Note by T.H. Kneen 4 December 1991, J.M. Ward became the first Superintendent of Horticulture in the Victorian Department of Agriculture in the early 1920's. 2 copies black and white photograph. Group fo men wearing suits, some holding hats, seated and standing . Probably in the Burnley Gardens.On reverse," Top Row: W.J. Allen Fruit Expert N.S.W., G. Quinn " " SA, J.M. Ward " " Tas, E.E. Pescott Principal School of Horticulture Burnley Vic, Bottom Row: Dr. Benjafield Tas, L.M. Shoobridge Esq Tas, Jas Lang " Vic, H. Weeks " S.A., C.C. Tucker "w.j. allen, g. quinn, j.m. ward, e.e. pescott, principal, school of horticulture, burnley, dr. benjafield, l.m. shoobridge esq, jas lang, c.c. tucker, superintendent of horticulture, fruit expert, h. wicks, pomological society

James Dearing was the head gardener for Benjamin Nathan, who owned Rippon Lea between 1909-1935. Dearing is believed to have worked for the Nathan Family at their previous home in High St., Armadale. He is understood to have left the employment of the Nathan's in about 1914-1915.Decorative prize certificate awarded to Mr James Dearing, head gardener to Benjamin Nathan, by the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria on the 11th February 1909, for "1 new or rare Plant". Certificate is made of white paper mounted on to cardboard. Decoration and text are very similar to RL 0448- the certificate is a cream coloured cardboard with printed text and decoration in green ink. The decorations consist of: a shield with a lion and a horse on either side, at the top of the certificate; a sheild with a kangaroo and an emu on either side, with advance Australia below, on the bottom of the certificate. On either side of this are two circles, the right circle consists of flowers, the left circle consists of fruit. Surrounding all this are various flowers and foliage filling up the space inside the border decoration.Handwritten in ink: Mr James Dearing Head Gardener to/ Mr Ben Nathan Armadale/ 1 new and rare plant/ Dendrobium Nobile .........../ WR.............. Vice/ James R a Milligan/ 11' February 1909rippon lea, dearing, james, nathan, benjamin, royal horticultural society of victoria

The item is First Edition of publication. Material reprinted from the Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Victoria; author, George Hyam, horticultural supervisor; publication issued by direction of the Minister of Agriculture, W.G. McKenzie M.L.A. The booklet belonged to Mrs J. Adams who lived on the corner of Whitehorse and Springvale Roads.Fifty-seven page booklet on gardening by George Hyam; entitled, 'Vegetable growing in the home garden', put out by the Department of Agriculture, VictoriaDepartment of Agriculture. Victoriadomestic items, gardening

Growing a Garden City was published by BHS Publishing and written by Michael Taffe. It tells the story of the Ballarat Horticultural Society from its beginnings in the 1850s.gardening, ballarat, michael taffe