“SEPTEMBER. 267 
mind that they will have to prove themselves thorough gardeners 
before any other charge is given to them: If aman does not succeed 
in his own profession it is quite unlikely he will be entrusted with 
others, and therefore he must’ take himself practically acquainted 
with all the details ‘of ‘cultivation, both of exotics and hardy: plants: 
He should also know practically British plants, as these latter have 
more to do with the nature and properties of soils than many people 
imagine; and country gentlemen are much interested in all that 
pertains to country life, and appreciate this knowledge in others. It is 
also a point on which, generally speaking, land agents are deficient in. 
Next come more difficult subjects to master, vegetable physiology, 
agricultural (or land) chemistry,and geology. | A. jndicious. course. of 
reading will do a-great deal by way of impressing the elements of these 
sciences on the-mind/of)an intelligent young man, but. no. opportunity 
should ‘be: lostof conversing with: men acquainted with these subjects, 
attending lectures, and making’ practical experiments, either alone or 
conjointly with others: Book learning is all-very well, but alone it will 
never make a man either a geologist or physiologist any more than it 
will make him a gardener or a steward... Vegetable physiology. will 
prove of the greatest use to all engaged in cultivation, whether such 
includes. forest trees, or farm or garden products, explaining as it does 
the laws of growth and reproduction, in the same, way.as the chemistry 
of agriculture indicates the constituents of soils and plants, and the means 
of supplying the fertilising properties to soil abstracted by plants under 
cultivation; while geology-having reference to the nature and disposition 
‘of soils‘and rocks will teach the general arrangement and ‘composition of 
the surface soils, with which: gardeners and farmers, haye,only to deal. 
I do not mention arithmetic, land surveying, mapping, drawing plans, 
and book-keeping, as they are now taught in all schools; and, with the 
exception of land surveying, are more easily taught, from. books than 
‘those mentioned above. Buta certain amount of knowledge is necessary 
‘in most-of the above, more especially in arithmetic and book-keeping, 
‘as furnishing the key too measuring: work of all kinds and, the correct 
keeping of accounts. | 
‘ I find Ishall only have space allowed me to allude to two or three 
other items ‘demanding the attention of young gardeners, and one is to 
study, whenever the opportunity presents itself, all works relating to 
the tenures and conditions on which land is held, and the details of 
estate management, such as farm buildings, road, making and draining. 
A‘great deal in ‘those departments: may be learnt by young gardeners 
‘connected with landed estates if they would only keep their eyes and 
‘ears open to what is going on. , 
As regards the double duties of gardener and steward, there is, besides 
vall'the above; much that'a gardener would have,to learn before becoming 
a proficient bailiff or steward ; for, although his education as a gardener 
has‘given him many advantages very rarely possessed by men brought up 
fas land stewards, he will find himself deficient in all matters relating 
-to-a knowledge of stock, and consequently his judgment at first will 
not: be ‘sufficient; to enable him to buy and. sell on, his own responsibility 
without great circumspection. To be a good judge of stock requires an 
