For June. 1923 



161 



PRESIDENT JOHN BARNET 



John Banict, president of the National Association of Garden- 

 ers, was born near Gricff, Perthshire, Scotland, forty years ago. 

 From there his family moved to Dougalston, Milngavie, near 

 Glasgow, the residence of T. R. Kcr, Esq. wliere his father is now 

 Head Forester. Mr. Barnet began his gardening career at the 

 age of twelve years, and at fifteen years of age was a full fledged 

 apprentice. He acquired a thorough training on some of the most 

 famous estates of Scotland. (Mr. Barnet states that in those days 

 competition was very keen and one almost required a letter from 

 a minister to get a job.) After satisfying himself that he had 

 acquired about all the e.xperience he could gain, he decided to 

 try the U. S. A. After he had engaged in several positions in 

 Massachusetts, and worked under the guidance of William N. 

 Craig at Faulkner Farms, Mass., the latter recommended him to 

 Mrs. J. D. Lyon of Scwirkley, Pa., in September, 191.^, for the 



John Barnet 



superintendent of her estate, wliich position he now occupies. Mr. 

 Barnet has always taken a live interest in the horticultural ac- 

 tivities in and about Pittsburgh, and is a past president of the 

 Pittsburgh Gardeners' and Florists' Club. He is one of the 

 organizers and first full term president of the Sewickley Horticul- 

 tural Society. Mr. Barnet is a life member of the National Asso- 

 ciation of Gardeners and of the Royal Caledonia Horticultural 

 Society, a member of of the Society of American Florists, and of 

 the .'Vmerican Dahlia, Rose, Sweet Pea, and Chrysanthemum 

 Societies. While he has the reputation of being a thorough 

 gardener and a capable grower, his active affiliation with many 

 organizations has also endowed him with the qualifications of an 

 excellent parliamentarian, 



James Barnet, superintendent of the Asa G. Candler, Jr. estate 

 at Atlanta, Ga. and Lewis Barnet, superintendent of the R. B. 

 Mellon estate, Pittsburgh, Pa., are brothers of our most worthy 

 president. 



VICE-PRESIDENT ROBERT P. BRYDON 



Robert P. Brydon. Vice-president of the National Association 

 of Gardeners was born in Yarmouthport, Mass., thirty-seven 

 years ago. His father, James Brydon. was gardener to Congress- 

 man Simpkins, and later and up to the time of his death, gardener 

 lo Mrs. Bayard Thayer at Lancaster. Mass. He was known as 

 an unusually able gardener, and skilled as a grower of exhibition 

 chrysanthemums and water lilies. Robert P. received his training 

 ill tin's country. After a course at llie Massachusetts .Agricultural 

 Colle.sie, be was over four yc.irs with the Reading Nurseries, Read- 

 ing:, Mass. and then for two and a half years with Edward W. 

 Dreed at Clinton, Mass. From there he went to the estate of 



Cyrus MoCormick at Lake Forest, 111. ; thence to "Glennallen," the 

 estate of Mrs. Francis P. Prentiss, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where 

 he has been located for the past ten years, first as gardener and 

 then as superintendent which position he now holds. 



Mr. Brydon is always prominently associated with the horticul- 

 tural events in Cleveland, as an active and enthusiastic worker. 

 He is a member of the Cleveland Florists' Club, and of the Cleve- 

 land Horticultural Society of which he has thrice been president, 

 and twice treasurer. At the present time, Mr. Brydon is chairman 

 of the Flower Show Committee, always taking a keen interest in 

 Cleveland flower shows. 



DOES THE LABOR BOOM BENEFIT THE 

 GARDENER? 



With ordinary garden laborers demanding sixty cents an 

 hour and ten hours to the day, many owners of country homes 

 and suburban home gardens have decided that the regular employ- 

 ment of a trained gardener will prove more satisfactory and 

 less costly, while relieving them of the responsibility of per- 

 sonally supervising the work of a garden helper. And so 

 there has been more than the usual demand this season for 

 the experienced gardener on small places. 



While some garden owners at first demurred over the pay 

 asked by competent men, when the gardener's side was pre- 

 sented to them, they usually were ready to accept his view- 

 point. Others on being asked what salary they would pay, 

 would promptly reply, "Whatever is customary," or "What- 

 ever such a man deserves." Reports that have' been received 

 show that the garden owners who are for the first time em- 

 ploying practical gardeners, are quite satisfied with their new- 

 experience. 



There appear to be some garden owners, however, who have 

 yet to learn that a competent gardener should not be engaged 



Robert P. Brydon 



as a handy man may be, for the employer should interest him- 

 self in first thoroughly investigating the applicant's past exper- 

 ience. And likewise a thorough gardener desires to see the 

 place before he engages for it. so that he may satisfy himself 

 that he possesses the qualifications to accept the position. 



There are agencies to which one may phone and state, "I 

 want a gardener, sixty dollars and board. Send one to the 

 place tomorrow." .'Vnd .so the ne.xt morning the "gardener" 

 arrives, luggage, and all, prepared for work, but it is found 

 tliat while he may know something about geese and pigs and 

 some vegetable crops, he possesses absolutely no knowledge of 

 what he was supposed to be engaged for — gardening — and 

 these are the circumstances which cause garden owners to 

 complain that they have such terrible experience in employing 

 gardeners. Their trnuble is caused by seeking gardeners in 

 the wrong places. 



