68 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Downing, who hoped "that the dissemination in this country of 

 works like the present might increase among our own fair country- 

 women the taste for these delightful occupations in the open air, 

 which are so conducive to their own health and to the beauty and 

 interest of our homes." This was the first work of a practical 

 nature directed to women and seems to have accomplished much 

 towards realizing Mr. Downing's hope. Previous to 1880 we find 

 on the list of honorary members of this Society the names of six 

 women, and since that time in constantly increasing numbers 

 women have accomplished much of merit and value along horti- 

 cultural lines. 



Now that I have touched upon what women have done for 

 Horticulture, let us come to the more immediate object of this 

 discussion. What can Horticulture do for women? What is 

 the chance of women entering its ranks professionally? Is it a 

 field in which they can earn a substantial livelihood ? I believe it is. 

 There are many phases of it for which women are peculiarly 

 adapted, just as there are phases of it that are decidedly too great 

 a tax on woman's physical endurance. For some time there has 

 been a movement on foot both in this country and abroad toward 

 the undertaking by women of Horticulture on a money-making 

 or professional basis. Although this has not been done widely in 

 the United States until quite recently, in Europe, particularly in 

 Germany and in England, the opening of horticultural schools for 

 women some fifteen or twenty years ago has given a great many 

 women and young girls the opportunity for efficient study in these 

 subjects. 



In Germany there are five horticultural schools at the present date, 

 all of them conducted by women and each one furnishing a two 

 years' course. The oldest of these, near Berlin, was established 

 twenty years ago, the rest, with one exception, have been established 

 by pupils of this school. Women are also admitted to the course at 

 the Royal Horticultural School but are not allowed to pass the State 

 examinations. The best paid positions are those of horticultural 

 teachers at the sanatoriums where horticultural work is a part of 

 the cure. There are other positions open, as teachers of gardening 

 in household schools in the country, in the State schools for girls 

 and in the large private schools for boys. Women in Germany 



