Charges of Latidscape-Gardeners and Garden Architects, 213 



Art. II. Remarks on the Charges made by Landscape-Gardeners and 

 Garden Architects. By the Conductor. 



Having lately, with very great reluctance, consented to act as arbitrator 

 in the case of the employer of a landscape-gardener having thought the bill 

 given in by the latter exorbitantly high, it occurs to us that it might be useful 

 to make a few remarks on the subject ; the object of which will be, to 

 prevent misunderstandings of this kind between professional men and their 

 employers. 



In general, when there is a disputed point between a landscape-gardener or 

 garden architect and his employer, respecting the bill of the former, it is on 

 account of the charges made for his plans, drawings, estimates, or reports. If 

 a principle can be established on which these are to be charged, much of the 

 difficulty in the case of an arbitration will be got over ; and this principle, 

 once made known and disseminated, will be a guide to landscape-gardeners as 

 to what they ought to charge, and to employers as to what they may expect 

 to have to pay, when they employ this class of professional men. In noticing 

 this subject in the Suburban Gardener, p. 479., we stated the principle to be 

 the value which the professional man set on his time, charging at the same 

 rate for the time occupied in making the plans, &c, as for that employed in 

 going over the ground. The charge of landscape-gardeners varies from one 

 guinea to five guineas a day, for the time employed on the estate, or consumed 

 in going to the place to be laid out, or in returning from it home. To this 

 charge per day is, of course, added all reasonable travelling expenses, whether 

 by coach or postchaise ; and also those of board and lodging while the land- 

 scape-gardener is employed on the grounds ; unless, as is generally the case, 

 he lives with the family. Where a landscape-gardener charges five guineas 

 a day, and takes with him either a draughtsman or valet, or both, he is entitled 

 to travel in a postchaise ; but in ordinary cases, and where the charge is under 

 five guineas a day, the usual charge for travelling is by coach. If a landscape- 

 gardener travels in his own carriage, and with his own horses, then if his charge 

 is under five guineas a day, he charges for travelling expenses, as if he went by 

 coach ; but if he charges for his time at the rate of five guineas a day, or up- 

 wards, then his travelling charges are made as if he went by post. In both 

 cases, however, the time charged for must not be that actually taken when a 

 man travels with his own horses, but the time which would be required to 

 perform the journey by the mail, or by a postchaise. In cases where a land- 

 scape-gardener is on a professional tour, or where he travels to a distant part 

 of the country at the request of two or three parties intending to employ him, 

 the travelling expenses are divided, in proportions depending on distance and 

 other circumstances ; the understanding being that no more shall be charged 

 than the money out of pocket (or that would be out of pocket by coach or by 

 post), and the value of time at the landscape-gardener's fixed rate of charging 

 per day. 



The value of the landscape-gardener's time being determined by his charge 

 per day, the next point is to determine what a professional day is. Now, as 

 every professional man must be considered as in the rank of a gentleman, and, 

 while he is employed in the grounds, as having a place at the table of his em- 

 ployer, it is sufficiently evident that his day will consist of the time which 

 elapses between breakfast and dinner. If the professional man chooses to 

 walk out before breakfast, or to occupy himself in writing or drawing in his 

 room in the evening, he may do so; but we by no means consider that he is 

 bound to employ himself at these periods as a part of his day ; though, if his 

 heart is in the proposed improvements, he will most likely do so. The day, 

 then, of a landscape-gardener we shall suppose to commence one hour after 

 breakfast is finished, and continue till one hour before dinner is commenced ; 

 or, in other words, from eleven till five o'clock, say six hours, or between six 

 and seven hours. 



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