336 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. January 30. 
it is more prudent to adopt a fine surface-tillage than 
a rough one, except in autumn, when Wheat may, 
perhaps, be benefited by large lumps being left unbroken 
at the top; for the mellowing of them down in winter 
helps to cover the roots, serving as a sort of “ earthing- 
up but the amateur need not provide this for summer- 
culture ; bis purpose ought to be to obtain a good, healthy 
plant as soon as he can, and the after-treatment of thin¬ 
ning, hooing, and such like, will be the more pleasant by 
having plenty to deal with. These things, however, will 
be treated in their turn. 
Although the above has been written to meet the case 
of an amateur, who complains of having been imposed 
on by those to whom he delegated the working of his 
small field, yet, others similarly circumstanced, may be 
in a like predicament. One thing it is right to say, that 
very small holdings seldom pay excopt in the hands 
of those who do the working part themselves; and as ! 
such small [dots as amateurs occupy are generally 
cropped more with a view to supply the wants of the 
owner than with a strict regard to profit; the latter 
must not be looked for too closely, but it is right here 
to say, that after a root-crop, corn is generally sown 
with the land’s receiving only one ploughing; and as 
this is not an expensive crop in the labour it involves, it 
generally pays the cost of the former one as well. Our 
friend had better well weigh this matter; and though we 
will not promise him a successful issue to his second 
year’s produce, it will go far towards doing that. 
Other articles in The Cottage Gardener will shortly 
appear, bearing on cases like his; in the meantime, let 
him take comfort by the reflection, that the coming year ' 
will be one incurring but few expences on his part, while | 
the returns (if the season be at all propitious) may bo 
expected to be good. J. Robson. 
ALLOTMENT EARMING.— January and February. 
A happy new year to all our readers, great and small; 
and may peace and plenty, with a high spirit of industry, 
attend their progress to its very close; when that period 
arrives, may they he able to look hack on the past without 
remorse; and with a thankful heart enjoy their Christmas 
cheer. 
The present are most eventful times for all, from the 
Queen to the most humble cottager. All, I believe, so love 
our good old country, as to possess a strong desire for a 
cessation of the dreadful war, providing it can be attained 
with honor to this kingdom, and the other civilised nations 
of Europe. 
I must candidly confess, that at this period—the middle 
of January—I may appear, like some of our railway trains, 
overdue in my few trifling remarks on those things con¬ 
cerning the allotment and the cottage gardener; and it is 
so ; but let us make up for lost time, by taking into consi- ! 
deration, not only the business of the declining portion of 
January, but also the early part of February; for then 
gardeners will throw off their slumbers, buckle on their 
armour, and take the field in earnest. 
So much for apology ; now for real business. 
Arrears. —Under this head, as concerning the present 
period, we may place the following:—Drainage, Trenching, 
Ridging, and Improving waste plots. To repeat the argu¬ 
ments for drainage is unnecessary; depend upon it land 
that holds water too long will never carry out the best 
objects of the cultivator. Draining is yet practicable, and 
will be until the middle of February, when we must begin 
to think of preparing the surface for spring cropping. 
Trenching I havo so often recommended, that I would 
simply again urge my recommendation of this practice on 
every plot at least once in three years. Ridging may, of 
course, be applied to the trenching, or digging process, and 
in either case it is of much benefit. 
Improving waste plots may not, very generally, concern 
the gardening cottager, or allotment holder, but may be just 
pointed to. I call the following, in their cases, by this 
name—overgrown hedges, or boundaries, old comer pieces, 
hitherto thought of little value, overwide pathways, waste 
headlands, and, to use a common phrase in these parts, 
“ tea-pot neuks,” which, although a low phrase, is tolerably 
expressive of broken mugs, plates, &c.; and which, when 
harboured in one spot, and gradually, by neglect, occupying 
a wider compass, speak as plain as by-gone mugs can speak 
of carelessness and slovenly habits. Need I observe, that 
such is not the place to look for progress. It is akin to 
the practice of stuffing a dirty rag in the place of an absent 
pane in the window; and in such cases, I fear we may look 
for uudarned stockings in-doors, and for dirty and rusty 
tools lying here and there without. 
And now how is the manure-heap, that all important 
affair ? In the first place, had you so thrown it together in 
November as to exclude rain and snow? Have you seized 
occasions to turn and divide clotted and unequal portions ? 
If not, pray bear it in mind. 
Store Produce —Of course these have been secured before 
now; take a peep at them, however, and see if any rot 
prevail; if so, let them be turned. Potatoes , especially, 
must be well examined both as to seed and eating Potatoes. 
Onions, too, must be watched a little ; and towards the 
middle of February the remaining Parsnips in the soil be 
trenched out. Apples, too, should be picked carefully, and 
if in some dry place and beginning to shrivel, they should 
be covered closely. Exclude both light and air. 
Seed-beds. —By this I mean your stores of Cabbage, 
Lettuce, Cauliflower, and other little matters, provided by a 
wise anticipation for spring planting. Little protection has 
hitherto been needed, but we have not parted with the 
winter yet; let us not be betrayed at the eleventh hour. 
Rhubarb.— Those who desire to have this early should 
cover the crowns with some open litter, or get chimney-pots 
and such-like over them, and if they have a little hot manure 
they may pile it round them. 
Pruning.— Some of our worthy readers have, doubtless, 
a few Gooseberry or Currant bushes in their little gardens; 
now is the time to prune them ; and I will offer a few simple 
rules for then 1 guidance. Thin out Gooseberries much in 
the centre of the bush ; thin also the exterior, so that the 
young shoots would be, on an average, two or three inches 
apart, and, of course, throw all the bearing powers of the bush 
towards the exterior; this will save trouble in gathering, and 
produce finer fruit; shorten the ends according to the 
condition of the wood. Black Currants bear best on the 
young shoots, like Gooseberries, and require similar thin¬ 
ning, but rather avoid shortening them, as it induces too 
many side-shoots and suckers, which rob the system of the 
bush. 
Red and White Currants must have all the side-spray cut 
back to within an inch of each main branch, and in shorten¬ 
ing the leading shoots leave about four or five inches 
annually. 
Planting. —Those who wish to plant fruit-trees or bushes, 
and have not done it in November, should wait until the 
opening part of February. 
Sowing. —Little of this at present. Early Radishes, and 
very early Peas may now be sown at any open period. 
Finally, let those concerned take into consideration the 
great importance of using every spare hour, while the busy 
season is advancing, of carrying out all they can as to the 
forenamed maxims; when March arrives, they will find a 
much greater pressure, and their hands tied as to improve¬ 
ments. The mere cultural operations of that period will be 
found enough. It is astonishing what the soil will do if 
handled with a little sense, and, above all, with industrious 
perseverance. R. Errington. 
NOTES FROM PARIS.—No. 6. 
CONSTRUCTION OF FRENCH BOUQUETS. 
In a former article, I entered on the consideration of this 
subject, and described the general principle of making up a 
bouquet; but my observations had reference only to flowers 
with stalks of a certain length. The process of tying the 
flowers together in the manner I have described will be 
readily understood, and duly appreciated, by all interested in 
