March 13, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
211 
left Drayton Manor for Messrs. Veitch’s nursery with the object of 
obtaining a head gardener's place, and remained with them about eight 
months. At the end of that time he was sent for by Sir Robert Peel, 
Lart., to take temporary charge of the gardens at Drayton until a head 
gardener was appointed, Mr. Ballingall having left. In the course of a 
fortnight af er Sir Robert and Lady Emily Peel offered him the head 
gardener s place without any solicitation on his part, which position 
he occupied with great satisfaction to his employers for thirteen years. 
him the appointment as chief of the far-famed ducal gardens at Chat3- 
worth. They will be in good keeping. 
FURNISHING THE CONSERVATORY. 
At the first glance this does not appear to he a subject on 
which much need he said. I, however, consider it is of much 
While at Drayton Manor, in addition to the full charge of the extensive 
and fine gardens there, he carried out many important improvements in 
the pleasure grounds, having oftentimes as many as fifty men under him. 
In July, 1882, he took charge of the beautiful gardens and grounds of 
John Corbett, Esq., M.P., at Impney near Droitwich, from whom he has 
received much encouragement and kindness, and who has expressed him¬ 
self well pleased with his short service at Impney. 
Such is the outline of Mr. Thomas’s experience. His long term of 
seventeen years at Drayton, and his success in the management of the 
place and a large staff' of men, has no doubt had due weight in securing 
importance, and gardeners frequently lose sight of hew their 
interests are involved in it. The gentleman engaged in the 
cares of business, and anxious under the risks which attend its 
operations, if he is the possessor of a conservatory, frequently 
turns to it for that calm enjoyment which is so grateful and 
which is often an antidote to those cares. Here, in the contem¬ 
plation of its beautiful inmates, he may for a space forget the 
anxieties which have oppressed him. It may -well be that the 
hope of this restful enjoyment has been the feeling which, more 
