The Sun.
London, England, 1833-12-18 00:00:00

LITERATURE

THE COTTAGE GARDENER.
LOKDON, 1833.
There is as much instructive—aye, and
InlUch amusing reading too, contained in this
ttie
unassuming pamphlet as is sprawled over
surface of many a portly octavo. Mr.
°Priter is a well-informed man ; not encumbered
th fantastic theories, like many of our scientific
tklyista on gardening ; and pounces on his
t,biect with all the zeal and spirit of old Cobbett
What, however, we most admire in his
ttplilet is its simplicity and conciseness. He
h down his cottage regulations with a perti-
st brevity that at once seizes on the attention.
e subject is an important one, and to those
- have witnessed the cottages of South
ales or Devonshire, dropped, as it were,
the feet of sheltering hills and sunny luxuri-
t4Blopes ; or standing in picturesque rows in
't centre of,
well watered valleys, with vines or
gamines twined round their little wooden
''elies, from the roof of which a linnet or
!Iltl(bird sings in a wicker cage ; while the
"rlt garden is a perfect blaze of beauty, with
sorts of flowers ; and the back presents a
'ooclly show of homely fruit and vegetables, with
'Nall yard, alive with cackling poultry, at one
kcis perhaps, and a strip of meadow land, with
eovr or horse grazing in it at the other :—who-
„t
has had the good luck to see these pictu-
Niue, cottages and gardens, where ornament
14, t 1 utility blend with each other in loving
ilOwship, will allow that the subject is one that
i!
11-18 with the most pleasing and healthful associ-
lictos. Were Mr. Poynter's directions, for he has a
ill rural taste, to be followed up, cottages like
'hese, with small, well laid out gardens, would
more general than they are, throughout the
'entry. His present work comprises a calendar
r the months, dwelling particularly on those
Which are best calculated for the sowing of
i4den produce; together with brief directions
,°,t hoeing, grafting, watering, Sec., and descrip-
-I°4 of garden, meadow, and grazing, soils. As
4
'natter of course, Mr. Poynter directs his
th;
„'st„ attention to the vegetable productions of
'4 cottager's garden ; but he by no means
tglects furnishing him with hints for the culti-
4tion of shrubs and flowers. Speaking on this
1144 of his subject he says :
4:` The climate of England is peculiarly favourable for
continuance of flowers in blossom. I mean to write
4."'eiefly as I can on this subject, and only on such flowers
h:an be easily obtained and cultivated by cottagers. I
:It here observe that in this part of garden labours, the
tittager should have the assistance of his wife, more par-
.t%larly than in the cultivation of other articles. Indeed,
should be in general her province to attend to it ; and
there is any profit attached to it, that ought, if possible,
;fall to ber share. Her industry may, in many
141, bring her a new bonnet or gown, or other articles
q
dress, and from the proceeds of flowers she may adorn
Pelf. TVhere you see a garden well stocked with
iloers, kept clean and well managed, you will almost
!te,-*lalts see a neat clean woman as the mistress of the
jtkige. On the contrary, where there are no flowers,
[nosily see filth, rubbish, and confusion about the
:,!ttage, and generally a dirty, nasty slattern for its presid-
,L,t governess. The cultivation of flowers requires care,
;,,lention, and neatness ; and if a WOMaia bestows those
retest on flowers, she will bestow them in an equal
'Vree upon herself."
The words marked in italics contain a world of
truth. The best apples, observes Mr. Poynter—
fruit, by the way, which he is not very ready
t° encourage in cottage gardens—for the la-
bourers' use, are the Hawthorndean and the
keswick codlin ; and the most prolific, conse-
weqUently the most serviceable, gooseberries,
those raised by the Lancashire weavers. It is
ilhgular that hints for the agriculturist should be
t •
urtushed by the operative! With respect to cur-
Nots, the red, it seems, should be the principal
fruit of the cottage garden,—why or wherefore
*ye are not informed. We close this cursory
lotine with Mr. Poynter's observations upon
hoeing, and Derbyshire hoes ;
small "•Tbere are two sorts of this hoe, the large and the
; the iron part of the large one should weigh about
FPound and a half, with a semi-circular neck hammered
t)or.square, the spike part five inches long, by one inch
444 three quarters wide at the widest part, and narrowed
from thence to the point; the face next the hand to be
a
:It; the back to he ridged along the middle to full half
inch thick where the widest part is, and tapering
orli thence towards the sides and point. The point is
ti.
be set nearly at a right angle to the handle; the spike
Part of the hoe to be of good steel well tempered, and it
Must be wade strong enough to bear being struck down
'ee or six inches into bard or stony ground. The handle
may he of white deal, four and a half or five feet long,
teactly fitted into the socket, and secured by a screw or
rivet, which may easily be taken out, as the hoe will
tlecationally want sharpening on a grindstone or fresh
steeling, and which cannot be done without taking off
1,1',e handle. The handle should gradually increase in
thickness from the socket to the end, so as to be a full
'kb, and half diameter at the end. This shape is very
material, as it adds much to the ease and power of using
the hoe. The small hoe, which is, I think, by far the
most useful for every-day purposes, has a handle about
thirty-five inches long, so that it may be used as a walk-
.4l stick, the end being rounded, and a full inch and a
'Alf in diameter at the end, tapering from thence to the
ticket; the iron of this hoe weighs half a pound ; it
Nght to be nearly half an inch thick from the face to the
ridge, and rather less than an inch and a quarter wide at
the widest part ; and the spike from the widest part to
the point full four inches and a half long ; the socket
lazed with a screw or rivet, as the other. In working
between rows of plants of any width where the ground is
4t all hard, and not in a state of fine cultivation, the best
kinds of using these hoes is to walk backward and work
forward setting on near your feet, a full pace or so, and
Working from you until all the soil which you can reach
has been stirred over, then moving backward a pace, work
up to the part first hoed, and join the two parts together,
breaking and levelling with the sides of the hoe ; and
this is the easiest way, as well as the best, because nearly
4)1 the striking down and drawing towards you is done
Into loose soil. Between narrow rows, and where the
land is finely cultivated, the hoes may be drawn through
it backwards; by either of these modes you avoid treading
upon the soil which has been worked. The sides of the
hoes may be used for flat hoeing or earthing up, and the
iron part by itself may be used as a hand hoe. In the
hands of a good labourer, accustomed to the use of it,
the expedition with which land may be brought into a
!elite of cultivation will exceed belief. The common fl
hoes, whether square or triangular, do little more than
Scrape the ground, cutting weeds in half, leaving the
roots in the ground to grow again, and giving no real
csativation to the soil, but which the Derbyshire hoe
effectually does. At first sight of these hoes, many people
are apt to suppose they would be improved by being wider,
but this is not the case, for although more soil would be
drawn hick each time by a wider tool, yet it is the quick
one/ easy deep striking down, and drawing back, which
Constitutes the peculiar excellence of these hoes. For
cleaning, and thereby increasing the growth of young
hedge., they are invaluable; and another great advantage
the smaller hoe pcssesses is this, that it is equally fit for
the use of either men, women, or children.
" It is a common but erroneous notion, that frequent
hoeing in dry weather is injurious to plants. Its effects
are directly the contrary, it creates moisture. Hoeing, as
well as digging, should in general be done deeply, and, if
Possible, when the weather is dry. It is not to be done
merely to kill weeds, but by deep stirring of the soil, to
Rive the roots of plants the means of finding fresh support
arid nourishment."
We would particularly request the attention

of our country readers to the articles on " Ma-
nure and Tillage"- in Mr. POYNTER'S work ; a
zreat deal of new and very important matter
will be found under this head.

EAST INDIA SKETCH BOOK, SECOND
SERIES, 2 V°Ls. LONDON, 1833.
We noticed the first series of this work when
it appeared, a year or two since, and find that
the few defects we then thought it our duty to
point out, have no existence in the pre-ent series.
We then charged the writer with indulging too
much in a splenetic portraiture of character ; in
working up ordinary incidents, that would not
bear elaborate handling, with too much parade of
style and sentiment ; and above all, in looking
at life through the discoloured medium of a
gloomy temperament, which appeared resolutely
bent on shutting out every stray gleam of sun-
shine. There are no besetting sins of this sort
in the volumes before us. They everywhere
give humanity fair play. The characters are
just such as one meets with, or can readily fancy
one may meet with, in real life ; not mere
creatures of the fancy—dim, vague adumbrations
of some particular foible or passion. In her
female sketches, the author (whence we infer
that she is of the gentler sex) is more happy
than in her male. " Alicia Brooke" is a fine,
high-souled maiden, only " a little lower than
the angels," but with quite enough of humanity
about her to interest humanity in her behalf:
It is a pity that this sketch is so very, very
slight—so much of an outline, for it is a con-
ception that deserved to have been worked out
in detail. " Hoossain's Adventure " with an
old woman in a wild Indian jungle, whom he
saved from death, and who, by way of testifying
her gratitude, rescued him from the clutches of
those savage brigands, the Phansegars, abounds
in startling incident, without trespassing too
closely on the " wild and wonderful" of mere
romance. But the description which (despite
the somewhat hackneyed nature of its materials)
which will be read with the most interest, is the
author's account of her twelve hours' stay at
St. Helena, and ascent up the craggy side of
the mountains to the tomb of Napoleon. We
subjoin a portion of this, just premising, by the
way, that it is by no means the most favourable
sample of a book which is full of matter, legen-
dary, historical, and descriptive, mixed up with
occasional sparkling sallies of fancy, and highly
piquant illustrations of Anglo Indian, and
native character, calculated to amuse, more or
less, all classes of readers :
" It is indeed a sequestered spot, meet fir the purpose
to which it is dedicated. Beneath those willows which
so gracefully shadow it, la, who rests beneath in quiet
slumber, atter a life of such unequalled agitation, was ac-
customed to sit with his faithful followers, discussing the
past, and possibly, for who can limit the delusions of hope ?
—forming visions for the future. The place was a
favourite retreat, because there Napoleon felt that freedom
of spirit which he never enjoyed when he knew himself
under the surveillance of another. Here, at least, he was
secure from the severe eyes of his watchful guards; here
be could indulge in dreams of escape without being con-
stantly roused from his vision by the spectre of the strong
arm which encircled him. Here, too, he had, when the
prospect of death lay before him, desired that his body
might mingle with his parent dust. And his last desire
was obeyed. The willows throw their branches over his
grave, which is covered with a single stone, undegraded
by an inscription. All is simple and grand. If permitted
to indulge his own thoughts, the traveller finds the place
admirably suited to the purpose to which it is dedicated,
and looks round at the encircling mountains as the meet
ramparts which enclose the mortal remains of the
mightiest name, that has at once stained and gilded the
page of history.
" But those contingents which constantly bring down
our minds to the level of the vilest common-place, Ere to
be found at the tomb of Napoleon. Here is the sergeant
who shows the place, and has a tale to tell by rote of
all the Emperor's likings and dislikings, reducing the
hero to the level of the merest humanity. The informa-
tion be has to convey, is of course doled out with the same
admit able monotony as is adopted by the verger of St.
Paul's or of Westminster Cathedral, when he thinks fit to
murder history in his anecdotes of the mighty dead. But
this infliction is not the worst. You are invited to drink
from the well which furnished Napoleon with water,—
passe pour vela; a book is handed to you, in which you
are requested to inscribe your name, and being by this
time thoroughly roused from any day-dream in which you
may have indulged, you turn over the leaves in the hope
of stimulating your curiosity, or perhaps reviving your
interest. You are soon satiated with detecting the
struggles of meanness, as it endeavours thus to unite itself
with the greatness that is gone. You read a volume of
names of which the world never has beard and never will
hear; and many of them have ventured to append to their
signature certain vile effusions, declaratory of their senti-
ments for the mighty dead, as if the span of the dwarf
could compass the giant. On this leaf is a bombastic
effusion in French, i❑ which the writer solemnly dedicates
himself to revenge on the English nation the wrongs suf-
fered by Napoleon during his residence at St. Helena; on
the opposite page, you are even more disgusted by some
vul4ar scurrility, the handywork of one of that class,
who think it desirable to prove their nationality by
abusing everything not English. Here the sentimentalist
pours out a rhapsody so inadequate to the subject, that
you close the book in disgust ; and you open it again to
read the appalling words, " John Jones visited the
tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte, on theist of Nov , 1829
—requiescat in pace !" referring, according to every
law of language, to the said John Jones, bum obviously
meant by the writer to be a prayer for the repose of the
dead. These enormities, however, fill some two or three
ledger-like volumes, and we throw them down at length,
wearied and annoyed, quite resolute not to add our un-
distinguished names to the offensive catalogue. We turn,
therefore, to go away, and an urchin meets us with a
bouquet of scarlet geraniums gathered from the hedge
that encloses the garden, in the midst of which stands
the dwelling-house of the sergeant. We are already in
possession of sundry slips cut from the willow trees, and
we add the perishable flowers to our store, turning away,
despite the vexations we have endured, with slow and
lingering footsteps.
6' Of old Longwood nothing remains but the outline
of the building which has been converted into granaries
for the Company's stores. Napoleon never occupied the
present house, wh►ch is now the residence of the governor.
Here, therefore, there was little to satisfy curiosity, and
we retraced our path to the town more silently than we
first travelled along it ; for we had at least gathered
I food for meditation!' "
.ng

WARWICK ELECTION.—It is true that pro-
ceedings have been instituted in the Court of Exchequer
against the following individuals, to recover penalties in-
curred by alleged acts of bribery at the late election. From
Mr. Oran], 5,0001; Mr. J. Tibbits, town-clerk, 3,500/. ;
Mr. Ayres, 1,000/. ; Mr. William Trespass, 9,000/. ;
Mr. Betts, 1,0001. ; and Mr. Buckley, 1,000/. The Act
of Parliament on which these proceedings are founded wan
passed in the second year of George 11., cap. 24.
Leamington Courier.

LORD BYRON'S CONVERSATIONS WITH
LADY BLESSINGTON.-The high opinion expressed by the
Spectator relative to this very piquant production, we
observe, is fully corroborated by the judgment given in
the Atlas, where it is observed that "this work reflects
great credit upon the talents of the author, and appears
to us—judging from the conflicting evidence that has
bithe.to been laid before the public—to be the most com-
plete and satisfactory estimate we have yet seen of the
strange character of Lord Byron. The enigma of dif-
ferences in the moral portraits of his Lordship is com-
pletely solved."
We regret to hear that some vessel has been
wrecked in the channel on the Skerweathers. A vast
quantity of goods of various descriptions have been washed
Ashore on the coasts of Southerdown, Marcross, St.
Donats, and Aherthaw. No bodies have as yet been
thrown up.-.. Cambrian.