CClxxx PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



assured that the exhibit is, in the main, due to the work and capability 

 of the exhibitor or his employes, and on this point the Council may 

 consult any expert not competing for the Cup. 



The attention of intending exhibitors is particularly directed to the 

 Society's 1914 Code of " Rules for Judging." 



26. SAXIFRAGE CONFERENCE, 1915. 



It has been decided to hold a Conference on Saxifrages in the 

 early summer of 191 5. The Secretary would be glad to hear from 

 any who would like to contribute a paper or otherwise take a part 

 n the Conference. The exact date will be published in due course. 



27. FRUIT PACKING COMPETITIONS. 



The following Class appears in the Schedules for June 16, July 14, 

 and the Fruit Show on September 29 : — 



Soft Fruit packed in an attractive manner and so as to travel 

 unbruised either by rail or post. The package must be sent by parcel 

 post from the Exhibitor's nearest Post Office, or be handed in at his 

 nearest or most generally used Railway Station, and delivered (by 

 the officials of the Railway or Post Office) at Vincent Square, either 

 on the day previous to, or before 10.30 a.m. on the morning of, the 

 Show. In no circumstances may a competitor bring the package 

 or send it by hand, or otherwise convey it farther than his nearest 

 or most usual Post Office or Railway Station. If sent by rail, a post- 

 card addressed to the Secretary, R.H.S. Office, Vincent Square, 

 Westminster, must be sent at once, saying from what station, and at 

 what time, the parcel was despatched. Separate packages, or punnets, 

 may be used inside the parcel if desired, but the whole package must 

 not exceed 18 inches in length, 10 inches in breadth, and 5 inches in 

 depth — all inside measurements. The packages may be of any 

 material so long as they are sufficiently strong, but not too heavy. 



The Council's desire is to obtain a really good and useful lesson 

 in the packing of soft fruits so as to enable them to be sent by post 

 or by passenger train, and to arrive in a condition suitable for a 

 gentleman's table. The Council will give special awards to exhibits 

 which are in accordance with the above conditions. 



Market growers may compete as well as private gardeners. 



" Soft Fruit " includes such as ripe strawberries, cherries, figs, 

 peaches, and nectarines, and not such as apples, pears, and melons, 

 or unripe plums. Tomatos are excluded. 



28. A NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN HORTI- 



CULTURE. 



Most gardeners will welcome the initiation by the Society of 

 a scheme whereby a National Diploma in Horticulture may be 

 gained by those who pass the Preliminary and Final Examina- 

 tions which will be required. The Diploma will be thoroughly 



