December 4. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
153 
exposed situations suit them better earlier in the season; 
and should that month prove a very dry one, he will, 
probably, want some of his late Brocolis, and such 
things sown here; but, in a usual way, Lettuces can 
be grown in some more exposed place until later in the 
j season. In fact, no particular directions can be given as 
to the precise period in which the crops here ought to 
be put in, as everything depends on the season,—a dull, 
, moist one making the north border less useful than 
j other portions of the garden; but there generally is a 
period of dry weather at some time or other, in which 
I its utility becomes manifest. We may say, we have 
often planted Lettuce here, with every success, when 
I the same kinds ran immediately to seed in other parts 
1 of the garden; and we have also grown French Beans, 
late Peas, &c., as well; but usually we have not been 
able to find room for these things here, and with good 
culture, they may be made to succeed tolerably well 
elsewhere, which some of the things mentioned above 
will not. We have also, at times, prepared a bed, and 
pricked out our Celery plants prior to planting out in 
i the ridges. The uses of a north border, then, are so 
manifold, as to make it one of those interesting plots 
we would be very sorry to be without. We need hardly 
add, that what we mean by a north border, is that slip 
of ground immediately behind a wall running east and 
west, or the north side of a range of buildings running 
in the same direction, where the crop may be partially 
shaded from hot sunshine. 
Sundries. — As we have already had more severe 
weather in November than for some years past, we 
must impress on our readers the necessity of being 
prepared for it, by always having a supply of such roots 
and vegetables in store, as is wanted for daily consump¬ 
tion. Turnips, Jerusalem Artichokes, and Parsnips 
might be kept very well, in any cool shed, for several 
days; and so might Horse-radish and Celery; the latter 
ought, however, to be laid in an upright position 
amongst sand. Brocoli might be cut and hung up, 
crown downwards; and if Lettuces are taken up with 
a little ball of earth, they will keep a long time good 
amongst nothing but sand. These, and some other 
preparations, ought all to be made prior to severe 
weather setting in, for we must not wait until it has 
done so, and then regret the delay. Beds of Lettuce 
will also require their protection thrown over them; 
and the same may be said of Cauliflowers, and other 
things. Parsley that was potted some time ago must 
now be put into some place where it is likely to grow 
slowly and gradually. Mint and Tarragon may be 
hurried a little more if they are wanted at Christmas; 
and take especial care of Cucumbers, which, at this 
period, demaud particular attention; and do not by 
any means allow them to have too many fruit on at 
this season, when they are denied one of that most 
necessary concomitants to successful culture — “sun¬ 
shine.” Keep the Vine also tolerably thin, and do not 
allow anything else in the same department with them, 
or disease will be engendered. The same may be said 
of French Beans ; but the latter is more especially liable 
to shanking off,—one of the best antidotes to which, is 
liberal dusting with charcoal dust; a little more seed 
may be sown rather thickly in a pan, and remember, in 
forcing, to use only the very best-ripened seed,—large 
as this seed is, it is, perhaps, less able to support the 
infant plant in its first efforts to grow, than most other 
seeds of tiny dimensions. Attend to Asparagus in the 
course of forcing; see that it has not too much heat at 
first, otherwise it will come small and ill-flavoured; a 
little more may be taken up and put in heat,—gentle, 
at first if it can be so,—and afterwards, as it advances, 
more air or light may be given to it to improve its fla¬ 
vour. Sea-kale attend to as before; and all routine 
work may be proceeded with as weather and other 
circumstances suggest. 
J. R. 
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
OUR VILLAGERS. 
By the Authoress of 
One of the most hardworking, honest men in our village, 
has just been called to his rest, and it may be a lesson to 
others to hear a little about his simple life ; for an honest 
man is an example to all, whether clothed in purple and 
fine linen, or in the homely garments of the poor. 
George M-had worked upon a nobleman’s property 
for six-and-twenty years. He was what is called a hedge- 
carpenter, and had charge of all the park palings, fences, 
gates, &e., on the estate. His wife had been dead almost as 
long as his connection with Lord C-’s property, but he 
clave with the affection of a son to her old mother, with 
whom he lived ever after, and was wholly her prop and stay. 
His habits of activity were so natural to him that he seemed 
only happy when busy in his daily work, and his cheerful, 
contented face spoke volumes for his inward happiness. 
Every morning at four o’clock was he up and off to the 
park, a distance of three or four miles, and his work some¬ 
times lay at a still greater distance from his home. We 
often used to meet him on summer evenings, plodding home 
through the dust, with his basket of tools on his back, and 
his poor legs scarcely able to endure the weight of the 
great, heavy boots worn by the labouring classes; but 
neither summer heat, or winter wet and cold, stopped this 
industrious creature as long as work was to be done. 
He was a cottage gardener too. He had his allotment, 
which was one of the best and neatest, and after working 
hours, down he went, boots and all, to till his dear bit 
i of ground; there was no hour of the day in which George 
M-was idle. 
Of late years, however, he was a good deal tried by 
untoward times. The workpeople employed on the estate 
“ My Flowers ,” &c. 
were almost all of them discharged, and although George 
was never put off entirely, yet he worked fewer and fewer 
days in the week as years passed on ; and work being scarce 
in the neighbourhood, he could not employ his spare time 
as he wished to do. He was a man to be fully trusted, and 
this was a means of blessing to him, for in the winter he could 
always be allowed to grub up roots in the garden and other 
places where men of only indifferent character could not be 
permitted to go, and it will be long before such another will 
be found to fill his place. He also begged for more land to 
keep his hands employed, and never did any slave labour 
more than he did to do his duty by the land, and pay his 
rent. Every one spoke well of him; he meddled with no 
one’s affairs but his own, and, being a man of few words, no 
one could take offence at him. 
At length he was attacked with sickness, and often laid by 
for days on the bed of acute agony. His groans and cries 
could be heard into the street, but they were not murmur- 
ings or impatience; he bore all with the most enduring 
resignation, and not a complaint, I believe, arose in his 
heart. The moment he found relief he was again on foot, 
and at his land; but every attack left him weaker and 
weaker, and we marked, with sorrow, that poor George was 
evidently getting past his work. His mother-in-law, an 
active creature at the age of eighty-eight, watched over him 
tenderly, and shed tears as his strength decayed, but he was 
gone when no one expected it, and she was suddenly left 
lamenting. He was ill for only two or three days at last, 
and by no means in such extreme suffering as he had been 
before. 
On Wednesday he attended the week-day prayers, at 
