A GARDENER'S CATECHISM.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 5 August 1920, Page 3

A GARDENER'S CATECHISM.

(Contributed)

This is, I think, a most unique document. It consists of five folio pages, on which are printed no fewer than 58 questions which, as I gather, aspirants for the post of gardener to a particular employer in the Old Country are expected to answer before success can attend their applications. What they would_ be required to do afterwards is ortunately not stated. Anyone tbinkof applying for the post must 6tate among other things what has been his experience of pot roses under glass whether he has grown them to flower during November, December and January, the largest number brought into bloom for each month—scope here indeed—if the applicant had sole charge, if not, what charge, probably in the counting house; how long he had charge. Answers to the same questions must be repeated for February, March, April and May. A similar series of questions relates to roses planted out in borders under glass. With respect to roses outside only four questions are asked ; for free carnations, seven ; Souvenir de la Malmaison, seven more. As to general greenhouse work the applicant whose hand aches and whose head reels has to say what experience he has had with ferns, bulbs, decorative or flowering plants for the house, and general greenhouse work. Having done all this the aspirant turns to tho last pago, and finds it easy to answer the last ten ques- ■ tions as *to whether his knowledge of trees and shrubs is good, his experience of planting above the average, his knowledge of rock plants, also general outside gardening work and of fruit cultivation under glass. His experience with grapes, peaches, plums, cherrios, whether he has | a good control of men, nnd can get the full amount of work out of them and whether he is strictly economical in his methods of working a place. Finally, thia application form concludes with a •olicitous enquiry after the health of the Applicant in the past and in the present. There is a silence which oan only be due to oversight or exhaustion as to the future Bt&te of health of the euocessful applicant. Not a word occurs in the document on the subject of remuneration