a7id Importance of the Studi/ of Botany. 17 



relish for reading and study naturally gains ground ; and, 

 hence, of almost all the humbler classes of men, we find our 

 gardeners by far the best informed, not only with regard to 

 their own profession, but on various subjects totally discon- 

 nected with it. Indeed, I have often been surprised at the 

 vast store of general knowledge which many gardeners possess. 

 I myself had one, whose talent and observation were so great, 

 that he used occasionally to compose articles for professional 

 magazines, some of which, I had the pleasure to see, were in- 

 serted. Such a gardener is an invaluable treasure. You may 

 rely on it, his work will never be neglected. It is the i<jnorant 

 and unlettered, in general, who are obstinate and idle. 



" 'Tis education forms the common mind. 

 Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined." 



This excellent though trite observation is here, however, very 

 applicable, and its spirit ought to be particularly attended to. 

 From the peculiar advantages which gardeners enjoy, and the 

 good wages which the efficient and valuable among them 

 always receive, they possess the means, if not of purchasing 

 books, at least of reading them at a very trifling expense. But 

 it not unfrequently happens that books of amusement are more 

 eagerly sought for, and read with greater relish, than works of 

 usefulness and professional interest. This is, no doubt, to be 

 deplored, and there is no cure for the evil. Some gardeners 

 are of opinion that professional reading is unnecessary, and 

 that much more is to be learned by actual practice than by 

 theory. Upon such men as these, remonstrances and argument 

 will prove very likely unavailing. But I am of opinion that 

 every master who is himself a botanist, should direct, in some 

 measure, the education of his gardener, by lending him books 

 (which, indeed, may be done by every master), by directing his 

 attention to particular circumstances connected with particular 

 plants, and by a thousand other modes ; and there can be no 

 objection started that this inflicts a severe task on the master, 

 and that his instructions will not, likely, be attended to by his 

 servant. The observations made are not to be delivered in 

 the dry uninteresting manner of a teacher to his pupil. 

 Remarks made, casually and sparingly, will, if they be of any 

 value, not fail to be remembered. I anticipate, from the in- 

 creasing relish manifested by persons of every age and station, 

 and of each sex, for the long neglected study of the vegetable 

 kingdom, that we shall no longer meet with gardeners who 

 have no zeal for their profession, going through its duties idly 

 and listlessly, nor with masters who are ignorant of the names 

 and quahties of the plants, trees, &c., in their possession. I do 

 Vol. v.— No. 18. c 



