May 27, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
417 
monthly, as I could afford it. This I did, and the debt has been repaid 
some years. In due time I arrived at my situation and found the head 
gardener a very firm and Btrict but kind man, just the sort of master any 
young man should be under. At first I was set to work with the outside 
foreman un il there was a vacancy for me in the houses. As I was a 
strong lad I set to work with a firm determination to do my duty to the 
best of my abilities, also to obey both my master and his foreman’s 
orders. Accordingly I began to succeed, and the head gardener took an 
interest in my welfare and was kind to me ; but, as I have said before, 
was very strict, and, to tell tbe truth, I sometimes used to think he was 
far too strict, but I have found out since that it was all for my good. 
After working with the outside foreman for two months I was removed 
into the houses under the foreman there. For ten months I was con¬ 
stantly working with the foreman in all the different departments. When 
a vacancy occurred in the fruit houses I was put in charge of them, 
and at the same time the head gardener was taking great interest in me, 
for he was constantly advising me to keep a diary and to take notes of 
all outside work that was proceeding. I am now thankful that I took his 
advice and did so, for in the position I occupy at present I find it greatly 
to my advantage to be able to refer back some years on different subjects. 
The head gardener kindly gave me a box of drawing instruments and a 
book on geometry, so that I could practise drawing plans in the winter 
evenings. I cannot speak too highly of him, for his conduct towards 
me was that of an honourable but very firm master; and such it is to 
every young man that is under him if he tries to do his duty. 
After living with him for nearly three years I thought I should like a 
change, and of course spoke to him about it. He said he would get me 
another situation if I wished to leave, but I need not leave unless I liked. 
He obtained a situation as journeyman for me in a first-class establish¬ 
ment, in which I was over three years ; therefore, I do not regret in the 
least having paid my premium. 
But perhaps “ W. P. R.’s ” friend, and some more of your correspon¬ 
dents’ friends, were not so fortunate as I was in being apprenticed under 
a good master. There is, however, no doubt great annoyance to a head 
gardener when he has some young men to deal with that ignore the 
foreman’s authority, and will not turn out with the other men. I have 
seen some of the most ignorant fellows that ever entered a garden, who 
thought that because they had paid a premium they were above the other 
men, and were not supposed to work, but simply look on and walk about 
with their hands in their pockets. I have also seen more cases than one 
where such men have ignored the foreman’s authority, and would laugh 
at him when he corrected them or found fault with their work. I have 
also seen cases where such men would not turn out with the others, both 
in the morning and after meals, and have often bad to be reprimanded 
by the head gardener ; therefore, had I been “The Earl’s Gardener,” and 
had such a young man to deal with, I should have acted precisely as he 
did, and would discharge any man that did not try to do his duty. But 
as I am not a head gardener I content myself at present with holding the 
title of (in an earl’s garden)— An Outside Foreman. 
I HAVE read the “ Earl’s Gardener’s ” version of the case, which has 
aroused this correspondence, and am willing to give it respectful con¬ 
sideration. Your correspondent asserts that the “ £5 was to be paid 
down.” The young man, on the contrary, says that in the letter stating 
terms not a word was said respecting the mode or date of payment, and 
as your correspondent “Another Observer” seems to have interviewed 
him, 1 have requested that the letter should be handed over to him. 
Contradictions may be expected in this like many other cases, and the 
truth of some of the statements can only be known to the parties con¬ 
cerned. There are others, however, whose circumstantial evidence we 
may fairly discuss, and I venture to question tbe truth of the allegation 
the young man was incompetent, or, in the words of the principal fore¬ 
man, as quoted by “Observer,” “he was no use at his work,” and, as 
the gardener states, “ work that he was engaged for—viz., assisting the 
foreman furnishing, and filling his time in the houses.” Now, I ask, is it 
reasonable to suppose that a young man brought up in the florist’s busi¬ 
ness with his father, who grows plants, also undertakes furnishing, as 
well as spending two years in a public pleasure garden where similar 
work was conducted, could be so helpless as to be of “ no good at such 
work ?” I may state that the young man was introduced to me as one 
requiring a situation, and as there was a vacancy about to take place in 
this garden, I naturally asked where he had lived and for how long, and 
why he left. The substance of the replies was given in my first letter, 
but whether I acted right in making it public instead of making private 
inquiries, as hinted by “ Observer,” is really a matter of opinion. Some¬ 
one has said that “ a lie will run round the world before truth puts its 
boots on,” and it might bo added that there is nothing like publicity to 
arrest its progress. If I have effected that object by giving the “Earl’s 
Gardener ” an opportunity of making a public denial of the allegations 
made against him I claim to have done him useful service. 
Judging from the young man’s appearance I should have had no 
hesitation in engaging him for a post of 18s. per week and bctby, but 
the following morning satisfactory replies came respecting one I had 
communicated with already. I observed the ring, but it made no impres¬ 
sion on me. It was a plain article, such as I have frequently seen 
navvies wtar. His early surroundings will account for bis personal 
attire. Like “ A Gardener to an Earl ” (see page 397), I have no 
objection to gardeners receiving premiums, provided they give reasonable 
value in return, as was the case in the gardens that I once served in. 
The gardener was well educated, and the more the young men sought 
his assistance with their arithmetic, grammar, drawing, and naming wild 
flowers the better pleated he was. This is quite different, as the same 
correspondent remarks to a young man paying “for the bare privilege 
of working in the garden.” I, like the same correspondent, have received 
liberal overtures in the premium line, and am at liberty to accept them, 
but have not thought fit to do so. If I did I should not ask for payment 
beforehand. 
Since writing the above I have received written testimony from a lady 
as to the young man’s ability and taste in furnishing her place when 
engaged with his father. Whilst in the same service he arranged a 
group of plants for effect at one of your suburban shows and gained a 
prize. He also made a bouquet for tbe same show, and won second prize 
out of forty competitors. This was selected by one of our Royal 
Princesses, and the secretary had to seek the maker in order that he 
might present it to Her Royal Highness. This is the man your readers 
are asked to believe was “ no good at his work.”—W. P. R. 
[We have received a letter from “Another Observer” quite too late 
for publication ; he, moreover, goes over exactly the same ground as 
“ W. P. R.” does, but further states that there is no mention in either 
a letter or on a post card in his possession from the Earl’s gardener to his 
late pupil relating to either the time or tbe manner that the former 
expected the premium to be paid. It appears to us that differences of 
opinion must of necessity prevail on this particular case, however 
lengthened may be the discussion thereon. Granting a young man’s 
talents as a decorator and bouquetist, very different work would bo 
required of him in a large private garden ; moreover, however able an 
under gardener may be, he will fail if he ignores the foreman’s authority 
and does not keep proper time. The case having been stated and 
answered, future communications should pertain to premiums generally, 
which is a proper subject for public discussion.] 
HELIOTROPES FOR WINTER. 
The fragrant flowers of the Heliotrope—like the Mignonette, 
are always welcome whenever they can be had, especially during 
the winter and spring months. It is by no means difficult to 
grow and prepare the plants for flowering from the end of 
October until flowers can be gathered outside in July. But the- 
greatest difficulty experienced in many gardens is a suitable 
structure in which to accommodate the plants during that period. 
They will not flower under greenhouse or comparatively cool 
treatment; but to maintain growth and a supply of flowers in 
succession a temperature of 55° to 60° is required A supply can. 
be maintained during the months of November and December in 
an average temperature of 50°, but the plants will fail to 
flower again until the middle of February, when the days have 
lengthened and the external atmosphere is becoming warm. 
To attain success in the culture of these plants in pots 
they should be propagated annually. Plants raised from 
cuttings the same season always flower with greater freedom 
than old plants. It is a general practice in many gardening 
establishments to retain standard and pyramidal plants year 
after year for producing the supply of flowers during the winter 
and spring. This system is a mistake, for old plants become 
woody, and in consequence do not grow with the same vigour as 
young plants. The growth of old plants when confined in pots 
is very frequently weak, and it ceases quickly during dark 
sunless weather. To have an unbroken succession of bloom the 
plants prepared for the purpose must be kept slowly growing the 
whole time and then flowers are certain, but directly growth is 
brought to a standstill either by too low a temperature or from 
any other cause the plants at once fail to flower. 
Standard, as well as pyramidal-trained plants, are very 
effective during the winter when associated with other flowering 
plants. It is a matter of taste whether these be trained upon 
wire trellises or not. For our part we do not care for closely 
trained specimens. Some, however, admire trained plants, and 
in such cases the ordinary standard trellis provided for Migno¬ 
nette is not large enough. The size of trellis most suitable 
depends entirely upon the taste of cultivators. A very service¬ 
able size for standards are those with stems 3 feet in length, and 
circular heads about 2 feet 6 inches through. A good size for 
the latter is the same distance at the base as required for the- 
head of the standard, with a central stake about 3 feet high. 
Pyramidal trellises are easily made by stretching a few wires 
across the central stake and securing them to the ring at 
the base, or they may be formed by the means of a few stakes 
only. 
Young plants, which will now be well established, must be 
potted fiom time to time as they fill their pots with roots, until 
they are placed into 10 to 12-inch according to the size of the 
plants required. They should not be stopped till the steni3 reach 
the height desired, and side shoots from the axils of tbe leaves 
should be removed. The plants should be first grown in heat, 
but the temperature should be gradually lowered so that the 
plants can be grown on under greenhouse treatment from the 
time they are well established in their largest pots. After 
