THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, October 4, 1859. 
sucli dwelling is in tlie immediate neighbourhood of a town 
or village, or in some district not too thinly populated. 
In conjunction with this, we shall suppose our first plot 
to consist of a stiff loamy soil, not exactly saturated with 
water, but very retentive of it,—such a soil, for instance, 
as occurs in many places around London, especially on 
the north side ; in fact, such soils exist in great breadths 
all over England, and are generally designated as “ stiff 
clayey lands,”— obstinate to till, but not by any means 
unproductive. This plot, for distinction, we shall call 
the stiff clayey soil, to distinguish it from another of a 
diametrically opposite character, which may be called a 
light or dry soil. Not but that there are many variations 
of both ; but of these variations we will speak hereafter. 
Suffice it to say, that the light soil here spoken of may 
consist of the dry sands or gravel common to some dis¬ 
tricts, or it may be of that shatter stone which overlies 
rocks in various places, and which furnishes surface soils 
of so many different qualities, but all more or less dry. 
Assuming, therefore, that it is one or other of the soils 
mentioned above that is to be operated upon, and that it 
lies contiguous to the dwelling-house of the occupier, and 
that the back of such dwelling-house or other back build¬ 
ing juts upon it, we will begin at once with the culture or 
management of the ground, noting down from time to 
time such remarks as are necessary to connect them to¬ 
gether ; for the back premises which are here meant to 
include the cow-house and piggery are important features 
in the domestic economy we are about to treat upon, and 
their presence will be often alluded to. 
STIFF CLAYEY SOIL, AND THE FIRST STEPS TO BE TAKEN 
WITH IT. 
First of all, ascertain from some one well versed in 
farming matters if it requires draining, and if so, or 
rather if there is any doubt on the matter, let that 
operation first of all be at once performed. 
Generally speaking, such soils, even if not much charged 
with water, are all the better for draining. Two-inch 
pipes about four feet deep, and from fifteen to twenty 
feet apart, will be sufficient; taking care to have a good 
outlet, and, as far as possible, an even descent to it. If 
it is necessary to connect all the pipes into one for an 
outlet, the main ought to be a three-inch pipe, which, in 
general, will deliver all the excess of water that falls on 
a two-acre plot. 
This benefitbeing secured, and channels or drains formed 
for the discharge of any stream or other water that may 
pass through the ground, we shall proceed to the next 
feature in improving the holding, which is one but little 
ractised, but which is one well worthy the trial of all 
aving such an obstinate soil to deal with. 
BURNING CLAY. 
In clearing ground, it often happens that old hedges, 
trees, or stumps, have to be removed ; and such things, 
being of no use in household economy, are either care¬ 
lessly burnt, or lie still more carelessly in the way. Let 
these be conveyed to some part of the ground where the 
clay is more than usually stiff, and near the surface, and 
let such clay be dug up and thrown out from a circular 
space of ten feet in diameter, and one foot deep, and let 
the bottom be levelled smooth. Then cut two small 
channels across this space, crossing each other at right 
angles in the middle, forming small ditches three or four 
inches wide, and as many deep. Brickbats, which are 
generally to be had in most places, will do to cover these 
ditches, or “ flues,” as we may call them; and in the 
centre where these “ flues ” meet lay a heap of such 
brickbats or stones, at least a barrow-load or so, and on 
this heap kindle a fire with any rough material that may 
be at hand, putting a few rough lumps of the clay by 
hand along with the wood or roots ; but do not put on 
too much at first until the fire is well established, when 
the quantity of clay that is put on may eventually exceed 
by five or six times that of the wood or other combustibles 
used. Of course, the process is a slow one, and such a 
fire may be kept burning for weeks, or even months, the 
attention it requires being very little ; in fact, the great 
danger is, that it may be too much meddled with, for 
thrusting in sticks, or otherwise disturbing the burning 
mass, is hurtful to it. 
Add more fuel and clay betimes, and the large heap of 
red ashes that will reward your pains will be found 
exceedingly useful. It being obtained from materials of 
no other use, may be regarded as so much gain ; for 
many kinds of fuel will suggest themselves, as the rubbish 
from a carpenter’s shop or yard. Sawdust will also burn 
in such a place, and other vegetable rubbish needless here 
to particularise. 
FIRST STEPS IN TILLAGE. 
Unless labour is very expensive, it would be better to 
have all the tillage done by hand in the first instance, 
except such carting as may be required ; and if the ground 
have not hitherto been in cultivation, or has been only 
imperfectly broken up, it would be better to trench it at 
once, reserving, however, the best soils to the top as 
before, and if it is possible to add anything to the clayey 
bottom that will tend to make it less tenacious, let it be 
done at the time of trenching. A liberal allowance of 
mortar rubbish, the waste of a brick kiln, scrapings from 
the roads, chalk, or sandstone chippings, or, in the ab¬ 
sence of these, or any substitute for them, lime may be 
added in a moderate quantity. About eight chaldrons per 
acre are often put on for farming crops ; and as its use is 
to pulverise the stiff and obstinate clay, a little expense 
ought not to be denied; but where the other less costly 
ingredient can be obtained in sufficient quantities, lime 
might be omitted, and only used as a top dressing, in 
which capacity it is invaluable when spread on the tilled 
ground, and it easily finds its way downwards ; in fact, a 
good liming is of great service to such stiff ground, and 
being slightly worked in, its appearance is not ob¬ 
jectionable. 
In like manner the burnt clay which will be reduced to 
a mass of red ashes, may also be used as a top dressing or 
manure, and may be applied when the ground undergoes 
the second digging ; but as it will be prudent to allow the 
first trenching to lie at least one month, if the operation 
be done in summer, or two or three months if done in 
winter, before it be disturbed again, in order that the air 
may have free access to its parts, it is only necessary 
here to urge on the duty of trenching being done as early 
as possible, in order that the after operations may follow 
in due course. 
LEVELLING THE GROUND. 
This must not be done to any great extent, unless 
means be taken to preserve a large portion of the best 
soil to the top again ; and unless the unevennesses are very 
abrupt, they had better remain as they are than that the 
surface soil only be taken from the hill tops and put into 
the hollows, for this would cause that unevenness in the 
fertility of the ground which it is important to avoid. 
The immediate neighbourhood of the house may be 
suitably levelled, for appearance and comfort, and if 
necessary the other also; but do not carry out this 
too far. 
DIVISION OF THE GROUND. 
This is a very difficult question to solve, and it is only 
on knowing the wants and intentions of the family that 
a just conclusion can be arrived at ; but as our space is 
limited to the two acres, and the preliminary duties of 
draining and trenching being done, and a suitable fence 
and -what levelling was wanted being also seen to, a few 
remarks on the supposed wants of the family may be 
acceptable here, as bearing on the cultivation. In fact, 
it is their requirements which must be met by a corre¬ 
sponding supply, and to balance this so as exactly to hit 
