454 Report on the progress of the Horticultural Society, 



VIII. — The instruction of young men in the art of 



GARDENING. 



Since the first establishment of the garden the Council have been 

 anxious to render it conducive to the improvement of the Educa- 

 tion of young men intended for gardeners. Not that it was ever 

 supposed that such an establishment as this necessarily is, would 

 supply all the information and practical experience to be obtained 

 in a private garden ; for it was always sufficiently evident that many 

 things are required in private families which are not wanted in a 

 public establishment. But it was expected that young men, placed 

 in the garden for two or three years at the end of their period of 

 education, would become acquainted with the best methods of culti- 

 vation, would acquire a good knowledge of the best varieties of ve- 

 getables and fruits, would be witnesses to the success or failure of 

 experiments, and would increase their acquaintance with the names 

 of plants to a much greater degree than in a private garden ; and 

 that thus they would have valuable opportunities of improving 

 themselves. It was further anticipated that the habits of self- 

 control and discipline which might be expected to arise in any 

 public establishment under efficient superintendence, would give 

 them habits of order and good conduct, and a knowledge of the 

 world, which would be useful to them when entrusted with the 

 management of others. 



But for a long time these anticipations on the part of the Council 

 were but partially realized; chiefly owing to the very imperfect 

 preliminary education of the young men recommended for employ- 

 ment. Some were found totally unacquainted with the commonest 



