370 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Eebruary 19. 
natnre, whether upon man, or those subjects from whence 
lie derives liis sustenance, Ave often find God’s hand merci¬ 
fully extended to rescue us from impending ruin, verifying 
the assertion of the poet, that 
“ Beneath a frowning Providence 
He hides a smiling face.” 
In this case, as in that of cholera, I believe it will tilti- 
mately prove a blessing instead of a curse, although, 
doubtless, there is a chastisement connected with it. Who 
can question but the latter will be the means of extensive 
sanitory improvements ? In like manner, who can deny 
but the otlier Avill, in the end, prove a benefactor, by 
stimulating us to greater exertion, and rewarding us with a 
J more abundant supply of food ?—which I will endeavour 
I presently to sIioav. I doubt not but there are numbers of 
your numerous readers wiio have arrived at the same con- 
' elusion as myself, consequently, Iheir mode of cultivation is 
in accordance v ith the suggestions of nature ; I beg to say 
it is not for these I write, but for those only who have failed 
to procure the desired return for their labour. It will be 
needless for me to repeat the statement of your coi’res- 
pondent, “B.;” suffice it to say, that it fully confirms my 
previous opinion, that the I’otato disease is caused by a 
riuctnating humid atmosphere, combined with certain local 
conditions : and as the disease shows decided symptoms of 
being cryptogamic, feeding upon the juices of the plant 
(as may be seen in other vegetable productions^, in pro- 
! portion as the above agents are favourable to its production, 
I shall we see corresponding results. The period of its com- 
i mencement is too well known to require repetition here; 
' but, as your correspondent vei:y justly observed, it generally 
commeiKies with sudden atmospheric changes, Avhich appear 
peculiarly favourable to its germination. 
Your correspondent asks, if the instance Avhich he gives 
Avas the pfle(!t of frost, or, in other w’ords, the producing 
agent. My opinion is, that it Avas not the effect of frost, but 
rather that there Avas the germ or productive agent at Avork 
previous to it, and the frost only assisted its development. 
Your correspondent also asks, if these facts do not point to 
a certain direction ? Decidedly they do ; and that direction 
is shoAvn in one AA'ord—“ early." Again ; if they do not 
appear to indicate a certain conclusion ? It is shoAvn by the 
same AA’ord—“ early.” Early plant and early rise, is a motto 
which indicates the i-estoration of the potato. 
I have previously stated that this disease, in all proba- 
j bility, Avill ultimately prove a blessing. Now, I Avill endea- 
, vour to lAroA'e in Avhat way this may be accomplished to a 
I certain extent. This valuable vegetable production is alike 
I valuable to rich and poor ; and as the latter are consumers, 
I so are they also producers ; and in order to enable them to 
I become so, in most rural districts there are cottage gardens, 
I which they are enabled to hire at a reasonable rent for the 
I cultivation of this and other vegetable productions, 
j Before proposing any plan for the improvement of these 
allotments, it will be necessary to take a brief siu’vey hoAV 
j they are generally cultivated, in too many instances, at least, 
i in Essex. I will commence with January and February. 
During these months scarcely anything is done. March 
: and April finds them all bustle and confusion in preparing 
! the ground for planting—indeed, if you can call it a pre¬ 
paration ; and, in the majority of cases, not dreaming of 
planting before the latter part of March and April; and if 
all is finished by May-day they imagine they have done 
Avell. Noaa’, this produces the very kind of vegetation, being 
; of a soft, RAicculent nature, the least capable of resisting the 
attacks of this fungus; consequently, Avhen disease takes 
place all remuneration for labour is gone. This stops all 
further exertion to repair the past; the ground is left the 
remainder of the year too often occupied by A\'eeds, pre- 
I senting an as])ect little inferior to an Australian Wild. I do 
not mean to aver there are no exceptions; but I do mean 
to say the above description predominates. Noav, v.'hat will 
remedy this eA’il? Why, nothing more than common sense 
will suggest, and what, as I before stated, I doubt not but 
)nany ot your numerous readers haA’e practised: at all 
events, if they' have not done so, they haA’e made bad use of 
The Cottage Gardener. The remedy, in my’ mind’s eye, 
is the following :—During the winter months embrace every 
opportunity to cidtivate the soil by manuring, digging, 
trenching, and othenvise exposing its surface to the action 
of the atmospheric elements. Have eA’ory thing in readiness ! 
for planting by the middle of February and beginning of 
March—the earlier the better, taking care to use early pro- 
(lactive varieties, as there are plenty of this description in 
the market. Continue the necessary routine of duties 
tOAA’ards them by surface-stirring, hoeing, moulding, Ac., 
until the middle of July, Avhen keejA a strict look-out for 
“ breakers a head.” At the very first indication of disease 
(Avhich may be easily distinguished from the ordinary in¬ 
juries received from Avind, Ac., by the peculiar blotchy 
appeai’ance), take up, if possible, if not, pull up or cut off 
the haulm. If the above plan has been adopted, by the end 
of July they’ Avill be approaching maturity; and if the 
disease shoAvs itself, no harm Avill ensue from the lifting. 
Before taking leave of this i)art of the sidiject, it may be 
desirable to state that it has been questioned, by some, if 
Potatoes taken up at that season or the early part of 
August are not impaired in quality. I beg to stale it is a 
practice I have followed dui'ing six years, .and have always 
found them keep as Avell as those taken Aip in September or 
October. I have some, at this present time, taken up the 
first week in August, quite as sound as others taken up in j 
October, Avith this difference—those lifted in August w'ere 
perfectly sound Avhen lifted, and have continued so; whilst 
of those lifted in October, nearly three-parts Avei'e unlit for 
table. The inference must be obvious to every impartnd 
investigator of the subject. 
But to return from this digression: after storing away 
the croyA, immediately fork or dig the ground; and having 
previously jAreiAared a plot of Cahbaye-jilaiits by soAving 
the seed in M.ay, plant a portion of the ground Avith these; 
SOAV another portion Avith the early intone Turnip, or kindred 
varieties. Small portions may also be sown Avith Spinach, 
Radish, and Onion, Avhich aauU be very acceptable, during 
autumn and Avinter, to a family. HaA’e tbe greater part of 
the ground cleai’ed during NovenAber and December, ready 
for iArep.aring for the ensuing crop, Avhich it Avill be w’ell to 
change, as far as practicable, every season, for the purpose 
of benefiting the soil by a proper routine of cropping. 
I Avill give an illustration by my own practice this season. 
The Rrnssels Spronts which noAV supply my employer’s 
table are groAvn on the same poi-tion of groinid from A\ hich, 
in August, I lifted a portion of my Potatoes, averaging 
about three bushels per rod. (I Aiiay mention here, that 
these I planted between the rows of Potatoes about a fort¬ 
night before they Avere lifted.) The Savoys I have been 
using have been treated in the same Avay. The Turnips I 
am using Avere soAvn upon Potato ground; and the Peas 
and Kidney Beans, Avhich suiAplied the saiAie table in • 
October and November, Avere groAvn upon the same soil 
from Avhich 1 took my Ash-leal' and Walnutdeaf Potatoes, 
Avhich are in daily use uoav. 
Here is nothing extraordinary—no more than has been 
accomplished by others as Avell as myself, and can be accom- , 
plished again ; the only wonder is that it is not more gene¬ 
rally adopted. As it is natural for the poor to look to their 
supeiiors for instruction in the Avay to progress, I think it is 
the imperative duty of those, who have IvIaoaa ledge to impart 
it to their less instructed and poorer brethi’en; and as our 
Agricultural Societies are doing much to raise the labouring , 
classes in society, I also thiidv they Avould do Avell to encou¬ 
rage the proper management of cottage allotments. I am 
aAvare the subject is not exhausted by the pi'eceding brief 
observations ; but I ti ust there are others of your I’eaders 
Avho Avill circulate their experience through the medium of 
The Cottage Gardener; as I am sure anything that may 
throAV light upon so important a matter Avill be appreciated 
by the public. In the AAieantime, if Avhat has here been 
stated is Avorthy of notice, it is at your service.— S. Arney, 
Satiny Grove. 
P.S.—“B.’s” observations respecting the Fluke Kidney 
apply precisely to my oavu case. They are the worst I have 
this season. I fear their late growth Avill ahvays render 
them liable to the disease, notwithstanding what has been 
said to the contrai’y. 
