III.—THE ROYAL GARDENS AT ROSENBORG CASTLE, COPENHAGEN
Both men and women pupils are received, for a two years’ course. The training is chiefly practical. Theoretical instruction is given during winter in two lessons of two hours each a week in the mornings, and three lessons of two hour each in the afternoons. In summer there are some lessons in botany. During their training men get 10 kr. a month the first year, 24 kr. the second. Women get nothing the first year, 10 kr. a month the second, but then they have not exactly the same work.
A practical examination can be entered for after five years’ practical gardening: sometimes old students come back after some years to go in for this examination. Not many women have been trained at Rosenborg, and only one has had an appointment there—for a short time after her training.
Several estates and market gardens take women as pupils, but the training is only practical. Very few women earn an independent living as gardeners; market gardening is usually considered rather hard work for women, and, besides, requires capital, and no woman has hitherto obtained a superior situation in any of the larger gardens, public or private. When they obtain a post they are usually paid less than the men for the same work.
Upon the whole, gardening in Denmark does not seem at present to be a very recommendable career for women who have to earn their living by it. On the other hand, many women now study it for use in their own homes. Thus there are State-aided courses for cottagers’ wives and daughters both at Kjarhave and at a few other schools. Teachers go through a course of gardening in order to be able to teach in the school gardens.