THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 101 



wards. To this end, it should be the aim of every one who writes to in- 

 struct on gardening matters, to teach him who has but little time to spare on 

 his garden or greenhouse, to spend that time to the best advantage, so that the 

 fruit of his labour will realize his expectations. 



Many writers on gardening commence their dissertation with the supposition 

 that their readers already know something about the subjects on which they 

 are writing, and thereby, leave untouched many things that would be of infi- 

 nite service to the generality of their readers. Many people have gardens 

 this year, who never had any before, and having sufficient time as well as 

 inclination to turn gardeners themselves, but the Avork being new to them, 

 they require the fullest instruction to proceed to the best advantage. Every 

 one must have a beginning, and for such beginners I would have their instruc- 

 tors begin at the beginning of every subject on which they dilate ; and thus 

 lead their pupils on by slow but sure degrees. 



Those who are acquainted with the whole routine of garden and conservatory 

 work, may smile at my remarks, without thinking that there was a period, in 

 Sir Isaac Xewton's life, when he was ignorant of the alphabet, and a time 

 when they themselves could not tell a thistle from a teazle. 



The following account, of building a greenhouse, may be interesting and 

 instructive as well as bearing me out in what I have advanced : — 



A friend of mine, who is extremely fond of flowers, but knows little or nothing 

 about their cultivation, took it into his head to build a greenhouse ; but he was as 

 ignorant of the construction of such a place himself, as he was of its capabili- 

 ties when finished. However, a greenhouse he was determined to have, and 

 straightway sent for a mason, who was reckoned a good hand at such work, to 

 have his advice upon the subject. " Capital place for a house, sir ; things 

 would grow here beautifully. But what sort of a house do j'ou mean to 

 have ? Of course you'll have a forcing-house attached to the greenhouse, with a 

 parting between; and the heat from the flue, which will run along the front of 

 the greenhouse, will be sufficient to keep that warm enough during severe 

 weather," began and ended the man of mortar. 



" "What do you think that such a house as you speak of would cost ? " en- 

 quired my friend. 



"About ten pounds,'' answered the mason. 



Well, the house was built, but it cost my friend more than double the price 

 named by the mason, and a vast deal of anxiety and annoyance. The mason 

 absented himself several intermediate days during the completion of his work. 

 The carpenter, too, was equally lax. and it was not until he Avas threatened 

 with having his work finished by another that he could be induced to complete 

 his share of the performance. Xext came the painter and glazier, (both in 

 one) and he was no better than the other two. It is true, his visits were many 

 but very " far between,'' the longest of them being of short duration. How- 

 ever, the house, after being in hand for about three months was covered in 

 at last ; and, to give it in my friends own words, " I never was so sick of a 

 job before in all my life. To think," he continued, " that when you want the 

 simplest job done, you must beg and pray, and find a certain amount of judg- 

 ment, too, is both tiresome and disgusting ; and worse than all is, after paying 

 to the fullest extent for everything done, that my house is thoroughly imper- 

 fect, and not worth anything like cost price For instance, as soon as the tank 

 was ready to receive water, I put some in, covered it over, and made my 

 cucumber bed. The 4th of September I put three pips into a pot, and soon 

 had them up, and in course of a few weeks, I plunged them into their allotted 

 bed ; but they had not been there more than a fortnight when the tank began 

 leaking like fury. There was no alternative but to take away my plants, re- 

 move the whole bed, and have the tank fresh cemented. This occupied some 

 time, and was sadly annoying. However, I had it re-cemented, by a fresh 

 hand, who complained sadly of the other's workmanship, which he set about 



