216 American Hortieulturai iSocidy. 



DO jealousies. Under that each present society would retain its name, its organi- 

 zation, officers, and all distinctive features. Into the charge of the Committee of 

 Conference, which should be perpetually renewed, ami might be called "The Gen- 

 eral Council" or "General Executive Committee" of the Union, would be placed 

 all matters of general interest, in providing places of meeting, securing excursion 

 rates, conferring with the Commissioner of Agriculture for appropriations to pub- 

 lish reports, etc. 



Or this committee might be termeii the " Executive Council and Committee 

 on Organization and Societies." As such, it could also ascertain the names of all 

 state and local horticultural societies, secure rosters of their officers and lists of 

 members, for publication in the general reports, thus interesting all horticulturists 

 everywhere in the general work. Articles of unusual merit and general interest 

 could be culled from reports of such societies and repubiislied in the general 

 reports. Thus we would connect and harmonize our entire horticultural interests, 

 make our labors immensely more useful, at a greatly reduced expenditure, and 

 make the title, " Member of the American Horticultural Union," one to stand 

 equally respected the world over as is " F. R. S." or " F. L. S." 



Fourth. Let us try to conceive what would be the actual working and effect 

 of such cooperation. 



At first it might be that only the American Pomological, American Forestry 

 and American Horticultural Societies would respond, unless the committee be 

 composed of unusually able, influential and active workers, when we might 

 reasonably expect other societies to speedily join the Union. But after one joint 

 session I am sure the advantages would be so apparent and satisfactory that tiie other 

 societies would fall gracefully into line through necessity of self-preservation. 

 Then we would hail the announcement of meetings of the " American Horti- 

 cultural Union " with joyful anticipations. The prowess of such extensive 

 cooperation would secure the very best excursion rates, the lowest and best hotel 

 rates, likewise all other needful expenses would be reduced to the lowest possible 

 figures. As a first result, the attendance and membership all round would increase 

 amazingly, and thus means would readily be found to well pay the Secretaries, 

 whose burdens would be greatly lightened, while now they are overworked 

 beyond all reason and hardly paid a mere pittance. There being but one meeting 

 in every one or two years, every one would be eager to attend. With such great 

 saving of time and money, and receiving in return so much more ami better 

 matter and many times broader acquaintance, the annual dues could be some- 

 what increased, and more willingly and promptly paid than now. All would be 

 glad then to have meetings continue a week, instead of only a day or two, .is now, 

 and thus the work be far more thoroughly done, future plans of work fully 

 discussed and put into more eirectual execution, friendships more thoroughly 

 made, and, above all, in a business point of view, and which is not to be accom- 

 plished by the present state of things, would be the meeting of the nurseryman 

 and fruit grower, the seedsman and gardener, the florist and home-adorner, the 

 forester and farmer, the fruit and vegetable growers, and the commission men — 

 in a word, the producer and consumer. 



They would be brought together under the most friendly aspect, and could 

 discuss together their special needs. In this way the good would be increased and 



