March 0. 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENER. 
feet high, and may be either of wood or iron, as taste 
and other circumstances dictate, 
j When a trellis does not margin a walk, it is usual to 
, plant a row of Currant or Gooseberry bushes instead; 
these, by being planted about five feet apart and three 
feet from the edging, will give scope for here and there a 
small low-flowering plant being introduced between ; but 
a much better flower-border will be formed by planting 
them further back, and allowing some three or four feet 
for a border for mixed plants. If this mode of planting 
. out small fruits be carried out to any extent, less space 
I will be wanted for those in the interior; but usually 
! their fruits occupy about one-sixth of the whole ground ; 
I and if a similar portion be devoted to Straicherries 
^ and Raspberries one-third of the ground will be fully 
; occupied. Mr. Errington has so often explained the 
! best mode of dealing with them, that any remarks 
’ here are superfluous. However, apart from these fruits, 
I there are other permanent vegetable crops requiring 
I attention, and foremost amongst them is Asparagus, 
■ which, by its importance, deserves one of the best 
' places in the garden; and the amateur would do well 
: to give it all the indulgence compatible with his 
I means. This crop may occupy something like one- 
: twelfth of the whole; and if to that we add a similar 
' space for Sett-kale, Rhubarb, Artichokes, and Horse¬ 
radish, then full one-half of the whole ground is occupied 
in permanent crops, leaving the other part for routine 
cropping in vegetables. Now, though we have stated 
the above proportions to be what we have in numerous 
instances seen, yet cases may arise in which a particular 
kind of vegetable or fruit may be more in demand than 
usual, when a greater breadth than is stated above may 
be planted accordingly; this, of course, must be deter¬ 
mined on the spot, as well as the relative position of 
j each; only we may advise that Sea-kale, Rhubarb, and 
Horse-radish, be planted on some outside place, if there 
be such, as they arc generally disorderly crops at one 
time of the year or other. 
In the disposal of the other croppitig the amateur 
will have little difiiculty, because the arrangement of 
the permanent things determine the features of the 
garden, and renders the others mere subsidiary objects ; 
but some little care ought to be taken to apportion to 
each that amount of space, and no more, which its 
importance deserves ; and if to that we add that Onions 
and Celery ought to have the best places. Herbs and 
winter crops the driest, and summer Lettuce and Cauli¬ 
flower the dampest, we have given a brief outline to 
our meaning, and enabled the cultivator to crop accord¬ 
ingly. Of the treatment which each ouglit to have we 
shall say a something hereafter; in the meantime, the 
( preparation of the ground for cropping, with the other 
routine work, will afford him plenty to do for some time 
to come; but the difficulties in the way of his succeeding 
j in the culture of most of our common fruits and vege¬ 
tables is much increased or diminished in proportion as 
the wants or taste of the party may determine. 
The above notes will, in a measure, reach the in¬ 
quiries of a correspondent, “ R. H. G.,” who has lately 
come into possession of an old neglected garden, but 
which, he says, contains many good natural points; and 
as he purposes going rather spiritedly to work, we advise 
, him to obtain his fruit-trees, &c., from some respectable 
nurseryman, rather than incur the trouble and loss of 
time in grafting them; but, if he prefers the latter course, 
from a wish to gratify a laudable curiosity, he may ob¬ 
tain his stocks from a nurseiyman, who will also in¬ 
form him what kinds are best fitted for the district he 
resides in. This remark bears more especially on fruits, 
for each locality has its own peculiar kinds, while 
others do not always flourish there. Witness the fine 
samples of Hawthorden Apples that are seen in Covent 
Garden Market early in the autumn, which we know some 
425 I 
of the best apple-growing districts will not produce ; but * 
there are spots which do ; while it would be vain in 
the midland counties fruit-grower competing with the 
Kentish one in the growth of Filberts, although the 
former may, as we have seen, heat in the matter of the 
common kitchen Apples. Now, our correspondent 
cannot do better than take a leaf out of the book of 
his neighbours, and select his common fruits from 
amongst the best of those which the experience of 
others has proved best adapted to the neighbourhood. 
Vegetables are, to a certain extent, subject to the same ' 
rule, in regard to the soil suiting certain things better than 
it does others, but the varieties of each kind had better 
be changed betimes; this, however, is an easy matter, 
and, in fact, is often done without the will of the 
cultivator, by having seeds from a distance ; but 
as we jiropose to give a list of the best kinds of vege¬ 
tables, we only urge on our correspondent to prepare his 
ground in the best possible manner, and, in so doing, i 
not to disdain taking the advice of the labourer who j 
does it; for be assured that, although he may be a ' 
stranger to the alphabet, yet his knowledge of the capa- j 
bilities of the soil, and the best way and time to work 
it, will place his opinion, and still more his practice 
(prejudiced as they both may be), in a higher position 
than that of the most eminent horticultural chemist of 
the day, in so far as regards the cultivation of produce 
common to the district wherein he lives. But more of 
this anon. J. Robson. 
POULTRY PRIZES OE OUR AGRICULTURAL 
SOCIETIES. 
The Royal Agricultural Society of England has appro¬ 
priated illOO for poultry prizes at its ensuing Gloucester 
meeting. The central position of that city, in the vicinity of 
Cheltenham, and within an easy distance of Birmingham, 
will probably bring together a large collection of fowls. We 
trust, therefore, that very careful consideration may be 
given to the system and classificatioit on which the awards 
may be assigned. 
Whatever may be said in anticipation of the, Glou¬ 
cester meeting, will equally apply to that of the South 
Western Counties Agricultural Association, which is 
announced for Plymouth. 
On both these occasions, poultry will be exhibited as an 
adjunct,—as a class not contemplated at the outset of the 
Societies. We should be prepared, therefore, for some 
difficulties, but may fairly expect that every etfort will be 
made to smooth them away by the avoidance of that 
confusion in tlie arrangement which proved so detrimental 
to success, both at Lewes and Taunton, in the past year. 
All who from any motives are interested in poultry- 
matters, must feel obliged to these influential bodies for the 
patronage they have thus extended to the feathered in¬ 
mates of our farm-yard. 
So long as the principle of strictly maintaining the utili¬ 
tarian characters of all poultry exhibitions is fully acted on, it 
will ensure public support. And though the time will come, 
the sooner, perhaps, the better, when extraordinary prices 
will be no longer realised, it will have happened from the 
fact that flrst-rate birds of the different breeds, have been 
widely disseminated ; and have passed from the possession 
of the few to that of the many. The supply, in fact, will 
then equal the demand. 
Some time, however, must elapse before this happens, 
and we have no fears, that whoever may now determine on 
becoming the owner of a good stock to commence with, 
paying for them accordingly, and looking to eggs or chickens 
for the partial repayment of his capital, will, as yet, suffer 
by his investment. 
Poultry shows have done, and will still do good service, 
both to exhibitors and the public generally. The fonner 
have been thereby encouraged in their efforts to obtain the 
best and purest breeds, and the opportunity of comparison, 
and the introduction of the best strains of fresh blood has 
also been thus afforded them. 
