258 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[February 7 . 
feet high. In the hot, dry season wo mulch them, and 
supply them with abundance of water and liquid- 
manure ; the production we thus obtain, of the finest 
quality, is most astonishing, and continues for many 
weeks.* 
Radishes, of all kinds, should now be sown on 
open borders, in full crop. A slight covering of 
mulch, fern, evergreen houghs, or any easily-procur- 
able sheltering material, should be used to protect 
the crops from frost, driving rains, birds, &c. 
Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Lettuce, should he 
sown on warm borders, with the same rules of pro¬ 
tection as given for radishes; small plants reared in 
heat, or in pans. &c., should be early pricked out 
and protected. 
Cucumbers and Melons. —Those already ridged 
out should come in for a good share of attention, if 
a healthy luxuriance is to be kept up, and an abund¬ 
ance of handsome fruit is expected ; as the days 
lengthen, and the light increases, so should the ap¬ 
plication of heat increase; if applied by fermented 
materials, it should be well wrought and sweetened, 
that is to say, it should be turned over and over 
several times, and not be allowed to remain above 
five or six days without turning, which will sweeten it, 
and keep it from caking together, and burning white 
and husky. The linings to the beds should be of 
pretty good substance at this season, as much as 18 
or 20 inches wide, and topped up with mulch, hay, 
or some other sweet, dry material; and the outsides 
should be protected with thatched hurdles, furze- 
l'aggots, or protectors made from refuse prunings, 
evergreen boughs, &c., &c. The linings should, of 
course, be kept well, and regularly topped up, in order 
to maintain one uniform heat: say, for this month, 
for young plants, and those just turned out, from 08° 
to 70°; and for those now shewing fruit, and those 
now producing fruit, from 72° to 75°; keeping the 
inside of the pits or frames, near the outer edges of 
the interior, at all times, well moistened, at shutting- 
up time, with tepid water; and, occasionally, an ap¬ 
plication of liquid manure, to charge the atmosphere 
with ammonia—a very essential matter, to keep the 
plants in health and luxuriance. Air freely, daily; 
shut up early, and cover snugly, but lightly; sow in 
succession; prick the young plants early, and place 
them at all times close to the glass. 
Place mint, tarragon, and rhubarb, into heat; and 
sow Kidney beans, and cover up sea-hale in succes¬ 
sion. James Barnes. 
MISCELLANEOUS INEORMATION. 
OUlt VILLAGE WALKS. 
No. 18 . 
During the intensity of the present weather, and 
the piercing severity of an east wind that blows 
with peculiar rigour, I am glad to shelter myself 
among the trees and woods, where I find some quiet 
spots, some richly-green, summer-like branches, and 
here and there a pale straggling blossom on the winter 
furze. Not a living creature is seen or heard in the 
snowy fields: the sounds of husbandry—those inter¬ 
esting, English sounds are hushed; the huntsman’s 
horn—that death-note to the poor panting Fox—has 
not been heard for weeks; and scarcely one solitary 
* I beg to name another variety of pea, which I consider one of 
the very best of early peas, namely, Clarke’s Ringwood Marrow. 
It grows from four to five high in good ground, and is a first-rate 
bearer; the pods are large, and the peas too. No other early pea has 
any chance with it in the competition room. W. 
gun lias broken the silence that seems to pervade the 
land. This is a sudden and wonderous change in so 
short a time ! Just before Christmas, all was green 
and comparatively mild, and now we are plunged 
into a season that has not had a parallel for years. 
“ Is there not a cause?” Shall wo not soon adore the 
Hand that has withdrawn from us the cheering sun, 
and locked up the earth as if within frozen doors? 
Beneath the dry sterile surface wonderful things are 
taking place : the hand of God is moulding a thou¬ 
sand beauties, that shall, in a few short weeks, 
“ replenish the earth,” and deck it again with sum¬ 
mer gladness. May we not confidently hope, that 
this unusual winter will give rest and strength to all 
vegetation, restore the healthiness of plants and 
roots that have suffered from disease, and increase 
the blessings showered upon the heads of men ? Let 
us receive a word of instruction during this sunless, 
inclement season ; it has a voice, and a loud one, lor 
the children of men. Do we not sometimes, in the 
providence of God, pass into dark and dreary days 
when blessings are withheld, or snatched from us, 
that made our paths to be both pleasantness and 
peace? Do we not sometimes look round upon the 
world, as if it were a howling wilderness, and feel 
that the piercing gusts of sorrow, and the rugged 
path we have before us, are more than we can bear? 
Let us trust in Him who leads us by the right hand, 
who sits by us as a refiner, who tempers the fire to 
the clay. Let us believe that our hearts need the 
stern pressure of adversity: that it is good for us to feel 
the rod, that we may, in a brighter and happier day, 
“give glory to God in the highest.” Before these 
pages appear in print, the depth of this winter may 
have passed away, and spring may be bursting forth ; 
as soon may our trials be lightened, and our hearts 
once more rejoice in the sure mercies of God. 
In a larch plantation, through which I sometimes 
pass, it is very interesting to observe the busy labours 
of some poor men, who are permitted, during the time 
when work is not to be obtained, to grub up the 
roots of the trees that have been cut down. The 
comfort and blessing this permission has been to 
them is very great; and I sincerely wish all gentle¬ 
men who possess plantations would adopt the plan, 
during this period of the year. It is quite essential 
that men of steady character should be preferred, 
because mischief often arises when lawless characters 
are permitted to enter the woods. Game is disturbed, 
poaching is brought on, hedges broken down, and 
injury done to the roots of the standing trees, which, 
of course, is less likely to occur when men who can 
best be depended upon are allowed to work. It is, 
also, very proper to encourage the respectable, in pre¬ 
ference to others for the sake of example; although 
they often are as much, and even more, in distress 
than their steady neighbours. The roots of larch, 
and other firs, burn very tolerably as soon as they are 
taken up. The poor men pack the best wood in 
cords for sale, and the smaller pieces enable them to 
keep up a little fire at this inclement season, when 
wages are so difficult to obtain, and nature needs 
additional warmth. The removal of roots in a plan¬ 
tation does no harm, in fact it rather benefits; for 
when the holes are properly filled in—which must 
always be insisted upon—the ground which the stump 
occupied is gained, and the herbage will soon spring 
up, for the sheep or cattle that graze among the trees. 
It is delightful to see the poor men labouring away 
with their pickaxes, wedges, and levers; forcing up 
the roots, and rejoicing over every piece they break 
away. Those who can thus benefit the jioor, should 
