The Professional Gardener 
Martin C. Ebel, Secretary, National Association of Gardeners 
The professional gardener, I fear, is a very much misjudged individ- 
ual. Only as recently as last fall Dr. Sidney S. Wilson, vice-president 
of the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World, in addressing a 
convention of professional gardeners, confessed that up to the time 
he had been invited to address the meeting he was totally ignorant of 
the fact that such a thing existed as a gardening profession; that his 
definition of a gardener, until he was enhghtened, was, "One who 
labored in a garden." He said that he believed that his definition was 
one universally accepted by the public and that it rested with the 
gardener to make his profession more widely known. 
The gardener who has acquired his knowledge of the different 
branches of gardening through lifelong practice and study is assuredly 
entitled to greater consideration than the garden laborer, though he 
does not always receive it. Instances are not uncommon where the 
gardener does not receive as much compensation at the present time 
for his services as does the laborer whom he employs to work under 
his direction. That "the laborer is worthy of his hire" is a present- 
day truism as far as it concerns the ordinary laborer, but it is not so 
with the average professional gardener. 
While a liberal salary is something always much desired by one 
who works for another, receiving adequate remuneration alone for 
his services does not content the gardener who engages in his voca- 
tion, not merely for what he can get out of it, but because he loves it. 
An occasional expression of appreciation for the efforts he puts forth 
and the recognition that he is more than a menial means much to the 
man who has made gardening his life work. It fills him mth inspira- 
tion and encourages him to produce better than before. 
The most serious draw-back to the proper up-keep of a country 
estate is usually the lack of interest which the owner manifests in the 
undertakings of his gardener, and the lack of confidence which he 
bestows on him, while continually criticizing where credit is due. 
Na.turally this must be disconcerting to the conscientious worker and 
hinders him from giving the best that is in him. It results in depriving 
the employer of much of the pleasure he should derive from his 
gardens, and in making the gardener discontented with the position 
he occupies. A professional gardener is more than a servant though 
unfortunately he is so regarded by many employers. 
WTienever an estate owner finds that his gardener does not meet 
the requirements the position he fills demand of him, it would be far 
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