26 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 8, 1894, 
weeks. At the same time use no more shading than 
is absolutely necessary, for the more light and air 
they can have without bright sunlight the better, 
and when the flowers fade, discontinue the shading, 
and let them have all the light and rain. By the 
end of June the stems will be ripened off, and then 
the bulbs may be taken up. The offsets should be 
planted separately, and if from a named collection, 
properly labelled.—IF. B. G. 
-H*-- 
WEEDS. 
How marvellously quick these seem to grow in com¬ 
parison to crops of any commercial value. After the 
recent showers they are coming up as thickly as if 
carefully sown. It needs many years of tillage in 
the best form to get rid of the seedlings resulting 
from one season’s neglect, and we would therefore 
direct attention to the need of prompt measures. 
One of the most annoying traits in a neighbouring 
cultivator is when he allows a regular nursery of 
weeds to establish themselves to the great harm and 
trouble of all those who aim at cleanliness. The 
seeds of most obnoxious weeds are spread far and 
wide in every direction, and the extra labour thus 
caused is scarcely credited. Weeds are sure to 
choose the soil that suits them best, and wherever a 
piece of land that is fit for remunerative cropping 
exists there is quite sufficient battling to do without 
the almost ruinous tactics of one's neighbour. 
A penny wise and a pound foolish is not more 
plainly exemplified in any phase of garden craft 
than in the neglect or otherwise of weeds. So long 
to get a piece of ground clear of these natural 
enemies, and so soon to fall back into a state worse 
than the first; for we must expect them to prosper 
with more than ordinary luxuriance if we allow them 
to gain a second footing upon land in good heart and 
well provided with all they can require. Once 
allow them to seed and the slightest movement in 
the air will do incalculable mischief. If we can get 
them hoed off as soon as they appear, we not only 
save the crop, but lessen the labour to such an 
extent that one man now is worth twenty in a few 
weeks’ time. Therefore on no account neglect the 
weeds.— P. 
•» 
A GARDENER’S DUTY TO HIS 
EMPLOYER. 
In all professions there are those who grumble at 
their calling, thinking that the lot of others is 
happier and more enjoyable than their own. Visitors 
when looking round a well-kept garden at a season 
when it is gay with flowers, and contains a good 
supply of tempting fruit, are very apt to give vent 
to their feelings of admiration with the words, Oh ! 
how I should like to be a gardener! Such an 
ejaculation comes natural, for they are looking on 
the sunny side of the profession ; they are not aware 
of the anxiety and perseverance that has been 
exercised to produce these lovely flowers and 
luscious fruits they so admire; the many ills and 
insects the products of a garden are liable to, and 
the changeability of the climates to which gardeners 
are subject; the high moist temperature of forcing 
houses, and the many variations outdoors, which 
has gained for us the saying, “ We have no climate, 
only a change of weather.” Or again, the scheming 
and homespun contrivances that some gardeners 
have to adopt to produce a creditable display of 
flowers and plants, fruit and vegetables, for their 
employers’ table at all seasons. Likewise the 
depression of recent years, for when retrenching has 
to be resorted to in an establishment, the garden is 
generally the first department that has to suffer by 
a reduction of hands. So taking into consideration 
that my latter observations are likely to produce 
cause and effect, you will admit with me that it is 
somewhat difficult to write a satisfactory exposition 
of a gardener’s duty to his employer to please all 
and offend none. 
Well, as soon as a gardener enters on a new 
situation he must, as they say, “ take stock ” of what 
he has taken to, as to whether his new charge is well 
abreast of the time of year or in arrears. If he is 
following a good man his task will be somewhat easy 
in that way ; but if he has succeeded a man whose 
heart was not in his work, either as regards exerting 
himself or seeing that his subordinates--be they few 
or many—did their duty during the time—pre¬ 
sumably a month—he has known of changing, then 
his task will be more difficult, but a great deal 
depends on the time of year that he takes possession. 
A gardener that knows his business and is not afraid 
of exerting himself will set about the task of making 
an alteration wherever necessary at its proper 
season. Some practitioners on taking possession 
are very apt to find fault with everything that has 
been done before, whether rightly or wrongly. Such 
a trait is to be regretted, and often shows a want of 
ability on their own part when they seek to piece¬ 
meal the labours of one who has worked as it were 
in the same field. I think you will agree with me 
when I say that the days of kid-gloved gardeners 
has departed. We live in more practical times, the 
gardener of to-day is expected to work with his 
hands as well as his head. 
Much good has been done in the stimulating of 
horticulture by the excellent and cheap gardening 
literature, several of which are published at such a 
price as to bring them within the reach of everyone 
possessing a garden, and gardeners do well to use 
their influence in inducing employers to furnish a 
supply of gardening periodicals for the use of the 
young men in the bothy, so as to encourage them in 
their quest of knowledge, and to imbue them with 
a desire to make the best of everything that comes 
under their own manipulation and attention. For the 
success of the gardener depends in a great measure 
on the individual assistance he receives from his 
subordinates, for a gardener in a large establish¬ 
ment cannot give everything his personal attention, 
and that, perhaps, is one reason why those in small 
places achieve greater success with some speciality 
they take in hand, as it comes directly under their 
own charge. 
Horticultural exhibitions—as well as horticultural 
literature—have done much to raise the standard 
and popularity of gardening, and promote a spirit of 
friendly rivalry as to who should emerge most 
honoured from the fray. But gardeners, on taking 
a new charge should make themselves acquainted 
with their employer's views on exhibiting, as some 
are very much opposed to it, not so much that they 
wish to hinder their gardener from placing specimens 
of his skill on the exhibition boards, as from the 
fact that some time or other exhibiting has been 
overdone in their establishments ; very probably a 
speciality has been make of a few subjects, and other 
departments neglected. Such proceedings naturally 
bring exhibiting into disrepute with employers, 
which is a state of things to be regretted, as the 
gardener who takes a thorough interest in everything 
under his charge, treats all alike, he does not as it 
were make fish of one and flesh of another, and ex¬ 
hibiting in his case, would promote a desire to 
achieve greater results. I think some employers 
wrongly labour under the impression that exhibiting 
is detrimental to their gardens, possessing the idea 
that their gardener would be devoting his time to a 
few things, to the disadvantage of the garden 
generally. This unfortunately may be so in some 
cases, but for the credit of gardeners I trust they are 
very isolated. But my contention is that exhibiting 
stimulates a gardener with a desire to attain 
greater achievements, take for instance the 
grower that “ goes in ” for collections of 
fruit, he must pay attention to the whole 
to bring them to a state of perfection entitling his 
production to any chance of success. The same with 
the exhibitor of collections of vegetables; if their 
products are worthy of recognition on the boards, 
are they not so much better for the employer ? In 
the case of plants an exhibitor may fall into the error 
of giving them mere attention than the majority 
under his care, but as I said before I hope such cases 
are few and far between. 
The gardener who has his employer’s interest at 
heart will not only do his duty, but will take care 
that those under him perform theirs also, and to 
gain this end he should obtain the confidence of 
his employer, so as to be able to engage his own 
men, also have the paying of them, and should he 
then happen to obtain workmen unworthy of their 
hire he should be in a position to discharge them ; 
that will in a great measure compel them to do their 
duty to the best of their ability ; for it is very humi¬ 
liating to a gardener to feel that he is not master of 
the situation, to have those under him treating him 
as though he had no authority over them, and 
merely occupied his position to bear the blame and 
tell them what to perform. I do not say that such a 
spirit is general among young gardeners, but it is 
often the case with labourers, especially in country 
places, some of them having probably been on the 
place all their life, they are apt to think every 
successive head gardener an interloper, and soon 
begin to enquire “ where he comes from ” and won¬ 
der “ how long he's going to stop,” at the same time 
not being slow to make any stride for their advantage 
if they can accomplish it. Gardeners should always 
make the best use of the materials at their disposal; 
cases have occurred where on taking a fresh situation 
the gardener started on too many alterations at one 
time and thus fell into a muddle. Or in making 
radical changes without first consulting their 
employer on the matter, perhaps felling some 
favourite tree or shrub, which they consider,—and 
probably is—not a thing of beauty, but which to 
their employers is an object of great interest—perhaps 
of family historical interest—and which a lifetime 
cannot replace, even the tree, let alone the traditions 
connected therewith. 
Most gardeners have a partiality for some 
particular class of plants, and in some cases make 
a regular hobby of them, but, perhaps, their hobby¬ 
horse cannot be ridden in all places, cannot be 
entered for every race ! Therefore they should be 
cast aside as though you had an antipathy to them 
if necessity requires ; throw away your partiality 
for your old loves, and be on with the new—your 
employer's hobbies or special favourites. Another 
thing to which some employers have a decided 
aversion—gardeners showing their friends over the 
place, and also to giving away plants or cuttings, 
even though it may be done in the legitimate spirit 
of exchanging, so that the gardener will do well to 
make himself acquainted with his employer’s views 
on these matters, so as to avoid any misunderstand¬ 
ing ultimately. I was once asked by a gentleman, 
when having an interview as a candidate for his 
situation, “ I hope you are not in the habit of 
taking things away in your pockets?” Such an 
expression pointed its moral. It is always advisable 
and necessary to success for a gardener to keep his 
work in all its various departments well abreast of 
of the time of year, never putting off till to-morrow 
what can be done to-day. Procrastination in garden 
operations often causes failure. Work should be 
done thoroughly and with method; nothing pays 
that is done by halves, and for the well being of the 
garden and the employer’s interests no gardener 
should be working with the spirit of “ Oh, it will last 
my time! ” such a feeling is not only detrimental to 
a garden, but it is like laying a trap for your 
successor. If a gardener is dissatisfied with his 
" digging ” he should resign his appointment. But 
changes ought never to be lightly or rashly made; 
it is always better to endeavour to mitigate griev¬ 
ances, for at the present time there is such great 
competition in our calling that if one gardener 
resigns there are scores ready and eager to fill the 
vacancy. And it is a sad result of hasty policy to have 
to look back with regret at the green hills you have 
left behind when you find the world more rough and 
rugged in some new locality where all is not as fancy 
painted. 
Then again, no garden ever figures at the top of 
the tree where changes are frequent, for what one 
practitioner does with an ultimate aim in view his 
successor probably undoes; it is similar to a man 
building on another’s foundations. In conclusion, 
I may say that in these days it behoves everyone to 
study economy, and to obtain value for capital 
expended, so that a gardener should have his eyes 
open to all work that is undertaken in his depart¬ 
ment by tradesmen, whose “ cutting ’’ contracts are 
sometimes made to pay by scamping and poor 
materials. Some may regard it outside the province 
of a gardener to interfere in such matters, but it is 
his duty to his employer, and also to himself, as if 
he does not it may jeopardise the employer's con¬ 
fidence in his gardener’s ability and integrity when 
such work requires frequently to be done. 
The gardener that thoroughly understands his 
business and studies his employer's interests should 
be encouraged with due consideration as to his 
comfort and welfare, and though he may in all his 
actions be like Caesar's wife—above suspicion—he 
will be lucky if he is blessed with the power of 
pleasing everyone; but the main thing is to please 
his employer, and remember the advice, ‘‘Sow 
thick, thin quick, and keep friends with the cook,” 
for it has been said that a good kitchen gardener 
will make headway where an Orchid grower would 
go to the wall.— Pathfinder. 
