118 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
November 20 . 
freshened appearance to the ground. We need hardly 
say that great care ought to be taken in selecting the 
seed the medium sized—those a little below that are 
generally used; and if the kind be a large free-growing 
one, do not pinch them for room, and we have no doubt 
but you will be rewarded. We have adopted the above 
plan early in spring in years gone by, with the best 
success, even onground too tenacious to be dug by any¬ 
thing but the fork; in fact, it is ground of this descrip¬ 
tion that benefits so much by so extensive a surface ex¬ 
posed to the action of the atmosphere, but all soils 
derive a benefit by it. 
Beans.— Where these are wanted early it is now full 
time to sow them. Many people plant them at once 
where they are to remain, and we see no reason for 
objecting to that plan ; but as it sometimes happens that 
the boi-der or square we intend for them is under crop, 
we content ourselves by sowing a quantity of seed, very 
thick, on a nice piece of soil, in some sheltered corner, 
and put hand-lights over them. They come up, and 
grow away very well in such a place, and bear trans¬ 
planting in February pretty well; besides the Lettuce, 
Endive, or other crop that occupied their intended site 
is gone then, and when treated so we have found them 
come in quite as early as those sown where they are to 
stand. Beans, like Peas, do not endure a hard winter, 
when they are of a large size—they become what is 
termed “ black-in-the-leg,” and often wither and die off. 
The old Mazagan is the best for winter use, but there 
are some newer kinds said to be larger, and equally 
hardy. One we have seen, called “ Marshall’s Dwarf 
Prolific,” which seemed a good, useful Beau, but we 
have not tried it. 
Rhubarb must at once be got ready to force if not 
done before, but this vegetable, like Sea-kale, is very 
unwilling to start before Christmas, unless it be taken 
up and put in some warm place. For that purpose it is 
very accommodating, and we have seen it do very well in 
a corner of the stock-hole near to the fire, but, of course, 
it would be finer if better treated. At all events we 
advise our amateur friends to try some other way than 
forcing it in the ground until after the turn of the year. 
We have sometimes taken up old plants with balls 
almost a barrow-load each, and planted them on the 
store-heap of leaves, adding some more soil, and cover¬ 
ing them up with litter for a time. The steady, gentle 
heat of the leaves soon reaches them, and they grow 
away steadily and well, when we remove the litter, and 
place a frame over them, and we soon have abundance 
of excellent Rhubarb of better flavour than when 
blanched with dung; while we have often been disap¬ 
pointed in endeavouring to force it in the open ground 
! in the early part of the season—later on, it does very 
well so, and perhaps produces more than by lifting up. 
Chicory. —A few roots of this may be put in a tub or 
box, and placed in some dark cellar, or other suitable 
place, but the light should not be so entirely excluded 
here as with Sea-kale, as the vitality of the plant will 
not be a match for the decaying influences by which it 
is surrounded, and consequently the leaves or shoots 
will damp off' at the points ; but it must not have too 
much light, otherwise it will be too bitter for use. In 
very severe winters this salad is in great demand, but on 
ordinary occasions it is less thought of than Lettuce 
and Endive, to which it is allied. 
Sunbries. —Make good all defects in plantations of 
Callage, Cauliflower, Lettuce, &c., and cut Brocoli as it 
arrives at perfection. Examine the stores of Potatoes, 
Onions, Carrots, &c., and if green Mint be wanted at 
Christmas, let some good, healthy plants be taken up, 
potted, and set in some warm place. Take up a 
quantity of Jerusalem Artichokes for present supply, in 
case of hard weather, but the great bulk had better 
remain in the ground till February. Partially cover 
with litter the stems of Globe Artichokes all around, 
leaving the centre open. This season the dry weather 
in September ripened them off, so that nothing but very 
young shoots was left. Keep a watchful eye over the 
last sown Lettuce and Cauliflower, and let neatness and 
order prevail everywhere. J. R. 
MISCELLANEOUS INEOBMATION. 
OUR VILLAGERS. 
By the Authoress of “ My Flowers," <tc. 
I am now going to amuse, and I hope, instruct my 
younger readers, by giving them a sketch from the life of 
a young person, which will show them how Sturdy and 
irresistible is truth under every difficulty, how surely it 
stands upright, whatever may seem against it, and how 
certainly it will be brought to light in God's good time. 
Children, and some even of larger growth, are often led to 
tell untruths to screen themselves from blame—they are 
frightened at what they have done, and are more in dread 
of the angry word or blow from man, than of the wrath and 
X>unishment of God. This causes them to lose their cha¬ 
racter for truth, and no one of course can trust their word 
again; so that when they are really speaking honest truth, 
no one can or dares believe them, and part of the suffering 
caused by sin begins. 
James J-is the son of highly respectable parents in 
humble file. His father began the world as helper in a 
gaixlen and stable; but his steadiness raised him by degrees 
to the. situation of in-door servant, and he has continued 
ever since in the same family—the trusty right-hand man 
of the lady with whom he has lived from his youth. His 
spare time is devoted to the culture of flowers, although he 
is confined to the slip of ground behind the house in which 
his mistress now resides; but his fondness for them is such, 
that it overcomes every disadvantage, and the choice and 
beautiful plants he blooms, prove how much maybe done by 
energy and perseverance. 
When James was a little fellow of about ten years old, his 
mother heard of a place she thought he could fill, in a 
family where fie would be watched and cared for. It was to 
carry a letter bag, clean knives and shoes, and do as he was 
bid:—he would be at home in the evenings, and she would 1 
see how her child was going on. He made his first appear¬ 
ance in a brown pinafore, a cap and tassel, and a very nice, 
open-looking child he was. He was a quiet, steady little 
fellow, and went on very well, of course needing frequent 
reproof and correction, but always speaking the truth, and 
seeming anxious to do all he could to please. 
He had been two or three years in this place, when an 
event occurred to him, which proved of great consequence, 
as it confirmed the good opinion entertained of him, and 
showed him very plainly, young as he was, that when we do 
right, we are sure to be cleared, sooner or later, even in the 
eyes of men. A mysterious death took place among some 
ducks: one of them died without any apparent reason. It 
was in good condition, had shown no symptom of disease, 
in fact it had been in perfect health, until one unhappy day 
it was found in the stable dead. Inquiries were set on foot, 
no one knew anything of it, no one had touched the duck, 
or noticed anything about it. The eyes of one or two of the i 
household turned suspiciously upon little James. He might 1 
have done the deed. The bright tears coursed down his j 
cheeks as he earnestly protested his innocence; but things 
went against him. His mistress stood up for him, because j 
he had never been known to tell a fie. Think, my young i 
readers, what a protection it was to little James, that he had 
never been known to tell a fie ! Still, he had up-hill work, j 
because the ducks were somewhat under his charge; and j 
i 
