562 Bicton Gardens, their Culture and Management. 



flower-pots thrown together, dirty and clean, broken or not 

 broken. The first thing they thought of was liquor to drink; 

 and they never were satisfied except they were tossing, and 

 guzzling, and smoking. "What would you think of six or seven 

 men mowing a nobleman's flower-garden with each a short pipe 

 in his mouth, blowing a cloud as if doing it for a wager? I am 

 sorry to say I have seen all the above in practice in Bicton 

 gardens. Do you not think I was a little surprised at such things ? 

 I was not long before I told my foreman of each department, 

 that I must have a little better order in every place. They with 

 one voice said it was impossible, for there were not half hands 

 enough to do the work. I pointed out the way I should pro- 

 ceed, which caused a great stagnation and blight with both fore- 

 men and men. I was the whole talk of the neighbourhood 

 round : it was said that my long ugly legs would not be walking 

 Bicton gardens long. I got one young man from London. 

 They swore him to their rules and ways, and he turned out the 

 worst of them all. I was obliged to brush him off in great 

 haste. Do you not think I was justifiable in persevering with 

 my own Rules and Regulations? The difference in the industry, 

 cleanliness, happiness, and contentment amongst my men is 

 truly astonishing. They are always in time of a morning, as 

 clean as I can expect labourers, merry, whistling, singing, 

 going to work as if they were taking an interest in doing good, 

 and always knowing where to put their hand on any tool that 

 is wanted, which you observed when here. It is one of the 

 greatest pleasures to me that can possibly be imagined, to see 

 such a change; but I still live in hopes of seeing further im- 

 provement here in every way. 



RULES AND REGULATIONS OF BICTON KITCHEN- GARDEN. 



* # * The following Rules to be strictly attended to, and the Fines to be paid 

 each pay-day. The amount so paid to be divided equally amongst the 

 men at the end of the year, or put to some useful purpose, as shall be 

 agreed on. 



Rule d 



1. Coming to work on a Monday morning with a dirty shirt - - 3 



2. Coming to work any morning without shoes being either laced or tied 3 



3. Any person employed in these gardens found gathering fruit with 



unwashed hands -- - - - - -4 



4. Walking from any border, bed, or quarter of the garden on to the 



walk without first scraping their shoes or boots on the scraper 

 kept for the purpose - - - - - - 3 



5. Neglecting to clean away dirt from the scrapers placed at the above- 



mentioned places or any quarter of the garden - - - 3 



6. Neglecting to raise up a scraper, too low for proper use, when finish- 



ing a job near the same - - - - - - 3 



7. Treading on the box-edgings, or wheeling over them, without first 



placing over them the bridge kept for the purpose - - 3 



