December 18. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
181 
this out of all proportion, we -will tell them we always ’ 
found the Brussels Sprouts to be the most useful por¬ 
tion of our winter produce. In such situations it is ! 
absolutely necessary to get them as early as possible; 
for that purpose sow under a south wall or vine border, 
or it might be under glass, as early in the spring as 
there is any chance of trusting seed in the ground, with 
a probability of its growing ; aud we have seen Brussels 
Sprouts, Curled Kale, and Savoys, all sown in the 
August of the preceding year without their running to 
seed—so much for the difference of climate aud other 
things. And to those who feel afraid of trying this 
early system, we may say, that if the young plants do 
not run to seed in the June following, they are not 
likely to do so at any later period of the summer; and 
it must be remembered that June in such places an- 
i swers to May in others. It may be tolerably well 
known before they are planted out what prospect there 
is of their standing; we may add that the quality of the 
seed has a considerable influence that way, originating 
as they did in a class of plants properly annuals; it has 
been only by successful cultivation that a biennial 
constitution has been given them, and their disposition 
j to revert to the original is often seen in those specimens 
we are accustomed to call bastards ; but independent of 
those spurious plants we have in old seed a greater 
tendency to hasten the performance of those duties 
nature intended it to perform, which is, “ to ripen and 
scatter its seeds for a future progeny.” It is in accord¬ 
ance with this law that Balsam growers prefer old seed 
to new, the latter having a greater disposition to grow 
than flower, which disposition is necessary in the vege¬ 
table. 
A piece of ground open and made pretty rich suits 
Brussels Sprouts, and they ought never to be less 
than two feet apart each way; we need hardly add that 
frequent stirring of the ground is necessary to insure 
successful culture, which, however, must cease, when the 
plants cannot be got amongst 'without breaking their 
leaves. Occasional waterings with liquid manure will 
be of service; but, in a general way, if other things be 
favourable, they get large enough without such assist¬ 
ance ; and we have sometimes seen them assume a 
gross open habit, which we accounted for partly to the 
stimulants employed, as well as to the imperfect nature 
of the seeds. After they have become fairly established 
they require hut little after-assistance; and the habit 
we have seen some adopt of breaking off a great part of 
the leaves in autumn, in order to promote the growth 
of sprouts, is decidedly bad, being at variance with 
every recognised law of nature ; and we may add we have 
proved it to be so, by pulling off the leaves from a part of 
the plants and leaving others untouched. The latter 
were much finer a month afterwards, and all the winter. 
In cutting the sprouts, leave as much of the stalk as 
possible, as the next crop proceeds from the base of it. 
We need hardly add that in late places the plants ought 
to exhibit a fulness early in autumn, otherwise they 
will not be good that season. In favoured places, where 
growth scarcely ceases all winter, this need not be 
insisted on; hut where the bleak, chilly atmosphere, 
cold soil, and other things stop their progress, indepen¬ 
dent of the rigours of winter, it is advisable that they 
mature their growth in time. While, on the other hand, 
we have seen some of which the principal growth took 
place after the first of October; and even the present 
season, in which we have had an early winter, we saw 
some excellent Brussels Sprouts lately, which, at the 
time above-mentioned, hardly showed what they were. 
It is only in very severe winters that this vegetable is 
hurt by the frost—the memorable one of 1837 and 1838 
for instance; but when this vegetable suffers, the damage 
to other things is woeful. 
Sundries. —The changeable weather common at this 
season renders it advisable to take care of Cauliflower 
plants under protection, but they must not be entirely 
covered up; in fact, the less they are so the better, pro¬ 
vided they are secured on very frosty days and nights, 
but on all other occasions let them be fully exposed. 
But as w r e have been speaking of those inclement situa¬ 
tions, common in the north, we may add that Cabbage 
plants require nearly, if not quite, as much protection 
there, as Cauliflowers do in the south; and a very 
severe winter is equally fatal to them. We, therefore, 
urge on our readers the propriety of preserving such 
valuable crops, and all available protecting materials 
should be at once put in operation; and things homely, 
and even untidy, will present themselves as useful at a 
time when appearances are really of less moment than 
the future utility of the crop saved; and, in such places, 
pits covered with wooden shutters ought to be erected, 
to contain a mass of Broccoli, &c., which it is indis¬ 
pensable to house at this season; glass, doubtless, would 
be better, but the former will do. These ought to be 
taken up some dry day with balls, and be removed to 
this place of safety. It is hardly necessary to say that a 
certain amount of size is sacrificed were the season mild 
enough to allow them to be fully developed in the place 
they had been growing; yet the probabilities are, that 
no good whatever might be had of those expected to 
come in use in winter, pleads powerfully the use of some ! 
protection for them at that inclement season. The same '• 
care and attention to Cucumbers, French Beans, and other ! 
things under forcing, recommended in former Calendars, 
is still necessary, aud the general direction as to suiting ! 
the necessary work of the season to the weather is j 
equally applicable now as before. 
J. R, 
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
OUR VILLAGERS. 
By the Authoress of “ My Flowers,” &c. 
A contented mind is a blessing to its possessor, so much 
so, that next to the fear and love of God, it is most to be 
desired. It always accompanies godliness; a discontented 
Christian—I mean a real, vital Christian—cannot be. No 
man who fully puts his trust in the Lord can be dis¬ 
contented, because he knows and feels that the Hand which 
leads and works for him does all things well; and he would 
rather have God’s will performed towards him than his ov r n. 
His heart’s confession is, “ It is the Lord : let Him do what 
seemeth Him good.” 
William Hopkins is the most quiet, inoffensive old man 
possible. He is, I believe, so far as man can see into the 
heart, a sincere Christian, and he is quite a fit person to sit 
for the picture of contentment. He is old, but his bodily 
infirmities are beyond his age, and he is unable to do more 
than just creep about, go on little errands, and pick up 
sticks. He has been for many years suffering extreme 
privations, in fact his small parish allowance was not enough 
to obtain sufficient food, and pay his rent; and had he not 
had the precarious earnings of his daughter to look to, he 
must long ago have been an inmate of the dreaded Union 
Workhouse. He, and his daughter, and his grand-child, 
were obliged, at one time, to occupy a cottage with another 
old woman, whose very face prepossessed people against her, 
and this was a great trial to poor old Hopkins, because he 
was a man of peaceable habits, and could not bear unholy 
