THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
41 >' i 
tional Association of Gardeners, Madison, X. .T. This envelope 
is not tn be opened until the judges have rendered their decision 
on the contest. Write your essay distinctly ami use one side of 
paper only. These rules must be strictly followed to avoid dis- 
qualification. The successful contestants will be announced at 
the annual convention in December. 
AMONG THE GARDENERS 
THE GARDENER'S WAGE. 
T. J. Morris, recently gardener on the 1). G. Reid Estate, [rving- 
ton-on-1 ludson, N. Y.. has resigned and aceepted the position of 
superintendent on the (l. M. Sidenburg Estate, "Woodheath 
Farm," Mount Kisco, X. ^ . 
Philip Bovington, formerly with John Morgan Wing, Millbrook, 
X. V., has secured the position of superintendent on the estate 
.ii Fred M. Sackett, "Edgecombe," Cherokee Park, Louisville, Ky. 
William S. Kennie has recently been appointed superintendent 
of "Oakvale Park," the estate of I. W". Hellman, Jr.. San Leandro, 
Cal. 
W'm. Turner has resigned his position as superintendent of 
Ellis Court Farm, Mendhain. X. J., to again aeeept the superin- 
tendeney of the Borden estate, Oceanic, X. J. 
John Johnson, late of the G. Warrington Curtis Estate, South- 
ampton, X. Y.. has seemed the position of head gardener mi the 
• •state of J. A. Spoor, "Blythewood," Pittsfield, Mass. 
Adolph Jaenicke recently resigned his position as gardener to 
Clarence Howard. St. Louis, Mo., to accept a position with the 
Penrose Estate, ( olorado Springs, Colo. Mr. Jaenicke will In 1 
engaged in laying out a 1,200-acre park and a 4,000-aere ranch as 
pleasure grounds. 
Frederick Cox, a greenhouse assistant on the Bayard Thayer 
Estate, South Lancaster, Mass., met with an accident mi Septem- 
ber (i. when an automobile in which he was riding was wrecked, 
from which he died twenty-four hours after. The deceased was 
a bright young man. only twenty-three years of aye. and bad 
worked at North Easton and other large estates in Massachusetts. 
Henry Gibson recently resigned his position as superintendent 
of the s. (;. Rosenbaum Estate, Roslyn Heights, Long Island, to 
accept a position as head gardener on the estate of William L. 
Austin. Rosemont, Pa. 
Arthur Smith, for many years superintendent mi the George D. 
I bust Estate, Reading, Pa., ami more recently of the Drury 
Estate, Willoughby, Ohio, has accepted the position of super- 
intendent with Leopold Stern, West End, X. J. 
IN THE FRUIT HOUSE. 
\ T I X ES and peaches that have finished require plenty 
of ventilation. It is very important that the young 
win id should be hard and firm, and this can only be 
brought about by plenty ot ventilation. The top and 
side ventilators can be left wide open both day and 
night. This docs in it mean that, should a sudden drop 
in the temperature occur, frost should be allowed to 
reach the vines <>r peaches. Not by any means. Let 
them down to 35 degrees for a few nights and then let 
them have all that is coming tn them. 
Not infrequently at this time of the year the fruit houses 
are made a storing place for many outdoor plants which 
fortunately will endure the cool treatment necessary for 
the fruit trees for a time, but in allowing plants to be put 
into these houses one should be careful that no insect pests 
are introduced with them. It would dampen the ardor of 
any man in charge of fruit houses who has been pains- 
taking enough tn have them free from all pests tn have 
mealy bug. red spider and similar pests brought tn 
him tn fight against. It is hard enough tn fight those 
that come through natural causes without introducing 
them from, other plants. Moreover, the water neces- 
sary for plants stored in the fruit houses is not con- 
ducive to the welfare of the ripening and resting 
plants. 
His Important Calling Should Be Better Rewarded 
Than It Is. 
From the New York Sun, Sept. 14. 
To the Editor of The Sun — Sir: The several com- 
munications which have recently appeared in your col- 
umns nil the miserable compensation that the gardener 
receives at the hands of institutions such as the New 
York Botanical Garden may bear fruit if this publicity 
will come to the attention of their governing boards, 
for it seems incredible that the professional men consti- 
tuting these boards would knnwingh permit the prac- 
tice of paying less for skill, which requires years of 
learning and practice tn acquire, than today is paid for 
ordinary labor. 
That the practice has been in force at all is owing, 
of course, to the fact that there are men to be found 
in the gardening profession who will accept such posi- 
tions. This, however, is due in nearly every instance 
tn circumstances which necessitate keeping employed 
and consequent failure to extricate one's self from un- 
fortunate surroundings to rise to better opportunities. 
It cannot be questioned that if the managements of 
many of our botanical gardens were more liberal in the 
treatment of their general operating forces greater ani- 
mation would pervade these places, which would tend 
to draw mi >re public interest to them and result in in- 
creasing financial support. It would elevate our botan- 
ical -aniens nearer tn the useful institutions of like 
character found abroad; whereas, today public interest 
in some of our botanical gardens is practically nil, so 
far as botany and horticulture are concerned. 
< hardening, as a whole, should not be classed as the 
worst profession from a remunerative standpoint, and 
I rmii the aesthetic what profession can vie with it 
where the highly efficient are considered? Statistics 
show that the struggling followers of theology, medi- 
cine and the law are not as well off as the average gar- 
dener, whi i is, strictly speaking, engaged in his voca- 
tii m. 
Nevertheless, we do tint enncede that the gardener 
is amply compensated for wdiat he produces. Here we 
must distinguish between the real gardener and the so- 
called gardener, nn ire properly termed garden laborer, 
and who is best known tn the general public. The 
ability of the capable gardener, who is efficient in all 
the various phases of horticulture, is not yet recog- 
nized in this country as it is abroad, and many of our 
country estate owners themselves do not realize all that 
is demanded of the gardener fitted to manage a large 
country place. He must possess executive ability, 
know how ti i manage men. and besides knowing his 
own profession, horticulture, thoroughly, must invari- 
ably have a general knowledge of agriculture, of engi- 
neering and of general construction. 
Unfortunately the gardener generally lacks what 
those of other professions exceed in, independence. If 
the gardener showed a less dependent and a more in- 
dependent spirit it would serve him better in all his 
ways and his efforts would be far more appreciated. 
Experience is demonstrating fur him, however, ami mg 
those who require him, that the gardener is no differ- 
ent than other men, and that he who tenders himself 
for small pay renders small service. The real produc- 
ers among gardeners demand accordingly. 
M. C. Ebel, 
Secretary. National Association of Gardeners. 
