270 Gardeners out of Place, and Nurserymen. 



though he may think his bargain was a bad one ? I confess 

 I do not. And I think I can here discover how it happened 

 that he so greatly excited the ill will of the foreman he com- 

 plains of. It is the business of the foreman, he acknowledges, 

 to see that the men do their work : but instead of finding 

 him doing his work, we see, by his own confession, he would 

 find him idling great part of a summer's afternoon ; and, 

 perchance, he might also overhear him encouraging his com- 

 panions to follow his example. This might try the patience 

 of a good-tempered man, and would be sure to ruffle that of 

 a bad-tempered one. Some men, by being complaisant, and 

 doing their duty, will live so comfortably with those who 

 are bad-tempered as never to excite their tempers, whilst 

 others, acting on opposite principles, will often get into broils 

 with those whose tempers are by no means of the worst sort. 

 However, I acknowledge myself no friend to such conduct 

 in a foreman as Sensitivus describes. A foreman, in my 

 judgment, ought, where he sees idleness or any other miscon- 

 duct, to admonish the offender, without railing, or any kind of 

 abusive language ; and if, on doing this repeatedly, he cannot 

 persuade him to do better, he ought to report him to his 

 employer, in order that he might speak to him upon his 

 improper behaviour, and, if he prove incorrigible, dismiss 

 him. But to return to Sensitivus, who speaks of desponding 

 on account of being so long in the nursery. Probably had 

 he been more industrious, and given by that means proof of 

 better principle and talents, he might have been recommended 

 to a place sooner, and possibly to one of better wages. Is it 

 to be expected, that when a nurseryman is applied to for an 

 industrious, honest man, of an obliging disposition, he will 

 be disposed to risk his own reputation by recommending one 

 who, during the time he has had an opportunity of observing 

 him, has exhibited none of these qualifications ? 



It is but seldom that gentlemen consult nurserymen as to 

 the wages they shall give to their gardeners, as they mostly 

 fix the wages of their servants themselves ; therefore, I do 

 not see how nurserymen should be to blame for the small 

 wages gardeners often receive when in place. 



I would recommend to gardeners to be diligent and at- 

 tentive, and to keep a conscience void of offence toward God 

 and man. Thus they would become truly valuable servants; 

 and then I do not doubt but they would prove that merit 

 often finds its own reward, and that honesty is always the 

 best policy. 



A Nurseryman. 



