eCXX PEOCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Appointment at the R.H.S. Gardens. — A resolution was carried that 

 " The meeting recommended to the Council of the E.H.S. the considera- 

 tion of the following subject, viz. : ' Would the Council of the E.H.S\ 

 provide for the sons of members of Affiliated Societies by allowing them 

 to fill vacancies occurring at Wisley for periods of two years, at an 

 entrance fee less than that paid by ordinary students ? Appointment to 

 Z)e according to merit, as shown by an entrance examination. A nominal 

 wage to be given to each man, and a certificate of efficiency on the 

 termination of the two years if his conduct and progress shall have been 

 satisfactory. Three years' apprenticeship in an approved garden to 

 have been spent prior to admission. ' " 



[Note. — At a meeting of the Council held on October 25, 

 this recommendation was considered, and minuted as follows: — 

 " A report was brought up on the recent Conference of Affiliated 

 Societies, together with its proposal concerning apprenticeships 

 for the sons of members of such societies. The Council ordered a 

 reply to be made to the effect that they would always be happy to 

 consider favourably any particular case submitted to them on its merits, 

 but could make no absolute promise, as vacancies among the paid 

 employes in the gardens were very rare; and as regarded the admis- 

 sion simply of students, the Council did not think it possible to fix 

 any less fee than £5 to cover two years' scientific and practical 

 instruction."] 



Amateur Gardeners. — The definition of an amateur gardener again 

 came under discussion. The rule of the E.H.S. was read. The Eev. 

 W. Wilks said that the definition might possibly be more simplified 

 thus : — 



By the word " amateur " is understood a person who maintains 

 a garden with a view to his own use and enjoyment, and not 

 for the purpose of gaining a livelihood. The fact of his dispos- 

 ing of surplus produce for money does not change him into a 

 J tradesman unless the whole maintenance of the garden is 

 intended to return him an annual profit. 



By the word " nurseryman " is understood a person who maintains 

 a garden for the purpose of gaining a livelihood and intends it 

 to return him an annual profit. 



Either rule indicates the broad principle of differentiation between 

 an amateur and a nurseryman; but the real difficulty of local societies 

 is not that they want to distinguish between amateurs and trade 

 growers, but that they want to split up amateurs into classes and cannot 

 agree on exactly what classes they want. However, it is perfectly easy 

 for any society to amplify the above definitions in such a way as would 

 satisfactorily meet any local difficulty or condition, by creating divisions 

 or classes for amateurs employing no help, or employing one, two, three, 

 or more men in their garden; but it is quite hopeless to attempt any 

 definition of a " professional " gardener, save the very obvious one that 



