(2) Training Schemes 
{a) The Housing and Development Board sent 2 groups of 
school leavers with Cambridge School Certificate qualifica- 
tion for a six-month intensive horticultural course. Trainees 
were assigned to various sections of the Gardens. Demon- 
strations on horticultural practice and lectures on elementary 
botany and horticulture were given and at the end of the 
course the trainees sat for a written examination. Of the 24 
examined, seventeen were successful. 
(b) The Department participated in the Singapore Junior Cham- 
ber of Commerce and the Vocational Guidance Steering 
Committee’s Youth Week in Commerce and Industry from 
12th to 16th August. 
(c) The botanical artist of the Oil Palm Genetics Laboratory, 
Chemara Research Station, Layang-Layang, Johore, was 
given a 7-week course of training in botanical art work. 
(d) A gardener of the Singapore Island Country Club was 
accepted for training in tree pruning. 
(e) From the Public Utilities Board seven men were sent to 
the Gardens for three months’ training in gardening, one 
of whom was still under training at the end of the year. 
(f) Two men from the National Recreation Centre, Kallang, 
were put through a course in gardening lasting two months. 
(g) By far the largest number sent for instruction in gardening 
came from the Parks and Trees Division of the Public 
Works Department. A total of 312 men were sent, of 
whom 232 successfully completed the course, while 44 are 
still undergoing training. They were sent in groups starting 
on 6th March at monthly intervals, each group receiving 
three months training on the correct methods of sowing 
seed, vegetative propagation, tree pruning, composting, 
preparation of beds, turfing, lawn maintenance and all 
general aspects of elementary gardening. 
(3) Educational Assistance 
As in previous years, the staff was involved in supplying 
fresh specimens for school examinations for both the Chinese 
and the English streams. A total of 40,000 specimens were 
supplied and as these were required in quantity on specific 
dates, their collection presented major difficulties. Available 
plant resources in Singapore proved inadequate and collection 
of some material had to be made out of Singapore. Planning, 
under conditions of the strictest secrecy, required four months. 
38. The Director was supervisor to two botany honours students of 
the University of Singapore, and Dr. Chew Wee-Lek of one student. 
9 
