338 



On Cottage Gardening. 



A cottager so situated, having bacon in his rack, and vegetables 

 in store or in his garden, and to which he might add baking his 

 own bread and brewing his own beer in a small way, would soon 

 feel himself a happy, and show himself a contented, being — at 

 once one of the most useful, valuable, and even most respectable, 

 members of society. Advancing our resident rural population 

 into such circumstances is an object of the first importance, and 

 wwthy of the attention of every patriot, and of every agricultural 

 society. 



It is neither the want of inclination nor ignorance of the ordi- 

 nary processes of gardening among labourers in general that 

 prevents them from improving their condition by raising their own 

 vegetables ; but it is the extreme difficulty of obtaining a piece of 

 land for such a purpose. Farmers, who are tenants in almost 

 every case, are debarred from subletting land ; and this, co-ope- 

 rating with a natural dislike of giving up any of their best fields 

 for allotments, shuts out the labourer from renting a small share ; 

 and hence arises much of their destitution. It is with the land- 

 owners, then, that this national improvement rests; and, for its 

 furtherance, the least they can do is to relieve their tenants from 

 the restriction alluded to, as relates to cottagers' allotments. 

 There are many farmers, no doubt, who, from motives of interest 

 only, in securing the services of able and trusty labourers, would 

 otherwise grant them a spot of ground, to rivet and strengthen the 

 connexion between them ; a connexion, moreover, that would be 

 mutually advantageous — to the master, in having in all seasons 

 the best and instant assistance — and to the man, in enjoying a 

 comfortable home, which he could pay for by his labour. 



If such a feeling were more prevalent it would greatly advance 

 the condition of farm servants, and consequently improve rural 

 society. Many friends of the labouring poor have in some measure 

 injured their cause by requiring or proposing for them larger 

 allotments than can possibly be obtained : for, allowing allot- 

 ments of an acre or more, as has been recommended, would in- 

 volve them in all the difficulties of small farmers, as well as 

 withdraw them from their natural stations as agricultural ser- 

 vants, and cause derangement in the establishments of their 

 regular employers, for which there could be no agreeable remedy. 

 But the rule, as already said, is to keep the labourer in his natural 

 station, and by all means make that station comfortable by giving 

 a piece of ground to rent on which he could employ his spare 

 time, rendering that unoccupied time beneficial to himself and 

 family which is often spent in listless idleness. 



It is pleasing to see how much cottage gardening has been ad- 

 vanced in those places where societies exist who offer and award 

 prizes for the best specimens of cottagers' productions ; and it is 



