BELGIUM
I am told upon good authority that although up to the present moment no schools of horticulture have been founded for ladies, the Government is contemplating the institution of one. In 1907 six young ladies joined the classes of the Government School of Horticulture at Ghent. At the Vilvorde Government School of Horticulture three young women (foreigners) followed the school training, and one of them received a diploma. Quite recently a horticultural section has been opened in the Pensionnat d’Hiverlé, and three young ladies have joined it. Belgium possesses many écoles ménagères agricoles for women, but these are more for agricultural or farming supervision.
At the Horticultural Congress held in 1907 at St. Crond (in the province of Lunbourg), M. de Vuyst read an interesting paper in favour of gardening instruction for ladies.
Mademoiselle Rossignon in her admirable private school for girls at 86, Rue Gachard, Avenue Louise, Brussels, has organised classes where gardening is taught. Here, each girl has the management of a plot of ground, and elementary landscape gardening from simple designs is shown. Besides being taught the use to which land can be put for the cultivation of vegetables, fruit and flowers, students can learn preserving and cooking fruits and vegetables.