October 31.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
09 
out in many places upon a far wiser and better scale ; but I 
have never happened to meet with or hear of anything of 
the kind; and knowing the ignorance of some portion of the 
poorer classes, it has occurred to me, that a plan of this kind 
in every parish, under the eye of the clergyman's lady, 
might effect great good. I believe it can only be attempted 
with the rising generation; that which has arisen is very- 
difficult to persuade. Even in the lowliest rank people do 
not like to be taught, or interfered with in their cottages, 
beyond a certain point; and I think that bad effects have 
sprung from an indiscreet way of treating the poor in their 
little homes. Although they are poor, they have wills and 
ways of their own—each, in his British castle ; and even in 
our endeavours to do them good, we must treat them with 
respect and tenderness; and I am sure that if we strictly 
did as we would be done by, we should abstain from many 
little way's, both of speaking and acting towards them, that, 
perhaps, cause many a pang, and many a bitter feeling in 
their hearts. 
Women have so much influence, even in the lowest stations 
of life, that if we improve their capabilities wisely, and 
according to their sphere in life, we shall do much for the 
benefit of the country at large. 
ALLOTMENT FARMING FOR NOVEMBER. 
Me should hope that by the time these remarks meet the 
eye of the allotment cultivator, he has collected and secured 
many of his most valuable roots. Those who have not done 
so, may fairly count on indifferent keeping properties. As 
the season declines, of course the probability of dry weather 
declines also ; and we would, again and again, impress on the 
minds of root cultivators the importance of both getting their 
roots dry and keeping them dry afterwards. As for potatoes, 
it is a very common practice in this part of the kingdom to 
suffer them to remain in the soil until nearly the middle of 
November, but from what cause, except through dilatoriness, 
we could never perceive. If, indeed—cultivating them, as 
they do, in “ bouts ” or “ lazy beds," as some term them— 
their object were to avoid fermentation in the pit or bog, and 
that they soiled them over in the end of October six or eight 
inches deep, there would appear some reason for the pro¬ 
ceeding. 
It is very pleasing, in conning over the various newspaper 
reports from various parts of the United Kingdom, to per¬ 
ceive, that notwithstanding a vast amount of alarm occasioned 
by r cases of rapid decay here and there, yet, that on the 
whole, the reports wear a far pleasanter aspect than they have 
done at any similar period since the commencement of this 
sad visitation. Of this fact w r e feel persuaded, and we are also 
hacked in the opinion by our market prices ; for here w r e can 
purchase any quantity of really sound potatoes—sound as to 
theh- keeping appearance—for twenty-one pence per bushel 
of ninety pounds. Now, one farthing per pound is surely 
not very alarming, and the potatoes are, in general, of splendid 
quality—floury and fine-flavoured. That the improvement 
lias taken place mainly r through increased care of the seed, 
by an early and more particular choice of it, ancl, above 
all, by earlier planting, there can be no doubt. Let 
us, therefore, again urgently advise those who have not 
yet made a selection of seed for the ensuing year, to be in¬ 
stantly revenged on their neglect, by accomplishing this 
most necessary proceeding forthwith. 
In selec ting the classes of early and second early potatoes 
from those classes characterised by their roundness, and of 
which the Shaws and Champions of former <1 ays were the 
types, too much care cannot be taken in choosing those 
which possess a greater amount of roundness than the rest. 
It is well-known to those who have grown early and second 
early potatoes for many years, and who have taken to a free 
use of manure in their production, that they are apt to 
“ breed out," as it is termed. The same may he said 
of the Ash-leaved Kidney, and, indeed, of most kinds. 
Now', this to norices may appear as being “ too par¬ 
ticular.” The man, however, who will excel in any depart¬ 
ment of gardening, must blot out that word from his 
dictionary; he may easily be too particular in mere whim, 
hut not easily so in his pursuance of real principles. Besides, 
it will be found that many of the “ sets ” show a tendency 
to produce deeper “ eye-holes," as they are termed ; this, to 
saytheleastofit, becomes inconvenient, and in the paring of 
potatoes leads to waste. Again, with the kidney kinds, an 
examination will show that there is at all times a tendency 
to “ run back,” in other words, to increase in roundness, j 
Our practice is to plant entirely what are termed in this I 
part “ sets," that is, those rejected as being too small for I 
eating purposes. These are, however, larger than the I 
“ chats " of the Londoners, being, in fact, as large as a good ! 
sized walnut with the green or outer shell on. These, we are 
persuaded, bring, in the main, the finest and most even crops 
of potatoes. Cut sets from large specimens possess very j 
gross buds; these develop under favourable circumstances a 
very coarse shoot, and the coarse shoot is as sure to produce 
very strong tuber strings—if we may use such a term ; need 
it he added, that there is sure to be one or two overgrown 
potatoes at the end, which fatten betimes at the expense 
of a later progeny. 
In selecting seed, too, prefer those with a rough or rus- 
setty appearance to thin-skinned sleek-looking sorts; the 
former have been earlier formed, and are more mature, the 
latter are, many of them, produced as the last act of growth 
in the potatoes. As to situation for preserving seed pota¬ 
toes, we again repeat, get them dry, and keep them dry; and 
rather keep them too warm than suffer them to freeze. We 
have, at this time, about half-a-dozen bushels of the best 
early kinds, which were taken up a little before they were 
ripe and spread about three deep on a dry boarded, floor 
upstairs. Here they lay for a month, when they were 
gently turned, and at this time they are the finest sample 
we ever possessed. Instead of having shrunk, they cut as 
firm as a sound carrot or swede turnip ; and their little buds, 
in half embryo, are peeping already in healthful clusters in 
every cranny. In another fortnight, we shall make a bed of 
dr}- soft hay close to the wall, pile them on it a couple of 
feet deep, and cover over thickly with hay, thrusting it also 
between them and the wall. Thus they will he until Fe¬ 
bruary, and when uncovered they will have little stiff buds, 
scarcely a quarter of an inch in length ; and we shall then 
place them singly and protect them until planting time. 
The cottager’s roots, then, being duly secured, the very 
next thing we would have him turn his attention to is the 
manure-heap. All the earlier made manure, collected since 
last April, should be separated and thrown together in a 
conical heap, and a coating of soil of any kind applied 
nearly a foot thick. This should he beaten smooth to throw 
off rain; and the heap will be found of great value in 
March and April for the crops in general. This clone, the 
question is, what to do with the remainder, which will he of 
a coarser character ? 
It so happens, that at this period there is, perhaps, more 
coarse haulm, weeds, &c., attainable than at any other pe¬ 
riod. Such, then, we would collect forthwith, and blend 
them with the rough manure, in order to bring on a slight 
fermentation. The fermentation will be of immense use 
in breaking down the texture of tough materials, for this 
heap will be wanted probably before the other. As soon, 
however, as the heat gets beyond that of new milk it should 
he soiled over, and all its virtues shut in. Thus it will lay 
and stew, if I may be permitted that term ; and if it can he 
kept warm for a month, it will be a fine pulpy mass of ex¬ 
cellent material. As to refuse, why there is all the potato 
haulm, and the whole of the weeds of the garden, which j 
should have a rough dressing immediately, both for the sake 
of culture and also for decency’s sake, and herein lie three 
legitimate objects all one way. The common, or other wilds, 
where accessible, may furnish fern or other coarse herbage. 
Lane sides, avoiding all trespass, may he trimmed in a 
manner to benefit the public, and, indeed, every coarse 
material of the vegetable character should he scraped toge¬ 
ther,—even sawdust and tan if attainable. Thus may a : 
heap of manure be collected, which, when broken into, 
will astonish the cottager himself. 
Another important point at this period is, to see that all 
water-courses are scoured out; for the trenching we shall 
recommend wall only produce half its effect if stagnant | 
moisture be permitted to haunt the allotment. Where the 
cultivated ground is situated in low flats, the ditches are too | 
apt to possess only a very trifling fall; and where sucli is the I 
case, a clear scouring should be given annually, for the 
