102 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



as external evideuces of wealth. Flowers should never bloom, or 

 fruit ripen, for such men, for they have not the slightest apprecia- 

 tion of the gardener's work and worth, or the respect they owe 

 their fellow man. The gardener's home is with the man who has a 

 bond of sympathy in his heart, rather than sympathy only with his 

 own wealth. Many gardeners get to feel that the owner of a place 

 has no right to do as he likes with his own, — that if he wants a 

 flower or fruit for a friend it must be taken only with the gardeu- 

 ei''s consent. We know this feeling is common, but we do not 

 think it is by any means general. 



Every true lover of flowers, and the gardener more than all 

 others, knows that they who see a flower only with their eyes see 

 but little of its real beauty. It must be seen through the under- 

 standing to be appreciated. It is the life in the plant that is truly 

 beautiful. Each and every plant is a teacher, and they who 

 understand "plant talk," can impart to others information far 

 more fascinating than the work of the poet's imagination. Let the 

 gardener make it a rule to show his emploj'er, every time he enters 

 the conservatory, some of the hidden beauties of the plants, — some 

 fact in relation to the phenomena of plant life ; how it feels and 

 understands ; let him point out those wondrous facts with which 

 his mind is stored, as though he were a brother or a friend, and 

 there will soon be established a mutual and endearing friendship. 

 This is the scientific way of managing an employer and it is a sure 

 stepping-stone to success. There are but few gardeners filling 

 responsible positions in our country, who, if they will unite with 

 this disposition habits of industr}^, integrity, and good nature, will 

 not find in their employers never failing friends, — friends who 

 will gladly assist them, if need be, in establishing a business of 

 their own. 



The opposite of this is too often the case. We have known 

 instances where conservatories have been sold and places given up 

 because the owner and the gardener could not work together in 

 harmony. Now we do not for a moment think the gardener 

 intends a wrong, — far from it: it is simply a mistaken idea of his 

 rights and duties and if it were not for this, there would be man}- 

 more employers than there are now. 



There is a science in manhood and honor with which the gar- 

 dener should become familiar. As facts are scientific, we wish to 

 state a few very plain ones that every one can apply to himself or 



