THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



THE GARDENERS' POINT OF VIEW. 



Editor Gakdexeks' Cuho-nicle: 



May I be permitted to add a little to the controversy regarding 

 "Gardeners' Grievances"? Such conditions as mentioned by Mr. 

 Listen do obtain in this country, but' as I have not worked in a 

 sufficient number of places to ascertain whether such conditions 

 prevail I can at least sal'ely say tliat they exist, and exactly as 

 described; for I have lived in a damp unsanitary old shade, vermin 

 infested, and many jnany times taken a bath in tlie stoke-hole 

 or greenliouse. But wliat of it ? Merely a means to an end, and 

 all In the game. Why think of those experiences if tlicy cause 

 bitterness of feeling'; Comparisons are sometimes odious, im- 

 pressions sometimes misleading, and it is well to accept conditions 

 anywliere as we iind tlicm unless we are in the position to alter 

 them. In wliatever country one may Ije there are many redeem- 

 ing features wliicli will more than compensate one for the tilings 

 that are to us strange or not tlie same as they are at liome. Mr. 

 Siston has been rather mifortunate in his experience, while Mr. 

 Smith in his faiily wide experience has been fortunate: neither 

 gentlemen have been liurt, and personally I have enjoyed myself 

 during over a quarter of a century of "ups and downs," with 

 plenty of the latter: but there is no reason why a temporary 

 state of affairs should make one eternally optimistic or pessi- 

 mistic, and to the young gardener I would say that our calling 

 is the very best tliat ever existed. Your position at present may 

 not be exactly wliat you want, but your mind is smouldering, 

 and will presently break out and tlien you will be kicked out or 

 leave your position voluntarily; in either event you will probably 

 make progress and in reminiscent moods look back witli a smile 

 at your past tribulations. VERNOX T. SHEUWOOD. 



Xew Hampshire. 



Editor GAKi)t';NEU.'5' Chkomcle: 



Will .you allow me the use of a portion of 3-our space to offer 

 a few words of comment on the contention of "Another Assist- 

 ant" in August issue of Cukoxicxe? I agree with "Another 

 Assistant" he should be qualilied to strike for himself after 

 fifteen years, providing in tliat fifteen years he has been given 

 opportunity' to round out his experience under an efficient head 

 gardener that would be competent to judge of an assistant's 

 efficiency. The writer being a graduate of the old school has 

 had some experience of the unfairness shown to efficient gar- 

 deners. Very often a competent gardener has to work under 

 ■conditions unfavorable to his profession. Often head gardeners 

 and superintendents are lacking ability and practical knowledge; 

 consequently are not able to judge a gardener's efficiency, not 

 being qualilied themselves. I agree with our worthy secretary 

 that tlie gardener should be recognized for what he is worth, and 

 efficiencv sliould count, ;is in all other vocations. 



CONSTANT KEADER. 



To tlie Secretary' S. A. G.: 



The recent controversy on the question of cheap gardeners has 

 brought forth evidence which no doubt infers that many of our 

 assistant gardeners are very much dissatisfied with their lot. We 

 are also asked to believe that the dissatisfaction is due to the 

 indifl'erence at our horticultural societies and gardeners in gen- 

 eral. It is to the advantage of most gardeners to excite the in- 

 terest of their assistants, otherwise results cannot be expected. 

 If any indifference is exhibited by gardeners towards assistants 

 it is through the horticultural societies, the really active mem- 

 bers of which are chiefly gardeners. Here meetings are arranged, 

 ilower shows held, papers on various phases of horticulture read 

 and discussed, but the assistant seems to think that he is not 

 In it, save as a silent listener. True, much valuable knowledge 

 can be obtained by being sucli, but in this age of young men that 

 is not enough ; they demand something more, and many of our 

 horticultural societies are realizing this fact, and have in many 

 'cases inaugurated a class for competition among assistants. 



Tliis is a move in the right direction, and shows a spirit that 

 it would be well to foster, for we feel sure that the good to be 

 -derived from a closer interest and co-operation between garden- 

 ers and their assistants would inevitably result in the upraising 

 -of the profession. 



I beg, therefore, to be allowed to offer a few suggestions where- 

 by I tliink our horticultural societies may 'by a little co-operation 

 with the gardeners arouse the now latent interest and enthusi- 

 asm of some of the assistants. 



I would suggest that of the regular meetings held by our 

 horticultural societies one night (say once a quarter) be set aside 

 to be known as assistants' night. On these nights an exhibition 

 could be made of any kind of plants or cut flowers that had been 

 under the care of the assistant for at least three months pre- 

 >'iously. 



When a show would not be practicable a paper on some phase 



of horticulture could be presented by some assistant or an im- 

 promptu debate started by several of the assistants, the sum- 

 ming up always to be done by the gardener. At the shows a 

 prize could be awarded to the best exhibit, or a scale of points 

 drawn up and a record of the points awarded kept until the end 

 of the year and a prize given the highest number of points. Of 

 course it must lie understood that the winner at each respective 

 exhibition might be required to furnish data as to the metliods 

 of culture adopted, etc. 



^^'e present these suggestions for what they are worth, but we 

 have no doubt that they could be either modified or elaborated, 

 as eircnmstances demand, and be of inestimable benefit to all con- 

 cerned. It perhaps demands much of the gardeners, but we feel 

 sure that they would be amply repaid bj' the greater interest 

 displayed and consequently the better results obtained by their 

 assistants. 



Moreover, herein lies a valuable course of preliminary educa- 

 tion and instruction which will be of no small assistance to those 

 who would like to compete for the N. A. G. diploma of efficiency, 

 which if not just vet is bound to come with the onward march 

 of progress. " INTERESTED ONE. 



YOUNG GARDENERS. 



A striking passage in the address which Sir Harry Veitch de- 

 livered to the Horticultural Trades Association recently, was one 

 in which he referred to the difference in the young gardeners of 

 today and those of former years. He regrettd the lack of keen- 

 ness and interest in their work displayed by so many. Sir Harrys' 

 words came vividlj' to my mind when reading the address deliv- 

 ered by Principal Whyte to the students at the New College, 

 Edinburgh, at the close of last sesson. The Principal took for 

 his subject "Thomas Boston and the Lessons of His Life." 

 Thomas Boston was a famous old Scottish divine whose works 

 had a great vogue in Scotland last century. One of his most 

 famous works was called "The Fourfold State." Principal Whyte 

 quoted what a famous Scottish minister — Dr. Andrew Thomson, 

 of Edinburgh — said of that book. " 'The Fourfold State' had 

 found its way over all the Scottish Lowlands. From St. Abb's 

 Head to the remotest point in Galloway, it was to be seen side 

 by side with the Bible and Bunyan on the shelf in every peasant's 

 cottage. The shepherd bore it with him, folded in his plaid, up 

 among the silent hills; the ploughman in the valleys refreshed 

 his spirit with it, as with heavenly manna, after his long day of 

 toil. The influence, which began with the humble classes, as- 

 cended like a fragrance into the mansions of the Lowland laird 

 and the Border chief, and carried with it a new and a hallowed 

 joy." In those days the sons of such shepherds and ploughmen 

 were the young men who recruited the ranks of gardening. The 

 profession of gardening seemed to open up a career for them 

 with greater prospects than that of their fathers, and thousands 

 embraced it. Trained in such an atmosphere and endowed with 

 "the power of work," can we be surprised that they impressed 

 themselves on the mind of Sir Harry Veitch? He must have 

 come across hundreds of them, because, true to the instincts 

 of their race, they are kept "haudin' sooth." — William Cuth- 

 bertson in Gardciia'S' Clironiclc. Enslaud. 



Editor Gakdeners" Chronicle: 



I was so interested in reading the article by Arthur Smith on 

 "The History of the Garden Profession and Its Progress," that I 

 feel that I cannot let it pass without congratulating Mr. Smith 

 on it; especially in regard to his reference to tlie gardeners' guild 

 as organized in England. Having belonged to a guild, I can speak 

 from experience of the advantage of being a guild member. First, 

 a person must be qualified: second, a guild is generally recognized 

 as a safe method of proi'Uring men of ability; and as there were 

 guilds for people in different walks of life in England, they proved 

 of great benefit to those who were efficient and for those who 

 required efficiency. "CONSTANT READER." 



THE GARDENER. 



A King he is, witli an army 

 Of coutitless blooms, of surpassing beauty : 

 They do not have to fight very hard : 

 Bearers of peace, they capture every hearth, 

 \\'ith their message of syntpathy and love, 

 Creating bounds, no power can dissolve. 

 A King he is, who seed, plant and grow 

 Flowers that so many blessings cati bestow. 



—Rodda. 



