The hopeless intellectual outlook of agricultural pursuits dissevered from contact with the foremost thought and scientific experiments of to-day has driven the enterprising progressive workers of both sexes from the land to the towns.
Miss Woodhull, of Norton Park, Bredon’s Norton, near Tewkesbury, who has gone deeply into the agricultural problem, more especially the great need for the extension of intensive culture, has retained a fine old Elizabethan manor house on her estate, which she has renovated and filled with beautiful old furniture for the club.
Since the lighter branches of agriculture have taken such a prominent place on the list of suitable occupations for women, there has been a great demand for some place where the subjects could be studied for short or long periods. Though short courses are held no college as yet has filled this want.
Where a large number of students are together it is necessary to have a certain number of rules which compel them to lead the ordinary college life. In many cases it is not convenient to do this, and so many a woman who sometimes finds she has a week or two at her disposal and would very much like to come to a place of this sort is debarred from doing so.
It is hoped this club will do much to solve the problem of what is to be done with the healthy, energetic unmarried woman of the present day, who has a little capital, and who wishes to live in the country, instead of leading a narrow and restricted life in towns. In Bredon’s Norton in a simple way she can live her own life, have congenial employment, and at the same time add to her income without being cut off from associating with people of her own standing, or debarred from intellectual occupations, which is so often the result if an isolated country life is led devoted entirely to agricultural pursuits.
The result, so far, is satisfactory. The scheme is in its second year, and has earned a right to its recognition by the public. Since January, 1906, several cottages have been secured in the village, and have been made suitable for gentlewomen to reside in. These have all been taken by those who carry on whatever work they are interested in. Some members have taken up half-acre plots, and among other things are growing tomatoes in large quantities.
The club is unique of its kind; while combining opportunities for the higher intellectual pursuits and attracting those who have travelled and read extensively, it enables those who wish to specialise in the lighter branches of agriculture to carry out their work under the following conditions:
1. Members staying at the club will be able to take lessons in gardening, dairy or poultry work, or bee-keeping, for long or short periods.
2. Members who have trained at any of the existing colleges can reside at the club and rent small plots, from half an acre upwards, which will enable them to make a start either in market gardening or otherwise with very little outlay.
3. A horticultural school is carried on in connection with the club. The younger students under the necessary supervision will live in separate houses.