678 THE gardeners' society. 
in a manner similar to what you have recommended to he done, in 
the case of those _Youug men who might study the principles of Ar- 
horiculturc. Although a mismanaged garden is an evil easier recti- 
fied than woods, which have heen neglected, or ill taken care of, yet 
when we compare the sciences together, and see how much more at- 
tention and watchfulness are required in the one than in the other, 
surely the adoption of a system which would be so advantageous to 
foresting, by placing the axe or the pruning hook in the hands of 
those who were capable of using them aright, must likewise be bene- 
ficial to gardening, as it would remove carelessness and inattention, 
prove a stimulus to application, and foster those abilities which at 
present are often allowed to remain unnoticed and neglected. Some 
institution of this nature is daily becoming more imjserative, not only 
for the advantage of those, who, by jjersevering study, have made 
some proficiency in knowledge, but also for elucidating the art of 
Horticulture, and enabling it to maintain an equality at least, with 
those arts and sciences which we see making such rapid strides to- 
wards perfection. 
Far from depreciating the extent of the general knowledge, which 
gardeners have betn allowed to possess in times that are past, it will 
require but little observation and acquaintance with mankind to per- 
ceive, that now, instead of being superior in their mental acquire- 
ments, it is to be feared, they are falling behind the generality of 
tradesmen and mechanics. Formerly, the working-classes of society 
were contented, if by attending to the instruction given them, they 
obtained a knowledge of their profession, by following in the same 
routine tract in which thousands had travelled before them ; but now 
a spirit of enquiry having been produced, knowledge is taking the 
place of ignorance, and men, exerting those powers of the understand- 
ing which formerly had remained unexercised, have seen the pro- 
priety of examining for themselves, distrusting what appeared to have 
no other authority than custom, antiquity, or the sanction of some 
gi'eat name, and founding their opinions upon the broad basis of sci- 
ence, and the principles of inductive philosophy. What has been 
the result .'' The knov/ledge of those sciences, which had engaged the 
attention of the philosopher, and which their less learned brethren 
considered to be attended with so many difficulties as to be entirely 
beyond their reach ; have now become the study of the labouring 
mechanic, who, combining the understanding of the first principles 
upon which the operations of his art are founded, with daily practice 
in it, has been enabled to shed a light over many things formerly 
dark and obscure, and even been the author of researches which had 
