798 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 19, 1903. 
Letters to the Editor. SOCIETIES. 
Troubles of an Amateur. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —I cannot help writing a few lines, after reading in the 
current number of The Gardening World “ The Troubles of an 
Amateur.” At the end of the list of casualties “Amateur” 
blossoms out into the amateur “ gardener.” He says he employs 
a “ CTardener.” Now, who is the gardener, and who is to blame 
for all this long list of troubles ? Certainly, his troubles seem 
to be, as he says, “ truly many,” and results very unsatisfactory. 
Now, I am not going into the scientific part of the discussion 
about the composition of soils, as I am sure there must be in 
“ Amateur’s ” locality good practical gardeners who would 
aladly give him sound advice on the subjects he mentions, if lie 
asked them. I cannot think, however, wireworms are to blame 
if quicklime and soot have been used, as he says in his letter. 
- Amateur ” says he has an acre of garden ground, with two 
glasshouses, and he employs one “ gardener, and has changed 
several times during the five years, hoping for better results 
Now, as a practical gardener, I must say I am sure he couk 
not have made a worse mistake. I cannot really think he has a 
mardener, from what he says of the state of his crops Of course, 
he may employ a man who calls himself a gardener, who 
indeed could not and does not style themselves gardeners now¬ 
adays who know practically nothing about the craft? 
f know gentlemen often think any kind of man can work an 
acre of warden ground with glass and show the best results. 1 
say it is\ great mistake. However, there are many experienced 
men who would take a place of that sort with occasional help if 
only they were paid like any other ordinary tradesman who is 
well up in his work. Instead, a man is usually employed who 
is a kind of handy-man, and it is quite a common thing where 
a man like this, besides having a large garden to manage, is 
expected to give a hand occasionally in the house or stables or 
manage poultry or cows, as if he had not enough to do in the 
aarden ; which, I think, is taking a mean advantage of a hard¬ 
working man, who, though he is not an expert gardener, under 
takes the charge of a large garden at a very low wage 
If “ Amateur ” had engaged at first a man who was thoroughly 
experienced I do not think he would have been so troubled m 
every way; but, as I say, he cannot get a good gardener for a 
labourer’s wage. Now, instead of “sighing for the advice of a 
practical man ” let “ Amateur ” employ a practical man who 
would work his ground and manage Ins Grapes and To ™atos to 
his satisfaction, and then if anything went wrong he would know 
exactly who to blame-the weather, the gardener, or the ama¬ 
teur gardener ” himself. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir —Your correspondent “ Jones ” has seemingly really some¬ 
thin" to grumble about. Would he be offended if I said that a 
orood deal of the trouble seems to. be (by his own showing) of hi. 
own creating? Ho says lie keeps one gardener ; then further on 
he sighs for advice from a. practical man. If he can afford to 
keep a man, why cannot he get a practical gardener ? Of course 
it may cost him a few pounds a year more m wages, but as the 
result will in all probability more than pay for this, not to men¬ 
tion the pleasure he will derive, I think he will admit tins should 
be done. It would be well, however, if he employs a real gar¬ 
dener, that he let him alone, so that he may carry out his own 
ideas ' “ Jones ” must not expect too much all at once, however. 
A garden in the condition he states his to be in will not come 
right in one year. , - .r » 
He has probably heard of “ too many cooks spoiling the broth 
This applies to gardening as well as broth-making He does not 
say what the top soil of his garden is like. He should take the 
editor’s advice about trenching ; only I would strongly advise him 
not to bring the clay subsoil to the surface. Rather break it up 
roughly and apply a good layer of stable manure on top of bottom 
spit. Then put top spit up roughly on top. In spring he might 
try the following-alpn with his Peas : When the soil is fairly dry, 
take out a trench the width of a spade exactly where the row o 
Peas is to. grow.' Make this trench about 9m. deep, and place 
in it nearly 6in. of good manure; replace soil, and draw drill 
for Peas a little deeper than usual. Now procure a quantity of 
wood ashes and sow a fair amount in bottom of drill; sow Peas, 
and cover with more wood ashes, fill in soil, and I am convinced 
he will get some fine Peas. In planting Cabbages a handful of fine 
soil, composed of sandy loam and wood ashes in equal propor¬ 
tions, placed round the roots, would probably work wonders. 
I should have said that the manure in the trench advised for 
Peas should he well trodden down before placing soil on. 
C. Blair. 
Edinburgh Autumn Flower Show. 
September 9th and IOth. 
(Concluded from page 784.) 
Notwithstanding the rain which fell on the afternoon of the 
first day, the attendance was very heavy, especially in the even¬ 
ing, the Waverley Market being much crowded. The gate money 
was far in advance of last year. Although the second day was 
wet, the attendance was also excellent, especially in the evening. 
Altogether it was a record show for florists' flowers, hardy and 
tender. Although the entries were 825 short of last year, the 
market, was fully as well filled. The tables for Grapes were 
short, but the others were more extended. 
Fruit. 
Most of the classes for fruit were open ; in fact, all except a 
few that were specified. Considering the nature of the season, 
the Grapes were better finished than one would have expected. 
The leading award for two bunches of Muscat of Alexandria was 
taken by Mr. H. E. Hughes, gardener to Sir Duncan E. Hay. 
Bart., King’s Meadows, Peebles, who had five bunches and 
berries beautifully finished. He was followed by Mr. J. H. 
Goodacre, gardener to the Ear] of Harrington, Elvaston Castle, 
Derby, and by Mr. James Day, gardener to the Earl of Galloway, 
Garlieston, Galloway, in this order. 
Mr. J. H. Goodacre came to the front, for two Black 
Hamburgh, showing fine massive bunches. Mr. Andrew Grieve, 
Hunter Street, Kirkcaldy, took the second award, and Mr. D. 
Kidd, gardener to Lord Elphinstone, Musselburgh, came in 
third. 
Mr. J. H. Goodacre also had the best Muscat of Alexandria, 
followed by Mr. H. E. Hughes and iMr. James J. Wann, gar¬ 
dener to Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Alloa, All these hunches 
were finely coloured, though some green bunches were shown. 
Mr. Andrew Grieve had the best bunch of Black Hamburgh. 
Mr. R. Stuart, gardener to Lord Lauderdale, Thirlstane Castle, 
was a good second, and Mr. W. Galloway, gardener to the Earl 
of Weinyss, Gosford, came in third. There were 14 entries in 
this class. 
Mr. T. C. Sutherland, gardener to T. Livingstone Learmouth, 
Esq., Polmont Station, took the lead for a bunch of Alicante, 
which was finely coloured. Messrs. D. and W. Buchanan, Forth 
Vineyards, Kippen, took the second place with a very much 
larger bunch, but not so shapely. Mr. L. Moodie, gardener to 
Mrs. Carse, Musselburgh, came in third. 
Mr. W. J. Green, gardener to Sir C. M. Palmer, Bart., M.P., 
Loftus, took the lead for a bunch of Alnwick Seedling, his hunch 
being of large size. Messrs. D. and W. Buchanan were second, 
and Mr. T. C. Sutherland came in third. 
Mr. R. Stuart had the best finished bunch of Gros Colman. 
Mr. D. Kidd had the best Lady Downes, Mr. L. Moodie came 
in second, and Mr. D. Murray, gardener to the Marquis of Ailsa. 
Maybole, came in third. 
■Mr. James Beisant, gardener to Mrs. Armitstead, Castle 
Huntly, Longforgan, had the best bunch of Madresfield Court, 
with fine berries. He was followed by Mr. J. H. Goodacre, and 
Mr. W, Smith, gardener to the Earl of Stair, Oxenford Castle, 
came in third. 
Mr. D. Kidd showed the best Diamond Jubilee, which was 
splendidly coloured ; Mr. James Beisant was second, and Mr. 
D. Murray came in third. 
Messrs. D. and W. Buchanan had the best new Grape intro¬ 
duced since 1885, showing Diamond Jubilee. For any other 
black Grape Mr. T. C. Sutherland was first, Mr. James Day 
second, and Air. John Waldie third. 
Mr. Matheson, gardener to Lord Kinross, North Berwick, had 
the best white not named above, showing Buckland Sweetwater ; 
Mr. D. Kidd was second, and Mr. W. J. Green came An third. 
Mr. D. Murray had the best flavoured black Grape, and was 
followed by Mr. J. H. Goodacre and ‘Mr. James Beisant in 
this order. 
Mr. H. E. Hughes had the best flavoured white ; Mr. J. H. 
Goodacre was a good second, and Air. IV. Galloway came in third. 
Mr. T. C. Sutherland had the best bunch of a black Grape 
for bloom, showing Appley Tower ; Mr. James Beisaait was 
second with the same variety, and Mr. D. Murray came in third. 
The first prize for a Queen Pineapple went to Mr. J. H. Good- 
acre, who was the only exhibitor. 
Air. J. H. Goodacre took the lead for a green-fleshed Melon ; 
Mr. R. Greenlaw, gardener to, H. J. Younger, Esq., Benmore, 
Argyleshire, came in second, * and Mr. J. Waldie, gardener to 
IV. H. Dobie, Esq., Dollar, came in third. 
