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Different Kinds o f Gardens in Britain, relatively to the different Classes o f Society, and
the different Species o f Gardeners.
6322. I n order to form an estimate of tlie importance of gardening to a people, and
of the duties of gardeners in filling different situations, it is not only necessary to notice
the different species of gardeners to whicli it has given rise, bnt also the different kinds o f
gardens; the classes o f society ivhich enjoy them; and the operators and patrons who
cultivate a?id encourage them. In this view, gardens may be arranged as private, commercial,
or public establishments.
S e c t . I. Private British Gardens.
6323. O f private British gardens, the most numerous class of gardens, and those the
most reguiarly distributed over the British Isles, are those of the country labourer, or
what are usually denominated cottage-gardens. Next to his cottage, the labourer finds
his garden the most useful and agreeable object, by supplying a part of his food, affording
an agreeable source of recreation, and presenting an opportunity of displaying his
taste in its cultivation. To . the labourer who has no cottage or garden, human life
presents no hopes; his future extends only to a few days; he has only fixed wages, whicli
the most fatiguing exertions can in no degree increase, and of which, in the case of illness,
he has only the amount of a week to interpose between the absolute want of lodging
and food. But the labom*er who rents a cottage and garden is secure, at all events, of a
roof to cover him; and he knows that he can live for a certain time on the produce of
his garden. Besides, he has that most desirable object, something that he can call his
own ; and is thus enabled to participate in the feelings which belong to the lovo of property
and progeny—feelings often, indeed, mixed with pain, but which nevertheless
have been an object of ambition from the earliest ages of the world.
6324. Cottage-gardens, in a moral and political point of view, are of obvious importance;
attaching the cottager to his home and to his country, by inducing sober, industrious, and
domestic habits; and by creating that feeling of independence which is the best security
against pauperism. (See Denson's Peasant's Voice, Lawrence's Practical Directions,
Poynder's Cottage Gardener, and our own Cottage Manual.')
6325. Tke extent of th e garden of a labourer ought never to be such as to interfere with his regular
employment; unless it is sufficiently so to enable him to dispose of part of th e produce in th e m anner of
a market-gardener; or to keep a cow, and dispose of her produce. But as it will rarely happen th a t in
either case he can compete in the market with th e regular market-gardener or farmer, the most useful
extent of g ard en isth at which will occupy his own leisure hours in th e operations of digging and planting,
and those of his wife and children in hoeing, weeding, and watering. This will generally be something
under half an acre, including the space on which the cottage stands; unless, indeed, the cottager is compelled
to grow his own fu e l; in which case, as we have shown in th e Cottage Manual, p. 10., an additional
acre wiil be found necessary. ^
6326 The vegetables which may be m ost profitably cultivated by th e occupants of this description are,
cabbages of the early heading sorts, hardy borecoles, as the German or Scotch greens, early potatoes,
parsneps, turnips, carrots, onions, leeks, peas, beans, and kidneybeans ; a piant or two of celerv (not to be
blanched), thyme, mint, and chives for seasoning; and a few plants of rhubarb for tarts. T h e mode of
culture suited for a cottage garden will be found in the works above referred to, and in Main’s Catechism
o f G ardenmgi the la tte r is an excellent and a very cheap work.
6327 Thefruit-shi-ubs, which ought never to be omitted, are the gooseberry, and black and red currant,
as standards, in the margins of the plots, or against th e walls or pales, if the garden is surrounded by
these- the kinds of gooseberry should be those which grow with straight upright shoots, as th e Manchester
and Warrington reds, the amber, yellow globe, rough green,and crystal.The fruit gi ceu, aiiu ti/Btai. x iic u uii. turiececos sauhuoiuAlidu buec ou.f
s the hawthornden, and any of th e codling apples,
e best bearers among the baking apples and plum s;
r early use, the grey "russet and“Yofkshire greening, for winter and sp rin g ; and th e damson, bullace,
and wine-sour plums ; th e May duke cherry and a winter bergamot pear may be added. If th e climate ro , OT,-___rororoi.___..XU__T_rojjro. rolroro.,roro OTOTTO.. . . I* , . ._ll. 1. _i_ —----- OT-J.rtth
aiid asliert'^brfaVourablei the most southerly sides of the house may be covered with a white muscadine,
or black July grape, or otherwise with pears in th e best aspects,.currants in th e worst, and a rose and
honeysuckle on the porch. (See Hayward’s Conversations on Gardemng.)
6328. In the management o f cottage-gardens, no opportunity should be neglected by the
cottager of collecting manure from the highways, from the grass, weeds, and mud of
ditches and lanes : leaves of trees, soot-ashes, and all household refuse, should be collected,
and the whole mixed together in the dunghill, and turned frequently over before using.
In the culture of these gardens, the principles of a change of surface, and of a rotation
of crops, should be attended to ; and also that of continually stirring the soil among
growing plants as deep as possible ; of watering in dry weather regularly every evening,
and of gathering by hand all worms, snails, slugs, grubs, and other insects, as soon as
they appear. Of potatoes only the early sorts should be cultivated in the cottage-garden ;
because that plant is now so geuerally a subject of field-culture, that for a main supply
the cottager will find it cheaper to purchase from the farmer, or to rent a few square
yards of a field devoted to drilled green crops, and to cultivate himself as many as may
serve his family and his pigs and poultry. Besides, iu cither of these ways, he is more
certain of obtaining potatoes of good quality, as, even thougli the sorts be changed, still
the quality is much deteriorated by repeated culture on the same spot,
63^9 I m p r o v e m e n t o f cottage-gardens. It is a most commendable practice, and one
that ought to be universally adopted, for proprietors who keep head gardeners to desire
them to attend to the gardens of the cottagers on thcir estates ; to supply them with
proper seeds and plants ; to propagate for them a few fruit trees, and distnbute them in
the proper places m thefr plots ; and to teach them modes of culture suitable for their
circumstances. In this way, at no additional expense whatever to the proprietor, much
happiness is diflnsed ; and constantly recurring objects, too often indicating wretchedness
or at least slovenliness, rendered useful, neat, and even ornamental.
fiqqn Dn-mpifir imnrovpm.ent of cottagers. It would also be a very desirable circumstance if some of the
f e S l e s e r v S or of the fharitably disposed female members of the family would m stru rt
K c o t t a S w w L èn th e ir estates in improved modes of cookery, washing, making, and mending. It
L LtenishTng S w ignorant and how extravagant the humblest classes are m.these respects : it is ra re to
find in onereUon SvprfTW of action, or m uch regard to economy in domestic arrmigement. It appears
te S afef w fr ™at randSS^Som th e making of sofrp to the baking of pastry. Much migffi be done by
i a w L a n T o S tettiger^^ cookini it in different ways before her. F or examffie,_ soup from
re se tlb le s S e ? and a little bu tter only. How ditferent that made by merely boilmg the. ingredients
7u tS u ? e i I S t h S b? browning a part of the butter, adding toasted crumbs of bread, a few cffives
nr n S s and a m tle relerv ! How few cottagers know how to make the most of their bees, which,
besides honev afford a most refreshing and enlivening drink, little inferior, when properly made, to
in a e condition of a d-ay-labourer, is generally so itiucli engaged m procuring the
of subsistence that he is without leisure te invent the machinery, or resort to the manipu-
U H nS n e c S L rv for them into the best fabrics. But let him once be properly instructed
S S S S let h iS S S e the enjoyments of which even his condition o f life is susceptible, and
he w 11 n S e a sü v afteSard^^^^^ them. In a state of labour and servitude, man is g p e ra lly so dull
and stuoid that a l i r S degree of refinement, or sensation beyond that of m ^ e animal feeling, is
test ?n Wm T h S m a n ís hlppily willing te put his hand in his pocket to help him ; but thty mere y
rt vfefeinnrnrv relief from evlL To supply instruction m plain practicable economy, and patiently
te M l o J f f 3 tU l it in th e instructed, is te effect a radical irnprovement m this condìrinrénf
Hfe - which wfü^^^ felt by the subjects of it during their lives ; and, bemg transferred to their
p S e r i t ? like oiher habits and customs, must ultimately ameliorate this most numerous and efficient
iu furtherance of theabove ideas inight
hp pffp'rted bv diitributing tracts on cottage-gardening and house-economy ; but man, grown up in igno-
?fenr??vfthout the h S f reading, does not reìdily receive instruction from books, His want of experience
in book knowledge prevents him from discerning what is practicable from w-hat is speculative, and con-
who is convirsant both with books and practice, seize on what is
fefetefehlP a id feinronriate it to his use. T h e mind requires a certain preparation before it will receive new
f a ? iu S ^ exercised on ordinary matters, before reason can be properly
labour, and in making th e most of its reward.
6332 The cottage-qardms o f artificers, that is, of operarive mechanics and manufacturers,
smaii tradesmen, and other country artisans, difter from those of the common
iabom-cr in being somewliat larger, and in having a larger portion of the space devoted to
tho culture of fnut trees and flowers. Thoy are cultivated by the occupier and his lamily,
and very frequently sufflcient ground is connected with these gardens to enabio the occu-
ffler to L p ¥ cow or horse. These, indeed, are often half-staiwed a^mmals, producing
little benefit to thoir owners beyond the feelings of satisfaction which the idea of possessing
them confers. In several parts, and especially the north of England, and gcneially
in'scotland, the gardens of artisans differ from those of the cottager in being held on a
long building-lease, and in being situated in or around large towns. The most remty-
ablf gai'denf of this description, for riches, order, and heauty, are at Noiwieh where
they first originated ; at Spitalfields, London, among the residences of the silk-wearers,
at Manchester, and other Lancashire and Cheshire towns ; and at Paisley and Glasgow.
The occupiers are generaUy theh- own masters, harung thoir loonis or other implements
of trado within their dweUings, and being employed hy merchant-nmnulacturers, or
taldng their- goods to a common mai-kct. They arc genera ly an intelligent iiidustimus
o C o f men,rého take great delight in their gai-dens and the point of practy m ty ity
thev excel is in the production of florists’ flowors. Norwich is, or used to be, noted toi
cai-Ltions Spitalfields is stiU noted for aU tho competition flowers, but especity for
auriculas and tulips. Manchester for auriculas and pofyanthuses, and also foi the
production of new varieties, and large specimens of gooseberries ; and 1 aisley and
fflréréfe L pinks! The florists in Lancashire, indeed, excel in every branch of then-
profession, andare also famous for theh- success in cultivating tte potato, which was m
B-eneral use in that county long hcforo it was kuown in many others.
6333. The farmer’s garden varies in extent ftpm an eighth part to a tyole .acio
or upwards accordmg to the kind of farm. Lord Ivames (Gent Fami.,y . 29i.)
considers a fruitful kitchon-gardou as the chief accommodation of a fann ; yet farmers
r r é n t r é W very little attention to their gar-dens, even where the best systems of
agi-fcultiu-e arc preseiwed. They are managed in the smallest farms by the farmei himself
with the occasional assistance of his men, and of the temale part of his family ; m
those of a higher kind, whero the farmer is not personally .an operator, they aic ma