270 GARDENS: THEIR FORM AND DESIGN 



as fruit-growing, pruning, spraying, bee-keeping, and all 

 the matters that affect the dweller in a village, are at the 

 moment encouraged. These subjects, with an increasing 

 knowledge of the good to be derived from co-operation, 

 are matters which the Women's Institutes have brought 

 within the reach of all. 



In looking towards the future, we venture to hope that 

 the enthusiasm expended upon this field of women's wor k 

 may not unconsciously drift into such trivial entertainments 

 as whist-drives, backgammon evenings, or summer tea- 

 parties to view the gardens belonging to richer neighbours. 

 Such frivolities may satisfy some, but there should be a 

 preponderating desire for progress, and the programmes of 

 the Institutes should show this. It is to the leading land- 

 owners' wives and daughters that we look, for they alone 

 can induce the really practical, hard-working men and 

 women gardeners, smallholders and others to lend their 

 experience and advice to the community at these village 

 meetings. 



By enlisting their interest and help, the Women's 

 Institutes would eventually establish such much-needed 

 things as local markets for food-stuffs. Other much- 

 desired benefits would follow, such as improved transport 

 facilities and a better regulation of weights and measures. 



We have watched with interest the prosperity of the 

 fruit-growers' colonies in Worcestershire, where the life is 

 by no means a narrow one intellectually. That it is 

 health-giving, both morally and physically, we are well 

 assured. Then, too, owing to all the members being 

 occupied in similar pursuits, they are able to meet in their 

 spare time with refreshing pleasure in the discussion of 

 subjects which not only concern them, but are of vital 

 importance to the nation. 



We now come to the next question : How can the 

 garden designer attain sufficient knowledge to become 



