1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



R.H.S. EXAMINATIONS IN HORTICULTURE. 



GENERAL EXAMINATION, 1919. 

 Seniors. 



One hundred and nineteen candidates presented themselves for the Senior 

 General Examination. Of these sixteen, or fourteen per cent., were placed 

 in the First Class ; thirty-eight, or thirty-two per cent., were placed in the Second 

 Class; forty-one, or thirty-four per cent., were placed in the Third Class; 

 twenty-four failed to satisfy the Examiners. 



The Examiners, Dr. A. B. Rendle, F.R.S., F.L.S., V.M.H., and Mr. James 

 Hudson, V.M.H., report that the general standard of the answers was relatively 

 much higher in the case of the Senior Candidates than in that of the Juniors, 

 even after making due allowance for the difference in ages. Although there 

 was a marked improvement in the direction of conciseness, there were cases in 

 which the explicit instruction printed on the Question Paper was ignored. This 

 only too frequently resulted in irrelevant and inadequate answers. For example., 

 as an answer to the last question on "improvement by selection," which has 

 been practised from time immemorial by gardeners, a detailed account of the 

 discoveries of Mendel was not required ; and those answers which were confined 

 thereto were consequently far from adequate. 



In many cases the Examiners were pleased to notice a good knowledge of 

 experimental plant physiology. On the other hand, good line drawings were 

 markedly absent ; indeed, throughout the whole range of answers, a clear, 

 well-executed line drawing was rarely found. In future years it is the intention 

 of Examiners to expect neatly drawn, clear and accurate drawings to illustrate 

 the answers given. 



Juniors, 



There were forty-seven candidates in the Junior Section. Of these six 

 or thirteen per cent., obtained a First Class ; twelve, or twenty-five per cent., 

 obtained a Second Class ; thirteen, or twenty-eight per cent., obtained a Third 

 Class, and fifteen failed to satisfy the Examiners. One candidate did not present 

 himself. 



The Examiners report that there was evidence of very inadequate teaching 

 at some centres. In Question 3, many candidates missed the point, viz., the 

 loss of water by the leaves of the plant due to excessive transpiration ; the 

 answers were more frequently than not confused with direct loss from the soil 

 by evaporation. 



The necessity for good drawings in the Junior Section was also manifest ; 

 hardly any candidate was able to make a good drawing of a flower in vertical 

 section. 



April 1 919. W. Wilks, Secretary, 



Seniors. 

 Class I. 



1. Johns, T. D., Cartref, Bryn Road, Tondu, nr. Bridgend. 



* Cook, T. E., 6 Lawson Terrace, Newcastle, Staffs. 

 2 ' I Gibson, C. M., Home Mead, Frith Road, Newbury. 

 4. Jones, Miss K. L., Glyn-cerrig, Mumbles, S. Wales. 



jliazell, Miss M., Thatcham Fruit and Flower Farm, Newbury. 

 5 " lOrmston, Miss E., Thatcham Fruit and Flower Farm, Newbury. 



(Hird, R. W., 10 Roker Park Road South, Sunderland. 

 7. - Jameson, Miss E. W., Avondale, Rainsford Avenue, Chelmsford. 



[ Warburg, Miss W., Nantyderry Training Centre, nr. Abergavenny, Mon. 



10. Pugh, Miss E. C, 21 Broadlands Road, Highgate, N. 



11. Cole, W. E., Dyrham, Staple Hill; Bristol. 



(Davis, Miss W. M., 17 Fawley Road, W. Hampstead, N.W.6. 

 12 I Surman, Miss N,, Nantyderry Training Centre, nr. Abergavenny. 



