THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
05 
October 24. 
j 
and acting well; it now becomes necessary to inquire 
what is best to be clone with vacant ground over them, 
which wo will suppose to consist of a strong, loamy soil, 
of medium depth, resting on a clay, which, before the 
drainage was effected, might be described as of the 
stiffest and most impervious character. Such soils aro 
not only common, but, In many instances, useful and 
| good, and are probably the widest spread of any descrip¬ 
tion we have, and very likely comprise a greater area 
of the surface of the country than any other; of course, 
it is needless to say, they modify themselves so as to 
gradually merge into those of other kinds ; but we will 
suppose the one we have to deal with to he one of the 
extreme kind, where, some years ago, it was not unusual 
to see water stand on the top for weeks together, in 
mid-winter, in every hole that would contain it. In such 
a soil, it is needless to say, that drainage and judicious 
cultivation are the first steps to improvement; the 
drainage part we will suppose to be already done, and 
the ground to have derived considerable advantage from 
that, and likewise from the tillage the ground has under¬ 
gone since these arteries for its surplus fluids were laid 
down; for, he it remembered, the effects of drainage on 
such soil is not altogether immediate ; on the contrary, 
it is progressive: hence the necessity of keeping the 
drains in order. Now, as this has been alluded to, it 
is needless saying further than that some little exami- 
; nation ought to take place wheu any large breadth of 
ground is vacant, to ascertain if any more drains be 
wauted, and if so, to put them in at once. However, to 
the cultivation;—aud here, I must say, that it is only by 
repeated efforts, aided by time, and the application of 
materials calculated to mend such soils, that we can 
really hope for any radical change. 
As we have all seen a brickmaker turn his clay-heap 
over repeatedly in winter, and that with a view to 
strengthen its tenacity, it is evident we ought not to 
subject a piece of stiff land to the same ordeal; yet, by 
varying the mode in which the operation is done, it may 
be effected in much about the same time; only, as the 
brickmaker turns his material when in the wettest pos¬ 
sible state, aud does it with a view to allow all the rain, 
&c., to enter it, land for cultural purposes ought to 
be operated upon in exactly the reverse circumstances; 
then, when it is advisable to stir it, the driest possible 
period ought to be adopted for that purpose, and, in 
some case, that might be delayed until spring, when 
there is reason to believe that it will be subjected to 
heavy and deluging rains. Many farmers in the northern 
counties do not plough their fallows until spring, and 
find it most advantageous to do so ; for the soddening 
effects of continuous rain more than neutralize the good 
effects that the frost and other changes of weather are 
likely to have on it. This, of course, refers to such soils 
as are inefficiently drained; yet, however well the 
drainage operation may be done, it is some time ere 
its effects tell much on ground of so extremely tenacious 
a character as some are; hence the propriety of some¬ 
times having a piece of ground in a very stiff soil 
undug until spring, unless you are certain that there is 
a certainty of the water passing through the soil, and 
running off rather than remaining in it. 
Supposing, however, that the drainage be perfect, 
and to have been in use some years, so that an 
increased depth of tillage has been accomplished, then 
the ground may bo dug with advantage, and if it 
be not cropped until spring, I would say, let it be 
dug very deep too, or it might, in fact, be partially 
trenched, by turning up some of the bottom soil, and 
allowing it to remain at bottom again. This bottom 
( substance, doubtless, will consist mostly of clay, or 
other matters of that kind; nevertheless, a little of 
that disturbed will do no harm, but good, especially if 
j anything can be added to it that will prevent its running 
into a compact and impenetrable mass again. Mortar- 
rubbisli, rough, soft-stone shatter, as the chippings 
from a stone-mason’s-yard, coal-ashes, or lime, are all 
good agents that way ; plain sand has not such a good 
effect, unless used in such large quantities as makes it 
a matter of great expenso to procure it. In addition to 
these things, brick-rubbish, or any other refuse of the 
kind, might be used; or, which would be better still, 
“ burnt clay,” of which I will say something hereafter. 
In fact, anything that will form an opposing medium to 
the different portions of the cluyey mass uniting again 
will do, and such materials are more plentiful than is 
generally supposed; for I have had saw dust, and the 
half-decayed chips, and other refuse from a carpenter’s 
or sawyer’s-yard, dug in with good effect; for though 
these things may not be so durable as some others, yet 
then- resisting the union of the tenacious mass enables 
the air, and probably the roots of the crop, to exercise a 
salutary influence, so that, with the advantages which 
draining affords, it is likely an important change will 
have taken place in the sub-soil. J. Robson. 
THE EMIGRANT. 
By the Authoress of “ My Flowers." 
(Continued from paye 20.) 
In describing the history and characters of men, it is 
right to be watchful over ourselves—not to suffer our own 
opinions or views to make us lean too strongly one way, and 
too lightly the other. There is such a wonderful mixing-up 
of good and bad in every tiling connected with human 
nature, that we must be very careful to pick out and sepa¬ 
rate the one from the other, and deal in the whole matter as 
i faithfully and impartially as we can. There is something 
holy and beautiful in the feelings that prompted John 
Henry to undertake emigration, though the step was one 
which brought no blessing and ended unhappily. How 
difficult is it even for a confirmed believer to walk cir¬ 
cumspectly and scripturally ! How difficult is it to our dim 
perceptions to distinguish between right and wrong in 
many cases! This should lead us to be very cautious in 
condemning others, for that we ourselves are too often to 
be condemned. 
Mr. Johnston says: “ It will be remembered* that for 
some time after I became acquainted with him he had 
made a fruitless effort to qualify himself for the office of 
schoolmaster; having failed in the attempt, ho felt the dis¬ 
appointment bitterly, particularly as his father had incurred 
expense; the idea that money had been expended upon 
him to no purpose affected and distressed him over much. 
After some reflection, and prayer, and consultation with 
myself and other friends, ho determined he would no longer 
, remain at home, but endeavour, by his own exertions abroad, 
to refund the money which had been spent upon his educa¬ 
tion. With this object in view, he joined the party of 
emigrants before-mentioned, who were about to leave his 
own neighbourhood for Australia. In doing so, his highest 
ambition was to repay his father the expense he had en¬ 
tailed upon him when at school. He had none of those 
golden dreams of amassing wealth, or making a large for- 
I tune, wluch fills the minds of the most of men who seek a 
home in distant countries. The utmost he looked for was 
a moderate independence, neither poverty nor riches, simply 
food and raiment, and having these, he would have been 
therewith content. He had learned the truth so happily 
expressed by Goldsmith— 
“ Man wants but little here below, 
Nor wants that little long.” 
That little, so far as God saw fit to give, was all that he 
sought for or expected. No one that knew him could fail 
to perceive that his treasure was not upon earth. Jesus 
was to him the pearl of great price, and he well knew that 
he was already rich in Him. His emigration was, there¬ 
fore, undertaken, not to acquire worldly riches, but merely to 
find a field of honest industry, in which he could obtain 
adequate remuneration.” 
