COMMONPLACE NOTES. 



415 



COMMONPLACE NOTES. 



By the Secretary, Superintendent, and Editor. 



National Diploma in Horticulture. 



The particular attention of the Fellows is invited to the scheme for 

 the establishment of a National Diploma in Horticulture which has 

 been for some time occupying the attention of the Council. This 

 scheme has been submitted to and approved by the Board of Agri- 

 culture, and will meet the demand that exists among professional 

 horticulturists for some tangible mark of their professional ability, 

 such as is open to the members of many other professions. The 

 Society's General Examination imposed no test of practical skill 

 and was open to all, but the Diploma Examinations are intended for 

 professional gardeners, and will be confined to them on the lines laid 

 down in the scheme, while the principal feature of the examinations 

 will be the practical tests they include. Full particulars may now 

 be obtained of the Secretary. 



Saxifraga Burseriana major. 



Saxifraga Burseriana is one of the most beautiful of the " cushion " 

 Saxifrages, not always easy to establish, but well repaying any trouble 

 it may cost. It has produced several varieties, one of which, ' Gloria,' 

 gained an Award of Merit in 1907, while the type had a First-class 

 Certificate as long ago as 1884. Fig. 139 represents the form known 

 as major. It is from a photograph kindly sent us by Colonel Hervey, 

 in whose garden at Thurston, Bury St. Edmund's, it was growing. 

 It is there planted in the rock garden with a south-east exposure. 

 Like its parent type it flowers very early, in March, producing its huge 

 white flowers — huge for the size of the plant — about 2 inches above 

 the rosette of leaves. 



Plant Propagation. 



We have little doubt the following letter we recently received 

 and Prof. Balfour's reply will be of interest to many of our Fellows. 

 The method of propagation mentioned is one we have found remark- 

 ably productive of results, and the details referred to will clear up 

 any little misunderstanding there might possibly be concerning it. 

 A Fellow writes : " Can you help an interested but very ignorant 

 member of the R.H.S. more fully to understand the article in the 

 last issue (of the R.H.S. Journal, March 1913) on the propagation 

 of plants ? My attention was drawn to the article in the first place 



