Jxw the Imj^rovemeiit of Gardening. 



51 



that there is a great want of fixed incontrovertible principles, it 

 also proves that, whether or not improvements have been effected 

 in the past, new discoveries will be brought to light in the 

 future. This conclusion we arrive at, because, where great 

 diversity of opinion exists, an evidence is adduced that the mind 

 has been aroused from its lethargy, and no longer bounds its 

 belief by the extent and nature of another man's faith. Amid 

 unity of sentiment, where men are ignorant, or tamely yield ac- 

 quiescence to principles upon which their faculties had never 

 been exercised, we cannot see how knowledge will advance, or 

 improvements take place : but we can have no hesitation in 

 guaranteeing that such will be the case when diversity of opinion 

 exists, as the effect of study, and the consequence of research. 

 If the knowledge of gardening were not rapidly progressing, 

 what reason could we assign for the fact, that such a number of 

 horticultural periodicals should be issued, supported, too, not so 

 much by gardeners as by the public at large ; alike ministering 

 to the happiness and comforts of the wealthy nobleman and the 

 Industrious artisan. In visiting the villa of the merchant, or the 

 country house of the gentleman, and observing upon the tables 

 of the library several of the gardening periodicals, one cannot 

 resist the conviction, not only that the knowledge of our art is 

 rapidly extending, but also that, if we keep not pace with the 

 onward movement, or, rather, be not competent to give that 

 movement direction, no inattention or carelessness of ours will 

 impede the march of improvement. But let it be impressed 

 upon our minds, that, if improvements are effected independently 

 of our exertions, the time will come when these improvements 

 will be acted upon without our superintending care. Men of 

 all classes will become their own gardeners ; and the professors 

 of gardening, instead of being distinguished for the confidence 

 reposed in them, and the mental acquirements of which they 

 were once the possessors, will be degraded to the condition of 

 mere del vers of the soil, and neither possess that respectability, 

 nor receive that remuneration, which they have hitherto done. 

 To prevent such a result ; to maintain the honour of the pro- 

 fession ; to support the intellectual character which we have 

 hitherto sustained ; to keep pace with the onward march of dis- 

 covery and improvement ; ought to be the heartfelt desire of 

 every gardener worthy of the name, or in whose breast one 

 spark of true and elevated ambition resides. 



This brings us to enquire what are the means by which im- 

 provements have been, and are still likely to be, effected ? We 

 answer, that, as discoveries in other arts and sciences have gene- 

 rally been effected by individuals of extensive knowledge, so we 

 should consider the possession of that knowledge by gardeners 

 as (he surest pledge that they would be competent to effect im- 



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