October 7. THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 13 
“TAKING A LOOK ROUND.” 
This homely phrase is often pregnant with important 
events. A look round, “ with the eyes open,” frequently 
points out what ought to be done without delay; at the 
same time, a scrutinizing glance at the progress, or 
otherwise, which certain crops are making, recalls to 
mind what was done to that crop at the proper time; 
and either proves the justness or the fallacy of the treat¬ 
ment it is undergoing. “A look round,” likewise, discloses 
many things it would bo better to get rid of. If a survey 
takes place after a period of showery weather, weeds will 
be found in places expected to be clean, almost in number 
and luxuriance to dispute with the legitimate crop their 
right to a share of motlier earth. “A look round,” at 
this season, will also be accompanied with the inward 
expressions of “This job must be done”—“These Carrots 
must be taken up”—“These Tomatoes must have the 
sun”—“These Cabbage-plants are stifling each other in 
the beds, and none planted out yet; I will have that 
done to-morrow”—“ These autumn-bearing Raspberries 
shall not dangle on the ground, and get themselves all 
dirt in that way, I will see and have them staked up.” 
These, and a thousand other duties suggest themselves 
at every step when a general survey takes place; or, if 
we place the case on a higher standing, and allow that 
the skill and strength of the gardening staff has done 
all the above at the most fitting time, and that, with a 
shake of the head, the old garden labourer tauntingly 
invites inspection of everything in detail, still the eye 
of the critic, strengthened by the inquiries he makes, 
enables him to see some things that lie thinks may be 
improved another season by adopting another course, 
which he explains. 
It is thereby seen that “ a look round” may be 
turned to account even in the best kept garden esta¬ 
blishments. Now the amateur, who has only a few 
rods of ground, may also derive some interest, if not 
knowledge, in this systematic survey; we do not ask 
him to take stock in a mercantile form, but we ask 
him to reflect what small, insignificant plants those 
Brussels sprouts were when the peas, which over-topped 
them, were removed in August, and see how they have 
progressed since; if he has treated them with liquid- 
manure, he will, doubtless, be giving that enriching food 
the credit for their advance; but there is another agent 
as well, remember; August and September treated us 
to more rain than is usual for these months, hence 
the growth of this and similar productions. “ A look 
round ” will also display, that if Early Horn Carrots 
have not been removed from the earth some little 
time, they will now be surrounded by a white beard of 
new rootlets, indicative of a second growth, and certainly 
inimical to the root’s keeping well. “ A look round ” 
will also tell him, that in spite of what great writers say 
about earthing-up Celery by wholesale, he must not lose 
the chance of the first fine day to do his, if it require 
ever so little; and, subsequently, the duty becomes still 
more imperative, as the days will not all be fine after 
this, and the growing season, which is synonymous with 
the blanching season, is fast drawing to a close; these, 
and many other necessary jobs, will suggest themselves, 
leaving the operator the discretionary power which one to 
do first; this, of course, must be regulated by circum¬ 
stances, and the urgency of the individual objects. Suit¬ 
ing the work to the weather, is a golden maxim never to 
be lost sight of in gardening matters. The fine dry days, 
so plentiful at Midsummer, cannot be repeated now; con¬ 
sequently, the housing of root-crops, earthing of celery, 
and other needful duties, must have the first attention 
on such occasions, while a dull day will do to prick out 
Cabbage Plants, prepare ground for the principal crop, 
(the earliest one we suppose to have been planted some 
time ago). Beds, with some mode of applying a pro¬ 
tecting article, may be prepared for Caulifloirers, which 
will speedily want planting out in their proper quarters, 
while Divarf French Beans and Scarlet Runners must 
have mats, or something that way, thrown over them on 
frosty nights, which are likely now to follow bright days, 
with a north wind. To these duties may bo added that 
universal one of having an eye to order, cleanliness, and 
good keeping, which in a garden, even at this time of 
the year, is not without its merits; still, by-and-by, the 
removal of bulky things, as scarlet-runners, peas, &c., 
and the gi'ound dug after the leaves have fallen, will 
give the whole that more pleasing appearance which it 
is difficult to obtain while leaves are falling, and other 
things (though still useful) present a decaying aspect. 
One of the principal ornaments of a garden at this 
untoward season are sound wallcs ; these, whatever may 
be the condition of the adjoining gi'ound, ought always 
to be good, and at this time of the year their utility is 
more manifest, when access to the turf, &c. is denied by 
the damp grass to those for whose enjoyments all that is 
ornamental in a garden was introduced. Next to walks, 
are the edgings ; these, if of box, may also be in nice trim 
at this season; if they were cut, as we advised, in the 
showery weather of June, they will have grown suffi¬ 
ciently to show a fresh growth, and yet not so much as 
to become unsightly large or jagged. Many other little 
things may be seen to in the way of giving a tidy 
appearance to the whole, and we can point out no better 
mode of the amateur finding out what wants doing, than 
just taking “a look round.” J. Robson. 
THE FORSAKEN HERITAGE. 
By the Authoress of “ 3Iy Flowers," dc. 
]My readers may remember that, some months ago, I 
described the efl'ects of a thunder-storm as having smitten 
a tree—an old ash-pollard—and spared the cottage which 
stood almost by its side. That little cottage was the dwell¬ 
ing of a young widow and her four children, who had lost 
their earthly prop and stay some years ago. I am now 
going to teU the story of this young widow, for the benefit 
of others, who may, like her, be left alone on earth, with 
only the rich inheritance of God’s promise. 
Mary Anderson’s husband had been a bargeman, and had 
settled in the village in consequence. His wife belonged to 
another county; she had no friends in her new parish, but 
they were steady, respectable young people, very quiet, and 
very clean; and when poor Anderson began to sink into 
decline many were kind and helpful to them. After his 
early death the poor young widow remained still in her 
little bit of a cottage. It looked away from the village over 
a sweet, sunny scene; it had a very small garden before the 
door, and a rough shed at the gable end. This, with a 
small kitchen, and a yet smaller bedroom, was the home of 
the widow and her orphan family. 
Nothing could be cleaner or neater than Mary and her 
children. She was always so tidily dressed, without a shred 
of finery, and her shoes and stockings were so particularly 
clean and well made, that it was impossible not to notice 
her. She was never down-at-heel, like many of her neigh¬ 
bours, which gives such a wretched, slatternly look; and 
she was never seen in torn or draggled clothes, or standing 
gossiping about. Her two boys went to work, the little 
girls to school, and the mother was always seated in doors, 
busy with her needle, alone, until the evening, when her 
little ones were also quietly at work by her side. The cot¬ 
tage was, indeed, the picture of what a widow’s home 
should be. 
There is a heritage for the widow and the fatherless, 
signed, sealed, and delivered into their hands, when the 
grave closes upon him who toiled and fed them. “ Leave 
thy fatherless children, I will presen'e them alive, and let 
thy widows trust in me.” 
Mary Anderson and her children were preserved alive. 
She had always work and food; friends were raised up, who 
sent them clothes; and neater, cleaner children could not 
