NOVEMBER. 
329 
A TASTE FOR GARDENING—ITS ADVANTAGES AND 
MEANS OF CULTIVATION. 
{Continued from page 294 .) 
We have now to consider how this taste for gardening may be improved 
and cultivated. I would say, in two ways :—theory and practice—the 
former from books, the latter by rearing, cultivating, and attending to 
plants, or managing a garden. With regard to the first, I think it very 
desirable in every way that the theory of gardening should be under¬ 
stood. A man who has not studied the physiology of the human frame 
may, by guesswork, sometimes effect a cure ; the pilot who has not 
studied navigation may possibly bring a vessel safely home; but 
unquestionably we should prefer to be treated by a medical man who 
had studied his profession, and to sail in a vessel whose pilot was not 
merely directing the vessel at hap-hazard, but was well acquainted with 
the laws on which he was doing so. And so it is in gardening; a man 
may be a tolerably successful gardener, who knows but little of the 
“ why and the wherefore ” of his acts ; but I should not like to trust 
the care of my plants to a man totally ignorant of such subjects. And 
hence it is that one sees men cutting trees at the wrong season, 
stimulating plants when they ought to be at rest, and keeping them 
dormant when they ought to be growing. Persons who employ 
gardeners who have only picked up what they know by observing 
others, and not by looking into the matter for themselves, are little 
aware why their wall trees often produce no fruit, or their flowers damp 
off and die; and this you may generally find—that persons who are 
the most ignorant are those most unwilling to be taught, for ignorance 
and self-conceit generally go together ; a man who really knows what 
he is doing will always feel that he has something to learn. I do not 
think it absolutely necessary that a good florist should be a good 
botanist, but he ought to know something of the simple rules of the 
theory of horticulture, and there are now so many elementary books 
published on the subject that I think any of my audience might very 
easily master sufficient for their purpose ; and as the age is one of 
progress, as rapid strides are every day being made in every depart¬ 
ment of physical science, persons who are interested in a garden, no 
matter how small it may be, will always find in the gardening 
periodicals of the day much to interest them; the best sorts of 
vegetables, flowers, and fruit are constantly brought under their notice, 
new and improved methods of cultivation, the experience of other 
persons similarly situated to themselves—especially of those who have 
mastered difficulties with which they are contending—are detailed; 
and it will be indeed strange if these be not found useful. Moreover, 
it tends much to keep up their interest in their garden. 
During the winter months, when comparatively little out of door 
work can be done, it is pleasant enough to look over books relating to the 
subject, plan our operations for the spring, and get everything in order. 
There are several excellent publications which you may find useful, and 
I would strongly urge upon the members of this society whether they 
