217 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, July 12, 1859. 
not to be any gappy or tufted edgings, or sinuous, irregular 
curves with deep margins ; but everywhere the eye should repose 
upon gently undulating and flowing lines bending with ma¬ 
thematical precision. 
"W e not unfrequently meet with kitohen gardens in a state of 
great neglect, whilst the flower garden is very perfect; and it 
sometimes happens, vice versa. To grow weeds at all is a fun¬ 
damental error; aud to attempt to keep a large place without 
sufficient hands is very unsatisfactory. A small portion of well- 
kept ground yields more satisfaction to its owner than princely 
Stowe can afford in its dismantled and fallen state. 
It is found in all trades that proper sub-division of labour 
results iu having what is done, done well. If you wish to make a 
really good workman, you must concentrate his energies on one 
department of his business. Constant practice in this will make 
him, in time, a first-rate operative, and ho will excel in every 
manoeuvre of his department. A well-organised staff of men are 
like the wheels of a steam engine: if any of them get displaced, 
the most sad disorder ensues ; but while the “ right men ” and 
wheels are in the “ right places,” all is harmony. 
Attention to trifling matters is a great point in the character 
of those who have to direct the operations of very large places ; 
and it may always be regarded as a truism, that he who dis¬ 
regards trifling things will never consummate great ones. Let, 
therefore, young men not dispense with attention to trifles ; but 
rather let them be most exact in attending to them, considering 
that the habit of doing so goes very far in forming the character 
of the real man of business. 
The fingers of the gardening world point to one man who has, 
by his constant perseverance and attention, risen far above the 
zenith. I mean my old friend, Sir Joseph Paxton, who, I can 
state from personal knowledge, always took a pride in performing 
the most menial of operations well (apd I knew him when he 
had those of a very disagreeable character to perform) : but his 
zeal and alacrity never flagged ; and he kept going on, from one 
thing to another, till he reached the Crystal Palace—one of the 
finest conceptions of the age in which we live. True it is, that 
he met with a most kind and liberal patron in the late Duke of 
Devonshire; but much is due to his own untiring energy and 
perseverance. 
The character of a gardener is specially visible in his place,— 
care and intelligence, order and design, are objects too easily 
recognisable to be given to the sloven; while the keen-sighted 
and methodical man is known at once by the rule of order 
amongst the most trifling things. He “ has a place for every¬ 
thing, and everything in its place.” He essays to accomplish 
all he aims at by settled plans, every stage of which he measures 
by his far-seeing eye. His laws are not unchangeable, like those 
of the Medes and Persians; but he is ever prepared to tack and 
to vary his course so as to suit fresh circflmstances. 
Let, then, those young men who are desirous of making an 
important figure in the world pay strict attention to small things, 
aud thus acquire those habits which seem so essential to the 
character of a good gardener. Let them particularly exercise the 
faculty of observation, so will they trace effects to then’ certain 
causes, and be led into the path of truth; avoiding those errors 
and false conclusions upon which too many have split, and giving 
evidence (if such were needed) that the art of gardening is 
indeed (in the words of Mr. Justice Hallyburton) “ a liberal 
profession.” 
Let every one who essays to be a gardener, “ read, mark, learn, 
and inwardly digest” the incidents of the great book of Nature, 
which is ever open before his eyes. Let him note the infinite 
design, order, and systematic beauty which arc depicted in it. 
Let him impress this thoroughly on his mind ; and ho will, after 
duo study, be enabled to design works which, in a less degree, 
will combine harmony and elegance of form. 
“ He who undertakes the profession of a gardener,” says the 
Rev. W. Marshall, “ takes upon himself a work of some im¬ 
portance, and which requires no small degree of knowledge, 
ingenuity, and exertion to perform well. There are few businesses 
which may not be learned in much less time than that of a gar¬ 
dener can possibly be. It often happens, however, that a man 
who has been very little in a garden, and who can do little more 
than dig, or put out Cabbage plants, will call himself a gardener; 
but he only is worthy of the name, who, having had much prac¬ 
tice in the various parts of horticulture, possesses a genius and 
adroitness fitting him for making experiments, and for getting 
through difficulties which the existing circumstances of untoward 
seasons, &c., may bring him into. He should possess a spirit of 
inquiry into the nature of plauts aud vegetables, and how far 
art (in his way) may be made successfully useful, or, at least, 
probably so. The mode of growth, the pruning, the soil, the 
heat and moisture which suit particular plants, are not to be 
understood without a native taste and close application of the 
mind. 
“ Whoever will give himself the trouble to trace a good gar¬ 
dener through all the stages of his employ in all the different 
seasons of the year, will find it to bo one continued circle of 
labour, reflection, and toil.” 
This trite summary of the life of a gardener fully justifies the 
few observations which I have ventured to offer on his duties. 
May we hope that the truths inculcated will be seriously weighed 
by the younger part of our brethren ? and may we hope to see 
some other Paxtons, whose originality of thought and shrewd¬ 
ness of invention, shall shed a lustre on future horticultural 
eras ?— Henry Bailey, Nuneham. 
APHIDES. 
Your correspondent “M. E. W.” states in Tue Cottage 
Gardener that there is no remedy for green fly but tobacco 
smoke. I have tried a powder sold by Messrs. Burgess and Key, 
95, Newgate Street, which has effectually removed this pest from 
my Roses and orchard-house trees, and without injuring or dis¬ 
figuring the most tender foliage, although the leaves were 
smothered with the powder. It is applied either by dusting or 
inserting the infested shoots into it. In a quarter of an hour 
they are free from blight. If the leaves are dry, the powder is 
removed by shaking ; if damp, a syringe cleans thoroughly. It 
is an efficient and economical way of getting rid of green fly, and 
very clean.—A Constant Reader. 
American Pears in England. —Mr. Rivers writes to Mr. 
Hovey, that “ the Sec/cel, Tyson , and Moyamensing, are the only 
kinds really good,” among a large number that he lias tried. He 
says:—“ It is really strange that so many of your native Pears 
should be here so inferior, while we make the SecTcel one of our 
standards of flavour; it is also remarkable that we should give 
you one Pear universally popular (the Bartlett ), and that in like 
manner you have given us one (the SecJcel).”—(Prairie Farmer.) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Transplanting a Vinf. in a Pot {Brighton). —You may take it out of 
the pot, without disturbing the root, at once, and plant it in the border 
against your south wall. When the leaves have fallen in the autumn, cut 
it down to within two or three eyes of the ground. If very strong, you 
may leave four eyes. 
Cutting Down Pelargoniums {Idem).— Cut them down as soon as the 
blooming is over. You may cut them down into the old wood. Iu No. 512, 
p. 218, you will find a full detail of the distinction between a Pelargonium 
and a Geranium. 
Name or GF.itANiu.il (AI. G.).— Your Geranium is Patrick’s Seedling, 
which is named Atro-sanguineum Nosegay at ICew. 
Flower Garden Plan (B. A.).—The arrangement of your front garden 
can only be judged properly on the spot; but the arrangement of jour 
planting is in the first style of fashion, uncommonly well done. It would 
be less trouble in keeping, if the first row in No. 3 were the second row, 
and the second first; but two months more will tell you better. 
Books {A Subscriber , Preston).— If you want a cheap hook, have the 
“ Garden Manual,” published at our office, price Is. lid. If a more ex¬ 
pensive one, you cannot do better than get the one you mention. The 
“ Garden Manual” will supply all the' information you ask for. 
Brown Cos Lettuce {B. DO. —The best we have seen is the Berkshire. 
The Royal Agricultural Society’s Meeting at Warwick commences, to-day. 
Decayed Rose-buds (F .).—Where the Rose-buds were vety numerous 
this year, many, especially the central buds of a cluster, have dried away. 
Thinning the buds where thus clustered, and giving liquid manure, pre¬ 
vent the evil. Strawberry blossoms becoming blind may arise from 
various causes. Late spring frosts, poor soil, and deficient moisture, each 
cause it. 
Conferva floccosa in a Fisu-roND {Liverpool). —We know of no other 
means of banishing this aquatic weed than by frequently and powerfully 
disturbing the water, or by a stream flowing through it. We shall be 
obliged by any information on this subject. 
Wine of Mahonia auuifolia Bf.rries. — A Subscriber wishes to know 
if such a wine has ever been made, and, if so, how 1 
Black Aphis on Morello Cherries (S. Ambler). —We think there is 
nothing better than tobacco liquor holding a good portion of glue in 
solution. The worst parts to be dipped in and rubbed with the liquor, and 
next day to be thoroughly scourged with the water-engine. But it must 
he try and try again. When once such insects have got hold, one applica¬ 
tion will not be effectual. Gishurst Compound wo also believe to be 
good ; see what Mr. Rivem says about, it to-day. 
