Januaby G. 
THE COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 
207 
vegetables require to be cleaned, and free of extraneous 
i leaves, &c. The principal improvement in the arrange- 
I ments has consisted in having the exhibition in a temporai’y 
canvass tent, of lai'ge and commodious dimensions. We 
' invite attention to the manner in which this tent was pro¬ 
cured, also to its size and appearance; and for the better 
understanding of its character, we append two sketclies, 
drawn hy Mr. Jolin Bathgate, a gentleman filling the oliice 
of procurator-fiscal for I’eehles-shire, and a warm encourager 
of all social improvements. 
Fig. 1. 
—c-O-U-0-T- 
P/355A C£ ■<:.— 
r..\>TRAn'C.5 
SCALE OF FEET. 
30 _ 4-0 
Fig. 2. 
Figure 1. represents a ground-plan of the tent, with two 
long tables, on which the articles are laid for exhibition. 
T'hese tables are of rough deal, covered with webs of 
calico, so as to have a clean and neat appearance. The 
entrance is by a kind of porch at the north-east corner; 
thence, as indicated by arrows, the visitors walk up the 
side of one table, and down the other side; then up the 
nearest side of the second table, and down the other 
side of it, to the place of exit, which is a similar porch 
at the south-east corner. ATsitors thus proceed in a slow 
and continuous stream in one direction, without break 
or confusion. Figure 2 is a representation of the tent 
exteriorly, and in perspective, looking from the south¬ 
east, with the houses of the town in the background. It 
will be observed that the tent is a pavilion in form, being 
I of a length about three times its breadth, with a sloping 
roof on its two sides. The following are the exact dimen¬ 
sions:—Length of the tent, 01 feet; breadth of ditto, Od feet; 
height of roof at centre, 24 feet; side of span of roof, 
22 feet; height of walls from the ground, 8 feet. The two 
porches arc exterior projections. The length of the tables 
is 72 feet; the breadth of each table is hi feet; and the 
breadth of the passage is 5.} feet. 
The substance of the tent is strong canvas, impervious to 
rain; but so transparent, that there is abundance of light 
I without the aid of windows. The erection is supported on 
j a framework of wood, held together by screw bolts. Besides 
the side, there are centre, posts. The distance between the 
side posts is (ii feet; the distance between the centre posts 
j is 1.2 feet. All the wood-work has a neat and slender 
I appearance, and is painted. The total expense of this 
: truly commodious erection, including painting, was about 
T80 ; this amoimt was raised by subscription in the neigh- 
I hourhood, and kept separate from the ordinary funds of the 
i society. It may be useful to mention, that the manufac- 
I turers of the tent were Messrs. 11. and I). Ferguson, Sail- 
I makers, Dundee. It was made by them to order, and sent 
ready to be put up. The wooden framework was constructed 
by Mr. Dickson, a cai’penter in Peebles; part of it was 
composed of timber presented by Sir Adam Hay, Baronet; 
and this somewhat lessened the general expense. When 
erected, the pavilion has a handsome and rather gay 
appearance, with the Union Jack flying at one end, and the 
flag of the Society displayed at the other. It was placed in i 
the Town Green, in front of the school-house; and at about I 
a hundred yards from the Tweed. j 
Even with the vastly extended space in this conveniently 
disposed tent, there would still undoubtedly be overcrowding, ! 
but for an arrangement to be mentioned. This consists in 
establishing three classes of entrance fees—for the first ! 
hour, one shilling; second hour, sixpence; and the third j 
hour, threepence. Tickets ai'e issued corresponding to 
this plan, which has proved eminently successful, and has 
given much satisfaction. All are accommodated, ami all are 
pleased. It should be added, that the ticket admits only ; 
once. Should a visitor go out, he cannot return without 
making a fresh payment. A few police-officers attend to j 
prevent disorder; and a brass band from a neighbouring 
village plays outside during the exhibition. ; 
The committee of management, which meets once a ' 
month, determines on the objects of competition and prizes I 
to be allotted. Prospectuses containing all requisite lists I 
and particulars are issued and distributed gratuitously, from ! 
six to nine months previous to the exhibitions. In these 
prospectuses there appear not only the lists of prizes of the 
society, but lists of special prizes oflered by private indivi¬ 
duals. Such prizes are usually of larger amount than those 
of the society, and in many instances apply to only one or 
two parishes. AV'e may bo allowed to quote two or three 
from the list of 18,5:1:— 
“Anne Lady Hay, for the best kept Cottage Door, and 
ornamented with flowers, in the Burgh of Peebles, including 
Tweedbridge-end, 7s.—for the second best, 5s. There must 
be at least three competitors for this prize. 
