331 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 7. 
only in such places that it is advisable to sow so soon. 
The 12th or lltli of August will be found early enough 
in most places in the south; but it is advisable to sow a 
small quantity about a week earlier, and, perhaps, later 
than the specified time, planting out a few of each, so 
that at the coming season, should any mishap bofal one 
lot, another may be useful. This was more especially 
the case this last season, wherein so many plots of 
Cabbage run away to seed entirely. At tbe same time, 
be it fully understood, that the best ground only ought 
to bo used for this sowing; and although it might, with 
perfect propriety, be sheltered from any cold quarter by 
a wall or building, it must not, on any account, be 
shaded by trees ; in fact, tbe secret of success lies in 
a late sowing being hastened on by good feeding and 
management; at the same time, such crops hardly 
endure the hard weather so well as more steady-growing 
ones. A good variety is also requisite—one that is not 
liable to run ; and as each district has its own fa¬ 
vourites, it is needless to mention names ; but if the 
amateur be anxious that way, I will tell him that the 
earliest one in use here is the Fulham and East Ham ; 
while oue with only a local name, but an excellent 
Cabbage, is the largest; and another called the Down- 
house is about the best for general summer use. A 
few Red Cabbages arc sown at each time, and the whole, 
under good management, ought to be planted in one 
plot, except tbe few for earliest use, which may be ac¬ 
commodated with a sheltered border. 
Spinach. —Notwithstanding the introductions of late 
years, the old long-leaved Spinach seems to be most 
esteemed at table ; a considerable breadth of this, 
therefore, may be sown on some well-sheltered border, 
or it might do in the open square. Rows a foot apart, 
and the plants thinned a little when they come up, will 
do very well. Some portions of this ground will require 
protection in mid-winter, if the produce be wanted then, 
otherwise the severity of the season will retard the Spinach 
growing and otherwise spoil it. Ground not too rich 
enables it to survive the winter best. 
Onions. —One or two sorts, including tbe Silver- 
shinned, ought to be sown about the same time as tbe 
Cabbages, and in an open situation, as dry as can be 
had; but if it be very much so at the time of sowing, 
watering and shading must be resorted to then in order 
to ensure germination. This crop, however, is not 
so much dependent on being sown exactly at a fixed 
time, but any time about the middle of the month will 
do under ordinary circumstances. 
Lettuces. —These must be sown every ten days, or 
ofteuer, as long as they will vegetate out-of doors, which 
is seldom later than the early part of September. The 
hardy sorts are the best for late work, as the Green 
Cabbaging varieties, of which the Hammersmith may j 
be regarded as tbe type. The Brown Dutch, another Cab- 1 
baging variety, may also be sown at the same time, and 
some of the Brown Coss ; but the Green or White Coss, 
and the large White Cabbaging sorts, like the Malta and 
others, rarely live through the winter well; although 1 
have raised one from the Drumhead, which survives pretty 
well, and is often the most useful spring Lettuce 1 have. 
A well-sheltered border must be had for them, and the 
plantations for early spring use ought also to be on 
sucb places. Ground too rich ought to be avoided for 
winter Lettuce. Better wait until the growing season 
arrives, and feed it with manure-water, \Vhich it drinks 
with avidity. 
Endive. —After the 1st of the month this vegetable is 
seldom sown, for as it is only regarded as a substitute 
for Lettuce, the original is allowed to take its proper 
place again. The Batavian is best for spring work, and 
may be sown at this time, as it has been done before- 
I hand ; the other may be tried, also, if thought necessary. 
England this is sown 
by the 12th of August, and I have even known it do very 
well sown earlier than that; while in Devonshire it is 
sometimes not sown until October; but in the latter 
case it is undoubtedly under glass; at all events, it is 
certainly assisted at the latter time. I generally sow 
about the 1st of September, under as favourable circum¬ 
stances as possible; if these be not to be had, I sow a 
day or two sooner, and as it is important not to lose 
this crop, I often sow in more places than one; but as 
this article will probably be dwelt on in another place, 
I shall say no more at present, but request the amateur 
to reserve a good place for it, and let the ground be 
some that has beeu dug some time, rather than fresh 
turned up. This remark is also applicable to the other 
crops as well. J. Robson. 
Cauliflower.—I n the north of 
TRUTHS RELATIVE TO VAN DIEMEN’S LAND 
(Sure are we that our readers will welcome as heartily 
as we did the following communication from our valued 
correspondent, “ A Country Curate,” whose Apiarian 
lucubrations so benefited and are so often referred to 
by our readers. He now holds a very responsible office 
in the Educational arrangements of the Colony). 
A year-and-a half having elapsed since my last communi¬ 
cation to The Cottage Gardener, more than thirteen 
months of which have been spent in the colony, I may 
proceed to give you my impressions of the place; not with 
the view merely of amusing, as heretofore, such of your 
readers as were pleased to con my Apiarian lucubrations 
(though I have something for them, too, before I have 
done), but I shall give as truthful an account as possible of 
the soil, climate, advantages and disadvantages, inducements 
to emigrants (of that class, especially, who may be supposed 
to seek information in your pages), with a view both to 
benefit them and the colony likewise. 
I remember well the frequent advertisements, which ap¬ 
peared in the various garden periodicals, inquiring for suit¬ 
able places; and I have, also, reason to believe that many a 
young man, either just married or contemplating marriage, 
has obtained but very inadequate information to his wants 
or his wishes, as the result of his inquiries. To such, either 
young gardeners of every grade, from the would-be lands¬ 
cape gardener to the man of the spade or the pruning 
knife—aye, and to the young day labourer, of sober and 
industrious habits, who is anxious to earn more than the 
weekly pittance, which at best is the end of his ambition at 
home—to all such, I say, I address myself. My character 
as a clergyman, filling a responsible position in the colony 
of Van Diemen’s Land, will be a warrant that I shall write 
nothing but what I believe to be strictly true, and to be 
depended upon. 
Perhaps it will be as w'ell if I mix the dulec with the 
utile, and, partly from extracts from the colonial papers, 
partly from my own observations and experience, write 
currente calamo, leaving to every reader to cull the informa¬ 
tion to which his individual wants or wishes incline him. 
My wife and I sailed from Plymouth early in September, 
1853. Exactly three calendar months from the date of our 
boarding Green’s noble vessel, the “ Anglesey,” within the 
Breakwater, we anchored, without accident, in Hobson's Bay, 
Port Philip, in excellent health and spirits. 
We were not without gardening recreations at sea; for my 
natural love of experiment, and my desire to carry some¬ 
thing with me as an acceptable and propitiatory present to 
the inhabitants of Van Diemen’s Laud, had induced me to 
order from Langelier (the celebrated grower of Pear-trees, in 
Jersey) twelve of the best varieties of this noble fruit, to be 
planted (seven months before I sailed, i.e. in March, 1853) 
in a large tub of richly-manured soil. These trees, grafted 
on the dwarfing system, had all made long shoots in the 
summer; their wood was well ripened, and they were in full 
vigour, when the Jersey steamer brought them to Plymouth 
in time for our departure. My tub of Pear-trees—a con¬ 
spicuous object among our boat full of luggage—was safely 
hoisted on board, and straightway made fast to large ring- 
