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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NATIONAL 

 BOTANICAL GARDENS. 



Geo. W. Hess, recently appointed superintendent of the 

 Botanical Gardens at Washington, D. C., to succeed the 

 late Wm. R. Smith, was born 49 years ago in the District 

 of Columbia. At the age of 16 he started to learn the 

 flower business with Mr. John Saul, after which he 

 worked for a number of florists, among them Mr. Muir, 

 of Chicago: J. R. Freeman, of Washington, and other 

 florists in his search for knowledge. He also was asso- 

 ciated with the late Edw. A. Mosely for years in Kenil- 

 worth, D. C, where they made a specialty of \'iolets and 



GEORGE W. HES.S. 



Carnations, which at that time were the l)e-.t to be had 

 in the District. He also made a specialt_\' of Chinese and 

 other foreign vegetables, on which he is quite an author- 

 ity. Mr. Hess is familiar with the names of these plants 

 in the Cantonese dialect. 



.•\ disastrous fire put him out of business, after which 

 he took a competitive Civil Service examination, which 

 he passed with a rating of 100 per cent, as a specialist on 

 the growing of foreign plants and 98 per cent, in general 

 gardening." He was offered a position as gardener with 

 two different government colleges in the West, but he 

 was unable to accept them owing to his wife's ill health. 

 He was compelled to go South, where he took up his resi- 

 dence in Volusia County, Fla., where he has been for 

 the past seven years engaged in growing foreign vege- 

 tables and plants for the New York market. 



He also operated a demonstration farm under the 

 auspices of the Board of Trade. Mr. Hess was also con- 

 nected with the Department of .-Xgriculture for a short 

 time. 



SPLENDID WORK FOR HORTICULTURAL 

 DISPLAY AT INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION 



"The finest advisory committee that has ever been 

 assembled in the interests of any department of any ex- 

 position is that which is co-operating with the Depart- 

 ment of Horticulture at the Panama-Pacific International 

 Exposition." — Mr. George A. Dennison, chief of the de- 

 partment. 



He says ever}- man in the list is a "top notcher." There 

 isn't a drone in the whole number. Each one is the execu- 

 tive officer of some society related to a national or inter- 

 national horticultural organization, and the combined 

 forces stand for all that is worth while in horticulture 

 and floriculture. 



In no department of the exposition's wide range of 

 interests is there evident any clearer manifestation of 

 the plan to make the exhibits selective, and to render 

 them attractive not only on the score of their intrinsic 

 beauty, usefulness or novelty, but to bend them to a defin- 

 ite educational scheme. 



As an evidence of the zeal with which this advisory 

 membership is going at the work, he gives a brief quota- 

 tion from some letters in which they accepted the onerous 

 and taxing duties of the position : 



John Young, secretary American Florists and Orna- 

 mental Horticulturists : 



"Please do not hesitate to call on me at any* time, as I 

 w ill always be ready to assist in bringing about a success- 

 ful floricultural exhibit." 



-1/. C. F.bel, secretary Xational Association of Gar- 

 deners : 



"1 pledge myself to do what I can to further the inter- 

 ests of horticulture and floriculture and shall continue to 

 trv and develop interest in the exposition among the gar- 

 dening fraternity." 



Benjamin Haininond, secretary of the American Rose 

 Society : 



"I will come to San Francisco and do whatever I can 

 in the meantime." 



Harry A. Bunyard, secretary American Suret Pea So- 

 ciety : 



"I will do all that is possible to advance the floricul- 

 tural exhibits in 191. ^. I have brought the matter of hav- 

 ing our societv take part in the exposition before the con- 

 vention in Boston. The question was laid over until 1914. 

 It is quite probable, however, that we will take up your 

 kind invitation at that time and accept the same.'' 



A. F. J. Baur. secretary of the American Carnation So- 

 ciety : 



"I shall be pleased to assist in every way possible in 

 making this department the success it deserves to be." 



C. W. Johnson, secretary Chrysanthemnm Society of 

 America : 



"I will do all in my power to further the interests of 

 the exposition and shall be pleased to serve you in any 

 capacity." 



L. Mertou Gage. .Unerican Gladiolus Society: 

 "I shall be active in every way where I can be of serv- 

 ice ; shall collect a cut flower display, urge San Francisco 

 as our meeting place, etc., etc." 



C. F. Kendel. secretary American Seed Trade .Issocia- 

 tion : 



"Will assist in bringing the World's Seed Trade Con- 

 vention to your city, and I regard the appointment on 

 vour advisory committee as not only an honor but a 

 duty." 



/. P. Pilkington. American Association of Xursery- 

 men : 



"T will be pleased to serve in any way possible as an 

 individual grower or as president of my association." 



