20 JUNE 1908, Page 17

GARDENING FOR WOMEN.

[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—With reference to your observations about women as jobbing gardeners in the Spectator of May 30th, may I give my experience in support of what Miss Wolseley says ? I have adopted jobbing in preference to a post as head-gardener by the advice of a friend, and find the work much pleasanter, having more variety and independence, besides shorter hours. Others who have tried it agree with me. We charge more than the ordinary jobber, the scale, of course, varying with the district. A lady I know near London gets 7s. 6d. a day, and works from nine to five. In other places we do not get so much. People are willing to give us extra pay in considera- tion of our knowing more than the ordinary jobber. I under- take all the work of the garden if my employers wish it ; but in the larger gardens they find it cheaper to employ a man for the mowing and Leavy digging, and I do the finer work, such as pruning, laying out flower-beds, and attending to vines and peaches, &c. Some combine this work with the possession of a small garden and greenhouse, in which they can raise plants' for their patrons' gardens.—I am, Sir, &c., JOBBING GARDENER.