Proprietors: Misses A. and D. Allen-Brown.
The Violet Nurseries, instituted a few years ago in a small garden, now extend over several acres, and are carried forward on practical business lines.
The Misses Allen-Brown, specialist violet growers, do the entire work of the nurseries, with the assistance of a boy and of any pupils who may be with them.
Pupils are received on payment of five guineas premium for a year’s tuition. The instruction given is entirely practical. Arrangements are made to obtain rooms for pupils in the village, the charges being (approximately) one guinea for a single room and board, and fifteen shillings each for a room shared.
The work of the year is, in general:—In spring, the taking of cuttings and planting out; in summer, the tending of plants and cutting of runners; in autumn, the lifting into frames, and the selling, packing and despatching of plants and flowers; in winter, the picking of blossoms and the tending of plants in frames. Of the four, spring is the busiest and most instructive season for violet-growers, but it is advisable that pupils should, if possible, remain in the nurseries for the full year.
The work is exceedingly healthy—above all other open-air employments—owing to the fact that the smell of violets has medicinal qualities. The pleasure of the work proves its ample reward, apart from the pecuniary success, to all who give themselves to it, unreservedly, with physical and mental vigour.
Amongst ladies who are supervising, or themselves undertaking, market gardens, are the following. They all write hopefully about their work, but seem of one accord in thinking that it is only by the combination of their brains and the work of a labouring man that success ensues.
Miss Dora Groome, at Heath Nursery Gardens, Petersfield, has the largest nursery garden in the neighbourhood, but only employs men.
Miss A. Cross, Cleveland, Bere Alston, Devon, writes that, having been trained at Studley College, she has lately started a nursery garden. At present the garden is only three-quarters of an acre in extent, but it is proposed to add to it each year. It will be eventually a fruit and asparagus market garden, supplemented by poultry and milking goats.
Miss Birtell and her sisters have a violet farm at the Cottage, Shripney, near Bognor. They do all the work in connection with the violets themselves, and also make the frames and glaze and paint the lights. A labouring man does the rough digging. Miss Birtell has two acres of land and about half of it is devoted only to the violets.