Your correspondent Mr Temple's remarks on this subject are kindly, temperate, and suggestive; and regarding the teaching of young gardeners, and the responsibilities of master-gardeners in their way, I would add a word or two. I consider that when the master puts his young men in the way of acquiring a good practical knowledge of their work as operatives, affording them at the same time what information and teaching his convenience allows, his interests demand, and their own good conduct and promise encourages, his duty as schoolmaster ceases.

No man of such a practical turn of mind as Mr Temple can be long in discovering, that attempting to teach some youths is like throwing pearls before swine. I am not disposed to think unkindly or ill of the rising generation - far otherwise - nor do I wish to say anything they may not read with advantage; but I would view the matter in a simply practical light, as it affects gardeners and gardening.' Looking at both head and under gardeners as ordinary mortals, but with special reference to the latter, and taking things as they exist, how does the matter stand? and what are the most likely means of insuring success that present themselves to those who would avail themselves of such? The first and most essential thing for a young man to be is an efficient workman, and to be civil and good-natured. These qualifications are a passport to success in themselves, and such a man is simply a prize and a credit to himself and his master, who, he may be sure, will not be long in discovering his abilities and appreciating them.

Intellectual ability is not to be overlooked; but mere cleverness or intelligence is not likely to stand any one in good stead long, if he cannot handle the spade or the hammer in a tradesman-like fashion at the same time, and shows no aptitude or disposition to do so: such men are likly to be treated with scant ceremony, when they come to be measured alongside their compeers. I am not an advocate for employing more journeymen and apprentices in a garden than are absolutely needful, finding permanent labourers in every way better; but where a number of young men are employed, the law of "natural selection " comes into operation at once. It does not matter what the master's inclinations are about giving all an equal chance: he has got the work to perform; the responsibilities are his; and he is forced by sheer necessity to put the best man first, if merit was no motive, and let the others take their chance. Hence there are always some who think they are being overlooked, and instead of trying to do better, they sulk, affect independence, lose interest in their duties, and in the end have to go. As Mr Temple says, promotion according to merit is not generally enough kept in view.

It is nothing less than an injustice to treat the good and indifferent alike; and if merit had invariably its reward at the hands of master-gardeners, beneficial results would soon be generally apparent, and empirics would be less common. There are numbers of youths calling themselves "improvers," or "journeymen," who enter a garden apparently under the conviction that they are to be turned out gardeners, as out of a mould, without the slightest effort or exertion on their own part. "We have now and then had to do with such examples - creatures who dabbled at their work as if they had been bred to the tailoring or apothecary busiuess: who could not write the name of the commonest plant or vegetable correctly from dictation, nor be trusted to put together the vegetables for the kitchen without mistake, and yet never felt it a duty to themselves to open a book in quest of the knowledge they so much needed, though every book necessary for them to read was found ready to their hand, free of cost. I daresay we must expect to meet with such men in the ordinary course of things, but they are only fit to rank as labourers, for they never make workmen or gardeners.

The ordinary garden labourer, though he has little more than a day's interest in his work, gets through it conscientiously as a rule, and does it fairly, expecting nothing but his wage, and giving little trouble to his master. But while expressing little sympathy with such unworthy examples as we have described, it affords us pleasure to speak of good men who are still to be found for the seeking - sometimes where least expected. More than once we have turned a gardener out of a labourer who showed he had got the right stuff in him. One of the best men we ever had came straight out of a coal-pit, but he took to gardening like a fish to water, and was a better man in twelve months than some are in as many years. He was one of those men who knew how to adhere to "orders " strictly, without thinking he exceeded his duty if he went out of his way (on his own time perhaps) to tie up a plant that had broken loose from its fastening, or remove any unsightly object that might be in the way. "We have often known such simple but thoughtful actions - which only show that a man recognises his master's interests as his own - secure a man's promotion and future success.

In fact, I have seldom known such men fail to get on sooner or later; and though master-gardeners are naturally reluctant to part with such, I never knew of an instance in which they were not desirous of promoting their interests, as far as lay in their power. We are in the habit of meeting head-gardeners from all parts of the kingdom frequently every year, and often we hear the query, " You haven't a good man you can send us, I suppose " - and, "A man you would like to keep, you know." And so, often enough, some deserving man has a service done him when he least expects it.

As regards character-giving, young men may rely upon it that the "honest, sober, and industrious" type of certificate will stand them in poor stead if it cannot be backed up privately. Such certificates are little attended to. Perhaps it has been given by a good-natured master, who stated the good points and left the bad ones out; but who would, like an honourable man, give his candid opinion privately, if asked for it, as is invariably the case in these days. A certificate of character is not to be despised, if it is a good one, and is given in the hearty conviction that the individual really deserves it; but even an unprincipled man would have no object in giving a man such a character, unless it was his plain duty to do so. These remarks are penned with the object of impressing on young men how much their destiny lies in their own hands, and that they must rely chiefly upon themselves. No one can make them gardeners unless they will, and will strongly; and few will try to aid them in an object in which they are themselves so little interested.

In conclusion, let me say a word about English and Scotch gardeners. As workmen, they are perhaps about a par. The Scotchman has generally the advantage in education and force of character, but he is far behind the Englishman in address and manner - at first, at least; for the Scotchman can take on a polish that an Englishman cannot often approach. But young Scotch gardeners coming to England find their awkward manners and scant civility to operate injuriously against their interests. Their broad dialect is rather entertaining then otherwise to English ears, but their politeness is a commodity that is apparently not "cheap." It is a matter of the deepest perplexity to them whether they are justified in saying"Yes, sir," or"Ay," or "Ouay," to a superior; and touching their hat to every one is an action regulated always by the most conscientious scruples, and then it is done with such a grace, and the operation is so lengthy and laborious, that, as we once heard said, " You may think a deal of a hat from a Scotchman."Now we are not speaking as an Englishman, nor with the least prejudice, but only with the object of impressing upon your young readers that a pleasing address is one of the most important things for them to learn.

We know at least one fine place in England where "Sandy" is not tolerated at all for the above reason, and many places where he is not trusted about the conservatory or house for fear he should incur the tremendous responsibility of being respectful and polite. This may seem strange in the face of the fact that there are so many Scotch head-gardeners in England, but it is easily explained. It is his other good qualities that have pushed him on, not his manners, though in all probability they may have mended the while. While penning these remarks, I am not oblivious to the fact that masters are sometimes to blame - that they are irritable and harsh with their men in some cases, causing discomfort to all parties; but as a rule, it is unusual for good, diligent, painstaking men to have reasons for complaining of their master's conduct towards them. A master's responsibilities and anxieties are always great enough, without being increased by the neglect and shortcomings of his men, who make the master to a great extent, and not unfrequently turn an indulgent one into a tyrant, or something like it.

Seeing, however, that a private garden cannot be turned into a co-operative concern, it is much better that there should be no obligations on either side, though it may be proper enough to foster a mutual interest in the work. Therefore engagements should always be definite, and extra work should be paid for, either in money or time - that is, when it is enforced. A man who is interested in his charge will not of course be tied to a minute or two on an emergency, nor will his master be so with him; but when a man knows his duties distinctly, and that they must be satisfactorily fulfilled, it is alike advantageous to both him and his master. In such cases it is, however, essential that a man be paid a fair wage, which is the case in a good many districts now. The average wage for journeymen in this district is at present about 17s. per week, with lodgings, and very commonly potatoes and milk, an allowance for Sunday duty, and the usual perquisites - altogether equal to 21s. or 22s. per week at least. Such a wage, with no broken time, and no expenses for tools - an important item to the tradesman and ordinary labourer - is by no means to be despised by young gardeners, whose occupation does not fit them to enter into competition with any other than the labouring class.

J. S.

[They are not over-paid at the wage named, but better paid than are head-gardeners. - Ed].