270 
ON GARDENERS’ SOCIETIES. 
more than doubled, and the national advantages derived therefrom 
proportionally increased. 
“ Ireland, from the climate, soil, the abundance of water she enjoys, 
and the extent of the population, is probably better adapted than any 
other country for the cultivation of flax, and the successful prosecution 
of the linen trade. If her sons do their duty, she cannot but take the 
lead of all other nations in this important manufacture.” 
L. C. 
Sir, — I regret exceedingly to observe by the May number of the 
Horticultural Register , that your intelligent correspondent Mr. 
Burnham has expressed himself unfavourable to the formation of a 
Gardeners’ Mutual Instructing Society ; more especially as Mr. B.’s 
opinion must tend very considerably to retard its establishment. I 
had fondly hoped that the day was not far distant when we should 
have had something of the kind established amongst us, based upon 
proper principles, and regulated by efficient laws—for elucidating the 
science, and investigating the practices of our art; and that we should 
thereby be able in some degree to cope with the mechanics and other 
classes of operatives, who, in all parts of the country, possess such 
decided advantages over us, and who, to a certainty, are leaving us far 
in the rear in reference to literary acquirements. But I fear much 
that Mr. Burnham’s castigations on the merits of the projected society 
will go far to thwart, at least for a time, the laudable objects which its 
projectors profess to have in view. 
Mr. Burnham’s primary objection, however, seems to be rested upon 
the supposed impracticability of such a society, from a consideration of 
the pecuniary debility of the profession; but this ought on the contrary 
to act as a stimulus in inciting us to the accomplishment of the object 
in view, rather than induce us to retrograde, which we certainly 
should, did we consent to follow the dictates of Mr. Burnham. 
To be useful and deserving members of society, we must have 
education ; and to have the education which a gardener requires 
now-a-days, we must have many books, which our present low wages 
entirely deprive us of. It therefore behoves us to adopt the most 
eligible means which we may be enabled to substitute for the pri¬ 
vations under which we so unhappily labour. For this purpose, a 
mutual instruction society has been proposed, and I have no doubt 
but it would be attended with the most happy and beneficial results, 
were it once only established, and patronised by a few influential and 
resident individuals. The success of an enterprise of this description 
does not depend so much upon the pecuniary advantages it may pos- 
