In the columns of your widely spread journal there has appeared from time to time various articles respecting the qualities of gardeners, and as I believe that you have their true interest at heart, you will perhaps consider the few following remarks admissable.

To combine in one man the capability of performing and carrying through the various and multitudinous detail of operations required in any establishment where the different departments of fruit, flower, and vegetable forcing, and general artificial growing of plants, besides the regular routine of the fruit, vegetable, flower gardens, and pleasure grounds, to say nothing of other minor affairs which he has to take charge of, requires something more than being an ordinary mechanic Such a man as this is possessed of a good education. In most cases that education has been mainly obtained by his own exertion and adapted to his intended field of labor, consequently the more valuable, not only to himself, but to his employer also. He must necessarily be a man of observation, energy and foresight, and as this class of persons have more or less of enthusiasm in their character, it is difficult to conceive how (if honest, and I believe he possesses his share of this good quality,) he can be otherwise than a good and valuable servant, in any situation where his services may be required. In advocating the cause of gardeners, it is only for the above class of men that I wish for indulgence.

Such a class ought to have, and in some cases do receive, their due encouragement; but too often they are classed along with the clodhopper and wheelbarrow trundler, too many of whom are spread over the country, confirming the old adage, "Impudence and ignorance go together," and go strutting about with an air of effrontery that is disgusting to common sense, deceiving for a time till all is ruined, when they are turned out, and "go and do likewise " elsewhere.

Horticulture is now approaching the perfection in this country which it has attained in Europe, and is likely in time to out-rival her in good culture, if not in artificial grandeur; but the progress to be made depends in part upon the quality of those practically engaged in it. We want more good men and less bad ones, and we want the good quality to be recognised as something more than the "hewer of wood and drawer of water;" never fear that a good gardener will not work. I believe that I speak the sentiment of all the best men, by saying, respectable industry is our motto. It is rather degrading to think, that after many years spent in close study, observation, and the acquiring of that knowledge most suitable to the interests of employers, and the better performance of the duties required, to be placed on a level with the pretender and empiric. I sincerely hope that those who possess gardening establishments will begin to acquire a more practical knowledge of such things, so as to be able the more readily to detect the ignorance that is too often practiced upon them.

A good gardener will never fear his employer being acquainted with the detail of his work; for if his operations are correct, they will the more readily be seen and appreciated.

Our late friend Downing, - whose untimely death we all lament, - understood the position well. He knew how to analyze the great compound, Horticulture, and knowing how he was enabled to judge of the various qualifications of its professors. In him the true gardener had a friend. We mourn hie lots.

We are frequently taunted with such expressions as, why do you not produce such specimens of your skill as are to be found at the Chiswick shows, and others of like quality of which you are wont to boast! As Shakespeare says, "Aye, there's the rub." Why, in some few instances, where the hands of the gardener can manage to go through any particular subject, it is done; for example, in some of our fruit houses, and occasionally, if not over burdened with other work, in plant growing, (though in this case but seldom.) It must be remembered that the whole of such productions requires more skilled labor than it is possible for one pair of hands to do, and as we have not the same quality of laborers as assistants, as are there found in abundance, the same perfection cannot be attained. There a head gardener is frequently importuned to accept with a premium, intelligent, enthusiastic, smart youths, who are yearning to learn the profession. Here we can seldom obtain anything better than a man of mature age, whose intellect has never been exercised, who, in too many cases, scarcely knows the right end of the tool that is put into his hand, and he forsooth, after getting sufficient knowledge to handle it somehow, leaves you to Bet up as a master gardener.

Under existing circumstances, the quality of assistant labor is not the fault of our employers, many of whom are aware of the fact, and give allowance accordingly. So long as the present system of obtaining gardening labor is in existence, we may not look forward with a progressive eye. We want more home made gardeners, so as to infuse a portion of the native intelligence into the business. Let horticulture be advocated and acknowledged as a science more strenuously in the newspapers, in the different periodicals, and throughout society, so as to make it appear worth while for the intelligent youths of the country to take it up, let it be spoken of on the hearthstone as something worthy of their acceptance, educate them so that they may apply their minds for a time to close study and observation of nature, and withal, entice the cottagers to cultivate their little plots, by encouraging them at the horticultural societies, so that the family growing up may acquire a taste for these things, for it is from such homes that native gardeners must come.

Let us have the same quality as assistants, and I presume that it will be seen that there are some men of Chiswick quality in the country, who can show the same culture., Add to this a better knowledge of gardening affairs on the part of employers, so that they may know how to appreciate the value of a good gardener, and he will be stimulated to fresh exertions. Likewise, establish public horticultural and experimental gardens, that we may have something to look up to. Give the subject a national character - let it be seen that the nation is interested in the matter, and we will subscribe our quota, in the performance of duty, by rendering assistance in making horticulture worthy of this great and free country. Let us have opportunity and encouragement instead of ridicule, and we will do our best to equal the most perfect culture in the world - to establish a true position and standing for the educated gardener, and drive the strutting know-nothing into the back ground, behind the tall hollyhocks in the shrubbery) to keep him from further mischief.

As the following is somewhat appropos to the present subject, I quote it from the English Gardener's Chronicle, of September 18th, 1852: "From information statistically and otherwise carefully collected, it is found, that as a body, gardeners are masters of more knowledge generally, and hare received a better education than most other professional classes of persons. The greater responsibility therefore attaches to them in practically diffusing and turning the blessing to good account." How different is this compared with the recognised standard of the same class of men in America. There are, however, some in this country, who are as good gardeners as ever handled a knife in Britain, who have grown, and can grow again as fine specimens, and are qualified to produce as good culture generally.* Let us have the same quality of assistance, and the same opportunities, and there will soon be seen some Chiswick grown specimens on the tables of our horticultural societies.