ADVICE TO YOUNG GARDENERS. 
407 
It is not necessary that he should be a Greek and Latin scholar; the 
. acquirement of languages engrosses more time than can be afforded by 
a young gardener; but, as the proper pronunciation of botanical terms 
and names is absolutely necessary, he ought to provide himself with a 
Greek Grammar and Lexicon, and similar books in Latin. The 
meaning of Greek nouns and Latin adjectives is as much as he will 
require; and, if he can but understand the meanings of botanical 
names, though quite new to him, it will fix the names in his memory 
much more indelibly than if ignorant of their signification. 
The above particulars may be considered superfluous and unattain¬ 
able by a young man who is every day exposed to the weather, 
employed often in the most homely and laborious occupations, faring 
hard, and who has but little leisure for reading or study; but let not 
the youngster despair: it is wonderful what diligence and a settled 
resolution to surmount the difficulties of situation will accomplish for 
the beginner. 
Were we at liberty, we could mention the names of several celebrated 
and distinguished men who, 
u Though poverty’s cold wind and crushing rain 
Beat keen and heavy on their youthful days,”— (Thomson), 
have now retired from active life, enjoying the fruits of their early 
labours in comfort and in honour. Such characters are by no means 
rare in this country, and are impressive incentives to the most obscure 
probationer to persevere in his up-hill course. 
Another way of gaining a knowledge of plants is by collecting speci¬ 
mens to form an herbarium. A general herbarium requires too much 
of a journeyman’s time and space to be attempted; but one to corre¬ 
spond with the Linnsean system, and another of specimens of the 
Jussieuan orders, would be at once convenient and useful. 
There is another expedient by which a knowledge of gardening may 
be expeditiously acquired; it is by keeping a journal of operations. 
Wherever a young man may be employed, whether in a first or sixth- 
rate place, he should always keep a written record of his own or others’ 
employments in the various departments of the business. If well 
arranged in columns for the reception of dates, sowings, &c., with pre¬ 
sent and (room left for) future remarks, a very useful book for reference 
might be possessed, which would continue to be useful as long as the 
writer lives. 
Journeymen gardeners can indulge in but few amusements; their 
laborious exertions incapacitate them for active exercises after the toils 
