06 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 28. 
earlier. It’, however, a seed bed only is required for the 
purpose of mixed cropping, or to succeed other crops', the 
sower must take into consideration the period at which he 
desires to plant them. I, for instance, shall this season 
plant my early Potato ground with Swedes; the Potatoes 
will not be clear off until the very end of July, and if I sow 
my Swede bed in the end of April, the usual period, the 
| plants would be completely spoiled by standing too thick. 
Still, it is a fact which ought to be generally known, that 
l Swedes may be successfully planted with bulbs two to three 
j inches diameter; indeed, if they are obtainable, it is the 
best plan, due care being exercised, as we have proved; but 
then, to obtain such bulbs, something more than the ordi¬ 
nary seed-bed of the cottager must be had recourse to; 
they would require thinning in the seed-bed to four inches 
apart—a seed bed, or drills, thus would require too much 
space for the allotment holder. Swedes love a rich and 
loamy soil, well broken by culture. 
Mangold. —We find the Orange Globe kind superior to the 
Long Red for pig feeding; swine eat it in preference, and they 
are pretty good judges of quality in material. It has another 
advantage to small holders—it occupies somewhat less 
room, being more compact in the top. Mangold loves a 
rich soil, and it should be of a fair depth. The first week 
in May is a very safe time to sow in drills singly, but in a 
mixed crop regard must be paid to the habits and periods 
of the crop, or crops, with which it is associated. Towards 
the end of the month the hoe must be got to work, and 
when the plants are a couple of inches high, a first thinning 
may take place, placing them so as not to touch each other; 
and all weeds totally destroyed. The final thinning to be 
when the plants are much stronger; they must then be set 
out at from seven to ten inches apart. After this, deep cul¬ 
ture between the drills will be of infinite service; this may 
be done with an ordinary potato fork. 
PARSNirs will require singling out in the early part of 
the month, and at the end may be set at either final or half 
distance. The small hoe must be run through thrice in 
the drill, and after thinning is completed, a deep working 
between drills may be performed. Snails and slugs are 
sometimes annoying on wet lands, and must be guarded 
against. 
Thinning-out. — I introduce this head to point to a 
matter of importance, as connected with the culture of 
what are termed “ root-crops.” Our remarks on “ tliinning- 
out” have hitherto been confined to the ordinary routine as 
practised by farmers in general; but in this, as in most 
things, occasions arise in which it is expedient to deviate. 
Now it so happens that double the necessary number of 
plants in some root-crops may bo left in the thinning pro¬ 
cess, with a view of pulling away alternate plants, when 
about one-third grown, for the wife, or the pig. Whatever 
may be thought of the plan by those accustomed to one 
course of culture, we can affirm it to be a most profitable and 
certainly convenient plan if done justice to, having repeat¬ 
edly practised it. But it must be done by system; stated 
distances must be observed, or all becomes higgledy-pig¬ 
gledy, which is but another title for bad economy. Now, 
for instance, take the Parsnip ; the seed sown in a continu¬ 
ous way, not in patches, in the last week of February. By 
the middle of April or so, the plants might be singled out— 
no two touching. At the beginning of May they will be 
“ touching ’’ again ; and now the skilful thinner may so set 
them out, as that every other plant will come out for use 
during .June and July; by the eud of which month all final 
thinnings should be completed, in order to promote Aveight 
I in the winter crops. What has been said of the Parsnip is 
1 equally true of the Carrot, the Manifold , &c. There may 
be some trifling sacrifice in the Aviuter’s crop ; but it Avill be 
, trifling indeed, as compared Avith the advantages arising to 
the cultivator’s household. I Avould have no man come 
| from his allotment-Avork Avith empty hands during May, 
June, July, and August; in whatever he brings home, 
there Avill be something for the Avife and children, and some¬ 
thing for the pig. 1 do hope that this proved advice will 
be practised ; only let the thing be done in a workmanlike 
way. 
Cabbage-avorts. —As before observed, sow a little dwarf 
Cabbage monthly, and continue to introduce a score or two 
Avhenever a fair chance offers; only do not let them hinder 
good culture betAveen root-crops. Those groAving Avill re¬ 
quire the lioe through them, and blanks mended. 
Brocolis for autumn and early \yinter must be sown 
immediately. The folloAving kinds Avill suit the allotment 
holder—the Capes, Snow's, Walcheren, and Knight's Pro¬ 
tecting. If Green-kale, Brussels Sprouts, or Savoys, are re¬ 
quired to plant out in July and August, to succeed some 
early crops, they must be soavii directly. 
Lettuces.— If winter plants were got out on rich soil in 
March they Avill noAV be getting very stout; nothing 
better repays the application of liquid-manure than this 
crop. Spring-sown ones may be planted out now, and 
another bed soavii, after which, I adA'ise the waiting until 
Midsummer has passed. The Bath Cos and Ady's are tAVo 
of the best. 
Spinach. —That soivn in March, Avhcn fit for use, may be 
pulled clear up as Avanted, the leaves eaten, and the remain¬ 
der given to the pig, as it Avill not pay to keep. No more 
need be sown until August. 
Potato-Onions. —If these have been buried too deep, 
draAV the soil aAvay a little and weed clean. 
Rhubarb. —Keep doAvn all floAver stems the moment they 
appear. w 
Peas. —See that the crops are Avell-staked, and a little 
hoe-culture carried out. Those Avho can afford to have late 
ones, may soav a few of the Mammoth or Prussian during 
the middle of the month. 
Beans,— DraAV soil up the stems of Broad Beans to pre- ; 
vent Avind damage, and cultivate about those just come up. 
It is too late noAV to plant Avith profit. 
Dwarf Kidney Beans and Runners. —These, if not got : 
in by the end of April, must be planted directly. The Dwarfs 
love warmth, and light and rich soil. Plant them in toavs 
of tAvo feet, the beans four inches apart; no kind is better 
than the old Dun-coloured. 
As general remarks, I may say, be sure to watch well 
your rising crops, for the bird, or vermin tribes, are in 
Avait on all sides to commit their ravages—in this month 
peculiarly so. 1 may again point to the use of finely-sifted 
cinder-ashes, as tending to prevent the depredations of slugs, 
snails, <fco., on seedlings of any kind. We prepare a heap 
in a shed every spring, composed of these ashes and new 
sawdust, for this very purpose. HoAvever, a watchful eye is 
the chief thing, and many modes of dealing Avith these 
marauders Avill present themselves. I now take leave of 
the subject, Avith a strong recommendation to allotment 
holders and cottagers, so to persevere, as at once to improve 
the condition of their families and themselves, and to gain 
the approbation of those who seek their Avelfare, in thus 
affording them a chance through the medium of a plot of 
land. I have seen many allotments and cottage gardens 
in my time, and I can scarcely describe the painful sensa¬ 
tion which a weedy, neglected, and ill-contrived plot gives 
to my mind. When surrounded by others of high culture, 
the mind turns from it in disgust and sorroAV. 
II. Frrington. 
HINTS FOR MANAGERS OF POULTRY SHOWS. 
Whether for good or for evil, there can be no question 
that the poultry fancy has, Avithin a very short time, ex¬ 
tended itself Avonderfully. Should any one doubt, the fact 
is proved by the “ mania” having become such as at once 
to have aroused the grave censorship of the Times, and ex¬ 
cited the comic lucubrations of Punch. The exhibitions 
which have been held, especially in the northern counties, 
affording opportunities to admire and to compare, and, at 
the same time, fields for friendly competition, must have 
contributed materially to bring about this result. They are 
cause and effect in turn; for the interests they have created 
in the different varieties of our domestic poultry, and the 
opportunities they have given for their dissemination, have 
caused the number of the shoAVS themselves to be propor¬ 
tionally increased ; and avg have not only more of them in 
the localities in Avliich they existed heretofore, but they are 
established, or in course of formation, in places where they 
Avere never heard of until noAV. 
Agreeing in much that has been said against a minute 
subdivision of districts, it is proposed to pass over that part 
of the subject upon the present occasion, and to devote this 
