Retrospective Criticism. 101 



the allowances you claim as a gardener's right, be obliged to go to market 

 for his vegetableSj as he could not possibly keep a head-gardener, much 

 less assistants. An officer, who has lost his limbs and health in the service 

 of his country, does not possess the same advantages. — A. B. C. 



We are always glad to know the feelings of our readers, in order to 

 shape our course accordingly; because, in order that the Gardener's Maga- 

 zine may do good, it is necessary, in the first place, that it should sell. If 

 A. B. C. should ever happen to look into any of our future Numbers, we 

 hope he will find them more to his mind. — Cond. 



Conduct of Head-Gardeners toioards Journeymen. — Sir, In your Maga- 

 zine (Vol. IV. p. 210.), I observe J. D. P. attempting to set your readers right 

 concerning the remarks of G. R. G. in a former Number; and in endea- 

 vouring to do so, J. D. P. has omitted much information which he might 

 very well have stated. He says, that in the several gradations through 

 which he has passed, he has never seen instruction withheld from the assi- 

 duous workman, through the disregard, or unwillingness of the master. 



In my experience, I have too often seen much partiality exhibited in 

 the conduct of head-gardeners towards the men under their charge. In 

 Scotland this practice prevails very much. In an extensive garden I have 

 known the gardener have no less than four apprentices at a time, who have 

 paid him five or six pounds each, as a premium, for two years, expecting to 

 have an opportunity in that time of obtaining a practical knowledge of the 

 different parts of their profession ; but who, at the expiration of the two 

 years, have found themselves very much deceived : and being obliged to 

 make room for a fresh stock of apprentices (to fill the gardener's pocket), 

 they obtain the name of journeymen, although they have their business 

 still to learn ; and on that account they generally fail to give satisfaction to 

 their next employer, who will give the most particular part of the work to 

 those whom he thinks most competent to do it. I know very well that 

 there are some people (gardeners as well as others), who soon become too 

 wise to be taught; but I can affirm that there are many tractable young 

 men, who can with propriety lay the blame of their deficiency in knowledge 

 to a want of care in their master, who generally has a foreman, to whom 

 he commits the care of the principal parts of the various departments, the 

 younger men being employed in the more laborious parts. Now, Sir, as 

 you have already told us, that knowledge to the gardener is money as well 

 as knowledge, and, as it is generally understood, that when a journeyman 

 engages with a master, he expects to have an opportunity to improve him- 

 self, therefore he who withholds that opportunity from any young gardener, 

 commits a crime equal to that of defrauding him of his wages. 



There are several men, who, when they become masters, seem entirely 

 to forget that they were once journeymen, and who keep up such a reserved 

 distance between themselves and their men, that the latter have not the 

 assurance to ask for the necessary information, requisite to enable them to 

 execute their work in a proper manner. I would advise that a great part 

 of such a barrier be broken down, so that a free and unembarrassed com- 

 munication may always exist between masters and their men. 



J. D. P. concludes with a very wholesome advice to those who wish 

 to learn ; but still his strain is too exculpatory with regard to the masters, 

 as it is well known that there are many who are far deficient in their duty 

 to their men. Should you deem these few remarks worth inserting in your 

 very useful work, you will much oblige your humble servant, — Neutral. 



Neglect of Practical Gardeners by the Provincial Horticultural Societies. 

 — Sir, as the season is fast approaching, when you will have to record in 

 your valuable miscellany, the progress of the Provincial and Horticultural 

 Societies, you, who are always ready to assist in improving the welfare and 

 conduct of gardeners, will permit me to observe that many of these socie- 

 ties have fallen into a very great mistake, by not inserting the names of gar- 



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