DR. ELVIRA CASTNER’S SCHOOL OF POMOLOGY AND HORTICULTURE, MARIENFELDE
By Marie C. Vorwerk
In 1877 a German lady-student was living in the American seaport of Baltimore. She loved in her leisure hours to seek the harbour and watch the ships come and go. One day in autumn she saw with astonishment, from a train of perhaps fifteen to twenty coaches, an immense quantity of small square boxes unloaded and brought to a ship. On inquiry as to their contents, where they came from, and whither bound, she was told they were apples from California, destined for Germany, and that this fruit was sent every year in increasing numbers to Germany and other European countries.
STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL OF POMOLOGY AND HORTICULTURE MARIENFELDE, NEAR BERLIN.
Why should Germany import foreign fruit? Has she not in all her provinces tracts of land with conditions and climate suitable for fruit and vegetable growing, and why should not German women earn a livelihood by horticulture? From these questions, which the student asked herself in the harbour of Baltimore, has arisen the Horticultural School of Marienfelde. In the meantime the lady was naturally inclined to continue her chosen career of dentistry, to finish her studies, and begin to earn her living. But the idea would not rest! Whoever comes to Marienfelde to-day and sees there the stately building in its large garden, or has met a lady-gardener, trained at Marienfelde, in her thoroughly satisfying calling, must acknowledge what splendid results have sprung from this idea of the German student in the distant American commercial town.
A bee-hive with the inscription, “No reward without diligence,” is carved over one of the entrance-doors of the school a suitable escutcheon as warning and incentive to the entering students, and not less as a reminder of the origin of the school and the busy life of its foundress.
Elvira Castner was a chemist’s daughter, born in 1844 in a small town of western Prussia, and was a very lively, clever child. That she might not have to go from home for her education, her parents sent her to a boys’ school, kept by a very scholarly pastor; there she eagerly studied every subject up till then reserved for boys. After two years at a seminary in Posen, she passed her teacher’s examination. She liked her calling as teacher, but owing to throat trouble had to give up this profession. She went to Berlin for five years, and her health being re-established, her long-restrained love for medicine woke to new life. Liberal Berlin granted her what had been unattainable in the provinces.
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 horticultural schools, pomological institutions and model-gardens in Reutlingen, 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 counsel 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 realised, and gave the school her warmest interest. As vice-president of the Berlin 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 Charlottenburger school, and came back quite disillusioned. That school of horticulture was not to her mind; the tending of flowers was undertaken, but without any solid instruction, and fruit and vegetable cultivation were 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 calling?
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 little lady, Frau Rackau, from Jena, came to Berlin 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 public 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 into living-and classrooms for the future scholars. The necessary tools were obtained, and so the work began, though differently from Miss Castner’s first intentions. As it had not been possible to rouse the active interest of educated German women, particularly those living in the country, the school could not be limited to their own country-women, as had been the original plan. Our statistical tables plainly show how largely foreigners are in the majority.
The difficulties of the beginning were successfully overcome; the garden, now three acres, attracted students in growing numbers. In April, 1895, ten new scholars joined the original seven, and in the next year seventeen were added. From that time a regular increase went on.
Yet many hindrances remained. If women were indifferent, gardeners showed the liveliest, though not friendly, interest in the scheme, and it took years to convince them they would not be harmed by the new ideas.
Prominent men like Professors Wittenack, Herren, Ascherson, Sorauer, Garden-Inspector Lindemint, and others, whose judgment carried great weight, were most sceptical. They feared, not without cause, that the training for women, as was too common, would be imperfect. Some examinations, at which they were present on the invitation of Dr. Elvira Castner, convinced them of the thoroughness of our work, and with just pride we count them now amongst our truest friends.
The establishment soon won general respect. House and garden at Friedenau became too small, and a move was made in October, 1899, to Marienfelde, where the garden of ten acres and the large house promised to be sufficient for years to come. Miss Castner gave up her dental practice and devoted herself entirely to the school. The interest of German women was at last awakened, and what was impossible ten years previously was now imitated in Godesberg and other places. Schools of horticulture, on the Marienfelde model, were started.
Next comes the question of the training and the after career of the students. The prospectus and plan of studies of the institution abundantly answer the first question. I believe I can rightly say one seldom finds such an excellent organisation, with so harmonious an intermingling of theory and practice. The gardener’s calling is thoroughly practical, but theoretical instruction cannot be left in the background. In our school only the afternoon hours belong to scientific exposition, the whole morning is devoted to practical work. This is more necessary, as most ladies come to us without the slightest preliminary knowledge, and an obligatory previous apprenticeship was part of our ideal scheme. It is no slight task for a head-gardener to overlook and occupy in the garden fifty to sixty ladies, many without former training. A suitable organisation, formed in the course of years, considerably lightens this task, and the number of students in the gardens might be doubled without causing Herr Cornelius (our present head-gardener) much more trouble. Each lady learns to begin and finish her task without help; second year students are allowed partly to arrange their own work for each season, and are responsible for their management of it.
The ten-acre garden is not sufficient to employ the many students, although all the work is done by the ladies; more ground has been added, and, in addition, each class undertakes to keep in order one or two private gardens in the colony.
What becomes of all the students after training? Do they find really satisfactory posts? Up till now the situations offered cannot be filled, there not being sufficient candidates. The great varieties in the exercise of this calling, which in my opinion are not nearly exhausted, promise to all women, giving themselves to it, a suitable and pleasant occupation.
All nerve and lung sanatoria, as well as Nature Cure establishments, on whose patients garden work exercises such a beneficial effect, all house-keeping schools, kindergarten, benevolent institutions and orphanages will, it is to be hoped, in a few years, consider the appointment of a trained lady gardener a matter of course. Then come posts in private gardens, in town or country, nursery gardens, soon it is to be hoped school gardens, and all new schools of horticulture.
A glance at our statistics shows that proportionately few scholars of the two years’ course undergo the examination, and later take situations. This is explained by the different scholars who come here, and who may be divided into three classes:—
1. Those who actually prepare for a profession.
2. So-called “hospitantinnen,” mostly ailing ladies, ordered by a doctor work in the open air.
3. Young girls between sixteen and eighteen years of age, who in healthy open-air work seek relaxation after school time, and a substitute for the usual year in a boarding-school. This state of affairs is not likely to last much longer. New institutions will branch off; some, perhaps, only for delicate women, others reserved for young girls.
STATISTICAL OBSERVATIONS
The school was from October 1, 1894, to April 1, 1904, attended by
| Two years’ scholars | 114 |
| One year scholars | 31 |
| Scholars less than a year | 33 |
| Special students | 54 |
| Total | 232 |
| April 1, 1904. Scholars received | 13 |
| April 1, 1904. Special scholars received | 7 |
| May, 1904. Special scholars received | 2 |
| 254 |
Till April 1, 1904, course completed by 77 scholars. Of those
| In situations | 38 |
| Occupied at home | 18 |
| Self-supporting on their own account | 9 |
| Married | 4 |
| Studying botany and chemistry | 2 |
| Occupation and residence unknown | 6 |
| Total | 77 |
| In the school | 37 |
| Total | 114 |
There remain in the school 37 scholars + 13 = 50 + 9 special students.
NATIONALITIES
| German | 218 |
| Dutch | 8 |
| Norwegian | 4 |
| Italian | 1 |
| Bulgarian | 1 |
| Russian | 14 |
| Austrian | 5 |
| American | 1 |
| Swiss | 1 |
| Roumanian | 1 |
| Total | 254 |
For five years our horticultural school has given a course for teachers, which is held in two divisions of fourteen days, one in spring, the other in August. A quite special programme is sketched out for it, and everything necessary for regulating a school garden is taught to teachers in the shortest possible way. Teachers must carry out all the tasks given, by themselves. Twenty-five teachers have taken advantage of this course, four of these from Königsberg, in East Prussia.
THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS FROM THE PROSPECTUS OF THE MARIENFELDE SCHOOL SHOW ITS PRESENT DEVELOPMENT
(Formerly Friedenau, near Berlin)
OBJECT OF THE INSTITUTION
The intention of the School of Pomology and Horticulture is, by theoretical instruction and practical work, to fit women and girls of good education to take posts as professional gardeners, or to turn their acquired knowledge into money by the cultivation of their own ground. Above all, they learn that intelligent cultivation of the soil brings better crops and produce, and with better sale a higher value to the ground, and that all the necessary work can be carried on with success by women. Those scholars who wish to qualify as gardeners must go through a two years’ course. At the expiry of this an examination is held, which confers a leaving certificate on the successful candidates. Those who have not attended the course regularly or have not accomplished the desired quantity of practical or theoretical work, or who do not wish to undergo the examination, as well as those who, after a one year’s course, leave the institution, receive, if they wish it, a certificate of attendance at the school.
A.—COURSE FOR SCHOLARS
The course is for two years, and pupils are admitted at the beginning of April and October of each year. The theoretical instruction embraces these branches:—
1. Pomology.—Planting, cultivation, care of fruit-trees and berry bushes, improvement, pruning, knowledge of species, preservation and sale of fruit, forcing under glass, pot fruit culture.
2. Viticulture.—Planting and training of the vine.
3. Cultivation of vegetables on waste land, sale and preserving, hot-beds.
4. Flower culture.—Special attention given to the rose (propagation and improvement).
5. Arboriculture.—Cultivation, increase and description of the chief kinds of woods with information of their decorative value for landscape gardening.
6. Landscape gardening and design.—Sketches and plans of gardens and pleasure-grounds.
7. Land surveying and levelling.
8. Lessons in soils and manures.
9. Botany, anatomy, physiology.—Systems, morphology and geography of plants, diseases of plants.
10. Chemistry.—The most important constituents of organic and inorganic chemistry, and the most important minerals for plants.
11. Zoology.—Animals hurtful or beneficial to pomology and horticulture.
12. Geometry.
13. Binding, tying.
14. Bee-rearing.:
15. The most important and practical legal knowledge.
16. Book-keeping and correspondence.
17. Instruction in management.
The practical work is carried on under the guidance and supervision of a head-gardener, which work must be done unconditionally according to the arrangement of the head or his substitute: Work begins in summer at seven o’clock, in winter at eight.
The plan of work, containing all details, is settled at the beginning of every session. Holidays of three weeks at Christmas, and of fourteen days in summer. The students must leave the institution during the Christmas holidays, owing to the necessary yearly repairs. Permission to remain is only given in urgent cases. Irregular attendance at the institution is a cause of dismissal before the end of the course. The course ends with the examination.
Bee-rearing is practically undertaken. Those ladies interested in poultry-breeding get the opportunity to acquire the rudiments of this knowledge.
CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION
Necessary conditions of admission are a healthy body fit for the work, and education in the first class of a secondary girls’ school. To this must be added a short account of one’s life. Minors must have the written consent of their father, whose agreement to bear all the expenses of attending the school must be given.
DRESS
For practical work a special dress is prescribed: reform-dress of coarse woollen stuff (linen in summer) and an apron. In the wet season of the year wooden shoes must be worn. Students provide at their own cost: garden knife, grafting and fertilising knife, stock shears, tree saws and pocket scissors. Instruments and the suitable clothing can be purchased after entry into the institution, as there is no variation in the dress (stuff, colour, and cut). Those scholars received as boarders must bring with them mattress and feather-bed (bedsteads with spiral spring-mattresses are provided) as well as bed-linen, towels, serviettes, spoons, knives and forks. Bedsteads and other large pieces of furniture may not be brought or procured.
Scholars are not accepted under sixteen years.
B.—COURSE FOR SPECIAL STUDENTS
1. For those who, on account of ill-health, want to occupy themselves for a time in the open air. These have only practical work, and do not take part in the theoretical instruction. Admission from April to October, or for a longer or shorter time.
2. Those who wish to take theoretical instruction along with the other. Admission April and October.
C.—SPECIAL COURSE
1. Course for teachers of fourteen days’ duration in spring, and the same in autumn.
2. Course for owners of gardens (February-March), lasting four weeks. Care of fruit-trees and pruning.
FEES
Scholars (Course A) whose parents do not reside in the near neighbourhood of Marienfelde must live in the institution, so far as there is room. If all places are filled, other boarding-houses will be recommended. Board in the school (without laundry) amounts to £4 per month, instruction 25s., and are both paid quarterly, the first term beforehand.
The cost of board in other pensions is from £4 10s. to £5 per month, according to size of room.
Monthly fee for Course A (first quarter in advance), £1 5s.; monthly fee for Course B1 (one month payable in advance), £1 15s. monthly fee for Course B2 (a quarter payable in advance), £1 15s.; monthly fee for Course C1 (each division in advance), 10s.; monthly fee for Course C2 (payable in advance), £2.
Scholars who wish to leave the institution before the end of the course must give three months’ notice; this can only be done in January and June.
Should a pupil leave for any cause whatever in the middle of a quarter no reduction is made, and board and fees must be paid for the next term.
For the six winter months (October to April) 3s. per month for heating, and each session 3s. for use of garden utensils, are levied from each scholar.
It is expected and supposed that each scholar will conduct herself as a lady, in and out of the institution. Unladylike behaviour, as well as contravention of the rules of the house, necessary to the maintenance of discipline, may be punished by dismissal from the school.
Principal and Owner: Elvira Castner.
Dr. D. S.