54 
THE FLORIST. 
cance to young gardeners, that I have entered into a short inquiry to 
see what we may assume the Council require in their candidate, for the 
purpose of bringing the case before them—I hope, too, for their improve¬ 
ment ; for is it possible that out of the great number of men brought up 
as gardeners, and to whom an appointment of this kind would give a 
very handsome salary, and a first-rate position for life, not one can be 
found whose qualifications are up to the required standard ? My young 
friends, what would the late Mr. Loudon have said to you, had he been 
alive at this moment ? It would have grieved and shamed him, after 
all the advice he gave on education and improvement, to find his 
warnings had been unheeded ; and when an opportunity for distinguish- 
ment turned up, none was found capable of embracing it. What, too, 
has become of the writings of Dr. Lindley, who for the last twenty years 
has been toiling to bring the most abstruse points of gardening philo¬ 
sophy down to the level of the meanest capacity ? Are his lectures and 
inimitable writings, so clear and comprehensive, to return to him void ? 
It would really seem so, firom the case before us. Now let us inquire 
what is required from this candidate beyond what an ordinary edu¬ 
cation and his own professional studies ought to give him, and then I 
wiU leave you to pronounce your own verdict. 
First, then, I presume he must write a good hand, be a tolerable 
accountant, able to measure solids and superficies, all common items of 
an ordinary education, surely. Next he must (I also presume), have 
a practical knowledge of plants, fruits, and ciiltivation, which of course 
every gardener has, or says he has, at his fingers’ ends. Well, then, 
next, let us say, he must be of methodical and business habits, able to 
arrange his work before-hand, and to apportion the right number of 
hands to it; to possess forethought and judgment, so as to see the work 
to be done is done at the proper time, and in a proper manner, and to 
economise time and labour. Now in regard to these points, I submit 
to any young gardener whether he is capable of undertaking the charge 
of a body of workmen on a gentleman’s estate unless he has made this 
his study—certainly not. Next, we may suppose the party must have 
a good address; be firm, but conciliating, with sufficient control over 
himself, not to offend where he cannot agree. Well, all men certainly 
have not this virtue, but much of it may be acquired, and as it is 
important for a man’s advancement in life to possess it, it should be 
studied and mastered. Gentlemanly manners are never lost on any 
individual, and are absolutely necessary to all who are anxious to obtain 
the estimation of their superiors. Next, he must, I conclude, know 
something of the physical sciences bearing on his own profession, espe¬ 
cially Vegetable Physiology, Chemistry, Light, Geology, and Meteorology. 
N ow here I submit that a tolerable knowledge of these sciences is within 
the grasp of any individual who possesses an ordinary English education. 
So many elementary works on these subjects are now published, and the 
principles of each are brought so clearly before the understanding, that 
an ordinary mind may master the general principles of each, and with 
a moderate amount of perseverance become tolerably well up in them. 
I believe I have mentioned most of what we may (as I before stated) 
assume to be required. It is not (I understand) indispensable that he 
