42 
presses in a very clear and forcible way with regard to agriculture the 
same views which, in substance, I entertain with regard to horticulture. 
f . . 
In the Royal Gardens at Kew, from the necessities of our organisa- 
tion, we are unable to teach young men the rudiments of their profes- 
sion. Those we expect them to have ired before they come to us 
ment. Besides this, we give them the use of a fairly-equipped horti- 
cultural library, and lectures on various bran ches of botany, and on 
such elementary physics and chemistry as more or c direetly bear on 
horticulture. I very much doubt, however, whether these advantages 
add very much to the capacity of our men as peres That the 
must gain for themselves by working in the houses under the skilled 
difntion of able foremen. But 5 do not doubt for a moment that the 
time and pains our men bestow self-improvement is of incalculable 
benefit to them, by stimulating i developing their general intelligence. 
The youthful years of most human beings is a period of receptivity. 
Knowledge is acquired often almost mechanically, like the multiplica- 
tion table,-or a colloquial knowledge of a language. When man’s 
estate is approached or reached, the judgment comes into play. Most 
become a first-rate workm no which affords a 
larger scope for the exercise e a Mr. EM en “th horticulture. 
A gardener tries to grow a plant, with the habits of which he is un- 
fails i i 
famili He then, if he is a good man, begins to reflect 
He brings to bear upon its culture the experience gained in treating 
similar “subjects.” H different methods, and watches their 
effect: resting, watering, different kinds of soil, exposure to light, &c. 
The plant responds, a ups by seizing u e indication of improve- 
ment which such a method vi interrogation educes, the gardener 
ultimately finds the die to suc ew thod is essentially 
scientific without making any profession of being so. If, however, a 
gardener, abandoning the experimental method, yields to intellectual 
indolence and is content to subject the plant to such anie e ae 
as he learns from a book exist in the plant’s native country, then 
be pretty ry eis predicted that he will be saved all further abe 
by killing it 
Iam afraid I have treated tee to rather along essay. But this was 
perhaps necessary to enforce my conclusion that I do not think the 
county council can do any good by giving lecture-room instruction in 
the art of hortieulture. I have made inquiries, but I cannot find out 
that 1 any class of persons in this neighbourhood that can be 
profitably reached by such an enterprise 
e labourers in market gardens are re hardly likely to be induced to 
ep and the scattered gardeners in the district would in all pro- 
bability be, in at vi practical matters, better equipped than the lecturer. 
; recent deas 
not taught, or scarcely taught, in the | pesar schools, They would be 
