254 GARDENING FOR WOMEN 



for a year's tuition. The instruction given is entirely 

 practical. Arrangements are made to obtain rooms for 

 pupils in tlie village, tlie charges being (approximately) 

 one guinea for a single room and board, and fifteen shillings 

 each for a room shared. 



The work of the year is, in general : — ^In spring, the 

 taking of cuttings and planting out ; in summer, the tending 

 of plants and cutting of runners ; in autumn, the lifting 

 into frames, and the selHng, packing and despatching of 

 plants and flowers ; in winter, the picking of blossoms 

 and the tending of plants in frames. Of the four, spring 

 is the busiest and most instructive season for violet- 

 growers, but it is advisable that pupils should, if possible, 

 remain in the nurseries for the full year. 



The work is exceedingly healthy — above all other 

 open-air employments — owing to the fact that the smell 

 of \'iolets has medicinal qualities. The pleasure of the 

 work proves its ample reward, apart from the pecuniary 

 success, to all who give themselves to it, unreservedly, 

 with physical and mental vigour. 



Amongst ladies who are supervising, or them- 

 selves undertaking, market gardens, are the fol- 

 lowing. They all write hopefully about their 

 work, but seem of one accord in thinking that it 

 is only by the combination of their brains and 

 the work of a labouring man that success ensues. 



Miss Dora Groome, at Heath Nursery Gardens, 

 Petersfield, has the largest nursery garden in the neigh- 

 bourhood, but only employs men. 



