GARDENERS — PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. 



47 



and the exhibits grown and staged are gradually improving in 

 quality, and the exhibitors are steadily on the increase, till, in a 

 few years' time, there will scarcely be a village, much less a town, 

 without its horticultural show. Such exhibitions are either the 

 outcome of or lead to the formation of Horticultural Improvement 

 Associations, where meetings are held periodically for the reading 

 of papers and the discussion of horticultural subjects. Such 

 organisations for the development of gardening are backed up or 

 assisted by an increased number of gardening journals, which 

 are at such a price as to be within the reach of all (however poor) 

 who love a garden. The more energetic and persevering can 

 now avail themselves of the examinations held annually under 

 the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society ; which, under 

 proper management, can be placed within the reach of all 

 desirous of being examined. These examinations will undoubtedly 

 become more popular and useful as their value becomes appre- 

 ciated and gardeners in general have a better elementary education 

 than at present. It may scarcely be credited that near the close 

 of the 19th century there are many gardeners who can neither 

 read nor write, and who look upon any organisation for the 

 improvement of future gardeners as a farce and a fraud. What 

 they know they think is sufficient for all time and all people, and 

 what they do not know they think is not worth knowing. 



Of the gardeners of to-day one can say a great deal by having 

 practical experience amongst and observations of their labours, 

 customs, and manners. Many of the cottage gardeners have 

 great taste and skill in the cultivation of horticultural produce, 

 and at their respective local shows will succeed with distinction, 

 oftentimes staging produce that would be a credit to a profes- 

 sional gardener. Of such energetic and persevering men we 

 cannot speak too highly, particularly when we take into considera- 

 tion the long hours many of them have to work and the small 

 wages they receive. Any working man who shows such taste 

 and love for the cultivation of plants should receive every 

 encouragement and assistance from those more favourably 

 situated. On making enquiries we find many instances of cottage 

 gardeners developing into prosperous horticultural tradesmen. 

 All honour is due to such men. 



My opinion of the amateur gardener is very considerable ; for 

 with such men we generally find they have leisure to devote to 



