Where a Gardener oughV to be lodged. 135 



345. Arborea squamosa 347. Depressa erecta 349. Setacea 



346. Complanata 348. Flexuosa 350. Aristata minima 



Art. X. On the Evil Effects of a Head Gardener being lodged 

 any nsohere else than in his Garden. By a Common Sense 

 reforming Gardener. 



Sir, 



I have lately purchased your excellent work, the Encyclo- 

 pedia of Gardening, and also the Gardener's Magazine, both of 

 which are exceedingly useful, more particularly to gardeners 

 at a distance from the metropolis. Indeed such a work as 

 the Magazine has been much wanted of late, and I hope 

 will be well supported by gardeners ; and I am happy, Sir, 

 that in the above works you have so well pointed out the 

 moral and religious duties of gardeners, with almost all other 

 acquirements belonging to their profession, to all of which 

 I coincide with you ; but permit me, Sir, to enquire whether 

 the gardener in England, placed, as he is, in the housekeeper's 

 room, — I say, whether he can there improve himself? I 

 answer, — all that he can do there, admitting it to be an im- 

 provement, is, — he may read a little, play at cards, dance, and 

 flirt with ladies' maids. But in some families of the first rank 

 and respectability, the gardener is, as is the case at present with 

 myself, a servants' hall inmate. Now, I ask again, Sir, as 

 in the former case, in what way a gardener is to improve 

 himself there ? Why, if he is hail fellow, well met, with 

 the inmates of this last apartment, his improvements are 

 entirely out of the question ; his amusements, or rather, his 

 degradation, is hard at hand, — as drinking, swearing, and low 

 language, is as much to be found in such a place, generally 

 speaking, as in the ale-house. 



There are many gentlemen, when hiring their gardeners, 

 wish them to sleep in the house, to protect their property in 

 the absence of the family ; would it not be much better, where 

 there is extensive gardens, with forcing houses, &c, for the 

 superintendant of such to be placed in or as near to them 

 as possible? But it requires no more than common sense 

 to see the absurdity of any other arrangement than that 

 of a proper house for a head gardener in the garden, where 

 at least extensive forcing of any kind is carried on : for 

 instead of this being an expence, as gentlemen may think 

 it to be, it will be found quite the reverse ; for the man who 

 takes delight in gardening will then be on the spot, where 

 his chief business lies, without trusting to unexperienced 



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