96 



JOURNAL OF THE KOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



EEPORT ON EXAMINATION OF EMPLOYEES IN 

 PUBLIC PARKS. 



January 8, 1912. 



The Royal Horticultural Society's Seventh Examination of Employees 

 in Public Parks was held on January 8, 1912. 



As previously, the examination was partly viva voce and partly 

 WTitten, occupying three hours and twenty minutes. It was held at 

 the Society's Hall in Vincent Square, Westminster. 



Forty-nine candidates entered, and of these 17 secured places in 

 the first class, 7 in the second, and 16 in the third, leaving 8 who failed 

 to satisfy the minimum requirements of the examiners and one who 

 was absent. 



The examiners report that the average quality of the written answers 

 equals that of former years, no marked advancement being noticeable 

 in the examination taken collectively. Many cases of individual 

 improvement, however, were noticed — candidates of past years being 

 found to have considerably extended their knowledge. The identifica- 

 tion of specimens in the viva voce section was better, the names beings 

 generally given unhesitatingly and correctly. 



Some good answers were given to Question 7 on leaf physiology; 

 otherwise there was evident lack of careful reading on the subject of, 

 the structure and operations of the leaf. 



The selection and action of artificial manures were well known. j 



Scope was given in Question 9 to select and arrange plants suitable} 

 for ornamental water, but few candidates were familiar with the manjl 

 beautiful forms of reeds and water plants that give character to th( 

 water margin; lists of subjects were given, but they were too formal 

 and all kinds of unsuitable stuff were included. 



Public park gardeners are again recommended to take the Society": 

 General Examination after having passed that for public park 

 employees, for, as pointed out in last year's report, it forms an objec 

 for more advanced study. 



At the request of the London County Council, the former divisio: 

 of the candidates into two groups, A and B, is discontinued. j 



0. R. Fielder, 

 Owen Thomas, 

 John W. Odell, 

 W. Crump, 



v 



Examiners. 



Edward White, 



W. WiLKS, 



