234 GAEDENING FOE WOMEN 



of tlie six kinds of seed, and simple printed directions for 

 sowing and caring for tliem. An exliibition of flowers 

 grown from these seeds was held in the month of August, 

 and prizes given for the best bouquets, and also for " com- 

 positions " on the raising of flowers. Last year some 6,000 

 children bought the seeds, and the exhibition of flowers 

 was quite remarkable, even the children from the poorer 

 parts of the city having done remarkably well. I am in 

 hopes other " local councils " will follow us in this work. 



3, In regard to the status and prospects of professional 

 women gardeners in Canada, I have been unable to get much 

 information. Few, if any women here, have deliberately 

 chosen this calling as their hfe's work. It must be remem- 

 bered that almost every woman living in the country in 

 Canada, whether married or not, has to do a large part, 

 often all, of her own housework, servants of any kind 

 being, except in the towns, almost unobtainable — in the 

 North-West Provinces absolutely so ; this renders it 

 difficult for her to undertake outdoor work that would 

 occupy a great part of her time. I think all gentlewomen 

 thinking of settling in the rural parts of Canada should 

 fully realise the bearings of that most troublesome enigma, 

 "the servant problem," which we have in its extremest 

 form in this country. Apart from this I should imagine 

 that gardening, in the neighbourhood of a good market, 

 might be carried on by women with very satisfactory 

 results — some capital and good business ability being 

 supposed. 



I do not think there would be at present many openings 

 in Canada for lady teachers of gardening, as such subjects 



