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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



which has made Mr. Fislier famous. The results of Mr. 

 Walsh's work in roses of the Wichuriana type are little 

 short of marvelous. The man who does such things is a 

 public benefactor. But if, while man can do something in 

 breeding from types, nature is always at work and often 

 produces, we know not how, valuable "breaks" in seed- 

 ling or sports, which are frequently lost because the gar- 

 dener fails to recognize their merit and propagate and 

 perpetuate them. Private gardeners have done much in 

 the past to preserve and propagate good new things and 

 should be ever on the alert to take advantage of any 

 opportunities along this line which kind nature may afford. 

 The famous Seckel pear was a "chance" seedling found 

 growing along the roadside and man had no hand in its 

 origin, but some one should receive the blessings of gene- 

 rations for preserving and propagating it. 



One of the main branches of work for the private gar- 

 dener is the growing of vegetables. Our enterprising 

 seedsmen are continually introducing new varieties and a 

 large percentage of these novelties have merit and occa- 

 sionally there is a great advance over previous varieties. 

 Be ever on the alert for the good new things. 



There should be an abundance of vegetables for Spring, 

 Summer and Fall, and where the facilities exist, in the 

 Winter also. George Eliot says : "No man can be wise 

 on an empty stomach," and I5en Jonson, that "a good 

 dinner lubricates business." No dinner is complete with- 

 out fresh vegetables and many of the very finest, luscious 

 and delicately flavored cannot be purchased in the mar- 

 kets, because they do not pay to grow commercially. If 

 you can furnish your employer a regular supply of these 

 dainties, you will find yourself in close touch with him, 

 and he .is likely to help you in any of your plans. Vege- 

 tables grown under glass are superior to those grown 

 outdoors, in tenderness, crispness and fine flavor and 

 every large garden should have special houses or ranges 

 of houses for this purpose; these need not be expensive 

 structures, and may be in any out-of-the-way place so as 

 not to interfere with the architectural effect of the plant 

 structure ; connected with these vegetable houses there 

 could be other inexjjensive houses where seedlings could 

 be started, dormant plants kept, and much of the i«epotting 

 and unsightly work done, thus giving opportunity to keep 

 the show houses more attractive. 



Now, a few words on the importance of industry. From 

 the very earliest times, the great men have extolled the 

 value of industry, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider 

 her ways, and be wise" has served for the text of many a 

 powerful sermon ; the expression that "Genius is only an 

 infinite capacity for work" has been endorsed by many 

 thinkers. Napoleon said, "I have never found the limit 

 of my capacity for work." In short, the men who have 

 made their mark in the world have been at a loss for 

 words to express themselves strongly enough on the sub- 

 ject. Don't be afraid of work and don't forget that "Folks 

 who never do more than tliey are paid for, never get 

 paid for more than they do." Let not the amount of pay 

 he your main consideration, rather see how much and how 

 well you can do the work ; the real reward that life holds 

 out for work is the increased capacity to do more and bet- 

 ter work, and consequently greater satisfaction and en- 

 joyment. The man who wants an indolent life is not fitted 

 for a gardener. Many good men fail to do their best for 

 want of courage, and faith in themselves, and from lack 

 of energy and ambition ; there are not so many failures 

 from want of capacity. Hrvrick says: "The great man 

 is not so great as folks think, nor the stupid man so stupid 

 as he seems." 



The late Peter Henderson, a great gardener, close ob- 

 server and successful business man, often said that he did 

 not think there was so much difference in the mental ca- 



jiacity of men as in their courage, ambition and industry. 

 Have faith in yourself and loyalty to your employer. I 

 am fond of saying of Fra Elbertus, "If put to the point, 

 an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness." 

 Don't be afraid to undertake all the time bigger things; 

 your ability will grow in your earnest attempts to accom- 

 plish ; and, don't be afraid of manual labor if occasion re- 

 quires ; it will not lessen, but increase your mental power ; 

 a stiffening and strengthening of the spinal column begets 

 no weakness of the mind; "a sound mind in a sound 

 l)ody." The immortal Lincoln split rails, and it was only 

 recreation for Gladstone to cut down immense trees with 

 an axe. The advantage of outdoor exercise is recog- 

 nized everywhere. The orator in the English Parliament 

 exclaimed : "The battlefields of England were won on the 

 cricket field of Eton" ; there was as much force in the re- 

 joinder of the Irish member: "They were won on the bogs 

 of Ireland." 



One of the most encouraging points in gardening is the 

 improvement in greenhouse architecture since the days of 

 small glass and heating by brick flues. Many of the more 

 ambitious structures of early date were failures for prac- 

 tical purposes ; architecturally effective, they were fre- 

 quently poorly heated and otherwise defective from a cul- 

 tural standpoint. Thanks to frequent consultations in re- 

 cent years between architects and advanced gardeners, the 

 more modern houses have gained in appearance and are 

 almost perfect in producing results. 



The problem of compensation for gardeners is an in- 

 teresting one ; most gardeners think it is poorly paid work, 

 and perhaps it is, considering how much has to be learned. 

 1 think, however, the money reward rests largely with the 

 individual ; there can be nothing like a uniform scale of 

 wages. I had, for instance, paid my foreman about $1,200 

 a year, but I must say that one to whom I paid $2,000 per 

 annum was the most profitable one to me. I think, on 

 the whole, the outlook for first-class gardeners is good. 

 Never in the history of nations has wealth increased so 

 fast as in the United States during the past quarter of a 

 century, and a majority' of the wealthy men will, in the fu- 

 ture, I venture to say, find their highest pleasure in de- 

 veloping their garden and country estates. On the fine 

 old estates in England, France and Germany, no one is 

 more respected, nor in closer, kindlier touch with the/ 

 owner than the head gardener. As fast as men fit them- 

 selves in character, deportment and ability, this is coming 

 to pass here ; but, admitting that salaries might in some 

 cases be justly increased, we must not forget that garden- 

 ingf has many advantages for those who are fond of it. 

 It is the most healthful of all occupations ; it is one of the 

 fine arts. Ruskin has defined fine art as any in which the 

 head, hand and heart work together. I cannot see why 

 the gardener cannot take as much pleasure as the owner. 

 "He who admires is the real possessor" ; "there is no an- 

 cient gentlemen, but gardeners." 



"Give fools their gold and knaves their power, 



Let fortune's bubble rise and fall. 

 Who sows a field, or trains a flower. 

 Or plants a tree, is more than all." 



NATIONAL FLOWER SHOW 



APRIL 5-12, 1913 



GRAND CENTRAL PALACE 



NEW YORK 



