6 PREFACE 



a number of students, who had no practical experi- 

 ence in gardens, desired to sit for examination, 

 as suggested by Mr. H. Macan, M.A., F.C.S., the 

 active Organizing Secretary of the Education Com- 

 mittee. The examination was the first of the kind 

 made by any County Council after lectures on gar- 

 dening. It was conducted simultaneously in different 

 centres, under supervision, and without books of re- 

 ference. The highly competent Examiners appointed 

 by the Royal Horticultural Society Dr. Maxwell T. 

 Masters, F.R.S., and Mr. James Douglas, F.R.H.S., 

 found on scrutinizing the papers that out of 72 candi- 

 dates 28 exceeded the minimum standard number of 

 marks (100), and two were awarded medals, with 225 

 and 205 marks respectively, out of a possible 300. 



Now, with the lectures (necessarily much con- 

 densed) before them the candidates may be expected 

 to render themselves still more proficient, and it is 

 hoped the publication of the course will be the means 

 of enabling a large number of workers on the land 

 to obtain knowledge that will lead to a greater 

 supply of useful produce from their plots, and rendeT 

 the surroundings of their homes more generally 

 interesting and attractive. 



Acknowledgments are due to H. R. Williams, 

 Esq., P.M. of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers, 

 for the use of illustrations from Profitable Fruit 



