410 



Instruction in Horticulture. 



[Aug., 



Talbot, who has previously served as Director of the Women's 

 Branch of the Food Production Department, has held several 

 important public appointments, and has been connected with 

 the Ministry for several years. 



The Woman Adviser will be specially responsible for the 

 recommendation of suitable women to serve on the Councils of 

 Agriculture for England and Wales, the Agricultural Advisory 

 Committee and the County Agricultural Committees and their 

 Sub-Committees. She will make it her business to keep in 

 touch with these bodies in order to see that women's opinions 

 and interests are not overlooked. She will also watch the work 

 of the Women's Institutes throughout the country and ndvise 

 the Ministry with reference to grants to the Federation of 

 Women's Institutes and kindred bodies. She will keep in close 

 touch with the Director of Rural Industries, and will co-operate 

 with him in any measures that can be taken to enlist the help 

 of women in all schemes framed for the welfare or betterment 

 of village life. 



The Minister attaches great importance to arousing and retain- 

 ing the interest of women in all agricultural and rural matters, 

 and Dame Meriel Talbot will attend those conferences and 

 committees at which matters affecting women are discussed or 

 where a fuller knowledge of the Ministry's policy may be 

 acquired. The welfare of the women of the country is closely 

 bound up with the progress of agriculture. It follows that t)ie 

 appointment of a woman specially trained in public affairs and 

 particularly in the woi'k of many organisations that exist for the 

 benefit of rural districts and rural industries cannot but prove 

 a valuable factor in the present movement for stimulating 

 women's interest in all matters relating to the land. 



****** 



The conditions arising in regard to horticulture during the 

 War, and the work of the Food Production Department during 

 that period, indicated the urgent need 

 Instruction in f^^, ^he future development of national 

 Horticulture. education in the production of fruit and 

 vegetables. Hitherto large quantities of fruit and vegetables 

 have been imported in the past, but might have been grown 

 to advantage in this country, and from several standpoints it is 

 important that we should produce more food, so as to become as 



