The following information is all that I can ascertain. There are no special horticultural colleges for ladies in this country, but they are admitted to all the agricultural colleges. They may take the same degrees as men.
As yet only one lady has received the highest degree accorded, namely Agricultural Engineer, and two others are now studying.
No opening for women in this sphere of activity has presented itself so far, but I am informed that undoubtedly very soon the public will appreciate their efforts and employ them in preference to men.
In all public schools pupils from the fourth to sixth grades of both sexes receive notions of agriculture, and are practically taught the care and cultivation of indoor plants. In some few schools that have the necessary ground, pupils are also instructed in cultivating vegetable and flower plants.
CHAPTER XVII
GARDENING AND NATURE-STUDY IN CANADA AND AUSTRALIA
The question of gardening for women in Canada is admirably dealt with—together with that of “Nature-Study”—in the following communication which I have received from Miss E. Ritchie, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It will be seen that while “Nature-Study” is taking a prominent position in the curriculum of the public school—the profession of gardening for women has barely entered into consideration:—
I very much regret that the information I can now send is far from complete as regards the whole Dominion. Our committee on education is not really in working order, only two members—both from Ontario cities—having been appointed by “local councils,” so that I have myself had to collect facts from the other provinces without having local knowledge to guide me. In Canada educational matters are subject entirely to provincial control, and the system differs in the various provinces, so there is no Central Bureau of information at Ottawa. The following statements may, I think, be relied upon as correct as far as they go.
1. Nature-Study is taught to some extent in the public schools all over Canada (I am not quite sure about Quebec, about which my information is imperfect, but I believe it is probably true of that province also). In Nova Scotia, which is a fairly representative province in such matters, nature-study occupies a part of every day in all the schools, and so far as my own observation goes, it seems to be taught sensibly, and in a way to interest the children; they are made familiar with the growth of plants, the habits of insects, the appearance, songs, and migration of the different kinds of birds, etc., and are encouraged in making simple nature-observation for themselves. In the higher grades this teaching merges into more specifically agricultural and scientific work.
2. School gardens are becoming more numerous throughout Canada; Ontario probably takes the lead in this respect. Sir William Macdonald, who is devoting very large sums to the development of the more practical side of education, has inaugurated a number of school gardens in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and (I think) British Columbia.
As of possible interest in this connection, I may mention a plan carried out by the Halifax Local Council of Women to encourage a love of gardening among city children. Seeds of six hardy varieties of flowers are bought wholesale in the spring, and sold through the school teachers to children desiring them at cost price. Each child for six cents (threepence) got a package containing small packages of the six kinds of seed, and simple printed directions for sowing and caring for them. An exhibition of flowers grown from these seeds was held in the month of August, and prizes given for the best bouquets, and also for “compositions” on the raising of flowers. Last year some 6,000 children bought the seeds, and the exhibition of flowers was quite remarkable, even the children from the poorer parts of the city having done remarkably well. I am in hopes other “local councils” will follow us in this work.