Book II, 



EDUCATION OF GARDENERS. 



J 141 



drawing landscape and figures ; the fourth, to 'Euchd's Ele?7ients ; the fifth, to drawing plants, flowers, 

 insects, and minerals ; and the sixth to mechanics and experimental philosophy. The remainder of each 

 evening to be disposed of in writing essays and letters, both with a view tc impi-ovement in the style, and 

 in penmanship; to miscellaneous reading, if possible, from an encyclopasdia, assigning a due proportion 

 to each kind of study or acquirements. 



7758. A holidai/, when it occurs, we should recommend to be commenced with a language, as usual, and 

 to be included in the general rotation for that branch ; but the remaining part of the day we would dispose 

 of in portions of one, two, or three hours, in bringing forward those evening studies which we had 

 been least successful in during the week, or found ourselves most in want of for actual use. Holidays 

 are idso particularly adapted for drawing, which, though it ought not to be neglected witii artificial light, 

 yet goes on best with that of the sun. Nothing can be more mechanical than copying drawings, or drav,-. 

 ing from nature, and there is nothing (but want of will) that can hinder every gardener from being a 

 good draughtsman in all the three departments. To paint in oil, or make highly finished drawings, valued 

 as such, is quite a different thing, and not to be attempted but by such iis have much leisure, or adiipt 

 that pursuit as a profession. 



7759. The books necessary fo7- general studies are, any authors on arithmetic, mensuration, and land- 

 surveying, who are pretty full ; any used copy of Euclid, and of Young's Lectures on Natural Philoso- 

 phy ; or study the articles on the last subject in a good encyclopasdia. There is no very good drawing- 

 book for self-instructors, but some one may be borrowed, and those parts of any encyclopaidia consulted 

 which treat on the subject. For the miscellaneous reading, all the books required ai-e to be borrowed, 

 and chiefly, if possible, an encyclopEcdia, which ought to be read through volume by volume, and notes 

 taken in the pocket memorandum-book (7741.) of such parts as are considered best worth remembering. 



7760. ConclKsion. A great deal more miglit be said on this subject, did our limits permit ; suffice it to add, 

 that if a student only wills and exerts himself, everything will be found possible ; difficulties may occur, and 

 may retard for a time, but they will finally be overcome. The great thing is to be convinced of the impor- 

 tance of incessant application, by which any man may attain to eminence, and without which eminence 

 was never yet attained. The profession of a gardener is, more than any other, favorable for mental ac- 

 quirements ; his labor is easy ; his patron has a library : he has frequent o])portunities in improving his 

 language and manner, by being asked questions by his patron and his family, and other sujjeriors who 

 are educated and polished. He may also render himself useful to clergymen, medical men, and school- 

 masters, by collecting and preparing objects of natural history for them, for which in return he will re- 

 ceive useful hints, and the loan of books. A great object is, to accomplish all this, and yet have some 

 spare money for travel and accidents, which is to be done by great simplicity (avoiding what is meagre) 

 in food and dress ; by neglecting the use of such luxuries as tea, sugar, spirits, and such other articles as 

 are much taxed ; by purchasing used clothes, and never new ones before having arrived at the degree o€ 

 head gardener, for the best dress ; and by having, for daily use, dresses of coarse grey stuff, not enhanced 

 in price by much ornamental manipulation, or by taxes. — Though, in making these remarks, we have 

 had in view chiefly young raen, yet there is no period of life at which improvement may not be com- 

 menced, and attempted with a degr'ee of success that will amply repay. At any period under thirty, every- 

 thing we have proposed may be attained : a great deal, even at forty, and enough to meliorate and hu- 

 manise life, beginning even at the latest period. Let the gardener never forget that though something 

 will depend on his organisation, yet, that much the greater part depends on education — on his desire of 

 raising himself, and on incessant application. To desire anything ardently, is, in truth, to be inspired 

 with the power of attainment. 



Sect. IV. Moral, Religious, and Physical Education of Gardeners. 



7761. The subject of morals (morales, Lat. manners) regards the conduct of man 

 toM'ards others ; that of religion [religio, I^at. devotion, devoted to), his opinions as to 

 God or the nature of things ; and that of physical education {physica, Lat. the know- 

 ledge of nature) instructs him in the art of preserving health. 



7762. Morality and religion are usually treated as depending on each other; the latter 

 is considered as the principal foundation of the former., and man is taught to be sober 

 and honest, not only to avoid the punishment awarded by the laws of his country, but 

 to avoid still greater punishment in futurity. But morality may and does exist apart 

 from religion ; for truth and justice, honesty and humanity, are essential to. the existence 

 of regular society. Debauchery of every kind is attended with the loss of reputation, 

 and more or less of bodily health ; those who despise, and affect to treat with contempt 

 or ridicule, the opinions of the respectable part of society, are themselves despised and 

 excluded from society in return. In the intercourse of society, a man always receives 

 according as lie gives ; and as he treats others so is he treated himself. If he wishes to 

 be dealt with honestly, he must be honest; and if he wishes to be respected by respectable 

 men, he must respect them, and their conduct and principles. In short, independently 

 of religious motives, it is necessary to be moral, in order not to be disreputable ; and 

 Avcrth while to be highly so, in order to ensure confidence and respect. Whatever theory 

 therefore the young gardener may adopt, there is only one practice wliich he will find 

 to answer his expectations ; and that is, the strictest regard to truth, honesty^, sobriety, 

 decency, and purity in himself ; and respect for otliers, in proportion as these virtues 

 appear in their conduct and conversation. 



7763. The 7norallaw of all countries is essentiaUy the same ; because, in the rudest forms of society, it 

 is found necessary to enforce justice and honesty ; but among rude nations, and even among those in a 

 comparatively advanced state, the more refined laws of morality are neglected. Thus in Russia, where 

 the people, from the boor to the csar, are the most religious in Europe, it is no discredit to a gentleman 

 to lead a debauched life, or to pilfer trifling articles from another, or to steal from shops {Li/all's Mos- 

 cow, xxxix.) ; but in a refined and luxurious state of society, sucii as that in Britain, the enjoyment of 

 every individual depends not only on a strict, but a refined morality ; and men must not only be civil 

 but polite. - ' 



7764. Politeness may be considered the ornament or finish of morals or manners ; and though it is 

 commonly thought to belong chiefly to the higher classes, yet it will be found both attainable and useful 

 in a high degree, by every class, and by none more than the gardener. Polite and amiable conduct, like 

 a good figure and address, recommend themselves at sight, and make at once an impression in favor of 

 the man who possesses them. " Civility," Lady M. \V. Montague observes, " is a sort of current coin 

 which costs nothing and buys everything." The greatest genius and abilities will never procure a 



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