C S22 ) 



XXIX. — Cottage Gardening,'^ Bj James Main, A.L S. 



It is universally admitted that a piece of garden- ground attached 

 to a labourer's cottage is the greatest boon that can be afforded 

 him, more especially if he has a young family to support. This 

 object has always been recommended by the societies instituted 

 for devising means for bettering the condition of the labouring 

 poor of this kingdom ; and on the recommendation of these soci- 

 eties the present allotment system was founded. 



The produce of even a very limited spot of garden-ground, if 

 well managed, not only adds greatly to the domestic comfort of a 

 working man, but is actually a means of improving his moral 

 character, by giving him employment in his hours of leisure, and 

 in an amusing and profitable occupation, and on a spot which he 

 can truly and with pride call his own. 



But the occupation of a piece of ground is not sufficient un- 

 less accompanied with plain directions for the guidance of the 

 labourer in his management thereof; for although a majority 

 of our rural population are pretty good gardeners in their own 

 homely way, many there are who need advice, and almost all are 

 ignorant of the most economical methods of culture. It is there- 

 fore necessary, especially at this time when the allotment system 

 appears to be extending, and when there is such a general feeling 

 in favour of the labouring classes, that a brief and plain tract be 

 published to afford to cottagers genei-al instruction on the subject. 

 This information is intended to be conveyed in the following 

 pages, and will be so plainly detailed that the directions can 

 hardly be misunderstood. 



When a labourer is so fortunate as to have a garden attached 

 to his cottage — or if he be equally fortunate in having an allot- 

 ment in some neighbouring field — his first care should be to ascer- 

 tain whether his piece requires draining ; and next, to be sure that 

 it is properly and securely fenced, if fencing be at all necessary. 



Draining. — Land is liable to be too wet for the successful cul- 

 tivation of kitchen vegetables, from various causes. It may be 

 too damp from its being situated on the lowest dip of the sur- 

 rounding surface, to which rain or melted snow naturally flows ; 

 or the soil may be constantly too moist from its disposition to 

 retain water like a sponge, such as is met with in bogs. It may 

 be in the same drenched state from having a thick bed of clay 

 beneath the staple, or from land -springs oozing out of a bed of 

 gravel above it. Now, from whatever cause land becomes too 



* This paper will be reprinted in a cheap form for distribution among 

 labourers, if a sufficient number of members should signify to the secretary 

 their wish that it should be done, and the number of copies they would 

 require. 



