118 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 7, 1903. 
5. Gardeners themselves often advertise for a situation, apply 
to nurserymen and others who may be in a position to assist 
them, and now and then they offer a bonus to anyone who will 
supply them with such information as may lead to their 
securing a place. 
6 . There are also registry offices where gardeners may now 
and then hear of a small place., but rarely one of any magnitude 
or importance. 
7. Of late years many gardeners have obtained superior 
positions on the initiative and recommendation of their 
employers. 
There are other ways and means, but all are, so far, more 
or less unsatisfactory or incomplete. It is written that in “ a 
multitude of counsellors there is wisdom,” but, on the other 
hand, we are told that “ too. many cooks spoil the broth,” and, 
in any case, our existing system entails an enormous loss of 
time, energy, and money as well, and is often unsatisfactory 
after all. 
It is, perhaps, too much to expect that any suggestion will 
lead to the removal of all the difficulties with which the pro¬ 
fessional man is surrounded from the time he is crock-boy until 
he becomes a head gardener, but until something definite is 
proposed nothing can be done. To this end I suggest the 
establishment of what might be called “ The Professional Gar¬ 
deners’ Guild,” to consist of paying members of three classes, 
viz., head gardeners, foremen and journeymen, the annual sub¬ 
scription to be, say, £1, 15s., and 10s. respectively. There 
are many thousands of gardeners in Great Britain and Ireland 
to-day, and at least 3,000 to 5,000 of them ought to belong 
to our proposed Gardeners’ Guild. Care would have to be 
exercised by examination and inquiries, that none but bona- 
fide gardeners were admitted on. its register, and a good 
organising secretary, with clerical assistance, would be required. 
The age, position, or address, qualifications, experience, and 
all other necessaiy information would have to be posted up in 
the books, of which a special set would have to be kept relating 
to vacancies and of men wanting places. The scheme might 
include some form of general insurance, and, in return for 
their subscriptions, members out of place would receive every 
assistance towards, obtaining new r situations. In fact, the 
mere fact of their belonging to the guild should stamp a. man 
as being efficient and reliable, and employers would soon find 
out that it was a reliable centre' to which to apply for men of 
integrity and experience. As the old trade guilds, guaranteed 
good materials and good workmanship to employers or pur¬ 
chasers as well as advantages to their members, so our Gar¬ 
dening Guild should also be an index to integrity and expe¬ 
rience on the paid of its members. 
A national guild of gardeners might become a great and 
effective pjwer for good to all concerned, including not .only 
inofessional gardeners themselves and those who employ them, 
but. also to the nursery and seed trades, and to the various 
existent horticultural societies. One of the greatest difficulties 
would be felt in so regulating the entrance of members as 
to prevent the incorporation of anyone of questionable character 
or antecedents, but. with due care this could be prevented, and 
any defaulting or unsatisfactory members once admitted could 
be promptly expelled if it was found that they had in any 
serious way transgressed the rules and byelaws. 
It is, of course, too much to expect that a proposal of this 
kind will meet with general acceptance., and no one will be 
.more pleased than myself to. hear suggestions for the better¬ 
ment of my own rough plan as above indicated. It is only 
by co-operation and organisation that gardeners, as, a, body 
can ever hope to obtain importance socially, politically, or 
educationally, and such a craft union or guild as I propose in 
London might include many deserving local societies or asso¬ 
ciations with advantage to all concerned. Finally, such a 
guild must not be confounded with trades unionism of an 
aggressive character, but is to be strictly formed and conducted 
on self-help principles, defensive it may be, helpful and 
educational, and in all ways beneficial alike to all its members. 
Asparagus Sprengeri. 
The fruit of this ornamental Asparagus is more an object of 
interest or utility than otherwise. The flowers, like those of 
other species of Asparagus, are neither very large nor con¬ 
spicuous., and the fruits in this instance are scarcely so orna¬ 
mental as those of the. common Asparagus. The plant is, 
nevertheless, very popular, and this popularity is entirely due to 
the habit of the plant and its foliage. 
The plants may be increased by division or seeds; but cul¬ 
tivators as a. rule prefer seedlings of these evergreen subjects 
that increase but slightly at the root-stock, as they make much 
better plants than those raised by division. 
There are various ways of utilising a, plant, such as draping 
the pillars of the conservatory, or by training it in bush form, 
so as to form a decorative plant in pots that may be employed 
in a variety of ways for house decoration and otherwise. One 
of the most interesting ways in which it can be employed, how¬ 
ever, is as a. basket plant, suspended from the roof of the 
greenhouse or conservatory. The plant may be grown in 
wooden or wire baskets, according to the fancy or convenience 
of the cultivator. These baskets should be suspended where 
the roof is fairly high, for the simple reason that the stems 
when in a state of vigorous growth attain a length of 6 ft. or 
8 ft., and when hanging down to that length would certainly 
inconvenience visitors to the conservatory. Greenery of this 
kind is more restful to the eye than a bank of scarlet, or 
crimson Pelargoniums, and would therefore be as appropriate 
in the conservatory in warm weather, and more pleasing at 
that time of the year. 
It will at once be seen that a plant of this kind associates 
well with Ferns and other fine foliage plants as well as flowering 
plants. The leathery character of the foliage enables the 
plant, to bear either sunshine or shade. Our illustration shows 
a spray drooping in the position which it would naturally 
assume when hanging from a suspended basket. 
Amendment of the Pharmacy Act. 
Sale of Poisonous Compounds. 
It may interest many of your readers to know that it is in 
contemplation to effect, a change in the law as to the sale of 
poison, which, while safeguarding the public interest, will meet 
the convenience of large numbers of persons who make use of 
poisonous compounds for agricultural, horticultural, trade, and 
technical purposes. 
Hitherto the law, although it has not always been strictly 
observed, has required that such compounds should be sold only 
by properly qualified chemists, but it would be manifestly more 
convenient that articles such as sheep dips, insecticides, dis¬ 
infectants, and articles used for photographic purposes, should 
be readily obtainable from agricultural agents, nurserymen, seeds¬ 
men, ironmongers, and oil and colourmen, as well as chemists, 
the former having more practical knowledge of the uses for which 
these articles are required. 
It is understood that the Departmental Committee on Poisons 
will report to the Privy Council and to Parliament in favour of 
an alteration of the law, and that the Government will shortly 
bring in a Bill amending the Pharmacy Act on the lines suggested 
.by the Poisons Committee, providing for the sale by licensed 
traders, in properly labelled and sealed bottles or packages, of 
articles already described, as supplied by manufacturers or whole¬ 
sale dealers. 
The pharmacists are certain to endeavour to retain their 
present privilege ; it is for the traders wlio favour a change in 
the law to take care that the proposed alteration is made 
thoroughly effective in their own interests. 
The time is now ripe, therefore, for concerted action to. be 
taken by the traders affected ; and we on behalf of the Traders 
in Poisonous Compounds, etc.. Protection Society shall be greatly 
obliged if they will at once communicate with us, so that arrange¬ 
ments may be made for deputations to wait upon the members 
of Parliament, for all constituencies, claiming their support of the 
Biff. 
Thus. F. Dobbs, Secretary, 
24, Sansome Street, Worcester. 
G. H. Richards, Treasurer, 
234, Borough High Street, London', E.E 
