JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 8, 1881. ] 
225 
ing Mr. William Thomson in Scotland, who afterwards took charge 
of a large garden establishment near Barnet. I left Hampstead to 
serve under Mr. Thomson at Wrotham Park, and there I spent four 
happy years as his foreman. I owe a great deal to Mr. Thomson of 
Clovenfords—more to his first wife, who was an excellent woman and 
interested in my welfare. 
In 1844 I commenced writing for the press, and began to think I 
was qualified to take charge of a gentleman’s garden. Mr. Thomson 
commended me to the notice of Dr. Bindley, who sent me to serve a 
gentleman in Yorkshire. Though there was a disquieting element in 
this situation I resolved to bear it, serve the gentleman to the utmost 
of my ability, and stay at least three years. The gardens were not 
walled, the house servants knew well the best fruit, the housekeeper 
was a great favourite of my master, and he allowed her and her 
friends to take what fruit they liked. This to me was the disquieting 
element of the place. My predecessor on leaving the place told me 
what would happen. One Saturday night at ten o'clock I caught a 
housemaid cribbing an apronful of Apricots. One year some Itibston 
Pippins were taken. My under gardener was suspected, and my 
employer would not listen to my pleadings on his behalf, and caused 
me to dismiss the best man that ever served under me. I did not 
engage another to take his place, but gave my employer notice to 
leave myself, and I did the foreman’s work till I left the situation. 
I returned to London, whence I was sent to Manchester to serve 
Edward Loyd, Esq., banker, of Cheetham Hill. The situation was a 
comfortable one, and my employers exceedingly kind. Not a word 
of discontent was ever uttered by employers or employed. There I 
married and there my family was born. Owing to the long illness of 
my wife the household expenses were very heavy, greater than my 
salary could meet, and I told my employer that the considerations 
of health constrained me to think of seeking a change of climate. 
He would not, however, accept my resignation, said he wanted to 
find a house and garden in the south for himself. At last he con¬ 
sented to my going if I would find a gardener for him. This was 
done, and I went back south to fill a situation in Middlesex, in which 
I did not stay long. Mr. James Yeitch of Chelsea then sent me to 
serve a gentleman in County Down, Ireland, in the joint capacity of 
land steward and gardener, and we got on well, and had everything 
in good condition. My employer, however, resolved to have both a 
gardener and land steward, and I was offered either of the posts. I 
preferred giving my employer two months’ notice, very much to his 
surprise and regret. He afterwai ds asked me to continue as I was, 
and promised to let me have the joint situation for life. 
Returning to England I was engaged to serve a nobleman in 
Oxfordshire. This situation was entered on with a determination to 
make it my last, for as I had not failed to please other employers I 
would please here too. Fever entered my house and cut down my 
eldest boy : this frightened the lady I served so much that she 
speedily sent us from the place. I then resolved to take no other 
situation as gardener, but to commence business as a nurseryman 
