Gardening for women

There is small doubt that the subject of emigration to South Africa appeals to young Englishwomen, buoyant with youth and hopefulness, ambitious for adventure. A singular fascination exists about that virgin soil, clear air, brilliant sunlight. We know that nurses, teachers, mothers’ helps, servants are needed there. Unhesitatingly we recommend young women who belong to these professions to go to South Africa. They must thoroughly weigh beforehand the hardship of leaving home, and fully realise the obstacles they will have to overcome in a new country. Having faced these difficulties, they can, however, be confident of success, for the refining influence of women is fully appreciated in what are still somewhat uncivilised surroundings.

“Is this so with lady gardeners, are they likely to prove useful in South Africa?” This is a question often asked, and still somewhat difficult to answer. Experience of the subject is meagre, and the idea of sending ladies as gardeners to our colonies is a new one. We have had brilliant examples of success, and at the present moment a lady gardener at Bloemfontein is doing good work. Miss Hewetson’s report to the South African Colonisation Society, on Cape Colony Fruit-farming, tells us, perhaps, most about the subject, and we feel that her views can guide us, as her supervision of the work of Kaffirs for a year and a half gave her personal experience in the matter. We know that there are vast possibilities of fruitful cultivation if only there existed more skilled, directing heads. What a change might be made in the production of the soil, if educated guides superintended the merely mechanical work of Kaffirs!

It is intelligence and enlightenment that are needed, brains that are wanted more than hands. We are told that it takes three busy months to prune fruit trees on a large Cape Colony farm. These fruit trees make only moderate growth, as in England, but in Natal growth is tropically luxuriant, and in pruning much wood has to be left for shade, otherwise the fruit becomes sunbaked. To carry out properly such operations intelligence is necessary. Then, again, we know that fruit packing and grading are large undertakings on many farms. We read of a farm with 30,000 fruit trees and several vineyards, and can readily understand, not only the number of hands needed to sort and pack fruit, but the necessity of having clever overseers to speed on such work. Old inhabitants assure us that large profits could be made in dairying, poultry-rearing, bee-keeping, or flower-growing by English ladies who were earnest and adaptable, and possessed of capital as well as brains. The climate does not allow a white woman to dig or to undertake heavy work, but her services should be valuable to organise work for the natives. Until we have more definite examples of success, it is unwise to urge ladies to go to South Africa as gardeners. The safest course is, perhaps, to relate the steps that have up to now been taken, and leave all decision to the good judgment of those who contemplate taking up a profession which holds out decidedly good prospects to ladies who can face some degree of adventure. Much depends upon the natural taste and ambition of a woman. With good health, energy, and intelligence, people usually succeed in any country.

The most important matter that has so far been undertaken is the organisation of a colonial branch of training at Swanley College for lady gardeners. Here, students are put through a course, intended to fit them, to a certain degree, for posts on fruit farms, dairy farms, and private gardens in South Africa. This training at home, excellent as it is, must, however, be supplemented by apprenticeship in the colony itself. The difficulties of a foreign land cannot be grasped in England. A college for lady gardeners in South Africa itself is what is really needed, and no doubt in time it will be started. Meanwhile, until it is in existence, it is necessary for those who contemplate going as gardeners to the colonies to learn as much as possible at home. A two years’ course should be taken in fruit-growing, packing, jam-making, bee-keeping, etc. These subjects, if thoroughly understood in our climate, will present fewer difficulties, and will be easier to deal with in new surroundings. An application to Mrs. Hopkinson, chairwoman of the South African Colonisation Society’s Agricultural Committee, and of the colonial branch of the Horticultural College, Swanley, will secure all necessary information. The South African Colonisation Society offers advice as to climate conditions. It is also constantly looking out for possible openings in South Africa, where experience of soil, climate and cultivation can be acquired.

However successful one may be in out-of-door pursuits in England, the knowledge will still be inadequate in the colonies. The chance of success will lie in undertaking work with a spirit of pure humility. Only after a thorough course of instruction in the country itself can the management of a post of any degree of responsibility be attempted.

One considerable source of difficulty is the question of a white woman as overseer being left unprotected among Kaffirs. In small gardens, with only one “boy,” this danger is reduced, but in large ones it is almost a necessity that two ladies should protect each other. The proportion of men to women is about seven to one, and, therefore, some may consider that South Africa will not be, as regards lady gardeners, a woman’s country for another fifty years. That it will be so then, we who are anxious to see the better cultivation of our great colony, upon lines indicated for us by Cecil Rhodes, venture to hope. When Englishwomen have firmly established a good reputation as landscape gardeners, directing experts and teachers in the mother country, they will doubtless be welcomed with enthusiasm in our colonies.

To those who are not deterred from making an attempt at gardening in South Africa by these few difficulties, I venture to give the following practical hints, which I am allowed to publish by the kindness of the South African Colonisation Society:—

BOARD AND LODGING

OUTFIT

The same clothes are needed in South Africa as in England, except that furs are not necessary, and a larger supply of washing dresses, etc., are needed for the longer summers. Wool of some sort must always be worn next the skin, even if it is only a cholera belt in the hottest weather, on account of the sudden falls in the temperature. In the Transvaal and Orange River Colony the winters are bitterly cold, and warm underwear is there very necessary.

Warm wraps are essential, as the nights seem bitterly cold by contrast to the hot, sunny days. Washing fabrics should be chosen of fast colours; white linen, holland and Tussore silk wear the best. Light unwashable materials are unwise, as the dust is terrible all over the country, and there are no good cleaners. Black and dark-coloured materials are inadvisable, as also most kinds of grey, as they become stained with red dust. Rough mixture tweeds in greens, browns and reds are most useful, or any other warm, light, dust-proof material.

Brown shoes and stockings are better than black ones, and a good supply should be taken, as the wear is harder than at home. Gauze and chiffon veils are a great comfort in a dust storm, and it is wise to have a cushion for travelling.

A thick mackintosh, overshoes, and a warm rug are essential.

It is economical to provide a really serviceable outfit, calculated to last for some time, as clothes obtained in the colony are both more expensive and less satisfactory than in England.

FARES

(2nd Class Union-Castle Intermediate Steamers)

N.B.—At least £1 10s. should be allowed for landing expenses, and about £1 for tips on board ship (the stewardess expects from 5s. to 10s., according to the amount of attention required on the voyage, and the cabin steward and table steward will expect 5s. each. Subscriptions to games and other tips are optional). An Emergency Fund of a few pounds should also be kept in hand. Passengers are met at the various ports by South African Colonisation Society agents, and they can stay at the Hostels of the South African Colonisation Society, where board and lodging are provided for from 3s. 6d. per day.

A girl with a long railway journey before her would do well to provide herself with food at the port of landing; tea and coffee can always be obtained en route.

Besides the regulation cabin trunk (this must not exceed 14 inches in height, 2 feet in breadth, or 3 feet in length), it is wise to have two smaller boxes in preference to one big one, as they are more convenient for transit in South Africa, and are less likely to get damaged in loading and unloading on board ship. Second-class passengers are allowed 25 cubic feet of baggage free on the ship; any excess is charged 1s. 6d. per cubic foot. On the South African Railways 75 lbs. only of luggage is allowed free to second-class passengers; all excess is charged according to scale.

Girls going to towns, who possess bicycles in good condition, are advised to take them, but they will have to pay duty on them—as much as 15s. in all probability; also the train freightage is heavy. On the boat they are shipped as luggage without extra charge if the 25 cubic feet of baggage be not exceeded.

Introductions to residents in South Africa are given to everyone going out under the auspices of the S.A.C.S., so that all may find friends on arriving in the new country.