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practice by planting large areas of fruit trees ; 100 acres of straw- 
berries, 60 acres of raspberries, a quarter of a million of black 
currants, nearly the same number of gooseberries were included 
in the 700 or 800 acres this gentleman devoted to fruit culture. 
In America, about 30 miles from San Francisco, in the heart of 
one of the largest fruit-growing districts in'the world, has recently 
been opened the Leland Stanford Jr. University of California, 
with a first endowment of £4,000,000. The endowment being 
ample no fees are necessary, the education being practically free. 
Students have only to arrange for board, clothes, and books. 
Belonging to the university there are about 40,000 acres of 
excellent land, about 1,100 of which are already in bearing as 
‘vineyards, a considerable tract being orchard land. Immediately 
surrounding the university buildings there are 8,000 acres of rich 
land; upon this is already located one of the finest stock- 
breeding farms in America. Something like 1,000 acres of this 
tract will be planted as orchard, and about 100 acres will be used 
for illustrative horticultural work of various kinds; 250 acres 
will be devoted to landscape gardening, and about 100 acres to 
botanical purposes. This is the first university in the world to 
elevate horticultural educatioa to its true place of dignity among 
the arts and sciences by making it one of the leading features of 
the institution. 
You are all aware that old England has its colleges of horti- 
culture, and at the one at Swanley they take in lady students. 
The women’s branch there has now been in existence about two 
years, and so far has been a success. ‘These nurserymaids—not 
in the domestic but in the horticultural sense—are trained in 
fruit, flower, and vegetable culture. They are-also taught jam 
and sauce making, and other kindred subjects. The last report 
of this college states ‘that several applications had been received 
for women, both as head and single gardeners, and in one case to 
take entire charge of the conservatories and green-houses. This 
is what is occurring in crowded England, and may never occur 
here, and I only refer to the fact as indicating another outlet for 
female labour in a congested population. ButI must refrain from 
saying more as to what is being done in other countries, but will 
come nearer home. Not only is our own Horticultural School 
full, but our agricultural colleges are always full, and to get 
admission to either Dookie or Longerenong application must be 
made months in advance. Greater facilities must be afforded our 
young people to learn both horticulture and agriculture, and I 
think some rudimentary instruction in these subjects should be 
given in some of our country schools. ak 
The profession of horticulture is a noble one—no science more 
healthful or pleasurable. Agriculture and horticulture are, with- 
out doubt, the two most important industries under the sun, 
