iv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



" The course of instruction is designed to cover two years, but as yet 

 only the first year course is in full operation. The course is extremely 

 well planned and is carried out by an efficient staff of instructors. 



" The Gardens of the Eoyal Horticultural Society are extensive and 

 contain a very large variety of plants, both in the open and under 

 glass. There is also a very well fitted laboratory, with good equipment 

 for instruction in the sciences bearing on practical horticulture. The 

 laboratory is under the charge of a well qualified and skilled instructor 

 and the students receive a very thorough training in the scientific side of 

 their craft. This instruction has, at present, to be made very fundamental 

 and in some respects very elementary, as few of those admitted to the course 

 of instruction have received a satisfactory training previously in the 

 rudiments of science. When the second year's course is in full operation 

 it will be possible to do some fairly advanced work. 



" Originality and thought on the part of the students are encouraged by 

 weekly discussions in the evening, when selected students read papers, 

 which are criticized by the other students, and additional experience is 

 gained by the students in acting on small committees in connection 

 with the arrangements for the Society's shows in London. 



" On the practical side students appear to have an unique opportunity 

 of acquiring a knowledge of the cultivation of all the plants that they are 

 likely to meet with in the course of their employment, and those who 

 qualify for the diploma should have no difficulty in securing remunerative 

 posts. 



" The Royal Horticultural Society is to be congratulated on the step it 

 has taken to encourage the educational side of the craft." 



I am, Rev. Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



F. G. Ogilvie. 



Rev. W. Wilks, M.A. 



It was also very gratifying to the Council to find that in the General 

 Examination in Horticulture open to the whole of Great Britain, the 

 Scholarship of J25 a year for two years offered by the Worshipful 

 Company of Gardeners, was won by Mr. Perry, one of the students at 

 Wisley. 



In the local Examination confined to the Students at Wisley, Mr. 

 H. E. Seaton took the first place, and has been appointed Assistant 

 Demonstrator in the Laboratory. 



Experiments have been set on foot to illustrate (1) the effect of various 

 methods of planting fruit trees, (2) the influence of pruning and not pruning 

 in the first winter after planting, (3) of summer pruning, (4) the 

 importance of planting trees at a correct depth, and (5) the effect of grass 

 over the roots of fruit trees. 



Grape Exhibit. — At the fortnightly Meeting on September 29, an 

 exceedingly fine collection of Grapes grown in the Vineries at Wisley, and 

 comprising 30 varieties, was shown. The Grapes were magnificent, and, 

 at the Council Meeting, Mr. S. T. Wright, the Superintendent of the 

 Garden, and Mr. A. C. Smith, the Assistant Superintendent, were com- 

 plimented by the President on the excellent results they had obtained. 



