190 



HORTICULTURE 



August 24, 1918 



Our Membership. 



My report made at the Convention 

 in New York last August sliowed that, 

 presuming all those members who 

 were in good standing at the close of 

 1916 would qualify for 1917, the total 

 membership of the Society might be 

 taken as covering 1694 annual, 496 

 life and 25 pioneer members, a grand 

 total of 2215. 



When it became necessary again, 

 ■early this year, to record our member- 

 ship in good standing, the number of 

 laspes was found to be more than ordi- 

 narily large, so much so that with the 

 same presumption applied to the 1918 

 list, we have 531 life. 17S(i annual, and 

 24 pioneer members, a total of 2335. 

 Since last convention we have taken 

 in 568 new annual members and 35 

 life members, a rather remarkable in- 

 flux, but badly needed to make up the 

 loss through laspes. As explained, 

 our strength can only be reported year 

 after year on a presumptive basis, and 

 our increases must be shown in that 

 way. A member is not in good stand- 

 ing unless he has paid the current 

 year's dues, so we are obliged to as- 

 sume that it is the intention of all in 

 the list of members in good standing 

 for the year previous to qualify for 

 the current year. 



While perhaps' nearly half of the 

 splendid addition to our membership 

 was due to my across-country trip in 

 the Interests of the Publicity Cam- 

 paign Fund — which resulted in 22-5 

 new members — the increase otherwise 

 has been highly satisfactory. Still, 

 our roster represents only a small part 

 of the trade in this vast country. 



Our Work for All. 



It is to be hoped that the work of 

 the Society in these trying times will 

 sufficiently convince the small florist 

 that its results are for his benefit 

 fully as much as for the florist with 

 larger interests. I should not, per- 

 haps, touch specifically upon details 

 of this work, as they are better dealt 

 with in the reports of our most effi- 

 cient committees. But I cannot help 

 pointing out the fact that but for the 

 action of the Society in the interests 

 of the whole trade, very many of the 

 smaller florists would in the coming 

 winter possibly find themselves forced 

 to seek other means of livelihood be- 

 cause they would not be able to profit- 

 ably operate their small areas of glass 

 on the restricted fuel supply which the 

 government originally ordered. Many 

 of these craftsmen did not hesitate to 

 involve the aid of the Secretary's 

 office in a contingency which vitally 

 concerned them, even though not 

 members. With reference to this con- 

 dition, I cannot, of course, suggest 

 anything as to limitations, for the 

 nature of our work precludes the 

 drawing of any line; but I do think 

 that many of our State vice-presidents 

 could wield much influence in their re- 

 spective territories — if they would only 

 get into action — looking to a better 

 appreciation of the objects and work 

 of our Society, and consequent en- 

 dorsement of our efforts through 

 membership. 



I have made reference to our State 

 vice-presidents and the influence 

 which they could exert for the ad- 

 vancement of the Society. I might 

 go further, and say that from my own 



experience I have found large numbers 

 of florists through the country quite 

 ready to join us when the advantages 

 of the membership are fully explained; 

 it is the little personal touch that 

 counts, mere appeals by letter must 

 not be depended upon. I do not mean 

 by this that a State vice-president is 

 expected to cover in person the wide 

 territory of the average State; but in 

 these days of .automobile travel any- 

 one can easily during a year come in 

 contact with his brother florists within 

 a wide radius of his home town. It is 

 strange that the great majority of our 

 State vice-presidents uge no part of the 

 appropriations provided for this work. 

 The following have sent in one or 

 more names for membership since the 

 last convention; 



National Publii-ity Campaigu, 28; Flor- 

 ists' Telegraph Delivery, 57; J. C. Liud- 

 l.looin, 1; Max Scliliug, 2 ; W. R. NicUolsou. 

 1- J \V Duncan, 1; W. Brown, 1; Wm. 

 Dethiefs, 1 ; Samuel Murray, 1 ; P. W. Popp. 

 2; L. J. Bourdet, 33; E. Satow, 1; P. Welcb, 

 2; Lou Foster, 1 ; W. J. Pilcber, 37; Paul 

 Bedeu. 1; A. S. Cerny, 2; Cbas. Scheiick, 

 3 ; Cbas. H. Totty, 2 ; Wm. F. Ekas, 1 ; F. R. 

 Newbold, 1; Geo. B. Hart, 1; S. A. Ander- 

 son, 2; B. Juerjens, 1; E. Asbley, 1; J. ^\ . 

 Graudy, Jr., 1; A. T. De La Mare, 1; Geo. 

 .\3mus, 1 ; M. Barker, 1 : W. J. Keimel, 4 ; 

 \V. F. Gude, 1; H. C. Riedel, 1; Jobn B. 

 Van BocUove, 1; A. L. Wilier, 3; C. W. 

 Kuigbt, 2; F. C. W. Brown. 2; W. G. 

 Hadgley, 1 ; J. H. Fiesser, 1; B. J. Dudley. 

 2; D. "b. Houaker, 4; A. E. B^iulkner, 1; 

 .1, T. D. Fulmer, 3. 



Our Administration Offices 



As may be judged from the reports 

 presented at this Convention, the fi- 

 nances of the Society are in excellent 

 condition. While we have had unusual 

 calls upon our treasury, in expendi- 

 tures for our common benefit, our 

 financial strength is practically unim- 

 paired. One very necessary item of 

 expense 1 may particularly refer to is 

 that covering the establishment of our 

 administration offices in New York. 

 For a long time the business of the So- 

 ciety was conducted in quarters and 

 under conditions which sadly ham- 

 pered routine work, and made ineft'ec- 

 tive the plans of your administration 

 for the greater usefulness of the So- 

 ciety as a business organization. 

 Your Executive Board, therefore, at 

 its January meeting was unanimous in 

 a decision to establish permanent 

 offices which should be adequate for 

 the Society's own and kindred inter- 

 ests. The launching of the Publicity 

 Campaign, too, made larger business 

 quarters absolutely essential, conse- 

 quently, under the direction of the 

 Board, the present administration 

 offices in the Johnston Building, 1170 

 Broadway, New York, was leased and 

 furnished, and now present not only 

 all the required facilities for the tran- 

 saction of the Society's business 

 affairs, but provide a place of meeting 

 for its own committees and for com- 

 mittees of auxiliary bodies with whose 

 work we are more or less identified. 

 Any member visiting New York may 

 use the Society's offices as his business 

 headquarters during his stay, being 

 assured of a most cordial welcome 

 and the extension of any courtesy 

 which is within the scope of the office. 



The Trade Exhibition. 



It is obvious to all in attendance at 

 this Convention. that our Trade Exhi- 

 bition has suffered through conditions 

 which are affecting all lines of indus- 

 try. Very many concerns who have in 



the past, through their generous dis- 

 plays, been conspicuous at these exhi- 

 bitions, were unable to put in an ap- 

 pearance this year. Lack of staff as- 

 sistance and transportation conditions, 

 necessitated or caused by the require- 

 ments of our Government in the 

 prosecution of the war now in prog- 

 ress, have been chief among the 

 reasons for the smallness of the 1918 

 Trade Exhibition. Extraordinary ef- 

 fort was put forth from the Secretary's 

 office to build up an exhibition which 

 should at least be representative, and 

 it is gratifying to realize that the re- 

 port covering the exhibition will con- 

 tain the names of several concerns 

 who evidence themselves as devotees 

 to the policy "Busiuess as usual," and 

 who have enabled the Society to con- 

 tinue an important feature of its con- 

 ventions which many thought impos- 

 sible under existing circumstances. 



The Fuel Situation. 



I have referred indirectly to the So- 

 ciety's activity in regard to the fuel 

 situation, and while I do not wish to 

 trespass upon the subject matter of 

 the reports which, undoubtedly, our 

 Washington representative and others 

 will present, I feel that I should make 

 some reference to the matter here. 

 Never before in the history of the So- 

 ciety has a situation of such momen- 

 tous importance confronted us as that 

 presented by the United States Fuel 

 Administration in its efforts to con- 

 serve fuel. 



Since the time when the first inti- 

 mation was made that the florist busi- 

 ness might be classed as non-essential 

 the secretary's office has been besieged 

 with inquiries, and appeals for action 

 by the Society. It would seem that 

 the value of our organization has been 

 appreciated in this emergency, and the 

 truth has gone home — that no line of 

 industry today can stand before condi- 

 tions it is likely to meet without or- 

 ganization. Individual effort counts 

 for nothing. The Society of American 

 Florists and Ornamental Horticultur- 

 ists is strong as the representative 

 organization of our trade, but its 

 strength ought to be many times 

 greater. When our delegations visited 

 Washington to enter protests against 

 what was felt to be unjust discrimina- 

 tion, the Government recognized our 

 organization as a body with whom It 

 could treat in matters of this kind, 

 and what we were able to accomplish 

 will be detailed to you at the proper 

 time. Our work was such as to carry 

 the strong endorsement of every florist 

 in the country, and should certainly 

 be the means of increasing our mem- 

 bership very largely. None of us 

 knows what we may be called upon to 

 meet in the near future, therefore, it 

 behooves us to make our organization 

 as strong as possible. 



The Publicity Campaign. 



As the work of the secretary's 

 office in connection with our Publicity 

 Campaign will be detailed in the re- 

 port of your Promotion Bureau to he 

 presented at the session of the Con- 

 vention set apart for the discussion of 

 such matters. I need refer to it only 

 briefly. The efforts of the Society in 

 tlie launching of a campaign looking 

 to publicity for flowers which should 

 result in an increased demand for 



