426 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



opportunity. We have had to grow into our tasks, mak- 

 ing our way often against obstructions which will be re- 

 moved from your path by your instructors. I congratu- 

 late you upon your opportunity. I have no doubt that 3'ou 

 will find positions of dignity much more easily than the 

 men who have failed to secure a technical education. 

 You wiH pardon me no doubt if I intimate to you deli- 

 cately that I hope that you will not allow your admirable 

 scientific training to override or obscure the necessity of 

 sound, practical experience and that you will be cautious 

 not to give too great attention to theory as against prac- 

 tice. 



And now let me make some more specific suggestions. 

 The man who is entrusted with the management of an 

 estate ought, it seems to me, first of all to thoroughly 

 understand outside work. By this I mean that he must 

 know how thoroughly to take care of all the grounds 

 about a mansion. He should know how to build roads, 

 move trees, plant shrubbery, construct the minor buildings 

 about the place, deal with the architect, being able to 

 understand his desires and to make practical suggestions 

 to him. He should be able also to see to it that the 

 masons and carpenters really do what the work of the 

 place demands. On most estates the superintendent has 

 the care of all the buildings, and must be able to direct 

 the work of all the trades, painters, paperhangers, car- 

 penters and the like who may be called upon at any time 

 to execute repairs on the establishment. He will, of 

 course, have to know enough about inside work in the 

 greenhouses to be able to direct the work of the garden- 

 ers whose daily tasks must be set by him. In America 

 hitherto, greenhouse work has meant almost exclusively 

 the growing of flowers, but in recent years there has been 

 a rapid development of fruit growing under glass. 1 

 make bold to say to you that personally I think no work 



that you will have to do you will find more fascinatingly 

 interesting than the growing of supremely finely finished 

 fruit. I hope that in all this work in the greenhouse 

 and outside you will keep ever before you the strictest 

 principles of economy in management. Much more de- 

 pends on this than many a young and enthusiastic super- 

 intendent may think. Strict economy may make the 

 estate a great pleasure to its owner when extravagance 

 on your part might easily disgust even a man of large 

 means. Never allow yourself to think that any matter 

 however small is beneath your notice. You must keep in 

 mind at all times the necessity of watching both inside 

 and outside work so that, for example, the rotation, plant- 

 ing and saving of crops be done in the right order, at the 

 right time and in the best manner. Let me recommend 

 to you also that you shall undertake some hybridizing. 

 Too little of this has yet been done in America. ,,It may 

 mean for your reputation or a very valuable income, to 

 produce some plant which represents a marked improve- 

 ment over its predecessors. You will find, I think, the 

 breeding and care of cattle most fascinatingly interesting, 

 The breeding of poultry you will. I think, enjoy, and will 

 find it comparatively easy with the incubators and brood- 

 ers which may now be secured. I strongly advise you to 

 think much and carefully about the maintenance of dis- 

 cipline. \\'ithout discipline no estate can be well man- 

 aged. You must always be kind to the men under your 

 control. You must be firm ; must exercise your authority 

 with judgment and consideration. It seems to me that 

 you ought to be particularly careful to show by your own 

 example to the less well informed how to do their work 

 with constant heed to the employer's best interests. 

 Watch the little things personally. "Trifles make perfec- 

 tion, but perfection is no trifle." — Paper read before 

 Massachusetts Agricultural College. 



Not how cheap 

 But how good 



Ralph M. Ward & Co. 



71 Murray St. 



The> Lily Mouse 



Representing 



New York City 



SEITARO ARAL YOKOHAMA, JAPAN 



Japanese lily bulbs; Giganteum, Formosum, Hardy Aura- 

 tums, Rubrum, Magnificum, Album, and fancy varieties. 

 All kinds of Japanese nursery stock, stone lanterns, dwarf 

 trees. Iris, Paeonias, seeds, etc. 



MARTIAL BREMOND, OLLIOULES. FRANCE 



French bulbs for forcing; Roman Hyacinths, Paper Whites, 

 Freesias, Candidums (for outside), and other varieties. 



C. PETRICK, GHENT, BELGIUM 



Belgium nurser}' stock. Palms, Araucarias, Azaleas Indica, 

 Pontica or Mollis, Rhododendrons, Camellias, Bay Trees, etc. 



Our business is strictly import only. We carry no stock, with the 

 exception of Cold Storage lily bulbs. Orders for above goods 

 should be placed in time for direct importations. 



Catalog upon request. Strictly high grade goods only. 

 No order too small nor too large, if given in time. 



