xiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of experiments with land and crops ; fifteen have taken a first-class in 

 the R.H.S. Examination in Horticulture ; three are on the editorial staff 

 of Horticultural papers ; two are on the staff at Horticultural Colleges ; 

 one is at a School of Forestry ; one is a Horticultural Instructor ; nine- 

 teen are in business for themselves ; four are fruit growing and farming 

 in Canada ; one is fruit growing and farming in Ireland ; one is in India 

 tea planting ; two are engaged in business in the United States ; two are 

 in business on the Continent ; two are employed in Botanical Gardens ; 

 two are engaged in well-known nurseries ; and two are gaining further 

 experience in market gardens. More than 90 per cent, of the students 

 are doing well. The Council are quite unable to meet the demand for 

 energetic, trustworthy young men, but they must all be workers. During 

 the past year applications were received for thirty-six head gardeners ; ' 

 three single-handed gardeners, ten foremen, eleven journeymen, three 

 foresters, and several miscellaneous men, such as nursery foremen, 

 landscape gardeners, propagators, &c. In the great majority of cases 

 the applicants were supplied with men. 



31. Students at Wisley. — This good work is being continued at 

 Wisley. Students are admitted for a period of two years, and are trained 

 in practical horticulture. Some of them also attend the Society's lectures 

 and shows in the new Hall and elsewhere. A small horticultural library 

 is attached to the Gardens for their use. Every opportunity is given, 

 to students who use application, to master the whole of the general 

 subject of practical horticulture, and as soon as a scientific department can 

 be established elementary science as it affects horticulture will be added to 

 the curriculum. 



32. Trials in 1905. — During the forthcoming year trials will be 

 carried out at Wisley with potatoes, peas, broccoli, and tomatoes amongst 

 vegetables, and with violas, sweet peas, carnations, and cactus dahlias 

 amongst flowers. It is also proposed to plant portions of the land at 

 present unoccupied with a representative collection of trees and shrubs, 

 and with the best varieties of every description of rose. The large span 

 of glass and the increased area of ground afford far greater facilities than 

 ever before. Donations of trees, shrubs, hardy alpine and other plants, 

 seeds and cuttings would prove most acceptable. 



33. Distribution Of Plants.— About 60,000 plants, cuttings, and 

 packets of seeds were distributed from Chiswick last spring, and a similar 

 distribution by ballot will take place during March and April, but Fellows 

 are requested to bear in mind that the Superintendent and his staff have 

 been barely six months at Wisley, so that the stock of plants is not so 

 large as heretofore, and as it is confidently hoped it will be in year or 

 two's time. 



34. Conclusion. — Whilst fully recognising that the present satis- 

 factory condition of the Society's affairs is largely due to the generosity 

 and kindly assistance of the Fellows, the Council would urge them not 

 to relax their exertions, but rather to make a renewed effort to wipe off 

 the debt still remaining on the Hall, to complete the equipment of Wisley 

 by the erection of a Horticultural Research Station, and to increase the 



