The gardener belongs to the oldest trade in the
world. The Bible says that when God made the first man and woman Adam and Eve,
He put them into a beautiful garden. He had made in Eden, to care for it and
look after it. So Adam was the first gardener and the poet. Tennyson speaks of
him and Eve as The grand old gardener and his wife.
Gardeners should be proud of their work, for it is the oldest of all.
A good gardener has to have a good deal of
knowledge. He must know plants-what they are good for, what kind of soil and
climate they like, how they grow. He must know that potatoes like sandy soil,
and will not grow in heavy clay; that roses like clay, and will want a lot of
water; that other plants must be kept dry; and so on, and so on.
He must also know a lot about soil, and how to mix
them to suit different plants. And he must know the different kinds of manures,
and how and when to use them. He has to study the habits of different plants,
for if he treats them all alike some will be sure to die. He must know which
should be pruned, and which not, and when the pruning is to be done. He must
know the seasons of the year - when to sow, when to expect the flowers, and
when the fruit. He must know something of the signs of the weather, or his
plants may be killed by frost if they are not sheltered, dried up by the hot
sun, or rotted by too much rain.
To be a good gardener, you must have certain
virtues. A gardener needs patience. He must be willing to wait for plants to grow,
flower and fruit. It is of no use of digging up your plants every day to see
how they are growing. A gardener needs foresight. He must be able to look
ahead, and plan before hand for the changing seasons. He must be industrious,
for his work is heavy and he must be methodical and regular in doing his work.
A gardener’s life should be a happy one, for it is
quiet and thoughtful. He is always surrounded with beautiful things.