V.12.1
THE GARDENER'S RANK
Since the monks lived primarily on a vegetable diet, the
management of the monastic gardens was a responsibility
of prime importance. The official in charge of this task was
the Gardener (hortolanus), often not a monk but a layman.
On the Plan of St. Gall he is provided with his own house.
His high position in the monastic community is reflected by
the fact that within this house he occupies an aisle all by
himself, and, more significantly, that this part of the house
is equipped with a corner fireplace, a privilege not accorded
to any other person in the monastery's agricultural sector.
The Gardener's House lies in the eastern tract of the
monastery next to the Cemetery, at the head of the Monks'
Vegetable Garden. Together with the latter it occupies a
plot of land 125 feet long and 52½ feet wide.
