122 
IKE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, May 31, 1859. 
April: a good, crop. One Moorpark, protected with Russian 
matting never taken down from the time of its being put on, 
when the trees were coming into bloom, till the fruit had well set 
and come to tire size of small nutmegs : an excellent crop. 
So hero we have three examples of coverings successful; and 
the latter, which one would have thought prejudicial to the 
prospective of a good crop, turns out to be the best. A couple 
of Peach trees, also protected after the latter plan, have a tolerable 
show of fruit; but the foliage seems to say it didn’t like it. I 
advised several good syringings from the chamber-pail, washhand- 
stand-water, and all. 
I have also, upon inquiry, learnt that other trees which were 
furnished with Fir-tree boughs entirely failed. One gentleman, 
known to these pages, informed me, that not only were the 
blossoms upon his wall trees cut off, but that the frost had made 
a foray into his orchard-house. 
So far as my observation leads me to judge, wc may not calcu¬ 
late upon more than one-third of a crop of stone fruit in these 
parts ; and as the poor people grow Apricots upon their cottages 
generally, depending partly upon them to pay their rents, the 
deficiency will prove a serious loss. But, as 1 observed at first, 
modifying my recommendation, I shall continue my protection 
with the nets ; though I must watch keenly for severe frosty 
nights, and place over them some bast mats, if the winds will 
allow it. 
Amidst all this frost-biting, however, I am happy to say my 
Potatoes have escaped. They are only just peeping out of the 
ground, owing to a system I have adopted, which certainly ought 
to be known as far a-field as possible; and I will here write it 
down for the benefit of all whom it may concern. It was known 
long ago to the readers of these pages that I kept my seed in a 
cellar, spread out singly in layers, in wooden trays, in a subdued 
light, in a temperature ranging from 40° to about 80°, from the 
day that I took them up till I plant them again; when stout 
sturdy shoots are put forth, about two inches in length, almost as 
thick as one’s little finger, and as firmly attached to the tubers as 
the limpet is to the rock. Suppose the ground on which the 
Potatoes are to be planted dug, and tossed about in the winter 
for the action of the atmosphere and the frosts, when the frosts 
happen to come in the winter time. I never use dung for 
Potatoes. My manure for them is lime fresh from the kiln, 
mortar rubbish, aud soot and salt, by turns, which are spread over 
the surface of the soil just before planting time—in the middle of 
March as near as may be. 
For early Potatoes I allow thirty-six inches between the rows; 
and for store Potatoes forty-two inches; mark out the ground, 
and place pegs where the rows are to be; strain a garden line 
between peg and peg, and place two rows of Potatoes upon the 
surface of the soil, at the same distances one would adopt if 
planting them in it. Then, exactly along the centre of the 
two rows, cast a spadeful of soil, right, and left alternately, 
though not exactly plump on to the shoots of the tubers ; the 
crumbs that are afterwards shovelled out take that position, and 
we have a long trench now formed a good spit deep between the 
two rows of Potatoes. Observe, these trenches are intended 
eventually to be planted with the Cabbage tribe. Therefore, as 
each one is dug out, wheel some raw dung from the mixen along¬ 
side ; supply sufficient of this to form a thick layer ; and, pending 
the operation, guide tho barrow-wheel along the site of the next 
trench that is to be dug out. Dig the dung into the bottom of 
the trench; strain the line; place another row of Potatoes along 
the surface; and cast out soil right and left, &c., as described 
above, and so on. 
In digging out the trenches for the early Potatoes, do not make 
the spade bite quite so deeply as one would for the later varieties ; 
and also prefer Grange's, and other autumn Broccoli and Cabbage, 
to take their stations between tho former. 
I have growm a special row or two of Potatoes on this plan for 
many years ; and this is the third year of my taking to the system 
entirely. I recommend it for tho following reasons :—As an 
amateur who likes to see everything shipshape in a garden that is 
overlooked by part of the living-room windows, raw dung hauled 
about o pane of ground after the Potatoes are taken up is not a 
pleasant object in the height of summer, and the ground looks 
blank and bald for a month or six weeks under the most favour¬ 
able circumstances, till the Cabbage-worts which are there planted 
can recover themselves and have grown a little. By the trench 
rule these can be planted out expeditiously just at the right time, 
size, and stage, almost imperceptibly, and without waiting for tho 
Potatoes to bo cleared. Waterings of rich and rare liquids can 
at any time be applied to them; and they will be found to flourish 
amazingly, seldom inclining to club. I never could grow the 
tribe so well as under this system, and never cut such excellent 
Broccoli, &c., as I have during the present season. 
I confess I am fond of every gardening operation; but if I 
may claim one dislike, it certainly is to the operation of moulding- 
up Potatoes. On the above plan that delectable operation is 
quite superseded; for, from the moment they are planted till 
they are lifted, nothing is required to be done but to hand-weed a 
little, and to watch them grow; by reason that quite sufficient 
soil is applied—-cast over them—in the first instance for their 
future welfare. The Potatoes do not appear above ground till the 
first or second week in May ; thus, wo may fairly augur, securing 
themselves from frosts. Their ripening process is also accelerated 
from the tendency of the haulm to fall down on each side, whence 
it receives a check, to the advantage of the swelling of the tubers. 
Light aud air are also enabled to play round about them. If a 
dry season, thoy have a double bulk of soil to grow in. If a wet 
season, the water drains itself quickly away down into the 
trenches; nearly a double surface is gained for the earth itself to 
partake of atmospheric action. When the Potatoes are taken up 
the soil falls down ; and mould up the plants, which are a green, 
healthy, flourishing crop, at once upon tho ground, to relieve the 
eye; and they do not appear so gawky and long-legged above 
ground in winter, and are much more capable of weathering it 
out to the last. Besides—and this is one chief point—I have no 
hesitation in saying that the Potatoes ripen at least a fortnight 
sooner by this method. Most people about here know that my 
Potatoes ripen early, and that I am always successful with my 
crop. So, to crown the system, I merely observe that I gained a 
sweepstakes first prize last year with Potatoes, Ac., at our Agri¬ 
cultural and Horticultural Association’s Show, which is rather a 
difficult feat to accomplish in Oxfordshire. Again : digging the 
ground, and wheeling dung in hot sultry weather over clean 
gravel walks; begging and praying a man to work for one when 
lie cannot be spared from tho hay and early harvest, or able to do 
six hours’ work in twelve if he could be spared—all these diffi¬ 
culties are vanquished by what I will call the early-trench and 
thorough-cultivating principle in growing Potatoes.— Upwards 
and Onwabds.] 
VEGETABLE CULTURE AND COOKERY. 
(Continued from page 22.) 
CUMIN. 
This is an aromatic medicinal herb, cultivated for its seeds, 
which are carminative and tonic. The seed requires to be sown 
in a hotbed, in the spring, to bring the plants sufficiently forward 
so as to ripen the seeds in the open air in this country. 
DILL. 
The stem, leaves, and seeds of this plant arc used medicinally, 
and also as ingredients in pickles, and in soups and sauces. The 
seed is sown thinly, in drills, in March ; and as the seedlings come 
up and gain strength, they are to be thinned to twelve inches 
apart. They are to remain where sown; and, at the end ol 
summer and autumn, they will produce leaves and heads of seeds 
for use. It may also bo sown in the autumn as soon as tho 
seed is ripe, which will produce a supply of strong plants early 
in the following summer. 
ENDIVE. 
There are three varieties of Endive in cultivation,—the White 
Curled, the Green Curled, and tho Batavian, or Broad-leaved. 
The two former are used as salads, and the last as a culinary 
vegetable for stewing. It is the Green Curled which is grown as 
a principal crop, and the White for summer and autumn. 
For an early crop, a little of the White Curled may be sown 
at the end of April or beginning of May; and, to succeed this, 
another sowing may be made at the end of May. During the 
middle of June, begin to sow the Green Curled; and again, at the 
beginning and middle of July, a succession may be sown, to come 
in for autumn use. Those sown at the beginning and end of 
May will come into use at the end of June and the beginning of 
August; while the sowings of June and July will furnish a 
supply at. the end of August and during September. 
For winter and spring use, the seed should be sown during the 
last week of July, or the first week in August. 
Endive requires a rich and highly-manured soil to grow' it 
quickly and tenderly. It should bo sown thinly, broadcast on a 
