October 31. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
83 
ground ; their heating contrivance consists of tho more 
refined materials of iron and water, heated by fuel of 
some sort, and arranged in the most approved mechanical 
order. Coupled with this, there may, perhaps, he an 
objection to see the ground covered a yard deep with 
leaves, or other heating material, at a place so near tho 
dressed premises, as some who have hut limited holdings 
must necessarily make it to ho. With them, a structure 
capable of forcing this and other things would seem 
to ho of the utmost importance, and if it bo well arranged 
1 do not see any fear of its acting badly; hut in most 
rural districts, where tree leaves are to ho had in abund¬ 
ance, and their collecting forming, as it does, an im¬ 
portant affair in the general appearance of the place, it 
is quite as well to uso them to some purpose or other, 
! and tho gontle heat they supply is just tho thing for 
Sea-kale. The operation is well known, hut where not, 
we may say that the old leaves of the plant being cleared 
away, and a few inches of the top earth (but not so deep 
as to reach any roots), coal-ashes are brought and laid 
around each, over which is placed the Sea-kale pot, or 
box; the .former being generally of ajar shape, but that 
is not necessary. A sufficient quantity for the first crop 
being so covered up, and the lids to tho pots being put 
on the ground, is covered over with leaves about two- 
and-a-half feet deep, perhaps more, if they bo very light, 
taking care that the mass extends to tho outside of all 
the pots, as well as regularly betwoen them; tho whole 
being covered over, tops of pots and all, so as to resemble 
a dunghill set up to measure. A small stick may be 
thrust in over the top of each pot, or box, as the work 
proceeds, which will enable the gatherer to find them 
without trouble when ho comes to look them over. A 
larger stick may also be thrust in the mass to try tho 
heat by, and if the piece covered in forms a part of the 
whole, care must bo taken not to injure the crowns of 
adjoining plants, which will bo, perhaps, under tho edge 
of your covering heap ; a stick thrust down at oach will 
point out where they are, but covering with empty pots 
would bo better. 
In conclusion, I beg to say, that where it can bo dono, 
plants grown from seed one year, and arriving at tho 
size of something like good Carrots, form excellent 
plants for taking up for forcing, and, for the first crop, 
are the most suitable, because there is more risk in tho 
first crop on the ground than in the after ones. It would 
bo better, therefore, to sow a little seed every spring, 
and in taking the seedlings up, be careful to do them as 
little injury as possible; for though tho much mutilated 
root would probably produce a good head of Sea-kale in 
March, if the forcing operation were left to that timo, it 
will not do so in December, for in the latter case it has 
to subsist mostly on the substance stored away in itself, 
which ought not, therefore, to bo diminished, while in 
the spring season it receives much support from 
those natural sources to which all vegetation owe their 
existence J. Robson. 
ALLOTMENT FARMING.— November. 
Whilst the direful war is pending—“ tho shaking of the 
nations,”—how happy and thankful should the industrious 
British labourer feel, to think that others are fighting his 
battles, in order that he may “ sit under his own Vine and 
his own Fig-tree.” Verily, his condition is indeed altered, as 
compared with his forefathers : famine, so terrible in former 
days, now unknown; and instead of the dark and heavy 
Rye-bread of his ancestors, ho enjoys the finost Hour of 
Wheat. Let us hope that these precious realities may lead 
constantly to grateful feelings to Almighty God, who has 
thus graciously ordained the progression of the human race. 
But a thankfulness which has a tendency to end in supine¬ 
ness or listlessness, is neither befiling the aspects of the 
times, nor that progression which is one of tiro prime 
features of a state of civilisation, and which, indeed, a man’s 
own family has a just right to expect from him. 
Let not, then, the declining year discourage the labourer, 
or induce him to “ settle on his lees.” Britons have long 
been noted for pluck on the battle-field; let us hear tell of 
abundant pluck in other fields—aye, and in gardens too. 
Turn we now to the business of the closing year as 
concerns our allotment friends. It is scarcely necessary 
to observe, that the cultural business of the year has passed, 
and that, henceforth, the object must bo to secure, in a 
proper way, the objects of culture, and to seize every 
opportunity for carrying out whatever improvements can be 
effected, with a view to progress in the coming year. 
I remarked a good deal, in my advice for October, on the 
principal root crops, such as Mangold, Swedes, Carrots, 
Parsnips, common Turnips, &c. However, as a good tale, 
according to a great novelist, is none tho worse for being 
twice told, I will just glance again at them. 
Swedes. —Whatever tops remain uncut should now be 
worked up; if there is a cow, she will consume tho foliage ; 
and if, as is sometimes the case, some have run, or bolted, 
as it is termed, they will do well to boil with the pig-food. 
The roots had then better be taken up at once, and, as they 
are very hardy, they may be thrown in a heap, in a shady 
situation, and be covered witli a little long litter. The 
ground, wherever they are placed, should bo high and dry— 
a slight incline is best, so that no water can lie beneath 
them. 
Mangold Wurtzel must, of course, be got in at the very 
bogiuning of the month. This is rather tender; the tops, 
of course, to be used up by the cow or pig. Mangold is best 
stored in doors, and it should be housed in a dry state. If 
out-of doors, it must be well protected; tho best plan is to 
slightly thatch it, or, at least, that portion required for late 
spring use. 
Parsnips may remain in the ground, unless wanted for 
immediate use; no protection is required for these. Our 
practice, however, is to spread tho manure required for the 
succeeding crop over their crowns ; this will keep out much 
frost, and enable the owner to dig them out with ease in 
the hardest of weather. 
Carrots, of course, will be secured immediately. I have 
before observed, that they keep exceedingly well if cut into 
the quick; that is to say, if that portion of the crown 
be cut away entirely which contains the sprouting parts. 
Carrots will keep well covered with sand or ashes ; the roots 
piled in a mound, or ridge, on high and dry ground, and then 1 
thatched or well covered with litter; or they will keep well 
in any cool cellar or out-house, if slightly damp ; and here j 
it may suffice to throw an old rug or cloth over them, j 
always keeping them dark. If any are diseased, or infested | 
with the grub, they should be first picked out, and placed 
for present use. Indeed, we may say the same of all roots, 
for the mortification, or rot, in roots, spreads with facility 
when the roots are stored away, especially if they ferment in 
any degree. 
Potatoes. —Although much loss has accrued amongst 
growers in these parts since the disease set in, yet, on 
the whole, it bears no comparison to former years. They, 
however, require a good deal of picking over. I have picked 
some of mine twice, and I think I may report as little loss 
as any one—perhaps, about five per cent. As for my seed 
Potatoes, with tho exception of the York Regents, I am not 
aware of the least disease; indeed, it hardly could be so, for 
they were all taken up before any disease appeared, being 
grown very early, and specially for seed. My Ash-leaved 
Kidneys, Radicals, Flukes, &c., are nearly as firm as a knot 
of a tree, and covered with a sound-looking, bronzy-green 
tint—at once the mark of hardihood, good keeping, strong 
sprouting, and perfect freedom from disease. There seems 
something in this colouring that defies the propagation of 
the disease, for the picker need not trouble his head with 
these when examining his stock; and those which are dis¬ 
posed to disease never seem to acqiure tho same tint or 
colour. Some persons of whom I have heard, who have 
suffered their Potatoes to remain in the ground after being 
ripe, to avoid labor in picking, liavo undergone serious 
losses. Of course, none of our allotment readers have 
Potatoes in the ground now; if they have, let them not lose 
a day in removing them, and spreading them over some 
