October 12, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
85 
and a geological map with them, noting beforehand the 
localities, soils, and latitudes proper to the seeds to he 
distributed. The seed could then be thrown or puffed 
out in cuttings or upon embankments, where it would 
have a chance of growing undisturbed. To carry out 
this plan effectually there ought, however, to be a 
society formed, which would supply its members with 
packets of the seed of rare plants and instructions where 
to throw it out. It scarcely needs to he said that most 
of our rare plants are common somewhere, so that there 
would be no difficulty in obtaining the seed at a very 
moderate cost. A railway journey, which is now with 
most of us a barren waste of time, would be to members 
of this society more or less instructive. They would 
learn from it something, at all events, of the general 
geology of the country and of the distribution of our 
native flora. 
I now come to the objections of the scientific people 
themselves. They are afraid that this attempt to 
distribute, or perhaps I should say redistribute, our 
native flora, would interfere with scientific deductions 
from the actual habitats of scarce plants. Manifestly, 
it could only interfere with inferences based upon the 
absence of a plant from a certain locality, and as the 
habitats of all our scarce plants are now pretty well 
known, I do not see how it could really affect scientific 
theorising.” 
- » >! - < - - 
FRUIT CULTURE. 
The Lord Mayor has issued the following circular 
letter on the subject of Fruit Culture, in which he takes 
some interest: 
“The Mansion House, London, E.C. 
October 5th, 1889. 
“ Dear Sir,—The Fruiterers’ Company are making a 
very laudable effort to bring about the restoration of 
fruit gardens and orchards in connection with our 
homesteads and cottages throughout the country. 
Except in Kent and possibly one or two other counties, 
the orchards which were once of considerable value, not 
only in providing fruit for the household, but also in 
adding to the income of farmer or cottager, have most 
unfortunately been allowed to decay, and we are, in 
consequence, annually paying a very large sum to 
foreigners for Apples, Pears, and Plums which might 
be grown equally well in our own land. The proposal 
of the Fruiterers’ Company is to obtain a fund of at 
least £5,000 for the purpose of rousing the country to 
the importance of this question and to the necessity of 
a business-like attention to it. They further intend to 
offer prizes in different counties successively for the best 
orchards connected with ordinary farms and cottages. 
They will also instruct the public in regard to the kinds 
of fruit suitable for each district, and the most effectual 
methods of cultivating and pruning the trees. They 
themselves, out of their very small means, have con¬ 
tributed £500 towards this fund, and several individuals 
have promised other sums. But before an appeal is 
made to the public generally, I am asking the Livery 
Companies and a few leading citizens to head the list. 
I shall feel greatly obliged if you will countenance the 
good work of the Fruiterers’ Company and give some 
pecuniary aid towards their praiseworthy and national 
object.—I am, yours very faithfully, 
“James Whitehead, Lord Mayor.” 
INCENTIVES TO STUDY. 
Youk correspondent, “Gamma,” having adversely 
criticised my remarks upon this subject, I crave a 
little space in your journal for a reply, especially 
as I think that “ Gamma,” however enthusiastic and 
eloquent be may be, is rather unpractical in this 
instance, which is different to the generality of his 
contributions, which I so often read with pleasure. 
In speaking of competition, he travels rather rvide 
of the mark as the subject was originated by Mr. 
Fellows, and to his observations I endeavoured 
to confine myself. “ Gamma ’’says that competition is a 
“first law of nature herself,” and that it is so cannot 
possibly be denied. We are all competitors in life’s 
struggle. Even the very plants in our gardens are 
competitors, and if it were not for education—which 
in this sense is rather an unnatural competitor—many 
would soon be crowded out of existence. We might 
even travel farther, and, like “Gamma,’’rush off to the 
regions of fancy to illustrate this first law of nature if 
it were advisable ; but it is no use wandering away from 
the point in question, because however much plants 
and animals may compete in accordance with natural 
laws, it will not make us better gardeners, nor decide the 
question at issue. 
To say that gardeners, whatever positions they may 
hold, are not competitors, even taken in a general sense, 
would be at once to start upon a false scent, and it 
would be absurd on my part to express anything to the 
contrary. But there are other ways of competition 
besides qualifying for position by being able to excel in 
answering questions upon paper, which I believe is a 
simple, plain and practical way of putting the first 
question, as stated by Mr. Fellows. If a young man is 
deficient in muscular power, of what use is he to the 
gardener? What does “Gamma” say of competition 
here ? Why, a man may be a first-rate scholar, of high 
intellectual abilities, and able to surpass all his fellows 
in an educational sense, but for all that he may not be 
able to carry a hand-barrow, or do other manual work, 
which is an essential requirement. To put the 
question in a rather ridiculous light, he might have a 
wooden leg or be minus an arm, and yet have a good 
knowledge of vegetable physiology, and be proficient in 
nomenclature. 
No, the suggestion of qualifying for po idon by 
competitive examination is plainly impracticable and 
impossible, whether attempted by the head gardener 
or whether public and central positions are established. 
In the first instance it is impracticable (except possibly 
in a few large public gardens), because there are so few 
gardens where a sufficient number of young men are 
kept, holding equal positions, to allow of such a thing. 
Take, for instance, those gardens where two are kept 
in the bothy—the foreman and a journeyman ; or even 
three —the foreman, journeyman, and a boy (there 
are many like these ; in fact, they form the majority 
where young men are employed). It is at once seen that 
it could not be managed there. Or, go further, where 
more are kept ; if it were practicable it would not be 
advisable if the interests of young men are considered. 
It is much better, as is generally understood, for 
young men to see practice in variety, which is not 
possible if they stay too long in a place. 
With regard to “ district councils,” I am astonished 
—why, that is worse than ever ! A young man is in 
the north one year, and in the south another ; he is, or 
ought to be, a bird of passage so far as counties or 
districts are concerned. If he were constantly re¬ 
volving round a circle — which I am sure even 
“Gamma” would not advise—more might be said 
about it ; but how many gardeners requiring young 
men would feel themselves bound by the decision of 
any constituted central authority ? He would naturally 
seek the best men, as he does now, upon the recom¬ 
mendation of his brother gardeners who are the best 
able to judge ; and if a young man is well educated, 
intelligent, energetic, and fond of his work he will be 
able to hold his own in most cases amongst other 
competitors without qualifying himself as a clerk. 
I do not wish to be misunderstood, what I con¬ 
tend is, that education alone will not make a gardener 
without some natural gift, any more than it will make 
a painter, a philosopher, a poet, or a mechanic ; educa¬ 
tion acquired and steadily applied will, if one has the 
gift, promote excellence. By all means let us endeavour 
to gain all the knowledge we can, because the more we 
AnmE, Gp. aham’s Jubilee. See p. 9-3. 
