CHAPTER ON OARDENEES. 



fession, which jirosenLs more seductive allurements for the acquisition of kno\vle<.1c;e, 

 than that of a gardener. There is liardly a tree, plant, or shrub, which he lias imder 

 bis care, but has some beautiful association. "Why even the name is suggestive — 

 it reminds us of some eminent person, place, or event. Take one or two plants for 

 illustration — Gardenia Fortunii, Abies Doufflasii, TrnpccfAum Lohhinnum, Acacia 

 DrummomJii. AVho are these individuals whoso appellations these ])lants assume ; 

 are they alive, or dead ; and where did they travel ? Some are no more ; but the 

 majority are alive, and still actively engaged in the field of operations. The first trav- 

 eled in China, and has introduced during the past eight years some of the most beau- 

 tiful plants that ever graced shrubbery or parterre; the second in Oregon, California, 

 etc., and met with an untimely fate; the third in Chili, the Andes, and Patagonia; 

 the last in Australia. If geography was not taught at the school our supposed 

 inquirer attended when a boy, he will of course have but a vague idea of the exact 

 longitude and latitude of the above-mentioned localities. If this is the case, he can 

 borrow, or for a few shillings buy, a good geography, with maps. A few hours each 

 evening for a week, with this before him, and he will become familiar with the above 

 places — not only with the localities, but with the climate, products, natural history, 

 commerce, political institutions, &c. I feel confident that many gentlemen would 

 tender freely the use of their library to the gardener, if he only manifested a desire to 

 avail himself of its benefits. Some of my gardener readers may smile, perhaps, and 

 shake their heads, saying, " You don't catch my boss lending me books to waste his 

 time with." I would say to such " bosses," if such there are, that they mistake their 

 own interests. At any rate, I consider that an illiterate, coarse, vulgar man, is an 

 evil on a place, especially where there are children ; and such a course of reading that 

 I would recommend, would not, as some may suppose, make him lazy, efieminate, or 

 too sentimental. 



"We all know how susceptible and plastic the minds of the young are — more 

 inclined to imbibe evil than good. Then children must be frequently out of doors, 

 and in the garden ; and they will soon learn, and make use of, all the vulgar 

 slang they may hear from the gardener, or the other men. How necessary, then, it 

 is that he should be a man of good address, moral and exemplary in his character, 

 eschewing everything in the shape of vulgarity that would tend to contaminate or 

 vitiate their taste. Let him converse with them about the plants and llowers, point- 

 ing out any remarkable characteristics or peculiarities they may possess ; or bring 

 them a nosegay from the woods, the genuine denizens of the place, tell them their 

 names, and the meaning or etymology of these names. By these means he may pos- 

 sibly implant a taste for the study of botany — an accomplishment which it is to be 

 regretted so few young ladies in this country attach to their catalogue of studies. 

 Services and attentions of this kind rendered to the children, would not, I ihii)k, in all 

 cases pass unnoticed by the parents. 



The education and qualifications of gardeners ought to claim more attention at the 

 present time than it does. Look at the numerous dwellings — country seats — that 

 are springing up like magic in every direction, many of them first class houses, and 



