Thus the father of a family views with alarm the profession of a

gardener, when it is first suggested to him for one of his daughters.

It seems undesirable to him that she, who has been accustomed to gentle

living and refinement, should lead the monotonous, solitary life which

he pictures it to be. He sees her, in imagination, constantly weeding

and digging amongst plants, without leisure during the day for any of

the relaxation to be found in mental employment or development, and

returning home at night physically exhausted. Her mother thinks that

rough exposure to all weathers will play havoc with a good complexion;

visions of a brown sunburnt face, or a wrinkled parchment one, knotted

fingers, stiff joints, uneven shoulders, rise up to alarm her. Many are

the prophetic croaks that the young girl hears about rheumatism and

age before its time, or misgivings as to the results of digging and

trenching and the bad effect they may have on back and hip muscles. I

know one young woman who was so frightened lest she should develop a

huge hump on her back from stooping, like the old road-mender whom she

met daily, that she always laid down quite flat on her bed, during rest

hours, to counteract any harm that might be likely to come to her.

It is most natural that many should be alarmed and have a strong

disinclination to advise gardening as a healthy profession. I cannot

help thinking that they may alter their views when they realise fully

that it is not hard manual work that is needed of women in this

profession. They are not meant to do spade-work like the ordinary

labouring man; we have plenty of fine, strong hulking men who do

this, but we do need more directing heads to plan out work and guide

others. This is what lady gardeners are to do. It has become evident,

in recent years, that women have determined to shake themselves free

from former occupations and interests. They intend to apply their

energy in new directions. Frequently, it must be admitted by all, they

are successful. Practical experience shows us that women can acquit

themselves with honour and success in games and in the pursuit of

sports, which formerly were reserved only for men. Hunting, shooting,

golf, cricket, swimming, hockey, climbing and walking are acknowledged

to be fields of activity in which women may safely indulge. In Jane

Austen’s day such pursuits were considered not only dangerous to

health, but likely to produce awkwardness of figure and ungainliness

of movement. Physical activity was supposed to unfit young girls for

society. Things are changed since then, and although many of us see

with regret some loss of feminine softness and charm in occasional

specimens of the new woman, we cannot put all the evils to the

profession of gardening. There must always, I suppose, be eccentric

individuals who exaggerate their peculiarities, but these exist in all

professions, and classes.

Much attention is now paid to the physical development of girls and

young women in our schools, and we cannot fail to see the immense

advantage gained by comparison through this over the results of early

Victorian education. We have all, it is to be hoped, learnt that open

air life is no longer a privileged form of existence suited only

to men. We know that it is, when carried out on sensible lines of

moderation, immensely helpful to women. The medical world has lately

been awakened to the importance of improving the physique of our young

people. Both Sir Lauder Brunton and Sir John Cockburn (chairman of

the Swanley Horticultural College for Women) have impressed this fact

openly upon the world. We see daily before us leisured women who from

lack of pleasant, wholesome interests and bodily exercise, without

scope for reasonable aspirations, have become anæmic parodies of the

sex. The insidious malady which dogs the steps of a nation’s progress

towards highly cultured, unlimited leisure and freedom, masquerades

under the old-fashioned term “_ennui_” or the new-fangled names of

nervous exhaustion, break-down, overwork (!), hysteria, decadence.

I believe I am justified in saying that medical men, who can appreciate

the often aimless, humdrum existence of many women of the wealthier

classes and the debility of those in our large towns, find in gardening

a good agent for the removal of such evils. Possibly a year spent in

rising early, out in sun and rain, with simple food, pure interests,

physical exercise, does more for some than many medicine bottles, rest

cures, Swedish movements, and other modern remedies. The same may be

said for those who are mentally troubled--insane, that is, in a legal

sense. The managers of our asylums are appreciating more each year the

benefits to be derived by occupations. In this instance such interests

act not only upon the individual, but also upon the health of a nation.

No one who has given the least attention to the advances made in the

modern treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis can fail to recognise that

open-air treatment has proved to be of immense value to sufferers from

consumption, and that by its means cure, in the real sense of the term,

may be established. It is a matter of national gratification that this

sensible mode of cure should have been initiated in this country, by

Bodington and MacCormac, years before it was adopted elsewhere. It is

an instance of our national slowness to do what is obviously right,

that our Continental neighbours have, till recent years, outstripped

us in the perfection of these methods of cure. Our own pioneers, too,

have been subjected to ridicule and temporary obloquy. We now know that

though outdoor life at high altitudes is especially successful in the

treatment of tuberculosis, high altitude is not a necessity. A cure can

be effected in the lower altitudes of our own country, so long as the

principle is maintained of a constantly “open window.”

Quite recently practical proof has been brought forward by Dr. M. S.

Paterson, of the Brompton Hospital Sanatorium at Frimley, which shows

that even the success of the Continental patterns of sanatoria can be

greatly enhanced by allowing the sufferers to work in the gardens.

By giving them this healthy employment they harden themselves, and

instead of being confirmed idlers, they leave the institution vigorous

in muscle, as well as healed of their lung trouble. The patients,

men and women, are encouraged to execute all the lighter duties of

gardeners, and the more robust of the men are allowed to excavate and

trench ground. All minor ailments, such as nasal catarrh, or “common

cold,” bronchitis, sore throat, headaches and muscular rheumatism,

are remediable by means of a life regulated in accordance with the

principle of the “open window.” It can hardly be doubted, therefore,

that if those exercises which take the form of outdoor games are in

part replaced by the more primitive and infinitely more profitable ones

of gardening and botanical study, the same excellent effects will be

realised.

Those who advocate gardening for women do not seek to deprive them of

intellectual pursuits through a constant devotion to physical effort.

They wish to secure to them the certain assurance of a healthy physical

state by moderate devotion to a refined and pleasant occupation. Direct

experience is fortunately available to carry conviction on this point

to those who consider it with proper calmness and reasonableness.

Healthy women who have essayed the experiment of gardening have no sort

of doubt as to the beneficial results to be derived from it. Again

and again it has been found, not only by devotees themselves, but by

others whose training as medical men and women has enabled them to

detect any undesirable results, that gardening is little short of an

unmixed blessing. One distinguished medical authority who has made the

agricultural education of women a life-long study, says that the young

women who have taken up gardening as a profession are in consequence

“as lithe as panthers and of splendid physique.”

Not only, therefore, does such a life increase muscular development and

consequently help circulatory, respiratory, digestive and other normal

processes, but it helps to make a healthy mind. If a serious bit of

thinking has to be done, a piece of trenching or some purely mechanical

exercise will greatly assist the brain. To quote a passage upon digging

from Mr. Halsham’s admirable book, “Every Man His Own Gardener,” “You

will find that the mind is not merely left free for all the valuable

reflections which may occur to it, but that the attention necessary

for the job takes up and keeps employed and quiet some subordinate

activities of the understanding which in times of repose are often

decidedly troublesome.”

I should like to quote a passage, too, from Ruskin’s “Sesame and

Lilies,” which seems to me very applicable to the case in point. In

showing us the power of woman, he says: “The first of our duties to

her--no thoughtful persons now doubt this--is to secure for her such

physical training and exercise as may confirm her health, and perfect

her beauty, the highest refinement of that beauty being unattainable

without splendour of activity and of delicate strength. To perfect her

beauty, I say, and increase its power, it cannot be too powerful, nor

shed its sacred light too far; only remember that all physical freedom

is vain to produce beauty without a corresponding freedom of heart.”

Then follows the quotation which we all know so well, and which shows

us the “vital feeling of delight” which true love of nature, and all

the lovely things in nature, give us--“Thus, then, you have first to

mould her physical frame, and then, as the strength she gains will

permit you, to fill and temper her mind with all knowledge and thoughts

which tend to confirm its natural instincts of justice, and refine its

natural taste of love.”

I ask what can more readily lead to the fulfilment of this ideal than

a life of quiet, peaceful interests in the company of the pure and

lovable companionship of flowers? What can bring healthier happiness

than watching for those harbingers of the new flower year, the little

green heads of Winter Aconite that come pushing so determinedly through

the brown earth, and are followed later by little golden heads of

flower? What can give greater intellectual and artistic pleasure and

scope for imagination than planning the herbaceous border which is to

be bright with colour all the year? Careful study and much reading are

needed, but happy evenings fly speedily by, as you gaze into the fire

and plan a lovely summer dream garden. Then, too, there is the interest

of arranging work for others, marshalling the men at your command and

apportioning the work to their different characters and temperaments.

It is indeed no monotonous, unintellectual life.

A report has been received from one of our modern university colleges

where lectures are provided upon various subjects. It tells us that

women students are occasionally absent owing to indisposition from

lectures and demonstrations upon history and classics, but that they

attend with regularity those upon gardening. This is a flattering

statement as regards the interest of horticulture.

Several of the reports of foreign schools which I am able to give,

through the kindness of their directors, show that other nations are in

advance of us in two points, at least, connected with this branch of

study.

[Illustration: THE RUINS GARDENS, SLOUGHAM PLACE, SUSSEX.

LAID OUT BY THE HON. MRS. CHARLES SERGISSON.

_Photograph by Pictorial Agency_.]

In Germany, Holland, and Italy, great stress is laid upon the ultimate

use of horticultural courses. They are intended especially to fit young

women to be useful in their own homes, either while living with their

parents, or later when they marry or have homes of their own. This

applies to women with means who are not obliged to earn a living. They

are considered, with a knowledge of fruit culture, flower and vegetable

gardening, jam making and fruit preserving, to become valuable adjuncts

to the household. The word “Hausfrau” nowadays includes these garden

matters, and we in England might profitably follow this example. If a

young woman marries well and has servants who do all these things for

her, she will still never regret having herself mastered difficulties,

and probably she will be better served by being able with experience

to criticise the work of others. Then, too, we notice in the foreign

syllabuses that a doctor’s certificate of health is required before a

young girl thinks of studying gardening.

It is certainly advisable that the family doctor should give advice

before any decision is made as to the vocations of young women. This

should be all the more insisted upon, when the would-be student suffers

from some malady, whether it appears to be but a trifling one or not.

It is a practical certainty that many minor maladies and symptoms are

entirely removed when a suitable life is led. On the other hand, others

apparently equally insignificant are harbingers of grave illness. It

is possible that these remain dormant, or are not accentuated in the

ordinary quiet routine life at home, but assume grave proportions as

the result of the greater physical requirements of work in a garden.

Therefore, parents should ask advice of a doctor before encouraging

their daughters to take up gardening. It probably will be found by

those who are able to adopt it as a profession, that there will be

fewer aimless and useless existences, and that there will be many more

happy, long-lived people.

CHAPTER XI

WOMEN GARDENERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

There is small doubt that the subject of emigration to South Africa

appeals to young Englishwomen, buoyant with youth and hopefulness,

ambitious for adventure. A singular fascination exists about that

virgin soil, clear air, brilliant sunlight. We know that nurses,

teachers, mothers’ helps, servants are needed there. Unhesitatingly we

recommend young women who belong to these professions to go to South

Africa. They must thoroughly weigh beforehand the hardship of leaving

home, and fully realise the obstacles they will have to overcome in a

new country. Having faced these difficulties, they can, however, be

confident of success, for the refining influence of women is fully

appreciated in what are still somewhat uncivilised surroundings.

“Is this so with lady gardeners, are they likely to prove useful in

South Africa?” This is a question often asked, and still somewhat

difficult to answer. Experience of the subject is meagre, and the idea

of sending ladies as gardeners to our colonies is a new one. We have

had brilliant examples of success, and at the present moment a lady

gardener at Bloemfontein is doing good work. Miss Hewetson’s report to

the South African Colonisation Society, on Cape Colony Fruit-farming,

tells us, perhaps, most about the subject, and we feel that her views

can guide us, as her supervision of the work of Kaffirs for a year and

a half gave her personal experience in the matter. We know that there

are vast possibilities of fruitful cultivation if only there existed

more skilled, directing heads. What a change might be made in the

production of the soil, if educated guides superintended the merely

mechanical work of Kaffirs!

It is intelligence and enlightenment that are needed, brains that

are wanted more than hands. We are told that it takes three busy

months to prune fruit trees on a large Cape Colony farm. These fruit

trees make only moderate growth, as in England, but in Natal growth

is tropically luxuriant, and in pruning much wood has to be left for

shade, otherwise the fruit becomes sunbaked. To carry out properly such

operations intelligence is necessary. Then, again, we know that fruit

packing and grading are large undertakings on many farms. We read of a

farm with 30,000 fruit trees and several vineyards, and can readily

understand, not only the number of hands needed to sort and pack fruit,

but the necessity of having clever overseers to speed on such work. Old

inhabitants assure us that large profits could be made in dairying,

poultry-rearing, bee-keeping, or flower-growing by English ladies who

were earnest and adaptable, and possessed of capital as well as brains.

The climate does not allow a white woman to dig or to undertake heavy

work, but her services should be valuable to organise work for the

natives. Until we have more definite examples of success, it is unwise

to urge ladies to go to South Africa as gardeners. The safest course

is, perhaps, to relate the steps that have up to now been taken, and

leave all decision to the good judgment of those who contemplate taking

up a profession which holds out decidedly good prospects to ladies who

can face some degree of adventure. Much depends upon the natural taste

and ambition of a woman. With good health, energy, and intelligence,

people usually succeed in any country.

The most important matter that has so far been undertaken is the

organisation of a colonial branch of training at Swanley College for

lady gardeners. Here, students are put through a course, intended to

fit them, to a certain degree, for posts on fruit farms, dairy farms,

and private gardens in South Africa. This training at home, excellent

as it is, must, however, be supplemented by apprenticeship in the

colony itself. The difficulties of a foreign land cannot be grasped in

England. A college for lady gardeners in South Africa itself is what

is really needed, and no doubt in time it will be started. Meanwhile,

until it is in existence, it is necessary for those who contemplate

going as gardeners to the colonies to learn as much as possible at

home. A two years’ course should be taken in fruit-growing, packing,

jam-making, bee-keeping, etc. These subjects, if thoroughly understood

in our climate, will present fewer difficulties, and will be easier

to deal with in new surroundings. An application to Mrs. Hopkinson,

chairwoman of the South African Colonisation Society’s Agricultural

Committee, and of the colonial branch of the Horticultural College,

Swanley, will secure all necessary information. The South African

Colonisation Society offers advice as to climate conditions. It is also

constantly looking out for possible openings in South Africa, where

experience of soil, climate and cultivation can be acquired.

[Illustration: THE YEWS AT HUTTON JOHN, CUMBERLAND.

WHICH THE SPEAKER AND MRS. LOWTHER HAVE RENTED. THE ARTISTIC

ARRANGEMENT OF THE BORDERS IS MRS. LOWTHER’S SPECIAL CARE.]

However successful one may be in out-of-door pursuits in England, the

knowledge will still be inadequate in the colonies. The chance of

success will lie in undertaking work with a spirit of pure humility.

Only after a thorough course of instruction in the country itself can

the management of a post of any degree of responsibility be attempted.

One considerable source of difficulty is the question of a white woman

as overseer being left unprotected among Kaffirs. In small gardens,

with only one “boy,” this danger is reduced, but in large ones it is

almost a necessity that two ladies should protect each other. The

proportion of men to women is about seven to one, and, therefore, some

may consider that South Africa will not be, as regards lady gardeners,

a woman’s country for another fifty years. That it will be so then,

we who are anxious to see the better cultivation of our great colony,

upon lines indicated for us by Cecil Rhodes, venture to hope. When

Englishwomen have firmly established a good reputation as landscape

gardeners, directing experts and teachers in the mother country, they

will doubtless be welcomed with enthusiasm in our colonies.

To those who are not deterred from making an attempt at gardening in

South Africa by these few difficulties, I venture to give the following

practical hints, which I am allowed to publish by the kindness of the

South African Colonisation Society:--

BOARD AND LODGING

In Cape Colony from £5 to £8 per month

In Natal „ £4 10s. „ £8 „

In Rhodesia „ £9 „ £11 „

In the Transvaal „ £7 „ £10 „

In Orange River Colony „ £6 „ £8 „

Laundry in Cape Colony costs from 8s. to 10s. per month.

In the other colonies it is generally from 2s. to 8s. per doz.

articles, irrespective of size.

OUTFIT

The same clothes are needed in South Africa as in England, except that

furs are not necessary, and a larger supply of washing dresses, etc.,

are needed for the longer summers. Wool of some sort must always be

worn next the skin, even if it is only a cholera belt in the hottest

weather, on account of the sudden falls in the temperature. In the

Transvaal and Orange River Colony the winters are bitterly cold, and

warm underwear is there very necessary.

Warm wraps are essential, as the nights seem bitterly cold by contrast

to the hot, sunny days. Washing fabrics should be chosen of fast

colours; white linen, holland and Tussore silk wear the best. Light

unwashable materials are unwise, as the dust is terrible all over the

country, and there are no good cleaners. Black and dark-coloured

materials are inadvisable, as also most kinds of grey, as they become

stained with red dust. Rough mixture tweeds in greens, browns and reds

are most useful, or any other warm, light, dust-proof material.

Brown shoes and stockings are better than black ones, and a good supply

should be taken, as the wear is harder than at home. Gauze and chiffon

veils are a great comfort in a dust storm, and it is wise to have a

cushion for travelling.

_A thick mackintosh, overshoes, and a warm rug are essential._

It is economical to provide a really serviceable outfit, calculated to

last for some time, as clothes obtained in the colony are both more

expensive and less satisfactory than in England.

FARES

(2nd Class Union-Castle Intermediate Steamers)

To Cape Town £20 15s. to £21 13s.

To Algoa Bay £21 13s. „ £23 9s.

To East London £22 11s. „ £24 7s.

To Durban £24 11s. 6d. „ £26 9s.

N.B.--At least £1 10s. should be allowed for landing expenses, and

about £1 for tips on board ship (the stewardess expects from 5s. to

10s., according to the amount of attention required on the voyage, and

the cabin steward and table steward will expect 5s. each. Subscriptions

to games and other tips are optional). An Emergency Fund of a few

pounds should also be kept in hand. Passengers are met at the various

ports by South African Colonisation Society agents, and they can stay

at the Hostels of the South African Colonisation Society, where board

and lodging are provided for from 3s. 6d. per day.

A girl with a long railway journey before her would do well to provide

herself with food at the port of landing; tea and coffee can always be

obtained _en route_.

Besides the regulation cabin trunk (this must not exceed 14 inches

in height, 2 feet in breadth, or 3 feet in length), it is wise to

have two smaller boxes in preference to one big one, as they are more

convenient for transit in South Africa, and are less likely to get

damaged in loading and unloading on board ship. Second-class passengers

are allowed 25 cubic feet of baggage free on the ship; any excess is

charged 1s. 6d. per cubic foot. On the South African Railways 75 lbs.

only of luggage is allowed free to second-class passengers; all excess

is charged according to scale.

Girls going to towns, who possess bicycles in good condition, are

advised to take them, but they will have to pay duty on them--as much

as 15s. in all probability; also the train freightage is heavy. On the

boat they are shipped as luggage without extra charge if the 25 cubic

feet of baggage be not exceeded.

Introductions to residents in South Africa are given to everyone going

out under the auspices of the S.A.C.S., so that all may find friends on

arriving in the new country.

CHAPTER XII

ITALIAN POT GARDENS: A SUGGESTION

A well-known French horticulturist, director of many parks, once gave

most flattering praise to an English garden. He called it “_un jardin

intime_.” These three words sum up what most of us wish our gardens

to be.

We bring to them, from other countries, plants that recall pleasant

memories. As we watch these growing happily in our herbaceous borders,

thoughts come to us of those who gave them, of happy meetings, and

unforgotten scenes. In England we make real friends of our gardens;

we confide many secrets to their safe keeping. Owing to a temperate

climate, we have long in which to mark the slow development of bud and

blossom. The time of flowering is late, and it remains all the longer

for our enjoyment. When spring flowers are over, there are lovelier

ones to look forward to. We have not to combat the heat and drought

which so speedily bring summer beauty to an end in Italian gardens.

It is, no doubt, on account of climate that abroad the bedding-out

system has been adopted, and thus much of that intimacy with herbaceous

plants, which we have, is there unknown. Our English gardens are tended

carefully and steadily all the year round; a feeling of rest and peace

pervades them.

In Italy a garden is neglected during the winter, whilst the Signoria

are away. Beds and paths are left unweeded, all vegetation appears to

be dead, and the gardener occupies himself only with vines, vegetables

and plants growing in pots, which later will be the chief means

of dressing-up the grounds. Most Tuscan villas in winter have the

appearance of a Palace of Sleep. We wonder how it will be possible,

when the Fairy Prince arrives, to transform disorder into a well-kept,

beautiful place. We realise as we see so wonderful a change occur, how

valuable a touch of this surprise would be to our old-fashioned English

homes. It would improve not only the appearance of our gardens, but

enhance the architectural beauty of our houses.

This sudden transformation is brought about upon the first really warm

spring day, as if by the stroke of a fairy’s wand. Then the doors of

the orangery are flung open, and ornamental pots of all sizes and

shapes are brought out by means of rollers and stood in striking

positions in the pleasure grounds. During the last few years we have

been shown in England, through the good taste and skill of Mrs. Watts

and others, what can be done in the way of terra-cotta work for the

adornment of gardens. There is nothing new to us in the lovely boxes,

sundials, fountains, vases and pots that we see designed, but we have

not all, perhaps, succeeded in mastering the art of the Italian in

placing these objects, with striking effect, in masses.

With a view to studying this we wandered round many gardens in Tuscany.

We were shown lovely loggias overhung with climbing roses; masses

of tall graceful arums and many coloured carnations in pots, stood

beneath them in cool shade. Flowering bushes outside were carpeted with

sweet-smelling violets, walls and arbours were hidden under lavender

wistaria, white and pink camellias lit up the borders of shrubberies.

Nothing, of all this luxuriant vegetation, was arranged quite in

accordance with our English taste. We were dissatisfied, until one day

we chanced upon a garden which seemed to combine successful herbaceous

arrangement with ornamental pot decoration.

A narrow country lane, hedged in on either side by cypresses, led to

the front of the villa. The terrace, with old-fashioned stone seats

built into the corners of the wall, invited the passer-by to rest

beneath the shade of an overhanging sycamore and look down upon a

lovely stretch of country below. Near by, dense box hedges sheltered

some plantations of fruit trees, all pink and white with blossom, while

beneath grew delicious scented narcissus. The shadows played upon the

grey and green of the olive gardens, and deep blue in the distance

were the hills round Fiesole. Florence itself was hidden, but close to

us the stately Certosa crowned her dome-shaped hill. To the left, an

opening in the hills showed us the misty plain of Prato, looking like a

still lake in dreamland dotted with small white ships. The villa door

stood temptingly open, and ascending a flight of stone steps we entered

the small, cool, paved court.

It was different from most courtyards. In the place of orange trees in

pots there were flower beds amidst the paving. Each was round in shape

and contained a graceful lilac bush carpeted with mauve violas. In

the centre of the court was a well with ornamental ironwork railings,

against which stood handsome Amaryllis lilies in pots. The walls of

the house had roses climbing up them; so robust were they that their

stems had twined around the iron window gratings, making, with their

thorns, a double security against attack. The whole effect was cool and

quiet--a good preparation for the blaze of colour which met us, as we

passed under the dark archway into the garden itself.

What struck us most, when first we saw it, was the height above the

ground to which colour had been raised, by planting shrubs in large

ornamental terra-cotta pots. It will be seen upon the plan, that these

not only stand upon the paths and walls, but are arranged at intervals,

in the very midst of the herbaceous borders. Large grey stones, about

a foot above the level of the flower bed, are placed for the pots to

stand upon. A groove, in the form of a cross, is cut in the stone, to

allow the drainage from the pot to run off easily. These stones and the

lower portion of the pots are partially hidden by groups of irises,

pæonies, aquilegias and roses, growing in the border. Just a touch of

the terra-cotta flowerpot with its handsome ornamentation of wreaths,

is seen above the blue and white of the irises or the many-coloured

ranunculuses, and then, above, high up, we get the foliage and

colour of the shrub which is planted in the pot. It is certainly a

most effective way of giving height and variety to a flat, rather

uninteresting piece of ground.

[Illustration: AN ITALIAN POT GARDEN

IN ORDER TO SHEW THE LAY OVT OF THE GARDEN MORE DISTINTCLY THE

POTS ONLY ARE SHEWN.

ON THE PLAN THE POTS ARE INDICATED THVS

DRAWN FROM PLANS MADE BY MISS MARY CAMPION.]

Most of the pots had lemons or oranges growing in them. In our country

it is possible to have these only in the more sheltered parts, but

laurustinus, box trees, bays, lilacs, hydrangeas or roses could be used

instead. Even should the pots occasionally have to stand empty, they

are so exceedingly handsome and decorative in themselves, that they

only improve the general appearance of the garden. They are made in

different shapes and sizes. Some are very elaborately ornamented, but

the kind of which a sketch is given are the simplest and most dignified.

No one who has seen an Italian garden, so arranged, can dispute the

beauty of it. It may be suggested that in England it would be difficult

to protect the terra-cotta from cracking in frosty weather. Experience

in southern counties has been favourable, and should it not be so in

colder places, they can be put under cover for the winter months.

The plan which is given is from drawings made by the kindness of Miss

M. G. Campion. Although it is rather elaborate, it could easily be

modified for a small garden. It represents about an acre of land,

which is cleverly arranged to allow of the combined cultivation of

fruit trees, flowers and vegetables. It is closed in upon every side.

The house shelters it from the east wind, the long orangery casts a

shadow upon the south side and makes it possible to have a lovely bed

of lilies of the valley near by. On the north, besides the trees, is

a high wall. The west is the most exposed, as it has a hornbeam hedge

through which small openings are cut, to show the hills with vineyards

outside the grounds. Against the hedges stand large, empty oil jars,

in terra-cotta, their graceful shapes showing well against the dark

green. Round the central fountain is a 3-ft. wall, wide enough to have

pink Bourbon roses, in pots, standing upon it. Each of the four smaller

fountains forms the centre of a little plot of ground. These plots are

divided into four beds. Each bed is large enough to have several pink

and white blossomed fruit trees and some gooseberry bushes. Amongst

them are planted spring-flowering bulbs such as narcissus, tulips,

etc., for cutting. Other beds have smaller fruit trees, or currant

bushes and roses alternate. The dark red-green foliage of the rose

bushes contrasts with the fresh green of other plants. A few plots are

reserved for vegetables, but, as a rule, these are close to a border

of flowers; therefore, the garden, although small, is ornamental as

well as useful. From below the windows of the house comes a delicious

scent of freesias, and as we look more closely, we see orange-red

tulips planted amongst them, the deeper notes of orange in the freesias

corresponding with the colour of the tulips.

The plan, if carefully studied, will give a good idea, therefore, of

a successful combination of permanent herbaceous borders, improved,

dressed up, and heightened by the addition of ornamental terra-cotta

pot decoration.

[Illustration: ITALIAN ORANGE POTS AND OIL JARS.

DRAWN FROM SKETCHES BY MISS MARY CAMPION. TO BE OBTAINED FROM THE

SCHOOL OF LADY GARDENERS, GLYNDE, SUSSEX.]

CHAPTER XIII

FOR THOSE WHO HESITATE TO EMPLOY LADY GARDENERS

Many ladies who own large gardens take personal interest in the

arrangement of the grounds. Not only do they wish to have beautiful,

sweet smelling flowers in glasses and bowls to adorn their rooms; they

also aspire to have plants grouped harmoniously in herbaceous borders

and in formal beds. There has arisen a kind of competition to have

as good a garden, if not a better one, than our neighbour. In the

case of some specially gifted and energetic ladies, lovely gardens

have been created, through their directions being carefully followed

by the head gardener. Some illustrations of such are given in this

volume. Possessed of complete knowledge about the flowers best suited

to the soil and position, having carefully studied the height, time

of flowering, and prettiest combinations of colour for beds, they are

competent to direct themselves. It sometimes occurs, however, that

the lady of the house is willing to devote a small amount of time to

planning garden effects, but family and social duties call her away.

She can only give general directions to the clever gardener, and leave

him to carry them out. Although many men are skilled in growing fine

specimen plants, few are sufficiently well educated, or possessed of

the natural taste requisite to execute their employer’s wishes.

I hope no one will suppose that, because this book is intended to be

a guide to lady gardeners, I am narrow-minded enough to think in a

depreciative way of men gardeners. Some of them are personal friends

whom I respect, esteem, and who, I am aware, have done infinitely

better work than any lady has so far achieved. Many are not only

gardeners, they are artists as well. I have the highest opinion of

them and their profession. I do feel strongly, however, that there is

a large field open to young gentlewomen anxious to take up this work.

There are many gardens, too, where a change has necessarily to be made,

and the owners will benefit by substituting a lady in the place of a

man, as head gardener.

I should like to draw the attention of employers to two important

points connected with this subject:

1. A lady must be selected; not a “would-be” one. Only if she is this

at heart, will she have authority over men working for her.

2. She should have the same salary as a man. A lady gardener must not

be considered an economy. Many people without consciences think they

can exact the same amount of manual work from a young woman that they

would expect from a man. They also imagine, because she is a woman,

they can pay her lower wages. Pay her well, and treat her well. Her

honesty and intelligence will save expense in the end, but do not

economise upon her salary. The advantages to be gained by the employer,

should he appoint a lady as head gardener, are these:

(1) _Scientific knowledge and true artistic taste._

Owing to a college training, and first-rate general education, she

should have better scientific knowledge than the ordinary labouring

man who has worked his way up from village schooldays, through the

different grades of a gardener’s life, to be head over others of his

own class. She will possess a good grounding in botany and the science

of soils. In short, she can reason scientifically. Instead of saying,

“Oh, so-and-so won’t ever grow here, the soil does not suit it,” she

will be able to ascertain what quality is lacking in the ground, and by

adding an ingredient secure proper growth. Thus, an end will be made

to the often erroneous ideas of a foreman, who, because he does not

know the requirements of a plant, gives up the idea of growing it, or

continues absolutely satisfied with the weedy specimen under his care.

A lady gardener, too, owing to her early surroundings, the study of

pictures, gardens, and beautiful objects, should possess greater

capacity for appreciating fully the requirements of the lady of the

house. Plans for the arrangements of flower beds, shrubbery, borders,

surprises of all sorts, are more speedily, more satisfactorily decided

upon when two people meet upon the ground of similarity of education.

(2) _Taste in colour._

This is more developed with the majority of women than with men. We

have so many opportunities, at the fortnightly exhibitions of the Royal

Horticultural Society, of seeing the latest productions of beautiful

flowers. Then, too, there are books, such as Robinson’s “English Flower

Garden,” Kelway’s Manual, Wright’s “Beautiful Gardens,” to guide us.

They show us plans for grouping colours harmoniously in herbaceous

borders. Nowadays we all know what we want to achieve, but we often

fail to find the right one to fulfil our imaginings. It hurts the eye

to see scarlet geraniums growing near mauve asters, or the delicate

pink of the Dorothy Perkins rose killed by being placed near a glaring

red brick wall. The lady gardener should, by her natural taste and

good judgment, avoid such mistakes of arrangement both in the ordering

of plants for flower borders, and in the decoration of flowers in

rooms. A dinner-table should be an easy matter for her to plan.

Lightness of touch will enable her to succeed in mixing graceful, soft

foliage with suitable flowers. She will accomplish this in less time

than the average man gardener.

Week-end parties are a favoured form of entertaining, and often the

lady of the house is busy in London during the week, only arriving at

her country house just before her guests. It will give her a pleasant

sensation of ease if she has someone at home to whom she can absolutely

entrust the decoration of her rooms and dinner-table. Then, too,

another important matter is the selection, gathering, and packing up

of suitable flowers to send away. My experience has always been that

men gardeners do not study this sufficiently. They gather beautiful

carnations, pentstemon, irises, or whatever their speciality may be,

but forget that suitable green or coloured foliage must be mixed with

them to show off the blossom. Knowing the very great difficulties of

arranging flowers in glasses, a lady will be more careful about this

than a man.

(3) _Honesty and trustworthiness._

The lady gardener is a gentlewoman, and, therefore, we presume

she possesses these qualities. I do not mean to cast the faintest

aspersion upon the honesty of men gardeners! There have been instances

of dishonesty and drunkenness amongst them, and as a class they are

certainly open to greater temptations than a lady. Many owners of

moderately large places, where perhaps no agent or bailiff is kept,

are forced to be absent for some months each year; others fill high

positions in diplomacy, and are obliged to spend some years away from

home. To such, it will be a satisfaction to feel that they leave a

capable lady at the head of affairs. Someone is at home who can be

trusted, and will report to them if things are not going on as they

would wish.

I am often questioned as to whether a lady can possibly exert authority

and influence over a working man. I am certain, if she is the right

kind of woman, she can. Let her, without hesitation, dismiss the first

drunken under-gardener she meets with, and the others will respect her,

and not try to take advantage of her because she is a woman.

(4) _As companions._

The above remarks apply chiefly to a large flower and vegetable garden.

I think women are equally suited to small posts. We often hear of a

maiden lady living in the country who needs company. She would be

pleased if a nice, cheerful, bright girl lived with her to share her

pleasure in the garden. The strength and vigour of the young girl would

compass things which the elderly lady could not attempt unassisted.

Thus companionship would be added to the joy of gardening.

[Illustration: THE RUINS, RATTON PARK, SUSSEX.

WHICH THE HON. MRS. FREEMAN-THOMAS HAS ENLIVENED WITH CHARMING

BOX-EDGED BEDS OF BRIGHT FLOWERS.

_Photograph by Pictorial Agency._]

Then, also, we know of many a young married woman with a large family

of children, whose limited means necessitate a country life. The

children are sent to school, and return home only in holiday time,

or they have daily teachers who leave them after lessons. Surely an

arrangement might be made by which some of their free time could be

turned to profitable, and yet pleasant account, by their working a

little in the garden under the direction of the lady gardener. Children

love planting and digging. If encouraged, they will take the greatest

interest in beautifying a garden. Some lessons in nature study, too,

could be given occasionally to increase their love for a country life.

This comparatively new idea of having someone to talk over garden

arrangements with, in a friendly and more or less companionable way,

usually smiles upon the woman of the house. She, at last, sees within

her reach the possibility of achieving artistic effects which she has

long thought of in her day dreams, but has failed to get carried out.

Against the dark green yew hedge, how lovely will be the group of tall,

stately pink hollyhocks, with pale rose-coloured annual larkspurs,

Japanese anemones, and silver-foliaged plants intermingled with them!

What lovely combinations of plants bearing similar coloured foliage she

can arrange to plant together! There will be irises, German and Spanish

ones, then the white drooping bells of hyacinth candicans, followed by

scarlet tritomas and montbretias, bringing their brightness to cheer

dull autumn days. How satisfactorily she now will be able to maintain a

constant succession of colour in herbaceous borders throughout the year!

In short, the advent of a lady gardener is pleasing to her. Her husband

will probably not approve the innovation. “If I see the poor thing

out working in a heavy downpour of rain, I shall feel a brute not to

go and help her,” he will say as he smokes his pipe reflectively, and

meditates over the follies of womenkind. But, I ask, what man head

gardener need work in rain? If he does, he will probably do more harm

than good, by making a mess of the ground. Need he, wet or fine, do

much manual labour? No! his duties lie chiefly in directing the men

under his charge; in executing the lighter, but more intricate work

of pruning, thinning out grapes, and secretarial duties. Above all,

he must plan the succession of crops. All these matters can be done

equally well, if not more speedily, by an educated woman.

As this book aims at introducing lady gardeners to employers, I should

like to ask for these gentlewomen the good treatment, absolute trust,

gentle handling, which their position entitles them to receive. Without

the entire confidence of their masters, no ladies would wish to take

up a post, but with their support, and the power to dismiss those

under their authority who they find are dishonest or undeserving, lady

gardeners should be absolutely successful. No longer need there be that

frequent termination to all pleasure in a large garden, when the head

gardener grows only what he likes, and not what his master requires.

How often, when shown round a large place, one is struck by the remark,

“Oh, Dibber never lets us have violets or carnations, all his interest

is centred in vegetable growing”; or “Truman gives all his time to

preparing plants for exhibition; he is certainly very successful in

winning prizes, but we come off badly, as all the best things are sent

to exhibitions!” Instead, therefore, of having someone to contend with,

or a man whose obstinacy has to be circumvented before a bunch of sweet

peas can be brought into the house, you will have a friend who will

endeavour to give you all she can successfully grow, and whose taste

and judgment can be relied upon.

Every year the number of women students at horticultural colleges

increases. The profession appeals to many, and there are now a large

number who, having completed their education, are seeking posts. Up

to the present time, the supply is in excess of the demand. This

is, I believe, the case with all professions until they have become

firmly established. Employers still hesitate to try a lady gardener.

Then, too, the ladies who up to now have desired to have women head

gardeners, have usually possessed large gardens, needing many hands

to work them. It is natural that the young woman who but lately was a

student, superintended and guided in all her undertakings by a teacher,

hesitates about managing a large garden. There are many such who still

hold back in diffidence, hoping to obtain a small post first.

I sincerely trust, when this is fully realised by those interested in

the success of women horticulturalists, that many owners of medium

sized or small gardens will come forward and offer posts to women. A

garden of one or two acres, with a small greenhouse, and only one or

two labourers for rough work, will be best suited to a newly fledged

lady gardener. She should be able to manage this, and two or three

years spent in it will be a good preparation for a post entailing

larger responsibilities. I do not think that anyone who is generous

spirited enough to offer such posts to ladies will repent the act.

Part II

CHAPTER XIV

COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS FOR LADY GARDENERS IN GREAT BRITAIN

The following syllabuses of British colleges and schools are submitted

for the use of ladies interested in gardening. It is hoped that they

may assist all those who, in England or abroad, have the management

of such training centres. By means of them it will be easy to compare

notes as to the various methods of imparting practical information; the

form in which foreign syllabuses are staged may inspire fresh ideas. I

should like to add that I do not, of course, consider what I am able to

give of these particulars as in any way comprehensive; but it has been

my endeavour to insert only details of colleges and schools that have

been in existence some time. I have received the syllabuses and many

interesting notes through the kindness of those who have at heart the

wish that ladies should succeed in the profession of horticulture.

THE THATCHAM FRUIT AND FLOWER FARM SCHOOL

OF GARDENING, HENWICK, NEAR NEWBURY

_Principals_: LILY HUGHES JONES, F.R.H.S.; MARY

PEERS, F.R.H.S.

(_1st Class Certificates and Bee Experts_)

The farm is situated on high ground in the Kennet Valley, facing south,

one and three-quarter miles from Newbury, two miles from Thatcham

Station, about twelve miles from Reading, and one-quarter mile from the

Bath Road.

The residence is a roomy old farm-house, facing south. Its position is

thoroughly healthy, 400 feet above sea level.

An old-fashioned garden lies to one side of the house, and four

acres of land on the other side, on which the main crops are grown,

consisting of hardy fruits, perennials, and other crops.

The farm is conducted as a market garden for business purposes.

Students will thus see practical work--the object being to provide

outdoor work of the healthiest kind, and at the same time to give a

thoroughly practical knowledge of country life--knowledge that may be

used as a means of livelihood or in superintending a garden, and will,

in any case, be of unfailing interest and use in after life. It is not

intended to take a large number of students, so that each student will

have individual attention, and her capacity be carefully studied.

The greatest care is taken with regard to the food of the students, and

their health carefully guarded.

PRACTICAL WORK

_Horticulture._--Instruction in all branches of outdoor gardening;

specialities being made of herbaceous plants, violets, and fruit.

_Bee-Keeping._--Instruction in the management of bees, including

lectures and coaching for the B. B. K. A. Experts’ Examinations.

Practical work and manipulation is carried on in the farm apiary.

_Carpentering._--Students are instructed in the workshop in the

making of various gardening and bee-keeping appliances.

_Jam Factory._--Jam making is taught in the small factory which

was instituted for the production of homemade preserves.

A French garden has now been added, and a competent Frenchman teaches

this branch only. It is worked upon the lines of the famous “Maraîche”

system, and differs in every detail from an English garden. All

vegetables and fruits are brought on out of season. At present we have

400 frames, all made, glazed, painted, by the students, and 1,000

_cloches_.

Two other French gardens have been started in England, and have proved

successful.

[Illustration: THE COTTAGE, SCHOOL OF LADY GARDENERS, GLYNDE,

SUSSEX.

_Photograph by Pictorial Agency._]

THEORETICAL WORK

_Horticulture._--Complete courses of instruction are given in the

various branches of horticulture, including Entomology, Soils and

Manures.

[2]_Botany_, for R. H. S. Examinations. Lectures on the elements of

morphology and physiology of flowering plants, with practical work, can

be attended.

[2] These lectures are optional.

Students also get a thorough insight into packing, purchasing, and

marketing produce.

_Floral Work._--Demonstrations are given in bouquet-making and

floral arrangements.

_Session._--The year is divided into three terms of about thirteen

weeks each.

_Fees._--For the full course, including everything with the

exception of botany lectures, £55 per annum. Botany, 30s. per term, in

addition.

_Extras._--A small fee of 5s. per annum is charged for the use of

all tools in various departments. All fees payable in advance at the

beginning of each term. A term’s notice of removal of any student must

be given, in writing, to the principal, otherwise a term’s fees will be

charged. Application for forms of entrance and further details to be

addressed to the principals. It is advisable to train for a period not

shorter than two years, as experience necessary for success in an after

career cannot be gained in less time. Short courses of instruction are

arranged when desired.

INSTRUCTION IN PRACTICAL GARDENING FOR LADIES,

GLYNDE, NEAR LEWES, SUSSEX

_Principal_: THE HON. FRANCES WOLSELEY

_Patrons_: THE LADY ARDILAUN, MISS G. JEKYLL, MISS WHITE, E.

O. GREENING, ESQ., W. ROBINSON, ESQ., MRS. CHARLES EARLE, MISS

WILLMOTT

The school was founded in 1901–2, and is supervised by the Hon.

Frances Wolseley. The number of students is limited, and great care

is taken as to their selection. A personal interview and the highest

references are required before admission. The following arrangements

for the course of work are a development upon specialised lines of the

scheme which has up to now existed. The chief objects of the course

are:--

To give a thorough foundation in the management of all the more hardy

garden plants.

To improve taste in the laying out and arrangement of gardens. To teach

the daily routine work of a private garden, so essential to those who,

later, wish to become private head gardeners.

To give students responsibility and thus enable them more easily to be

competent to undertake posts when their course of training is completed.

A competent, practical superintendent gives instruction in flower,

fruit and vegetable growing. In addition to this well-known advisory

experts visit the school from time to time and give lectures upon the

theory and special branches of horticulture. H. Edmonds, Esq., B.Sc.,

of the Municipal School at Brighton, lectures upon Botany and the

Chemistry of the Soil.

Mr. Back gives demonstrations upon fruit culture. Mr. Paris lectures

upon Bee-keeping. Mr. Edmund D. Foster, Head of the Engineering

Department of the Brighton Technical College, has undertaken to lecture

upon Land Surveying.

A special feature of the garden is the arrangement of Italian Oil Jars

and Lemon Pots.

[Illustration: GATHERING ROSES FOR POT POURRI, SCHOOL OF LADY

GARDENERS GLYNDE, SUSSEX

_Photograph by Pictorial Agency._]

Students are encouraged to take personal interest in all alterations

and improvements made in the gardens.

Attention is given to the every-day work of a garden, comprising:--The

care of grass, paths and beds; mowing, sweeping and general tidiness;

digging, trenching and other ground operations, raising plants from

seeds and cuttings, their subsequent treatment; culture of herbaceous

alpine plants and roses; forcing violets, Dutch bulbs, richardias,

etc.; watering, ventilation and other points of glass-house management.

Gathering and packing flowers and general varieties of vegetables for

market is carried out. Fruit is grown, including bush, standards,

espaliers and strawberries.

Arrangements are made by which students can visit local gardens.

They are required to keep notes of these visits and to answer in

writing questions upon them. The advantages thus gained to students,

in comparing their own work with that of those having life-long

experience, will be a special feature of the school.

Students are encouraged to stay two years if it is found that their

special needs can be provided for. In any case they should not stay

less than one year. Advice is given as to their future.

A half-holiday is given once a week when the necessary work allows.

This implies that quiet times alternate with busy ones, and it is

necessary that a high standard in the appearance of a garden should be

maintained.

Fees for practical instruction, £10 per annum, payable after a week’s

mutual trial. Should the student, owing to any serious breach of

discipline, be asked to leave at Miss Wolseley’s wish, this sum is

refunded.

The lectures of experts are £2 per annum extra.

Preparation for Royal Horticultural Society’s Examination, £1 extra,

but only two-year students go in for this.

Lodgings, conveniently near the gardens, where several students board

together, can be secured at 17s. per week, for board and lodging. Each

student defrays these expenses.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, READING

_Principal_: W. M. CHILDS, M.A., Keble College, Oxford (Professor of

Modern History).

_Director of the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture_: Professor

JOHN PERCIVAL, M.A., St. John’s College, Cambridge.

_Assistant Directors_: EDWARD BROWN, F.L.S. (Agriculture); CHARLES

FOSTER, F.R.H.S. (Horticulture).

_Registrar_: FRANCIS H. WRIGHT.

The day classes of the college are open to men and women students over

the age of sixteen. Students who do not live at their own homes are

required to reside in the college hostels or in lodgings licensed by

the college. Women students in residence for not less than one session

(three terms) are required to reside in the college hostels, unless

they have received the principal’s permission to reside elsewhere.

COURSES IN HORTICULTURE

The Department of Agriculture and Horticulture was founded in 1893. Its

work is carried on under the inspection of the Board of Agriculture.

Courses in Horticulture consist of lectures and laboratory work in the

college and of practical work in the college garden and fruit station.

The college garden, four acres in extent, adjoins the main college

buildings in London Road, Reading. It consists of vegetable and flower

gardens and orchard, and is provided with horticultural buildings. The

houses, greenhouses, vineries (early and late), peach house, etc., are

used for plant and fern growing, general florist work, market work, and

the culture of grapes, pot fruit trees, etc. Students spend upwards of

twenty hours per week in the garden, and, in addition, pay frequent

visits to neighbouring private gardens, as well as to Messrs. Sutton

and Sons’ Trial Grounds, the exhibitions of the Royal Horticultural

Society, and the Royal Gardens, Kew.

Besides instruction and practice in the routine operations of the

garden, students are placed in charge of sections of both indoor and

outdoor work. In their second year they may specialise in market and

florists’ work, or in fruit growing, in preparation for work at home

or in the Colonies. In all cases they pay special attention to the

business side of horticulture and assist in the work of marketing and

book-keeping.

During their two sessions’ course, students may take advantage of the

workshop, and of the instruction in carpentry, etc., provided, to learn

how to make up boxes, staging, and how to repair, glaze, and paint.

In addition to preparing for the college diploma or certificate,

students may also prepare for the examinations of the Royal

Horticultural Society or of the Board of Education, South Kensington.

During the session 1905–6, eleven acres of the college farm at

Shinfield, two and a half miles from Reading, were planted as a fruit

station. On this station students will be able to study modern methods

of fruit and vegetable cultivation on a commercial scale.

Courses of instruction have been arranged as follows:--

_The diploma in horticulture_ is awarded at the end of a two

years’ course in the science and practice of horticulture. The course

is designed for students who intend to take up horticulture as a

career. It provides training in the sciences on which the practice of

horticulture is based, in market and florist work, and in fruit-growing.

Each session of the course extends over forty weeks, including the

thirty weeks of the ordinary college session, together with ten weeks

of practical work only, arranged to suit the convenience of individual

students.

_The diploma with distinction_ in special subjects is awarded

to students who, having gained the diploma, spend a third year at

the college pursuing special studies, and who pass the examination

prescribed. The course is adapted to the requirements of those who

may become teachers of horticulture or specialists in some particular

branch of horticulture.

_Note._--The above diplomas are granted by the Oxford and Reading

Joint Committee, on which are represented the college, the University

of Oxford, the Royal Agricultural Society, and the Royal Horticultural

Society.

_The certificate in horticulture_ (granted by the college) is

awarded to students who have followed a one-year course at the college

(forty weeks) and have satisfied the examiners in the subjects of the

first year examination for the diploma.

The subjects of examination for the diploma and certificate are as

follows:--

_Diploma (First Year) and Certificate_

1. Theory and practice of horticulture (including composition of

soils, cultivation, the use of tools and manures; the vegetable

garden, flower garden, rose garden, rock garden; orchard, lawn,

shrubbery; aquatic and bog plants).

2. Botany (theoretical and practical).

3. General chemistry and physics (theoretical and practical).

4. Book-keeping.

_Diploma (Second Year)_

1. Theory and practice of horticulture (including more advanced

study of soils and manures, cultivation under glass, forcing,

methods of dealing with fungoid diseases and insect pests,

improvement of plants by budding, hybridisation, etc., packing

and marketing, florists’ work, storage of fruit).

2. Botany (theoretical and practical).

3. Entomology (theoretical and practical).

The fees for the above full courses are as follows:--

For students who have resided for not less than a year in the County

Borough of Reading or the administrative Counties of Berkshire,

Oxfordshire, or Buckinghamshire, £18 the session of forty weeks; for

other students, £24 the session.

Students may, however, enter for shorter periods than one year, and

may take courses of practical work, together with such lectures as may

suit their requirements. The fees are:--For five weeks, £7 7s., for ten

weeks, £10 10s. In addition to the above fees, all students pay the

registration fee of one shilling per session, and there are entrance

fees for examinations. The cost of board and lodging at the college

hostels is 21s. per week (for a cubicle), or 25s. to 30s. (for a study

bedroom).

Diplomas are not awarded to candidates under the age of twenty-one.

_Scholarships_ tenable at the college are awarded from time to

time by the County Councils of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire,

Dorset, Hampshire, Somersetshire, and Gloucestershire. Application

should be made to the Education Secretaries of these counties.

_Courses in Agriculture, Dairying, and Poultry-keeping_ are held

at the college. Practical instruction is given at the College Farm,

Shinfield, the British Dairy Institute, Reading, and the College

Poultry Farm, Theale.

LIST OF WOMEN STUDENTS WHO HAVE PASSED THE EXAMINATIONS

FOR THE DIPLOMA IN HORTICULTURE

1904.--Ellen C. Wallace. 1906.--Caroline Pellew, Lilian S. Tuckett,

Brenda M. Young. 1907.--Dorothy M. Cayley, Dorothy A. E. Dyson,

Adelaide M. Taylor, Henrietta C. Tuke.

[Illustration: “POTTING”: STUDENTS AT WORK, READING UNIVERSITY.]

THE HORTICULTURAL COLLEGE, SWANLEY

_Principal_: MISS F. R. WILKINSON

_Vice-Principal and Secretary_: MISS M. KEKEWICH

_Lady Superintendent_: MRS. WATSON, South Bank, Swanley

LECTURERS

_Bee-keeping_, W. HERROD, F. E. S. _Book-keeping_, H. W. KERSEY

(Lecturer on Book-keeping, Wye College). _Botany, Vegetable

Pathology_, R. J. TABOR, F. L. S. _Dairy_, MISS DAWSON, N. D. D.

(Certificate Midland Dairy Institute). [3]_Entomology_, F. V.

THEOBALD, M. A., F. L. S. (Lecturer on Entomology, Wye College).

_Gardening_, MISS VILLIERS-STUART. [3]_Greenhouse Construction_,

F. A. FAWKES. _Horticultural Science and Rural Economy_, F. J.

BAKER, A.R.C.Sc. LOND. _Manual Training_, W. HERROD. _Poultry_,

MISS DAWSON.

[3] Courses in these subjects are given once in two years.

_Head Gardener_: MR. J. LAWSON

There is also a staff of under-gardeners and labourers.

The college is situated seventeen and a half miles from London, and one

and a half miles from Swanley Junction Station on the South Eastern and

Chatham Railway.

Women were admitted in 1892, the college being the first place to open

its doors to women students who wished to obtain a thorough training in

horticulture.

It stands in forty-three acres of freehold land, allotted to flower,

kitchen, market gardens, fruit plantations, playing fields, also

conservatories and glass-houses for market work.

Lecture rooms and laboratories form part of the college, while

adjoining are a workshop, farm buildings, apiary, dairy, poultry runs,

etc.

It aims at giving a thorough training to fit women to become market

growers, gardeners in private places, teachers of nature-study and

colonists, or to enable them to manage their own property.

COURSES OF INSTRUCTION

The full horticultural course lasts two years, and consists of

practical work out of doors and under glass, with lectures on

scientific principles. Diplomas or certificates are awarded to students

who have qualified.

COLONIAL BRANCH

Courses are specially arranged for intending colonists, which, in

addition to gardening, include a simple training in cooking, housework,

laundry, needlework, and hygiene.

NATURE-STUDY COURSE

A course for training Garden and Nature-Study mistresses in botany,

zoology, geology, meteorology, and simple gardening, extends over one

year.

A holiday course for school teachers is held in August, and affords

special opportunities for field work, gardening, dairying, etc.

SHORT COURSES

In the spring and summer terms, courses are arranged, lasting six

weeks. These include the following subjects:--gardening, dairying,

poultry-keeping, bee-keeping, and fruit preserving.

ADMISSION AND FEES

The fees, which, include all expenses except medical attendance, fire

in bedroom, laundress, books, and small charge for loan of microscope

and tools, and the extras stated below, are, for a cubicle, from £80

a year of three terms, study-bedroom from £96 a year of three terms,

out-students from £40 a year of three terms, colonial students from £16

5s. per term.

At the examination held in April, 1907, by the Royal Horticultural

Society, sixteen students from the college competed, and secured places

among 142 competitors:--

First class, 8; second class, 6; third class, 2.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The County Councils of Kent, London, Norfolk, and Staffordshire offer

scholarships at the college to residents in their own counties. As the

regulations are not identical, intending competitors should apply to

the secretaries of the respective Education Committees for particulars.

_Kent._--F. W. CROOK, Esq., Kent Education Office, Caxton House,

Westminster, S.W.

_London._--The Executive Officer, Education Office, Victoria

Embankment.

_Staffordshire._--GRAHAM BALFOUR, Esq., County Council Offices,

Stafford.

_Norfolk._--The SECRETARY, County Council Education Offices,

Norwich.

Since 1892, 410 students have attended the college courses.

Through the kindness of Miss F. R. Wilkinson, I am able to quote the

following interesting statistics:--

AFTER-CAREERS OF STUDENTS

Landscape gardeners, 3; market gardeners, 25; head gardeners, 26; under

gardeners, 13; working in home garden, 49; “jobbing” gardeners, 9;

teaching, 23; working at science, 5; poultry-keeping, 2; manageress

milk depôt, 1; principals in gardening schools, 2; apiarist, 1; at

Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, 2.

AVERAGE SALARIES

Landscape gardeners, two guineas a week to two guineas a day; head

gardeners, highest, £100 a year with rooms, light and vegetables;

lowest, £20 a year resident; under gardeners, highest, £80

non-resident; lowest, 18s. a week, cottage and coals; schools, highest,

£65 resident; lowest, £30 resident; institution, highest, £75 resident;

lowest, £20 resident; jobbing, 4s. to 7s. a day; companion gardener,

highest, £100 resident; lowest, £30 resident.

NATURE STUDY

The following syllabus may be of interest, although the course has

already taken place (July, 1907). It will show what an important place

Nature Study takes in the education of women.

A course for helping those who are desirous of extending their

knowledge of Nature Study will be held at the Horticultural College,

Swanley.

Most of the instruction will be given (weather permitting) out of

doors, rambles in the country under the guidance of experienced

teachers being the chief feature.

Miss Hibbert-Ware (Science Mistress, Queen Margaret’s School,

Scarborough) and Mr. Tabor (Resident Science Lecturer) will lead

combined excursions for studying birds, pond life, insects, wild

flowers, trees, grasses, etc., in their different environments.

The college gardens, greenhouses, orchards, farm, and fruit-preserving

appliances will be in working order, and students will be able to

obtain an insight into the work carried on in each department. Miss M.

Agar will give demonstrations and instructions in simple gardening,

and on the care of school gardens. Demonstrations in dairying and

poultry-keeping will be given by Miss M. Dawson (N.D.D. and Certificate

Midland Dairy Institute), who will explain the chief points of farm

operations during the year.

As far as possible the open-air studies will take place within easy

distance of the college, but excursions will be arranged to districts

with varying soils and climate, and the accompanying variety of natural

objects. Students having bicycles are advised to bring them.

It is hoped to combine the natural history excursions with points of

antiquarian, artistic, and other interest in outlying districts, and

endeavour will be made to render the course useful, both for home life

and school work.

FEES

(_Payable in advance or on arrival_)

For teachers and those training to be teachers, including tuition,

board, and lodging, and expenses of excursions, £5 5s.; single room;

extra, 10s. 6d.; to those not engaged in teaching an extra fee will be

charged of £1 1s.

STUDIES IN PLANT LIFE AND PLANT GEOGRAPHY

By R. J. TABOR, F.L.S. (Resident Science Lecturer), and

M. WILSON, B.SC. LOND.

The work of this course will be arranged on the assumption that most of

the students will have had some previous training in elementary botany.

Its objects will be to extend their knowledge of plants in the field,

and especially of the various plant associations and their adaptation

to their surroundings. For this purpose excursions will be arranged to

study the flora of woods, ponds and streams, moors and heaths, fresh

and salt water marshes.

An explanatory lecture, illustrated with lantern slides, will be given

on the eve of each excursion, in which the special features to be noted

in the next day’s work will be described.

The special subject for this year’s course will be “Common British

Trees and Shrubs,” and on alternate days laboratory work will be

provided, in order that students may become familiar with the

distinguishing characters of their leaves, twigs, buds, etc., to enable

them to identify these plants in summer and winter.

Facilities will be provided for making collections of common plants for

subsequent reference. Students are recommended to bring a flora and a

vasculum.

If time permits, a demonstration will be given towards the end of the

course on the arrangement and carrying out of simple experiments in

plant physiology.

STUDIES IN POND LIFE, INSECTS AND BIRDS, GEOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY

By MISS HIBBERT-WARE (Science Mistress at Queen

Margaret’s School, Scarborough)

_Pond Life._--The management of aquaria. The life-history, breathing,

adaptations, etc., of the various aquatic creatures obtained on the

excursions.

_Insect Life._--Some garden friends and foes (_e.g._, ladybird,

cockchafer).

_Birds._--The habits and call notes of common British birds so

far as they can be studied during August. Opportunity will be given to

students of learning to identify the birds from museum specimens, and

also of preparing the skins of birds and small mammals for class use.

_Geology._--The origin, composition, and history of some common

rocks and fossils, especially those observed and collected on the

excursions.

_Astronomy._--The subjects of four of the evening lectures will

be: 1. The solar system; 2 and 3. The starry heavens; 4. The earth as a

member of the solar system.

A part of these lectures will be held out-of-doors.

N.B.--Students are recommended to bring note-books containing both

blank and lined pages and paint boxes.

GARDEN LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS

By MISS M. AGAR (College Diploma, Landscape Gardener to the

Metropolitan Public Gardens Association)

_Sowing Seeds._--Seed-bed, temperature, moisture, depth of sowing,

vitality of seed, pricking out seedlings--potting on.

_Propagation by Cuttings._--Nodes, internodes, growing points,

callus, formation of roots--potting on.

(_Supplementary_: Propagation by leaves, roots, “ringing stems.”)

_Budding._--Scion, stocks, time for budding.

_Pruning._--Fruit trees, bush fruits, roses.

Demonstrations will be given in the grounds with the exception of

pruning, for which the time of the year is unsuitable.

* * * * *

The last published report of the Swanley College will be found of

interest.

REPORT: DECEMBER 31ST, 1906

During the past year gratifying progress can be reported in each

department of the college work. The value to women of systematic

training in the various branches of horticulture is becoming more

and more widely recognised from both the utilitarian and educational

standpoints. It opens the door to attractive and remunerative

employment in many directions, while it serves as an admirable

complement to the mental training of the High School or the University.

No one doubts that healthy occupation in the open air for a couple of

years or so goes far towards counteracting the morbid tendencies which

occasionally result from exclusive attention to literary studies, and

promotes moral no less than physical development. That the advantages

offered by Swanley in this respect are appreciated is evidenced by

the number of students who attend solely to cultivate those faculties

for which the ordinary school or college makes no provision, and to

acquire a knowledge of natural and physical phenomena that will prove

of increasing interest throughout their lives.

For those destined for a professional career, whether as teachers

or gardeners, the opportunities are daily increasing. The growth of

gardens, as instruments of education, in connection with elementary

and secondary schools within the past two or three years has been

remarkable. The number of elementary school gardens has risen from 379

in 1903 to 570 in 1905 according to the last report of the Board of

Education. In 1906 there was a very considerable advance, but the exact

figures have not yet been issued, nor are any statistics available in

regard to secondary schools. The great difficulty in every county is

the scarcity of teachers qualified to undertake gardening and general

nature-study. For these duties the training at Swanley affords an

excellent preparation. Lord Onslow, when, as President of the Board

of Agriculture, he distributed the prizes in July, 1904, particularly

emphasised this point. A student who has followed the complete course

may obtain a position as gardening or nature-study mistress at a

secondary school, or as a peripatetic teacher of those subjects for a

group of elementary day schools. With the object of assisting those

already engaged in such tuition as well as those who contemplate a

similar appointment, the college now provides a Special Third-year

Course in natural history.

The demand for well-trained gardeners, capable of acting as the head

and assuming the responsibility for a large private garden, exceeds

the supply. Applications have again and again to be refused. These

posts are desirable in themselves, and furnish infinite scope for the

exercise of individual taste and skill. We are glad to note that the

salaries offered are somewhat higher than formerly, but they are still

often insufficient to attract the best and most promising students.

STUDLEY HORTICULTURAL COLLEGE, STUDLEY,

WARWICKSHIRE

_Founder_: THE COUNTESS OF WARWICK

_Warden_: MISS MABEL C. FAITHFUL

STAFF OF INSTRUCTORS

_Horticulture_, MR. W. IGGULDEN, F.R.H.S., and MR. W. SARSONS;

_Botany_, MR. W. B. GROVES, M.A. (CANTAB); _Poultry_, MR.

GEORGE A. PALMER; _Dairy Farming and Agriculture_, _Dairy

Instructress_, MISS K. A. BAYNES, N.D.D., B.D.F.A., Diploma;

_Book-keeping and Business Training_, MR. A. E. M. LONG

(Chartered Accountant); _Apiculture_, MR. W. HERROD, F.E.S.;

_Fruit Bottling and Jam Making_, MISS CRAN; _Cooking Lessons_,

MISS FAITHFULL.

Studley Castle is situated about two and a half miles from Studley

Station (Midland Railway) on a branch line between Birmingham and

Evesham.

[Illustration: AT WORK IN THE VINERY, STUDLEY COLLEGE FOR LADY

GARDENERS.]

Students may enter for a course of instruction in any of the following

groups:--

(_a_) _Horticulture and Bee-keeping._--Certificate course two

years; diploma course three years.

(_b_) _Dairy Work, Poultry and Bee-keeping._--Certificate course

one year; diploma course two years.

The _Session_ (year) is of 40 weeks’ duration, and consists of

three terms of about thirteen weeks each, beginning respectively

in September, January, and May. Students are advised to enter at

the commencement of the session, in September, although they can be

admitted at any time.

An _examination_ in each group is held at the end of every term. A

final examination is held at the end of the session (July), and Studley

College certificates and diplomas are awarded to successful candidates

who have completed their full course.

_Short courses_ of instruction lasting either six or ten weeks are

held at the college, the subjects taught being in accordance with the

work done in each department at the particular time of year.

Studley College grants diplomas and certificates to those students

who have completed their training, and who have passed the necessary

examinations. It is believed that these diplomas and certificates will

have a distinct value in the educational and business world, as being

the distinctions awarded to skilled and practical workers.

The arrangements for the horticultural sections are as follow:--

Certificate in horticulture, both practical and theoretical, will be

granted after two years’ training; it will include horticulture,

botany, soils and manures, entomology, and book-keeping. The diploma in

horticulture will only be granted after three years’ training.

SCHEME OF WORK

1.--Students may prepare for either or both the examinations of the

Royal Horticultural Society and Studley College certificate and diploma.

(a) The Royal Horticultural Society.--This examination is held

in April or May, and includes:--

_The Elementary Principles on which Horticultural practice is

based_: (1) Soils; (2) Requirements of growth--water, heat,

air; (3) Seeds; (4) Roots; (5) Stems and Branches; (6) Leaves;

(7) Tubers and Bulbs; (8) Growth and Development; (9)Flowers;

(10)Fruit; (11)Seed; (12) Variation and Selection; (13) Names

and Orders of Common Garden Plants, Trees, etc.

_Horticultural Operations and Practice._--(1) Elements

of Surveying and Landscape Gardening; (2) Choice of Site for

Garden; (3) Description and use of Implements; (4) Operations

connected with the Cultivation of the Land; (5) Propagation; (6)

Fruit Culture; (7) Vegetable Culture; (8) Flower Culture; (9)

Manures; (10) Hybridisation and Selection; (11) Arboriculture;

(12) Insect and Fungus Pests.

_Practical Work._--This includes the care of lawns (mowing and

rolling), paths and beds; weeding, potting; planting and propagating

flowers and vegetables; mixing soils; seed sowing. Work in kitchen

and flower gardens, shrubberies, greenhouses, frames, and hot beds.

Budding, grafting, pruning, and planting. Rotation of crops. Orchard

work. Cultivation of tomatoes, cucumbers, and melons. Planting of

herbaceous borders. Classification of plants, fertilisation. Diseases

of plants. Labelling plants and seeds. Table decorations, wreath and

bouquet making.

_Bee-keeping._--Students are prepared for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd

Class Experts’ Examination of the British Bee-keepers’ Association and

are fully instructed in apiculture, both in theory and practice.

_Fruit bottling and preserving._--Course of instruction in fruit

bottling and preserving, jam making, etc., will be held during the

fruit season (June to October). Students can join for two weeks at a

time or longer. Fee, including board and residence, £5 5s. for two

weeks.

_Marketing department and business training._--Students, on the

completion of their full course, may take a course for three months in

the marketing department, at the usual fees. This will enable them to

obtain a knowledge of this important branch, which it is impossible for

them to get during their regular period of training. Students may enter

for this branch alone if desired.

The course includes:--Business methods; the markets, and methods of

buying and selling goods; packing; railway rates, etc.

_Manual training._--Instruction in manual training and woodwork

is given by the college carpenter, and includes:--Tools, their names

and uses, proper methods of using and sharpening; simple joints, etc.

Construction of portable poultry-house and appliances; beehives and

appliances, garden appliances, and various articles of general utility.

FEES

All fees are required to be paid terminally in advance, _i.e._, on

or before the first day of each term. A full term’s notice in writing

must be given to the Warden before the removal of any student from the

college; in default of which notice payment of the term’s fees will be

required. Notice of removal received after a term has begun will take

effect at the end of the term next ensuing.

Short courses:--Students may enter for these at any time when they are

arranged.

All fees must be paid in advance. In no cases can fees be returned.

RESIDENT STUDENTS

Full training, with board and residence at the college, in

horticulture, or dairy and poultry work: cubicle, £80 a year;

study-bedroom, £100 and £120 a year. Short courses for ten weeks:

cubicle, £25; study-bedroom, £30. Short courses for six weeks: cubicle,

£15; study-bedroom, £18. Bee-keeping is optional, and may be combined

with either of the above courses, an additional fee of £5 5s. a year,

or £2 2s. a term, being charged. Fruit bottling and preserving:--Two

weeks’ course, including board and residence, £5 5s. Manual training

and carpentering, £3 3s. a year, or £1 10s. a term. Cooking lessons,

£1 5s. a term. Extra charges: Use of microscopes, 5s. a year; use of

gardening tools, 5s. a year; use of carpentering tools, 5s. a year.

[Illustration: PREPARING THE FRAMES AT STUDLEY COLLEGE FOR LADY

GARDENERS.]

NON-RESIDENT STUDENTS

Non-resident students can be received at the college under certain

conditions. Fees for instruction in each department, 25s. a week, or

£13 6s. 8d. per term.

Candidates for admission to the college are requested to write to the

Warden for full particulars and admission form, which must be filled

in with the name, age, and experience of the intending student, the

particular course of study which she wishes to follow, and her ultimate

object in seeking instruction. (These admission forms will be regarded

as strictly confidential. After receiving notification that her

application has been accepted, the intending student will be liable for

a term’s fees.)

The Warden of the college prefers to interview intending students

previous to admission whenever possible.

The college is open to visitors, but they are asked to make an

appointment beforehand. The best route is from Euston, 9.20, reaching

Birmingham 11.30; train for Studley, 12 o’clock, from same station;

returning from Studley, 4.38, and Birmingham, 7 o’clock. Studley can

also be reached from Paddington, G.W.R., _viâ_ Evesham. Students

must be in residence at the college on the day previous to the

commencement of a term.

ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY OF LONDON PRACTICAL

GARDENING SCHOOL FOR LADIES

Held in the SOCIETY’S GARDENS, REGENT’S PARK, and officially

recognised by the Technical Education Board of the London County

Council.

The course of instruction extends over three years, and commences on

October 1st.

SUBJECTS: FIRST YEAR

_Outdoor Work._--Ground operations, implements used; levelling

with borning rods; draining; formation of paths, beds, and lawns;

trenching, digging and hoeing; preparation for planting, etc.; care

of lawns--mowing with machine, sweeping, weeding, and rolling; flower

gardening--herbaceous borders, pricking off, planting; staking, tying

and watering; vegetable and fruit garden--double digging, manuring;

preparation of seed beds; aërating the soil.

_Indoor Work._--Cleaning and crocking pots; materials required for

composts; potting, watering, cleaning, staking, tying and top-dressing

plants; propagation by cuttings, as geraniums, etc.; pricking off

seedlings.

SECOND YEAR

_Outdoor Work._--Preparing and storing manure, methods of

application; care of lawns, flower and kitchen garden, shrubbery,

fernery, etc.; sowing vegetable and flower seeds, and planting tubers;

growing vegetables, flowers and fruits; outdoor tomato culture.

_Indoor Work._--Horticultural buildings, repairing, painting and

glazing; propagation by division of roots, stems, and tubers; forcing

and retarding; insects and fungoid pests; methods of extermination;

melon, cucumber and tomato culture.

_Theoretical Work._--Suitable manures for various soils;

principles of hot-water heating.

THIRD YEAR

Pruning trees and shrubs; mowing with scythe; special classes of

plants; hybridisation and selection; care of conservatory, plant

houses, frames and pits; spraying plants; mushroom culture; vine and

fig culture; budding and grafting; labelling.

_Theoretical Work._--Keeping garden accounts, stock books, stores,

etc.; purchase of pots, gravel, sand, peat, manure, etc.; elementary

meteorology; theory of landscape gardening; plant parasites; sprays

and washes for insect pests; classes and laboratory work in botany and

horticultural chemistry.

The society undertakes that each pupil shall be given opportunities

for studying and practising each of the above subjects, but it cannot

guarantee that in every case the order of the above list will be

adhered to.

FEES FOR THE ABOVE COURSE

First year, £20; second year, £15; third year, £10. Floral decoration

is £1. 1s. per annum.

A year’s course in gardening is given to ladies who possess gardens in

the country. Early application should be made to the superintendent,

Mrs. J. Bryant Sowerby, Botanic Gardens, Regent’s Park.

* * * * *

Amongst the rules I see that pupils must attend at the gardens at 9.30

a.m. in summer, and 10 a.m. in winter, and are allowed an interval of

one hour and a half (12.30 to 2) in the middle of the day.

Six students having passed out of the Royal Botanic Gardens are

working their own gardens. Two have started as market gardeners.

Several are working as jobbing gardeners and companion gardeners.

THE EDINBURGH SCHOOL OF GARDENING FOR WOMEN,

CORSTORPHINE, EDINBURGH

MISS BARKER AND MISS MORISON,

_Diplomées of Swanley Horticultural College; Certificated

Gardeners, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh_

The objects of this school are to prepare women for the various

branches of practical professional gardening--to fit them for managing

a market garden, or for taking charge of private gardens--and to give

instruction to those who wish to devote themselves with intelligence to

gardening as a private interest.

_Situation._--The gardens are situated on the south slope of

Corstorphine Hill, in a charming district just beyond the suburbs of

Edinburgh. They are within two miles of the west end of the city,

within three minutes’ walk of the 'bus service, and within seven

minutes’ walk of Corstorphine railway station. The position is

eminently suitable both for gardening and for residence.

_Grounds._--Part of the garden is devoted to growing for market,

and students are taught how to work a market garden through all its

stages--from the preparation of the ground and sowing the seeds to the

packing of the produce for the market. In this department is included

the growing of stuff under glass, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, flowers,

etc. Another department deals with the requirements of good private

gardens, and includes a vinery, peach-house, mushroom-house, rose

garden, herbaceous border, and kitchen garden.

_Practical Instruction._--The practical instruction includes

all the details of actual work, such as hoeing, digging, care of

glass-houses, propagation of plants by seeds, cuttings, etc.;

planting-out, thinning, potting, pruning, gathering, and packing.

Demonstrations, in which the students take a practical part, are

given by experts in bee-keeping and floral decoration, including

bouquet-making, sprays and button-holes, table decoration, and wreaths.

_Theoretical Instruction._--All intelligent practical work must

include a certain amount of theoretical instruction in order to explain

the reasons for the various operations necessary. At the same time a

more formal and exact study of the sciences underlying the practice

of gardening is necessary, and in order to obtain this the students

attend certain classes at the Edinburgh and East of Scotland College

of Agriculture. Students are prepared for the Royal Horticultural

Society’s Examination.

_The Curriculum._--The full curriculum extends over two years.

Shorter courses may be arranged for those who wish to study with a view

to private instruction only, and do not propose to follow gardening as

a profession.

_The Diploma._--Every care is taken in the arrangements for

practical instruction, lectures and examinations, to ensure that the

diploma shall be a reliable guarantee of thorough efficiency in the

theory and practice of gardening. It will be granted only to students

who have taken part in the regular practical work of the school for two

years, and have passed satisfactorily examinations in the following

subjects:--

Horticulture (Royal Horticultural Society’s Examination), practical

horticulture, botany, agricultural chemistry, book-keeping.

_Boarding arrangements._--Both resident and non-resident students

are received. Resident students live with the principals, Miss Barker

and Miss Morison. Two references are required from each student.

_Terms._--The session is divided into three terms, beginning

respectively in May, October, and January. Students are advised to

begin either in May or in October.

_Fees._--Resident students, £70 a year; resident students, with

separate bedroom, £86; non-resident students, with dinner and tea, £40.

Fees are payable at the beginning of each term. A term’s notice is

required before a student leaves, otherwise the fee for the term will

be charged.

_Examiner in Practical Horticulture_--MR. BERRY, East of

Scotland College of Agriculture.

CLASSES TAKEN AT THE EDINBURGH AND EAST OF

SCOTLAND COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

_Horticulture_, MR. G. P. BERRY. _Agricultural Chemistry_, A.

LAUDER, D.SC. _Agricultural Natural History_, R. S. MACDOUGALL,

M.A., D.SC., F.R.S.E.

CLASS TAKEN AT THE HERIOT-WATT COLLEGE

_Botany_ (_Advanced and Elementary_), R. S. MACDOUGALL, M.A.,

D.SC., F.R.S.E.

THE YEAR’S WORK

The following sketch calendar of the actual work shared in by the

students month by month may be of service to those who have little

practical acquaintance with gardening. No sketch of this kind can show

all the details of daily work, and the separation into months is merely

for convenience, as in almost every case the work of one month overlaps

with that of another. Certain operations, such as hoeing and weeding,

extend throughout the greater part of the year; plants under glass

require daily attention, and, in addition, there is the specialised

culture required by special classes of plants--vines, peaches,

tomatoes, etc.--which is not indicated in this calendar:--

_January._--In this month there is much important work to be

done under glass and in the forcing-houses. Seeds are sown almost

daily--flower seeds, such as annual carnations, petunias, antirrhinums,

etc.; and vegetables, such as lettuce, leeks, onions, cauliflowers,

cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. There are also the gathering and packing of

forced flowers and rhubarb, and the forcing of these and other plants.

When possible, seed-beds are prepared in the open.

_February._--Much of January’s work is continued this month.

Seed-sowing goes on, some of it in the open. Plants sown in January

have to be potted and pricked out in pans and boxes. Watering, heating,

and ventilation in the various glass-houses require great attention.

The taking of chrysanthemum cuttings is continued from last month.

_March._--This is perhaps the busiest month of the garden year.

The preparation of seed-beds and the cleaning of the ground must be

completed, as well as the sowing of almost every vegetable that is

in the garden, of hardy annual flowers in the open, and of half-hardy

annuals in frames. Strawberries are planted, young tomatoes potted

on, cucumbers attended to, and more seed sown for late crops. Rooted

chrysanthemum cuttings have to be potted on.

_April._--Much time this month must be devoted to seedlings to

prevent overcrowding and weakening. Cauliflowers are planted out, and

vegetable marrows sown in pots for planting out later. More sowings of

vegetables and of hardy annuals are made, and half-hardy annuals are

hardened-off previous to planting in the open.

_May._--In this month sowings are repeated of all vegetables

required for succession. Celery plants are pricked out and trenches

prepared. Cabbages are planted out; runner beans are sown; weeding and

hoeing go on constantly.

_June._--The gathering, bunching, and packing of cut flowers form

an important part of this month’s work. Celery is put in trenches;

mushroom-beds are prepared. Much attention is required by tomatoes and

cucumbers.

_July._--Flowers for cutting are now more plentiful, and, in

addition, the smaller fruits have to be gathered and packed for market.

Carnations have to be layered, and strawberry runners pegged down.

Broccoli and cabbage are planted out; biennial and perennial flowers

may still be sown.

_August and September._--These months are the school holidays.

The chief work in the garden is the continued gathering and packing of

fruit and flowers, and keeping the ground clean.

_October._--Bulbs are potted to be forced when well rooted;

wallflower is transplanted to its blooming quarters; chrysanthemums are

brought in, and celery is earthed up. Vacant plots of ground can be

made ready for winter by digging and manuring.

_November._--Some bulbs can be planted out in the open; plants

ready for forcing are brought in. Cucumbers for an early crop are sown

now, and mustard and cress are sown weekly. The glass and brickwork of

the houses are thoroughly cleaned. When weather permits, the pruning

of fruit-trees and bushes is carried on in this and the other winter

months. Chrysanthemums are bunched and packed for market.

_December._--Rhubarb is brought in for forcing; vines are pruned,

and peach-trees trained.

In bad weather, work is carried on in the glass-houses or the

potting-shed, or the time is allowed for study.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN, DUBLIN, IRELAND

F. W. Moore, Esq., Director of the above gardens, is kind enough to

admit two ladies as students in horticulture. No fees are charged,

and there is no remuneration of any sort given. There is no syllabus,

as the students work under the immediate direction of Mr. Moore.

They obtain a thorough knowledge of general garden practice. Cross

pollination, collecting seeds, fruit pruning, and all kinds of work,

both indoors and out-of-doors, is taught. It is not possible to obtain

a more general gardening experience than is given here. All lectures

are free. The places are usually taken some years in advance. The

first two ladies came on July 1, 1898, and eighteen in all have passed

through up to 1907. Of these, the following are at present actively

employed as follows:--

Lucy Douglas, County Council Instructor in Horticulture, Co. Cavan;

Jane Langley, gardening, laying out gardens, giving advice, good

employment in Co. Waterford; Katherine Kinnear, market and nursery

gardening in Scotland; Rose Pollock, private secretary and assistant

to F. W. Moore, Esq., Botanic Gardens, Dublin; Jean Rogers, working as

head gardener; Christina Carlyon, instructor in horticultural college

in South Africa; Jane Garner, working her own garden, and botanical and

horticultural teacher in Dublin; Emmeline Crocker, head gardener over

a large garden in Cornwall; May Crosbie, working her own garden. The

students can obtain comfortable and cheap rooms in Dublin, in order to

attend daily at the gardens.

* * * * *

The London County Council has organised classes for gardeners, which

ladies may attend at

THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL NORWOOD TECHNICAL

INSTITUTE, KNIGHT’S HILL, WEST NORWOOD

The following are the syllabuses:

BOTANY (THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL), 5s. PER COURSE

Stage I.--(Elementary): Fridays, 9–10; Practical Class, 7.30–9.

Stage II. (Advanced): Fridays, 6.30–7.30; Practical Class, 7.30–9

_Lecturer_: MISS EVA WHITLEY, B.SC.

STAGE I. (Covering the London Matriculation Syllabus)

_Elementary._--The study of the typical flowering plant; the

form and function of the plant organs and the variations which adapt

them to special conditions; the inflorescence; the pollination and

fertilisation of flowers, fruits and seeds; germination; the nutrition,

respiration and growth of plants; the movements exhibited by plants;

the outlines of the cellular structure of plants; elements of plant

classification, with special reference to some of the more important

British natural orders.

STAGE II. (Covering the Inter-Science Syllabus)

_Advanced._--More advanced work in the subjects taken in the

elementary course. Study of typical members of the larger sub-divisions

of the plant world (pinus, picra, selaginella, aspidium, funaria,

pellia, fucus, spirogyra, hæmatococcus, agaricus, eurotium, puccinia,

parmelia, collema, pythium, mucor, saccharomyces), and of additional

natural orders to those taken in Stage I.; plant œcology.

In the practical class specimens are examined and described,

microscopic preparations made, and a few of the simpler experiments

illustrative of physiological processes are carried out.

Two or three museum visits are arranged during the session. These

classes should prove useful and interesting to those engaged in

horticulture and the allied callings.

GARDENING, 2s. 6d. PER COURSE

_Lecturer_: CHAS. H. CURTIS, F.R.H.S.

Tuesdays, 7.45–9.15

SYLLABUS

_Introduction._--Need for better methods. How to plant.

_Soils._--Kinds and values. Cultivation and improvement. Manures

and their value for certain crops and soils. Propagation. Seeds and

seedlings. Cuttings and layers. Budding and grafting. Spring-flowering

bulbs. Selections.

_Planting and potting._--Chrysanthemums for garden and greenhouses.

_Small fruits._--Varieties for town and suburban gardens. Pruning

and training. Choice fruits; peaches, nectarines, figs, grapes and

melons.

_Beautiful trees and shrubs._--Flowering, deciduous and evergreen.

Rock, wall, and water gardening.

Lawns and walks. Fences and screens. Edgings. Window, balcony, and

home gardening. Garden design and improvement. The use and abuse of

garden tools. Herbaceous borders. Selections and times of flowering.

Summer bedding plants and flowers. Autumn flowers. Conservatory and

greenhouse. Annual and biennial plants. Roses for summer and autumn.

_Vegetable culture._--Root crops. Onions, leeks, and shallots.

Cauliflowers, winter greenstuffs. Salads. Peas for small gardens,

beans, marrows, tomatoes. Asparagus, seakale, mushrooms. Forcing.

The syllabus is subject to alteration to meet the needs of the class.

Each lecture will be illustrated by specimens, demonstration,

blackboard diagrams, etc. Several outings and daylight demonstrations

will be arranged during the session.

* * * * *

Ladies may attend the following courses arranged by the London County

Council at

BROWNHILL ROAD EVENING SCIENCE, ART, ETC.,

COMMERCIAL CENTRE, CATFORD, S.E.

Five shillings the session is charged to students over sixteen, and 2s.

6d. to those under sixteen, for one or more subjects, including science

and art.

BIOLOGY AND NATURE STUDY

_Instructor_: MR. G. ALFORD

In the first stage, students will investigate the external features,

general structure, mode of life, surroundings, life-history, and habits

of flowering plants, yeast, frog, amœba, etc.

In the second stage the subjects of the elementary class will be

studied more fully, together with the earthworm, crayfish, dogfish,

pine, fern, selaginella.

The practical work will deal with nutrition, respiration, etc.,

including dissection and the microscopic examination of the smaller

organisms.

HORTICULTURE

_Instructor_: MR. E. H. SMITH

This course of lectures is arranged specially for those who take an

interest in gardening.

The syllabus of instruction deals with: the cultivation of vegetables,

hardy fruit, etc.; the management of the orchard house, flower garden,

flowers under glass, seed growing, propagation, etc.

* * * * *

Ladies may attend the courses offered by the London County Council at

BLOOMFIELD ROAD EVENING COMMERCIAL AND

SCIENCE AND ART CENTRE, PLUMSTEAD

Five shillings the session for one or more subjects, including science

and art, for students over sixteen. For those under sixteen, 2s. 6d.

per session for one or more subjects.

BOTANY--STAGES I. AND II.

_Instructor_: MR. W. P. BOLAS