GARDENING FOE WOMEN 79 



counteract any harm that might be likely to come 

 to her. 



It is most natural that many should be alarmed 

 and have a strong disinclination to advise garden- 

 ing as a healthy profession. I cannot help think- 

 ing that they may alter their views when they 

 realise fully that it is not hard manual work that 

 is needed of women in this profession. They are 

 not meant to do spade-work like the ordinary 

 labouring man ; we have plenty of fine, strong 

 hulking men who do this, but we do need more 

 directing heads to plan out work and guide others. 

 This is what lady gardeners are to do. It has be- 

 come evident, in recent years, that women have 

 determined to shake themselves free from former 

 occupations and interests. They intend to apply 

 their energy in new directions. Frequently, it 

 must be admitted by all, they are successful. 

 Practical experience shows us that women can 

 acquit themselves with honour and success in 

 games and in the pursuit of sports, which formerly 

 were reserved only for men. Hunting, shooting, 

 golf, cricket, swimming, hockey, climbing and 

 walking are acknowledged to be fields of activity 

 in which women may safely indulge. In Jane 

 Austen's day such pursuits were considered not 

 only dangerous to health, but likely to produce 

 awkwardness of figure and ungainliness of move- 



