GARDENING AND HEALTH

Evening Star, Issue 22578, 20 February 1937, Page 23

GARDENING AND HEALTH

The value of gardening as a source of health has received a special tribute in West Surrey, where the Burrow Hill Sanatorium Colony, Frimley, the only one of its kind in the country, is established. The colony houses 80 lads who are being treated for tuberculosis and, at the same time, are being trained to earn their livelihood either as clerks or gardeners, these occupations being well suited to patients who have recovered from this disease, although naturally the capacity for work in each individual will depend on the stage at which the disease has been arrested. People who know something about, both tuberculosis and gardening may be excused for doubting whether it is possible to give simultaneous treatment for this disease and training in this occupation. Indeed, when the colony was founded many medical men believed that this dual purpose could not be efficiently carried out. However, this experiment, which was begun by the National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis in 1929, has been fully justified by its results. A large number of lads have passed through the colony, and a recent inquiry regarding 145 who had completed their course of training established the fact that 78 per cent, were in employment and leading useful and active lives. Many of those who had taken the course in horticulture were working in private gardens or in the London County Council parks. The course in horticulture, which is laid down by the Surrey County Council Horticultural Committee, is both practical and theoretical, and is conducted by two well-qualified gardener instructors, who prepare the lads for the Royal Horticultural Society’s examinations. As many of {he lads are backward in education when they arrive at the colony, they first attend the colony school, where education in general subjects is given them. So soon as they reach a certain standard of proficiency they are allowed to devote the whole of their time to the study of horticulture. A period of one hour per day, and other periods when the weather does not permit of outside work, is devoted to the study of the theory of horticulture. Lectures are given, when possible, in an open-air lecture room which has been constructed in the grounds of the colony, and is picturesquely situated among the trees. About one and three-quarter hours every morning and two hours .every afternoon are spent in practical work, individual attention being paid to boys who are specialising in any branches of horticulture. The general routine work includes digging, hoeing, raking, sweeping, watering, pruning, planting, and other general gardening work. The taking of notes is compulsory, many of the boys voluntarily writing up the notes in their own time. Note-books are periodically inspected and remain the property of the hoys. The colony gardens comprise some eight acres of land under cultivation, seven acres being devoted to fruit and vegetables and one acre to pleasure gardens, lawns, shrubberies, borders, drives, and so on. The soil is light, sand loam, easy of working at any time. This is a distinct asset to the patients who are unable to do hard digging while undergoing treatment. It is not, however, the best type of soil from the point of view of garresult of the Royal Horticultural Society’s examinations have been excellent, despite the handicap under which these boy work. During the season 1933-34 four boys _ entered. the Royal Horticultural Society general examination and all passed, three gaining first-class junior certificates and one a silver medal for being equal first in all England, and one a third-class senior certificate. In the year 1934-35 five boys entered, and again all passed, one gaining a first-class senior certificate and _ four gaining second-class junior certificates. Although it is_ not possible to give a complete training in horticulture in the two years during which the patient normally stays at the colony, any fairly intelligent boy is expected to get a sufficient grasp of the principles and prac-

tice of horticulture to qualify him for a job as improver in any good garden. The colony is run under the auspices of the National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, a voluntary body. It takes boys whose ages range from 13 to 19 years, and there is nearly always a waiting list.—Extract from ‘ The Gardeners’ Chronicle.’