Ausstellungskatalog - Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum ...

Lehren 1910 – 2010 · Teaching 1910 – 2010
The Training of Gardeners
The training of gardeners at the Botanic Garden, which certainly
took place in the first years in Dahlem and then continuously from
1965 till today, is not nearly as well documented as academic
teaching. In view of the unusually rich stock of living plants, particularly
from the tropics, it offered and still offers a qualification
the like of which is only possible in a few places throughout the
world. Such a comprehensive training was and is necessary, however,
only for those wishing to work in other botanical gardens.
This led to the development of a wider network of gardens, but one
that has not thus far been comparatively studied.
A document from June 1907 concerning the ‘hiring of gardeners
for service in the African and South Pacific protectorates’ reveals
that preferential consideration was given to applicants ‘who had
been active for a time in the office for tropical cultures at the Royal
Botanic Garden in Berlin’. However, the candidates ‘could not
choose where they wanted to go, but had to go where they were
needed’.
Thus it was not just the botanists who had their networks; the
gardeners had their own networks too. There was, however, a serious
difference: while permanently employed scientists only rarely
left Dahlem and only under exceptional circumstances, for example
in order to become full professor at another university, in the case
of gardeners who had trained here, it was the rule. HWL
Aufforderung zum Dienstantritt eines Gärtners. BGBM, Archiv.
Mitteilung betreffend Gehilfenstellen im Botanischen Garten.
Aus: Die Gartenbauwirtschaft Nr. 43, vom 23. 10. 1930.
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