HORTICULTURAL SCHOOLS FOR WOMEN. 169 



We all know how much pains have of late been taken and 

 what large sums have been expended to further the agricultural 

 education of young men. Others can tell you the methods and 

 results . much better than I can. Within the last three years, 

 efforts have been made in this community, to extend the same 

 advantages to women. Miss Emma Marwedel, a German lady, 

 came to this country, as affording better opportunities and freer 

 scope for developing her plan of an integral education for 

 woman, including horticulture. Owing, perhaps, to the large- 

 ness of her undertaking and to other reasons, her scheme has not 

 met with definite success, but the large esteem and sympathy 

 offered her show a consciousness in the public mind of the value 

 of the thought which she represented. 



Even before her arrival many thoughtful women in our own 

 country had turned their attention to this subject. 



The New England Women's Club of Boston, held many 

 discussions upon the best means of calling the attention of 

 women to the practice of horticulture, and after much delib- 

 eration, a society was organized in Boston, whose object was to 

 provide a horticultural school for women. They hoped to 

 arouse a general interest in the subject, and to prepare at least 

 a small number of women to undertake gardening as a business. 



Soon after beginning their preparations they heard of two 

 other institutions which might at some time be in a condition 

 to undertake this work. 



It was rumored that the fine Bussey estate in West Roxbury 

 was to be devoted to a general school of agriculture and hor- 

 ticulture, under the direction of Harvard College. The society 

 conferred with some of the officers of the college, in regard to 

 cooperation in the chosen work, by opening the school to 

 women. But at this time they received no encouragement 

 that such would be the case. 



Mr. John Simmons also left a large bequest to found a col- 

 lege for the industrial education of women, and it was under- 

 stood that horticulture was one of the objects to be promoted 

 by the institution. But after conference with one of the trus- 

 tees, it was found that the restrictions of the will were such, 

 that no practical work could be undertaken for many years, 

 and it was doubtful in what direction the resources of the 

 fund would be used. 

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