646 Advantages of visiting Gardens. 



vented me from devoting sufficient time to the subject. I 

 hope, however, at a future period to, occupy a few more of 

 your pages for the same purpose. I have just now returned 

 from another ramble among my friends, the benefit of which 

 I always find so great, that, although it has been before re- 

 commended in your valuable work, I cannot well refrain from 

 ao-ain calling the attention of gentlemen to the importance of 

 not only allowing their gardeners the privilege of visiting 

 their neighbours, but also to urge them to do so, and to fur- 

 nish them with the means. Could they but conceive the 

 advantage derived from it, both as it regards the knowledge 

 the gardener acquires from seeing the different manner of 

 treating plants for various purposes, as well as the stimulus 

 he receives to equal or excel others, I am certain there would 

 be no occasion for my present remarks ; but, when I hear of 

 gentlemen objecting to spare their gardeners for a few days 

 in a year for such a purpose, I think it is right they should 

 be apprised of the advantage they would derive, if they were 

 to adopt a different plan. If some one more able than myself 

 had made an attempt, it might have had a greater effect ; but 

 with a little of your assistance, perhaps even mine may be 

 productive of some good. I do not mean to say that a gar- 

 dener is to be continually going from place to place, to the 

 neglect of his business at home ; nor will it often be found 

 that a man who is anxious to excel others will neglect his 

 concerns at home to visit his brother gardeners, as he will 

 then have more reason to expect a visit from them, whose 

 approbation in many cases he values more than that of his 

 employer, his reputation being spread more about the country 

 by the former than the latter. I would therefore suggest, that 

 gentlemen should enable their gardeners to see (as far as 

 practicable) the places where they are themselves in the habit 

 of calling ; as it would do away with many unpleasant feelings 

 experienced by the gardener, as well as be beneficial to both 

 in many respects. It is no uncommon thing for a gentleman 

 or lady, possessing a first-rate gardener, when in the course 

 of an airing they have seen something which struck them as far 

 superior to their own, to return home dissatisfied with their 

 servant, and wondering how it is that they cannot at least 

 equal others in the display of flowers, or production of fruit, 

 &c, without once taking into consideration the difference of 

 soil or situation, the expense bestowed, or the means allowed 

 to obtain the same. Persons are also very apt to take par- 

 ticular notice of a few things, which, from a different mode of 

 culture, present such a different appearance from their own, that 

 I have, in several instances, known cuttings and plants brought 



