eYory tliin<r where it ought to be ; and in attending to the deconmi of finishing operations
and to minute things in general. Those abstract hints may be considered im more
partfeularly directed to master-operators ; the following practical directions apply botli
to masters and their jemrneymen or labourers. , , c -i.„
0730 Perform every operation at the proper season. The natural, and therefore the
bast indications for the operations of sowing and reaping, transplanting, &c are pvon
by the plants tliemselvcs, or by the progress of tbe season as indicated by other plants.
But there are artificial calendars or remembrancers, the use of which is to reimiid the
master of the leading crops and operations of cultui-e throughout the year. But, even it
such books were made as perfect as then- iiatm-e admits of, still they ai'e only ciüculatcd
to aid tho memoiy, not to supply tho place of a watchful and vigilant eye, a f e I te its of
attention, observation, reflection, and decision. Unless a gardener has these cithoi ii.du-
rally, or partly natural and paifly cultivated, in a considerable degree, he wiU be but little
better than a common laboiu-cr as to general management and culture of garden scenciy.
‘> 7 3 3 Perform every operation in the best manner. T h i s i s t o b e a c q u i r e d 111 p a r t b y
p r J c t i c e , a u d p a r t l y a l s o b y r e f l e c t io n . E o r e x a m p l e , i n d i g g i n g o v e r a p i e c e o f g r o u n d ,
i t i s a c o m m o n p r a c t i c e w i t h s lo v e n s t o t h r o w t h e w e e d s a n d s to n e s o n t h e d u g g TO u n d ,
o r o n t h e a d i o im n g a l l e y o r w a l k , w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n o f g a t h e r i n g t h e m o f f a t t e n v a i 'd s . A
b e t t e r w a y is t o h a v e a w h e e l b a r r o w , o r , i f t h a t c a n n o t b e h a d , a l a r g e b a s k e t , i n w h i c h
t o p u t t h e w e e d s a n d e x t r a n e o u s m a t t e r s , a s t h e y a r e p i c k e d o u t o f t h e g r o u n d , b o r n e
p e i- s o n s , i n p l a n t i n g o r w e e d i n g , w h e t h e r i n t h e o p e n a i r o r m h o t h o u s e s , t h r o w d o w n
a l l w e e d s , s to n e s , a n d e x t r a n e o u s m a t t e r s o n t h o p a t h s o r a l l e y s , w i t h a v i e w t o p i c k t h e m
l ip , o r s w e e p o r r a k e t h e m t o g e t h e r a f t e rw a r d s ; i t is b e t t e r t o c a n y a b a s k e t o r o t h e r
U te n s il, c i t h e r c o m m o n o r s u b d i v i d e d , i n w h i c h t o h o l d i n o n e p a r t t h e p l a u t s t o b e
p l a n t e d , i n a n o t h e r t h e e x t r a n e o u s m a t t e r s , & c ., w h i c h a r e t o ^ r e m o v e d .
2734. C o m p l e t e e v e r y pa rt o f an operation as you proceed. This is an essential pomt
in earden-operations ; and though it cannot always be attended to, partly from the nature
of the operation, partly from weather, &c., yet the judicious gardener wdl keep it in
view as much as possible. Suppose a compartment, or breadth ot rows of potatoes, containing
one tenth of an acre, required to have the ground stirred by the Dutcli hoe, the
weeds raked off, and then the potatoes earthed-iip with the forked hoe ; the ordinary
practice would be, first to hoe over the whole of the ground, then to rake it wholly _ovei%
and, lastly, to commence the operation of earthing-up. If the weather were certam ot
holding good two days, this, on the principle of the division of labour, would certainly
be somewhat the most economical mode. But supposing the weather dry, the p a it lelt
hoed and not raked wdl, for a time (and one hour ought to be an object in a fine garc eii),
appeal- unfinished : and if rain should happen to fall in the mght, the operation will be
defeated in most sods. Better, therefore, to hoc, rake, and earth-up a small part at a
time : so that, leave off where you wdll, what is done will bo complete.
2735 Finish one job before you begin another. This advice is trite, but it is oi great
importance ; and there are few cases where it cannot be attended to.
2 7 3 6 In leaving o ff working at any job, leave your work and tools tn an orderly manner.
Are YOU hoeing between rows, do not throw down your hoe blade upwards, or across
the rows, and run off tho nearest way to tho walk the moment the b r e ^ a s t or dinner
hoiu strikes. Lay yonr implement down parallel to the rows with its face or blade to
the ground ; theu march regulai-ly between one row to the alley, and along the tuley to
the path. Never drop your tools and leave off work before the hour has well done
striking and, above all, never run on an occasion of this kind ; it argues a gross
brutalised selfishness, highly offensive to well-regulated minds. Never, in short, act in
such a manner as to show that the body commands the mind ; but rather so as to convey
the idea that the body is in complete subjection to the mind, and that the govermng
mind is a refined one. „ . , , . 7
2737. In leaving o ff work fo r the day, make a temporary finish, and carry your tools
to the tool-house. In general, do not leave off in the middle of a row ; straighten your
trenches in digging, because, independently of appearances, should a heavy ram ot a
week’s duration intervene, the ground wdl have to be re-dug, and that will be more commodiously
done with a straight than with a crooked, and consequently unequal, trench.
2 7 3 8 . In passing to and from your work, or, on any occasion, through any part oJ what
is considered under the charge o f the gardenei', keep a vigilant look-out for weeds, decayed
leaves, or any other deformities, and remove them, or some of them, m passing along.
Attend to this particularly on walks, and edgings, and in passmg ttoough hoüiouses, &e.
In like manner take off insects, or leaves infested by them. Much in large as weU ré
small gardens may be effected by this sort of timely or preventive attention, which induces
suitable habits for a young gardener, and occupies very Uttlc time. ^
2739. In gathering a crop or any part o f a crop, remove at the same tinie the roots, leaves
stems, or whatever else belonging to the plant o f which you have cropped the desoedpart, is o f
no further use, or may appear slovenly, decaying, or offensive. In cuttmg cabbage, lettuce,
borecoles, &e., pull up tho stem (with exceptions) and roots, and take them at once
with the outside leaves, to the compost-heap. Do the same ivith the hanim of potatoes’
leaves of turnips, caiTOts, celery, &e. Do not suffer the haulm of peas and heans to
remain a moment after the last gathering of the crop.
2740. Let no crop o f fru it or herbaceous vegetables, or any part thereof, go to waste on
the spot. Instantly remove it, when decay or any symptom of disease appears, to the
compost-yard, or to he consumed hy pigs or cattle.
2741. Out down the flower-stalhs o f all fiowcringplants, wxOa the proper exceptions, the
moment they have fully done flowering, unless seed is an object. Cut off decayed roses
and all decaying double fiowers, with their foot-stalks, the moment they begin to dec ay;
and the same of the single plants, where seed is not wanted. Fi-om May to October, the
flower-garden and slirubbery ouglit to be looked over by apprentices or women, evei-y
day, as soon as the morning dews are evaporated, for this purpose, and for gathering
decayed leaves, tying up tall-growing stems before they become straggling, &e.
2742. Keep every part o f what is under your care perfect initskind. Attend in spring
and autumn to walls and buildings, and get them repaired, pointed, glazed, and painted
where wanted. Attend at all times to machines, implements, and tools, keeping them*
clean, sliarp, and in perfect rep a ir; for with imperfect tools no man can make perfect
work. See particularly that they are placed in their proper situations in the tool-house.
House every implement, utensil, or machine not in use, both in winter and summer.
Allow no blanks in edgings, rows, single specimens, drills, beds, and even, where practicable,
m broad-cast sown pieces. Keep edgings and hedges cut to the utmost nicety.
-Keep the shapes of your wall trees filled with wood according to their kind, and let
then- trainmg be in the first style of perfection. Keep all walks in perfect form, whether
raised or flat, free from weeds, dry, and well rolled. Keep all the lawns under yonr
care, by all the means in your power, of a close texture, and dark-gi-een velvet appearance.
Keep water clear and free from weeds; and, if possible, do not let the ponds,
lakes, or artificial rivers, rise to the brim in winter, or sink very far below it in summer.
2743.^ Finally, attend to personal habits and to cleanliness. “ Never perform any operation
without gloves on your hands that you can do with gloves o n ; even weeding is
tin- more effectually and expeditiously performed by gloves, the fore fingers and thumbs
of which terminate in wedgc-Hke thimbles of steel, kept shai-p. Most other operations
may be performed with common gloves. Thus, no gardener need have hands like bear,s’
paws. Always use an iron tread fastened to your shoe when you dig ; and gcneraliy a
broad-bnmmed, light, sdk or straw hat, to serve at once as a parasol and umbrella. You
will thus save the use of yoiu- feet, lessen the wear of your shoes, and avoid the rheumatism
111 the neck. Let youi- dress ho clean, neat, simple, and harmonious, in form
and_colour; m your movements maintain an erect posture, easy and free gait and
motion ; let your manner be respectful and decorous to your superiors; and conduct fair
and agreeable to your equals. Elevate, meliorate, and otherwise improve, any raw,
crude, harsh, or inhai-monious features in your physiognomy, by occupying youi- mind
with agreeable and useful ideas, and hy continually instructing yourself by reading
This also will give your face expression, even if it has none naturally. Remember that yoii
ai-e paid and maintained by and for the use ancl pleasure of your employer, who may no
more wish to see a dii-ty, ragged, uncouth-looking, grinning, or conceited biped in his
gai-den, than a starved, haggard, untutored horse in his stable.” ( Traugott Schwamstapper.)
2744. He who undertakes the profession o f a gardener, says the Rev. W. Marshall,
takes upon himself a work of some importance, and which requires no small degree of
knowledge, ingenuity, and exertion to perform wed. There are few businesses which
may not be learned in much less time than that of a gardener can possibly be. It often
happens, hciwever, that a man who has been very little in a garden, and that only as a
labourer, who can do little more than dig, or put out cabbage plants, wiU call himself a
gardenei-; but he only is worthy of the name who, having had much practice in the various
parts of horticultuira, possesses a genius and adroitness, fitting him for making experiments,
and for getting thi-ough difficulties that the existing circumstances of untowiu-d
seasons, &c., may bring him into. He should possess a spirit of inquii-y into the nature
or plants and vegetation, and how far art (in his way) may be made successfully useful,
or at least probably so. _ The mode of growth, the pruning, the soil, the heat, and the
moisture that suits pai-ticular plants, are not tobe understood without a native taste, aud
close application of the mind. Whoever will give himself the pains to trace a good
gardener through the several stages of his employ, iu ad the seasons of the year, will find
It to be one continued cftcle of reflection, labour, and toil. Gardening depends more
upon the labour of the brain than of the body : there is no such thing as always proceeding
with certainty, and insm-ing success. Plants will die, and that sometimes
suddenly, under the very best management. There ai-e few things to be done in a gai-den
which do not require a dexterity in operation, and a nicety in hitting the proper season
tor doing it. A gai-dener should lie a sort of prophet in foreseeing ivhat will happen
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