From 'Illustrated' magazine, 9 May 1942.

Front cover and 2-page article about 'girls' working at Kew because many of the men were away fighting in the war. I especially like the third page picture - a rather saucy picture, especially for the era!

I thought it was worth transcribing the article: "Fully trained girl graduates from agricultural colleges all over the country are working at Kew Gardens, replacing men who have been called up. These fifty girl gardeners, very efficient, wearing breeches, Leggings, leather aprons and clogs, are tending the fruit, vegetables and drug plants. And they are very enthusiastic about their work. Many of the famous flower beds and hothouses at Kew Gardens are now under full-swing vegetable cultivation. Hundreds of tons of fruit and vegetables will be produced this year and much of the work is being undertaken by the small army of girl gardeners. Kew is also producing herbs and drugs that are difficult, if not impossible, to import during wartime. And the only bananas to be seen in Britain during the war will be grown at Kew. Hospitals will have the first call on any of these successfully grown this year. The girl gardeners are kept busy in the big hot-houses set aside for tomato growing. They are growing huge quantities of cauliflowers, cabbages, onions, leeks and potatoes. The 'Kewties' are doing a great job."

The captions read: Top-left: "Victoria Paine takes some of the 7,000 flower pots used yearly at Kew to propagation pits where she works" Below-left: "Tea for tomato-growers" Top-right: "Nursing blitzed plants in the tropical hospital at Kew is Margaret Lancaster"