THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— May 13, 1800. 
121 
sive property, or a walk round a paddock, are alike capable , 
of affording very many points of beauty, and of adding ' 
greatly to the interest of the grounds to which they belong ; j 
and if seats, pavilions, and rustic, or other buildings, in 
situations where they are appropriate, are added, the interest 
is much augmented. 
In large estates there will, of course, be many cottages 
about tlie grounds, some of which will necessarily, and very 
appropriately, add features of interest to the drives. They 
should, both in their style of architecture nnd in their 
general keeping about them, be much superior to the ordinary 
labourers’ cottage, so common on every wayside. Nor should 
their interior arrangements be forgotten. Every day proves 
that the moral character of a man depends very much upon 
the kind of habitation that he dwells in. 
It would be difficult to imagine any kind of scenery, 
however so beautiful in itself, that would not be en¬ 
hanced by the introduction of water. This i'act is so fully 
acknowledged and appreciated, that attempts are constantly 
being made, even under the most adverse circumstances, to 
introduce it; often with good effect, but more frequently 
with indifferent success. But as there is scarcely a situation 
1 in which its presence would not be pleasing in some degree, 
it is frequently tolerated, where, if we appeal to our better 
judgment, it is found to be incongruous, not only with it¬ 
self, but the scenery around it. A great part of the pleasure 
that we feel in looking upon a piece of water is due either 
to its glitter, transparency, or motion ; for when we meet 
with a stagnant pond, or an imitation river in which the 
water is muddy and motionless, we experience disgust 
rather than pleasure. Yet the latter result is very often 
all that can be accomplished, even after the expenditure of 
much time and money. Where such results can be foreseen, 
I it would certainly be much the wiser plan to be content with- 
! out the water; for, indeed, very little gratification will be 
experienced from it. And, again, where the means by which 
an artificial piece of water has to be made, or a natural one 
brought into view must necessarily be conspicuous, neither 
should be attempted ; for if accomplished under such cir¬ 
cumstances the otherwise pleasing results will be very much 
detracted from. 
When water is introduced into the scenery of a park, it 
should be so managed, that from whatever point of view the 
house is seen in connection with it, the water shall appear 
on the lowest ground; if otherwise, the spectator will be 
impressed with the idea that the house is low and damp. 
It sometimes happens that a public footway leads through 
a park. This is usually considered as a great blemish anil 
annoyance, and much ill-feeling and numberless law suits 
have arisen out of attempts to abolish the light of way of 
such paths. Now, unless such a footway passes very near 
a residence, I cannot conceive any great objection to it; on 
the contrary, it appears to me to be a source of interest, and 
that it is calculated to enliven what otherwise would be dull 
and monotonous. The passing and re-passing of pedestrians 
gives life and animation to the scene. The little petty 
depredations that may possibly be committed by a few would 
certainly not be of sufficient importance to induce the 
attempt, even if it were possible, to deprive hundreds of the 
pleasure of an evening ramble, or the convenience of a short 
cut to the next village, or to prolong the labourer’s journey 
to his cottage after the toils of the day are over. Let us 
hope not. — G. Lovell, Landscape Gardener , Bay shot. 
CHILDREN’S GARDENS. 
NO. HI. 
The situation chosen, and the tenant installed, we next 
come to the planting. 
A few perennial border roots will make a good beginning, 
being easy of cultivation nnd producing an early effect. By 
I the time this is in print many hardy annuals will be above 
I ground, the thinnings from which may be usefully devoted 
to the same purpose. A little later, the half hardies, as Ger¬ 
man Stocks, Asters, (fee., will require planting out, a few of 
1 these may be available, as it seldom happens that there are 
j not some over after furnishing a bed. And here a word to 
j my professional readers on behalf of my young friends. It 
will show a kindly feeling, nnd increase the good opinion of 
your employers, if any overplus of this sort is thus bestowed. 
I once hinted as much to a gardener, who, I observed, threw 
everything of the kind upon the rubbish-heap. “So I 
would, sir, but Master George runs over my borders, and 
makes me so much extra work.” The complaint was indeed 
, true, but the event proved that a little tact would have 
j remedied the evil; for a new man, receiving the same hint, 
acted upon it, and George had too much right feeling to 
annoy one who did his best to oblige him. 
By these, means an ample stock may be provided, especially 
if a little forethought be exercised at sowing time. A word 
, now about the disposal of the gifts. Give a little boy half- 
a-dozen Asters, or Stocks, leaving him to plant them, and 
i ten to one he puts them in singly, as far from one another 
j as he can; but show him, beforehand, the effects of a 
j cluster of Crocuses contrasted with that produced by dis¬ 
tributing them separately, and he will at once see the 
advantage of grouping. I admit, that if my recommenda¬ 
tions be carried out, the result will be a very miscellaneous 
assemblage ; but I do not reckon this a fault, provided the 
young gardener is assisted to arrange it so that the plants 
shall not hide or crowd each other. 
Here some reader may say, “ You are advising a mixed 
border for a child, the very thing Mr. Beaton esteems so 
difficult to arrange.” True, yet, with a difference. Mr. B’s. 
object and mine are distinct. He very properly looks to 
perfection : I have chiefly to consider what is most likely to 
produce a love for flowers, and a practical acquaintance 
with their cultivation, both which objects are, I believe, 
likely to be attained by my plan. I have found that a 
child’s interest in his garden seldom ceases while he has 
one flower in bloom, or one about to burst forth. It is not 
so much the general effect as the individuals that he 
regards, and I would make use of the fact to enlarge his 
knowledge of plants, esteeming it an advantage gained even 
if the arrangement should fall short of what could be 
desired.—E. 
(To be continued.) 
NEW BOOKS. 
AcHUCULTtinAt Chemistry.* — The author of this work 
is very favourably known not only as the principal of the 
Kennington Agricultural and Chemical College, but as a 
lecturer upon similar subjects. The volume before us is a 
republication of some of his lectures, and they abound with 
useful information. We will give only one extract, and we 
select it because it enables us to answer the question of a 
correspondent (L. N., Leominster) who asks—“What are 
the peculiar features of the Lois Weedon system of culti¬ 
vation ? ” 
Mr. Nisbet says :—“ This leads me to notice the experi¬ 
ments of the Rev. Mr. Smith, of Lois Weedon, Northamp¬ 
tonshire. That gentleman has been growing wheat upon 
the same field year after year w-ithout the slightest addition of 
manure ; he has, in fact, been carrying out Jethro Tull’s plan. 
Jethro Tull had a notion that by pulverising the soil to a 
very great extent, he could make it sufficiently fine to pass 
through the pores of the roots and enter the plants, and 
that thus he could effectually provide against the want of 
| manure. Now, although he had got hold of a bad theory, 
his practice was to a great extent sound ; as was proved by 
his producing wheat in this way year after year for a con¬ 
siderable period. His plan, however, went out of use, and 
has not been followed for many years. Within the last four 
or five years, the Rev. Mr. Smith, who has a few acres of 
land which is tolerably stiff, moderately absorbent, and well 
provided with mineral ingredients, has been trying experi¬ 
ments of a similar nature. Has he succeeded, you will 
ask, in producing a crop without manure ? He lias—not 
without manure in the sense in which I use the word, but 
without manure in the sense in which you are accustomed 
to use it. He has not applied cart-loads of dung to his 
* On Agricultural Chemistry, nnd the nature and properties of 
Peruvian Guano. By J. C. Nisbet, F.C.S., &c. Third Edition. 
Longman and Co., London. 
