On Cottage Gardening. 



323 



moist for the purposes of the cultivator, its improvement can only 

 be accomplished by thorough draining ; and unless this be effectu- 

 ally done the crops will not only be deficient or inferior, but the 

 manure bestowed will be quickly consumed, and washed, as it 

 were, out of the soil. 



Although a cottager should be apprised of the necessity and 

 effects of drainage, it is but seldom that he need be at much 

 trouble in laying his ground dry ; for even in the worst cases a 

 ditch round the outside will generally be sufficient : taking care to 

 make at the lowest corner some kind of outlet, either into a 

 common and lower ditch, or sinking a swallow through the hold- 

 ing soil, from which the water may soak away into some lower and 

 more porous layer of the ground. 



Fencing. — Few cottagers need advice on this particular. Simple 

 boundary lines are often all that is necessary. In allotment pieces 

 a footpath all round is a sufficient mark, and better than any 

 kind of hedge, which is usually a harbour for slugs and hurtful 

 insects. But if the cottage-garden abuts upon a waste or com- 

 mon-field, then a good fence is necessary. This should either be 

 a ditch and hedge, or a deep ditch and paling — the former is the 

 most common and most lasting. The industry and even the very 

 character of the man is known by the trim neatness and efficiency 

 of his outside hedge ; for if he be a slovenly fellow, intruders of 

 every kind will annoy him. 



Trenching. — When a labourer enters upon the tenantry of a 

 piece of ground, whether it be an old enclosure or a new allot- 

 ment, he should resolve to trench the whole plot, unless it has 

 been very recently done to his hand. This, however, he need not 

 think of doing all at once, because he will find it more convenient 

 for him to do it piecemeal ; for at whatever time he may get 

 possession, it behoves him to see what may be done on the instant 

 in the way of getting some kind of crop on part of the ground, 

 and for which simple digging may suffice. The trenching, how- 

 ever, should always be kept in mind, and executed as opportunity 

 allows, and immediately cropped. Trenching is useful to the 

 most shallow rooting plants ; and for deep rooting kinds it is 

 indispensable. It deepens the staple, and renders all subsequent 

 operations easier performed ; it buries weeds and a w^eedy sur- 

 face, turning what is useless into the food of succeeding crops. 

 Trenching not only allows a greater range for roots and permits 

 the sinking away of heavy rain from the surface, but in dry 

 weather allows the ascent of moisture from below to keep the loose 

 surface more moist. 



The depth to which trenching may be done depends on the na- 

 tural depth of the staple, and on the nature of the subsoil, or under- 

 layer. If the latter be pure gravel or strong clav, too much of 



2 A 2 



