January 1, 1910 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
‘15 
‘GARDENING FOR PROFIT. 
Words of Advice from an 
English Exchange. 
From time to time letters reach us from 
persons of both sexes who are seeking 
information as to the best means of com- 
mencing one or more branches of garden- 
ing with a view to gaining a living thereby 
and during the last few years such letters 
have increased in numbers considerably. 
Generally, the writers are evidently keen 
business people who have managed to 
save a few hundred pounds in whatever 
branch of business they may have been 
trained to, and who, apparently, are pcs- 
‘sessed of a desire to lead an open air life. 
So far the idea is an excellent one; but 
“we need scarcely say that such enthusiasts 
have never stopped to consider what it 
‘means. That a keen business man or 
‘woman in some other walk of life should 
imagine that they can transfer their 
energies, say, from a grocer’s business to 
that of gardening, of which they are 
totally ignorant, seems incredulous; yet 
‘such is a fact. 
Undoubtedly that many erroneous and 
misleading articles written by theorists in 
the daily Press on the subject during 
recent years are largely responsible for 
this desire on the part of many townsfolk 
to get their living direct from the land, 
and we fear that many who have plunged 
recklessly into some branch of gardening 
have suffered very considerably. 
Judging by the letters we receive, the 
writers have no idea as to what they shall 
‘grow or where they shall grow it, and 
imagine that they only have to dig and - 
plant and Nature will do the rest. How 
wide this is of the truth all practical men 
‘and women will know only too well. It 
should be sufficient to cause these 
enthusiasts to seriously consider the 
matter when we say that we know many 
hard-working men and women who have 
devoted their lives, and in some cases 
long lives. to gardening for profit, and 
who find it abard struggle to make both 
‘ends meet. 
Even with the above facts before them, 
there are still some novices who are 
“willing to venture in the subject, and it 
May, perhaps, be of service to point out a 
few of the difficulties that are likely to he 
‘encountered and some of the objects that 
must be considered. In the first place, 
‘capital is absolutety essential, that is, 
e 
sufficient capital to carry on the work for 
several years and also to enable the 
cultivator to live, as returns of any sub- 
stantial nature cannot be expected for a 
few years, no matter what crops are 
grown, as expenses at the commencement 
must of necessity be heavier than they 
will be in later years. Another point 
that we would like to impress upon the 
town dweller who wishes to garden for 
profit is the long hours of hard work that 
it will be necessary to put into the 
business. Up with the lark may sound 
an alluring prospect during the summer 
months when skies are blue and Nature is 
at her best, but the late autumn, winter 
and early spring months must also be 
remembered. 
We referred previously to the novice’s 
idea that itis only delving and planting 
that needs to be done and Nature will do 
the rest, but practical men and women 
know that Nature is usually apparently 
trying to do her worst. Frost, ecld and 
boisterous winds, excessive drought or 
rain, hail, fungoid and insect pests galore, 
all tombine to make the market- 
gardener’s life anything but a bed of 
Roses. : 
Assuming that the novice still wishes 
to embark in the enterprise of profit 
gardening, there are a few hints that may 
be given, and which will apply to all. 
We mentioned before that usually such 
persons as we have in mind have no idea 
as to what to grow or where to grow it, 
and this undoubtedly isa great stumbling 
block. For a novice to think of growing 
produce for the London markets is 
absurd, and may be dismissed without 
further thought. What should be done 
is to find out what is really required in a 
locality and try to grow produce that will 
meet this demand. Generally speaking, 
better prices can be obtained from pro- 
yincial towns than in the London 
markets, and providing the novice has a 
real love of the work, and is prepared to 
put several years into it before gatting 
other returns than practical experience, 
it may be possible to make it pay. 
Apart from .ordinary gardening, we 
frequently have enquiries respecting the 
so called French system of gardening, 
which, as many of our readers well. know, 
has been carried on by our best gardeners 
for many years. In this, again, the daily 
Press has mnch to answer for in inducing 
people to invest their money in such 
businesses without securing sound advice 
upon, and practical experience of, the 
subject. In considering the advisability 
of commencing this form of gardening, 
even experienced men and women must ask 
themselves whether there is sufficient 
is being grown to meet the demand. and 
this is the experience of several who 
daily have their finger on the pulse of the 
market. Providing, however, the intend - 
ing intensive cultivator has convinced 
himself or herself that there is sufficient 
demand in the country for such produce 
as to render the venture a successful one. 
We think that at present sufficient 
is being grown to meet the 
. demand for produce of this kind, they are 
at once faced with the enormous expense 
of commencin., the work. Frames, cloches 
manure. mats, baskets and a host of other 
apparatus has to be purchased. Again 
to compare the intensive cultivation of 
France with the same in this country is, 
to say the least of it, misleading. The 
French are notoriously a salad eating 
nation, which, during cold weather, we 
are not (and salads form some of the 
principal crops) ; the climate of France is 
more favorible to the work, labor is 
cheaper there than here, and workmen 
will work more hours in a day there than 
they can be induced to do in this 
country. 
Gardening for pleasure and gardening 
for a living are two widely different 
things. It is just as ridiculous for, say, a 
grocer, draper, stockbroker or clerk to 
imagine that he can get a living at 
gardening without previous experience as 
it would be for a lifelong gardener to 
attempt to get his living from one of the 
sources mentioned above. 
—‘The Garden,’ 
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW 
that We Keep a Good Supply of 
Books on the Farm & Garden 
by the Most Experienced Writers,- 
As well asa good range of the best 
: General Literature. 
Perfection Bibles, Text Cards, 
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Books, Stationery, &c., &c. 
Your Orders will receive Prompt 
Attention, 
iethedist Beak 
Depts 
110 KING WILLIAM ST. 
