172 Difficulties of young Gardeners. 



and are still likely to prove, ruinous to many a healthy con- 

 stitution. 



In sending you this long train of disadvantages, I am in- 

 fluenced by no personal motives on the one hand, or " malice 

 or jealousy" (Vol. VIII. p. 730.) on the other ; but purely by 

 the desire of seeing all impediments removed which obstruct 

 the possession of real knowledge, either by the gardener or the 

 community at large. By real knowledge, I mean not merely 

 an acquaintance with the operations and principles of our 

 profession, but a knowledge which, while it informs us of our 

 rights and privileges as men, likewise shows us our duties in 

 the different stations of society, as rulers and subjects, masters 

 and servants, parents and children, &c. ; which, in short, while 

 it teaches us the homage which, as creatures, we owe to the 

 Creator, likewise clearly unfolds to our view the benevolent 

 conduct we are bound to practise toward our brethren of 

 mankind. Sensible of my own ignorance and need of as- 

 sistance, having only begun to taste the pleasures of know- 

 ledge, I feel anxious that others should not only taste, but 

 feast upon, the same ; and proud shall I be if my feeble efforts 

 should in the least be instrumental in accelerating the propa- 

 gation of a blessing needed in every climate, and suited to 

 every soil. I call upon you, as the conductor of the Gar- 

 dener's Magazine, not only to continue your assistance, but to 

 give increased support. I call upon Mr. Mallet, and all those 

 gentlemen who have kindly told us what we ought to be, not 

 to stop here, but to lend their aid in getting these qualifica- 

 tions put within our reach. I call upon every man whose 

 heart is imbued with the feelings of philanthropy, and whose 

 conduct is regulated by principles which incite him to do to 

 others as he would be done to, to let no opportunity escape 

 of fostering the spread of intelligence, knowing it will prove 

 a mighty instrument, not only for ameliorating that profession 

 to which he belongs, not merely for advancing the moral cha- 

 racter and true enjoyments of his countrymen, but also for 

 furthering the spread of civilisation, and extending happiness 

 and peace over the world. From men who tell us that know- 

 ledge has already been productive of evil, and that in the end 

 it will complete the ruin of our country, we can expect no- 

 thing but opposition. Some who advocate this doctrine owe 

 their comfortable situation in life to having received a superior 

 education ; and yet, with a miserly selfishness, they would deny 

 the same pleasures to others, telling us, at the same time, that 

 education only rendered workmen more insolent and unma- 

 nageable. That true knowledge renders a man insolent, in 

 the common acceptation of the word, we will not for a mo- 



