QU.VLIFICATIONS OP A GOOD GARDENER. 



Our late friend Downing, — whose untimely death we all lament, — understood 

 the ix)sition well. He knew how to analyze the great compound, Horticulture, 

 and knowing how he was enabled to judge of the various qualifications of its profes- 

 soi"s. In him the true gardener had a friend. We mourn his loss. 



We are frequently taunted with such expressions as, why do you not produce such 

 specimens of your skill as are to be found at the Chiswick shows, and others of like 

 quality of which you are wont to boast ? As Shakespeare says, " Aye, there's the 

 rub." Wliy, in some few instances, where the hands of the gardener can manage to 

 go through any particular subject, it is done ; for example, in some of our fruit houses, 

 and occasionally, if not over burdened with other work, in plant growing, (though in 

 tills case but seldom.) It must be remembered that the whole of such productions 

 requires more skilled labor than it is possible for one pair of hands to do, and as we 

 have not the same quality of laborers as assistants, as are there found in abundance, 

 the same perfection cannot be attained. There a head gardener is frequently 

 imjwrtuned to accept with a premium, intelligent, enthusiastic, smart youths, who are 

 yearning to learn the profession. Here we can seldom obtain anything better than a 

 man of mature age, whose intellect has never been exercised, who, in too many cases, 

 scarcely knows the right end of the tool that is put into his hand, and he forsooth, 

 after getting sufficient knowledge to handle it somehow, leaves you to set up as a 

 master gardener. Under existing circumstances, the quality of assistant labor is not 

 the fault of oiu* employers, many of whom are aware of the fact, and give allowance 

 accordingly. So long as the present system of obtaining gardening labor is in exist- 

 ence, we may not look forward with a progressive eye. We want more home made 

 gardenei-s, so as to infuse a portion of the native intelligence into the business. Let 

 horticulture be advocated and acknowledged as a science more strenuously in the 

 newspapers, in the different periodicals, and throughout society, so as to make it 

 appear worth while for the intelligent youths of the country to take it up, let it be 

 spoken of on the hearthstone as something worthy of their acceptance, educate them 

 so that they may apply their minds for a time to close study and observation of nature, 

 and withal, entice the cottagers to cultivate their little plots, by encouraging them at 

 the horticultural societies, so that the family growing up may acquire a taste for these 

 things, for it is from such homes that native gardeners must come. Let us have the 

 same quality as assistants, and I presume that it will be seen that there are some men 

 of Chiswick quality in the country, who can show the same culture. Add to this a 

 better knowledge of gardening affairs on the part of employers, so that they may 

 know how to appreciate the value of a good gardener, and he will be stimidated to 

 fresh exertions. Likewise, establish public horticultural and experimental gardens, 

 that we may have something to look up to. Give the subject a national character — 

 let it be seen that the nation is interested in the matter, and we will subscribe our 

 quota, in the performance of duty, by rendering assistance in making horticulture 

 worthy of this gi-eat and free country. Let us have opportunity and encouragement 

 instead of ridicule, and we will do our best to equal the most perfect culture in the 

 world — to establish a true position and standing for the educated gardener, and 



