No. of Marks gained. 53. Mr. P. H. Jones, County Technical School, Stafford 150 59. Mr. B. Ling, Technical Laboratories, Chelmsford 59. Mr. S. J. Sayer, Technical Laboratories, Chelmsford 150 155 1 155 150 Third Class. 1. Mr. F. E. Belcher, 26 First Avenue, Bush Hill Park, 1. Mr. A. W. Browning, Gosford Gardens, Longniddry, N.B. 145 1. Mr. Henry Kingham, Technical Laboratories, Chelmsford 1. Mr. E. Powell, Heveningham Hall Gardens, Yoxford, Suffolk 145 145 5. Mr. W. Hind, Town Green, Aughton, Ormskirk . 5. Mr. Henry Hope, Municipal Technical School, Leicester 5. Mr. P. M. Marshall, Technical Laboratories, Chelmsford 140 8. Mr. F. South, Horticultural School, Holmes Chapel . 135 8. Mr. H. L. Symes, The Gardens, Milburn, Esher 10. Mrs. J. Chapman, 1 Leopold Road, Wimbledon Park, 10. Mr. C. New, 11 Blendworth Terrace, Clarence Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight 10. Mr. E. H. Niblett, The Gardens, Los Altos, Sandown, Isle of Wight. 10. Mr. A. McQuaker, 8 Victoria Place, Trinity, Edinburgh 10. Mr. J. F. Sargeant, Horticultural College, Swanley 10. Mr. D. A. Simes, Technical Laboratories, Chelmsford 130 10. Mr. S. W. Whalley, Streatley, Reading 17. Mr. H. R. Davey, 14 Albion Road, St. Albans 17. Mr. Robt. Perry, Milburn Gardens, Esher . 125 17. Mr. J. Wilson, Castle Street, Wallingford 125 20. Mr. J. Hubband, The Gardens, Mountfield, Hernhill, 20. Mr. G. Linter, 3 East Street, Ventnor, Isle of Wight. 120 20. Mr. J. B. Pratt, Technical Laboratories, Chelmsford 20. Mr. W. G. Taylor, Technical Laboratories, Chelmsford 20. Mr. W. H. Wield, Burches Lodge, Kingston Hill No. of Marks gained. 20. Mr. S. Wren, Technical Laboratories, Chelmsford 29. Mr. F. Wichelo, St. Mary's Street, Wallingford . 34. Mr. A. Wilkins, Martyr Worthy, near Winchester 120 115 115 115 110 . 105 105 105 105 100 100 100 ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S EXAMINATION IN HORTICULTURE. 1898. QUESTIONS. Eight questions only to be answered: four from Division A and four from Division B. DIVISION A. ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES. 1. Describe the methods of propagation of different weeds; explain why Groundsel and Chickweed and the large white-flowered Convolvulus are particularly troublesome. What are the best means of exterminating these plants? 2. Point out the importance to the plants of a good circulation of air in a hot-house, and the consequences of a stagnant condition of the atmosphere within it. 3. Describe the different functions of leaves, and the best way to secure their due performance. 4. What are the component parts of a flower, and of what use are they respectively to the plant? 5. What external conditions are favourable for inducing variations to appear in cultivated plants; and how would you proceed in order to fix any variation ? 6. What parts of the flower are retained and altered in forming the fruit of the Peach, Melon, Mulberry, Fir-cone, and Pine-apple? 7. To what Natural Orders do the following trees belong :-Tulip tree, Maple, Apricot, Ash, Laburnum, Guelder-rose, Horse-chesnut, Horn-beam, Thuia, and Evergreen Oak? Which are natives of this country? 8. Describe the structure of the bulb of the White Lily, the corm of Gladiolus, the creeping-stem of Couch-grass, the rhizome of the Flag, and the tuber of the Potato; and explain their uses to the plants. DIVISION B. PRACTICE. 9. Describe Landscape Gardening as an art. 10. Describe the formation of a Garden Lawn, and the details of the work necessary to keep it in condition during the year. 11. What are the preliminary operations necessary to the laying-out of a garden for Fruit and Vegetable culture? Describe the arrangement of the Fruit Trees, and the method of planting them. 12. A garden having four walls facing north, south, east, and west, what varieties of Fruit Trees should be planted on each? Describe their first year's pruning and training. 13. Give full details of the propagation and culture of Grape Vines and Fig Trees in pots. 14. Describe the culture of Sea Kale, Asparagus, and French Beans; and the best method of forcing them. 15. What are the best Manures for Kitchen and Fruit Gardens? How ought they to be applied, and when? 16. Describe the propagation and culture of Roses and Carnations intended to be cultivated under glass. TREES AND SHRUBS IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT. By SAMUEL HEATON, F.R.H.S. It is with some diffidence I write of the trees and shrubs in the Garden Isle; for I seem to hear many Fellows of the Royal Horticultural Society say that they have been through the island many times, both on foot and by coach, and have observed nothing of special excellence to note. And this is quite true. But the trees and shrubs I am about to draw attention to are to be found in private gardens and not by the highways and hedges, where many of them would undoubtedly luxuriate and lend additional beauty to the charms of this naturally picturesque island. The enterprise displayed by private individuals in beautifying their gardens should be a stimulus to all public bodies to beautify the island as a whole, and make it more attractive to visitors, who are an important factor in the prosperity of the Garden Isle. The monotony of the streets and buildings might be relieved by trees and shrubs planted in suitable positions and convenient places; the public halls might be made more attractive and inviting if clothed with window-boxes; and the open spaces could be made more picturesque and interesting if relieved with shrubs in boxes or tubs, as may be seen in Manchester and other places. But, alas! the public authorities seem to take no interest in the arboricultural charms of the island. The generally undulating surface of the Isle of Wight undoubtedly affords exceptional convenience and opportunity for the cultivation of rare trees and shrubs of a so-called Half-hardy nature. The length of the island, east to west, is about twenty-two miles; the width, north to south, about thirteen miles; and the circumference about sixty miles. The average rainfall is about 28 inches per annum, and the mean temperature about 50° F. In addition to the ordinary forest trees or "hard-woods," and the Coniferæ, the Euonymus, Tamarisk, Laurustinus, Bays, Fuchsias, Veronicas, and Hydrangeas are to be seen well represented in all parts of the island; whilst here and there in some of the best-kept gardens, and those most favourably situated, may be seen plants of Eucalyptus, Phillyrea latifolia, Griselinia littoralis, Myrtles, Escallonia macrantha, Choisya ternata, Aralia Sieboldi, Leycesteria formosa, Paulownia imperialis, Bignonia radicans, Aloysia citriodora, Photinia serrulata, Phoenix dactylifera, Chamaerops humilis and Fortunei, Phormium tenax, Coronilla glauca, Daphne Indica, Phlomis fruticosus, Desfontainea spinosa, Buddleia globosa, Arbutus, Forsythia viridissima, and others, which will be mentioned as growing in the following places, which are amongst the largest and best-kept gardens in the Garden Isle. BROOKE HOUSE GARDENS. In the gardens of Brooke House, the residence of Sir Chas. Seely, Bart., are to be found the following noteworthy trees and shrubs: Cupressus macrocarpa, over 25 feet high and 18 feet through at the base; Pinus insignis, which evidently does well for seaside planting; for this, like many other specimens, seems to revel in its position-it is 24 feet high and 17 feet through at the base. Pinus excelsa and Abies Nordmanniana are fine specimens, considering the short time they have been planted. Large healthy plants of Cedrus Deodara, C. Atlantica, and C. Libani are also very conspicuous. Other Coniferæ worth notice are Retinospora filifera, R. aurea, R. plumosa, and R. squamosa; Taxus baccata and T. elegantissima, Thuja plicata (Lobbi of gardens), Juniperus Chinensis, Cryptomeria elegans and C. japonica, and the "Blue Spruce," Picea pungens glauca. Magnolia Lenei and M. conspicua diffuse a glorious scent from their beautiful showy flowers. The showy Pyrus malus floribunda and P. atrosanguinea cannot be overlooked. Amongst other plants of interest are a Spanish Cork-oak (planted by Garibaldi in 1864; the dimensions are, stem 18 inches in diameter, height of tree 27 feet, spread of branches 120 feet), Aralia spinosa, Cornus Spathii, Garrya elliptica, which requires protection, Hibiscus syriacus, Hippophaea rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn), Andromedas and Daphnes (in variety), Staphylæa colchica, Deutzia candidissima, Berberis Thunbergii, Acer negundo var., and A. palmatum atropurpureum. The ornamental Grasses include varieties of Eulalia, Bambusa, Arundo, and Gynerium |