The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, No. 04 (April 1891) — John Shaqi
The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, No. 04 (April 1891)Various
General
The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, No. 04 (April 1891)
Various
English literature -- Periodicals; Short stories, English -- Periodicals
Well directed co-operation being so much more powerful than
single-handed efforts, as soon as the sufficient number of ladies have
definitely signified their intention of joining and showed us they
have the necessary £100 capital (for my five years of active practical
gardening work have plainly showed me that a little capital is
absolutely necessary for a woman to start successful market gardening),
a private Limited Liability Company will be formed--of course composed
entirely of lady gardeners. The first year they must not expect to make
more than covers expenses, including board of each household. The work
is such that any lady is well able to perform; the produce grown, all
kinds of hardy and dessert fruit under glass and in the open. Especial
attention is given to delicate vegetables and salads, mushrooms, &c.,
with flowers and poultry as an adjunct.
The market of the produce grown has from the beginning stood out
plainly before me as the vital point of success. Fortunately by
starting in a thickly populated consuming neighbourhood there seems
every probability of the greater portion, if not the whole, of the
produce being taken by people kind enough to open up deposit accounts
with the lady gardeners. After April 1, the gardens may be seen each
Thursday between 2 and 5 o'clock. Those going will kindly write their
names in the visitors' book, and pay one shilling each for being shown
over. This latter is a necessity, as it takes up the valuable time of
the lady gardeners.
The household arrangements are conducted with the greatest regularity;
the details of the _menu_ even may be gathered by those visiting the
place. The hours of meals are as follow:--
Breakfast at 8 a.m.
Early dinner 1 p.m.
Afternoon tea 4 p.m.
High tea 7 p.m.
During the busiest months of the year, April, May, and June, most of
the day will be taken up with one kind or other of light gardening
work. The long holidays must be taken in the winter. Those left at
home can send off with ease the stored crops as ordered, attend to the
plants under glass, and feed the poultry.
[Illustration: THE VINERY.]
I have been repeatedly asked why I have not started the industry near
London. My reasons for not doing so are many:--
(1) Well-situated, good land, near to a station within a few miles of
town, commands far too high a price to be thought of.
(2) The London market all the year round is far from being the best
obtainable. Some instances have come under my notice where Middlesex
growers have sent their garden produce to one or other of the great
Midland markets, the far higher price obtainable more than out-weighing
the greater amount of freight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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