246 Utility of Draining, 



In Scotland, the residences of the wealthy are less frequently 

 situated near a populous village ; and the proprietor does not 

 find his property overburthened with labourers. He often leaves 

 his gardener to choose his own apprentices ; as it matters no- 

 thing whether he employs a native or a stranger, there being no 

 Law of Settlement to interfere with the labourer's independence. 

 There is a lodge at the garden ; and the apprentice is at once 

 placed there, to live with the under gardener. It is curious that 

 these lodges have got the Gaelic name of Bothies, there being so 

 few Gaelic words in the Scotch dialect. Being thus thrown from 

 the first upon his own resources, which are slender enough, he 

 learns to think and manage for himself. He has thus every 

 opportunity of learning his business from the gardeners, with 

 whom he constantly lives, and has no village companions to di- 

 vert his attention. At the expiration of his apprenticeship, he 

 knows that he must seek a situation as a journeyman gardener 

 elsewhere, as it is unusual to remain in the same place. This 

 cuts the taproot of his connexions. By serving in various 

 places for some years as an under gardener, he acquires suffi- 

 cient knowledge to take the situation of head gardener when- 

 ever it offers; and, from being often transplanted, he readily takes 

 root in any clime, though he always retains the love of his own 

 country. 



Though these advantages ai'e peculiar to the Scotch gardener, 

 it is not denied that there are many good English gardeners. 

 The greater number of gardeners in England, however, remain 

 little above the common labourer, in consequence, no doubt, of 

 the evil operation of the Law of Settlement ; and, though this 

 part of the law has been lately abolished, the alteration will not 

 soon produce an effect in those parts which are thickly inhabited. 

 It may be observed, in conclusion, as a proof that there is no 

 want of ability in the English gardeners, that those young 

 English apprentices who are trained under Scotch gardeners in 

 England, are no way different in their habits and fortunes from 

 those who are apprenticed under English head gardeners. 



Cossey Hall Gardens, January 21. 1839. 



Art. V. On the Utility of Draining ; ivith some Methods adapted 

 for various Soils. By John Fish. 



The first and principal improvement of wet land is drain- 

 ing, without which the greatest quantity of manure, of whatever 

 description it may be, will prove ineffectual towards its produc- 

 tiveness. 



Soil overcharged with moisture, proceeding from the water 

 being retained by a stiff impervious clay, or from cold springs. 



