324' Scientific Inslruclion of Gardeners. 



Art. II. On the best Source at present open to Gardeners for 

 the Acquirement of Scientific Instruction, and on the Propriety 

 and Advantage of Mechanics' Institutions extending their 

 Benefits toveards them. By P. Masey, jun. 



Sir, 



I FEEL much gratified to see that several writers in the 

 Gardener's Magazine evince a desire to ameliorate the con- 

 dition of our gardeners, and raise them to that sphere among 

 the operative class to which the superior attainments their 

 profession requires entitle them. 



To those who feel an interest in their welfare, and are 

 anxious, by the cultivation of their minds, to enable them to 

 cooperate in the advancement of botanical and horticultural 

 science, the pages of the Gardener's Magazine afford the most 

 efficient means of promoting such views, by those interested 

 contributing a series of elementary essays on every branch of 

 knowledge connected with the profession. 



To those whose talent is apposite to such a task, I hope 

 there need be no further appeal, than reminding them that, in 

 contributing such aid to those who stand in need of it, they 

 will be making the most grateful return in their power for 

 those mental riches with which nature has endowed them. 



Next to the advantages likely to be derived by gardeners 

 from the perusal of their Magazine, if supported, as I trust it 

 will be, by the talent of all who can contribute towards it, no 

 measure can tend to promote their interest and welfare in a 

 greater degree, than the establishment of mechanics' institu- 

 tions ; the principles of which are, to afford, at a compara- 

 tively trifling expense, schools for teaching reading, writing, 

 arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry, and their 

 different applications, particularly to perspective, architecture, 

 and mensuration ; lectm'es on chemical, natural, and moral 

 philosophy ; and the great advantage of enabling members to 

 peruse, at their fire-sides, the best standard works on every 

 branch of science and useful knowledge. 



The greater part of the directors of such institutions are 

 elected from the mechanics ; among which class, in particular, 

 I have found some who consider a mechanics' institution not 

 consonant with the pursuits of a gardener ; consequently, the 

 former do not feel that interest in the welfare of the latter 

 which they ought. Such selfish and shortsighted views were 

 not to be expected in such an institution ; and, when they do 

 exist, afford an evident proof of the predominance of party 

 feeling over a love of science. 



