146 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. November 24. 
plauts, which, iu the early part of the year, produce a 
profusion of bloom, cease, in a measure, after that crop 
is off. The careful cultivator will, therefore, keep up a 
succession of young ones, and few plants are cultivated 
with greater facility, nothing being wanted but a com¬ 
mon hand-light out-of-doors; and even that may often bo 
dispensed with, but where it is to be had, cuttings put 
in at all seasons have an equal chance to grow, as they 
resist damp, in autumn and winter, nearly as well as a 
Calceolaria, while they endure the dry air of summer 
with less injury to themselves than that moisture-seeking 
! flower. The blue kinds of Pentstemon I have never 
been able to make much of; for their habit being less 
robust than that of the scarlet and white kinds, they do 
not mix with them to look well; besides, if they did thrive 
and flower equal to these last-named, the bed would, 
nevertheless, look better without them; a good scarlet 
and white looks better without a blue than with one; 
however, I do not mean to disparage the blue varieties, 
or rather species, for they may be advantageously used 
elsewhere, but they havo not continued to flower so well 
and so late as the more hardy kinds; neither have those 
of the Campanulata or Atropurpurea breed done much 
for the autumn, but they are, in a measure, discarded 
now, except in old and mixed herbaceous borders, where, 
with many other things, they are yet to be found. 
Lobelia decdmbens. —A dark blue variety of this has 
continued to flower remarkably well, and its flowers 
seem to withstand the successive rains, &c., better than 
many things of greater pretensions. This kind is of 
an extremely prostrate habit, and compact, rathor than 
ragged, in its outline. It is, doubtless, the horizontal 
position of its shoots and flowers that enables the latter 
to withstand the hardships of a wet autumn. It is, 
however, too dwarf for many purposes for which Lobe¬ 
lias are planted; otherwise, as a bedding-out plant, it 
possesses considerable merit. 
I might mention some few more plants as being 
useful for a late display, but the above aro the 
best that I have had this season. The Fuchsia 
fulgens flowered late, but then it hides so many of its 
blossoms that there is really but little show attending 
it, while all the other Fuchsias ceased flowering sooner 
than usual; the small-leaved one, reflexa, excepted; 
and as for Geraniums, Verbenas, Petunias, &c., they 
have long ceased to be attractive, and, in some cases, 
the plants have perished as well as the flowers. I might, 
however, mention, that the sweet-scented variety, which 
is grown simply for its fragrant foliage, is a very useful 
autumn plant, and furnishes sprigs for nosegays until a 
late period; but all tender varieties of the scarlet, and 
similar breeds, are better adapted to endure hot sun¬ 
shine than unceasing rain. But it is needless entering 
on the list of flowering plants unsuited to Octobor and 
November display; but any addition to those I have 
mentioned will be gladly received by me; and I have no 
doubt but others may have in their possession plants 
blooming late to a degree of perfection, which must, 
assuredly, enhance their value; and as a late bloom, like 
a very early one, is always acceptable, I make no 
apology for thus calling the attention of flower-gar¬ 
deners to the matter. J. Robson. 
ALLOTMENT FARMING.— December. 
Really the very name of this month reminds one of 
rhimy whiskers and blue noses; and we may fancy we see 
the schoolboy blowing his thumbs, and the bluff ploughboy 
buffeting—one of the few chances his jacket gets of being 
well dusted. King Frost may soon be expected to hug us 
in his chilling embraces, and before—long before—he has 
finished his paralysing hug, doubtless a new year will have 
commenced by anticipation, big, like all his ancestry, with 
deep-laid schemes and sanguine anticipations. Well, so be 
it; neither Pride nor Despair were made for man. A light 
beams in the distant horizon ; but how may we reach that 
light ? By the path of duty. 
“ England expects every man to do his duty and let not 
our cottage and allotment friends imagine that such maxims 
apply only to the rich or the powerful: a mere labourer has 
as certain a duty to perform as a prince, and one of as high 
importance in point of principle. If men of this caste 
prove truly industrious, out of a regard to a duty they owe 
society as well as their own families, they assuredly fulfil 
the great ends of their being as well as mighty monarchs 
who govern uprightly and judiciously. The only difference 
is, that they cannot fare so sumptuously, cannot dress so 
fine, and are not compelled to undergo the affected smiles 
and obsequiousness of servile adherents. 
Thus much I have observed, in order to rouse the minds 
of the apathetic, the dull, and the despairing, and those who 
are exceedingly partial to ease. Taking it easy, certainly 
sounds very pretty; but I much fear that our best interests 
will not be found here. From Solomon downwards, the wise 
of all ages boar testimony to the corrupting power of sloth ; 
for this is the right title of a condition too often called, for 
politeness sake, “ ease.” 
Away, then, my cottage friends, with all such fallacious 
notions. To rest with a good conscience, both nightly, 
after a good day’s work, and to enjoy a Sabbath—a total 
rest, one day in seven—is all that the working portion really 
require to recruit the energies of both mind and body: but 
to attempt to live in ease, cannot, must not, need not, be 
the portion of that class of society, who, if they will eat, 
must work. 
I will appeal no further, but look into our allotment 
affairs. I may here press much of the advice in my last 
paper, as to a thorough working of the soil when an oppor¬ 
tunity occurs. It is impossible to over-rate the advantages 
of a winter’s fallow by deeply stirring, and throwing the soil 
into sharp and high ridges: it not only improves the very 
quality of the soil, but destroys much insect life; and withal, 
throws the most stubborn soil into such mellow condition by 
March, that oue-kalf the labour will suffice to introduce 
spring crops ; and they will, moreover, be got in with much 
brighter prospects. Of course, all decayed or decaying 
vegetables will be first cleared off, and, as before advised, 
burnt or charred ; and an opportunity here occurs of clean¬ 
ing out ditches or other boundary lines, the dubbing of 
hedges, &c., to add to the bonfire. A convenient spot should 
be selected for the fire; and as much common or road side 
parings, or even ordinary soil, should be placed around, 
before the burning commences, in order to choke up the 
mass when half burnt, and cause it to smoulder for days. 
Water-courses should have been well looked to before the 
trenching commences and properly scoured; also fresh 
ones made where needed: thus will every thing be put in 
good working trim for another campaign. The manure- 
heap should also receive a little attention; but the cultivator 
should instantly settle in his mind what scheme of cropping 
he ought to pursue in the succeeding spring; for it may be 
desirable to introduce a portion of the manure for some 
crops. Where it is requisite to place manure at a low 
level, as in the caso with some of our carrot-rooted plants, 
the ground may at once receive its allowance previously to 
trenching or deep-digging ; for no shallow autumn digging 
will be advised by me. Such crops as Parsnips, Carrots, 
Long Mangold, Ac., may thus bo served; and if a little of 
finer compost, containing a sprinkling of Peruvian guano, 
can be introduced with the seed in spring, in order to pro¬ 
duce a plant speedily, why, the plant will be established in a 
good foundation. The manures thus dug in may consist of 
the coarser particles; and, after this, the manure-heap may 
be turned to the very bottom during a severe frost; and 
this will also tend to the destruction of a host of enemies, 
in the shape of grubs, eggs, &c. 
The crops being decided on, let pegs be put down at 
every point where a fresh crop commences, and the amount 
of ground for each accurately measured out, in order that no 
confusion or W'aste occur: these pegs should be numbered 
in succession; and the crops, whether single or mixed, duly 
entered on a sheet of paper, in order to be a guide through 
I the spring and summer. 
