July 27. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
323 
hail such successful results as this season, although the sea¬ 
son has been rather of an untoward character in these parts. 
I have most pertinaciously endeavoured to carry out a few 
leading maxims in vegetable culture on all occasions, not¬ 
withstanding the very awkward position of the labour 
question of late, and I feel happy to think that I have en¬ 
deavoured, at all times, to force them on the notice of our 
cottagers and allotment holders. The use of soot is one; 
sawdust, too, I have used in more ways than one; guano, 
occasionally, in very moderate quantities, as a liquid-manure; 
charred weeds, sticks, and rubbish, many a cart-load; and 
as for other matters, I may name a determination to suffer 
no weeds to seed if possible. These I call points of high 
consideration in the culture of vegetables, as involving 
much economy, both in labour and material, besides the 
most flourishing crops. I do not name these facts as 
boasting, although, like other mortals, I feel> proud of good 
results, but to encourage our small holders to persevere in 
such practices, and not to despise them because they appear 
at first sight unimportant. 
And now, what about Potatoes ? We may now take 
stock, and chat over our prospects, as compared with former 
years. In this quarter, up to the period at which I am 
writing, nothing can look finer; on all sides reports are 
made of the glorious appearance of the crop, and this is a 
most noted Potato county. 
But the same might be said during the two past years, up 
to this time ; so that we have no guarantee here. Still, it is 
better to report this than a patchy or diseased crop to begin 
witii. Bitt we have this set off. People have very generally 
adopted the practice I suggested in these pages, and else¬ 
where, some years since; they have discarded their late 
kinds, and given up very late planting, and the general re¬ 
cognition of the propriety of this practice has given rise to 
a new class of Potatoes, combining earliness with the 
keeping properties of the old late. Less manure has been 
used, on the whole, than formerly, especially dung or other 
organic matters, and many farmers have very wisely depended 
on a little guano, where the land was in tolerable good heart. 
I may observe, that some of the finest crops under my 
charge had nothing but sawdust and soot, two parts of the 
former to one of the latter; this is a favourite dressing with 
me. One peculiarity may be here noticed as within reach 
of my observation, viz.: that Potatoes, in many instances, 
have begun to blossom again; this is, in my opinion, one of 
the best premonitory symptoms of returning vigour of con¬ 
stitution. 
However, I pretend not to suppose that we have done 
with the disease; I have no doubt that it will depart in an 
exceedingly slow way. Let me advise all parties to look 
sharp out for early seed for next year before they receive 
the loast taint; better be much under-ripe than diseased. 
Besides, I am convinced that they are better taken up before 
ripe for early work; such practice keeps the seed back, 
which (if they be left in until ripe) is apt to become so full 
as almost to sprout, and hence in danger of being rubbed 
off in autumn or early spring. 
As soon as taken up for seed, the best way is to strew 
them over an airy floor, where neither sun can shine on 
them nor moisture reach them ; a building facing the north 
and open at the sides is best; here they may lie for three 
weeks, and they may then be put in hampers and placed in 
any dark, dry, and cool place in doors until the end of 
October, when they may be pitted, if neoessary; if in the 
way, until the end of January. 
And now about other root crops, to which I always turn 
! first as a promissary consideration. Carrots, Parsnips, and 
Mangold, will have been cleared thoroughly before this, 
and, indeed, all cultural operations finished; all that will 
remain to be done will be to draw out a weed here and there 
which had escaped the hoe, and to single out a few for use, 
occasionally, where rather too thick. Swedes may yet require 
a hoeing, if rather late, and a final thinning as soon as 
possible. 
Blanks. —One of the most important affairs at the end of 
July is to look over every crop and see if blanks exist, or 
if there be any grubbed or blighted roots that cannot be 
relied on. Such should bo pulled up and consumed by the 
pig, and their places filled immediately by Swede plants, or 
dwarf Cabbage, taking care to puddle their roots. 
Puddling.— By this is meant dipping the roots of plants 
in a thick mixture, in order to enable them to withstand 
drought, and inseet enemies, grubs, &c. I find that the 
mixture I use bids defiance to the club in most cases. In 
planting-out Cabbageworts, Swedes, etc., a hole may be 
made with a spade, close to where the plants are drawn, 
and the operator having a basket in one hand, a pot of 
soot in the other, and strong knife in his pocket, pro¬ 
ceeds to his plants. The hole is half filled with soot, 
and then nearly filled up with water, and the spade being 
worked to and fro a while, the soil from the sides and 
bottom of the hole becomes blended with the soot, so as to 
constitute one-half, and the whole brought to the con¬ 
sistence of thick porridge. The plants are then drawn 
tidily in bunches, and about one-third of the tops cut oil', 
and the roots just tipped; they are then dipped in the 
puddle, and placed regularly in the basket, so as that the 
planter may take them out in bunches to 'plant without 
farther hindrance. I practice this with every plant, and I 
know, by experience, that it enables the plant to bear up 
against drought in an extraordinary way. 
The planting of Savoys, Green Kale, Brussels Sprouts, 
Brhcolis, etc., wherever needed, must be at once completed. 
The Green Kale and Savoys are, perhaps, the most profit¬ 
able. Many of these things will come in between other 
crops. The Coleworts or Dwarf Cabbage recommended by 
me to be sown in the middle of June, lo be bunched for sale 
in November and December, should be got out in the be¬ 
ginning of the month on soil of good character. A little 
manure may be pointed in about three or four inches deep. 
It is an error to dig it out of their reach, having but a short 
period to do their work in. I crop my Onion ground this 
way. I have before explained how I obtain a very early 
Onion harvest, and as soon as the Onions are off their 
ground it is thus manured, and I get all my best winter 
Coleworts from it. 
Cauliflowers for November and December must be got 
out in the first week ; these pay well in market. 
Clearing Summer Crops. —In the beginning, let all ex¬ 
hausted crops, l’eas, Beans, Ac., be cleared off the ground ; 
it is folly to wait and lose a second crop for the sake of a 
few straggling Beaus or Peas ; the latter, if half or three- 
parts ripe, may be dried and bagged, to thicken soups, and 
the cow will be glad of the haulm ; if straw is a scarce 
article, it may be dried and stacked away to cover Cauli¬ 
flowers and other tender things during hard weather. 
Lettuces. —The Bath Cos may be sown in the first week, 
for spring, not forgetting the Hammersmith Hardy Green 
Cabbage Lettuce. 
Spinach comes fine in October, and through winter, if 
sown in the first week on rich soil. 
Seed Weeds. —Let me again press on our allotment 
friends the great importance of preventing the seeding of 
weeds. I think little of any man’s practice who under 
rates this grand cultural maxim. It is quite bad enough 
to suffer young weeds to run away with one-third of the 
manure and to choke crops, but to suffer them to seed, and 
to cut out extra labour for the ensuing year, is most un¬ 
warrantable. Besides, the shade they produce during August 
and September, especially, is so prejudicial to root crops, 
which, to make weight and quality, need every glimpse of 
sunshine. 
Charring. —Lose not a chance in thus converting dan¬ 
gerous materials full of seeds into a wholesome and valuable 
addition to hard-worked soils. As before observed, have a 
central or convenient spot, and let all weeds and refuse be 
collected in two lots; the coarser materials to kindle the fire 
on one side, the small weeds, rakings, &c., on the other; the 
latter to case over the smouldering heap with. I will affirm, 
that within the past twelve months I have made a dozen 
cart-loads of this material. Thus the clearing process is 
amply repaid by the return made to the soil. 
Manure-heaps. —Let any manure, whether pig or other¬ 
wise, which has been drying in the pen, be immediately 
covered with soil of any kind three or four inches thick. 
If cold, let it be thrown into a mound first to keep out rain, 
and if any sawdust, old lime, lime-rubbish, or soot can be 
spared, throw it on the heap before covering. Other manure 
can be thrown to the heap, and, by-and-by, served in like 
manner, and at the end of the year let the whole be turned 
