372 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[September 11. 
the bed six inches deep and wide enough to allow the 
operator to lay down first the flat tiles, and then the 
circular pipes, with holes in the latter to admit the 
water to escape into them and then be carried clear 
away. When the pipes, &c., are laid down, cover them 
with nibble and then lay all over the bottom of the bed 
three or four inches of either small stones, broken 
clinkers, or brick ends. Upon this drainage lay a 
stratum of short straw or small brushwood; make this 
smooth, and you may consider the drainage complete. 
3. Manure and Soil. —To produce fine bold flowers a 
rich soil is necessary, yet it must not be overdone, 
because then there is danger of the fine colours running 
into one another. Proceed as follows : first procure some 
one-year-old cow-dung; spread over and upon the drains 
a stratum of this cow dung two inches thick; then 
mix about one-sixth of very well-decomposed liotbed- 
dung with the loam thrown out and laid on one side on 
commencing the operation of draining. If there is not 
enough soil to make the bed up level as before, procure 
some good loam for the purpose, mixing it with the 
same proportion of well-decomposed dung. If the 
situation is low and damp, it will be advisable to place 
an edging round the bed six or eight inches deep, of 
sufficient strength to bear up the soil when it is raised j 
to that height. The best material for an edging of this 
kind is blue slate, which may now be had very reason- ; 
ably at any blue slate wharf; the next best is common 
flags of slate; and the next, slabs of wood nailed to , 
strong uprights driven into the ground at proper in- ! 
tervals. Mix the top surface with a considerable mixture 
of river sand ; this will cause the bulbs to come out of 
the soil at taking-up time, clean and of a bright brown 
colour. Should the collection be large, there should be 
two parallel beds, with a walk between them. Of this 
arrangement we shall more fully speak under the head j 
“ Shelters.” T. Appleby. 
THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
Asparagus, do not cut down till thoroughly ripe; if 
any part of the old plantation is to be destroyed this 
season, the plants from that part may be trenched out j 
for the first forcing, and slight hotbeds should be made 
with half-decayed fermenting materials; if the forcing 
pits or frames are worked by a liot-water apparatus, care 
should be taken to begin with a very moderate heat, ! 
upon which depends the success of producing a luxu¬ 
riant crop of large shoots. 
Cardoons: pay attention to these now with regard to 
applying liquid-manure, and earthing up systematically . 
when quite dry. 
Celery keep suckered, surface-stirred, and earthed up, 
regulating these matters according to the different stages 
of growth; and put out another planting for late spring 
use. Endive continue to plant, as well as strong Lettuce 
plants, and prick out the Winter Lettuce in dry, poor, 
exposed situations, as, if they are allowed to grow too 
fast, they are liable to get the canker, and will not stand 
so well against the severity of the winter when the j 
nights get longer. Some of the strong early Parsley j 
should have the outside leaves entirely cut off, and only ■ 
the centre or heart-leaves left to grow on for winter. 
The present is, also, a good time to pot a few strong 
plants for winter store. Dredge the growing Parsley in 
every stage with chimney-soot, or soot-water, either of 
which are excellent stimulants. 
All late Dwarf Peas should be netted now, or the 
small tit-mouse at this season will clear every pod of its 
peas. Late Dwarf Beans and Scarlet Runners, as the | 
nights get colder, should be protected with light canvass 
or woollen netting, which will prolong their bearing 
considerably. We have kept late-planted Scarlet Run¬ 
ners, dwarfed by frequent stopping, in good bearing till 
November, by protecting, as above-recommended, against 
cold winds and morning frost. Dwarf Beans may also 
be considerably prolonged in bearing by such slight 
night protection as placing spare lights or any other 
temporary protectors. Gather Tomatoes, Capsicums, 
Chilies, and Radish-pods, and collect Herbs of all kinds 
while dry and in good condition. Prepare banks for 
planting winter and early spring vegetables and 
salads. 
James Barnes, 
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
THE TARVIN HALL EXHIBITION. 
Although it may seem somewhat superfluous to offer a 
description of a great public exhibition several days after 
it lias passed, yet the following account may not prove 
unacceptable when it is understood that the writer passed 
some days on the spot in the character of a committee man, 
stager, and juror—one, moreover, who has had many oppor¬ 
tunities, during the last score years, of watching the de¬ 
velopment of these indicators of future progress. 
It is pretty well known that the spirited projector of the 
Tarvin Hall gathering, Dr. Brindley, was several months 
too late in giving forth the basis of the scheme to the 
public: this want of time was, of course, a serious impedi¬ 
ment to a full and free development of the scheme, which 
was, doubtless, in its own nature a bold conception, indi¬ 
cative of the wants of the age. Added to this, the weather 
was most unpropitious—another serious impediment; con¬ 
tinuous squalls from the Irish Channel pestered for days 
the managers of the spacious tents, and of course annoyed 
j exceedingly the ladies and gentlemen who honoured this 
novel exhibition with their presence. 
The grounds at Tarvin Hall are entered from a point 
\ opposite the Church of this extensive parish, and at that 
! end is a superior mansion, with school offices attached, the 
residence of the vice principal, the Rev. Mr. Waddingham. 
i From this point a main walk or promenade leads to the j 
residence of the principal, Dr. Brindley, as also to the j 
I dining and other offices, and to the kitchen and fruit- | 
gardens. On the left, at this end, is the playground, a field 
of, I believe, some two or three acres in extent, and on, or 
rather round this, the tents were disposed ; the whole 
occupying three sides of a square. A tent for refreshments 
joined the bazaar, a portion of the building adjoining the 
residence of the principal; and this was flanked, right and 
left, with a couple of tents, which contained matters of di¬ 
version for the more juvenile portion of the visitors. An 
enquiry or committee tent, and three other detached tents, 
bearing the titles “ Agricultural,” “ Horticultural,” and 
“ Miscellaneous,” completed the tent arrangements. In the 
whole there was at least a quarter-of-a-mile of tent accomo¬ 
dation. I ought here to observe, that there was a rustic 
building of some extent devoted to the exhibition of the 
feathered tribes, where the noise and crowing of the 
huge Cochin-Chinas, and others of this interesting division 
of the animal kingdom, assisted in keeping up the ani- | 
mation of the scene. The doctor has at least one hundred 
youths in this seminary; and the course of discipline 
observed must, doubtless, fit them to become very useful 
members of society, in whatever profession they may be 
placed. 
Thus far for a brief outline of the main features; proceed 
we now to give a slight detail of the exhibition matters. 
These extensive tents were about ono-lialf filled up to the 
period of opening ; but so many, through ignorance ol the 
principles and modes of exhibiting, continued to forward 
