The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-03-07
WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE.

WUMkN IN A6kkCULTURE
Concerning the outdoor occupations
for women which have lately attained
a wholesome popularity and are going
to rescue women from their nerves,
Miss Mary E. Cutler, who is herself
one of the most successful market
gardeners in Massachusetts,, speaks
most encouragingly
Raising flowers in greenhouses
for market is profession for which
women are proving themselves es-
pecially adapted she says in the
Boston Transcript ''It is business
that has to be learned like any other,
but with little experience, added to
natural qualification, such as perseve-
rance, energy and common sense, one
is sure to succeed. The plant 1 own
and am running at the present time
was started on $3.50, and have built
up a large, we'll paying business.
Given an acre of land, the first re-
quisite, of course, is greenhouse. A
modest one can be built for 500, and
rough heating apparatus can be put
in for $50. The cost of plant and
seeds is slight. and other expense,
such as tools, fertilizers, cold frames
for starting the plants, etc., would
amount to little on so small scale.
The secret of success is to utilize every
inch of space. In vegetable house
the tables can be filled with lettuce,
cucumbers or tomatoes, while rhubarb
and mushrooms can be grown on the
ground underneath. A good head
for planning is a necessity, and no
time must be wasted between crops.
"The demand and supply for car
nation pinks were never so great at
the present time. Women all over
the country are raising these with
great success. lam engaged in grow
ing pinks, and grow them for profit
as we'll as pleasure. Miss Taylor, a
florist, has two carnation houses, one
nineteen by thirty-seven feet, anoth-
er eighty-seven by twenty six feet.
She gives all her time to the work,
stock and caring for the houses. She:
has found market for everything III
her own town, which is much more
profitable than selling on commission.
She has perfect health, enjoys her
work, and supports her father and
mother. In these progressive times
the handle of the agricultural tool is
coming to know the grasp of the wo-
mans hand almost as we'll as the nee-
die or the broom, and many women
are making regulations as farmers of
progress.
"Among the agriculturists are
wives, widows and maidens women
who have entered the ranks for the
pleasure they could get out of it or
for philanthropic purposes. They are
cultivating thousands of acres, using
the steam engine as plowman. The
majority conduct farms of more than
100 acres, while few are contented
with single acre, depending on the
spade and hoe.
Poultry culture and the cultiva-
zion of tomatoes are other remunera-
tive lines which are being pursued by
women, and even college training is
found of service, for education and
brains are needed in the business.
Two young women in Compton, R. l.,
are example of college graduates go
ing directly into outdoor work. These
women saw chance to make money
by supplying Newport's epicures with
dainties. Their spring lamb, young
geese apd hot-house grapes bring
fancy prices, and there ism t an 'oIogy'
that they studied but contributes in
some way to their success.
"But if woman decides to take
up flower and vegetable culture as a
profession she ought, if it be possible,
to fit herself for it by previous course
of study in some agricultural college;
she should De familiar with botany
and chemistry. If she has a chance
to travel and study the fora of other
countries, she has the greater chance
of making a name for herself. Miss
Myra Dock, of Philadelphia, is an IL
lustration. She was sent by the Park
Commissioners to study the park sys-
tenn in Europe. Trees should be
studied as we'll as landscape garden
ing. Perhaps some day women may
be Park Commissioners, and parks to-
day show the need of some new ele-
ment in that department of civic life. "
SURE TO OCCUR.
Judge Pennypacker in public ad-
dress once predicted certain popular
movement as sure to occur within
given time. A friend asked the judge