THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



627 



grew wild. There are 60 acres altogether, and the Society, besides 

 preserving Mr. Wilson's garden, have established a school of practical 

 and scienfific horticulture where experiments are made with many- 

 different kinds of plants and where students are trained both in theory 

 and in practice. Students receive a diploma at the end of a two-years' 

 course if they pass their written and practical examinations, write 

 essays upon some approved subjects, and submit a collection of at 

 least 200 properly dried, named, and localized plant specimens col- 

 lected outside the gardens, and also a collection of insects either in- 

 jurious or helpful to plant life. The Society also awards scholarships 

 at its discretion, and every student has the opportunity of studying all 

 kinds of horticulture. During the last year 38 students have worked at 

 Wisley, of whom 13 have gained the Society's diploma; and of these all 

 except one have obtained gardening situations. The Board of Educa- 

 tion report that the course of instruction is extremely well planned and 

 carried out by an efficient staff. The Society also hold annual examina- 

 tions in the principles and practice of horticulture in two divisions, 

 which are open to all students, not only in the British Isles, but also 

 in India and the Colonies. The examination will be held this year 

 on April 5 and names of candidates must be received by March 22. 

 In 1902 the Society resolved to build a new hall and offices in com- 

 memoration of its coming centenary. This hall was urgently needed 

 for shows, for lectures, and meetings, for the library, and for office 

 work. It became possible mainly through the generosity of Sir Henry 

 Schroder, who gave £5,000 towards it. An excellent site was found 

 in Vincent Square, and the hall, which was opened in 1904, proved to 

 be excellently fitted for all its uses. There fortnightly shows are held 

 throughout the year, which are of the greatest interest and value to 

 Fellows and to all interested in horticulture. The hall also contains the 

 Lindley Library, consisting of 7,000 volumes and pamphlets, of which 

 the Society is the sole trustee, and which all Fellows can consult. 



In 1907 3, laboratory for scientific research was established at 

 Wisley and is already proving very useful. The Director is Mr. F. J. 

 Chittenden, F.L.S., who is also Editor of the Society's Journal. 



Three hundred local horticultural societies are now affiliated to the 

 Society, which has established a union of Horticultural Mutual Im- 

 provement Societies with the object of helping such societies in every 

 possible way. As to the shows of the Society, they occur, as I have 

 said, fortnightly, and always in the Horticultural Hall, excepting the 

 great Spring Show, which is held in the gardens of the Inner Temple, 

 and the great Summer Show, hitherto held in the gardens of Holland 

 House, but this year to be held at Olympia. All of these shows are 

 broadly horticultural in their purpose. Their aim, that is to say, is 

 to encourage the general culture of plants and the introduction of new 

 species and varieties, rather than the production of individual flowers 

 according to the old show standards of perfection. Committees sit at 

 these shows and give medals, certificates, and awards of merit to differ- 

 ent exhibits and to new plants. Some of these shows are general, others 



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