'CM. 



THE 



GARDENER 



JANUARY 1871. 



THE GARDENER. 



HERE is reason to suspect that they who are appointed to, 

 and undertake a share in, the direction and guidance of 

 the public mind, do not estimate their position aright if 

 they do not feel that there is attached to it a consider- 

 able amount of responsibility; and, if its duties be conscientiously dis- 

 charged, it must be a position of labour and anxiety. In coming 

 before our readers as the conductor of the ' Gardener,' such feelings 

 are frankly confessed, more especially as new tributaries are now 

 more than ever augmenting the current of horticulture, which thus, 

 as it advances, is becoming deeper and stronger. 



To inspire confidence by a variety of promises does not form any 



part of our intention. Promises are often made and not fulfilled, 



and have rightly ceased to be regarded by those who wish to form an 



estimate. Journalism will ever stand or fall — fulfil its mission or 



come short of it — by its success or failure in providing interesting 



^ and sound instruction for those who read with the intent to learn. It 



Cv| ought thus to be, and more or less than this we do not hope for. 



22 In the history of this country there never were so many interested 



Cv7 in gardening pursuits as there are now. The owners of large landed 



(^ ♦ estates have ceased to be the almost only owners of gardens, with all 



f "■- that is implied in that term of the necessities, the pleasures, and the 



^^ luxuries of life. Gardens can now be counted by thousands instead 



