40 HOW THE GARDEN WAS MADE 



may amend the temporary shortage of labour 

 caused by men enlisting. 



This self-sacrificing work of organisation is in 

 many cases being done by voluntary workers and 

 has the approval of those men experts who form the 

 advisory committees of the Board of Agriculture 

 and the Royal Horticultural Society. Gradually it 

 is to be hoped that these numerous old and new 

 societies, whose work often overlaps and causes 

 wastage of charitable funds, will find it possible to 

 unite their efforts. Perhaps two sisterly branches 

 could be formed, one for the assistance of women 

 farmers and the other for the employment of 

 women gardeners. It will be a fine thing if these 

 years of distressing warfare bring this to pass and 

 if, too, the leadership can be placed in the hands 

 of thoroughly expert men and women, who have 

 lived on the land and thus gained knowledge of the 

 practical requirements for these two professions. 

 This should in no sense exclude others who are 

 laymen and not professionals from giving their 

 assistance and support to industries which concern 

 every British subject. 



If organisations such as these could be placed 

 upon a firm and solid foundation, with ample 

 monetary support, and could call to their assist- 

 ance not only the advice of able women but also 

 the wider experience and active co-operation of 

 men experts, they would indeed prove a boon to 

 the fully trained women who work on the land. In 

 all the varied work that women are now called 

 upon to do, those who can advise them best and 

 suggest improvement of methods are people who, 



