354 
BARRACK GARDENS. 
BARRACK GARDENS. 
The suggestion thrown out at p. 283, that 
gardens should he established for the purpose 
of* providing -wholesome and profitable enter- 
tainment for the soldiery, has, we are glad to 
find, received the countenance and approba- 
tion of the journals consecrated to the interests 
of the British army. Thus encouraged, we 
proceed to the consideration of the second 
branch of the subject, namely, the means 
which should be adopted for forming the 
plantations, and initiating the men into the 
art and science of cultivating their little pos- 
sessions. 
Spread over the United Kingdom there 
are, we believe, some hundreds of barracks 
of various dimensions, suited to the size of 
the fortress to which they may be attached, 
or to the amount of the garrison destined to 
occupy them. In some places, the barracks 
are capable of accommodating two or three 
thousand men, in others there is not space 
for the reasonable reception of one hundred 
soldiers. And we believe, under the altera- 
tions which have taken place in the coast 
defences, the establishment of railways, which 
facilitate the concentration of troops upon 
emergencies, and the abolition of military 
stations which have ceased to be of any 
political consequence, several of the barracks 
are totally unoccupied, and likely to remain so. 
Now to propose the formation of gardens 
in localities where soldiers are never likely to 
be quartered, or to be quartered so seldom, 
and for such brief periods, as would shut 
out all prospect of their being able to bring 
any of the fruits of the earth to maturity, 
would be extreme folly. We therefore would 
have the addition of gardens limited to those 
cantonments which are constantly occupied ; 
and, perhaps, as an experimental essay would 
be preferable, at first, to the comprehensive 
adoption of our scheme, it might be advisable 
to begin with the larger garrisons, gradually 
extending the system to the lesser barracks, 
as the plan should be found to answer. 
We would suggest, then, that the vicinity 
of the barracks at Chatham, Portsmouth, 
Winchester, Weedon, Manchester, Deal, Ches- 
ter, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Limerick, 
Cork, and Kilkenny be the first localities 
selected, always providing that there is ground 
enough in and around them available at a 
small cost, for gardening purposes. We do 
not suppose that at a time when the financial 
reformers are opposing themselves to any ex- 
traordinary outlay on behalf of the army 
and navy, the Government would go the 
length of purchasing ground upon which 
houses may be standing, for the purpose of 
removing all obstructions to the formation of 
military plantations. From at least two to 
three acres of land, however, being applicable 
without this expense, the first thing to be 
done is, of course, to enclose it, and prepare 
the ground for the reception of seed. To this 
end a couple of practical gardeners, sufficiently 
versed in the first principles of geology to be 
able to determine the best method of primary 
treatment, should be engaged, and that their 
strict and constant attention to their duty may 
be secured, it would be advisable that they 
should be formally enlisted, at once promoted 
to sergeants, to ensure obedience to the instruc- 
tions they may give to their subordinate la- 
bourers, and placed upon a scale of pay com- 
mensurate with the ordinary earnings of civil 
gardeners. To enclose three acres of ground 
with protective palings, until a chevaux de 
frise of hedge row had been matured, would 
cost but little, and this sum the Government 
might be invited to grant at once, with an 
addition for the purchase of mould, gravel, 
manure, barrows, hoes, spades, rakes, and 
such other materiel as might be indispensable 
to the due preparation of the allotment. 
In laying out the ground, it would be ad- 
visable to form ten distinct divisions, or as 
many more as the space would allow, so that 
each company of a regiment (we believe the 
regiments generally consist of ten companies), 
might have a separate space. This plan, 
while it prevented confusion of property, 
would tend to excite emulation among the 
companies. 
As the Barrack Gardens would be intended 
more for an entertainment than an occupation, 
it would be unadvisable that any man should 
be required to work in them, or subscribe 
his spare pence for the purchase of seeds, 
unless he had taste or inclination for the pur- 
suit. Every inducement ought, however, to 
be held out to the soldiery to share in the 
healthful employment. To them only should 
the fruits of the garden belong, to consume or 
dispose of as they might feel inclined. Pre- 
miums might be awarded for superior indus- 
try, or the production of a superior specimen 
of edible vegetation, or a more beautiful flower 
or plant ; and when vacancies occur in the 
situation of sergeant-gardener, the promotion 
should be made from among those men who 
had most distinguished themselves by their 
labour, obedience, and horticultural skill. 
Although, for the sake of securing their ser- 
vices in the infancy of the gardens, we have 
recommended the enlistment of the gardeners, 
it would not be expedient to continue them 
longer in the service than might be necessary 
for the due initiation of the uninformed men 
in the practical parts of horticulture. On 
