346 
THE HARDENING WORLD. 
April 23, 1904. 
A Hard Case. 
It is seldom that I pass any comment on the dealings be¬ 
tween master and man, but in this instance I feel that I cannot 
pass this case' without giving it. notice, as the victim is an 
old and valued friend. He has for thirteen years been head 
gardener to a very popular Norfolk knight, and I believe has 
always given satisfaction. I have always found him a. clever 
and enthusiastic, gardener, and his record a.s a. judge at the 
monthly meetings of the East Anglian Horticultural Club is 
ample testimony of bis popularity amongst bis colleagues. 
Having a. slight growth forming in his knee, which made his 
work difficult, he decided to have it removed, and went into 
hospital for that purpose. The operation was. successfully 
performed, and he was ready for his duties again in a. very 
few weeks. On going back to his garden, however, be was 
astonished to find his place filled, and was politely informed 
that he was no longer required. This is his reward for thirteen 
years’ hard work ! What do readers, of The Gardening World 
think of such treatment? I am afraid Mr. Editor would refuse 
to insert what “ Kewite. thinks. Past Tvewiie. 
School Gardens. 
The idea, lias lately presented itself to many education com¬ 
mittees of having gardensi attached to: some of their schools, 
both elementary and secondary, for da.y and evening scholars. 
The question now arises as to: who' is to take charge of the 
wardens and give the necessary instruction. Of course it 
will be seen that, a, competent man or woman must be ap¬ 
pointed—one who: has studied biology and horticultural prin¬ 
ciples and practice under proper authorities at a school of 
horticulture, for example., where they will have seen how to 
set about teaching the subject. 
Obviously, too., a good general education and some know¬ 
ledge of discipline is desirable. It has been hinted that the 
■schoolmasters are to be given these appointments as garden¬ 
ing - instructors. 
A less competent person than the average schoolmaster 
probably could not have been chosen for this work. Un¬ 
doubtedly many schoolmasters will take up the work because 
it means an increase in their salaries, and not from any 
great love of gardening which is generally found necessary for 
success. Now, is it possible for schoolmasters to be given a 
thorough training in this work in a few weeks 1 It is proposed 
to hold holiday classes in gardening for them of two or three 
weeks’ duration in the summer. Is this in itself a suitable 
season for the work? And how many schoolmasters will be 
prepared to forego (their well-earned summer holiday for 
laborious work of this kind ? How many of them will be com¬ 
petent to begin their school gardening in the next term? What 
of gardening could they possibly learn, in that time? The 
answer is too obvious,—nothing could be learned, only a smat¬ 
tering’ of a few of the gardening operations could lie obtained. 
It has often been said that most schoolmasters know a 
good deal about gardening. Well, that may be quite true in 
an amateur sort of way. Pottering about in the garden of an 
evening is very interesting and nice, but. does it. give one a 
real grip of the subject of gardening—enough to enable, one 
to pass_on to another the knowledge possessed? I doubt it. 
Another point that has been, urged is that the schoolmaster 
will havei more control over the boys than an outsider. Does 
it not, seem more probable that boys: who have just left school, 
whose ages range from fifteen years to eighteen years, would 
sooner take their instruction from a gardening man? Cannot 
one imagine them saying of their schoolmaster, “ He: didn’t 
know much, if anything, about gardening before the holidays. 
How can he 'have learnt it in that short time? ” 
The most, reasonable plan .seems to have one or two men 
under the County Council who would undertake this work 
specially, who would know what they are. about, travelling 
round the county visiting each school to give instruction and 
generally superintend tlie working of the garden. 
It does not- take a, schoolmaster necessarily to keep boys 1 
under control (a thing which can be overdone), but it depends 
on the man himself, his personality, competence, and disposi¬ 
tion. 
With regard to the secondary day schools', a good plan would 
be to add to the staff of instructor’s a man or woman properly 
trained who would teach biology, horticulture, and kindred 
subjects, who would thus be enabled to give tlie scholars the 
scientific principles:, etc., underlying and exemplifying the 
various operations which they would practise in the garden. 
R. S. 
Gloxinias. 
Respecting the cultivation of Gloxinias, as. dealt with by 
Mr. J. Bethel, I may ,sa,y that last season I saw a big lot of 
seedlings which were bedded out. on the' stage in a. partly-sunk 
house. 
Owing to lack of time the owner conceived the idea of 
Tulipa kaufmanniana aurea (See p. 345.) 
putting 3 in. of fine soil on top of the earth stage 1 , and pricking 
out, the seedlings on this. 
They grew tremendously, and the flowers were really grand, 
the strain being Oannell’s. The grower intends to do the same 
with this year’s seedlings, some of which are from an American 
hybridist. I shall watch these with considerable interest, for 
hitherto' America, has depended upon Europe for such seeds. 
Fruit from Argentina.—T he Argentine Consul at South¬ 
ampton had communicated to the Minister of Foreign Affairs' 
that, on February 6th, a. consignment of 1.G90 boxes of Peaches 
and Plums arrived there in very good condition, proving that the 
exportation of Argentine fruit to the London market will have a 
good result if due care be taken in selecting and packing it. 
