348 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 26, 1901. 
GARDENERS’ GRIEVANCES. 
I have read with interest the letters from your 
correspondents, “ John C. Dick ' 1 and “ C. Blair,’ 
on this subject, but do not agree with the latter 
when he says that young gardeners make a mistake 
in being anxious to find their way into large estab¬ 
lishments. 
I think the majority of young gardeners are not so 
blind to their own interests, but that they can see it 
is much to their advantage to gain experience in 
those gardens, the names of which, coupled perhaps 
with those of their aristocratic owners, carry 
weight in the world of fashion and horticul¬ 
ture; and with few exceptions, the two are one as 
far as high-class gardening and the obtainment of 
good headships are concerned. 
The majority of us have to put in from fifteen to 
twenty years as apprentices, journeymen and fore¬ 
men, before we are able to obtain at most a head¬ 
ship of moderate pretensions, and are sometimes 
told then, when applying for a situation, that fore¬ 
men will not be treated with, although possessing 
credentials from first-class gardens, much less the 
man hailing from an obscure one. 
Many will bear me out when I say that there are 
very many places where gardening is well done, a 
reference from which will readily procure a situation 
as journeyman or foreman, but which are worthless 
as recommendations for a head place, a fact to be 
borne in mind by ambitious young fellows. 
Granted there is something in his objection to a 
young gardener having to acquire his knowledge in 
gardens where the departmental system is in vogue, 
I still-hold that the one who has been through the 
routine of several large gardens will, at the end of 
his years of probation, be a better man than one 
who has graduated a head gardener through small 
gardens, supposing the men to be of equal intelli¬ 
gence. 
The system and principle of working is totally 
different. I hive worked iu both, know what I am 
talking about, and, I venture to say, that should a 
young fellow who has. say, spent ten years in small 
gardens to be transferred to a big establishment, he 
would find the latter a very uncomfortable place 
indeed, and that not because he was treated harshly 
or unfairly. 
I believe, too, that in gardening, as in other 
callings, in spite of what some may say to the con¬ 
trary, that a man usually finds his level, which 
means that the young gardener in the big establish¬ 
ments of the country is being trained by the better- 
men of his profession—a matter of the first impor¬ 
tance. Whether he ultimately gravitates into a 
large or small garden is another matter. 
I do not wish to insinuate that high class culture 
is exceptional in small gardens, as I know it is not ; 
but something more than cultural ability is needed 
to make a successful head gardener, as witness the 
failures of some who, as probationers, earned the 
approbation of their chiefs as capable growers. 
Neither do I wish to discount the value of influential 
friends in obtaining good posts, but I take it that such 
influence will be of little value unless coming from 
broad-minded men, for reasons founded on good 
judgment. 
With regard to the suggestion of registration I am 
afraid the gardening fraternity—fcr such it is, and 
to a far greater extent than exists in many callings 
with a Union or Guild wiih more or less selfish 
motives swaying them—-is such a heterogeneous mass 
that the idea is impracticable. 
A reduction in the number of apprentices might 
improve our condition materially as such reduction 
must make itself felt some years hence. Is it that 
which is causing the present scarcity of journey¬ 
men ? 
I think the two great mistakes of }oung gardeners 
at the present time lie in their neglect of kitchen 
garden work, and in not taking their calling more 
seriously as if it was the one business of their life- 
The first is perhaps not altogether their own fault. 
There are of course those who look down 
on work connected with the kitchen garden, 
and the latter with the greater number of us 
will have to take first place when we get a charge of 
our own, as only a limited number can obtain head 
places where glass is the chief feature 
I believe in Scotland journeymen are employed in 
greater numbers outside *han is usual farther south; 
but in any case where a premium is takan I think a 
lad should be well grounded in kitchen garden oper¬ 
ations before he leaves. Where a young gardener is 
not actually employed outside much may be learnt 
by timely observation and note taking throughout the 
year. 
The other mistake I suggested must be corrected 
by young gardeners themselves. Gardening is a 
very jealous mistress, and if not actually a " first 
only love ” must be a very exclusive one, and the lad 
who has elected gardening his life study, and who 
worships at the shrine of success must give himself 
heart and mind to his profession. I am afraid I have 
digressed somewhat from my subject but I hope 
both you, Mr. Edilor, and my older critics will deal 
gently with Young Gardener. ' 
With all due respect to Mr. Blair I beg (with your 
permission, Mr. Editor) to raise one or two points re 
gardeners’ grievances in last week’s Gardening 
Wurld. First, he considers the journeyman’s case 
is bad, but the married man is even worse. Now 
my experience proves that in nearly all cases 
employers prefer married meD, providing they have 
or can secure convenience for them. Second, the 
majority, of men have to live in small places. Why ? 
Because, as he admits himself, the large places are 
few; the natural result must be a majority of small 
places. Third, he thinks it a great mistake for youDg 
gardeners to try and get into large establishments. 
In this I beg to differ with Mr. Blair, and ask him to 
look in any advertisement column and he will invari¬ 
ably find something in this style: Paul Cyperus, 
five years with the Duke of Cider, at Whatsworth, 
wishes to meet with similar position ; or the Rev, 
Rosepips highly recommends Peter Parsnips to any 
gentleman requiring same. Now, I ask, who of the 
two stands the best chance to secure'the large place 
with good pay ? Go on, young men, adapt yourself 
to circumstances, and do not do a thing because it is 
usual to do so, but find out for yourselves if it is the 
right way. And rest assured that in no other pro¬ 
fession is the old axiom, " The survival of the 
fittest, ’ more clearly demonstrated than in the one 
of gardening ; and remember “ nothing succeeds like 
success .”—Nil Desperandum. 
BUCCLEUCH NURSERIES, HAWICK. 
Summer and early autumn is certainly the best time 
to visit the Buccleuch Nurseries, Hawick, Scotland, 
as the florists’ flowers so extensively grown by Mr. 
John Forbes, are then in all their glory and pride of 
place. The lower portion of the nursery, bordering 
on the Slitrig, is deep and fertile, while that portion 
which climbs the steep slope is well laid out to the 
sun. Our visit was made in the third week of 
September, when many things were still in bloom, 
though getting past their heyday in certain cases. 
The principal item in the houses at that time 
was Begonia Caledonia, with which many gardeners 
have now become familiar. A large stock of it was 
then in half pots of several sizes according to that of 
the plants occupying them The parents of the 
original B. Gloire de Lorraine were B. socotrana 
and B. Dreggei; and the separation of the parent 
colours gave B. Caledonia the pure ivory-white 
flowers, which had proved perfectly constant, not 
one of them reverting to either rose or pink. The 
plants were of several ages, the large plants being 
then in full bloom. The stock is no doubt now 
greatly reduced. It blooms as freely as the parent 
from which it sported. 
A great variety of subjects is grown in the show 
house, amongst which we noted hybrid greenhouse 
Rhododendrons, of which forty to fifty varieties are 
grown. Some of the finer were R. Edgworthii, 
R. ciliatum, R. retusum, and Falconeri, which are 
not hybrids, but very choice. The double flowered 
hybrids, Bilsaminaeflorum album, and others of that 
strain are grown, as well as many of the Javanico- 
jasmiDiflorum race. R fragrantissimum, R. albescens 
(also fragrant), and R. assamicum also enjoy con¬ 
siderable popularity ia gardens, being very useful. 
A good variety of Lapageria rosea, and L. r. alba, 
were flowering freely on the roof. A choice variety 
of Fuchsia was that named Trailing Queen, with 
magenta corolla and rose sepals. Camellias, 4 ft. to 
20 ft. high are all grown in tubs upon the floor, and 
still prove useful for the sake of cut flowers. Green¬ 
house Sta ices were represented by such useful forms 
as S. profusa, S. Butcher), and S. brassicaefolia. 
Agave americana variegata of a useful size for 
bedding is grown in some quantity. Cordyline 
australis is very nearly hardy. 
A house was devoted to Maidenhair Ferns, while 
a pit was occupied with a general collection. Else¬ 
where we came upon Begonia Dreggei, in 60-size pots, 
Palms, Asparagus Sprengeri, Abutilon Sawitzii, 
Mackaya bella, and Cantua dependens, the two 
latter being handsome, but very much neglected 
greenhouse plants. 
Zonal Pelargoniums are grown in great variety, as 
they continue to find great favour in most establish¬ 
ments. Some of the choicer ones we noted, includ¬ 
ing Chaucer, a very large, deep rose flower; 
Cassiope, even more choice, being salmoD, with a 
large white eye; and Florence Farmer, large, and 
marbled with salmon. Very dwarf is John Forbes, 
but it flowers very freely, the blooms being crimson- 
scarlet and bright, with a paler margin. Hall Caine 
is bright Cherry red. Lord Salisbury is very dark 
crimson, and one of the best of its kind. Double 
varieties were also numerous, very choice being the 
orange-scarlet Gold Finder. Fraicheur is a Picotee- 
edged variety, the petals being white with a pink 
edge. F. Sarcey is rosy-mauve, the flowers being 
produced in very large trusses. Those of Granville 
are cerise with a white centre. The above are only 
the cream of those then in bloom. 
Tuberous Begonias, in named varieties, also 
receive a considerable amount of attention. That 
named Diana had very large and handsome orange 
flowers. Choice also is Mrs. J. M. Troup, with 
large, soft pink flowers. Sunset is of a soft salmon- 
pink ; while Thomas Luck has deep salmon-pink 
flowers of good form. Gem is notable for its creamy 
guard petals and deep apricot centre. The flowers 
of President are bright apricot, large, full and 
heavy. Marquise de Trevise rejoices in soft rosy- 
pink. William Oliver is very fully double and pure 
white. Mdme. Michelot is soft rosy-pink. Quite 
distinct ia its way is Telephone, with buff flowers, 
shaded with rosy-pink. 
About fifty varieties of ihe modern and greatly im- 
provedCannas are kept in stock. H. Wanland is yellow 
with carmine blotches on the inner petals. Souvenir 
de Madelain is orange-crimson, set off with dark 
coloured foliage. Model is rich orange with a 
yellow margin and well worthy of extended culture. 
Begonia worthiana is a popular bedding plant, but 
is better displayed as an edging than in the centre of 
a bed. Fuchsia gracilis variegata is also handsome 
in bedding designs, as well as in the greenhouse. 
Choice amongst modern varieties are Rupert, with 
reflexed red sepals and a soft, violet-purple wide¬ 
spread corolla ; Due d’Amaule, scarlet, with double 
white corolla ; and Emperor Nicholas, with scarlet 
sepals and large pink-white corolla. 
Florists' Flowers. 
Violas. —As is well known all the sections of the 
Pansy group are represented in the Buccleuch Nur¬ 
series, to wit, show and fancy Pansies in named 
varieties, as well as the Violas, rayed, rayless and 
miniature which in the aggregate form the most 
recently developed and the most popular generally of 
the sections of the geDus. Seedlings are raised 
annually by the thousand, belonging to the aggregate 
of all the races, and new varieties continue to be 
added to the lists when improvements make their 
appearance. A large number of them continued in 
bloom through September. On this occasion we 
confine our remarks to new Violas used for bedding 
purposes, and put into commerce in 1900. 
Viola Isolde has large, round, deep yellow flowers 
and a golden lip, while the habit is dwarf and com¬ 
pact. John Forbes is blackhh-violet, shading into 
rich rose. A very choice one is Mary Robertson, 
pure sulphury yellow, rayless, very free flowering, 
and of dwarf habit. The large round flowers were 
still abundant and handsome at the time we inspected 
the collection, proving the value of the variety for 
bedding purposes. The large and very pure white 
flowers of Purity were equally abundant. Shamrock 
is a creamy flower edged heliotrope, and is large, 
floriferous and sturdy. Snowflake (Forbes) is pure 
white, with the exception of a slight creamy shade in 
the lip, and the large flowers were still abundantly 
produced. The habit of Campbell BaDnerman is 
good, and the deep blue flowers are very showy for 
bedding purposes. The general collection of named 
sorts is extensive and the miniature race well 
represented 
Gaillardias are better represented by named 
varieties than we usually find them. Many of them 
were still in flower, for they are very persistent 
bloomers. Some v;ere orange, others red with a 
