Ai'Btx 28 . 
63 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
measure, atones for it, and the liberal treatment such borders 
usually get in the shape of dung, and other strengthening 
food, enables them, in most cases, to supply the requisite 
nourishment to both crops, although certainly not to the 
same extent as it one only was to feed; neither would I 
advise it to be done on any other account than on the score 
of necessity, which often exists in such cases. 
While recommending the south border, as it is called, for 
early vegetables, and such things as Lettuce , Endive, and 
Cauliflowers, which staud the winter, the “ east ” and “ west 
borders” have likewise their uses, and, in their turn, form 
suitable places for such small crops as are seldom cultivated 
to such an extent as to come into the general “ square.” 
Such things as Sweet Herbs, especially of the annual kind, 
seed beds for Lettuce, and the whole Cabbage tribe, Ram- 
pious, Pricked-out Celery, prior to its final planting, and 
many other things which, not being deep-rooted, or severe 
exhausters ot the soil, may be sown or planted there, 
observing that, as such borders are generally bounded by 
an important walk, it would be advisable not to plant any¬ 
thing likely to look rubbishly at any period of its growth, 
besides which, we should always have a small plot or so in 
such borders unoccupied, in order to receive anything new 
that may arrive, or to serve for successional crops that may 
require putting in from time to time. 
Leaving these borders for the present, which, wo presume, 
are in a great measure occupied by the early crops, let us 
take a glance at the north border, and see what its uses are, 
i and how these can be turned to the best account; and make 
arrangements accordingly. In the first instance, we shall 
suppose that we have a slip of ground, some twelve or 
fourteen feet wide, running along the north side of a wall 
somewhat less than that in height. This slip of ground we 
expect will have been partly planted with a lute kind of 
Strawberry, as the Elton, in order to prolong the season of 
that much-esteemed fruit by having some as late as possible. 
This fruit, we will suppose, occupies something like one- 
third of the whole, and, on the remainder, we propose to 
plant such tilings as the dry weather, and other circum¬ 
stances, render an uncertain product in other parts of the 
garden; and in many gardens such a border is of great 
value, for, though in the coldest or moistest parts of the 
kingdom its uses may be less required, still there is often a 
something which wants retarding, or a space more than 
ordinary cool—as Radishes in summer, a shady spot on 
which to strike hardy cuttings, and other purposes; yet it is 
more especially fitted to meet the wants of a garden where 
a hot, gravelly, or sandy soil, and a dry season, renders the 
production of many vegetables a matter of much difficulty 
j in the full exposure which the central part ensures, conse- 
j quently it is in such gardens, and in such seasons, that the 
utility of “ north borders ” is more apparent, and it is to 
such that we now direct attention, thinking that the inex¬ 
perienced might, in his anxiety to get every inch of his 
ground under crop, plant or sow this with some unimportant 
article, which could be as easily grown elsewhere. Now, 
though this would be all very well were we sure the season 
would so far prove propitious to the growth and welfare of 
the many plants requiring abundant moisture, &c., yet, as 
such can never bo fully relied on with that degree of cer¬ 
tainty which renders it safe to dispense entirely with the 
cool shade afforded by a high wall, that we certainly advise 
the major part of the border, not appropriated to Straw¬ 
berries, to be reserved for such things as Lettuce, Radishes, 
French Beans, during the hot, dry weather, and such other 
crops as there may be room for, which demand particular 
attention. 
1 hough it is yet too soon to think of sowing or planting 
! on such a situation, yet it is not too soon to prepare the 
ground for that purpose : therefore, let it be dug over two or 
three times prior to being planted. Though we have said a 
moist and cool situation is required to bring the things we 
have mentioned to a proper growth in the hot weather of 
the dog-days, yet a stitr, sour, unkind soil, such as has 
never been turned up, to receive the benefits of the atmo¬ 
sphere, is not exactly the soil to meet such a case; on 
the contrary, most, if not all, vegetation prefers a more per- 
; meable compost, provided it be not too much deprived of 
its moisture, and has not absorbed too much heat, which it 
is not likely to have done in such a place as the one we have 
been speaking of; it would, therefore, be better to dig and 
otherwise work up the ground intended for such after-crops, 
as will enable it to have all the benefits of changes of atmo¬ 
sphere we arc likely to have before it bo wanted for crop¬ 
ping; and as such borders will probably be in a very unkind 
condition, it would be advisable not to delay a single day in 
getting it turned up, so as to mellow down by the drying 
winds, &c., which spring is expected to bring with it; and 
if necessary, manure of some kind or other might be added 
at the same time, although, perhaps, it would bo as well not , 
to dig in any until the last time prior to planting, as future 1 
workings of the soil are sure to bring it to the top, and, con- | 
sequently, waste it to a great extent; if such borders bo ! 
unduly stiff and obstinate to deal with, it would be better to 
apply such manures as have a tendency to render it more , 
open than the rich, cool nature of which cow-dung is a good ! 
type. AVe must observe, that as it is sbldom necessary to 
occupy such ground early in the season, there is no excuse 1 
for its working badly at the time the crop is put in, for w'ith 
repeated workings only it will, with the time allowed, be in 
sufficient train to receive anything that may be committed to 
it, although a something in the shape of a“ renovator” will j 
be necessary, if it has been loaded with a similar crop last 
year; and whether this renovator be decayed vegetable 
matter, animal manure, or some of those compounds which 
include both, we certainly prefer it in a solid state for this 
plot, for though, at the period the crops here require the 
greatest amount of food, liquid-manure might be very grate¬ 
ful, yet the general dampness which is often found here is 
sufficient, in most ordinary cases, to meet the wants of the 
various crops, that we do not advocate the use of liquid- 
manure, unless in extreme cases, as we think it has a ten¬ 
dency to stiffen the soil, rather than open its pores, and, 
consequently, render it worse to till another season, without 
conferring any particular benefit this ; and it is well known, 
that a certain amount of porosity is necessary in order for 
it to imbibe the juices supplied by manure-water, that no 
means must be neglected likely to secure such; and what¬ 
ever crops are destined for this place, it is important that 
the soil be made in good order to receive it in the first 
instance, as no after-treatment can well compensate for 
neglect in that respect. J. Robson. 
AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 
The Preservation of Roots. —Under the improved 
system of agriculture, a much larger number of cattle and 
sheep are kept than formerly, and as root crops form one ! 
of the principal means whereby stock are fattened, or kept 
in condition during the winter and spring months, it is, 
therefore, desirable that roots should be preserved in such 
a manner that they may prove sound and nutritious until 
an advanced period; for it occurs, in some seasons, and j 
more particularly upon arable farms without much meadow 
or pasture land attached, that the Swedish Turnip is of | 
more value for feeding sheep in the month of May than at J 
any previous period of the season; and it must also be ad- | 
mitted, that Mangold-wurtzel is more valuable for feeding J 
cattle, pigs, &c., after the middle of April. ! 
I propose, first, to state the best mode of preserving Swedish i 
Turnips in the land for feeding sheep, until the latest period I 
for which they are usually required, that is, the months of j 
May and June. The seed-stalk generally begins to advance 
rapidly towards the end of the month of March, and as soon i 
as the seed-buds on the top make their appearance, and the 
stalk has run up about sixteen or eighteen inches in height, 
they should be cut with a reaping-hook very carefully,—not 
as it is often done with the scythe, and in a random manner, 
but every turnip ought to have the stem cut off down below 
the rim on the crown of the turnip, formed by the fall of its 
first leaves. When thus managed, the roots keep until an 
advanced period, retaining a great portion of their nutri¬ 
ment; after this treatment, it is a long time before any 
sprouts or greens can grow upon them—vegetation is, as it 
were, suspended—during which lime the process of feeding 
may go on without further loss of nutrition; but, after a 
while, very small sprouts will appear round the crown of the 
turnip, affording the best of food for young lambs. Upon 
this plan, the writer has usually fed Swedes on the land, 
