Qiieries and Anstxiers. 501 



science IS becoming every day more indispensable to the gardener who aims 

 at any thing above that of being an empirical practitioner ; and particularly 

 a knowledge of chemical philosophy ; as, without an acquaintance with the 

 principles of this science, it is impossible for him to reach any thing like 

 perfection in those branches of natural history which he is obliged to study ; 

 and without its assistance all his endeavours at improvement and discovery 

 are founded upon the weakest of all foundations. It is chemistry which, 

 gives us the rationale of every operation of the gardener; and to this 

 source does the enlightened mind look for improved methods of practice to 

 arise. Although the principles of this science are of such vast importance 

 to gardeners, and, in a particular manner, to the young of the profession ; 

 yet it is a fact, notwithstanding all that has been said about it in your 

 Magazine, that many are not aware of this, while as many scout the idea 

 altogether ; and others who would study it have not the opportunity to do 

 so. The absence of institutions for the gardeners, similar to those now in 

 every town of any note for mechanics, and the impossibility of young 

 gardeners (from distance, and other circumstances, which I have endea- 

 voured to show you in a former letter, p. 173.) attending these, will soon 

 place gardeners, as a body, far behind the mechanics in intelligence. This 

 idea, to those who have the advancement of horticulture at heart, is far 

 from being a pleasant one ; and to the young gardener, whose opportunities 

 for improvement are by far too scanty in general, it may act as a drawback 

 to his advancement in knowledge : but this ought not to be the case ; for 

 he should know that, now-a-days, when the competition is so great, he may 

 as well, and, indeed, much better, give up the business entirely, than 

 attempt to proceed without that indispensable requisite, a good education. 

 But to return to your correspondent. He desires a knowledge of the 

 chemical terms used in horticulture ; but he, perhaps, is not aware that it 

 is impossible to possess any adequate idea of the meaning of these terms, 

 so as to render them useful, without detailing suitable explanatory experi- 

 ments ; and, even then, without seeing the experiments actually performed, 

 together with a possession of a general knowledge of the science of che- 

 mistry, they would be of very little utility, and would occupy a portion of 

 your Magazine which might be filled with more valuable matter. And 

 this request is rendered the more unnecessary, when we consider the num- 

 ber of minor publications in this science issued at the present day ; 

 some of them well calculated for the purpose for which they were written, 

 although your learned correspondent, Mr. Mallet (Vol. IX. p. 122.), 

 appears to think the contrary. There are two publications which 1 would 

 particularly recommend to young gardeners, as upon their acquirements 

 depends the future advancement of our profession. The first, which is the 

 cheapest, is Griffin's Chemical Recreations, containing the first lines of the 

 science, and a detail of a number of very cheap and instructive experi- 

 ments : the second is Fife's Manual of Chemistry ; a work admirably suited 

 to the wants of the young gardener. Both of these works have been com- 

 piled for the sake of mechanics ; and, of course, the technicalities of the 

 science are sufficiently illustrated. 



Every one who intends studying chemistry should be aware of the 

 necessity of experimenting for himself. By readinir, he can, at the most, 

 only be a smatterer ; and one experiment, carefully conducted, and the 

 rationale of the action reasoned upon, will teach him more of this science 

 than the perusal of many volumes. The question here may very naturally 

 occur. How can the young gardener, who has to combat so many difficul- 

 ties, procure apparatus and materials to experiment with ? This, I confess, 

 is a powerful obstacle to be overcome, and, in many cases, will prove 

 insurmountable ; yet, notwithstanding, a person with a little invention and 

 perseverance may prove many of the general principles with very trifling 



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