372 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



water to be collected from a given surface of land, 

 and the effect which the drainage of that water from 

 the land will produce, which are not so easily settled, 

 and which very seriously concern the owners and 

 occupiers of land near the proposed gathering grounds. 

 For ourselves, we douU whetherthe deep springs would 

 lona; continue to yield their present supply, it the 

 main source whence the water is derived were once 

 tapped. On first sinking into the bed or stratum 

 charged with water, it would of course discharge a 

 very large quantity ; but it appears to us highty 

 probable that the supply would soon begin to fall off, 

 in the same manner as has often already been noticed 

 when a deep well has been much used. 



FLEMING'S WEED DESTROYER. 

 I KOTfCE in Jast week's Paper a letter signed " H. 

 Bailey, Nuneham," and it may seem presumption in any 

 party to comment npon a paper written by one so well 

 versed not only in the polite diction of our mother tongue, 

 but also having a glib supply of that of our predecessors 

 in the field of literature. Still common justice demands 

 that when one sees another unjustly attacked, the former 

 should, in doing as he would be done by, stand forward 

 boldly in defence of the right. 



Some parties may insinuate that I am a friend of the 

 person attacked, and therefore likely to be impressed 

 with a partial bias in his favour ; but I shall leave every 

 rightly constituted mind to judge for himself whether I 

 say more than facts warrant and the case demands, and 

 I should not have taken upon myself to reply to the 

 letter in question had I not been afraid that Mr. 

 Fleming, from the very friendly manner in which I 

 have always heard him speak of Air. Bailey, would treat 

 him with more leniency than he has a right to expect ; 

 and I write this, therefore, with a desire, as a third 

 party, to make known the truth, as T have had most 

 excellent opportunities of making myself fully acquainted 

 with it, having lived as foreman under Mr. Fleming 

 about three years, ending about Midsummer 1850, and 

 In that capacity I was much interested in every improve- 

 moot introduced during the time at Trentham Gardens, 

 and therefore I trust that the readers of the Chronicle 

 will accept my evidence as worthy of attention. 



When your leading article appeared on May 3d I 

 read it with considerable interest, and was much pleased 

 •with the clear manner in which the merits and working 

 of tliQjnachine were stated, feeling satisfied that nothing 

 •was ex derated. But when I saw Mr. Bailey's letter, 

 I was struck with the wanton perversion of plain facts 

 which it exhibited ; and especially asit distinctly shows 

 that he lias written without the slightest practical expe- 

 rience as to the utility of the invention. To the eyes of 

 men gifted with clearness of vision, his letter is calcu- 

 lated to impress them with the belief that he has been 

 actuated by an envious, if not a malicious disposition 

 either towards the poor machine itself or its inventor, 

 instead of with the " perfect good feeling " which he 

 professes to hold in view ; and, with regard to the 

 « holy principle of truth," I will give him back his pro- 

 verb, and, for the convenience of general English 

 readers, an anglicised version—" Truth is truly noble, 

 and in the end it will prevail." 



Mr. B. should have given his arithmetical calcula- 

 tions, if he would have convinced us of the accuracy of 

 his assertions when he first declares the non-existence 





take these poor creatures off their knees, and place them 

 upon their legs, should be branded with abuse ? should 



he not rather receive public thanks as one of the bene- 

 factors of the age, who can thus ensure more pleasure 

 to the employer and more comfort to the employed I 



As Mr. F.'s conduct and motives have been so much 

 misrepresented, it is but fair to call public attention to 

 his disinterestedness. How many men in a thousand 

 would have invented such a machine and given the 

 entire benefit of it to the public without reserving any 

 emolument to himself by patenting, registration, or any 

 other means \ Nay, more, he has, to my certain know- 

 ledge, taken considerable pains, by making arrangements 

 with respectable manufacturers, to ensure their being 

 got up at the lowest possible price. Does such a man 

 deserve to be stigmatised as one " who lives but for 

 himself, who would build up his reputation with cash 

 * wrung from the hard hand of peasants ' \ n 



It will be trespassing too much upon your space to 

 comment at length upon Mr. B.'s insolent and uncalled- 

 for abuse of employers in general,' as upon his evident 

 non-information as to what are the generally received 

 theories of political economy, or the effect of improve- 

 ments in arts and sciences upon labour and labourers, 

 but I would simply ask him if he would go back to the 

 distaff, the flail, and the scythe, and annihilate machinery 

 under the impression that manual labour would find a 

 better market. Mr. Bailey, if a well educated man, or 

 even a man of common sense, ought to be aware that his 

 argument is resting on a false and long exploded 

 foundation. • . 



I have a perfect knowledge of the extent of gravel 

 walks at Trentham, and know well that the calculations 

 given by Mr. Fleming are below the mark ; as I per- 

 fectly remember how careful he was in making the 

 statement not to over-rate the advantages ; I have pre- 

 pared, from memory, a statement for the accuracy of 

 which I will vouch, but as the result is the same as that 

 published by Mr. F., it will not be necessary to give it, 

 unless circumstances seem to call for it, and I have not 

 now time to copy it. 



In conclusion, I would ask every reader of the 

 Chronicle to read carefully the leading article in May 3d, 

 and compare it with Mr. Bailey's letter of June 7th. 

 The spirit and tone of the latter will be easily seen. 

 William Davidson, Weston, Shiffnal, Salop. 



so poetical an account of the rise JnT"** ^*^£ 

 gardeners' art as he gave you-I caiFS** fc 





it was in ancient timSs, and trace X *" ** 

 through various ages, down to our oC?* ***% 

 than to say what all history proves Tw^^S 

 ancient or modern, it is found as «£ * ? * 

 pered so has the country, and as gardening ***** 

 in any country, in the same propor&^^ 

 and prosperity of the state diminished - W f e »3 

 the Greeks, when in the zenith of their ' n 0wt ^ 

 and encouraged the science of gardening f( *** 

 extent. They had shops wherein were i?J7 *« 

 wreaths with which they crowned the b^ *? ** 

 warriors, their poets, and their statesman ° ** 

 latter days of Greece the art of g^?S"\. h * 



W o fin^ *W f™™ a, • „ % . nm S helmed ,*j 



we find that from the rei<m'of 



HN 



K&fi^^ mffSi 



* 



improvement took place in it-and the Dutch" F 



s 



and Italian gardens of that day seem to h 

 more than mere copies of the gardens of Plinv "^ 

 our empire increased— when colonies in &2' *■ 

 the world began to be annexed to this kin JJ!* 1 

 our trade our commerce, and our wealth boS 

 then we find that gardening began to prosper T^T 

 hear.) The art rapidly progressed, the fru£ 'Zl 

 flowers of distant lands were introduced and w! 

 into cultivation here, and we have around w faX 



transferring to this country the products"of 6 oth« IB * 



many gentlemen who have expended large i 



of the world. (Hear, hear.) 



Of course, as the u^ 



master or from a master's failing 



GARDENERS 5 BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. 



The anniversary of this charity was celebrated on Monday 

 by a dinner at the London Coffee Home. The object of the 

 Institution, as many of our readers are aware, is to relieve 

 by pensions persons who have been gardeners, and who 

 from age and infirmity have become incapable of earning a 

 living. To assist in the promotion of this object some 120 

 gentlemen assembled under the presidency of Joseph Paxton, 

 Esq., the designer of the Crystal Palace, among whom were 

 most of the principal horticulturists and market gardeners of 

 the metropolitan district, together with many of the elite of the 

 literary world, Messrs. C. Dickens, Douglas Jerrold, Mark 

 Lemon, Wills, and other prominent public writers being 

 present at the principal table, and taking part in the proceed- 

 ings of the day. The dinner was ail that could be desired, and 



the dessert, which was for the most part supplied by the sub- gardeners. In 1843 a great stimulus was given to 

 scribers of the Institution, was magnificent, and included some institution ; the income rose to 27 1 Z., in 1844 it increased 



gardening increased, gardeners have multiplied W 

 they multiply, they have, like other men, their iltenT 

 tionsof prosperity and ad versity- of enjoyment atf* 

 suffering ; and it not unfrequently happens that a m. 

 who has devoted his industry and his talent to sprat 

 fertility over the length and breadth of the land M 

 himself in his old age isolated and destitute. (Hear/har.) 

 Whether from illness or decrepitude— from change i 



the poor o __. 

 too often finds himself, towards the end of°his 

 brought to a condition of suffering and distress. tS 

 it is he requires aid to help him on easily through his let 

 remaining days. (Hear, hear.) It was under the 

 influence of a feeling of this kind, that several em\& 

 nurserymen met together in the year 1838, and 

 blished the Gardeners' Benevolent Institution (Ud 

 cheers) ; the purpose of that institution being to gire 

 relief, under certain conditions, to head gardeners and 

 their foremen, market-gardeners who have cultivated 

 not less than five acres of ground, and seedsmen and 

 nurserymen who have been in business for a certain 

 number of years, should they be in their old age reduced 

 to a state of destitution. The subscription to this insti- 

 tution is one guinea a year, or ten guineas in one sum be 

 a life subscription. In 1838, the year in which the insti- 

 tution was founded, its income was 50?. That income 

 gradually went on increasing until in 1842 it was 1001, 

 and in that year 607. was paid in relieving aged and infirm 



of a saving, and afterwards roundly abuses Mr. F. and 

 his noble employers for making or sanctioning such a 

 saving. And' I cannot help fancying that, if Mr. B. 

 were in want of a situation to-morrow, he would find 

 that the profound contempt which he expresses for judi- 

 cious economy would not insure him a very favourable 

 reception from those he would desire to serve. 



Those who are acquainted with Mr. Fleming and I 

 belie ye their name is « legion," are in general aware that his 

 principles are too liberal and enlightened to desire to 

 introduce improvements with a view to throw any 

 portion of the labouring population out of employment • 

 and with those I feel sure that the attempt to injure him 

 in public opinion will prove utterly abortive, and will 

 consequently recoil upon the hurler of the envenomed 

 ■haft. But as many of the readers of your Paper do 

 not happen to enjoy the same advantage, I am anxious 

 for their sake, and to prevent their being misled, to 

 explain to them that, m all the horticultural improve* 

 men to which he has introduced to the notice If the 

 public, Ins object has been the same as it would be of 

 every good reformer viz., to enable gardeners to give 

 and employers to derive more satisfaction from the 

 expenditure of a certain sum than they could by a per- 



mc ask Mr Bailey if the latter course of procedure is 

 in accordance with the age, or at all worthy of the 



bition of 18al has been carried out." And I must not 

 leave th,s part o the subject without pointing on the 

 Ktivejmmamty of adopting sueh imn™™L ?! 



pas 



these. Is there any gardeVu^ati imPTOVementS " 

 to the human frame than hand-weedin« ? 



on more injurious 



on ],:s hands and knees, hbddted~uf ' fcV&L *S 

 breast exposed to the damp exhalations of the tar* 

 from tnovnmg to night, day after day, week after week 

 year after year ! weeK, 



been crippled, and their constitutions' RIVE 



injury, effects of this employment; and \? £, 



tunted and dwarfed by the same cause. IsTt u st 



then, that a man who introduces an invention that 5 



uter year ! ^ c * 



coald adduce instances of healthy men who ha* 

 .crippled, and their constitutions broken L .u 



splendid Pines from the Pineries of the Dukes of Devonshire 

 and Sutherland ; Peaches, Grapes, Strawberries, and other 

 products of the skill of the most famous growers of the 

 country. The cloth having been removed, The Chairman 

 gave, as the first toast, "The Queen," which the company 

 responded to with enthusiastic loyalty. The next toast, 

 "Prince Albert, Albert Prince of Wales, and the rest of the 

 Royal family," was also received with loyal honours, and in 

 proposing it the Chairman took occasion to say of Prince 

 Albert that he deserved well of the country in having carried 

 out through evil report and through good report, and am ; d 

 difficulties of no ordinary kind, a project so grand that the 

 world had never before seen the like (cheers), and when 

 history should record the events of these, times, his Royal 

 Highness's name would stand prominently forward as that of 

 one who in his day nobly and successfully fought the battle of 

 social progress and improvement. (Much applause.) 



Mr. Douglas Jerrold then rose. He said : Our 

 Chairman has entrusted me with a toast which I am 

 sure you will all join me in drinking with great pleasure 

 —it is the health of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire. 

 (Loud cheers.) This might be an embarrassing duty to 

 me if the name of that illustrious nobleman did not 

 speak for itself— if it did not, as it does contain, an 

 innate lustre which makes it shine by its own H*ht 

 (More cheering.) The Duke of Devonshire may be con- 

 sidered as one of those just stewards who having received 

 the blesamgsVof Providence, multiply and" fructify 

 them by the manner in which he showers them upon 

 o hers who are less fortunate. (Applause.) Gentlemen, 

 Ins Grace the Duke of Devonshire has a two-fold claim 

 upon us to-nighi In the first place he is connected 



ta hU I 6 f r ? ene ^ Great cheering), and in the second, 

 to his well-placed trust and confidence in the genius of 



«K? hai T^ OoadcheersKlo his sympathy 



£,! a -F aX i°" m hlS lar & e and § rand i(} eas of garden- 



ng,and its nitrate triumphs, we may attribute that 



triumph of genius which now asserts itself with a world- 



the Crystal Palace. (Renewed cheering 

 not longer detain you, but ask you to join wfth 



Duke of Devonshire. (Cheers.) The health was drunk 

 with loud demonstrations of respect 



^SS^t^aS^ l ? ?! ve the toast of th * 



y buccess to the Gardeners' Benevolent Institu- 

 tion, and long may it prosper.- He said: In p"«£r 

 t us toast before you, gentlemen, I am 8 J 



meeting of the institution: On that 

 occasion you will recollect that a nobl 



to 342Z., in 1845 to .4142., in 1846 to 455V in 1848 to 

 502Lj in 1849 to.552Z., and in 1850 to 5421 (tad 

 cheering) ; besides which, the committee had in stoct 

 and in hand, a fund of nearly 25002. (Cheers). In the 

 same year, 1850, they paid in pensions 4922., and at this 

 time they have 35 pensioners on the books of the insti- 

 tution. (Cheers.) I think, gentlemen, I have now stated 

 sufficient to assure you that this is an institution which » 

 deserving of your warmest support. (Loti<* cheers.) I 

 believe it to be one that deserves the support of «l 

 the richer classes of society — of all who employ pt 

 deners for their gratification and comfort. I say that 

 no man who is in that position of life, can spend 10 

 guineas better than by paying it in as a life subscription 

 to this Society (hear, hear) ; not with the view oi 

 placing some particular person on its funds, but witnttie 

 view of assisting at the proper time, and in the mo* 

 effectual way, aged and deserving men, who are wducw 

 to want. (Applause.) I rejoice to say thatthe ^ 

 tution is now making its proper share of P ro ?*r 

 (Hear, hear.) In the earlier part of its ^^ n ^ 

 subscriptions were confined in a great degree, l e j 

 to London and its immediate neighbourhood ; no 



, not England onl, JJ 

 ' In all parts of » 



find they are spread all 

 Ireland and Scotland. 



over 

 (Cheers.) 



wide fame 

 I will 



day 



kingdom, persons connected with gardening a W 

 ning to discover that this is an excellent ana « * 

 institution, by supporting which they wffl W w y 

 at once assisting the deserving poor, but may e ^ 

 seeds of which hereafter they may themselves r, > 

 fruits. (Cheers.) One principle of the institufcon 

 is worth attention is that it gives a preference i-rr^ 

 cants who have subscribed 15 years to the mi ^ 

 those who have not subscribed to it at a . ^ 

 myself spoken with several gardeners ^ U j hi ^ 

 tution, and of the great advantage of so«xi *^ % 

 funds, while they are in a position to^ do so. ^j 

 case at this time. I will not mention n& T"^ the 

 know a person who is at this moment son ^ ^ 

 suffrages of the subscribers as an a PP l . rcumS taE«* 

 bounty, who once moved in very different ci ^^ 

 Unfortunately he has not been a subscriber, ^^ 

 he has many friends in the institution, ana ^.^j 

 creat affliction, it is very doubtful if he ca isto sho* 



I mention ^.Z^m 



last annual ... _.._ 



, j ,. i from ifcs funfIg - (Hear, hear.) * *™"TT aeif-iflter^ 



«** ** for ,„•» «ij^*siaft SsxS^SSSASi?^^ 



chair. (Hear, hear.) 



