50 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[April 
lo. 
Weeds we will not even mention, well knowing, by many 
years’ practice, that if our directions, as above given, 
are fully carried out no weeds will ever have tbe chance 
of appearing; as tbe soil will, at all times and seasons, 
remain in a healthy condition for every succeeding crop, 
without rest or fallow—only other terms for robbery and 
loss of time. Every one may, on reflection, be convinced 
that by allowing weeds to appear they suffer robbery 
and injustice to be committed on their growing crop; 
and prevent tbe due preparation of the soil for the suc¬ 
ceeding one; besides adding considerable expense to 
themselves, as timely attention to surface-stirring and 
shallow hoeing, as soon as the plants can be seen above 
ground, does not take a tithe ol the time and labour 
which the hoeing or destroying a crop of weeds requires. 
Kidney Beans and Scarlet Runners may now be 
planted 'in full crop. It is the custom of some people 
to plant these as soon as they observe the first appear¬ 
ance of the swallow, which, in our opinion, is generally 
too soon by 10 days or a fortnight, unless, as previously 
directed, they are well provided for and protected. In 
this locality (Devonshire) the swallow generally makes 
its appearance from the 7th to the 9th of April; on 
the 7th of April tills year we observed many on the wing 
over our noble lake ; we heard the Cuckoo s mate on the 
9th, the Ox-eye, White-throat, Black-head, or Merry 
Nettle-creeper, and the Red-start on the 10th. The 
first young rooks chirruped on the 4th, and in many 
nests previously to the 10th their young broods were on 
the chirp. In years gone by we used to observe in 
Surrey, Kent, Middlesex, and Essex, the first appear¬ 
ance of the swallows generally about the 17th of April, 
and the other welcome birds-of-passage at about the 
same date. In this locality the nightingale is not 
known, and the cuckoo is very rare, and stops but a 
short time with us, but the beautiful warble of the 
wood-lark throughout the winter, when mild weather 
prevails, and in early spring, is enchanting. 
Borecole, hale, broooli, or, indeed, any of the early- 
sown brassica tribe, should now have slight dredgings 
of charred dust while damp with the dew early in the 
mornings, to prevent the ravages of the fly, which this 
simple material will readily and effectively do ; it acts 
also as a beautiful stimulant, causing at once a healthy 
luxuriance. As soon as they can be fairly handled 
thinning out and pricking the plants on a healthy piece 
of ground, not too rich, should be performed. 
Capsicum plants and Tomatoes should be hardened ofl 
in readiness for turning out. Early celery should be 
pricked off as fast as the plants become large enough to 
handle, and another sowing made. Although it may be 
showery weather, yet if cauliflowers, cabbage, artichokes, 
asparagus, &c., are required of the finest quality, they 
must all be supplied with manure-water. In showery 
weather we always apply it liberally, as it may be given 
of much stronger proof, in less quantities, and conse¬ 
quently with less labour, while the earth is moist and 
rain prevails, at which time it is much more naturally 
distributed to the utmost points of the roots of growing 
vegetation, and does not require additional waterings 
from us to wash it in, as it does when dry weather pre¬ 
vails. 
Cardoons may now be sown. A piece of well-trenched 
ground should be selected, and if not previously well 
manured, a trench should be thrown out, wide and deep 
enough for a liberal quantity of manure to be forked in, 
and the seed placed at 6-inch distances up the middle, 
to be afterwards thinned as the plants grow. Sea-hale 
must have a watchful eye kept over its crown. Thin 
the shoots little and often, as soon as they can be conve¬ 
niently handled, leaving only the strongest, the number 
of which should be regulated according to the strength 
of the plants. 
Cauliflowers. —The early hand-glass crops that have 
been well attended to through the winter, with regard to 
airing and surface-stirring, should now have the spaces 
between the rows of plants well forked up and broken to 
pieces, moving the hand-glasses and their props out ol 
the way duringthe time. When all are well forked up, set 
down a line, and mark out two-feet alleys in the centre 
between the rows of plants, and with a spade chop out 
the sides, and throw up as much earth as will bury the 
stems of the plants well up, keeping the sides towards 
the alleys three or four inches higher, so as to form a 
good trough or basin to receive the future waterings 
when required ; and if tbe hand-glasses are not wanted 
for any other purposes of more importance for a week or 
10 days longer, they may be lifted or propped up upon 
three flowerpots or half bricks, which will greatly assist 
in forwarding the growth of the plants. 
Cauliflowers that have been spring planted out should 
have the earth well stirred with the hoe on dry days. 
The spring sown plants should be pricked out in succes¬ 
sion on good rich borders, four inches, at least, apart 
every way. 
Sow Cape brocoli for general crop the first week in 
May, and sow any little favourite sorts of turnips in cool 
situations—if a little shaded by trees all the better for 
summer crops. J. Barnes & W. 
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
ALLOTMENT FARMING FOR MAY. 
We have been in the habit, hitherto, of addressing 
ourselves almost exclusively to the holders of very small 
allotment or cottage gardens—generally of from half an 
acre to as much as will keep a small cow. We see no 
reason, however, why we should stop at such very small 
holdings; knowing, as we do, that many plots of six, 
eight, or more acres, arc held in the suburbs of our towns 
by parties who are not well versed in rural matters, and 
whose holdings are not obliged to be managed precisely 
as the ordinary farm. Wc liope, therefore, occasionally 
to be of service to such. 
One of the first considerations connected with such 
holdings is, what line of policy to observe, situated as 
they are, in general, close to good markets, and where 
little or no expense, or risk, can take place in the transit 
of the produce. Milk and butter is of course a prime 
consideration at all times; hay from good upland, if well 
made, takes well, and is always in demand for high-fed 
horses; green cuttings of rye, vetches, lucerne, &c., is 
always of eminent service, either for home consumption 
or for sale. The worst of bulky crops, however, is that 
they require a good deal of cartage, it for sale ; a thing 
to bo avoided by small holders; for such incidental ex¬ 
penses eat up much of the profits. 
Nevertheless, when a man holds some six or eight 
acres he will be necessitated to keep a horse ; for he will 
not only be driven to plough occasionally, when spado 
labour is scarce, but his produce will require taking to 
