206 



JOURNAL OF THE UOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



EXAMINATIONS IN HOETICULTUBE, 1911. 



I. EXAMINATION OF EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC PAEKS. 



January 16, 1911. 



The Eoyal Horticultural Society's Sixth Examination of Employees in 

 Public Parks was held on January 16, 1911. 



As previously, the examination was partly viva voce and partly 

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

 the Society's Hall in Vincent Square, AVestminster. 



Sixty-eight candidates entered, and of these 16 secured places in 

 the first class, 31 in the second, and 15 in the third, leaving- 5 candi- 

 dates who failed to satisfy the minimum requirements of the 

 examiners and one who was absent. The majority of the London 

 Parks employees have now obtained passes in this examination, hence 

 the smaller number of the entrances this year. 



It is hoped to organize another examination in 1912 not only iu 

 Westminster, but in some of the most central towns of the Provinces, 

 and the Secretary of the Society would be glad to hear as early as 

 possible from those Public Authorities who would like their gardeners 

 to sit for it. 



The written papers show this year a greater familiarity with trees 

 and shrubs than formerly. The more general use of the botanical 

 names and terms was most gratifying, indicating as true what has for 

 so long been contended, viz. that it is equally easy to learn and re- 

 member the botanical name if its origin and meaning is understood. 



Question 3 revealed a very great lack of knowledge of the more 

 recently improved varieties of Lilac, Spiraea, Deutzia, and Philadelphus, 

 and coupling this fact with the frequent excuse of candidates that, 

 being stationed in one park only, they have no facility for extending 

 their knowledge, public park gardeners are urged to take every possible 

 opportunity of visiting other public and private gardens, and of study- 

 ing closely the weekly gardening periodicals. It may even be possible 

 — and it is certainly very desirable — for the Local Authorities to cause 

 men, who are anxious to extend their knowledge and experience, to 

 work for definite terms of, say, three months in different gardens, 

 according to an arranged cycle. The stimulus of the sight of the new 

 plants and shrubs, and conditions of environment of the varied 

 gardens, added to the encouragement such a procedure w^ould give, 

 must have highly beneficial results. 



The questions on manures were fairly well answered, but their 

 nature, and the principles underlying the use of each, are insufficiently 

 understood. Something more definite than the mere mention of a 



