404 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  28,  1897. 
over  twenty  years  ago,  and  who  has  studied  the  art  of  management 
as  an  essential  part  of  a  gardener’s  duties. 
It  is  of  primary  importance  that  the  man  in  charge  should  not  only 
understand  every  department  of  his  calling,  but  be  able  to  himself 
elficientlj'^  perform  every  operation  connected  with  it.  ithout  this 
thoroughness  no  head  gardener  can  secure  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  his  men ;  and  young  men  who  in  their  learning  days  affect  to 
despise  those  who  apply  themselves  more  industriously  to  the  master 
ing  of  every  detail  may  discover  when  it  is  too  late  that  they  have 
missed  the  road  to  success  which  their  more  assiduous  fellow  workers 
have  found.  Nothing  places  the  authority  of  the  master  man  upon  a 
firmer  basis  than  quietly  proving  to  those  under  him  that  he  is  fully 
qualified  for  his  position  in  the  one  respect  at  least  which  the  men  can 
judge — knowledge  of  the  work. 
It  is  needful  also  to  make  a  study  of  men’s  varying  dispositions, 
characteristics,  and  aptitude  for  particular  work.  Very  much  depends 
upon  the  overseer’s  skill  in  judging  a  man  quickly  in  these  respects; 
it  gives  him  a  natural  power  of  direction  which  is  soon  appreciated, 
apart  from  the  authority  vested  in  his  office.  It  facilitates  the  working 
of  the  whole  establishment  and  increases  the  contentment  of  the  men. 
Whether  a  large  or  small  establishment  has  to  be  dealt  with,  a  code 
of  rules  is  advisable,  which,  if  only  indicating  the  hours  of  work  and 
for  meals,  with  the  conditions  under  which  the  men  are  engaged,  more 
particularly  in  reference  to  the  labourers,  will  assist  in  the  maintenance 
of  order.  It  seems  unnecessary  to  speak  of  rules  for  a  small  establish¬ 
ment  of  three  or  four  men,  but  there  are  always  some  understood  and 
perhaps  frequently  disregarded,  and  it  would  be  just  as  easy  to  have 
them  in  writing.  Besides,  order  is  as  beneficial  in  a  small  body  of  men 
as  in  a  large  number,  and  it  is  something  to  teach  men  that  it  is  to 
their  own  advantage,  as  well  as  to  the  employer’s,  to  cultivate 
regularity. 
Two  points  must  be  made  essential  ;  one  is  obedience  to  the  chief, 
the  other  is  punctuality.  These  should  be  as  the  laws  of  the  Medes 
and  Persians,  and  the  wilful  breiiking  of  which  must  be  punished  by 
dismissal,  if  reprimand  has  failed  to  have  any  effect.  No  responsible 
man  can  carry  on  his  charge  satisfactorily  if  he  cannot  rely  upon  the 
implicit  obedience  of  those  under  his  direction,  and  for  the  same  reason 
employers  should  never  weaken  their  head  men’s  authority  by  giving 
orders  to  subordinates.  A  true  gentleman  (or  lady  either)  will  recog¬ 
nise  the  evils  resulting  from  such  inconsiderate  conduct,  which  are 
entirely  contrary  to  their  interests  in  every  respect. 
Whatever  form  the  rules  may  take — and  the  more  simple  the 
better— they  must  be  enforced,  for  nothing  tends  to  a  general  laxity 
so  much  as  overlooking  the  repeated  infraction  of  a  law.  The  enforce¬ 
ment  must  be  done  with  judgment,  however,  and  not  arbitrarily,  the 
object  being  to  show  that  what  is  desired  is  regularity.  In  dealing 
with  a  very  large  body  of  men  it  will  not  be  possible  to  exercise  the 
same  discretion  in  particular  cases  ;  general  rules  must  be  rigorously 
enforced  or  the  “.morale”  of  the  whole  place  will  be  destroyed.  If  a 
new  establishment  is  being  started,  or  indeed,  in  any  case,  it  is  a  wise 
precaution  to  submit  the  rules  to  the  employer,  as  his  sanction  will 
strengthen  the  chiefs  hands  greatly. 
There  are  certain  qualities  which  a  gardener  must  possess  and 
strengthen  if  he  wish  to  rule  satisfactorily,  and  two  of  these  are  firm¬ 
ness  and  an  even  temper.  Everything  must  be  well  thought  out 
before  it  is  commenced,  so  that  there  may  be  no  wavering  or  uncertainty 
afterwards.  Let  all  orders  and  instructions  be  as  definite  and  precise  as 
possible,  and  if  the  enforcement  of  a  rule  becomes  necessary  there 
should  be  no  hesitation,  but  decisive  action  must  be  taken.  Then, 
too,  if  difficulties  arise  and  a  chief  loses  his  temper  habitually, 
he  lessens  his  influence  with  the  men,  because  he  loses  their 
respect,  and  because  there  is  an  innate  recognition  of  the  fact 
that  to  control  others  a  man  must  first  learn  to  control  himself. 
I  know  men  holding  high  and  responsible  horticultural  posts,  whose 
quiet  manner  might  lead  the  unobservant  to  suppose  they  were 
extremely  easy  and  even  lax,  but  who,  on  the  contrary,  rule  with 
exceptional  firmness.  It  is  an  example  of  the  kid  glove  covering  a 
strong  hand,  the  principle  of  the  old  Latin  motto  “  Sauviter  in 
modo.,  fortiter  in  re,”  freely  translated  as  “  Gentle  in  manner,  firm 
in  deed.” 
A  superintendent  of  others  must  also  be  consistent  in  his  decisions ; 
a  man  who  alters  his  opinion  or  behaviour  frequently  will  not  secure 
much  attention.  Another  essential  point  is  justice,  which  must  be 
dealt  out  equally  in  the  employer’s  interests  and  on  behalf  of  the 
men.  A  really  even-handed  course  of  conduct  is  soon  understood  and 
appreciated,  for  there  is  a  considerable  amount  of  sound  common  sense 
in  the  great  body  of  working  men.  They  recognise  that  in  exchanging 
their  labour  for  the  means  of  subsistence  justice  is  due  to  them  as 
much  as  to  the  employer.  It  is  one  of  the  head  gardener’s  difficulties 
to  balance  the  two  interests,  which  should  not  be  regarded  as  conflict¬ 
ing.  Properly  they  are  mutual  interests,  and  it  would  be  better  for 
the  work  of  the  world  if  this  truth  were  more  generally  recognised. 
Lastly,  the  head  gardener  should  be  able  to  give  both  considera¬ 
tion  and  encouragement  to  his  men  where  it  is  deseiwed.  I  have  con¬ 
siderable  faith  in  the  majority  of  working  men  if  they  are  treated 
well  and  ruled  rightly,  but  there  are  exceptions,  of  course,  who  may 
be  very  troublesome.  A  really  wrong-headed  man,  who  will  not  recognise 
the  obligations  of  life,  should  be  disposed  of  at  once;  it  is  better  for 
the  master,  and  it  may  prove  better  for  the  man  if  there  is  any  chance 
of  a  severe  lesson  effecting  a  reformation.  For  the  obedient,  indus¬ 
trious,  and  persevering,  an  occasional  word  of  encouragement  is  a  great 
help,  particularly  if  it  be  followed  when  possible  and  prudent  by  more 
substantial  recognition  of  worth. 
These  notes  are  not  put  forward  as  mere  theorising  about  possi¬ 
bilities,  but  they  indicate  the  course  which  experience  with  large 
bodies  of  men  under  difficulties  ol  exceptional  character  has  proved  to 
be  the  most  advantageous.  It  is  not  possible  to  smooth  away  all  the 
difficulties  of  life,  but  these  hints  may  be  suggestive  to  young  men 
and  to  them  they  are  addressed. — Superintendent. 
Chrysanthemum  Shows. 
As  is  usual  at  this  time  of  the  year  we  have  received  numerous 
intimations  of  Chrysanthemum  shows  which  are  to  be  held  during  the 
coming  season.  Space,  however,  can  only  be  found  for  mentioning  those 
that  have  been  advertised  in  our  columns.  If  any  have  been  omitted 
we  shall  he  glad  to  add  them  to  the  following  list.  We  append  the 
names  and  addresses  of  the  various  Secretaries. 
Oct.  29th  and  30th.— BATTERSEA. — .J.  O.  Langrish,  167,  Klsley  Eoad 
Lavender  Kill,  S.W. 
Nov.  2nd  and  3rd. — Brighton. — .1.  Lewis,  37,  Preston  Road,  Brighton. 
„  2nd  and  3rd. — Plymouth  (West  of  England). —  C.  Wilson, 
4,  North  Hill,  Plymouth. 
„  2nd  and  3rd. — Croydon. —W.  B.  Beckett,  272,  Portland  Road, 
South  Norwood. 
„  3rd  and  4th.  -  Woking. — H.  W.  Robertson,  Chertsey  Villa, 
AY  oking. 
„  3rd  and  4th. — Lowestoft. — H.  W.  Bevan,  9,  High  Street, 
Lowestoft. 
„  3rd  and  4th. — CARDIFF.— H.  Gillett,  66,  AVoodville  Road,  Cardiff. 
„  3rd  and  4th.— Blackheath  (Kent  County). — E.  Fox,  The  Cedars 
Gardens,  Lee. 
,,  5th  and  6th. — Altrincham.  —  A.  Hay,  Navigation  Road, 
Altrincham. 
„  9th  and  10th.  —Leeds. — .1.  Campbell,  Methley  Park,  Leeds. 
„  9th,  10th,  and  11th. — Royal  Aquarium  (N.C.S.).— R.  Dean, 
Ranelagh  Road.  Ealing. 
„  9th,  10th,  and  11th.— Birmingham.— J.  Hughes,  140,  High  Street, 
Harborne. 
„  10th  and  11th. — Hanley. — -T.  and  A.  Kent,  Hanley  Park. 
„  12th  and  13th. — Bradford.— R.  Eichel,  16,  AYestcliffe  Road, 
Shipley. 
„  12th  and  13th. — Eccles. — H.  Huber,  Hazeldene,  Winton,  Patri- 
croft. 
„  17th  and  18th.— South  Shields.— B.  Cowan,  Harton,  South 
Shields. 
„  17th  and  18th. — Hull.  — E.  Harland  and  J.  Dixon,  Manor  Street, 
Hull. 
„  17th  and  18th. — Bristol. — E.  G.  Cooper,  Mervyn  Road,  Bishopston, 
Bristol. 
N.C.S.  Floral  Committee. 
A  meeting  of  the  Floral  Committee  of  this  Society  was  held  at  the 
Royal  Aquarium  on  Monday  afternoon  last,  the  chair  being  taken  by  Mr. 
T.  Bevan.  There  ivas  a  large  quantity  of  blooms  on  view,  and  the  quality 
was  good.  First-class  certificates  were  awarded  as  under  : — 
Lady  Hanham. — A  sport  from  Viviand  Morel.  The  colour  is  pale 
cream  and  salmon  rose.  Shown  by  Mr.  W.  Wells. 
Mrs.  S.  C.  Prdbin, — A  very  fine  incurved  .Japanese.  Broad  florets  and 
of  good  substance;  colour  flesh  pink,  reverse  paler. 
Pride  of  the  Market. — A  very  free-flowering  Japanese  ;  colour  golden 
yellow,  suffused  with  reddish  crimson.  Exhibited  by  Mr.  N.  Davis. 
Ella  Curtis. — A  .Japanese,  considered  to  be  an  improvement  on  the  old 
Boule  d’Or.  Broad,  curly,  and  intermingling  florets  ;  colour  rich  golden 
yellow  inside,  with  reverse  of  pale  yellow.  From  Mr.  AY.  ,J.  (Jodfrey. 
Lady  Ridgway. — An  immense  massive  looking  .Japanese,  with  deeply 
grooved  incurving  florets  of  great  breadth;  colour  reddish  bronze,  reverse 
light  bronze.  Also  from  Mr.  Godfrey. 
N.C.S.  General  Committee. 
At  Anderton’s  Hotel,  Fleet  Street,  on  Monday  evening  last,  there 
was  a  meeting  of  the  General  Committee  of  this  Society,  the  Chairman 
