THE COTTAGE GARDENEIE 
205 
I December 1(3. 
coilteiiiplate extending the allotment system will pre- j 
vionsly think these matters over. Wishing, however, , 
humbly to support Mr. E.'s opinion, I hope 1 shall be 
cxciised I'or stating the following deductions :— 1 
1. It is always an advantage that the ground bo con- i 
tiguous to the cottage ; next, that it bo in a field as near 
as possible; and if at some distance, that it bo ap- 
proHcbed by a good road. 
' 2. The rent charged, after making allowance for any 
, extras, sliould be similar to what the i'armer pays for the 
: adjoining land. 
■'3. Whatever terms bo agreed upon; whatever the 
conditions as respects regularity of payment; proper 
I and industrious cultivation, and propriety of conduct, 
' necessary to the holding of the allotment; no consider- 
! ations of previous character, unless there was something 
I very flagrant, should operate as a barrier to obtaining 
; one : for to allow of such a barrier would be tantamount 
' to denying our faith in gardening as an improving 
inlluonce. 
! -1. It is to the advantage of every labourer to be in 
' regular, constant employment. The allotment or garden I 
I should be no decoy from his regular occupation. The 
1 extent of his holding should he regulated by what he 
j and his family can accomplish during their own time. 
I Eew employers would refuse a man a day at any par- i 
: ticular emergency, but this must not bo calculated upon 
as a matter of course. 1 have met with few who will 
I jiay a man regularly and cheerfully in bad weather, who 
i holts off to his own ground without leave or warning 
I when it is line. 
! 5. When a surplus of labour abounds in a district, 
I the dividing the land into largish allotments, sullicieut 
I to give work for several weeks or mouths, has been con- 
I sidered a remedy. I am convinced it is merely a tem- 
j porary palliative. It is based on the supposition, that 
j when not working for the farmer the allotment holder 
can labour for himself; but unfortunately the farmer 
and the allotment want that holder’s chief services at 
the same time. Need I speak of the tendency to 
grumbling, idleness, squatting, and the mutual heart¬ 
burnings thus produced ? 
(i. If in rural districts such a superabundance of 
I labour should again exist—as wo have painfully wit- 
I nessed in times gone by—two views as respects allot- 
I ments present themselves. 1st. If it be conceded that 
j the labourer is remunerated i’or his work on the allot- 
I meut—and this, I believe, is generally granted—would 
[ not the same labour be worth somewhere about as much 
j to the tenant or the landlord ? and if so, might not the 
' labourer be freed from a nondescript position, always an 
; unpleasant one to be in? But, 2ndly. If capital is de- 
licient to pay the labour seeking employment; and yet 
the superior cidtivation of the laud would remunerate 
the labour so employed, why should those able to support 
tliemselvcs for a short time from previous savings, and 
are willing to labour, not have an allotment that would 
give them work, not for a few weeks, but during the 
greater part of the year; a system which in such cir¬ 
cumstances would ease the labour market, and prove 
a barrier to idleness and pauperism? I am aware that 
j such an allottee would imperceptibly become a market- 
I gardener, or a small farmer, thus opening up a great 
social question. I am, however, merely treating of 
I allotments of land; and my object in addressing these 
1 words, not to the enemies of allotments, but to their 
I advocates, and as such, the friends of the working 
I classes, is to incite them calmly to investigate, whether 
i between such a small farming allotment, and one that 
j can be cultivated in the over - time of the family, there 
' be, except in special and i>articular exceptions, any 
middle course, which, if continuously followed, will 
benefit, ultimately, cither the individual or the com¬ 
munity. 
7. Some of these special exceptions may consist of i 
jobbers, mechanics, and artisans, who do not expect ! 
constant employment at their avocations. The more i 
change of employment is to them a great advantage, i 
Even hero, however, some judgment must be exercised. 
I have seen men in such circumstances, attending 
tlioroughly to their business, and yet jiroducing speci¬ 
mens of cultivation that few blue aprons could equal. 
1 have seen others trilling on their allotment, neglecting 
alike tlieir business, and tbo interests of their family. 
A smaller or a much larger allotment would to them 
have been an advantage, just because many men, when 
much employed on the ground, lose all relish for other 
work. I have witnessed scores of cases of industrious 
tradesmen and mechanics, in villages, not more than 
half employed, their work having gradually lessened 
through no fault of their own, and yet, from a strong 
development of the bump of locality, they cannot think 
of going beyond the sound of the church bell to which 
they listened in better days. A large allotment to such 
men would be alike a source of pleasure, comfort, and 
prosperity. II. Eish. 
GESNEIU ZEBllINA. 
The roots of this, after the tops decay, must bo kept 
dry and free from frost. I have often kept them in 
the pots in which they bloomed, turned over on 
their sides in the warm end of a common airy green- [ 
house. A great lover of these plants has directed j 
my attention to a passing notice of their culture ! 
lately, for greenhouse decoration in early autumn, | 
by my fi’iend Mr. Beaton, and has put a couple of 
queries respecting them, which may be generally inter¬ 
esting. 1st, Have you yourself found a similar system 
to answer? Yes, perfectly so. To obtain large masses 
of bloom early, either for vases or large pots, it is best to 
grow single tubers in small pots. Whether checked by 
being moved to a more cool, airy position, or not, they 
will show bloom much earlier than when supplied with 
more feeding room, and may then be turned out of their 
pots and be packed in the larger vessel. 1 have thus 
had tine masses in the beginning of August in a glass- 
covered veranda. 2nd, Is there not a discrepancy 
between Mr. Beaton’s very easy method, and the great 
care detailed by you as necessary, some two years ago? 
I do not tbink there is. Mr. B. glanced at a system, 
without going into the minutiie. These little matters, I 
consider as important as ever, just because line foliage, 
with a deep shade of purple, is more admired than even 
the flower spikes. Hence, care will be saved, when 
these plants can bo started and grown in a hot-house, or 
forcing-house, whore they can either have a slight shade, 
or be placed from two to three feet I'rom tlie glass. A 
frame or pit will enable admirers to have these plants 
early, though assisted only with fermenting material; 
but my experience would direct attention to tlic follow¬ 
ing points: First, The heating material must be sweet. 
Second, Even then no steam or vapour should collect 
around the foliage previously to the sun shining on 
them. Third, Air should therefore bo given night and 
day. Fourth, 'The plants should stand at a distance 
from the glass, or be slightly shaded from bright sun¬ 
shine. Fifth, The drier the leaves are kept the better. 
Neglect in these matters will cause you to run the risk j 
of pale, bleached, curled, and blotched foliage; and thus j 
expose you to the loss of at least half the beauty of the 
plant. If- Fish. 
PERPETUAL CARNATIONS. 
Some of these were exhibited lately at Regent Street. 
I have understood they were first introduced from 
the continent by Messrs. Knight and Perry. I do not 
know how many varieties there are, nor am I certain 
of the right name of one of them. A friend pre- | 
