April  3,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER^ 
303 
Self  Education  for  Young  Gardeners. 
Notes  on  this  subject  appear  from  time  to  time,  which  are 
a  good  sign,  as  they  shov/  that  some  interest  is  taken  in  the 
matter,  but  I  fear  young  gardeners  as  a  class  devote  far  too 
little  time  to  improving  their  minds,  and  that  is  one  reason  why 
many  fail  to  succeed  at  a  later  period,  and  have  tO' give  up  private 
gardening  and  take  to  other  pursuits.  There  are  various  reasons 
for  this  apathy ;  one  has  quite  recently  been  noticed  in  a  public 
speech  by  the  headmaster  of  one  of  our  largest  schools,  wherein 
he  says:  “  The  English- — or  a  great  portion  of  them — do  not  love 
learning  at  all,  and  will  neither  learn  nor  teach  themselves.” 
Those  are  strong  words,  but  1  am  certain  there  is  much  truth  in 
them.  Another  reason,  and  a  growing  one  I  fear,  is  “  love  of 
sport  and  play ;  ”  and  again  a  certain  number  do  not  realise  the 
importance  of  study,  and  think  they  can  learn  gardening  as  a 
bricklayer  learns  to  lay  bricks;  and  a  few  have  no  love  for  the 
work.  The  last  may  be  dismissed  from  further  consideration. 
I  am  not  one  of  those  who  consider  that  the  young  gardeners 
of  to-day  are  worse  than  those  of  thirty  years  ago.  I  can  count 
thirty-six  companions  wdth  whom  I  lived  in  five  different  bothies  ; 
only  three  of  them  could  fairly  be  called  readers  of  gardening 
books ;  one  of  these  has  for  many  years  held  one  of  the  best 
l^ead  gardener’s  situations  in  this  country;  another  went  to 
California,  where  he  soon  obtained  a  large  salary  as  head 
gardener,  and  in  which  he  still  continues;  the  third  has  done 
remarkably  well  in  the  horticultural  trade;  the  others,  where  are 
they.^  And  echo  answers  ‘“where.”  Some  are  still  struggling 
on  at  gardening  as  best  they  cau.  and  many  of  them,  no  doubt, 
realise  now  that  it  is  too  late  :  tliat  they  ought  to  have  pushed 
on  more  when  they  were  young.  Three  successes  out  of  thirty- 
six  are  a  very  poor  average — only  about  9  per  cent.  Considering 
the  gardens  they  were  working  in  the  results  ought  to  have  been 
much  better. 
The  question  arises  here  why  did  so  many  fail  ?  and  in  most  of 
the  cases  it  may  be  answered  b\  want  of  application”  and  “  want 
of  self-control.”  It  was  not  want  of  ability,  or  pf  the  means  to  learn, 
but,  in  the  words  of  the  headmaster  quoted  above,  “  they  did  not 
love  learnifig,”  and  wasted  the  precious  moments  known  as  ‘‘  spare 
time.”  These  are  moments  that  never  return,  they  should  be 
utilised  as  they  come.  I  do  not  wish  to'  say  anything  against 
healthy  and  harmless  recreation,  when  it  is  taken  in  moderation; 
but  my  experience  tells  me  that  vei'j'  few  are  able  to  exercise 
moderation  in  the  hours  of  play.  Those  who  cannot  take  an 
hour  at  a  game,  and  then  leave  it  and  go  on  with  their  study, 
ought  to  leave  play  alone  entirely,  and  get  a  change  by  taking  u 
walk  for  botanising ;  studying  the  growth  and  measurement  of 
trees;  studying  insects,  particularly  those  injurious  or  helpful  to 
the  horticulturist  and  farmer :  and  in  the  winter  evenings  could 
mount  their  specimens,  and  read , up  books  in  connection  with  the 
subjects.  Another  great  thing  is  art  in  connection  with  gardens, 
both  in  the  formation  of  picturesque  effects  in  landscape  Avork, 
and  in  the  grouping  of  plants  and  colours.  Photography  is  a 
great  aid  in  this  study,  and  is  now  Avitbin  the  reach  of  many 
young  gardeners.  Apparatus  can  be  purcha.sed  secondhand  very 
cheaply.  The  size  knoAvn  as  half-plate  is  best ;  a  camera  to-  fix 
up  on  legs  is  preferable  to  a  hand  camera  ;  the  lenses  are  the  chief 
portion  to  be  careful  in  choosing,  and  it  is  AAmll  to  get  someone' 
Avho  understands  them  to  advise  in  the  purcha.se.  Platinotype 
printing  is  the  easiest,  quicke.st,  and  most  permanent.  The 
handbook  published  by  the  Ilford  Co.,  at  Is.,  gives  all  the  neces¬ 
sary  instructions  for  beginners,  but  the  Avhole  of  the  apparatus 
recommended  there  is  not  necessary  at  the  commencement. 
The  above  are  all  useful  subjects  which  may  be  classed  as 
recreations  in  the  place  of  more  exciting  plea.sures,  but  things 
more  substantial  must  receiA'c  some  attention  also  if  the  young 
gardener  is  to  attain  to  a  good  position  in  his  profession.  Many 
ladies  ai’e  noAV  taking  up  gardening  as  a  pastime,  and  soon  learn 
a  little  about  it,  especially  the  names  of  plants,  and  a  feAv 'items 
connected  Avith  the  cultivation  of  some  of  them.  And  every 
young  gardener  of  to-day,  if  he  AAushes  to  succeed  as  uead 
gardener  eventually,  ought  to  study  his  Avork  diligently,  in 
order  to  know  more  about  it  than  those  Avho  are  to  be  his 
employers  by-and-by.  Supposing  he  has  .succeeded  well  at 
school,  he  should  endeaAmur  to  improve  all  he  has  acquired  there 
as  soon  as  he  commences  Avork,  and  go  on  to  attain  a  good  know¬ 
ledge  of  botany  both  structural  and  in  regard  to  classifying  and 
naming  plants;  chemistry  in  regard  to  plant  life,  manure,  and 
soils;  geometry  and  mensuration,  for  draAAung  plans  of  floAver  and 
kitchen  gardens,  and  laying  out  new  gardens,  walks,  and  flower 
beds.  A  knoAvledge  of  agriculture  and  farming  is  often  very  use¬ 
ful  in  after  life.  A  gardener  in  a  country  district  cannot  knoAV 
too  much  about  the  science  connected  with  country  pursuits ; 
knowledge  alAA-ays  proves  to  be  power,  and  a  gardener  w'ith  a 
wide  knoAvledge  often  rises  eventually  to  a  better  position. 
The  above  are  subjects  of  which  a  young  man  may  easily 
obtain  a  good  knowledge  by  systematic  studying  of  good  books. 
Fortunately,  there  are  plenty  of  these  at  a  reasonable  price.  A 
start  may  be  made  with  “  Structural  Botany  ”  (floAvering  plants), 
by  D.  H.  Scott,  3s.  6d. ;  “  Primer  of  Horticulture,”  by  J.  right, 
Is.;  “Practical  Geometry,”  by  T.  Tate”  (Longmans),  Is;  “The 
Chemistry  of  the  Farm,”  by  R.  Warrington,  3s.  6d.  ;  “  Bentham’s 
British  Flora,”  12s.  These  can  be  added  to  as  occasion  requires. 
One,  or  at  most  tAvo,  subjects  are  plenty  to  study  at  the  same 
period.  Tavo  books  that  are  invaluable  to  young  gardeners  are 
“  Nicholson’s  Dictionary  of  Gardening,”  and  the  neAV  edition  of 
“Thomson’s  Gardeners’  Assistant.”  Both  of  these  are  someAA’hat 
expensive.  The  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  examinations  noAV 
offer  a  good  test  as  to  the  amount  of  knowledge  acquired,  and 
every  young  gardener  should  enter,  and  persevere  in  his  .studies 
until  he  passes  both  sections.  It  is  not  necessary  to  go  to  London 
for  the  examinations.  Papers  Avill  be  forwarded  to  any 
responsible  person  Avho  has  a  knoAA-ledge  of  conducting  examina¬ 
tions  ;  for  instance,  clergymen,  schoolmasters,  or  members  of  a 
technical  education  committee.  Practice  should  go  hand  in  hand 
with  study,  or  the  knowledge  acquired  will  too  often  be  forgotten 
afterwards.  A  young  man  in  a  good  private  garden  is  in  a  far 
better  position  for  learning  his  profession — if  he  studies  it 
thoi’oughly — than  he  Avould  be-  in  any  horticultural  school  or 
college.  One  good  mentioned  by  Mr.  Russell,  also  on  p.  39, 
must  not  be  omitted.  It  contains  rules  for  all  emergencies 
that  may  arise,  and  I  can  safely  assert  that  he  aa’Iio  stuuies  the 
Bihle,  apd  lives  by  its  laws,  is  not  likely  to-  fail  when  difficulties 
cross  his  path,  and  when  the  end  comes  Avill  have  the  .satisfaction 
of  knoAving  he  has  endeavoured  to  do  his  duty  to  everybody  ; 
while  he  Avho  neglects  this  book  is  almost  sure  to  fail  in  some  Avay, 
sooner  or  later. — W.  H.  Diveiis,  Belvoir  Castle  Gardens, 
Grantham. 
- - 
The  Late  Mr,  G.  F.  Wilson,  F.R.S. 
Those  old  members  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  Avho 
have  during  the  last  generation  taken  an  actiAm  interest  in  its 
proceedings  Avill  regret  to  hear  of  the  decea,se  of  Mr.  G.  F.  Wilson, 
of  Weybridge.  Owing  to  groAving  age  and  increasing  infirmity, 
his  tall  and  commanding  figure  has  of  recent  years  been  less 
conspicuous  by  its  presence  at  the  meetings  of  the  Society,  but 
in  the  old  days  at  South  Kensington  such  absence  Avould  haA'e 
excited  general  remai’k.  To  many  of  the  younger  generation  it 
may  be  neAvs  to  hear  that  Air.  George  Ferguson  Wilson  was  the 
discoverer  of  that  invaluable  domestic  and  medical  prophylactic — 
gljmerme.  At  all  events,  if  not  the  actual  discoverer,  he  AA'as  the 
inventor  of  the  process  by  which  glycerine  could  be  economically 
distilled  from  the  refuse  of  candle  factories.  His  experiments  by 
means  of  currents  of  suiAerheated  steam  Avere  conducted  at  the 
Avorks  of  Price  and  Co.,  conspicuous  on  the  banks  of  the  Thames 
at  WandsAVorth,  and  the  destinies  of  Avhich  he  for  many  years 
helped  to  direct.  For  this  precious  contribution  to  human  know¬ 
ledge  Mr.  Wilson  AA'as  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  in  1855, 
before  which  body  he  read  a  paper  describing  his  discovery  of  the 
process.  In  the  same  year  he  addressed  the  British  Association, 
at  Glasgow,  upon  the  same  subject,  AA'hen  he  prophesied  the 
utility  and  popularity  of  the  neAv  product.  From  this  time 
honours  continued  to  accumulate  upon  him.  He  became  a  FelloAv 
of  the  Chemical  Society  in  1855,  and  later  of  the  Society  of  Arts, 
on  the  Council  of  aa'IucIi  he  sat  for  eight  years.  In  1875  the 
Linnman  Society  claimed  him  for  its  oaa  ii,  AA'hile  during  most  of 
the  last  forty  years  ho  Avas  prominent  in  the  various  departments 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  occupying  in  succession  the 
positions  of  treasurer  of  the  Expense  Committee,  chairman  of  the 
Fruit  Committee,  then  of  the  Floral  Committee,  and  member  of 
the  Scientific  Committee  until  his  '  decease.  His  deA'otion  to 
horticulture  Avas  unbounded,  and  by  his  death  the  cause  loses 
not  merely  an  eminent  personality,  but  a  warm  and  enthusiastic 
patron.  The  attention  which  he  paid  to  the  culture  of  Liliums 
met  Avith  the  reward  so  gratifying  to  the  specialist  in  the  form 
of  tAventy-five  Fii'st  Class  Certificates,  gained  in  the  short  space 
of  thirteen  years.  Air.  Wilson,  like  other  great  horticulturists, 
Avas  of  Scottish  extraction,  though  an  Englishman  born,  bred, 
and  educated  in  the  neighbourhood  of  WandsAvorth  and 
Streatham.  He  first  saw  the  light  in  the  year  1822,  upon  March  25, 
and  as  his  calm  and  prosperous  earthly  career  closed  upon  Good 
Friday  last,  Alarch  28,  he  had  completed  the  goodly  tale  of  ;iu 
octogenarian  by  just  tAvo  days.  Time  has  worked  many  changes 
in  evei-y  Avalk  of  life  lately,  but  this  transition  is  not  the  least 
noteAvorthy  of  those  Avhich  have  marked  the  opening  of  the 
present  year,  1902. 
