26 Jobbing Gardener. 



falling ili, we removed to Hackney, on account of the air, 

 where I have been ever since, being just able to gain a liveli- 

 hood, by laying out the gardens for the new buildings going 

 on in the neighbourhood. I have often been advised to take 

 up a public-house ; but besides that my wife is against it as 

 considering it beneath the dignity of her family, I consider 

 that it would be degrading the profession to which I belong if 

 I were to become a publican. 



Having now, Sir, given you a short history of my life, you 

 will see what a very poor business a gardener's is, and especially 

 a jobbing gardener's. When I first began it, I was preferred 

 as being considered a regular gardener; but now a labourer 

 who has, perhaps, worked a year or two with some market- 

 gardener is just as much employed, and as well paid as myself; 

 it is true, I have hurt myself much by going into the jobbing 

 line ; but what led to that was my vain ambition of being a 

 nurseryman, without having the means. I need not say any 

 thing of the prospects of an old man near 70 ; my wife is 

 dead, and if the disease which shall carry me off be a lingering 

 one, I have no other prospect than the workhouse. If you 

 think my letter worthy of a place in your Magazine, I hope it 

 will be a warning to gardeners when they are in good situa- 

 tions to keep in them, and not let. discontent or ambition prey 

 on their minds so as to make them leave their places for little 

 faults ; and, especially, not to let them give up the condition 

 of servitude for the very uncertain one of being in business for 

 one's self. And, especially, let them never give up any place 

 whatever for the condition of a jobbing gardener, for that is 

 greater slavery than being a common labourer. 



I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, 



Arcbd. M'Naughton, 



Art. VI. On Cultivating a Collection of Grasses in Pleasure- 

 grounds or Flower-gardens. By Mr. George Sinclair, 

 F.L.S., H. S., &c. Nurseryman, Author of Hortus Gra- 

 mineus Woburnensis. 



Dear Sir, 

 A collection of the different species of grasses arranged in 

 a distinct compartment of the pleasure-ground or flower-gar- 

 den will be found to constitute one of its most interesting fea- 

 tures. It has been justly observed by Sir James Edward 

 Smith in his English Flora, that the grasses afford more sus- 

 tenance to man and to the larger animals than all the rest of 

 the vegetable kingdom together ; their herbage so perpetually 



