HINTS FOR COTTAGERS SHOWS. 
223 
sure that a conservatory which is glass to the 
ground, if glazed stoutly, will not be quite as 
warm as if it were bricks and mortar ; while 
we are quite assured that the glass will not 
absorb and waste a quarter so much of the 
internal heat as a wall. Thus a conservatory 
all light will be actually warmer than a room 
with glass sashes and roof. We trust that 
some of our readers will at once set their mind 
to work upon the subject of new horticultural 
buildings, calculating upon the free use of glass 
of a good, sound, useful thickness, that will 
bear an accidental blow without shivering to 
pieces, and using as little brickwork as may 
be, for the sake of elegance, and neatness, and 
light. We may know by the use of the thick 
bell-glasses, and their advantage over the thin 
hand-glasses for the protection of things in 
winter, how very important thickness is, in 
the construction of protective means for plants; 
and it should have been a lesson to us long 
since; but it is quite impossible to have profited 
much, even by that lesson, while the oppres- 
sive duty remained on the material. Let us 
now hope that the boon will be appreciated ; 
that, as all restrictions are removed, there will 
be many profitable experiments made in the 
production of the material; that the cheapness 
may lead everybody to construct glass-houses 
for plants, and that the relief from this enor- 
mous tax may induce a vast number who have 
never yet owned a green-house or a hot-house, 
or taken the least delight in plants, to enjoy 
a covered garden in the depth of winter, where 
they may appreciate the beauties of the spring, 
while the very roof they are under, and the 
ground outside, may be covered with snow. 
There is no class of persons in the country, 
who will so instantly receive the benefit of 
the repeal of the duty on glass as horticul- 
turists; for although the present stock of glass 
will be depreciated in value, it will only be 
on account of improved opportunities of pur- 
chasing additional stock. H. 
HINTS FOR COTTAGERS SHOWS. 
All Horticultural Societies ought to provide 
encouragement for cottagers, and the prizes 
ought to be numerous, and carefully arranged. 
They should be invariably given for useful, 
and not ornamental things. Hence it will be 
seen that we differ from all who give prizes 
for flowers. We consider that the entire 
energies of the cottager should be devoted to 
useful productions. He can grow flowers for 
his use, to give away, or to look at, and will 
do so if he likes them ; but we would never 
have a shilling expended in the encourage- 
ment of that branch of gardening. We should 
also omit all prizes for articles of luxury, and 
for such fruit as comes without the exercise 
of skill. Three-fourths of the prizes awarded 
at country shows are given for subjects which 
ought not to be encouraged, or for productions 
which it requires no talent to produce. The 
former does not advance the cottager or his 
interests one jot ; the other cannot exalt his 
feelings, or improve his mind. Let us look at 
all the items in a country schedule for the 
cottager. We find the best six dahlias, the 
best six pinks, the best twelve pansies, the 
best six hollyhocks, the best six roses, the best 
nosegay, the best twelve stocks; and so we 
go on through a long catalogue of flowers. 
Now, let us ask, what good is this calculated to 
effect ? What is there to admire in a cottager 
niggling about tying up pinks, or shading 
dahlias ? What the better is his table covered, 
or his permanent interests advanced, by 
diverting his attention from that branch of 
gardening which benefits his home, which 
feeds his family, and saves his earnings ? We 
do not object to a cottager growing flowers, 
but we repudiate altogether the idea of 
tempting him to do it by offering him prizes. 
Another class of prizes to which we have 
alluded consists of those given for apples and 
pears, plums, damsons, and all other fruit 
borne on established trees ; first, because there 
is no merit nor industry in producing them ; 
second, because it is unfair towards those 
cottagers who have no trees. There is a third 
class of prizes which really causes no useful 
labour, no profitable employment; for instance, 
ripe gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, 
and such like. There may be a little cunning 
exercised in protecting the fruit en the trees; 
but that encouragement should be given that 
will place the greatest number upon equal 
terms of showing. For instance, give more 
prizes for the best potatoes, the best cabbages, 
the best peas and beans, — all of which tend to 
the comfort of the home, — the best lettuces 
and cauliflowers, and other things useful, and 
which require skill and industry to produce 
in perfection. We maintain that not a solitary 
prize should be given for any subject that was 
not useful in a family, and that did not require 
industry and attention. Cottagers will grow 
flowers for their amusement and relief, for 
change of work, and for the sake of their 
beauty and fragrance. There is no reason 
why they should not, but they ought not to be 
encouraged to do so. All the proper objects 
to be attained by cottagers' prizes are to excite 
their emulation on things useful, to invite them 
to industry in the production of food, and to 
promote the habitual application of their over 
hours to their ground ; and there should be a 
reasonable number of prizes in each class to 
do this, and they should descend by small 
differences. No man should be allowed to 
show two things in the same class. At one 
