November 28. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
165 
something that it is most in need of—something that 
the preceding crop has robbed it of—or something better 
than what it consists of; to both of these purposes the 
compost-heap offers many advantages. 
In preparing tho heap of rougher materials, recourse 
may bo had to charring, or burning, which is not only 
tho quickest and readiest way, but probably tho best for 
getting rid of a quantity of matter not by any means an 
agreeable object to look upon. Burning into ashes is 
tho most general way; and as there is often matter added 
of a kind which it would be impossible to stop combus¬ 
tion at the exact plan called “ charring,” it is better and 
more easily done to add such neutral matters as benefit 
by the action of the fire, and incrcaso the quantity of j 
ashes, clay, or earthy matters, as well as roots and various 
other odds and ends, will present themselves; so that tho 
heap, while in action, will bo kept burning sundry mat¬ 
ters at once, differing from each other in their combus- 
tive qualities, but all tending to incroase the heap of 
useful matter which composes the residuum. 
In compost-heaps, commonly so called, many things 
enter into their composition which are at variance with 
each other, and sometimes injury is done by mixing two 
that arc diametrically opposed to each other, the oppos¬ 
ing qualities they have to each other being such as to 
occasion their injuring each other rather than forming a 
useful compound ; for instance, chalk and heath, or peat 
mould, are both useful things in their way, but they aro 
violent enemies to each other, and when put in contact 
devour each other with avidity. Now this ought not to 
be so, for the antagonistic properties these two sub¬ 
stances have, are such as create a great waste when they 
are brought to work on each other ; but take either of 
them alone, and they may, with advantage, be used on 
ground of an intermediate character, for the crop will 
only appropriate to itsolf such juices as arc most in 
accordance with its wants, loaviug the ground in 
possession of the remaining parts, which, perhaps, being 
not exactly of the kind wanted to feed the crops put 
upon it, may very likely remain sometime unconsumed. 
Finally, there is no doubt but it will be wanted; for 
vegetation is so accommodating, that it quickly as¬ 
similates to itself food of a different kind from what 
it originally started upon ; some plants have greater 
powers that way than others. Neither docs it happen 
that wild, indigenous ones aro gifted with the most 
of it, for somo of tho British Orchids refuse to flourish 
anywhere but on their native hills; and the same 
may be said of some Ferns and other plants; while 
the pretty littlo Myosotis palustris is found in almost 
overy ditch or pond-sido, while it is equally plentiful in 
dry banks and com-fields; but in the damper situation 
it is more luxuriant and beautiful. However, most cul- l 
tivatod plants have a less extended range, and their 
treatment, as respects the quality of food, &c., furnished 
them, must be regulated accordingly. Nevertheless, as 
a general rule, the more robust-growing ones require 
most support, and it is not easy to err on the side of 
abundance, except, that such crops as Potatoes are some¬ 
times rendered coarse by it, and those meant to stand 
the winter are not always benefited by its too liberal 
use ; but in almost all other cases, the dung barrow is a 
welcome visitor to the heavily-cropped quarters of the 
kitchen-garden. 
In making up tho compost-heap, I do not by any 
means advise clean, useful tree-leaves to be mixed up 
there until they have done some service in the forcing 
way. Neither do I recommend anything to be carried 
there that might with more convenience be used where 
it is. For instance, small weeds, which it is impossible 
to separate from the soil, bad better be dug in some¬ 
where near where they are collected together, if such an 
opportunity offers, and many other things may be done 
in a similar way; tho compost-heap being for such as 
cannot well be used elsewhere, but which, by forming a 
sort of store or reserve, may be of groat service here¬ 
after, and will form a sort of reserve to fly to when a 
“ barrow-load ” of good stuff is wanted, as well as a 
nucleus on which to collect other things not otherwise 
wanted at the moment; while it will, perhaps, be advis 
able to augment the whole by wheeling or carting thither, 
earth, mortar rubbish, or any other substanco that may 
bo at liberty, so that the whole, when well blended by 
repeated turnings, which it must havo, may present the 
most useful mixture. J. Robson. 
ALLOTMENT FARMING.— December. 
We have now fairly turned our back on the autumn, and 
our cottage friends must depend for their comforts, in a high 
degree, on the fruits of their past industry. Need I remind 
them of the pleasurable sensations that await those, who, with 
the natural exultations of honest industry, look back on a 
well-spent summer, as compared with the feelings of those 
whose conscience tells them they have forfeited all claim to 
what the world calls comforts. But it is not in the creature 
comforts alone that happiness, or rather, peace of mind, 
must be sought; man has nobler powers of enjoyment, and 
those who are well assured of having steadily pursued the one 
great aim of honest industry,—justifiable and commendable, 
before God and man,—will feel an inward peace and comfort, 
which it is not easy to describe. And this is not a thing 
confined to the high-born, or the highly talented; indeed, 
it is highly probable, that the poor cottager has more chance 
of comforts of this kind than the affluent. 
Although, doubtless, these facts are tolerably familiar to 
many of our allotment and cottage friends, yet there can be 
no harm in reminding them of the blessings which are, at 
least, within their reach, and in urging them to gratitude to 
the “Great Giver of all good things;" and here I would 
ask, whether grateful hearts can be miserable hearts? 
I much fear that our cottage friends will not enjoy that 
invaluble root, the Potato, so fairly as the past fine summer 
had, at one time, led us to expect. The disease has, after 
all, been rather too busy with many “ stocks; ” although 
not by any means of the virulent character of former years. 
During the first two weeks of November this root has 
risen in price in a most astonishing way; even our “Blue 
Farmer,” which, although an excellent eating Potato, is 
seldom of very high price, is quoted at four shillings per 
bushel, and those, too, simply the ordinary stock. But this 
sudden lift in price, cannot, I think, be traced to the 
“ rot,” through disease; and certainly not to tho narrow 
breadth planted. The former of these has, no doubt, 
exercised a due share of influence in the affair, but it is 
to the high price of bread stuffs, generally, that we must 
look for the greatest bias. And whence the cause of this, 
our cottage friends may ask, of high prices in the latter 
| article ? This is not easy to trace, I confoss; but doubtless, 
this sad war, in which we are unhappily, though justly, 
engaged, has a hand, however indirect, in producing this 
state of things. 
But apart from the consideration of causes, what advice 
may be offered to our allotment and cottage friends under 
such circumstances ? In the first place, I would ask, have 
you secured what seed Potatoes you want for the ensuing year ? 
Have they been selected with care, and preserved with at¬ 
tention to restoring principles, which th ey equally demand and 
deserve ? I need not go over tho old ground again at this 
moment, and chat about the management of the “seed." 
I may just say thus much ; select betimes from undiseased 
seed, and from kinds well known to suit your district; 
in preserving them, keep them as cool as you can; and, | 
above all things pretty dry; added to this, in thin layers, 
if possible, and in a darkish place. As to autumn-planting, 
it cannot, I am aware, be objected to on the score of princi¬ 
ple ; but when we take into consideration the mischances 
that may occur through a long, and, possibly, a wet winter, 
together with the chances that offer for preparatory processes 
in the way of ameliorating the soil by digging, and thereby j 
mellowing and sweetening it, I think that it is safer to 
plant in March and April. 
