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I think this excerpt is particularly interesting though as instead of pushing out the third slide just to get the low concert Eb, in the Vaughan Williams that note is not called for at all, and the solo in fact goes fairly high, a concert Bb above the staff.

I don't have a score in front of me but the similar solo horn passage in the same movement is reprinted in Norman Del Mar's Anatomy of the Orchestra and at the bottom of the score Vaughan Williams makes the following remark:

"It is essential that this passage be played on a real F Horn and that only natural notes be used to secure the true intonation of the Bb (7th partial) and the D (9th partial)"

Anyways, it's a cool piece and not played as often as his other symphonies so hopefully you're asking this question to prepare for a performance?

Jason