AUTHOR OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIAS OF GARDENING AND OF AGRICULTURE, AND
EDITOR OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PLANTS.

LONDON:

PATERNOSTER-ROW.

LONDON:

Printed by A. & R. Spottiswoode,

New-Street-Square.

PREFACE.

THE Sixth Volume of the Gardener's Magazine will be found equal to any that has preceded it, in the higher branches of professional information; and as it contains a complete system of cottage gardening, with some highly improved plans of cottage dwellings, it surpasses, in point of general utility, all that have gone before.

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Something has been said lately by a learned author, Sir Henry Steuart, in his Planter's Guide, of the ignorance of gardeners generally but that they are, as a body, well informed, in both the theory and practice of their profession, and very well able to communicate their information to others, the manner in which this Magazine is supported by their contributions is a decided proof. Gardeners may certainly be considered, in common with others of the laborious classes of society, ignorant of classical learning; but this is a species of knowledge of exceedingly little use, and is gradually becoming neglected in all countries, in proportion as the inhabitants advance in civilisation. We have above alluded to the Essays on Cottage Gardening (Articles III. IV. and V., p. 167. to 208.), written in competition for certain prizes which we offered and have awarded. These essays are composed by gardeners who have had scarcely any education beyond what they have given themselves; and the essays published are only three out of ten, which were all nearly equally well written. We might, refer to many other articles in this Volume as proofs of the general intelligence of gardeners; but, having mentioned these essays, we will limit our remarks to them, and ask any man, however learned or scientific he may be, whether any thing can be more complete and systematic of its kind than the fourth of these essays? We by no means intend to flatter gardeners, so as to render them content with the knowledge which they already possess; we only wish to stimulate them to make every exertion to raise themselves to the highest possible grade in their profession. We must also be allowed to say, that the more our acquaintance with gardeners is increased, in consequence of conducting this Magazine and the Magazine of Natural History, the more we are

astonished that men, with so very defective a school education as is at present generally obtainable by the class of society to which the parents of working gardeners belong, in Scotland, as well as England, should have been able to effect so much by reading, by observation, and by attempts to commit their ideas to writing. This fact shows that a very considerable degree of mental cultivation is perfectly consistent with continued bodily labour; and it enables us to look forward with confidence to a time (we trust not far distant) when all mankind shall have become intelligent and enlightened; and when, in order to forward this desirable state of things, a degree of school education to children shall have become a necessary of life. We care nothing for the sneers of those who consider such ideas chimerical; and we do not participate in the fears of those who affect to think that, when all are learned, none will be found willing to work. To know and to feel that knowledge is pleasure as well as power, is with us a sufficient argument for desiring that all mankind, without exception, should have an equal chance of enjoying this power and pleasure; and they can only obtain this by being subjected to a high and equal degree of school education from infancy to the age of puberty. Till this is the case, no man can have a fair chance, either in society generally, or in his own particular class and profession.

Next to the advancement of the science of gardening, and the improvement of its practice, our greatest ambition in conducting this Magazine is to point out to all our readers the incalculable advantages of early school education for children, and of selfimprovement for young men, and for all who are not beyond the age for acquiring new ideas.

Bayswater, Nov. 16. 1830.

J. C. L.