168 GAEDENING FOE WOMEN 



She returned from Baltimore in 1878, with her degree 

 as dental-surgeon, set up as a dentist in Berlin, and soon 

 gained an extensive practice. Her mother and sisters 

 came to reside with her, and one of her sisters, after taking 

 her dental degree in America, became her assistant. Having 

 attained her object, there came a time of comparative 

 rest, in which the idea of German Horticulture stepped 

 again into the foreground. Leisure hours were utilised 

 for botanical study, holiday tours to visit various horti- 

 cultural schools, pomological institutions and model- 

 gardens in Reuthngen, Stuttgart, Switzerland, etc. 



In the year 1889 an opportunity occurred to purchase 

 in the neighbourhood of Berlin a small piece of ground 

 where her acquired theoretical knowledge might be put 

 into practice. Dr. Elvira Castner, with her family, occupied 

 part of the double house built on the ground, while the 

 remainder was let. A market garden was laid out — ^the 

 rougher work being done by the porter's wife. The sisters 

 took charge of the remainder, aided by the coimsel of their 

 mother, an experienced farmer. 



The first practical trial of a School of Horticulture for 

 women was made at this time by the wife of the Counsellor 

 of Commerce for Charlottenburg. Dr. Elvira Castner 

 thought herself fortunate to see her idea so soon reaHsed, 

 and gave the school her warmest interest. As vice-presi- 

 dent of the BerUn society for the benefit of women, she 

 had opportunity to know it well. The society protected 

 the school, and appointed a commission for the promotion 

 of pomology and horticulture, of which Miss Castner was 

 chairman. Accompanied by this committee she visited the 



