Photograph by Pictorial Agency
CHAPTER VII
DRESS FOR LADY GARDENERS
The question of clothes is always an important one to the feminine mind. It is impossible to lay down any fixed rules as regards the costume best adapted to a lady gardener. Chief considerations are neatness and suitability to the climate.
It is best to have few clothes, and to have them good. It should be remembered that lady gardeners usually must brush their skirts, and possibly have to clean their own boots. A small cottage does not afford much space, so nothing should be bought which is not absolutely necessary.
Underclothing.—Wool should be worn next to the skin, both in winter and summer, and the weight of clothes varied according to the weather. A plain fitting flannel belt to cover the waist and abdomen is advisable. This is worn next the skin, whether the usual underwear be merino or not. Knickerbockers, and not petticoats, should be worn. For winter wear, ready-made blue or black stockinette ones are best. Cheap ready-made cotton ones are useful for summer; or they can be obtained in khaki drill, should that material be preferred.
Blouse or Shirt.—This should be of the simplest, untrimmed make. For student days, when there are digging and other exertions to be performed, a turn-down flannel collar, with a tie, will give most freedom of movement. For a head gardener, a stand-up linen collar will give a neat appearance. In winter a flannel or Scotch wincey blouse is warm. For summer, a tussore silk one is cool. Wincey and silk cost more than flannel and cotton, but they wear longer, and do not shrink in the wash, so the expense in the end is the same.
A strong leather belt round the waist will keep both skirt and blouse neat. If one or two swivels and spring hooks are fixed to it, a knife, keys, etc., can be attached, and thus will always be at hand.
Skirt and Coat.—Several of these are needed, all thoroughly business-like and tailor made. The skirts should clear the ankles well, and be very even all round. Nothing looks worse than one that hangs lower at the back than in front. Care should, therefore, be taken to get the tailor to see to this. In rough weather, one should be worn with a 3 in. or 4 in. lining of thin waterproof inside. This enables one to wash off the mud with a sponge, and it will help preserve the dress. Thin waterproof is preferable to leather for this purpose, as it is lighter, and does not hang like a log round the wearer when she has been out in the rain for some time.
The colour of the coat and skirt should depend upon what will least show the soil when it rubs off as tools are handled or heavy mud is walked through. For winter, homespun, Scotch, West of England, or Irish tweed should be worn; a heather mixture or light brown are best, as these show dust less than darker colours. In summer, navy blue looks smart and workmanlike, but will get dirty easily, so it should only be kept for when clean jobs are undertaken.
Blue fishwife’s flannel is inexpensive, and washes well. A loose coat or Norfolk jacket of the same material as the skirt is useful to slip over a blouse when the weather is cold, or after work is finished.