Book I) 



EDUCATION OF GARDENERS. 



1139 



fifteen, he has ten years in which to acquire his profession, and generally to improve him- 

 self. In that period he may not only acquire his profession, but, according to the extent 

 of his ambition and application, a considerable degree of knowledge on almost every 

 subject. Everything, as we have more than once observed, depends on his ambition ; 

 without this he will not even acquire his profession, and at all events will find no leisure 

 time for any other kind of improvement. When we consider, however, that the labor of 

 a gardener is not severe, and that it is only during the hours jof daylight, the time he has 

 for self-improvement is very considerable. It may surprise some when we state, that this 

 time equals (taking the whole year), that employed in study by professional students at 

 colleges. A gardener, in the shortest day, begins work at eight o'clock and leaves off at 

 four o'clock ; which, allowing two hours for breakfast and dinner, gives six hours of la- 

 bor ; in the longest day he works only ten hours, and therefore it will not be far from the 

 truth to consider eight hours per day as the average duration of his labor throughout the 

 year. Dividing the twenty-four hours which compose the day in three equal parts, we 

 have eight hours for rest, dressing, and undressing ; eight hours for labor, and acquiring 

 the practice of gardening ; and eight hours for refreshment and study. On comparing 

 this time for study with that which is usually devoted to it by young men at college ; not 

 the generality of young men, but those even who attain to eminence ; we will find the dif- 

 ference very inconsiderable. The student requires the same time for rest, and at least two 

 hours more for dressing and undressing (say ten hours) ; for breakfast he requires an 

 hour ; dinner and tea, at least three hours ; and for exercise (which if he neglects he will 

 soon be unable to study at all), at least two hours ; in all, for exercise and refreshment, 

 six hours ; which added to ten of rest and dressing, gives eighteen hours, leaving exactly 

 the same number of hours for study which every gardener has, taking the average of the 

 year. It is true the eight hours of the gardener ai'e subject to the time employed in eat- 

 ing ; but that may well be considered as compensated by the knowledge of botany he ac- 

 quires in the garden during his hours of labor. Add also, that the gardener may (unless 

 liis health forbid) draw still more time than we have mentioned from the hours of sleep ; 

 we think it will not be denied, that, taking all circumstances into consideration, he has as 

 much time as studious men, taking the average of the year, usually devote to study. 



7745. The branches of education best deserving d gardener's attention are next to be considered. As one 

 branch of knowledge is as much as any person ever does or can excel in, and as that branch, in the case of 

 every professional man, ought to be his profession, it seems to us that a gardener ought not to attempt to 

 excel in any one branch of science besides that of gardening; but rather to make himself acquainted, to 

 the degree that circumstances may permit, with the whole cycle of human knowledge. If he attempts any 

 thing else, it is impossible, isolated as he must be, in comparison Vv^ith others who study the same subject 

 among abundance of books and fellow-laborers, that he can attain to the highest degree of eminence. It 

 is impossible, for example, that he can arrive at great perfection, even in the study of botany, from not 

 having an opportunity of consulting the herbariums and books which are only to be found in the metro- 

 polis. He may, however, and ought to, attain a respectable degree of knowledge, not only in botany, but 

 also in the other branches of natural history : such for example as will enable him to refer any natural pro- 

 duction to its place in the Linnasan system, and describe scientifically any new production. But that he 

 should be expert at chemical analysis, dissection of animals, solving problems in any of the higher branches 

 of mathematics, or excel in painting, music, or poetry, is what we by no means propose, or think practi- 

 cable ; though v/e are convinced he may know something of all those subjects, and of all others on which 

 there are published books. 



774G. The source from which he is to derive his general knowledge, it may easily be conceived, is chiefly 

 from books ; with such aid as opportunity offers from professional men, public lectures, men of talents 

 and learning wherever he has an opportunity of conversing with (hem ; artists, artisans, and manu- 

 facturers of every description ; and also manufactories, engines, mines, dock-yards, and all other works 

 displaying human skill. But the grand source is books, and the question is how a journeyman gardener, 

 whoso wages are often less than those of a common laborer, is to procure them ? Our answer is, borrow 

 them; and make it a fixed rule to purchase no books excepting grammars, dictionaries, and other ele- 

 mentary works ; and of these used or cheap copies. The head gardener will always be able and willing to 

 lend his apprentices and journeymen a certain number of books ; and the patron under whom they serve, 

 will generally be found equally liberal. 



7747. The sorts of books desirable to borrow, independently of those connected with the professional 

 acquirements, such as treatises on Chemistry, Zoology, Mineralogy, &c. will depend on the degree of 

 advancement of the student. But that which we are of opinion cannot be dispensed with, is a good en- 

 cyclopcenia. One systematically instead of alphabetically arranged would be the best ; but as most 

 country libraries are now stocked with the Encyclopedia Brit, or Rees's Cyclopcedia, these must be taken 

 till a well executed one on tlie plan of the Encyclopaedia MetropoUtana, now publishing (but badly exe- 

 cuted), finds its v/ay into general use. 



7748. The studies to be cotmnenced with is next to be determined. It is necessary to premise here, that 

 the mind, before it can derive much improvement from reading, must undergo a certain degree of culture. 

 To improve by reading it is not sufficient to be able to read ; we must be able to analyse language and dis- 

 course ; to recognise the real or apparent object of the writer ; and to trace the order of his ideas from the 

 commencement to the conclusion. The foundation of this is the exercise of the faculty of attention, 

 ali-eady dwelt on ; and essential aids to it is the study of grammar, and of languages. Another excellent 

 help is the study of systematic natural history; a circumstance highly in favor of gardeners who are de- 

 sirous of improving themselves in general literature; since, if they know their profession at all, they must 

 have a tolerable knowledge of systematic botany, which gives the mind an orderly and systematic mode 

 of thinking. It is not uncommon,- for example, to hear gardeners who have no pretensions to general 

 literature, applying the terms, genera, species, subspecies, and varieties, to manners of thinking, or acting, 

 to religion, weather, forms of governments, &c. For want of this preparation of the mind, there are many 

 persons who read a great deal, and derive very little benefit from it. Their minds are not competent or 

 not habituated to view the subject which they read as a whole, and to take a view of its general scope and 

 tendency. All they see of it is the parts as tliey pass before their eyes, their relation and connection 

 they think notliing oj, and the whole passes as it were through the mind, instead of remaining on if. 

 Beading to such men, in comparison with those whose minds have been prepai'ed by elementary studies, 



4 D 2 



