NOTICES TO FELLOWS. 



cclxxxiii 



25. A NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN HORTI- 

 CULTURE. 



Most gardeners will welcome the establishment by the Society of a 

 scheme whereby a National Diploma in Horticulture may be gained by 

 those professional gardeners who pass the Preliminary and Final Exam- 

 inations which will be required. The Diploma will be thoroughly 

 ''National," for by the consent of H.M. Government the Department of 

 Agriculture, after being approached in the matter, has consented to 

 co-operate with the Society if the Society will undertake the work of 

 organizing the Examinations, and has authorized that the Diploma shall 

 bear the following words : " Awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society 

 under a scheme approved by the Board of Agriculture." 



The Examinations will be written, viva voce, and practical. The 

 practical part will be held in suitable gardens at convenient centres in 

 the country. The first Diploma Examination will be held in 1914, and 

 thereafter annually. Fuller information will appear with the Syllabus 

 shortly, until which time it is requested that no letters of enquiry may 

 be sent. 



26. R.H.S. CUPS, 19 3. 



The Council have decided in future to adopt one special and dis- 

 tinctive form of Cup for each year, and to have it made in four different 

 sizes for the 1913 Shows. The pattern adopted for next year will be 

 found illustrated in the " Book of Arrangements," p. 65. The four 

 different sizes will be known as follows : — 



1. The R.H.S. Silver-gilt Cup. 



2. The R.H.S. Large Silver Cup. 

 B. The R.H.S. Silver Cup. 



4. The R.H.S. Standard Cup (so called because its design standardizes 

 the pattern for the year). 



27. CHALLENGE CUPS. 



The following Challenge Cups are also annually offered for competi= 

 tion : — 



1. The Silver-gilt Coronation Cup (value sixty guineas), awarded by 

 the Council to whatever in their opinion is the most meritorious group 

 at the Summer Show. The winner has the custody of the Cup for 

 twelve months, and on its return the Council presents the holder with a 

 small reproduction of it. (See " Book of Arrangements," p. 86.) 



.2. The Sutton Challenge Cup (value £21) and ^10 is offered for a 

 collection of 12 distinct kinds of vegetables. (See "Book of Arrange- 

 ments," p. 99.) 



3. The Vegetable Champion Cup (value £21) will be held for one 

 year by the winner of the greatest number of First Prize points through- 

 out the Society's Vegetable Exhibition — the winner of the Sutton Cup 

 being excluded. (See " Book of Arrangements," p. 100.) 



