November  2,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
375 
large  farmers  ;  but  the  latter  fear  it  much  less  now  than  they  did 
twenty  years  ago. 
Let  us  see  how  the  combined  system  of  one  very  large  fann  in  a 
parish  famous  for  its  small  holdings  works  in  actual  practice.  The 
great  farmer,  who  is,  perhaps,  the  largest  grower  of  Celery  in  the 
kingdom,  is  an  alderman  of  one  of  the  County  Councils.  On  his  being 
asked  by  the  writer  if  he  would,  had  he  the  power,  throw  a  number 
of  these  small  holdings  into  a  few  large  farms  the  answer  was  an 
emphatic  “No.”  He  further  gave  the  reason  somewhat  in  these 
words — “  If  I  want  a  dozen  men,  more  or  less,  for  a  week  or  fortnight 
to  get  certain  work  done  quickly  the  required  number  come  at 
ordinary  wages  readily,  work  willingly,  and  leave  pleasantly  wlnn  the 
work  is  done.  They  like  to  earn  a  little  ready  cash  now  and  then, 
while  it  pays  me  to  let  them  do  so.  The  advantage  is  thus  mutual, 
and  we  all  get  on  well  together.  They  have  learned  to  work  briskly 
for  themselves,  and  they  work  briskly  for  me,  and  I  would  not  have 
them  disturbed.”  Would  it  be  to  the  disadvantage  of  large  farmers 
if  similar  conditions  obtained  in  other  districts  ? 
By  giving  a  sound  theoretical  education  to  lads  in  village  schools 
on  such  subjects  as  previously  indicated,  supplemented  by  lessons  on 
the  land,  under  competent,  practical  teachers,  the  recipients  will  start 
the  battle  of  life  with  educated  brains  and  educated  hands,  and 
additional  interest  will  be  given  to  the  work  they  do  because  of 
their  being  trained  to  understand  it;  then,  if  they  are  afforded 
a  “chance  to  rise”  by  their  own  exertions,  substantial  inducements 
will  be  made  for  those  who  are  born  on  the  land  to  remain  there 
to  their  own  advantage,  and  to  the  advantage  of  village  industries 
and  communities. 
That  we  are  a  long  way  behind  Switzerland,  for  instance,  in  our 
methods  of  useful  education  is  apparent  from  the  following  citation 
from  a  narrative  that  appeared  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  more 
than  twenty  years  ago.  It  was  written  by  a  Swiss  gardener  then 
and  now  practising  with  marked  success  as  a  head  gardener  in  this 
country  : — 
“The  peasants  in  Switzerland  acquire  a  love  for  arboriculture 
while  yet  at  school.  A  plot  of  ground  planted  with  an  assortment 
of  fruit  trees  being  generally  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  school¬ 
master  and  his  pupils,  he  will  give  them  lessons  on  grafting  and 
budding;  explain  to  them  the  merits  of  the  different  varieties,  and 
thus  implant  knowledge  into  their  young  minds  which  generally 
bears  fruit  in  after  life.  On  one  occasion  1  saw  half  a  dozen 
youngsters  clambering  up  a  wild  Cherry  tree  that  had  previously 
been  lopped,  and  under  the  direction  of  the  long-coated,  spectacled 
wielder  of  the  rod,  they  commenced  grafting  the  tree  with  some 
new  varieties  that  had  been  received.  If  some  such  system  were 
adopted  in  the  schools  of  our  English  agricultural  districts,  it 
would  diffuse  practical  knowledge  among  our  rising  generation,  the 
importance  and  results  of  which  could  with  difficulty  be  estimated.” 
It  may  be  added  that  Switzerland  is  a  country  of  small  holdings, 
owned  by  the  occupiers,  and  the  plots  are  mainly  planted  with  fruit 
trees.  In  England  practical  teaching  would  have  to  be  adapted  to  the 
requirements  of  the  workers  as  governed  by  existing  conditions  to  best 
meet  the  object  in  view.  So  far  the  most  useful  lessons  on  the 
land  are  given  under  the  auspices  of  some  of  our  County  Councils, 
and  it  is  not  easy  to  see  what  other  body  of  administrators  could 
better  understand  the  educational  needs  of  particular  country 
districts.]  _ 
PlTTOSPORUH  Mayi. — The  planting  of  shrubs  is  ever  going  on, 
and  naturally  so  when  we  find  the  beautiful  effects  many  of  our  best 
known  plants  produce.  I  often  wonder  if  we  give  sufficient  trials  to 
many  of  our  least  known  shrubs  with  a  view  to  testing  their  qualities  in 
different  situations,  for  the  expense  would  be  so  small  that  even  if  a 
small  percentage  were  to  be  found  suitable  the  experiment  would  not 
have  been  in  vain.  In  newly  planted  shrubberies,  and  where  sufficient 
space  is  left  for  future  development,  many  smaller  growing  species  might 
be  planted  in  between  for  immediate  effect,  and  the  one  occupying  this 
heading  is  certainly  worthy  the  attention  of  anyone  ordering  at  the 
present  time.  It  makes  a  charming  bush  plant,  and  is  more  than  suitable 
in  pyramid  form.  Perfectly  distinct,  its  small  silvery  grey  foliage  on 
chocolate  stems  presents  a  most  telling  effect. — R.  P.  R. 
IS  GARDENING  ADVANCING? 
When  I  read  the  article  signed  “  Westerner  ’’with  the  above  query 
as  a  heading  on  page  263  of  the  Journal,  I  said  to  myself,  “  H’m, 
that  needs  thinking  about,  I’ll  take  a  little  time  about  it.”  I  have 
done  so.  It  was  fermenting  in  my  head  a  week  liter,  when  I  had 
occasion  to  send  to  the  Editor  an  Apple  for  confirmation  of  name,  and, 
having  explained  about  the  Apple,  I,  most  irreverently  I  admit,  put  in 
a  chaffing  note,  being  in  merry  mood,  on,  “  Is  gardening  advancing  ?  ” 
whereupon  the  Editor  most  editorially  rebuked  me.  It  will  be  hardly 
conceivable,  but,  irreverently  again,  I  laughed.  There  is  no  teaching 
some  people  respect  for  authority,  is  there  ? 
I  could  not  get  the  query  out  of  my  head,  however;  it  kept 
tumbling  about,  and  I  determined  at  last  to  get  rid  of  it.  But  how  ? 
Ah  !  there’s  the  rub.  It  is  (the  query,  I  mean),  and  it  isn’t,  I  said  ; 
it  is  both  yes  and  no.  How  will  you  reconcile  two  opposites  ?  how 
can  positive  and  negative  assimilate  ?  They  can,  and  do.  Here,  take 
the  Journal  of  the  next  week,  October  5th,  and  read  the  account  of 
that  glorious  show  at  the  Crystal  Palace;  does  not  that  say,  yes  ?  and 
say  it  out  loudly  and  emphatically,  too.  Then  take  that  saddest  of 
all  the  pages  of  our  Journal,  the  last  but  one,  and  see  the  gardeners 
(such  a  lot  of  them)  wanting  places,  advertising  week  by  week  and 
month  by  month,  some  of  them,  and  will  not  these  men  say,  with 
crushing  emphasis,  No,  gardening  is  not  advancing,  worse  luck. 
Again,  the  prizetakers  at  the  different  great  exhibitions  will  triumph¬ 
antly  shout  out,  Oh,  yes!  gardening  is  advancing  splendidly ;  look  at 
me  !  so  many  first  prizes.  Why  I’ve  made  so  much  and  so  much  in 
hard  cash,  besides  cups,  certificates,  and  medals.  But  the  poor 
unsuccessful  exhibitors  will  ruefully  shake  their  heads  as  they  cast 
up  expenses  and  say  a  low- voiced  but  very  pronounced,  No  !  Why, 
more  than  one  will  say,  I’ve  come  all  these  miles  (from  the  far  end  of 
Scotland,  let  us  say),  and  it  has  cost  me  so  much,  and  never  a  prize 
to  get.  Oh  !  no,  gardening  is  going  to  the  dogs,  I  tell  you  ;  I'll  show 
no  more  !  things  are  not  as  they  used  to  be  !  J 
Oh,  yes,  “  gardening  is  advancing.”  No  doubt  of  that,  will  say 
the  gardener  to  some  plutocrat.  See  what  a  splendid  collection  of 
Orchids  we  have,  as  well  as  the  best  ornamental  plants  !  We  are 
going  on,  I  can  tell  you  !  But  what  will  the  old  gardener  say  who  is 
dismissed  on  the  break-up  or  reduction  of  staff  at  so  many  of  the  old 
houses  and  gardens  all  over  the  country  ?  Will  he  not  say,  as  he 
mournfully  considers  his  long  service,  his  advancing  years,  and  his 
gloomy  prospects  at  finding  another  place  ;  will  he  not  say,  No  ! 
The  question  must  no  doubt,  to  get  at  the  root  of  it,  be  widened, 
be  opened  out ;  and  taken  in  the  concrete,  as  a  whole,  the  answer  must 
be,  Yes,  gardening  is  advancing.  In  the  abstract,  in  epitome,  the 
answer  will  be  in  numberless  cases  in  the  negative.  Gardening,  like 
everything  else  mundane,  follows  the  great  and  irresistible  law  of 
evolutiou,  and  evolution,  rightly  guided,  means  progress — progress  on 
the  lines  of  the  survival  of  the  fittest,  and  demand  and  supply  ;  and 
the  tremendous  wants  ot  the  people  have  brought  about  that  equally 
tremendous  supply  of  their  necessities,  which  has  made  commercial 
gardening  one  of  the  striking  facts  of  our  horticultural  life.  On  this 
plane  gardening  is  advancing  by  such  gigantic  leaps  and  bounds  as  to 
take  away  the  breath  almost  of  old  steady-going  people.  We  have 
only  to  look  at  such  establishments  as  the  Rochford’s  (to  name  only 
one  firm),  to  see  to  what  extent  gardening  has  advanced  on  the  lines 
of  their  trade.  _ 
It  may  be  contended  that  this  style  of  gardening,  though  eminently 
useful,  is  by  no  means  advancing  gardening — going  onward,  upward. 
But  Pope  1  think  it  is  who  says ; — 
“’Tis  use  alone  which  justifies  expense, 
And  splendour  borrows  half  her  rays  from  sense.” 
And  therefore  there  is  a  going  onward,  though  on  different  lines  than 
in  the  past,  and  as  the  dying  king  found  out  in  “The  Passing  of 
Arthur,”  “  the  old  order  does  change,”  and  gives  place  to  new,  and  all 
for  good,  too,  that  it  is  so.  We  who  are  getting  into  the  “  sere  and 
yellow  ”  leafage  of  our  lives  (don’t  read  it  “  sour  and  yellow,”  please  !) 
have  to  recognise  this  truth,  and  we  do  recognise  it,  for  the  wisdom 
that  comes  with  age  has  taught  us  that,  and  the  best  of  us  adapt 
ourselves  to  the  new  circumstances  and  environments  as  best  wo  may. 
The  scene  of  the  chief  gardening— ornamental  gardening,  certainly 
—of  the  present  day  is  shifted  from  the  aristocracy  to  the  plutocracy, 
and  the  leisurely  gardening  of  a  past  age  is  transformed  into  the  alert, 
systematic,  departmental  gardening  of  the  present.  Whether  this 
state  of  things  will  produce  as  good  a  race  of  all-round  practical 
