Suggestions for its Improvement. 23 
possible ; for if distant, the time spent in going and returning 
will detract greatly from its value. The wife and children will 
not then have the same ready access to it, nor the same pleasure 
in it. It will not be as it were a part of their dwelling, nor form 
the same object of common interest and common care to the 
whole family. It will not become associated in their minds with 
the idea of home, nor exercise the same beneficial influence upon 
the feelings and affections, as if it immediately adjoined and 
formed a part of the labourer's dwelling. A distant garden is 
however better than no garden at all, and if it cannot be obtained 
near to or immediately adjoining the cottage, let it by all means 
be provided at a distance, until a more eligible plot can be 
obtained. 
With a garden of a quarter of an acre, the labourer can keep 
a pig, which the refuse vegetables from his garden will enable 
him to rear, and nearly support. He may also keep bees, the 
value of which is well known to the thrifty housewife. These 
will serve as helps, and enable his family to enjoy many little 
comforts which otherwise they would be unable to obtain ; and if, 
in addition to his garden, the labourer were to be allowed a bit 
of land in the corner of a field to raise his potatoes, and a little 
milk for his children from the farmer's dairy, it would be of the 
greatest use to him, without being missed by his employer. 
It can scarcely be necessary to refer to examples in support of 
the foregoing recommendation as to cottage-gardens. The ex- 
treme desirableness, not to say necessity for such a provision, 
must be sufficiently obvious : but if an example be desired, I am 
enabled to refer to an extensive property in Shropshire, where 
every labourer on the estate has a comfortable dwelling, gene- 
rally of four rooms, and with a garden either attached to the 
cottage or at no great distance from it ; and there cannot be a 
more contented and orderly peasantry, or people more attached 
to their landlord than will there be witnessed — a natural con- 
sequence of the landlord's attention in promoting their comfort 
and welfare. 
Conclusion. 
None of these recommendations have been offered with the 
view of interfering with wages, which would be opposed to sound 
principle ; but the suggestions are proposed simply as means for 
ameliorating the labourer's condition, improving his habiis, and 
adding to his comforts, thereby rendering him more contented in 
his position, more competent to fulfil its duties, a better man and 
a better citizen. 
It may perhaps be said that the labourer's condition will depend 
upon the amount of his earnings, which in the long run will be 
