324 



On Cottage Gardening. 



these must not be brought to the surface at once, unless the clay 

 be of that kind which falls to powder by the action of the weather. 

 If the subsoil as well as the surface be loam, there is no fear of 

 trenching too deep, even as far as 2 feet ; and in respect of a clay 

 or a gravelly undersoil, though not brought to the surface, the 

 bottom of each trench should be deeply broken up with the 

 mattock, in order to move and deepen the staple. 



Whatever the nature and character of the staple may be, it is 

 certain all and every description may be improved. Manuring 

 as frequently as possible assists and betters every kind of land. 

 Clay is improved by any lighter kind of earth or decayed litter, 

 or sand, ashes, and the like ; because these break the tenacity or 

 toughness of the clay, and render it easier to cultivate, and allow 

 the roots of plants greater scope, besides admitting a freer pas- 

 sage to both air and rain-water. 



A light sandy soil is improved by the heaviest kind of manure, 

 or by dressings of clay or loam, because manure laid upon sand 

 sinks into the ground, and, being quickly absorbed, of course re- 

 quires more frequent application. 



Loam of any kind or colour is the best for gardening purposes ; 

 it only requires to be well laboured by occasional trenching, dug 

 at least once in the season, and hoed frequently to keep the sur- 

 face loose. But as it is, like other kinds of soil, liable to be ex- 

 hausted by cropping, it must be kept in heart by occasional 

 dressings of manure. 



Obtaining sufficient supplies of manure is one of the greatest 

 difficulties which the cottager has to encounter, especially if he 

 keep neither cow nor pig; and unless he lives by the side of a 

 free common it is not in his power, nor is it worth his while, to 

 trouble himself with either, except under circumstances hereafter 

 alluded to. But an industrious man may collect as many matters 

 of one kind or other as may be sufficient to dress one-third, or at 

 least one-fourth of his ground once a year. For this special pur- 

 pose he should have a hollow pit or place between his house and 

 garden, into which every kind of drainage from the former and 

 refuse from the latter should be thrown. To this may be added 

 all sorts of litter and cattle-droppings from the lanes, roads, or 

 commons, together with ashes, lime rubbish, marl, or chalk — all 

 which, when thrown together and turned once or twice till suffi- 

 ciently rotten, will be found excellent manure. 



As the success of a cottager's garden depends solely on his 

 ability to keep his ground in heart, every exertion must be made 

 to secure this advantage ; and if at any time he happens to have 

 more of any kind of crop than he wants for the immediate use of 

 himself and family, this he should exchange for some kind of 

 dressing ; or, if he sells it, the sum should be laid out in the 



