382 THE NEW GARDENING 



was the more remunerative, but if an attempt to supply 

 the shops failed an effort could be made to secure a 

 private trade. 



Many people go into commercial gardening without 

 giving due weight to the fact that in certain respects it 

 comes under the laws which govern other trades. They 

 do not look beyond the cultural part, which is pleasant 

 and interesting, to the commerical, which is apt to be 

 disagreeable and even sordid. A person of education 

 and good breeding who goes into market-gardening may 

 not find customers awaiting him with smiles, courteous 

 words and open purses to receive his wares. He is more 

 likely to find himself rebuffed and even brow-beaten by 

 ill-bred and avaricious bargainers. Nor, perhaps, will 

 he find the labour he employs so contented and respectful 

 as that which he has been accustomed to in private service. 



These words of warning are the more necessary, 

 because during recent years there has been a consider- 

 able movement towards commercial horticulture on the 

 part of cultured people, owing to the professions having 

 become so crowded. The culture of fruit, flowers and 

 vegetables for sale brings an educated person into 

 contact with natures very different from his own, as a 

 visit to any market or gathering of greengrocers will 

 convince him. The standard of honour and manners is 

 lower. Anyone who is going to pursue French or any 

 other system of gardening for profit must readjust his 

 expectations with regard to the rules of intercourse. 

 He must learn the disagreeable lesson that in trade it 

 does not do to trust to the personal honour of a man 

 whose training has been based on the maxim of buying 

 in the cheapest market and selling in the dearest, and 

 who will therefore drive the best bargain which he can, 

 irrespective of whether it be a fair one or not, 



