From our knowledge of the antipathy 

 felt by the Mushroom for lime when at all active, and other 

 reasons, we must confess ourselves a little sceptical of the 

 whole affair ; but still we would be glad if others with more 

 leisure would carefully conduct the experiments. The 

 farmer's son was no fool who, after attending a course of 

 chemical lectures, said he found out that muck made Barley 

 grow, though he had a strong suspicion of this truth before 

 he was indoctrinated with scientific farming. We have 

 hitherto relied for Mushroom crops on muck in a certain 

 condition ; but if by a cleaner chemical process we can ob- 

 tain them healthy and suitable for the table, why, by all 

 means let us have them. 



Capsicums, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, &c.. as in previous 

 ■weeks. 



COTTAGE GABDENS. 



We are glad that able men are doing what we attempted 

 to do many years ago — namely, showing the connection be- 

 tween a well-managed garden and a clean, well-managed, 

 comfortable house. There will, no doubt, be exceptions ; but 

 the flowers in the window, and plants and vegetables in the 

 garden, give ns a sort of key to the character of the inmates 

 of the cottage. On this account, whatever value we might 

 put on allotments at a distance, we would never place them 

 in comparison as to advantage with a garden close to the 

 homestead, where even a few spare minutes might be profit- 

 ably spent. 



There are just two ideas here which we wish to ventilate. 

 The first is in connection with the subject of well-kept 

 cottages. Marks of approval in different ways are often 

 bestowed on the best-kept cottage gardens. As a general 

 rule, we think the conclusions are formed at too early a 

 period, if only one visit is paid to the gardens. It would be 

 better if these were inspected late as well as early in the 

 season, or, perhaps, at three seasons in the year — say April, 

 July, and October. We are all, unless very lazy and un- 

 thrifty, aroused by the beauties of spring, and we dig, and 

 plant, and sow, and clean, and brush, as if we would be 

 insulting all that is beautiful and harmonious around us, if 

 we allowed anything like untidiness and filth to appear. 

 We are apt, however, to treat our gardens much as many 

 people treat their houses — give them one good clean-up in 

 the year, and then just a brush and a promise at times. 

 As we obtain the produce we think less of neatness, and 

 thus it often happens, as any person may notice in passing 

 along the highway, that the garden that is a little paradise 

 in May and June, is too much the garden of the sluggard in 

 October and November, overrun as it is with decayed vege- 

 tables polluting the air, and weeds of all sizes left alone in 

 their glory. After the winter vegetable are put in and 

 cared for, every decaying bit of vegetable ought to be 

 covered in the manure heap, and every spare bit of ground 

 turned up to the ameliorating influences of the atmosphere. 

 Some of the marks of commendation for cottage gardens 

 should be retained for their found condition at this latter 

 time, and the position of the refuse heap, the slophole, and 

 how managed, should be taken into consideration, as well as 

 now these matters would bear on the health and comfort of 

 the inmates of the cottage. Cottage gardens in general in 

 the autumn are much behind the mark, and as such exert 

 a deteriorating moral and social influence. 



The other idea is just this — many possessors of cottage 

 gardens have complained to us that their efforts at neatness, 

 nicety, &.C., were undervalued, because they had wrought or 

 did work in a garden. They have complained that they were 

 disqualified from taking commendations or prizes on account 

 of their daily work, and that prizes were taken by tailors, 

 shoemakers, and artisans, who had more time in their gar- 



dens than they had. Where there are many of such garden 

 labourers in a village or neighbourhood, it might be ad- 

 visable to let the competition be among themselves. Where 

 this is not the case, or no rule to the contrary exists, we do 

 not think that working in a garden ought to be any cause for 

 disqualifying them from contending for the place of honour. 

 True, they may be more conversant with the routine work, 

 and know more about the best kinds of vegetables, and thus 

 far have an advantage over their fellows who follow other 

 avocations ; but they labour under a great disadvantage in 

 the very sameness of their usual day work for their em- 

 ployers, and the evening work for themselves. To the 

 tailor and the shoemaker, and many other artisans, working' 

 in the garden is a delightful change. The work, in fact, 

 becomes rest in labour. The tramping, and the digging, 

 and the wheeling give a zest and preparation for the usual 

 toil. Apart from the advantage and the pleasure to be 

 gained, there can be no great rest in digging for oneself on 

 an evening after digging for an employer all day. This 

 depressing influence should be kept in mind, as well as the 

 advantages such labourers possess ; and duly allowed for, 

 there will be little difference between them and other la- 

 bourers and artisans. The feeling of satiety from long con- 

 tinuance at one kind of work is perfectly natural. The re- 

 cognition of it has led to the proverbs about the smith's 

 mare and the shoemaker's wife being ill shod. It explains 

 the reason why, generally, with many exceptions it is true, 

 farmers are such carele'ss gardeners. They are occupied 

 with their farming pursuits during the day, and gardening 

 is such a near neighbour to farming, that the former fur- 

 nishes no zest in the way of a change. You will have no 

 difficulty in finding among farmers men of scientific know- 

 ledge, good chemists, and attentive students of natural 

 history, whose gardens would not compare with those of some 

 of their labourers. The truth is, when they have a little time 

 they like a pursuit that takes them farther away from their 

 daily avocations. 



Among fruit and flowers our work was chiefly a con- 

 tinuance of what was reported in previous weeks. The 

 flower garden, but for the falling leaves, still looks fair— E. F. 



COVENT GAEDEN MARKET.— October 1. 



Supplies continue good ; fruit is very plentiful ; vegetables of most kinds 

 abundant Some foreign Hamburgh Gripes of middling duality have 

 arrived. Melons are becoming more scarce ; Pines are sufficient for the 

 demand; Oranges are more plentiful in consequence of the arrivals of 

 autumn fruit from Madeira; and as heavy importations maybe expected 

 shortly, prices have fallen. As regards Apples and Pears we have nothing 



fresh to report. 

 Currants, Red. 



£ sieve 



lb. 

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100 lbs. 

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100 



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VEGET. 



d. s. d 



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 Mulberries .... 



punnet 



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Pears (kitchen 



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Figs 



Filberts & Nuts 

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 Grapes, Hambi 



n 





-lb. 

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Strawberries . 



LBLES. 

 Horseradish . 





 



Asparagus bundle 



Beet, P.ed...._ doz. 



BrusselsSprouts ^ sieve 







d 

 



s 









Mnstd. & Cress 



Onions * 



pickling .. 

 Parsley ...doz. 



, punnet 



.. bunch 



quart 



bunches 



6 

 

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pickling .. 



doz. 

 bundle 







Radishes doz. bunches 



Spinach „ sieve 



VegetableMarrows doz. 



• 





 

 

 



Garlic and Shallots, lb. 









 



