NORWAY
The Norwegian agricultural high school has a special class for horticulture, and here ladies are given the highest education. After two years’ study they obtain the title of “Cand-horticulture,” which means a certificated gardener.
Before being admitted, it is necessary to have done practical work in a garden for two years, and to have passed an examination in a smaller school of horticulture. The three following are the lower schools:—
Berly school for lady gardeners was established in 1901. It is supported by Government, and has a grant of about 4,000 kroner a year. The principal is Mr. M. Nilsen, and there is a teacher besides. Only ten students are admitted each year, and up to now seventy young ladies have been educated here.
Vaartum school for lady gardeners, at Stenlyaer, is also supported by Government, with a grant of 4,000 kroner a year. The principal is Mr. Solstael, and there is one teacher besides. Ten students are admitted yearly. Ladies are trained here for work in their own gardens, as well as for other employment.
Hastum school for lady gardeners, at Kristiania, was established in 1906. This school is inspected by Government, but does not receive a grant. The principals are the Misses Frölich. Sixteen students are admitted yearly.
These schools all have practical and theoretical courses which last seven months. Hastum school also admits students for six-week courses. Instruction is given in the cultivation of fruit, vegetables, and flowers. Fruit-preserving is also taught. Training plants, forcing, frame and hot-bed culture, chemistry, botany, agriculture, and the diseases of plants are taught by lecture. At the same time students have to practise out-of-doors what they have learnt theoretically.
From the Norwegian horticultural high school only one lady has up to now passed out, but about 140 ladies in all have been through the lower schools. Several of these have bought land to work on themselves, others have taken posts in private gardens or in market gardens. They usually receive a salary of 25–30 kr. a month, besides a house and food. Others work in their own home gardens. Vegetables and fruit grow well, the flavour of them being far better than those grown further south.
I am told upon good authority that Norwegian women realise more and more that a great work lies before them out-of-doors, and they begin to prefer contact with Nature to sedentary work in offices.