U'il 30, 1904. 
» 
fHE Gardening World 
MOTTO FOR THE WEEK: 
“Silver-strewn with Wood Anemones, too soon to bow their heads and pass away .”-—Violet Fane. 
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FOR 
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sually considered difficult ; or contributions 
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cccnt numbers:— 
May 23.— SAXIFRAGA GRISEBACHII, 
May 30. — DENDROBIUM NOBILE 
DTUNDIFLORUM and D.n. NOBILIUS. 
July 4 — APHELANDRA AURANTIACA 
OEZLII. 
August 1.— BORONIA HETEROPHYLLA. 
September 12.— SIX NEW DAFFODILS. 
October 3 — LILIUM AURATUM PLA- 
FPHYLLUM SHIRLEY VAR. 
Novembei 14.— ROSE MME. N. LEVA 
ASSEUR. 
January 2— HYBRID TEA-SCENTED 
OSE IRENE. 
January 30. — TUBEROUS BEGONIA 
OUNTESS OF WARWICK. 
February 27.-A FINE STRAIN OF 
LOXINIAS. 
April 2. — WISTARIA MULTIJUGA 
USSELLIANA. 
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This week we present a Half-tone \ 
Plate of 
NARCISSUS CYCLAMINEUS. 
ext week we shall give a Half-tone < 
Plate of 
A COLLECTION OF CODIAEUMS. 
*** The prize last week in the Headers’ ( 
ompetition was awarded to “ J. W. J.,” ) 
ir , his article on “ Cropping a Kitchen 
arden,” page 340 . 
Views and Reviews. 
Gardening for Teachers. 
The Education Committee of the Essex 
County Council has seemingly determined to 
benefit as many of the classes; of their own 
community as possible in the matter of hor¬ 
ticultural education. Their most recent 
schemei is a project for the benefit of the 
teachers of the public schools. As most 
people are aware, such teachers have their 
time fairly well occupied during most periods 
of the year. They have, however, a fairly 
lengthy vacation, and it- has occurred to the 
Education Committee that the teachers 
might take this opportunity of making theui- 
selve-s so far acquainted and proficient in 
horticulture as to be able to undertake the 
instruction of the students in connection with 
school gardens and evening continuation 
classes. 
The proposal is to> provide a course of 
teaching for two weeks, commencing August 
8th, provided a sufficient number of teachers 
make application to attend. As teachers 
usually have their time so closely occupied 
indoors, therei seems to be some little doubt- 
as to whether they would spend a fortnight 
of their holidays in an arduous endeavour t-o 
make themselves- acquainted with the prin¬ 
ciples and practice of horticulture. No doubt 
there will be some of them eager to- avail 
themselves; of such an opportunity, especially 
the younger members of the- profession, who; 
still have youthful energy to- encourage 
them to make the most of their time. Those 
who do -so would aim at being appointed 
teachers in their own school gardens-, and 
thereby add to their salaries. This in itself 
would no- doubt be sufficient incentive to in¬ 
duce them to undertake the work. 
Three lecturers will be available to- render 
this class of instructors all the services they 
can in. the short -s-p-ace of time a-vaila-ble fon; 
imparting such instruction. Twoi gardeners 
will also; b-e in attendance when necessary. 
The biological laboratories have recently 
been greatly extended, and provision has been 
made- fur two- large classes being carried oiii 
simultaneously. This- entirely refers to hor¬ 
ticulture, as other provision has been made 
for agriculture in; the- same range of build¬ 
ings. The garden is now well established 
and only ten minutes’ walk from the 
laboratories. The hothouse department is 
more than well stocked with a variety of 
plants', which are rather crowded at the pre¬ 
sent -time, but- tha-t is- a state of things which 
exists in most gardens just- now, even in 
private establishments, and will remain so 
until the bedding plants can be cleared out. 
Eruit trees and bushes although still small 
are well attended to and making -sturdy 
progress. A certain portion of the garden is 
devoted to ornamental flowering trees and 
shrubs. The herbaceous- border is extensive 
and well stocked with a great variety of 
plants both native and exotic and suitable 
for the purpose of study. All these will ha 
available for the teachers, and the- only 
regret is that the- time for study should be 
so limited. We see no reason, however, why 
the same course- or a similar one should not 
be repeated next year, so that the teachers 
can still further add to the knowledge they 
have already acquired. 
Men and women are equally invited to take; 
the course, and as the Education Commit-tee 
not only offer the instruction free: of cost, 
hut also pay travelling expenses' and make a 
special allowance of 12a. 6d. per week 
towards the maintenance of ceitain candi¬ 
date®, it- is an, opportunity that all who can 
will avail the-mselves of when thus offered. 
In our opinion the chief difficulty will be iu 
imparting sufficient instruction during a 
fortnight to make the teachers effective in 
t heir turn- t-o conduct classes, 
Tho-se who are good students and fully 
occupy their time can learn much of the 
matter o-f gardening in fourteen days-, but 
the subject is-such a- large one that very few 
if any co-uld assimilate the same in so short 
a, -space of time. Not only does this apply 
to their mental capabilities, but also- to their 
practical work iu the handling of tools, pre¬ 
paration- of soil, etc. Even if it were possible 
to- impart the whole range of gardening to 
a class- of students in. a couple of weeks, such 
knowledge must remain a matter of memory. 
This i-s what we mean when we speak about 
then being incapable of assimilating so- much 
knowledge in the time given. 
Gardening consists largely of practice, and 
to. lemember it- in a natural way means a 
huge amount of practice before the student- 
can be said to- thoroughly master it. We 
remember, however, that a gardener never 
completes- his education, but- is always learn¬ 
ing something fresh about his- profession. 
This rapid acquirement, of knowledge of the 
subject without due- practice could readily be 
detected by students who already have a 
kno wledge of gardening, though students who 
have not yet left school wo-uld be less ready 
