clxxxviii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



2. The Superintendent is instructed, in the case of all seeds thus sent 

 and grown, to procure seeds of the already best existing similar varieties, 

 and grow them alongside of the newly sent seeds. 



3. The resulting plants, &c, will be from time to time (as convenient) 

 submitted to the Committee meeting at Wisley, but the only awards 

 made to such unsolicited plants will be "Commended" and "Highly 

 Commended." 



4. Any plants thus grown and tried will have perfect freedom to be 

 re- tried whenever a regular fixed trial of their congeners takes place, 

 which will, as far as practicable, be at intervals of two or three years. 



14. THE WISLEY RESEARCH STATION. 



The new Research Station and Laboratory at Wisley is now completed 

 and work is in progress there. Mr. F. J. Chittenden, F.L.S., has been 

 appointed Director of the Research Work on Scientific Matters affecting 

 Practical Horticulture, and Lecturer to the Students. By the completion 

 of this station a long-felt want has been met. In the United States, 

 where so much good work has been done in this direction, all is paid 

 for by the Government, but in this country we have to fall back on 

 private individuals or on Societies. 



15. STUDENTS AT WISLEY. 



The Society admits young men, between the ages of 16 and 22 years, 

 to study Gardening at Wisley. The curriculum now includes not only 

 practical garden work in all the main branches of Horticulture, but also 

 lectures, demonstrations, and elementary Horticultural Science in the 

 Laboratory, whereby a practical knowledge of simple Garden Chemistry, 

 Biology, &c, may be obtained. The Laboratory is equipped with the 

 best apparatus procurable for Students. The training extends over a 

 period of two years, with a progressive course for each year. Students 

 can only enter at the end of September and at the end of March. Selected 

 Students have also the advantage of attending certain of the Society's 

 Shows and Lectures in London. 



16. DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS PLANTS. 



In a recent Report the Council drew attention to the way in which 

 the annual distribution of surplus plants has arisen. In a large garden 

 there must always be a great deal of surplus stock, which must either 

 be given away or go to the waste heap. A few Fellows, noticing this, 

 asked for plants which would otherwise be discarded ; and they valued 

 what was so obtained. Others hearing of it asked for a share, until the 

 Council felt they must either systematize this haphazard distribution 

 or else put a stop to it altogether. To take the latter step seemed 

 undesirable. Why should not such Fellows have them as cared to receive 

 such surplus plants ? It was therefore decided to keep all plants till 

 the early spring, and then give all Fellows alike the option of claiming 

 a share of them by ballot. 



