INSTITUTE OF HORTICULTURE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18417, 25 June 1925, Page 14

INSTITUTE OF HORTICULTURE.

ANNUAL MEETING. llio annual meeting of the !Ncw Zealand Institute of Horticulture (Canterbury District Council) was held last night, Dr. Chas. Chilton presiding. In moving- the adoption of th 8 annual report (a summary •of which has been published), tho president said tho W.E.A. Class, in connexion with which Mr C. E. Foweroker ayted as tutor, was proving a great success. Ho did not doubt that horticulture would be taught at tho School of Forestry, Canterbury Colloge, next year. The Instituto was aiming at raising the status of horticulturists, both in tbo higher and lower grades. It was desired that no one should be able to call himselE a gardener, for instance, who had not been through some form of training. All such people should be made to pass an examination. The president mentioned town-plan-ning, work for local bodies, and private owners. of landscape gardens, as being among tho outlets for horticulturists. The Bcience of horticulture should also be taught in schools and colleges, and one day it was hoped it would be extended to the University, and diplomas awarded to those passing the examination that would be set them on the subject. The Institute had no desire to enter into competition with horticulturists, but merely to work for the purposes he had indicated. The matter of arranging remits for the forthcoming 'conference was left in the hands of the executive to deal with. With regard to a proposal to hold a horticultural week in Duncdin during the Exhibition, tho secretary was instructed to call a conference of horticultural and lindred societies in Christchurch to discuss the matter of taking combined action. The secretary reported that lie had received a letter from Mr Ch'tteinden, Director of the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens, Surrey, England, congratulating the Institute on the progress it was making, es evidenced by the Institute's bulletin, a copy of which had been forwarded io him. The election of officers resulted as fol? lows: —President Dr. Chas. Chilton; secretary, Mr A. H. Shrubshall; executive, Dr. Chilton and Messrs Shrubshall and Bagg.