143 
THE COTTAGE GARDENEli. 
Resuming (from page 45) our observations upon the 
light afforded to gardening by other sciences, we will 
commence by observing, that the benefits derived from 
keeping the roots of plants near the surface of the soil 
are more apparent in fruit-trees and other perennials th an 
in our annual crops, inasmuch as that the roots ot trees 
being thus kept within the influence ot the solar rays, 
always vegetato early, and ripen well their young wood' 
The quantity of oxygen absorbed by the roots ot growing 
plants is very large; being, in the instances of the radish, 
carrot, and others, not less than their own bulk in the 
course of twenty-four hours. 
Digging, hoeing, and trenching are the practices em¬ 
ployed for facilitating the access of the air to the roots of 
plants, by rendering the texture of the soil loose and 
easily permeable. 
Very few people ever consider in detail the expenditure 
of labour required from the garden labourer when digging. 
It is a labour above all others calling into exercise the 
muscles of the human frame; and how great is the 
amount of this exercise may be estimated from the 
following facts:— 
In digging a square perch of ground in spits of the 
usual dimensions (seven inches by eight inches), the 
spade has to be thrust in 700 times, and as each spade¬ 
ful of earth, if the spade penetrates nine inches, as it 
ought to do, will weigh on the average full seventeen 
pounds, eleven thousand nine hundred pounds of earth 
have to be lifted; and the customary pay for doing this 
is 2^-d.! 
As tliero are 100 perches or rods in an acre, in digging 
the latter measure of ground, the garden labourer has to 
cut out 112,000 spadefuls of earth, weighing in the 
aggregate 17,000 cwt., or 850 tons; and during the work 
he moves over a distance of fourteen miles. As the 
spade weighs between eight and nine pounds, he has to 
lift, in fact, during the work, half as much more weight 
than that above specified, or 1,278 tons. 
A four-pronged fork, with the prongs twelve inches 
long, and the whole together forming a head eight inches 
wide, is a more efficient tool for digging than the common 
spade. It requires the exertion of less power; breaks 
up the soil more effectually; and does not clog even 
when the soil is most wet. It is less costly than the 
spade, and when worn can ho relaid at a less expense. 
The following table shewing the results of the ex¬ 
periments of M. Schluber, exhibits the comparative 
labour required in digging various soils, and the same 
soil in various states. Tlius if to penetrate with a spade, 
when dry, grey pure clay, required a force represented 
by 100, then to penetrate an arable soil in the same state 
would require a force equal only to 38, or about one- 
third; so in a wet state the clay would adhere to the 
blade of the spade with a force equal to 29'2 lbs. the 
square foot, whilo the arable soil would only adhere to 
the same surface with the force of 6 -4 lbs. 
Firmness Adhesion to a 
when dry. . square foot of 
v iron when wet. 
Siliceous sand . 0 3-8 lbs 
Calcareous sand .0 41 
[June 6. 
Adhesion to a 
Fine lime 
Firmness 
when dry. 
5-0 
square foot of 
iron when wet. 
14-3 lbs 
Gypsum powder 
7-3 
10-7 
Humus 
8-7 
8-8 
Magnesia 
11-5 
58 
Sandy clay 
57-3 
7-9 
Loamy clay 
08-8 
10 0 
Brick earth 
83-3 
17-2 
Grey pure clay 
1000 
270 
Garden mould 
7-0 
64 
Arable soil 
33-0 
5.8 
Slaty marl 
230 
4-9 
The preceding observations and facts are applicable 
to hoeing, an operation beneficial in consequence of its 
loosening the soil, as much, or more, as by its destroying 
weeds. Moisture abounds in the atmosphere during the 
hottest months, and it is absorbed and retained most 
abundantly by a soil which is in the most friable state. 
Professor Schluber found, that 1000 grains of stiff clay 
absorbed in twenty-four hours only thirty-six grains ot 
moisture from the air; whilst garden mould absorbed 
in the same time forty-five grains; and fine magnesia 
seventy-six grains. Then, again, pulverizing the soil 
enables it better to retain the moisture absorbed. This 
We demonstrated some years since, and the reason is, ob¬ 
viously, because a hard soil becomes heated by the sun s 
rays much more rapidly than one with a loosened texture. 
The latter is better permeated by tlie air, which is one ot 
the worst conductors of heat. Wo are glad to find our 
opinions confirmed by so practical and so intelligent a 
man as Mr. Barnes, gardener to Lady Rolle, at Bicton 
Gardens, Devonshire. He says (Gard. Mag., Sept. 1843), 
“ I do not agree with those who tell us, one good weed¬ 
ing is worth two hoeings; I say, never weed any crop 
in which a hoe can be got between the plants; not so 
much for the sako of destroying weeds and vermin, which 
must necessarily bo the case, if hoeing be done well, as 
for increasing the porosity of the soil, to allow the water 
and air to penetrate freely through it. I am well con¬ 
vinced, by long and close practice, that oftentimes there 
is more benefit derived by crops from keeping them well 
hoed, than there is from the manure applied. Weeds, or 
no weeds, still I keep stirring the soil; well knowing, 
from practice, the very beneficial effect which it has. 
“ Ralcing the surface fine, I have almost wholly dis¬ 
pensed with in every department. By hoeing with 
judgment and foresight, the surface can be left even 
wholesome, and porous; and three booings can be 
accomplished to one hoeing and raking. Much injury is 
done by raking the surface so very much. It is not only 
the means of binding and caking the surface, but it 
clears the stones off' as well.* The earth, in its natural 
state, has stones, &c., to keep it open and porous, &c. 
If the earth be sufficiently drained, either naturally or 
otherwise, and the surface kept open, there is no fear of 
suffering either from drought or moisture. 
Exposing the soil in ridges during the winter is usually 
* A finely pulverized even surface cakes after rain much mor than a 
surface rather rough. 
