GARDENING FOE WOMEN 113 



secretarial duties. Above all, he must plan the 

 succession of crops. All these matters can be done 

 equally well, if not more speedily, by an educated 

 woman. 



As this book aims at introducing lady gardeners 

 to employers, I should like to ask for these gentle- 

 women the good treatment, absolute trust, gentle 

 handling, which their position entitles them to 

 receive. Without the entire confidence of their 

 masters, no ladies would wish to take up a post, 

 but with their support, and the power to dismiss 

 those under their authority who they find are dis- 

 honest or undeserving, lady gardeners should be 

 absolutely successful. No longer need there be 

 that frequent termination to all pleasure in a large 

 garden, when the head gardener grows only what 

 he likes, and not what his master requires. How 

 often, when shown round a large place, one is 

 struck by the remark, " Oh, Dibber never lets us 

 have violets or carnations, all his interest is centred 

 in vegetable growing " ; or " Truman gives all his 

 time to preparing plants for exhibition ; he is cer- 

 tainly very successful in winning prizes, but we come 

 off badly, as all the best things are sent to exhi- 

 bitions ! " Instead, therefore, of having someone 

 to contend with, or a man whose obstinacy has to 

 be circumvented before a bunch of sweet peas can 



be brought into the house, you will have a friend 

 I 



