238 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 29. 
supplies from distant parts; the manufacturing towns 
in the north-west of England import largely from the 
more fertile soil and genial climate of the south-eastern 
counties and others; so that the mart for such things is 
so far equalized that it has passed into a proverb, that 
a district’s principal product is cheaper anywhere than 
at home. I will say no more than again urge ou the 
young gardener or cultivator who may be in London 
to extend his rambles to Covent Garden as often as lie 
has an opportunity to do so, feeling assured that he will 
never be disappointed. 
Iu the production of vegetables, generally, there are 
some points which ought never to be lost sight of; and 
one of the first of these is a liberal and judicious thinning, 
and that at the proper time, for it would be wrong to 
delay that operation until the plants have injured each i 
other by standing too thick, as well as having been 
feeding on the ground in the immediate proximity of j 
the permanent plant. As thinning can hardly ever be l 
carried too far, and very often stops short of what it 
ought to do,let us take for example one of the most com¬ 
mon crops— Onions; which are not unusually left stand¬ 
ing some time thick, with the intention of tbinnng them 
i'or use as wanted. Now this is bad; for the main crop 
suffers sadly by the crowding, and the neck is elon¬ 
gated, and when thinning does take place it is ten to 
one but those left are unable to support themselves, and 
although they speedily do assume an upright growth 
again, still there is the loss of time they were prostrate, ! 
and the injury or delay of a week in the most important 
part of the growing season is an important matter not 
to be forgotten. Turnips, again, suffer in like manner; 
and though they are so accommodating as to set them- | 
selves aright after the bruising and mauling they have 
to endure when the operation is at length performed, yet 
it must be evident to every one that they have suffered 
a l'oss ; but there are other things to which the subject 
of thinning is scarcely applicable; such, for instance, as 
growing crops of Peas, Beans, and even Potatoes, and j 
t he Cabbage tribe; the latter it is needless here calling j 
attention to, for they speak for themselves ; but the 
Potato is not so apparent a sufferer from crowding, I 
although it often really is so; while the Peas and Beans are 
often totally disregarded after they have been committed 
to the ground, whereas, much finer pods, and more of 
them, might be had if they were sown a little thinner, 
or, rather, thinned when they liad come up and got 
out of harm’s way. Though this is seldom done, be¬ 
cause those having large quantities of these things j 
to grow exercise their judgment in not sowing them 
too thickly, and, consequently, have less occasion for 
after-labour, yet it is highly advisable to the amateur 
who wishes to have a superior article for his table, 
to bear in mind that it cannot be obtained without the 
liberal allowance of room which is incompatible with 
a close and crowded growth, and in Peas, &c., it is scarcely 
less necessary to limit the plants in the row, than it is to 
place the latter a good distance apart; iu fact, they both 
tend to the same results. 
It would be easy to multiply cases where a liberal 
allowance of elbow-room is not only essential to a 
plant’s well-being; but it is also economical in a profit¬ 
able point of view, as a greater produce will often be 
the isstte; besides which, the appearance which things 
of sterling excellence have ought also to be considered; 
^'or the eye ought to be gratified as well as the other 
senses, and the honest pride which a meritorious pro¬ 
duction entitles the cultivator to assume, is us rational 
on a bed of Cabbages as on a collection of flowering 
plants; and though the latter may exhibit more the 
effects of artificial management, the other deserves care, 
j assiduity, and patience as well. J. Robson. 
ALLOTMENT FARMING.— July. 
A busy month this in the gardening way, and, I may add, 
the farm. Those who would make provision for a good 
winter and spring supply of the Cabbage-worts and green 
tribes, must be on the alert this month. Every nook-corner 
space that can lie spared without injury to the root or other 
standing crop must be well filled up with Green Kale, 
Savoys, Brussels Sprouts, &c., according to the uses or 
profits of the cultivator. In doing so, however, he must 
remember that there is a sort of medium to be observed as 
to thickness. The planter should not only know where to 
introduce such things, hut how thickly they may be planted ; 
and this, of course, involves a little practical knowledge of 
the habits of growth of each kind, and the size they are 
likely to attain on his soil. Before introducing such, how¬ 
ever, the existing crops should he looked over, and every 
weed finally removed; this will save much future trouble. 
I am here presuming that all cultivation matters between 
root-crops, &e., have been completed by this time, as I have 
formerly advised ; if not, why better late than never. The 
early Potato ground will now, perhaps, be stripped of its 
crop. Those who managed well this spring with their Ash¬ 
leaved Kidneys, liavo, in these parts, made a deal of cash of 
the produce. I know plenty within a score miles of where 
I write, who have obtained from three pence to four-pence 
per pound weight. Some cottagers thus nearly paying the 
rent of their cottage and plot by young Potatoes alone. And 
on the heels of the Kidney, which are, in many cases, turned 
into hard cash by the middle of June, the period at which 
we write these remarks—on the heels of these Potatoes- 
Swedes or Mangold are instantly planted ; and these got in 
betimes, on rich and mellow soils, become as good a crop 
as those farmers who have devoted the whole season to the 
production of one crop. The later crops of Potatoes have, 
of course, been thoroughly cleaned, and soil, if requisite, 
drawn to their stems. Let me, however, caution our readers 
not to tamper with them when strong plants and nearly 
covering the ground; I have known many capital crops 
seriously injured by this ill-timed operation. No plant suf¬ 
fers sooner from mutilation of the foliage than the Potato, 
especially after the young Potatoes are large as sparrows’ 
eggs. 
With regard to the introduction of the Green tribes, Swedes, 
<fec,, there will, of course, be some early things of other 
kinds in course of removal; a sharp eye must be kept on 
such chances, not an inch of ground must he given away; 
this, however, does not mean that the cramming system, 
must be pursued. A good and skilful cultivator has all 
these things in his head betimes in the spring; and, as I 
have frequently suggested, will, perhaps, have so tied him¬ 
self to system, as to have placed pegs to indicate the kind 
of cropping, whether mixed or otherwise. It thus becomes 
familiar as he walks along with his summer’s scheme; he 
is enabled, at all times, to properly appropriate his small 
amount of manure, and, indeed, his little plot is ever present 
to his mind like a map. Our men of many acres must not 
think such proceedings too fussy; they must remember the 
old adage, “ Little things arc great to little men.” Many of 
them might, indeed, take a lesson of a really “ cute ” allot¬ 
ment man. I have frequently seen evident signs of more 
i scheming, and a close consideration of the subject in hand, 
1 on thirty or forty poles of ground, than on a hundred acres. 
I Such may,indeed, he the exception; hut when they occur,it 
i is enough to make a man of higher standing look about 
| him. 
Transplanting. —Let us take a glance at this proceeding, 
which must not be done any how. In the first place, our 
small farmers should know that not he who plants earliest 
is obliged to have a superior crop. One man may plant 
to morrow his Swedes, or Mangold, in dusty soil, and in 
the entire absence of rain, with a glowing sunshine over 
head; and another may, with land at command, defer the 
operation a fortnight, and then, taking advantage of a 
showery time and the prevalence of clouds, plant, and excel 
his neighbour by some twenty per cent., other conditions 
of soil, &c., being exactly similar. These things are very im¬ 
portant, although frequently unheeded. Another matter 
worth notice. Let me recommend you all not to put in a 
plant without “ puddling " the roots. I puddle nearly every 
