November 25. 
THE COTTAGE GAROENEE. 
149 
that plot is nearly a statute acre—as is frequently the case 
in some districts—there is too often an end of all comfort 
between the employer and employed. We do not say that 
sucli cases are the rule ; the exception they are and need 
1)6 ; hut when they do occur they are not a whit less a griev¬ 
ance. Tlie only cure for all this is with those who grant 
allotment plots, to tahe care that they are not sufficiently 
large to draw the holder away from his ordinary duties. By 
experience, we are assured that half-an-acre is too much, 
and we should suggest a quarter, as well meeting the average 
I of cases. But, perhaps, these remarks apply more to the 
j holders of cottages, to which land has long been attached ; 
with these wo liave had iinirh to tin during the last twenty j 
ye.ars as lahonrei's under our su])erintendence, and can 
hear ample testimony to the asperity ))f feelings induced by j 
having labourers who would be ever at their post in the \ 
short or bad days, and olf without notice on the first fine | 
day, when real business might be advantageously carried ' 
out. But now for the business of the allotment or cottage j 
' gardener, for om' duties lie with both. 
First of all, we will ask. Is the land rhlged from which 
crops have been totally removed, and which is liable to be 
soured by rain or snow? That is fo say, is it iriled up to 
mellow by the winter’s frosts, and to drain from the winter’s 
snow'? If not, 3 'ou have omitted a most necessary pro¬ 
ceeding, which we assuredly hale not omitted to advise in 
former papers. 
In order to save repetition, we beg to refer the attentive 
reader to page (15, on the improvement of the staple, and 
pass on to think about rotations for the ensuing year; for 
we will try and persuade every one of our allotment friends, 
yea, and cottage gardeners too, to spend the dull evenings, 
which are not only approaching, but at our threshold, in 
conning over the various modes or schemes of cropping, by 
I which a profit may be realised, and the domestic comforts 
of the family increased. Those who may feel thus inclined, 
may refer to many back allotment papers for suggestions, 
I and wo will here again offer the results of many con- 
, siderations of this question, carried on for some years, in 
which, according to one of our fine writers, we have en- 
I deavoured to “ make each day a critic on the last.” 
, We do take it for granted that the production of kcephif/ 
roots is the chief basis on which allotment cropping ought 
I to rest, and that all mixed cropping ought to be held sub¬ 
ordinate to this principle. Of course, if no pig is kept, it 
materially alters the (piestion; and if hoth cow and pigs, 
; more so still. The latter being quite the excejjtion, wo 
, have, in general, paid less attention to it; but as to a pig 
j alone, that constitutes, doubtless, the majority of cases. 
I In connection with this view of the case, wo hold another 
maxim—viz., that deep digging or trenching ought to be 
had recourse to every third year. Such being admitted, it 
becomes a consideration what class of crops to trench for. 
.4s to the benefits derivable from trenching, it is to be hoped 
; that to the minds of many of our readers they .are quite 
familiar; to others we say, that all crops with which we are 
acquainted, unless of a very stubborn character, enjoy a 
tiiste of the subsoil, ■which appears to contain certain in¬ 
organic matters of importance to most crops. This, how¬ 
ever, is not all—depth of root to crops that have to undergo 
culture a whole summer and autumn is of immense im¬ 
portance. Two plots of the Swede Turnip shall stand side 
by side, the soil equal in quality, anil in the same condition 
as to previous cropping. No. 1 slnill be trenched two feet 
deep, losing the manure between the spits ; No. 2 shall be 
dug the depth of a half-worn spade, which we will call seven 
inches, and the same amount of manure dug in. And now 
we will suppose a hot and dry time in August. The almost 
certain result would be, that No. 2 will grow with more 
rapidity, if showery weather, for the first month: but as 
soon as overtaken liy drought it will become stationary, and 
not only that, but mildewed. The greater expanse of 
foliage will only subject them to a higher amount of elabo¬ 
ration when the drought comes, and if they cannot extend 
their fibres in a degree commensurate with the drought in 
their foliage, they Ijegin to flag, and this flagging indicates 
the condition of sap requisite to encourage the mildew, 
i By this time. No. 1 shall be striking downwards, and shall 
j have fibres more than a foot in depth, where there is a per¬ 
manency of moisture, whilst No. 2 has four-fifths of its 
fibres in mere dust. Thus stands tlie case with most crops 
that we have experimented on; and we hohUy affirm that 
the case is in no way overcharged. The desti'uction of 
weeds, insects, ifec., although we hold it to be a subordinate 
consideration, is by no means unimportant; and thus, alto¬ 
gether, surely a case is made out for a periodical trenching. 
For general purposes, we do think that the crops for 
an allotment may be placed in three equal divisions, under 
the heads — Roots, Miscellaneous Crops, Potatoes. Now, 
although it is not intended rifuUy to enforce so very dis¬ 
tinct a separation of objects, yet, on the whole, we would 
adhere to it as a maxim, and, above all, take it as a guid¬ 
ing principle annually, as the. allotment planning came 
round. This will keep the cultivator from confusion, and 
by it, if tolerably well adhered to, he will always be in a 
position to know the pastliistory of his plots and prospective 
luipes. These things being settled, mixed or“ stolen crops” 
may be so woven in with the system, as not to derange the 
mainpilan; and this must be from a full consideration of 
the habits and periods of the principal crops. 
Although Potatoes may be fairly classed among the root- 
crops, yet in this we would keej) them seiiarate ; they require 
se])arate culture in these days, and, moreover, by separating 
them the chief of the remaining root-crops will be the deep- 
rooted or fusiform class, for which depth is particularly 
essential. This brings us to our point: the ground in three 
divisions, one divi.sion trenched annually, and that for the 
root-crops. 
Now these root - crops, under such circumstances, we 
would term renewal - crojis, or renovators—not that they 
detract less from the soil than others, but th.at extra dejith 
and extra culture leaves the land in first-rate order for 
other successions. They will prove excellent preparers 
for either Potatoes or the Miscellaneous section ; but where 
many of the Cabbageworts are grown, we should prefer 
following them -ndth Potatoes, without a particle of manure, 
presuming the ground to have been liberally treated for the 
Cabbageworts. We have no more space for rotation afl’airs, 
and now beg of om- little gardeners to study tins matter 
during these long evenings, and to lay on the fire an extra 
log, for the wind begins to whistle tlirough every cranny. 
AVhen they have once decided, let them get a stick or two, 
sliave one end flat' for wiiting on, get a little thick white 
paint, which rub thinly on the writing part, and immediately 
write the name of the crop ; if succeeded by anything, or to 
receive a “ stolen cx’op,” with the circumstances of manuring, 
digging, Ac. 
Thus— Broad Beans sown early in February, rows three 
feet; Kale planted between, sown March. Beans succeeded 
by Cahhayeivorts, or Coleworts, sown middle of Jxme ; 
lightly manured, and dug in end of November into ridges; 
ridges levelled clown in beginning of l.^ebmary.” We have 
written in full, but an ingenious nund will soon make short 
work of this by a system of abbreviations, or substituting 
signs or marks for words. Thus, sown may be represented 
thus, .... ; jilanting thus, X representing a dibble, com¬ 
monly called a “ dibber; ” the months by first and last 
letter—thus. My. May, Jy. .luly, and so on. Even the dig¬ 
ging and trenching may stand thus, 1, 2, the one single, the 
other double digging ; and tbe period of the month by 
b., m., e., signifying beginning, middle, and end. AVe now 
take leave of this portion, having “ broken the ice ” fairly. 
Priming for Spring Crops. —Let not our friends despise 
the soot of their chimneys, but hoard it up for mixtures to 
(h'ill with ; this we call priming. Such, mixed in spring 
with bm’ut or charred rubbish, and the residue of old 
manure heaps, old leaf or vegetable soil, and a little of 
Messrs. Gibbs’ Peruvian Guano, all well blended, will soon 
set j’our 3 ’oung jilants on their logs. 
Bitches and Fences. —If your allotment or garden has 
anything of this kind, pray do not delay till the spring, if 
you can possibly carry anything out. Experience tells us, 
that spring, if fairly personified by the painter, might come 
in the shape of a young, strong, and raw, broad-shouldered 
follow; but of what use is it haring broad shoulders, if they 
are compelled to do double duty. If his sage old pai’ent, 
winter, has been a fai’-seeing old gentleman, and has eun- 
ningl}' had a portion of the burdens destined for the young 
squires shouldering got rid of before hand, why all we can 
say is—a wise sire, and a lucky youth. But joking will not 
