166 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



done in due proportion by women as well as men. In the 

 report of your Secretary, I read that the great demand of West- 

 ern Massachusetts is for more laborers, and they call loudly for 

 the Chinaman. Let the Chinaman come by all means, but give 

 us work for the women first. Gardening is an occupation 

 especially fitting to women, not only on account of its hygienic 

 value, but by its power of adaptation to all the circumstances 

 of her social life. We are quite ready to say, with Margaret 

 Fuller, " Let them be sea captains if they will," and yet we can 

 often imagine it a serious interruption to the home circle to 

 have the wife and mother absent on a whaling voyage. Neither 

 does the hum of the machine shop or the factory add much to 

 the pleasure of the fireside. But the field, the orchard, the 

 garden and the green-house, instead of detracting from the 

 duties and joys of home, will only add to them health, freedom, 

 comfort and beauty. Instead of the invalid mother lying on her 

 couch, entreating her little ones to spare her poor weary head, 

 we may have her out in the fresh air, with the children about 

 her, aiding her in the labor which is to add comfort to the home, 

 by supplying wholesome and nourishing food, and which will give 

 grace and beauty to the home surroundings. She may super- 

 intend the work on a large estate, if she have abundant means, 

 or with a little quarter-acre lot, she may even at odd moments 

 raise the potatoes, beans or cabbages which are to give variety 

 to the daily meals. Let me give you a few instances from my 

 own observation. 



In the neighborhood of Boston, a distinguished lady has now 

 for many years found her chief interest and occupation in the. 

 management of her green-house and garden. With ample 

 pecuniary resources, she has been able to indulge her taste, in 

 producing the finest specimens in quality of flowers and fruit. 

 She constantly takes the prizes at horticultural shows for 

 peaches, plums, strawberries and other fruits, as well as flowers. 

 Finding the men whom she employed unfaithful or incompetent, 

 she took a young lad whom she has educated to carry out her 

 plans. He is now, after fifteen years' experience, a skilful 

 gardener, able to relieve her of all details in the care of her 

 plants ; while she enjoys the success of her plans and the per- 

 fection of her work. 



