THE subject of horticulture as a business for women has been discussed in a very able manner in so many of the leading periodicals of the day that further detail may seem superfluous. I notice, however, that by far the greater number of articles written on the subject deal only with large enterprises, resulting in great gains in health and wealth, but quite ignore the smaller undertakings and forget to mention certain drawbacks with which women have to contend in this really delightful calling.

In the 6rst place, no woman (or man either) need expect to become a successful gardener unless she has an inborn love of "green things growing." If she can look upon a well-ordered garden without feeling her pulses quicken, if she is wholly indifferent to weeds versus vegetables, in short, does not "known beans" when she sees them except on the table, then, I say, she had better turn her attention towards other pursuits, for no garden will ever smile for her.

But if a woman has a genuine liking for this kind of work, possesses business ability and tact, there is no reason why she may not be successful in proportion to the extent of her undertakings.

Physically, few women are able to do the laborious part of garden work There is plenty of back-breaking, back-aching spading, digging and hoeing to be done, for which not one woman in a hundred is 6tted, and for which a man must be employed. There is, however, plenty of light work which a woman can do, and there is also the constant personal supervision of the work so essential to success This alone would keep a woman out of doors and give her health. Lord Bacon tells us that "Gardening is the greatest refreshment to the spirit of man," and why should it not be equally so to tired, nerv-ous women ? But they need some incentive other than a mere "constitutional" to keep them out of doors. Obviously, gardening for women pays best in fresh air and sunshine. Something can be done without incurring so much expense that the loss, in case of partial failure, will be burdensome.

If rightly managed, half an acre, or even less ground, can be made to supply vegetables - potatoes excepted - for two or three families with but little more expense than is commonly required to run one ordinary kitchen garden.

No ambitious woman, debarred from more lucrative employment by ill health or other reasons, need feel that she is "not doing anything" if she can supply the family table with fresh vegetables throughout the season, and market enough produce to cover all expenses of the garden ; and in most cases which have come under my notice, there has been some pro6t besides. Right here let me say that this extra gain usually comes by making a specialty of some one thing, as celery, cauliflower, or some crop for which the soil seems especially adapted.

The physical inability of women to do the laborious part of gardening in case of an emergency is a drawback which will undoubtedly always attend her in the calling, and it is one not so easily overcome as their ignorance of the subject. Any profession worthy of the name must be learned, horticulture not excepted. Experience is good, but many times is so expensive a teacher that keen observation, coupled with the ability and disposition to profit by the experiences of others, will be of great advantage to the would-be horticulturist. Ask women thus engaged in gardening who are dependent upon the day laborer for assistance, to name the greatest difficulty they have to contend with, and I think the majority of them will pass sentence upon the aforesaid day laborer - sometimes the lack of him.

Take the average country town, for example. The gardens are many and the laborers are few, shops, factories, mills, etc., taking every available man. A good gardener always has his hands full. He is wanted in seventeen different gardens at the same time, and seventeen different people insist upon being served first. If he happened to be born without a conscience, he will doubtless pacify them all by promising them to come "the very next day," and if the weather is propitious. some one of the seventeen will probably be made happy, while the other sixteen may sit on their back steps and cultivate patience in their souls, while watching the weeds flourish in their gardens. Therefore as first-class help is not always to be had, one must take what one can get and be thankful.

The class of men as a rule, who do such work do not like to work for women, unless they are given (arte blanche of the premises, and can do exactly as they like. In the first place, they have little faith in the ability of women to manage a garden, believing rather that because one woman made an everlasting muss in the garden of old, it follows that her descendents should keep out of gardens altogether. In the second place, they hate to be " bossed by a woman." Cranky old fellows who think what they do not know about gardening is not worth knowing, are apt to get "riled up" if required to depart from ancient methods and follow modern ideas. For such a man to admit that a little woman with her head full of "book farmin'" knows better than he how this or that crop should be managed, is out of the question.

" To stand your ground like a man " says o'ne, " and have your work done as you want it, is simply to pose for a shrew before the public; you will be called a 'hard woman to get along with' the minute your back is turned, and the man will most likely plant everything on a bias and pocket the balance of seeds besides, in revenge." Such extreme cases are the exception, not the rule, and much of the difficulty may be obviated by the exercise of tact. Happy is the woman, in this or any other calling, who possesses that precious gift!

In behalf of the sterner sex allow me to say, that the masculine skull is not so thick or his nature so depraved that he cannot see the tendency of the times in spite of prejudice. The business ability of woman has long been recognized in other callings, and if we read the signs of the day aright, Pat and Joe will soon cease to choose employers according to sex - unless it be to give the preference to the weaker party, as might be properly done.

"Bern" as you're a woman, I thought I'd do your work first and let the other fellows wait," said one son of the soil, as he presented himself promptly on time in the garden of a lady accustomed to promises and long delays.

A blissful day will it be for women when all gardeners feel like this one. There is considerable food for thought, which my lady readers will do well to note, in the answer of a sturdy fellow who was gayly whistling on his way home after a hard day's work in the garden of an energetic woman.

"Well; John, how do you like your new boss ?"

"First rate; knows what she wants and how she wants it, and that's more'n half of 'em do !"

Vermont. G. A. Woolson.