There seems to me to be one point in the successful management of gardens too much overlooked in gardening literature generally - that is, the important part which young men play in large or moderate-sized gardens, where there is necessarily so much committed to their care. However well-appointed a garden may be, it is almost impossible that it can be successfully managed without every detail - which it is impossible to supervise - is assidously carried out by the young men to whose care, intelligence, and abilities so much must be intrusted. Therefore it may not be out of place in this paper to give a few words of advice to young men. I am but a young gardener myself, but I have seen and experienced the influence which young men have upon a garden, the gardener, and even their employer. Work done and plants cultivated, or rather uncultivated, in a slovenly, half-hearted, or unintelligent manner, has a bad influence on the proprietor, who, if he does not get disgusted with his garden, at least will become indifferent to it, and the consequent discouraging circumstances will follow.

Whereas work well done, and plants cultivated in a creditable manner, will add to your own and your employer's highest enjoyment and pleasure, and will exercise an influence on the latter in fostering a love of gardening, thereby advancing your own interests, your master's, and that of your profession. We must not be afraid of hard work. There is nothing great attained without a lot of hard work, bodily or mental; and never perhaps was this more necessary than at the present day, when employers seem to look more and more on gardening from a commercial point of view, and want good value for their money. But you will not think work hard if you throw your whole heart and mind into it: in time you will certainly be amply rewarded for well-directed labour by the gratification of seeing everything prospering under your charge, and by the approval of your master, independent of any pecuniary advantages which may follow. I must say that the remuneration paid to gardeners is small indeed, compared with other occupations, for the amount of skill required. But we must feel that we have a higher duty to perform than the mere accumulation of wealth, which is certainly not to be disregarded by all honourable means.

Gather all information you can from books, periodicals, or whatever source you can, bearing on your profession, and compare it with your own observations and experience; but without observation and practice reading is of comparatively little value - you will be but a blind imitator. I would impress upon you, above all, to observe and study the laws and operations of nature closely, and the conditions under which plants arrive at the greatest perfection. Nature is the greatest teacher and the surest guide. With your principles of gardening based upon nature, you will be on solid ground, and you certainly will not be disappointed - it will enable you to avoid many an error. There is another important point I would press upon you, not to be in too great a hurry to become head-gardeners until you feel yourselves masters of your profession, as I am convinced that there is an amount of valuable knowledge which can only be gained by practice at the potting-bench and in the general routine of gardening, and which is indispensable in guiding others under you. Conform to your present circumstances and make the best use of them, and endeavour to improve them, remembering that a man can often make circumstances for himself.

We may often feel that our capacity is not great, but let us endeavour to improve our opportunities, that we may thereby act our part well in the great programme of life. C. M.