18 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, October 11, 1859. 
HOW TO FARM TWO ACRES AND MAKE 
THE MOST OF THEM. 
(Continuedfrom 'page 5.) 
division of the GROUND— Continued . 
Assuming our plot to have a roadside-frontage, it 
would be prudent to have a gate for carting materials on 
that side, and from this gate there must be a clear way to 
the central or open part of the ground. It is not neces¬ 
sary to have a hard prepared road any further than merely 
around the back premises, as that would be sacrificing too 
much ground ; but there must be no trees or other impe¬ 
diments in the way of carting manure or other materials 
over the bulk of the plot. 
This being settled, it will now be requisite to fix on 
one side to have the sundry crops, which are known 
under the general name of kitchen-garden crops, and such 
fruits as are likely to be wanted. This very important 
section of the ground may consist of as much as half an 
acre, if the wants of the family be likely to require that 
much ; but I will here set it down at something less,— 
say sixty rods, which, in ordinary cases, will be ample, as 
we will suppose the winter Potatoes to be grown on the 
other or open portion, which, by way of distinction, we 
shall call “the farm.” 
Having now divided it into the farm and kitchen gar¬ 
den, not recognising any dressed ground or site of pre¬ 
mises, we have 260 rods devoted to farm crops, and sixty 
rods to garden vegetables and small fruits. We now 
come to sub-division and planting; and whatever in¬ 
equalities there may be in the outline of the piece, let the 
line between the garden and farm be a straight one ; and 
if there are two lines, let them be at right angles. This 
regulates the cropping in both plots, and it looks better. 
It will also be advisable to have a walk between the two ; 
and if such walk points direct to the dwelling-house, so 
much the better, as it will be a general thoroughfare. 
This done, plant a row of Gooseberries, six feet apart 
and three feet from the edge of such walk, all round. 
I advise this as much for appearance as utility, as I con¬ 
fess, in a general way, I like fruits planted by themselves 
best. But there is a sort of a furnished appearance to 
ground that has trees or bushes scattered over it that the 
public are very partial to: if such walk go all round, or 
round three sides of the piece, and be planted with Goose¬ 
berries the whole way, there will be ample of them ; but 
in an ordinary way about sixty or seventy trees will be 
sufficient; the rest of the space being planted with Red 
and Black Currants, and two or three White ones. Taking 
care in all cases where practicable to run the walk straight, 
leaving whatever inequalities the fence may present to 
the marginal border, which may be any width, from twelve 
to twenty feet, as may be desirable ; and if it is a south 
border, and backed by a good wall, it will be a great value 
for early things, as well as sites for Peach and Apricot 
trees, and perhaps a Vine. This, however, will be treated 
of hereafter. (See South Border.) 
In addition to the walk round the plot, or rather round 
three sides of it, let there be another one across it in the 
middle, the shortest way ; and if the piece were originally 
about sixty yards long by thirty wide you will then have 
two squares, or nearly so, for vegetables and other crops. 
The space occupied by the fruits'" planted by the sides of 
the walks being somewhat thus -.—The Gooseberries and 
Red and White Currants occupying these borders only, and 
the Black Currants, Raspberries, and Strawberries, some 
portion of the internal square or outside border, as the 
case may be. 
^ , , Rod 
Gooseberry trees, about 60 plants . , , . 7 
Red and White Currants 30 „ . . , 4 , 
Elack Currants . . 30 „ . . . . 4 
Raspberries . . . 30 „ . . . .2 
Strawberries . . 400 „ . . 3 
The walks mentioned above being three feet wide . 5 
OK 
The above items will take up twenty-five of the sixty 
rods in question, the remaining thirty-five being to crop 
with the various vegetables required for the use of the 
family, and in such proportions as may be most in accord¬ 
ance with the particular wishes of those concerned ; but 
to those not acquainted with such things, I will here give 
what is considered a fair proportion of each, and then 
speak more at large on their culture individually. 
Taking, therefore, the growth of vegetables for one 
year, and in the manner in which sometimes two crops 
will be taken during that time, the following may 
be regarded a fair proportion in everything except Po¬ 
tatoes, which, as explained before, are expected to be 
mostly grown on “the farm;” those here mentioned 
being only for the use of the family in the early part of 
the season, and the space they occupy cropped with some¬ 
thing else immediately they are taken up, as will be 
described in the proper place. 
Rods. 
Early Cabbage, two plantations occupying the 
ground one full year or more . . . . 4 
Peas, followed by Broccoli of various kinds . . 6 
Potatoes, followed by Celery, and a small bed of 
winter Spinach, perhaps . . . . . 6 
Scarlet Runners and French Beans ... 2 
Broad Beans, followed by some autumn crop . . 1 
Onions do. do. ... 2 
Carrots, II rod. Parsnips, II rod . . . . 3 
Brussels Sprouts, Savoy, and Red Cabbage . . 2 
Cauliflower and Lettuce exchanging places with 
winter Onion and seed-beds . . . . . 2 
Turnips, two or more crops.II 
Rhubarb . . ...... 01 
Asparagus . . . . . . . .21 
Miscellaneous, including herbs and odd articles . 21 - 
Total . . 35 
It will be easily seen that the proportions of the 
above may be varied at pleasure to suit the tastes of the 
family ; but what is here stated may be taken as a good 
guide for the general mass of consumers.' 
CABBAGES. 
Sow a little of the Early Enfield variety about the 20th 
of July, and a little more from 6th to 10th August. Sow¬ 
ing a little of the Spotborough also at the latter time. 
These may be sown on a small bed in the plot of ground 
marked for miscellaneous crops ; and if very dry weather 
follow, water the bed well, and immediately shade it with 
something. For want of anything better, a little Pea- 
haulm will do, and if laid over some boughs which may 
be put on first, so much the better. Plant out a portion 
ot the first sowing as soon as they are large enough and 
the weather moist, and the remaining portion of the 
ground may be planted in the autumn. If the winter be 
mild they will continue growing, and the first sown will 
come into use. early. Keep any weeds down by slightly 
digging them in; and in early spring the plants will w r ant 
earthing up. It is proper to say, that in planting allow 
them two feet each w r ay, and when they are cut destroy no 
more leaves than can really be helped. The presence of 
old leaves on the stalk facilitates the formation of young 
sprouts, wffiich carry on the supply of Cabbage and 
Greens the whole year; but if at any time there be a 
larger quantity of good, useful heads than is wanted, 
boil some for the pigs, and do not give them to the cow T , 
as they ilavour the milk. 
TEAS AND BROCCOLI. 
These popular vegetables are justly allotted a large 
space in our available ground. For the earliest Peas 
sow Sangster’s IVo. 1, the middle of November, and 
another sowing about 1st January. Two or three crops 
of some tall kind may follow in February, April, and 
May. The Matchless Marrow, or Ne plus Ultra, will 
answer best, if boughs or supports are to be had, but if 
Total . 
