GARDENING FOR WOMEN 169 



Charlottenburger school, and came back quite disillusioned. 

 That school of horticulture was not to her niind ; the 

 tending of flowers was undertaken, but without any solid 

 instruction, and fruit and vegetable cultivation v/ere never 

 mentioned. 



At the first sitting of the commission, she gave her 

 ideas on the subject of a School for Horticulture, and was 

 requested to embody them in a report, so as to reach a 

 larger public. In complying with this desire she answered 

 clearly and convincingly the three questions : 



1. Should more be done in our Fatherland for 

 pomology and horticulture ? 



2. Is it possible for women to follow a gardener's 

 calling, and to earn a living by it ? 



3. How would an educated woman, after sufficient 

 training, find opportunity to practise this calhng ? 



The report was published in several papers, and Dr. 

 Castner received letters from all parts, asking where the 

 school of horticulture was to be found, carried out on these 

 principles. A determined httle lady, Frau Rackau, from 

 Jena, came to BerHn to present herself at this school. 

 It seemed the propitious moment to start the school ; 

 friends thronged round, circumstances were favourable. 

 An attempt by the formation of a company to interest 

 a larger pubHc failed miserably, and courageous Dr. 

 Castner, inspired by the need of giving to German women 

 the new calling of practical gardening, opened on the 

 1st October, 1894, the first German female School of 

 Horticulture, with seven scholars. The other part of the 

 Friedenauer house happened to be free ; it was turned 



