On the Treatment of Gardeners by Nurserymen. 37 



know that nurserymen have always more work than workmen. 

 No nurseryman in the north of England gives more than 

 105. 6d., and most of them only 95. per week to gardeners, 

 and to their common labourers from 2s. to 5s. per week more. 

 Thus disrespectfully treated and imposed upon, a gardener 

 goes very heartlessly to work in the nursery. He knows the 

 nurseryman has taken an advantage of him, and he takes care 

 to disappoint him of his purposed unjust profit: he knows 

 what a day's work is ; if he has done any thing in the fore- 

 noon, — then, about the middle of the afternoon, it is a com- 

 mon phrase to say, " Come, my lads, a pennyworth of work 

 for a penny; light meals light labour, &c. ; we've earned our 

 Is. 9d., (or Is. 6d., which ever it is,) let us take it easy;" and 

 then, till the clock strikes six, nearly all they do is watching 

 the motions of the foreman, who is generally and appro- 

 priately called the " slave driver." I could name one who is 

 in a celebrated nursery, not one hundred miles from York, 

 who not only gives them all the insulting, abusive, and pro- 

 voking language imaginable, but will frequently take them by 

 the collar, and, if he thinks his own skin is safe, he will some- 

 times, in a fatherly manner, give them a little stick correction. 

 It is very reasonable to suppose that nurserymen encourage 

 such conduct. Now the question is, " do they derive any 

 benefit from this treatment to gardeners ?" It may be argued 

 that they could not sell their plants, &c. at so low a price if 

 they gave more wages ; but I am thoroughly convinced that 

 they could sell their articles full as low, pocket as much cash, 

 (which consideration to them is primary to that of accom- 

 modating gentlemen with trees, &c. at a low price,) gain a 

 more warm and solid respect from gardeners, and the business 

 would go on with far more general satisfaction, if their treat- 

 ment to gardeners was more respectful. Well, he waits twelve 

 or eighteen months for a situation, his clothes are getting 

 threadbare, and he knows not how to get more, unless his 

 friends can advance him a little money ; then he begins to 

 despond, and, if he has a chance, he takes a situation for four- 

 fifths of the wages he ought to have : he enters his situation, 

 and his dread of a nursery makes him submit to what he ought 

 not to submit to, very often in disappointing the nurserymen 

 of their legal advantage ; at any rate, he has the greatest 

 dread of the nursery where he has been, consequently he en- 

 deavours to make his interest another way. Now, sir, I think 

 if nurserymen would weigh these facts well, they would no 

 longer treat gardeners as troublesome weeds to them, but 

 (even allowing them to be solely actuated by self-interest) 



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