Jane 21, 1883 J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
503 
D ifficulties in some form or other have to be encountered 
by persons of every rank and calling, and gardeners have their 
:share. Some possibly feel they have more than their share, but 
after a fair amount- of experience, and not a veiy narrow field of 
observation, I have arrived at the conclusion that the greatest 
Tgrumblers are not always the greatest sufferers. They think they 
are, of course, but they only know their own case, and are perhaps 
■a little prone to magnify the disadvantages of the position and 
«nder-rate its privileges. 
Less than two years ago a very good gardener felt himself so 
hardly used that he could “ endure it no longer.” On being some¬ 
what closely questioned he had a difficulty in finding any other than 
a fanciful grievance. He received his wages promptly and regu¬ 
larly, and was surprised to hear of the possibility of difficulty 
-existing on that score. He was not found fault with, which he 
accounted for on the ground that he did everything so well that 
there was no occasion for complaint ; but still he was not happy. 
His chief cause of trouble appeared to be in receiving no praise. 
He was not applauded for everything he did. Compliments were 
not poured on him. If he had thought the matter over from the 
master’s view as well as his own he might perhaps have compre- 
liended that compliments and praise were not in the contract. In 
the end he left, on the chance of “ getting a better place,” and now 
would only be too glad to return to his old charge, which he ought 
never to have relinquished. He did not look at both sides of the 
■question fairly, nor make allowance for the difference in tempera¬ 
ment between himself and the master, w’ho paid wages regularly 
.and did not find fault. Encouragement, in the form of a word of 
approbation and appreciation now and then for work well done, is 
no doubt helpful to a man ; it lightens labour, and incites to fresh 
■effort, and though it may be conceded there are masters who are 
chary in dispensing even a smile of recognition, there are men who 
probably expect too much, and make themselves uncomfortable 
accordingly. 
Let us look a little closer into the dual question—the dutie 
and the difficulties of gardeners—fairly, and discuss the mattej. 
plainly, as it may possibly be of service to some uneasy fellow 
mortal who may be in a better position than he thinks, wdiile it 
cannot make his lot any harder. The paramount duty of a 
gardener who is engaged as a servant, as all gardeners in private 
situations are, is to meet in the best manner possible the Avishes of 
his employer, whose money he receives in consideration of services 
rendered. There are possibly men in the gardening ranks who 
may feel a httle humiliated by being referred to as servants ; but 
they are only the shallow-minded and vain, the great majority and 
the most able and genuine being proud of the positions they occupy 
when those in authority are considerate—that is, not unduly exact¬ 
ing or unreasonable. “ Gentlemen born,” as the Laureate puts it, are 
not as a rule oppressive, and those who are have relinquished the 
claim to the grand old appellation. They have their tempers, 
trials, and difficulties ; but the true servant will, in turn, be consi¬ 
derate, and avoid as far as in him lies giving occasion by words or 
acts to call into action those traits of character that contribute to the 
discomfort of master and man. Fire cannot burn without fuel, and 
this should not be applied except for a distinctly good purpose, never 
to feed the flame that may grow into a destructive conflagration. 
No. 417.—VoL. XVI., Thibd Sebies. 
It were useless disguising the fact that there always have been 
men in the position of gardeners who have pursued a policy that 
is to be regretted, and by injudicious acts have engendered a feeling 
of mistrust instead of confidence, not towards themselves alone, 
which would be a small matter, but towards a community. Short ■ 
sighted, vain, self-willed, and ignorant men haa^e much to answer 
for in prejudicing the status of the body to which they belong. 
The best educated, most intelligent, and most capable members of 
the craft nearer forget their position ; but by their fidelity, ability, 
and demeanour win the confidence and even the friendship of those 
whom they serve. It happens occasionally that a gardener, impelled 
by a sense of duty in the real interest of his employer, has to stand 
firm against a suggested innovation ; but his attitude then will be 
calm and respectful, and he will bring the power of reason and 
experience to bear to enable the matter and its possible consequences 
to be fully understood. If he fail in thereby making an impression, 
and receives an intimation that amounts to an order to carry out a 
prescribed course, his duty is then clear—to obey or resign. It is 
utterly useless and a most serious mistake for a servant to wage 
war with his master, as they cannot meet on equal terms. There 
may be valour enough on one side, but to persistently display it is 
foolhardiness when all the real power is on the other ; the weaker 
must ever capitulate, and he will be compelled to retreat, it may be 
ignominiously. 
We now arrive at a crucial point to determine, or a crisis, which 
possibly occurs to most men at some time, and often early in life. 
They have to obey or resign. Let them consider long and calmly 
before adopting the latter alternative. It may be the easier of the 
two, and by far the more agreeable to the feelings. But before 
the final step is taken let existing facts and future contingencies 
be fully and fairly examined. First, what is it you are expected 
to do ? It is something contrary to your wishes, and to yield 
you think is to shoav weakness. Foolish idea ; the most weak- 
minded man can act in that avay. Strength lies in overcoming 
a difficulty, not in running away from it, and one of the most 
formidable obstacles to surmount is often self-pride. Let the 
matter be looked at in this way. You are in the position of head 
gardener, and cannot comply with the avish of your employer 
because you think it unreasonable. You have men under you, and 
wish them to do something that they may not feel agreeable, and 
hence they either evade the task or refuse. What do you do then? 
Capitulate? No! They either have to obey—obey you, resign, 
or be discharged. You are the master then, and exercise a master’s 
strength; but at the same time you are a servant, and expect the 
master of all to yield in the event of a conflict; but he will not 
yield unless he is weak, any more than you would to your subor¬ 
dinate, whether both of you avere unreasonable in your expectations 
or not. This is a plain way of looking at plain facts, and they 
ought never to be obscured by prejudice or sentiment. 
It is easy to resign ; but there is a future. That ought not to 
be forgotten. Nor must a gloss be put on present circumstances 
by a disappointed man. It is dangerous to resign as well as easy. 
Here is a man who “ cannot put up with ” something. He has a 
family dependent on him for support, and after meeting their 
wants can save little or nothing. He throws up his appointment 
in a moment of irritability avithout any substantial assurance of 
future employment, and avith perhaps not twenty pounds in his 
pocket. He casts himself on the world, and trusts to be taken 
into the nurseries. But these establishments may be full, and the 
world full too. Then he says both are cruel because they stara-e 
his children. That is a misconception. Nurseries are not charitable 
institutions for the succour of unfortunate gardeners, but their 
proprietors are only too glad to help all the men they can and in 
avhom they trust; and as to the world, it is the most kind to those 
avho make the fewest mistakes. 
Among the greatest errors for gardeners to avoid are precipitate 
resignations. I write from experience, having been a victim, I 
No. 2073.—VoL. LXXVIIL, Old Sebies. 
