of the Horticultural Society's Garden. 319 



(4.) That he is able to measure land, and make simple ground plans. 

 10. In case of a permanent vacancy in any one of the departments, that 

 vacancy is filled up by the first on the list of candidates for admission, 

 who is received upon complying with the above regulations ; but, in the case 

 ' of a vacancy being temporary only, then it is filled up by an extra man, en- 

 gaged by the under gardener, in whose department the vacancy occurs. 



] 1. The men are successively employed in the three several departments, 

 the transfer from one department to another taking place under the following 

 regulations : — 



(L) There are two days in each year on which the men are transferred, 

 and no transfers are allowed to take place on other days, such transfer days 

 being February 1. and August 1. 



(2.) On each transfer day a number of men, not fewer than one half, and 

 as near that number as may be, are removed from one department to some 

 other. 



(3.) On this occasion each under gardener selects for transfer the seniors 

 in his department, with the privilege of retaining any one or two of them 

 until the next transfer day, provided the men are willing to stay with him. 



(4.) When all the vacancies and persons to be transferred are declared, 

 the men to be transferred have the right of choosing for themselves to 

 which vacancy they will be appointed, the choice being given to them in the 

 order of their seniority. The term seniority is always understood as ap- 

 plying to the period of employment in each department, and not in the 

 garden generally. But if more men apply for admission into a depart- 

 ment than there are vacancies, in that case the transfer is arranged by con- 

 sultation with the applicants. 



(5.) On each transfer day the under gardeners make out and sign I'eturns, 

 declaring what the conduct of each man transferred has been during the 

 time he was employed under them ; for which purpose printed forms are 

 issued. 



(6.) These returns, together with the general result of the transfer, are 

 laid before the first garden committee which may meet after the transfer 

 day. The returns are afterwards filed, and the substance of them is ex- 

 pressed in the certificates granted to the men under the regulations here- 

 inafter given. 



12. Previously to being recommended to a place as gardener, every man 

 must pass an examination in measuring land, making ground plans, geography, 

 the elements of botany, and vegetable physiology. 



13. When any person employed in the garden is ready to undergo such an 

 examination, he gives notice in writing to the Vice-Secretary, who appoints 

 the time and manner in which the examination is to take place. 



14. No person is, however, allowed to proceed to examination until he has 

 passed through every department in the garden; and no examination is held 

 in the months of December, January, February, March, or April, without the 

 special permission of the committee. 



15. The result of the examination is recorded in a book kept for the 

 purpose ; if it be satisfactory, a certificate to that effect is granted, and the 

 person examined is entitled to be recommended to a place, provided his 

 general conduct is approved of. The standard of qualification is placed very 

 low by the committee, in order to render the system of examination applicable 

 to all capacities ; but the examiner has directions to raise it in those cases in 

 which men desire it, and the certificates are varied accordingly. Of course 

 those persons are considered qualified for the highest places whose examina- 

 tions are the most successful. 



16. The qualification of the person examined is stated in the body of the 

 certificate, without any distinction in the form or class of such certificate, 

 which also expresses the substance of the several under gardeners' reports of 

 the conduct of the man whilst he was in their respective departments. 



17. The examinations are verbal and private, and the result of each ex- 



Y 4 



