715. The head-gardeners of Britain are universally allowed to be the most intelligent and trustworthy part of the operatives of any branch of rural economy, and the most faithful and ingenious of those who constitute the serving establishment of a country residence. Those of Scotland are by many preferred, chiefly, perhaps, from their having been better educated in their youth, and more accustomed to frugality and labour. 'Scotland,' Neill observes, 'has long been famous for producing professional gardeners; perhaps more so than any other country, unless we except Holland, about a century ago. At present, not only Great Britain, but Poland and Russia, are supplied from Scotland; and the numbers of an inferior class to be found in every part of England and Ireland are quite astonishing.' ( Gen. Rep. &c., chap. ii.) Lord Gardenstone ( Travelling Memorandum, 1790) says, that in every country of Europe, he found gardeners more sober, industrious, and intelligent, than other men of a like condition in society.
