Scientific Examination of Gardeticrs. 6 1 1 



fdready reached a third edition) Davy's Agricultural Chemistry ought also to 

 be studied, and Main's Vegetable Physiology, and Hayward's Principles of 

 Horticulture. 



While we offer these remarks for the encouragement of young men entering 

 into the profession of a gardener, we think it may not be amiss to caution all 

 such against supposing that the possession of scientific knowledge alone will 

 fit them for filling situations, either first or second-rate, as head gardeners ; 

 much less will it put them on a par with many gardeners, both young and 

 old, who, in connexion with the practice of their art, have been studying the 

 science of it, from books and from nature, all their lives. Whatever may be 

 the science of any art possessed by a young man, nothing can enable him to 

 practice that art with a certainty of success, but time and experience. Ex- 

 perience cannot be gained without time; and, therefore, in this respect no 

 young gardener can be on a par with an old one. Besides, in gardening, as 

 in every other pursuit, it is not always those who have most knowledge who 

 are most capable of carrying what they know into practice. The operations 

 of grafting, and even planting with the dibble, however simple they may ap- 

 pear, may be perfectly understood from description, and yet not performed in 

 such a way as to insure success. It is well known that some of the most 

 successful cultivators, both of fruits and flowers, in the neighbourhood of 

 London, and in Holland, are men who never read. We submit these 

 remarks, not to discourage young men who may wish to study their art 

 scientifically from doing so ; but simply to prevent the chance of the young 

 men who have obtained, or who may obtain, certificates, from being puffed 

 up by their newly acquired honours, and perhaps despising their elder 

 brethren. 



After these preliminary remarks, we shall submit the documents which 

 have given rise to them. 



[^Form of a Zictter ivhich will henceforward be sent to all Candidates for Admis- 

 sion into the Horticidtural Society'' s Garden.'] 



Horticultural Society's Garden, 



Chiswick, 183 . 



Sir, 



I am directed to transmit to you, as a candidate for admission 

 into this garden, the accompanying resolutions, to which I beg particularly to 

 call your attention. I am also to request that you will immediately inform me, 

 by post, whether you will be prepared to comply with these resolutions, in 

 order that your application may in that case be confirmed. If I do not receive 

 an answer to this letter in the course of a month, you will be considered to 

 object to the regulations, and your name will be removed from the list of 

 applicants. 



I am, your obedient servant, 



Gardener. 

 To Mr. 



[Regulatio7is respecting the future Admission of young Men into the London 

 Horticultural Society's Garden, and their Examination afterwards.'] 



Extract from the Minutes of the Garden Committee, Feb. 22. 1836. 



The Garden Committee, having had their attention called to the defective 

 state of the education of some of the young men who are recommended to 

 them for employment in the Society's Garden, and feeling it to be most de- 

 sirable that all persons intended for gardeners should possess the means of 

 becoming acquainted with the principles of the art which they intend to prac- 

 tise, have directed that the following regulations be in future observed : — 



No person is to be received into the Garden for permanent employment who 

 cannot produce satisfactory evidence upon the following points : — 



1. That he has been employed for at least three years in some good garden. 



2. That he can write and spell respectably. 



