1879. 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



157 



always pleased to see anything new. He came, from the two spurs formed by the opening of the 

 and while admiring its graceful beauty, he no- flowers from the centre. I have always written 

 ticed the name Diclytra, and remarked that was [ the name Dicentra since. 



the name it usually went by, but that Dicentra j [See a note by a botanical correspondent in 

 was more properly the name, as it was so named ' another column. — Ed. (x. M.] 



Literature, Travels I Personal Notes. 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



PRACTICABLE AND IMPRACTICABLE 

 GARDENERS. 



BY RAMBLER, WYNNEWOOD, PA. 



A correspondent on page 105 of the April 

 Monthly, presents as he asserts some pretty 

 rough facts in regard to gardeners, but it inva- 

 riably happens that there are tw^o sides to every 

 subject. Does the correspondent referred to 

 employ gardeners, or mei*ely those who call 

 themselves so ; who usurp the name without 

 the slightest claim to it good or bad ? 



It is well known that on horticultural matters, 

 almost every person has or pretends to have a 

 small smattering of knowledge, and it is generally 

 those who have the least that are most anxious 

 to exhibit what little they possess, and they are 

 also most reluctant in their concessions to those 

 who have more. I have in my day observed 

 that it is frequently the fault of those who are 

 employed in the laborious operations of horti- 

 culture, to be blamed for failure without being 

 praised for success ; and to be censured for casual- 

 ties which they could neither foresee nor avert. 

 Many people who amuse themselves with horti- 

 cultural matters though zealous enough, reason 

 themselves into conclusions as absurd as they 

 are antagonistic to nature. 



I think it will be admitted by all that the 

 mind is more enlightened on any art by prac- 

 tice than by mere study, and the advancement 

 of the same is hindered by an unquestioned sub- 

 mission to dictatorial decisions. The purely 

 practical man is very often bewildered in the 

 mazes of conflicting opinion which might be 

 clearly illustrated by a single fact ; provided that 

 the fact and illustration together are not both 

 obscured by a maze of metaphysical sophistry. 



When we reflect how comparatively little the 

 most enlightened can boast of, and how much 

 must necessarily elude the diligence of the most 

 vigilant observer, must we take for granted the 

 judgement and verdict, simply because the same 

 emanates from some illustrious amateur who 

 can make an ostentatious boast of being the 

 possessor of "fine oaks, broad fields and brood 

 mares ?" Our amateur friends should remem- 

 ber in their critical lucubrations, that there are 

 many things in the rude school of self-experience 

 that theory does not teach. 



Endeavors to discover useful facts are always 

 laudable; but we ought to be silent in regard to 

 dubious results, rather than publish them at the 

 risk of misguiding others. A man ought to de- 

 liberate when he is doubtful, and inquire when 

 he is ignorant, nor ought he to proclaim a prin- 

 ciple upon hasty experiments. Many people 

 advertise for a gardener when in reality the}' 

 want a porter, who of course fears God, and can 

 carry a ton, and I am convinced should your corres- 

 pondent feel disposed to make the inquiries, that 

 he will with rare exceptions, find the gardeners 

 superior to their places ; yet the fact is unfortu- 

 nately too true that they are indiscriminateh' 

 judged, and the value set upon a gardener in this 

 boastive "paper" country of ours, is very little 

 more than that set on a common laborer ; and be- 

 fore horticulture will flourish, we have to " study 

 the comfort and pleasure of our employers." The 

 same we think we know to be our duty, but why 

 not suggest a mutual endeavor? Thinks the 

 same authority, taste has nothing to do with the 

 matter. The science and art of Horticulture, are 

 not far enough advanced in this country with 

 rare exceptions, for the gardener |to have the 

 privileges of studying the pleasure and comfort 

 of their employers, inasmuch as it^ takes all 

 our time to get through the rough work without 



