326 



On Cottage Gardening. 



and when the radish and lettuce are drawn being ready for use 

 the onions suffer no injury. Broad-beans are sometimes planted 

 at the same time and in the same drill with potatoes, and without 

 any very visible damage to the latter crop. 



But in order to keep the ground in full employment, all the 

 crops, that is the standing crops, must be sowed or planted in drills 

 or rows, with the intention that, before the first crop is off, ano- 

 ther shall be put in the intermediate spaces to follow in succession. 

 This is quite practicable with all the cabbage tribe, or with any 

 other kind of vegetable v/hich may be used in any stage of their 

 growth. Of this description are the cabbage, savoy, onion, lettuce, 

 &c. ; and when such are planted alternately with others, which 

 must stand to acquire full perfection, the first may be used out of 

 the way as soon as they press injuriously upon the second. 



In this way many more useful vegetables may be raised on a 

 given portion of land than by the old-fashioned custom of sowing 

 broadcast, only one patch of each of the common sorts occupying 

 the ground for the whole summer. Even the onion ground may 

 be planted with cabbages just before the former are fit to pull, 

 which plants, whether savoys or common cabbage, become fine 

 useful stuff before Christmas. 



This constant routine of cropping and recropping may be con- 

 sidered as out of the power of a day-labourer to perform ; but, 

 whether he may have time or not, it is highly proper that he 

 should be made acquainted with every practical matter which he 

 may endeavour to turn to his advantage. 



The management of a cottager's garden must commence from 

 the moment he takes possession. As the necessary operations 

 are intended to be set down in calendarial order in the following 

 pages, the tenant, at whatever time he enters upon his piece or 

 allotment, will see what seasonal business will first require his 

 attention ; but, as Michaelmas is the usual term at which cottagers 

 shift their quarters, and moreover the most suitable period at 

 which to begin any system of gardening, we shall therefore com- 

 mence our series of instructions from this said quarter-day, and 

 proceed onwards with the season. 



The very first thing requiring attention, as already mentioned, 

 is to see that the fence, if one be necessary, is in sufficient order ; 

 and the next, to get ready a hollow near the house to receive all 

 the drainage, slops, ashes, and offal therefrom, together with any 

 rank herbage or weeds which may be cleared off the surface. 

 Then beginning at the bottom of the upper half of the garden, 

 let a good large piece be dug on which to plant two or three hun- 

 dred early York or Battersea cabbage in rows one foot apart. 

 The plants should be examined to see if there be any knots or 

 clubbing on the root or bottom of the stem, in which case the 



