I am often questioned as to whether a lady can possibly exert authority and influence over a working man. I am certain, if she is the right kind of woman, she can. Let her, without hesitation, dismiss the first drunken under-gardener she meets with, and the others will respect her, and not try to take advantage of her because she is a woman.
(4) As companions.
The above remarks apply chiefly to a large flower and vegetable garden. I think women are equally suited to small posts. We often hear of a maiden lady living in the country who needs company. She would be pleased if a nice, cheerful, bright girl lived with her to share her pleasure in the garden. The strength and vigour of the young girl would compass things which the elderly lady could not attempt unassisted. Thus companionship would be added to the joy of gardening.
THE RUINS, RATTON PARK, SUSSEX.
WHICH THE HON. MRS. FREEMAN-THOMAS HAS ENLIVENED WITH CHARMING BOX-EDGED BEDS OF BRIGHT FLOWERS.
Photograph by Pictorial Agency.
Then, also, we know of many a young married woman with a large family of children, whose limited means necessitate a country life. The children are sent to school, and return home only in holiday time, or they have daily teachers who leave them after lessons. Surely an arrangement might be made by which some of their free time could be turned to profitable, and yet pleasant account, by their working a little in the garden under the direction of the lady gardener. Children love planting and digging. If encouraged, they will take the greatest interest in beautifying a garden. Some lessons in nature study, too, could be given occasionally to increase their love for a country life.
This comparatively new idea of having someone to talk over garden arrangements with, in a friendly and more or less companionable way, usually smiles upon the woman of the house. She, at last, sees within her reach the possibility of achieving artistic effects which she has long thought of in her day dreams, but has failed to get carried out. Against the dark green yew hedge, how lovely will be the group of tall, stately pink hollyhocks, with pale rose-coloured annual larkspurs, Japanese anemones, and silver-foliaged plants intermingled with them! What lovely combinations of plants bearing similar coloured foliage she can arrange to plant together! There will be irises, German and Spanish ones, then the white drooping bells of hyacinth candicans, followed by scarlet tritomas and montbretias, bringing their brightness to cheer dull autumn days. How satisfactorily she now will be able to maintain a constant succession of colour in herbaceous borders throughout the year!
In short, the advent of a lady gardener is pleasing to her. Her husband will probably not approve the innovation. “If I see the poor thing out working in a heavy downpour of rain, I shall feel a brute not to go and help her,” he will say as he smokes his pipe reflectively, and meditates over the follies of womenkind. But, I ask, what man head gardener need work in rain? If he does, he will probably do more harm than good, by making a mess of the ground. Need he, wet or fine, do much manual labour? No! his duties lie chiefly in directing the men under his charge; in executing the lighter, but more intricate work of pruning, thinning out grapes, and secretarial duties. Above all, he must plan the succession of crops. All these matters can be done equally well, if not more speedily, by an educated woman.