176 



REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 



provided that no man shall be allowed to remain more than eighteen months 

 in the same department without the special permission of the Council. 



13. The superintendents will certify to the Garden Committee at their 

 monthly meetings the conduct of each man under their charge. These 

 certificates will be filed for future reference. 



14. With a view to the improvement of the education of the men, a 

 library and reading room are provided, and lectures are given on subjects 

 connected with the art and science of gardening, to which each man is 

 entitled to have access under certain regulations, framed by order of the 

 Garden Committee. 



15. For the encouragement of the men in the pursuit of knowledge, an 

 annual examination will be held by the Vice-Secretary, or other officer 

 appointed in his room. This examination will be held in the reading room 

 in the second week in the month of August. It will be conducted by means 

 of printed or written papers, to which written answers must be returned ; 

 and will include, — 



(1) Arithmetic. 



(2) The Definitions and first twenty Propositions in the first book of 



Euclid. 



(3) Physical Geography. 



(4) Systematical and Structural Botany. 



(5) Vegetable Physiology, in its relation to Horticulture. 



(6) The Art of Horticulture. 



16. On these occasions two book-prizes will be offered ; the highest of the 

 value of £3, and the second of £2. Besides which, certificates of merit 

 may be awarded, with or without such prizes. 



1 7. No man who has not been two years, or thereabouts, employed in the 

 Garden, can present himself at these examinations. 



18. No person can be permitted to obtain a certificate of merit whose 

 answers shall not be equal in amount to half the value assigned to the 

 questions by the examiner, previous to the examination. 



19. No man is required to submit to this examination; but, on the other 

 hand, no man will be entitled to be recommended to a situation unless he 

 shall have done so, and gained a certificate of merit. 



20. No man can present himself for examination more than twice. 



The Garden continues to be enriched with additions of new 

 and valuable plants, presented by its friends and correspondents. 



Among those received during- the past year, the Council de- 

 sire more especially to acknowledge many Orchideous and other 

 plants from G. U. Skinner, Esq., some new Coniferous plants 

 from the Marquess of Winchester, continued supplies of seeds, 

 &c, from the Hon. Court of Directors of the East India Com- 

 pany, including Potato seed from Mussooree, Native Mexican 

 Potatoes from G. H. Uhde, Esq., a barrel of Golden Peruvian 

 Potatoes from Messrs. Gibbs and Co., some Orchideous plants 

 from Bahia, from — Hood, Esq., lately H. M. Envoy to the 

 Argentine Republic, and numerous fruit-trees, ornamental plants 

 and seeds from the nurserymen in communication with the So- 

 ciety, especially from Mr. Glendinning, Messrs. Loddiges, 

 Messrs. Veitch, and Messrs. Prince and Co. of New York. 



