N.Z. HORTICULTURISTS TO HOLD CONFERENCE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18545, 20 August 1928, Page 6

N.Z. HORTICULTURISTS TO HOLD CONFERENCE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

It is now six years since the initial meeting at whjch the New Zealand In•titute- of Horticulture took form was .eld in the Y.M.C.A., Christchurch. These have been eventful years, during which the institute has been developing and consolidating its objectives, which include horticultural nomenclature, plant improvement, and horticultural education. The assistance and active support of the Government has been secured, and an Empowering Act was passed in the 1927 session, under which a scheme of horticultural education was set out. This was being heartily supported by the professors in most of the colleges, and by many of the directors of the Technical Colleges, and officially endorsed by the Education Department. The work of the institute has the full, support of the English Royal Horticultural Society. The Institute of Horticulture’s examining board, of which Professor, H. B. Kirk is the president, have, in' ree'ent months, granted the national diploma in horticulture, carrying with it the right to the use of the letters

N.D.11. (N.Z.) to some sixty horticulturists of forty . years of age and over who have satisfied the board that their qualifications entitle them to the honour without examination.. These include* many of the oldest and most experienced of the horticulturists in the Dominion. The conference will open in the Municipal Council Chambers at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 22, when a civic welcome will be tendered by his Worship the Mayor. In the unavoidable absence of the Hon O. Ilawken, the Hon Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.L.C., a life-fellow of the institute, will open the conference, and Mr F. J. Nathan, the president, will occupy the chair. 4 Tn the evening a lecture, entitled Photography in Horticulture,” will be delivered by Mr Davis, the curator of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson.