Just over two years ago horticulturist Ciaran Burke and nurseryman Carl Dacus set up the Dublin School of Horticulture to prepare students for the Royal Horticultural Society's general certificate examination in horticulture. The course was initially offered in Dublin only, but Ciaran Burke has now set up a course in Galway.

The course runs on Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 3.30 p.m. between now and March. The cost is £500. The course covers a wide range of subjects from plant naming and classification to the principles of genetics and the growth and development of plant structures.

There are 120 hours of lectures and the RHS recommends that students do about the same in study time on their own. For information on the Galway course, contact Ciaran Burke at (0907) 49943. For information on the Dublin courses, contact Carl Dacus at (01) 2809602.