June 26. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
ADVICE TO YOUNG GARDENERS. 
{Continued from page 117.) 
In my last paper containing advice to my young 
friends, I mentioned that it was desirable for a young 
man that had obtained a head-gardener’s situation to 
lay down a plan (to be strictly acted upon, as far as 
possible) for the future management of his health, in the 
first place, as being the most important; and in the 
second place, the taking care of the surplus of hi3 
salary to provide for comfort and subsistence in his old 
age. The lirst part of this plan, namely, caro of his 
health, I have, I think, sufficiently dwelt upon. Every 
one prizes health, and he is not wise that wastes or 
endangers it by neglect, excess, or carelessness. So, in 
a degree, is the waste of money, or improper spending it. 
Now, supposing our young friend lias sense and 
resolution to spare in youth that he may have to spend 
in age, he should lay down a plan of strict economy, 
and, in proportion to his wages, lay by every year a 
certain fixed sum. Though some things in every man’s 
life are accidental, that is, he may lose his place; he 
may be sick, and the doctor’s bill reduce bis savings; 
yet these are exceptions to the rule, or plan, laid down. 
The moment these interruptions cease the rule should 
be resumed. How can a man expect to obtain an 
independence, if lie allows a temporary accident to 
divert him from the line of action he had so wisely laid 
down as a rule? I am sorry to say that the greater part 
of our working men begin their manhood as if their 
strength and the means of livelihood would never be 
exhausted. They have no plan, nor fixed object in view. 
They would like to acquire riches and honours, but have 
no plan nor strength of mind to bring their wishes into 
fruition, but go on squandering their time and means, 
always resolving to do better sometime, and be more 
careful for the future; but alas! that sometime never 
comes. The consequence is, old age overtakes them, and 
no provision has been made for it. They must then 
depend upon the cold charity of others, or even have to 
spend their last days in the workhouse. All this might, 
in nine cases out of ten, have been avoided by adopting 
a strict plan of economy,—an annual saving out of the 
wages earned in the prime of life. Many, even many 
gardeners, suffer in old age poverty brought on by want 
of frugality, or even by positive extravagance in food, 
drink, and clothing. Many arrive at the same sad state 
by marrying too young. 
Too many only save money that they may be able to 
scantily furnish a house and get married. They are not 
very particular as to the quantity or quality of furniture. 
This is obtained by a very few years’ savings, and then 
they get married, and what is the consequence? a large 
family, a life of hard labour, scanty food, mean clothing, 
often bad temper on both sides, and disease brought on 
by imprudence aud want. Then, again, as is well 
known, a gardener with a large family has always a 
j difficulty in obtaining a situation. Almost the first 
question a nurseryman asks, when a gardener applies 
to him for a situation, is, “ Have you any children? and 
if you have, how many?” If the answer is four, five, 
or six, the nurseryman is almost sure to say, “ I can do 
nothing for you.” Gentlemen object to gardeners with 
large families. Let mo not be mistaken; I do not 
consider this objection right. A man with a family may 
be oue of the best of gardeners, and has the best reason 
in the world to be a good and faithful servant, namely, 
to support his family. Many reasons might be given 
why a man with children ought not to be rejected on 
that account; but all the reasons in the world will not 
alter the fact, that men so situated are too often rejected 
on applying for a place. 
The only plan to escape such a state of misery 
219 
(I can call it nothing else, when a man cannot obtain 
the means of bringing up his large family respectably) 
is, not to marry young. At this moment, I know several 
young gardeners that are married, and having children, 
before tliay have obtained a head place; married 
foolishly, before they have even obtained a knowledge 
of their business. Let me beg, nay, earnestly entreat 
all young gardeners that read these lines, seriously to 
consider the consequences of such foolish, I had 
almost said sinful, marriages. I have hinted at some of 
those consequences above, and many more might be 
given, such, for instance, as the effect of having a largo 
family to bring up in rags and ignorance; for how can 
a man who only receives the wages of an inferior place 
clothe the bodies aud minds of some seven or eight 
children, even if he obtains a place at all, or keeps one 
all his life. I trust, then, my young friends will be 
cautious on this point, and not marry till, at least, they 
are from twenty-eight to thirty years of age, and then 
to marry a person at least twenty-five years old. 
All this warning against early marrying, some may 
say, has nothing to do with saving money; but if not 
with saving, it has to do with spending that which has 
been saved, and preventing any more being added to 
the stock, even if my young couple may not touch the 
few first years’ savings. Let not my young friends think 
that I am an opponent of marriage ; if they do so think, 
they will judge me wrongly. I have been married now 
more than thirty years, and have sons and daughters, 
many, and 1 am thankful to say they are all doing well, 
filling respectable situations in life. I can testify that 
matrimony is a desirable state, but then it should be 
entered into with prudence, and at a mature age, when 
experience and stability have stamped the man and 
the woman as being fit and suitable for that responsible 
state of life. 
Finally, in order that my young friends may per¬ 
ceive the benefit of a determined, persevering saving, 
I subjoin a table of different sums saved annu 
ally, commencing at the age of twenty-seven, and con¬ 
tinued up to fifty years of age, placing the sums so 
saved in a Savings Bank, or in government securities. 
The interest allowed in those places does not exceed, 
or very triflingly, more than three per cent.; but then it 
is safe, and the interest sure. The interest should be 
added half-yearly to the principal. When our friend is 
fifty years old, he may realise his money, and purchase 
an annuity for life in some safe Insurance Office. If he 
has a wife, he may secure the annuity to her for her life, 
should she survive him. Tims :—if he save 
£ 
s. 
d. 
£10 
a year, it will amount in 23 years, at 3 
per cent, to 
••• ... ... ... 
274 
12 
3 
which will purchase an annuity of £15 
a year 
£20 
do. 
do. 
549 
5 
3 
do. 
annuity do. £43 7s. 9d. 
£40 
do. 
do. 
O 
CO 
15 
9 
do. 
annuity do. £86 16s 3d. 
£60 
do. 
do. 
1647 
15 
9 
do. 
annuity do. £130 3s. 3d. 
£80 
do. 
do. 
2197 
1 
0 
do. 
annuity do. £173 15s. 3d. 
I need not carry this table any higher, as I fear there 
are very few places indeed that will enable a man to 
live and appear respectable, and at the same time save 
more than .£80 a year. 
I have only a few general remarks to add to my 
papers addressed to Young Gardeners, and these I will 
take an early opportunity to write. T. Appi.eby. 
(To be continued.) 
