JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 11,1881. ] 
121 
lltll 
Th 
12th 
F 
Birmingham Botanical Society's Show (two days). 
13th 
S 
14 th 
SUN 
9TH SUNDAY AFTER Trinity. Antwerp International Hor- 
15th 
M 
[ticultural Exhibition (three days). 
16 th 
TU 
17 th 
W 
Shrewsbury Horticultural Exhibition (two days). 
YOUNG GARDENERS. 
OME two years ago, when I wrote a few lines 
^ TV ' ' ' of encouragement to young gardeners in the 
Journal, I had no idea they would be so kindly 
received by those to whom they were addressed. 
The result pleased me in more ways than one. 
I was glad to see the Journal is so much read 
and studied by young gardeners in so many parts 
of the country. They by their letters seemed quite eager 
to equal if not excel those who have gone before, and 
I hope they will succeed. I feel the subject is of so much 
importance that I am constrained to revert to it, the more so 
because there are many more young men now than there are 
vacancies for them, and this being so the selection is greater, 
and only the best can succeed. I wish to point out the re¬ 
quisite habits to be formed, and the course to pursue to enable 
young men to attain the end they desire, and become better 
and more successful gardeners than the old, as it is only on 
this being accomplished that the high character of British 
horticulture can be maintained. 
Young gardeners occupy no mean position in the horti¬ 
cultural world ; many of them would grace any calling, but, 
of course, there are exceptions in this as in all other pursuits. 
Many good young men may get disheartened from what may 
appear to them to be bad luck. Some may think there is no 
use in striving, and consequently relax their exertions in favour 
of others less worthy ; but my firm conviction is, that gar¬ 
deners, like others, ultimately find their level, and, if a deserv¬ 
ing man is superseded by an unworthy one for a time, matters 
will be reversed in the end. I could name many instances of 
this ; but in reality gardeners, and especially young gardeners, 
have their failure or success in life entirely in their own 
hands. Friendly influence is all very good, and indeed very 
desirable, but where the ability is wanting all this goes for 
naught. Where there is ability friends and influence are 
easily had. The first is the only true means of insuring the 
latter. Perseverance and consistency in all things will almost 
invariably secure both. 
I have been looking over some back numbers of the Journal, 
and I have never seen better advice given to young gardeners 
than in a short paragraph from Mr. Gair at page 139, February 
20th, 1879. It should be clipped out and fixed in the most 
conspicuous part of every young gardener’s lodgings. First, 
“ they must read.” In their spare time no employment could 
possibly be better than this. In reading much will be im¬ 
mediately gained, and much saved in not devoting precious 
time to less worthy objects. Next, “ give heed to what you are 
told.” This implies much. One who gives heed to what he 
is told generally remembers it, and this is storing-up know T - 
ledge, which is easily carried and always useful. But giving 
heed to what is said also includes obeying orders. This is 
what all gardeners should study to do from first to last. It is 
natural to suppose that head gardeners have more knowledge 
of their profession than under gardeners have ; at least, if 
they have not, it is the under men’s duty to do as they are in¬ 
structed in their daily work, whether this may appear to them 
right or wrong. Many gardeners have their own particular 
ways in doing things, and as they are responsible let them be 
obeyed. Many head gardeners, too, find it to their advantage 
to pay attention to w 7 hat is said to them from higher quarters, 
and here it is their duty to obey as implicitly as in the former 
case. This is a difficult matter to get over, as most men have 
certain ideas of doing certain things better than others ; but 
keep those ideas in the background until asked for. Of course, 
where anyone, head or under gardener, is allowed to do things 
without being instructed in any particular way the case is 
different. 
“ Learn to be punctual to time.” This is one of the main¬ 
springs of success. Those who keep no regular time are 
always behind with their work, and an idle or bad time¬ 
keeping man can never be trusted ; like those with other 
careless habits, they must fall beneath those industriously in¬ 
clined. “ Do not mix play with work.” This is excellent 
advice, and is needful, for undoubtedly there are those who 
indulge in the bad habit indicated ; and this much maybe said 
about it, that those who are always more ready for a “ lark ” 
than their duties may live to see their folly. By attending 
to a few of these simple rules at first it is surprising, and 
certainly very gratifying to all concerned, to see how young 
men become absorbed in their work, and the information they 
gather in connection with it. 
Young gardeners who make anything else but gardening 
their first consideration would be much better out of the pro¬ 
fession altogether, as in time they become a great burden to 
themselves and an annoyance to all connected with them. 
They are the kind of men w 7 ho think others are getting on 
before them, and that they are not done justice to, when in 
reality it is only the fruits of their own conduct they suffer 
from. The young man who is punctual to his work at all 
times, goes about it smartly, attends to his day and night 
duties assiduously, and does his work when his superiors are 
not present the same as if they were, is the man who will 
soon win the confidence and esteem of all both above and 
beneath him. It is by such conduct as that, that stepping 
stones are being laid on the way to the best head gardeners’ 
places in the country. 
Foremen should be most particular in pushing forward every¬ 
thing entrusted to them, remembering that this not only quali¬ 
fies them for further advance, but their success when once in 
charge for themselves depends a good deal on it. Above all, 
young gardeners should never be above their work, whatever 
this may be. Those who cheerfully take a rough or a dirty 
job only show their anxiety to improve themselves in all 
things. It has often been said, “ All work and no play makes 
Jack a dull boy,” and this is quite correct; but I do not ask 
anyone to have his nose continually on the grindstone, 
neither will any head gardener keep those under him so who 
do their work conscientiously. Such men have never any 
No. 69.— Yol. in., Third Series. 
No. Ifl5.—von. LXVI., OlA> 
