April 4, 1865. ] 



JOTJKNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 



269 



tradesmen and mechanics. Well ! first because they are 

 more servants than mechanics, and we hardly think the 

 time has come when the gentry will neither ride nor drive 

 on a Saturday afternoon, in order that grooms and coach- 

 man may not be disturbed. Secondly, because not bales of 

 cloth, nor bars of iron, nor planks of wood, but in many 

 cases tender living existences, demand the gardener's care, 

 and would soon perish without it. On this account extra 

 care and extra attention are demanded on the Saturday, in 

 order to minimise, as much as possible, labour on the Sun- 

 day. We personally know of cases in which the attempt 

 was made to let a part of the men away earlier on the 

 Saturday afternoon, but it was found to be too hai'd on 

 those who remained, and leaving all together an hour or so 

 earlier was found to be more satisfactory. 



Thirdl}', if carried out, we do not see how visiting other 

 gardens, a very desu-able thing, and which oiu- correspon- 

 dent assigns as a reason, could be satisfactorily accomplished 

 on such Saturday afternoons, when no more men would be 

 employed than were absolutely essential to perform the 

 necessary work. Who could pay the necessary courtesies 

 to the visitors ? Even now, without such holiday, visitors 

 on a Saturday afternoon could scarcely come at a worse 

 time, unless on a Sunday, and this latter we would, unless 

 in very exceptional cases, wholly forbid. 



Without speaking of head gardeners, we have no doubt 



that all young gardeners who are industrious, prudent, 

 honest, and attentive, will never be begrudged a few hours, 

 or more at a time, to see other gardens on other days com- 

 fortably. Of course we do not include those who sit and 

 think when they ought to work and think. 



Here we would stop, without taking notice of the "want 

 of will " of employers and head gardeners further than 

 directing attention to the letter of Mr. Wills, page 244, so 

 far in unison with our own ideas as expressed at page 234, 

 but our correspondent alludes to "want of union amongst 

 journeymen gardeners." We believe there is a hazy feeling 

 of this kind afloat, but the sooner it is dissipated by the 

 light of stern facts, like mists before the light of the sun, 

 the better for all concerned. It is unnecessaa-y to say a 

 word on the right of combination, or the awful evils often 

 flowing from the practical assertion of such rights; it is 

 sufficient for our purpose to say that journeymen gardeners 

 could do nothing in such a case by union, simply because 

 other workers would soon willingly do, or try to do, what 

 the journeymen refused to do. In one word, were even a 

 general practice as to hours more uniform than now, the best 

 plan would be to leave all such matters to the mutual agree- 

 ment between employer and employed. The ventilation of 

 the subject may help to lead to such an understanding as 

 would combine, if possible, increased generosity on one side 

 with increased faithfulness on the other. 



POETABLE BOILEES. 



One of the most desirable things that could be introduced I from a nice shady summer promenade into a conservatory or 

 would be some contrivance by which one could turn a piazza j winter garden at pleasure. 



There would be no difficulty in doing this were questions 

 of heating out of the way. There have been contrivances of 

 the kind attempted, introducing the necessary warmth from 

 heaters, but this kind of heat is never satisfactory to plants. 

 If pipes could be so arranged as to be readily put together, and 

 taken apart, and put away, one difficulty would be got over. 



The boiler question, we think, could be settled by the use of 

 Myer's portable boiler, of which the above is an illustration. 

 No doubt this idea could be still more perfected, as all 

 first-hand inventions can. We have not seen one of the 

 boilers in use, but judge from appearances it will be all its 

 maker claims for it. — (American Gardeners' Monthly.) 



FEENCH TEEsus ENGLISH ASPAEAGUS. 



Mk. Watson may relieve himself of any doubts he may 

 entertain as to my good intentions. I never doubted his state- 

 ments, nor had any intention of wounding any one, native 

 or foreign. My opitdon was asked as to the merits of 

 Asparagus grown on the English and French systems, and 

 having grown that vegetable on both systems in England, 

 the opinion given was based on the results. These were : 

 The heads grov/n on the French system were longer, entirely 

 white, except the tips, and though 9 inches in length no 

 more was eatable than a small portion of the growing- 

 point; the Asparagus grown on the English system was 

 not so long, was not so fine-looking, but more of it was 

 eatable, and consequently it was in most request by the 

 famOy; there were endless complaints about the Asparagus 

 being woody so long as that grown on the French system 

 was served, but it was pronounced excellent after being 

 allowed to grow to the same length as ordinarily. 



Perhaps Mr. Watson is not aware that the first shoots of 

 Asparagus are much more tough than those produced later 



in the season, and that forced Asparagus is much more 

 tender than that grown in the open air. This may explain 

 why French Asparagus can be more tender than English, 

 and I have not the slightest doubt it generally is so, both 

 being grown on the same system. What French Asparagus 



1 have eaten has certainly been more tender than English- 

 grown, but I never found any equal to that with but 2 inches 

 of it uneatable. My experience is that but the upper 



2 or 3 inches are eatable, therefore Mr. Watson has been 

 more fortunate. 



M. Carlos Porer's letter is simply an explanation of the 

 reasons why we find French Asparagus purchased in Covent 

 Garden, or at the hotels and restaurants of Paris, is not so 

 good as that eaten where produced, he being so good as to 

 admit that some amateurs even in France " maintain that 

 that with green ends is preferable tc the rose and white." 

 That is precisely my opinion of that grown in England. 



The reason French Asparagus is worth so much more in 

 London is that it is several days, to say nothing of weeks, 



