1921.] 



Women in Horticulture. 



1139 



2. Nursery Work. — This is a branch of horticulture which 

 offers an opening to a limited number of women as employees. 

 The bulk of nursery work will always fall to men, for the reasons 

 already stated ; the average man is capable of a greater output 

 of manual labour, and is, therefore, certain to be employed in 

 preference to a woman for most purposes. Women, however, 

 have shown a very decided aptitude for certain sides of the work, 

 especially in the many processes concerned with propagation. 

 They learn quickly, and they are dexterous as well as careful 

 in their manipulation. It is clear that if women are to succeed 

 at this kind of work, they must be thoroughly interested in it and 

 spare no efforts to perfect their skill in the practical operations, 

 because there will only be room for those who show themselves 

 superior in technique to the average man. The wages offered 

 are very similar to those paid in private gardens, and here, 

 also, responsibilities carry an increased wage. 



3. Small-holdings, Fruit and Market Gardens. — At the 

 present time this department of horticulture is being explored 

 and tested by women. Opportunities for obtaining the initial 

 experience are still rather difficult to find, apart from the instruc- 

 tion given in various schools and colleges. Many women were 

 employed in market gardens while the men were on Active 

 Service; others joined the Land Army and obtained varied ex- 

 perience in farm work. A few of the latter are now starting small 

 holdings of their own, either independently or in co-operation. 

 The progress of some of the experimental colonies recently pro- 

 jected will be watched with profound interest, because, if 

 successful, thev will point a way in which suitably equipped 

 women may find a useful and congenial occupation. This branch 

 of horticulture, however, can only be open to those with sufficient 

 capital to start ventures of their own and provide outside labour 

 for the heavy work. Further, it demands other qualities than 

 those required by an employee in a nursery or private garden, 

 for clearly the grower should have some bent towards commercial 

 life. No doubt, however, the development of co-operative buying 

 and selling will help those who have but little experience of 

 business methods. The small-holder, therefore, requires con- 

 siderable all-round ability, since it must be remembered that 

 she has always to face the risk of losing her capital. 



4. Suitable Employment for Trained Women. — The majority 

 of women gardeners have been drawn from the ranks of 

 educated women, and have received their early training in a 

 college in a scientific atmosphere. Hence it is not surprising 

 to find that a small proportion of them have been sufficiently 



