112 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  30,  1903. 
Visit  to  a  Market  Garden. 
Several  horticulturists  lately  made  an  inspection  of  the 
nursery  and  market  garden  at  Craigmillar,  Edinburgh,  belonging 
to  Mr.  John  A.  Murie,  and  vere  mucli  gratified  with  what  they 
sawj  To  begin  with,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  soil  is  of  a 
light,  porous,  friable  nature,  on  a  gravelly  subsoil,  naturally 
\vell  drained.  The  feeding  and  manuring  of  the  soil  is  on  a 
liberal  scale,  for  without  continuous  applications  of  the  necessary 
plant  food  such  excellent  crops  as  were  examined  could  not  be 
produced. 
On  entering  the  grounds  the  first  crop  that  attracted  attention 
was  a  large  brake  of  Cos  Lettuce,  I’eady  for  the  market.  The 
plants  are  so  equal  that  had  they  been  grown  in  a  mould  they 
could  not  have  been  more  like  each  'other.  Leeks  w'ere  here  by 
hundreds  of  thousands  in  all  stages,  some  lately  idanted,  others 
already  a  good  size  having  been  planted  about  two  months. 
Parsley  is  grown  extensivmy,  and  the  brakes  of  Cauliflowers, 
Brussels  Sprouts,  and  Cabbage  are  healthy  and  vigorous. 
We  noticed  a  piece  of  ground  lately  cleared  of  early  Turnips 
which  had  been  cleaned  (not  dug),  marked  off  in  squares;  and 
was  in  process  of  being  planted  with  Cauliflowers  and  Cabbages, 
the  latter  grown  from  seed  of  Mr.  Murie’s  saving,  and  a  particu¬ 
larly  fine  strain  it  was.  Early  Potatoes  are  grown,  but  not  so 
extensively  as  the  green  crops  above  mentioned.  It  is  worthy  of 
notice  that  the  soil  is  clean  and  free  of  weeds,  and  that  it  is  most 
liberally  treated  with  fertilising  material  suited  to  the  various 
crops.  It  is  gratifying  to  see  so  many  good  vegetables  grown 
within  two  miles  of  the  centre  of  Edinburgh.  The  offices  and 
sheds  for  packing  and  conducting  the  business  are  commodious;  a 
large  well-built  house  is  devoted  to  the  forcing  of  Rhubarb  and 
the  growth  of  Mushrooms.  Mr.  Murie  accompanied  the  party 
and  contributed  information  of  a  valuable  nature  to  those  who 
had  the  pleasure  of  being  present. — P.  L. 
Plan  of  a  Bothy. 
Although  two  plans  of  model  bothies  have  been  recently  pub¬ 
lished  in  the  Journal,  for  the  sake  of  diversity  if  for  nothing: 
more,  the  reproduction  of  the  one  herewith  given,  and  one  more 
soon  to  follow,  may  be  allowed.  Readers  in  general  will  agree 
that  too  many  good  plans  of  bothies  can  hardly  be  given. 
The  plan  given  to-day  was  one  of  those  contributed  in  the 
competition  last  April,  and  came  from  Tekley,  Yorkshire.  The 
following  letter  and  particulars  accompanied  the  drawing:  — 
The  chief  aim  in  preparing  this  design  has  been  to  make  the 
general  arrangement  as  simple  and  economical  as  possible,  and 
to  produce  a  design  which  shall  meet  the  dome.stic  requirements 
necessaiw  for  the  comfort  and  accommodation  of  six  gardeners. 
The  plan  consists  of  a  large  kitchen,  24ft.  Gin.  hy  14ft.  Gin., 
with  small  pantry,  Gft.  by  4ft.,  and  with  large  ingle-nook,  12ft. 
by  3ft.,  side  lighted,  and  with  shelves  provided  at  the  .side  of  the 
range  for  utensils,  &c.,  whilst  cooking.  The  kitchen  has  a  south¬ 
east  aspect,  being  entered  on  the  east  side,  and  lighted  from  that 
side  by  two  windows,  and  at  the  other  end  by  a  mullioned 
window,  which  gives  light  to  the  sink.  The  pantry  is  added  as 
an  extra  convenience,  which  can  be  dispensed  with  if  desired. 
A  store  or  extra  bedroom,  10ft.  by  Gft.  Gin.,  is  approached 
from  the  kitchen,  a  corridor  4ft.  wide  leading  to  the  six  bedrooms, 
and  back  entrance.  In  the  yard  are  placed  coal  place.  Oft.  by 
Gft ;  ashes,  Gft.  by  3ft. ;  and  two  earth  closets,  Gft.  by  3ft.  These 
latter  outbuildings  are  roofed  with  4in.  concrete  slabs. 
From  the  kitchen  also  access  is  gained  to  a  lavatory_,  which 
is  i^rovided  with  three  lavatory  basins  and  a  bath,  which  the 
author  of  the  design  considers  essential  where  so  many  men  are 
concerned,  and  for  this  arrangement  it  has  been  taken  for  granted 
that  water  is  easily  obtainable,  and  therefore  the  extra  amount 
of  cost  entailed  by  the  use  of  piping  is  not  to  be  considered  when 
compared  with  the  comfort  this  arrangement  affords.  The  cold 
supply  is  laid  on  to  the  bath  and  kitchen  sink,  but  there  is  no  hot 
supply,  so  that  when  hot  water  is  wanted  it  will  be  obtained  by 
heating  the  amount  rec^uired  in  the  kitchen  range,  a  side  boiler 
being  provided  for  that  purpose.  Of  course,  if  this  arrangement 
proves  to  be  too  expensive,  the  water  piping  can  be  dispensed 
with  and  water  carried  in  for  dome.stic  purposes. 
A  level  site  has  been  chosen,  and  this  is  drained  hy  means  of 
land  pipes  placed  in  rows  12ft.  apart  along  the  building,  the  whole 
of  the  site  then  being  covered  with  4in.  rough  concrete.  Sleeper 
walls  are  provided  in  kitchen  as  extra  support  for  joists,  and 
proper  ventilation  to  .space  under  floor,  as  shown  on  section. 
The  walls  are  14in.  stock  brick  on  9in  brick  or  concrete  foot¬ 
ings,  pebble  dashed  outside,  and  two-coat  plaster  inside.  Plinth 
course  being  made  by  a  double  course  of  slates.  Remaining  walls 
4 Jin.  thick. 
Wooden  floors  have  been  used  throughout,  as  the  joists,  being 
of  small  scantlings  (1ft.  Gin.  apart)  in  short  lengths  and  seconds 
quality,  will  not  differ  so  much  with  concrete  in  cost,  and  the 
rooms  are  made  much  more  comfortable  by  its  use,  but  this  is 
a  detail  which  is  easily  altered. 
The  roof  is  composed  of  3Jin.  by  2in.  spars,  9in.  by  2in.  hip 
rafter, s.  Tin.  by  2in.  ridge,  4Jin.  by  3in.  wall  plate,  3in.  by  2in. 
ceiling  joists,  and  roof  trusses  where  hips  intersect  of  scantlings 
3in.  thick,  the  roof  being  covered  with  pantiling. 
Doors  throughout  are  plain  cross  braced  batten  doors,  with 
the  exception  of  the  front  door,  which  is  double  margin,  with 
flush  boarded  panels,  the  two  top  panels  being  glass.  All  skirt¬ 
ings  are  Sin.  by  lin.  plain  chamfered  and  monlds,  3in.  by  lin. 
The  windows  are  casement  openings  outwards,  the  top  light  fixed. 
Shelves,  18in.  by  lin.,  in  store,  pantry,  and  kitchen.  A  cup¬ 
board  is  arranged  over  a  nest  of  drawers  in  the  south-west  corner 
of  the  kitchen  (as  shown  on  section).  The  inside  walls  are  covered 
with  two  coats  of  plaster,  with  the  exception  of  the  coal  place 
and  E.C.’s,  which  are  whitewashed.  The  glass  is  21oz.  through¬ 
out,  and  Gin.  by  4in.  zinc  gutters  and  2iin.  fall  pipes  connected 
with  4in.  eartlienware  drains  are  used  for  the  disposal  of  rain 
water. 
All  expo.sed  woodwork  is  given  two  coats  of  paint.  The 
estimates  for  the  various  branches  of  the  work  I  have  tabulated 
on  the  drawing,  and  as  I  have  gone  as  thoroughly  into  the  matter 
as  time  will  allow,  I  think  the  amounts  are  fairly  correct. — 
Interested  and  Friend. 
Tubs  for  Shrubs. 
■NVe  have  the  greatest  faith  in  the  constructive  ability  of  gardenersj 
and  their  faculty  to  convert  various  sundry  materials  to  uses  as 
occasions  demand.  When  a  tub  for  a  shrub  or  for  plants  is  necessary, 
the  gardener  furnishes,  from  divers  sheds  and  cellars,  the  casks  and 
barrels  he  possesses.  He  examines  them,  he  chooses  the  fittest ;  he 
cleans,  purifies,  paints,  and  adorns  them,  and  in  other  ways  prepares 
a  fitting  receptacle  for  his  erstwhile  needs. 
Ever  and  anon,  however,  the  true  ornamental  gardener  feels  that 
a  more  finished  article  than  his  limited  resources  allow  him  to  produce 
would  be  better ;  but  failing  in  his  knowledge  about  where  to  get 
the  superior  article,  the  old  green  painted  tubs  are  still  requisitioned. 
It  is  a  pleasure,  therefore,  to  be  able  to  name  a  firm  that  has  lately 
specialised  in  ‘Hubs 
for  shrubs  ” — to  wit, 
Messrs.  Champion  and 
Co.,  corner  of  Old 
Street  and  City  Road, 
London,  E.C.  At  their 
extensive  premises 
one  can  see  all 
patterns  and  sizes  of 
the  most  excellently 
finished  ornamental 
tubs,  made  of  sea¬ 
soned  oak  and  teak 
Avood,  polished,  and 
slightly  varnished, 
and  handsomely 
coopered  with  hoops 
that  are  either  copper 
or  are  galvanised,  and 
painted  according  to 
order.  Numbers  of 
our  readers  will  have 
personal  experience  of  the  beauty,  substantiality,  and  utility  of  such 
tubs  as  we  allude  to.  The  figures  illustrating  these  notes  depict 
three  main  forms  of  tubs  such  are  kept  in  stock  by  the  firm  ;  )mt 
Messrs.  Champion  make  any  pattern,  if  ordered.  Thus,  should  one 
have  an  inconvenient,  aivkward,  or  unsightly  coimer  in  need  of  a 
special  style  of  article,  what  can  be  done  is  to  sketch  the  place  as  it 
appears,  and,  along  Avith  measurements,  send  these  to  Champions 
for  their  suggestions  and  Avorkmanship.  The  Avood  employed  in 
making  of  these  tubs  is  all  seven  to  ten  years  seasoned.  The  cheapest 
and  most  usually  sought  for  tubs  are  those  of  round  form.  The  four 
stock  sizes  are:  No.  1,  |-in  Avood,  15in  high,  18in  diameter  (top). 
No.  2,  J-in  Avood,  19in  high,  22in  diameter.  No.  3,  1-in  Avood,  23in 
high,  26in  diameter.  No.  4,  IJ-in  Avood.  27in  high,  30in  diameter. 
The  prices  are:  No.  1,  15s. ;  No.  2,  21s. ;  No.  3,  25s. ;  No.' 4,  32s.  6d. 
From  the  standpoint  of  usefulness,  probably  the  square  tubs  rank 
next.  These  are  made  Avith  rounded  corners,  and  look  really 
admirable.  The  triangular  tubs  are  extremely  elegant  and  useful  for 
a  A'ariety  of  purposes.  The  greatest  novelty,  hoAvever,  are  the  squares 
Avith  detachable  sides.  Such  arrangement  Avill  be  of  groat  assistance 
to  cultiA’ators  of  Oranges,  Bays,  Hollies,  &c.,  Avhere  these  are  in  tubs, 
as  the  soil  can  be  removed  from  one  or  more  sides  at  a  time,  and  fresh 
material  added  Avithout  having  to  go  to  such  trouble,  as  Avell  as  risk, 
as  is  necessary  in  ordinary  fixed  tubs.  These  tubs  cost  50s. 
The  di’ainage  of  the  tubs  is  thoroughly  good,  and  rollers  can  be 
affixed  to  the  base  of  each  tub  if  necessary,  and  this  is  eminently 
serviceable  for  the  large  sizes.  Well  made  tubs,  like, these,  add 
immensely  to  the  appearance  of  forecourts,  terraces,  halls,  corridors, 
odd  corners,  and  in  the  garden  generally,  and  they  are  made  to  last  for 
generations. 
Round  Tub. 
