HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



159 



tion day approaches than at other times. Examinations should, however, 

 be tests of real knowledge, and often leave much — very much — to be desired. 

 Even the examinations of this Society are not ideal. The syllabus for 

 the general examination, in particular, is much too long for a student's 

 knowledge to be efficiently tested in three hours. The questions set are 

 such that the race is to the swift writer who has had practice in writing 

 papers, rather than to one who has a wide sound- knowledge of the subjects. 

 A candidate in such an examination should have time to think before 

 writing. The answers would then be more concise and correct. I would 

 suggest that the examination be taken on two different evenings, and 

 that three hours be allowed for each paper. Then I am convinced a more 

 satisfactory test would be made. Let it be understood that I complain of 

 no personal hardship, as eight out of twelve (or two thirds) of the whole of 

 the medallists in the last twelve General Examinations have been through 

 my hands at Swanley. The comment is made purely with a desire to 

 render the examinations more useful. 



The Board of Education's syllabuses in horticulture and allied subjects 

 are excellent. The test papers are carefully set and ample time is allowed. 

 A student who has duly passed first class through the required sections 

 of Stage II. and distinguished himself in Honours should know something 

 about his subject. I say "him," but as yet no man has obtained the 

 coveted distinction. The Honours examination has only been held these 

 last two years, and the only successful candidates have been our Swanley 

 lady students. Let us hope some men will endeavour to obtain the laurels, 

 and that the ladies will be equally determined not to be beaten. In the 

 Honours there is a practical examination in a garden, and we may hope that 

 a really searching test in manipulative skill and practical knowledge will 

 be made by competent men, working in conjunction with the very able 

 scientists who are now responsible for the examinations. Successful 

 candidates should, however, remember that in Nature's infinite book of 

 secrecy it is only a little they can yet read, and also that in all probability 

 their manipulative skill and organising power are by no means perfect, 

 and that they may be anything but successful practical cultivators, 

 especially on the economic side. 



We want a number of persons very highly qualified in science and 

 general attainments, fully realising that they are but as infants in practical, 

 or applied, agriculture and horticulture, willing to learn from the meanest 

 worker — to divest themselves of coat and gloves, to work consistently and 

 continuously through the entire routine. When they hold their own with 

 the paid worker^ — and with practice it can be done, because applying their 

 science at every turn they work at mechanical advantage — they may 

 feel that they are competent associates of the at least equally well-equipped 

 men who beginning life as workers have by dint of perseverance reached 

 the same academic level. When such men take the leading part in 

 horticultural education, are admitted into the Councils of the Boards of 

 Agriculture and Education, into the committees and governing bodies of 

 agricultural and horticultural institutions, and are co-opted by Council 

 education committees, then we may hope for a great advance. 



We usually refer to the gardener as he, but of late the ranks have 

 been invaded by ladies. For nearly fourteen years I have had lady 



