4 INTRODUCTION. 



procured from distant quarters of the world. It is very sad, 

 however, it must be confessed, to see gardens upon which have 

 been bestowed great pains and labour during many years, and 

 which were the admiration of all in the station where they were 

 situated, become an utter waste and ruin, when by any change 

 of circumstances their owners have been obliged to relinquish 

 them. This nearly invariably happens. But a consideration 

 such as this ought not any the more to deprive those who love 

 a garden of the enjoyment of having one to last their own time 

 at least, if it last no longer. For leaving alone the benefit 

 derived from the produce, so sweet a charm is there in all that 

 appertains to the pursuit of gardening the loveliness of the 

 flowers with which in constant succession throughout the year 

 one is surrounded the fine perfume, varying with the varying 

 seasons, with which, day and night, the air around the house is 

 unceasingly scented and above all the comfort and healthiness 

 of living in premises from which absolute cleanliness and neatness 

 are inseparable that, happen to it whatever might afterwards, 

 the present pleasure derived from a garden is ample enough to 

 repay for all the cost and trouble expended on it. 



A few words here may not be out of place regarding native 

 cultivators, both in their character of malees and nurserymen. 



First, then, no one should allow himself to suppose that 

 he can have a well-kept, well-cultivated garden without being, 

 to a considerable extent, his own head gardener. A garden 

 left entirely to the hands of a malee will invariably be found in 

 that dirty, neglected state so noticeable in the compounds 

 around most European residences in India. It is useless 

 to give only general orders to a native servant. The owner 

 must from time to time scrutinize each particular operation of 

 the garden, and give special directions how it is to be done, or in 

 many instances it will not be done properly, if even it is done 

 at all. Vexation and angry words will never set things right. 

 The malees are generally very good servants if properly 

 managed ; but more must not be expected from them than 

 really is in their nature. They follow gardening as their 

 vocation, but they have no enthusiasm for it ; and the interest 

 they take in the work will always be just in proportion to the 

 interest they see taken in it by their master. And they will 

 become interested when they find a master that is so ; who pays 

 them regularly, refrains from maltreating them or giving them 

 abuse, co-operates with them, and shows them, now and then, 



