A CHAPTER ON GAEDENEKS. 



wliicli in many situations he is. Is the fault his own, or does the blame attach to his 

 employer ? I am inclined to think that in very many cases blame ought to rest on 

 his own shoulders. I admit that many good gardeners frequently become careless 

 and indifferent from the fact that their services and ability are not properly appreciated 

 by their masters ; but I think one reason why he makes no distinction between the 

 gardener and the other servants, is because he actually can not see any difference, 

 either in address, intellectual acquirements, or anything else. It is to this I would 

 particularly wish to call the attention of the gardener. There is truth in the adage, 

 that " if we wish to command respect from others, we must first learn to respect our- 

 selves ;" and I should infer, from the personal appearance of some gardeners, that 

 they have entirely lost all self-respect. It may appear a small affair to some to allude 

 to the subject ; but, while I abominate all coxcombry and dandyism, at the same time 

 I do not see why a gardener should not be clean in person and decent in apparel. It 

 is too delicate an affair for an employer to allude to ; but I feel assured that many 

 men would hold a higher place in the esteem of their employers, if they paid a little 

 more attention to this. 



A gardener ought to be intelligent, and well informed about every thing appertain- 

 ing to his business. There are many who are well posted up in politics, the price of 

 lots, (fee, and who do not know the names even of half the plants under their care, 

 saying nothing of their native habitats, introduction into the country, «fec. Others 

 again have I met with (despisers of books, catalogues, (fee.,) relying on their own 

 unaided practice, as they say, for their knowledge, who have affirmed that they could 

 tell whether a plant was hardy or tender, by its appearance. I should like to hear 

 the verdict of one of these knowing physiologists on two such plants as Auracaria 

 excelsa and Lihocedras Chiliensis, supposing they had never seen them before. 



As regards information from books and practice, the latter I admit is the most 

 important; but at the present day, the gardener who never reads, whatever he may 

 think to the contrary, is most certainly behind the age in Avhich he lives. I know 

 that the majority of gardeners have received only the rudiments of an education ; 

 neither have some of the greatest men of the past and present ages — they have been 

 self-taught. What education did Sir Joseph Paxton receive? and now look at the 

 position he holds. Some jealous minds may sneer, and say that had it not been for 

 the patronage of his princely employer he would have been nothing more than any 

 ordinary gardener. I do not believe it ; recollect there is no royal road to learning. 

 Doubtless he met with every encouragement, but his success must be mainly attribu- 

 ted to his untiring industry and perseverance. Although I am not personally 

 acquainted with Sir Joseph, I think I have sufficient acquaintance with such a man 

 to warrant the assertion that (if called upon to do it) he would cast his title at her 

 Majesty's feet, and his property after it, rather than sacrifice or be robbed of the 

 knowledge he possesses — the information he has obtained from books, observation, 

 men, practice, (fee. Such is the value of knowledge. Of course, in this country 

 a gardener does not expect to receive the honor of Knighthood, but if he will 

 " a man can be a man for a' that." I do not know of any trade, business, or 



