A study examined which agricultural mechanics skills were being taught by vocational horticulture teachers in Pennsylvania and compared the degree of proficiency possessed by teachers for particular competencies with the indicated relative importance of these competencies as perceived by employers in the horticulture industry. Also examined were the effect of sex, years of teaching experience, and place of employment on the agricultural mechanics proficiency of vocational teachers. A mailed questionnaire, designed to collect demographic data and information pertaining to 171 agricultural mechanics competencies was completed by 85 teachers and 17 employers. After determining which competencies were considered most essential according to the perceptions of the employers, researchers discovered that while a majority of horticulture teachers were teaching the correct mechanics competencies in relation to relative importance, only 10 of the 55 essential competencies were being taught by 70 percent or more of the teachers. In addition, teacher proficiency was found to be undesirable in many areas perceived as important by employers. Recommendations included calls for inservice courses in agricultural mechanics for vocational horticulture teachers as well as for development of related curriculum materials for horticulture teachers. (MN)