THE NEW GARDENER 253 



This plan is already adopted in some large establishments. 

 It is by no means uncommon where a large collection of 

 Orchids is grown. If it answers for Orchids, why not for 

 Roses or Chrysanthemums ? Why not a special man 

 for hardy fruit and another for indoor fruit ? Why not a 

 special man to take charge of the kitchen garden ? 



Theoretically an employer of gardeners ought to feel 

 satisfied that by engaging specialists for different depart- 

 ments he would get a better collective result than by follow- 

 ing the usual course of employing several general men. But 

 a manager would be wanted, and without careful organiza- 

 tion and exceptionally tactful and intelligent control, the 

 result of specialization might be unsatisfactory. A com- 

 petent gardener arranges the routine work in accordance 

 with the seasons and the weather. There are times when 

 the men who in the ordinary way would be working out 

 of doors would be standing idle unless they could be 

 drafted under glass. There are long periods when out- 

 door work is at a standstill altogether. On the other 

 hand, the indoor crops do not require incessant attention 

 at all seasons, unless they are an extensive and valuable 

 feature, such as a collection of Orchids, or a large range 

 of fruit or plant houses. 



Specialization cannot be carried to the ultimate point 

 in gardens economically. The conditions of gardening 

 operations forbid it. But obviously there are cases in 

 which specialization may be resorted to with advantage. 

 The new gardener with progressive ideas will note the 

 tendency of the times, and take care to support his general 

 knowledge of gardening by a special study of one im- 

 portant plant. It is the most intelligent, the sharpest 

 men who will thus equip themselves, and employers 

 should rather seek than shrink from them, feeling sure 

 that the alertness of mind thus displayed will react on 



