222 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 2;S. 
beauty and variety of dowers was one of the strongest 
material proofs of the beneficence of the Deity. Had 
it been intended, we should be satisfied merely with the 
useful —had it been designed, we should prize and 
aspire after nothing but what was essential to the 
supply of our necessities —as some are yet hardy enough 
to contend ought to be the extent of the ambition of 
the working classes—then is it not likely “ we should 
have only coarse, shapeless piles of provisions lying 
about the world, instead of all this beautiful variety of 
trees, and fruits, and flowers ? 
One of the features of the times is the enlisting of 
this feeling of the beautiful as a successful agent in 
effecting mental refinement and social elevation. Who 
has not thus seen and felt its power? The cheap but 
pretty dress; an elegant piece of furniture; a hand¬ 
some chimney ornament; an artistic-moulded tea-pot; 
a healthy, clean plant; a cottage, whose very outside 
says it must be kept in order; each and all of these 
have, at times, done more to promote cleanliness and 
thrift than the reiterated arguments of moral suasion. 
Every such object is a standing, ever-present rebuke to 
filth and sloth. I know there is many a complaint, 
because in dress, &c., working-people will imitate their 
betters; but unless carried to an imprudent extreme, I 
should be a lenient judge in such matters. I confess, on 
the other hand, that 1 begin to see traces of manly self- 
respect, when the young villager dons a coat that fits 
his body, and doffs the over-all and cover-all of a sack, 
called a smock-frock. But, waving such matters, 1 may 
bo allowed to state, that very many proofs have come 
under my own observation, in which access to, and love 
for, the beautiful, has completely changed for the better 
the habits of those subjected to its influence. Nay, 
more; my own experience justifies me in saying, that 
so far as floral beauty is concerned, in the closeness of 
the investigation, in the admiration and pleasure per¬ 
ceptible, and in the j)erfect order, integrity, and pro¬ 
priety of conduct manifested when admitted to range 
at will within the precincts of a garden, the hard-work¬ 
ing men and women of our villages and towns will 
hardly rank second to any class of the community. 
Where there is the will, much good may be done 
without involving either great public show or much 
j self-sacrifice. The Crystal Palace wiped off the unme- 
j rited stigma that we were such Goths and Vandals, 
i that our admission amid works and scenes of beauty 
would just be synonymous with their destruction. We 
had proved the allegation to be unfounded years before, 
so far as this neighbourhood is concerned, though f 
have been given to understand that the county of Herts 
has not been superlatively distinguished for refinement. 
I consider it, then, as a fact proved, not only that 
floral beauty exerts an elevating power, but that the 
opening of private gardens, at certain times, to the com¬ 
munity, would be considered alike a boon and a source 
of pleasure. Of course, I make no allusion to such 
princely places as Trentham and Chatsworth, whose 
noble proprietors, with large-souled liberality, open 
their demesnes to visitors every day. Many who could 
not afford this might yet appropriate several days 
during the season. 1 have been urged by many, whose 
opinion I respect, to mention tlie method adopted here 
lately. I retorted, that if it pleased them they had 
better do it themselves; but then they were so awfully 
afraid of printer’s ink ! 'This was the standing excuse 
of a friend, who has held some of the highest gardening 
appointments in the country, and who has repeatedly 
urged me to make it more public, because it might do 
groat good. If tlie practice becomes somewhat common, 
I shall certainly consider this paper one of the most 
useful I over wrote. 
If I use the plural we, it is to avoid confusion, as, 
properly speaking, as a servant, 1 could not use the 
singular I, the modes successfully adopted being either 
suggested or sanctioned by my worthy employer. When 
first we began to make a show in the flower-garden in 
summer, there were a great many visitors, for the 
largest gardens in the vicinity were far from presenting 
that high culture and great interest which they now do. 
No gardener of his own accord can well be uncivil to 
visitors, though I often found they came at most unpro- 
I pitious periods, when the whole attention and force 
were retpiired for a definite object. Many, to avoid 
this, especially if one of the party had ever crossed 
words with me, used to come after the men had left in 
an evening, and thus broke in upon the little time I 
looked upon as peculiarly my own. It is no use deny¬ 
ing, therefore, that there was a spice of the seljish that led 
me to agree to the proposal to open the garden to tlie 
public one day in the week, during two or three months 
in the season, and, unless in special exceptions, then 
only. In doing so, for some time I adopted the usual 
custom of sending an attendant round with each party ; 
but frequently these were so numerous, especially when 
, several villages would turn out the same day, that 
many would be kept waiting; and then individuals 
would come and ask “ if they might not go round a 
! second time ?” These, and other considerations, led us 
to dispense with the attendant system altogether. We 
think we make some little improvement every year. 
Last summer, the gardens were open ten days in as 
many consecutive weeks, and instead of the whole day, 
the period was from one, p. m., to six, i>. m. Previously 
to that period, the garden-men had been told of the 
place they were to occupy at work during the afternoon; 
so posted, they could see the principal parts, and so as 
to answer any inquiry that might be put. At the named 
time, the doors were opened, and people were free to 
come and free to go; some staying an hour; others 
several; and others, again, the whole time ; there being 
no porter to admit, and no toll-gate man to let them out. 
Has it answered? Last summer, on one of these 
days, I stood by the side of a great gardener from a 
large establishment. “ I am glad I have come to-day; 
what a company you have got—the majority are working 
classes, aint they ? How happy they seem ! how clean 
and nicely dressed they are! They seem to go where 
they please ; have you no attendants?” “No.” “ J)on’t 
you find great mischief done ? ” “ None at all.” “ Well, 
even with attendants, we found ornaments missing from 
temples and grottoes, &c.; how is it? You don’t seem 
to have even such a thing as an admonitory ticket.” 
“ Can’t say; only there is something in treating people 
so as to show you trusted in their honesty and honour.” 
Has it given universal satisfaction? No! it would 
be a wonder if it did. IMany, who used to come often 
when they could have the place to themselves, now 
seldom appear. They are the hetterer ranks of people— 
the would-bc-aristocracy of the middle classes—the very 
first to notice, if not to rail at, every other exclusiveness 
except their own. Some have told me it was wpity the 
privilege was made so common. Others have sent nice 
little notes, hoping that they, their friends, or families, 
might come at some other hours and times dill'erent 
from that set apart for the use of the jjublic. Ah ! 
many will talk nicely, and even do a little towards 
improving the public, ])rovided they are not brought 
into close personal contact with it. If, however, the 
test of numbers when the novelty was gone, and laces 
th.at spoke of pleasure, be any sure guide, then 1 may 
safely say the satisfaction was general ; and surely the 
diftusion of rational happiness, even for a few hours, 
with the after-thoughts and resolves linked and blended 
with it, is a something worth aiming and trying for. 
Keeping in view the ideas with which J commenced, 
I shoidd like to have something i)ractical, however 
simple, for a conclusion. Ideas broached on cottage 
