292 Conduct of Gardeners and their Employers. 



gardeners' parting with a few seeds or cuttings, &c, to another 

 gardener, or even to a poor cottager, I cannot help making 

 the following observations : — 



I will admit that this may in some measure be the case at 

 times, but I consider it is generally brought on by improper 

 conduct of the gardener. I have always been fortunate 

 enough not to be so situated, which I attribute to the plan I 

 have uniformly adopted. In the first place, I never do what 

 I am ashamed my employers should know. If a friend calls 

 on me, and my employers chance to come in the way, I am 

 never ashamed to say who and what my friend is. But I have 

 often visited gardeners who have appeared frightened when 

 their employers chanced to light upon us Of course, when 

 that is the case, it is obvious that something is wrong, and this 

 naturally enough leads to suspicion. ■ 



I always make it a rule to impress on my employers 

 the good, and even the necessity, of giving and exchanging 

 plants with my neighbours, and have always found them to 

 agree with me in this point. I beg freely when I go into a 

 neighbour's garden, if I think I shall not be considered in- 

 truding ; and I give still more freely if my neighbour comes 

 to S2e me. I give, even in the presence of my employers, 

 making no difference in that respect. 



My object has always been to improve every department 

 under my care, whether of fruit, or flowers, or trees. I have 

 no doubt, if this sort of conduct were more generally adopted, 

 even if a gentleman were at first somewhat suspicious, by find- 

 ing he had a conscientious servant, he would soon cease to 

 harbour in his breast any such ungenerous thoughts. 



The greatest evil 1 have found to encounter with in a gen- 

 tleman's situation is from a certain individual that most 

 gentlemen have about their persons, who is apt to take so 

 much on himself, as to make almost every other servant about 

 the family uncomfortable. It too often happens that the 

 person I allude to is of a cringing disposition, making his 

 employer believe that he has his interest very much at heart, 

 while, at the same time, it is quite otherwise; but the decep- 

 tion is not often discovered by the gentleman till the mischief 

 is done. It is a pity gentlemen do not render their gardeners 

 more independent of such men. This sort of person ge- 

 nerally wants more attention than the gentleman himself; 

 and, if he is not received by the gardener as he thinks he ought 

 to be, he becomes prejudiced and malignant, and bent on some 

 opportunity of retaliation. I am, Sir, &c. 



October 6. 1827. A Nobleman's Gardener. 



