112 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN HORTICULTURE. 



Preliminary Examination. 



June 13 and 23-26, 1914. 



The first Examination of Professional Gardeners for the National 

 Diploma in Horticulture (Part L), recently established by the Council 

 of the Royal Horticultural Society, with the approval and co-operation 

 of the Board of Agriculture, was held on June 13 and 23-26. 



Sixty- three candidates entered for the examination, of whom 

 43 passed, viz. 6 in the A Division and 37 in the B Division, leaving 

 17 who failed to satisfy the Examiners, and 3 who did not present 

 themselves. The examination was partly written, partly practical, 

 and partly viva voce. 



The decision to make a test of craftsmanship an essential part of 

 the examination is justified by the fact that whereas no candidate 

 who passed the practical test failed in the written examination, several 

 of those who did well in the latter failed in the former. 



The practical examination was carried out at five centres — Wisley 

 (R.H.S. Gardens), Edinburgh (Dalkeith Garden), Cardiff (Duffryn 

 Garden), Manchester (Worsley Garden), and Peterborough (Orton 

 Longueville Garden), where each candidate was required to perform 

 a full day's practical work in the presence of the Examiners. 



The Society is under a great debt of gratitude to the Duke of 

 Buccleuch, K.G., K.T. ; the Marquis of Huntly, P.C. ; the Earl 

 of Ellesmere ; and Reginald Cory, Esq. , for kindly lending their gardens 

 for the examination. 



Of the candidates, those who presented themselves at Edinburgh 

 showed generally the best craftsmanship. 



The proportion of young to mature gardeners who entered for 

 the examination was comparatively small. There is good reason 

 to beUeve, however, that their relative number will increase greatly 

 in the immediate future. 



Frederick Keeble, F.R.S., W. Wilks, M.A., V.M.H., 



Director of the R.H.S. Gardens, Secretary. 

 Wisley. 



PASS LIST. 

 Division A. 



Simmonds, A., 110 London Road, St. Albans. 



Cope, Gertrude, Manor House Gardens, Northfield, Birmingham. 



Titchmarsh, C. C, R.H.S. Gardens, Wisley. 



Perry, Bertram P., Holmes Farm, Kilmarnock, Ayr. 



Gleed, C. J., Rosemead, Winchester Road, Basingstoke. 



Ascroft, R. W., Broxton House, Chilbolton, Hants. 



