THIS is a subject that has come prominently before the readers of the ' Gardener' since its first publication in 1867. The course of examinations instituted by the Royal Horticultural Society and the Society of Arts naturally enough operated to call special attention to the subject; and a large number of readers of the ' Gardener ' being of that class for whose especial behoof these examinations had been provided, it is not to be wondered at that a brisk discussion on the question should have been, and still is, carried on in its pages. All true educational agencies are matters of deep interest, and their beneficial operation must, and does, exert a beneficent influence on the community. In like manner, gardeners' examinations, wisely conducted, cannot fail to operate to raise the professional status of the gardener, and at the same time offer to him the means of social advancement.

But these examinations are not the end, they are only the means to the end; and herein we fancy some are apt to mistake their object and aim. To be able to take high honours at an examination is an object worthy of an earnest ambition; but it may be said to only represent the attainment of so much practical and theoretical information, the which, in order that it may work out its legitimate results, must be put out to use, and not be suffered to rust by a course of inaction. First-class certificates, and the highest number of marks, do not necessarily represent an educated gardener; they do represent a foundation on which may be built up a solid educational structure when the stores of accumulated lore have been wisely applied. What kind of use will be made of these attainments 1 that is the question by which their real value is to be ultimately appraised. By all means let these examinations be carried on, and, if possible, more widely diffused; but the race is not won when they are triumphantly passed; rather it is the start in the race, but under highly favourable circumstances.

What is greatly needed in the present day is, some means by which a large number of gardeners, in the more lowly and needful circumstances of life, can be brought into contact with the varied streams of information on gardening matters now running out in almost every direction by means of the wide diffusion of the various gardening papers, etc. There is much need for this; and we are glad to find that in some parts of the country the gardeners in different localites are banding themselves together, and, by the aid of the principle of co-operation, creating a valuable means of mutual instruction relative to the various occupations connected with their craft. An old poet has written: -

"Kindred objects kindred thoughts inspire, As summer clouds flash forth electric fire: " and the more modern recognition of this thought sees in the principle of co-operation a material, if not a necessary, aid to social progress. What can be attempted by means of such a principle is to be seen in the annual report of the Bitterne and West End Gardeners' Mutual Improvement Society, which has just come to hand. The district covered by the operations of the Society is one situated a few miles south of Southampton, and combines the range of two prosperous villages lying almost side by side. By means of this Society, three copies of the ' Gardeners' Chronicle,' three copies of the 'Gardeners' Magazine,' and three copies of the 'Journal of Horticulture,' are circulated weekly; one copy of the ' Gardeners' Record ' is circulated fortnightly; and one copy of the 'Gardener,' and one of the 'Florist and Pomologist,' are circulated monthly among the members; and so the members of the Society have the command of a very full range of matters engaging the attention of horticulturists.

The practical import of this arrangement is thus stated in the report: "Each member has the advantage of perusing papers of the annual value of £3,16s. 6d. for the sum of 4s. 4d.," paid annually in the form of a weekly subscription of one penny. Then there are occasional lectures on horticultural matters about to be added, as a means of extending the usefulness of the Society; and no doubt there are many pleasant meetings for mutual converse and discussion, the value of which who shall estimate 1 With such a useful organisation in operation, it is perhaps not to be wondered at that this district has also a local Horticultural Society which holds both a summer and an autumn exhibition, and produces at these exhibitions subjects that might put to shame what is often seen staged at the meetings of much more pretentious societies.

Here, then, is a movement worthy of wide imitation. What one or two men cannot accomplish for themselves, can be managed by a few combining together, and in a spirit of mutual regard and aid they can thus seize on advantages not otherwise to be made available for practical uses. No individual is so insignificant as to be perfectly useless; - a combination of these can be made to represent a power of no mean order, capable of working out ends the utility and value of which can only be measured by the results produced.