254 THE NEW GARDENING 



other things in the garden besides the particular one 

 specialized. 



The gardener who knows how to specialize should be 

 given the opportunity for specialization. It will keep 

 him keen. For one case in which the general affairs of 

 the garden suffer by the specialization of one plant there 

 will probably be a dozen where it will gain, always pro- 

 vided that the staff is adequate. 



The day should soon be past when a gardener is re- 

 garded as on the same plane as a field labourer, to be paid 

 a bare living wage, given no holidays and treated without 

 consideration. Now that gardening is becoming a fine 

 art the status of professional gardeners should rise- 

 Gardeners should be reasonably educated men, of good 

 appearance, manners and address. They should have at 

 least the usual privileges of shopmen and artisans, who 

 have their half-holiday every week. They should not be 

 looked upon as menials, like footmen. There is nothing 

 servile in the work of a gardener. 



And if the reply of an alarmed employer might be that 

 all this means higher wages, the reply is, first, that after 

 all it amounts to very little ; and secondly, that the 

 garden must be looked at in a new perspective not as a 

 tiresome and costly appurtenance, every penny spent on 

 which is to be grudged, while thousands are to be lavished 

 on pictures, old china, silver ware, and motor-cars, but 

 as a great influence on life. 



Gardening is living art. A beautiful garden is as much 

 a work of imagination, feeling and technical skill as a 

 great painting ; and it is equally worthy of respect and 

 admiration. 



The professional gardener of the future will be the 

 respected companion of those who employ him. Instead 

 of being avoided as a boor he will be sought as a con- 



