from May 1, 1830, to April 30, 1840. 



455 



details of the gardener's art ; others were illiterate in a lamentable 

 degree ; and notwithstanding the excellent example set by many 

 who are now at the head of their profession*, upon the whole it 

 must be admitted that several of the men received in the garden 

 were little improved in consequence. 



It was then determined to secure by fresh regulations, the pos- 

 session of a competent knowledge both of gardening and the 

 simpler elements of education by those who became candidates 

 for admission into the garden, and to require every one eventually 

 to submit to an examination on some of the subjects incidentally 

 connected with his profession ; without passing which in a credit- 

 able manner, it was decided that he should not be recommended 

 by the Society to a situation. These regulations, first introduced 

 some years since, and gradually improved upon as suggested by 

 experience, have been evidently beneficial in a high degree; 

 they have had the effect of excluding persons whose previous 

 habits rendered them unlikely to become respectable gardeners, 

 and thus they have improved very materially the class of applicants 

 for employment. Good examinations have been passed ; and, con- 

 sidering the short time that the regulations have been in force, the 

 number of men recommended to places, all of whom have con- 

 ducted themselves to the satisfaction of their employers, is consi- 

 derable. 



* The Council would mention more particularly the names of Mr. Paxton of Chats- 

 worth, Mr. Barron of Sheffield, Mr. Bailey of Nuneham, Mr. Booth of Carclew, 

 Mr. Collinson of Eaton Hall, Mr. Craggs of Killerton, Mr. Alexander Campbell of 

 the Botanic Garden Manchester, Mr. Dick of Dale Park, Arundel, Mr. Duncan of 

 Basing Park, Mr. Jennings of Knowsley, Mr. Lumsden of Cambridge House near 

 Twickenham, Mr. Ross of Penrhyn Castle, Mr. Traill of Cairo, Messrs. Thompson 

 and Gordon at the Society's Garden, Mr. Whiting of the Deepdene, and the two 

 Messrs. Wilson, one of whom is Gardener to the Duke of Norfolk at Arundel, and 

 the other to Lord Surrey at the Rookery near Dorking. 



