QUALIFICATIONS OK A GOOD OAKDKNKIL 



THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A GOOD GARDENER. 



IJV WM. CnOULTON, NEW BKIGIITON, N. Y. 



In tlio columns of your widely spread journal there Las appeared from time to time 

 vai-ious articles respecting the qualities of gardeners, and as I believe that you have 

 their true interest at heart, you will perhaps consider the few following remarks 

 admissable. 



To combine in one man the capability of performing and carrying through the 

 various and multitudinous detail of operations required in any establishment where 

 the different departments of fruit, flower, and vegetable forcing, and general artificial 

 growing of plants, besides the regular routine of the fruit, vegetable, flower gardens, and 

 pleasure grounds, to say nothing of other minor affairs which he has to take charge 

 of, requires something more than being an ordinary mechanic. Such a man as this 

 is possessed of a good education. In most cases that education has been mainly 

 obtained by his own exertion and adapted to his intended field of labor, consequently 

 the more valuable, not only to himself, but to his employer also. He must neces- 

 sarily be a man of observation, energ}' and foresight, and as this class of persons have 

 more or less of enthusiasm in their character, it is diflacult to conceive how (if honest, 

 and I believe he possesses his share of this good quality,) he can be otherwise than a 

 good and valuable servant, in any situation where his services may be required. In 

 advocating the cause of gardeners, it is only for the above class of men that I wish 

 for indulgence. Such a class ought to have, and in some cases do receive, their due 

 encouragement; but too often they are classed along with the clodhopper and wheel- 

 barrow trundler, too many of whom are spread over the country, confirming the 

 old adage, '' Impudence and ignorance go together," and go strutting about with an 

 air of effrontery that is disgusting to common sense, deceiving for a time till all is 

 ruined, when they are turned out, and " go and do likewise " elsewhere. 



Horticulture is now approaching the perfection in this country which it has attained 

 in Europe, and is likely in time to out-rival her in good culture, if not in artificial 

 grandeur ; but the progress to be made depends in part upon the quality of those 

 practically engaged in it. We want more good men and less bad ones, and we want 

 the good quality to be recognised as something more than the " hewer of wood and 

 drawer of water ;" never fear that a good gardener will not work. I believe that I 

 speak the sentiment of all the best men, by saying, respectable industry is our motto. 

 It is rather degrading to think, that after many years spent in close study, observation, 

 and the acquiring of that knowledge most suitable to the interests of employers, and 

 the better performance of the duties required, to bo i)laced on a level with the pre- 

 tender and empiric. I sincerely hope that those who possess gardening establishments 

 will begin to acquire a more practical knowledge of such things, so as to be able the 

 more readily to detect the ignorance that is too often practiced upon them. A good 

 gardener will never fear his employer being acquainted with the detail of his work; (P 

 for if his operations are correct, they will the more readily be seen and appreciated. ^ 



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