for October, 1920 



351 



There was no opposition to the proposed amendmentb to 

 Article 3. Sections 1 and 3. that the annual dues be increased from 

 three to tive dollars, and that life membership dues be increased 

 from twenty-tive to fifty dollars. The advance in annual dues was 

 accepted as the most practical solution for providing the required 

 fund to meet the expenses of maintaining the activities of the 

 association, which will eliminate the necessity of a special fund 

 and thus create an equal taxation on all members. It was further 

 proposed that members directly benefited by the Service Bureau 

 should contribute a certain percentage of their first month's salary 

 to aid in defraying the operating expenses of the Service Bureau. 



New York Selected for 1921 Convention 



In consideration of the next meeting place. P. W. Popp, of 

 New York, called to the minds of the St. Louis and other 

 western members, that in 1917 the Easterners traveled West 

 to attend the convention in Chicago, and expected to carry 

 the convention back East with them for the following year. 

 They had to content themselves, however, that Cleveland 

 was on the way East when that city was designated for the 

 1918 convention. Owing to the war, the 1918 convention was 

 postponed and Cleveland had the convention in 1919. Xew 

 York was the slogan for 1920, but the Easterners found the 

 St. Louisans so full of enthusiasm over what would occur 

 if the convention went to St. Louis that thev- did not have the 

 courage to bid against them. But, said Mr. Popp, I come 

 from Xew York with courage to boost for the East for 1921, 

 and it must be Xew York or bust. You cannot get us to 

 Pike's Peak next year. Mr. Popp found no opposition, and 

 X'evv York, it was unanimously voted, w-as the choice for the 

 1921 convention, with the assurance of many of the western 

 meinbers that a large attendance from the West can be 

 anticipated. 



The meeting then adjourned, President Jensen announcing 

 that the morning session would convene promptly at nine 

 o'clock. 



WEDNESDAY MORNING SESSION 



The Wednesday morning session was called to order by Presi- 

 dent Jensen, who introduced Hon. Fred W. Pape, of the Park 

 Commission of St. Louis. Mr. Pape spoke of the splendid park 

 system of the city he represented, describing many of the horticul- 

 tural features, and of the part public parks assumed in molding 

 the lives of the citizens who frequent them. The welfare depart- 

 ment, he explained, is also an important factor of the St. Louis 

 park system as much attention is devoted to playgrounds, swim- 

 ming pools, athletics, and other outdoor recreations, all of which 

 tend to popularize the parks. Mr. Pape, who is a horticulturist 

 by profession, remained as an interested attendant during thp 

 morning session, participating in some of the later discussions. 



The Nomination of Officers 



W. N. Craig, Brookline, Mass., who has remained quite promi- 

 nent in the affairs of the association ever since he held the office 

 of president in 1916. was the unanimous choice of the convention 

 for president for 1921, which will be the tenth anniversary of the 

 association. The nomination came to Mr. Craig as a reward for 

 his untiring efforts to elevate the profession of gardening to the 

 standing which it merits. 



The other nominations for officers of the association were made 

 in the order following without opposition : Vice-president, George 

 H. Pring, St. Louis, Mo.; secretary, M, C, Ebel, New York, N, Y, ; 

 treasurer, Peter Duff, Orange, N, J, 



The trustees for 1921 : William Waite, Arthur Smith. D. L, 

 Mackintosh, Xew Jersey; L. P. Jensen, Ernst Strehle, Missouri. 



Examinations for and Classification of Gardeners 



Papers were received on the subject of Examinations for and 

 Classification of Gardeners from the Newport branch of the 

 National Association of Gardeners, Arthur Smith, New Jersey, 

 and J. Baxter, representing some of the members from Lake 

 Forest, Illinois. They were submitted in accordance with the 

 recommendations of the Cleveland convention, last year, where 

 this (piestion was brought up for disc\ission, when, after con- 

 siderable' debating, it was referred to the 1920 convention for 

 final action, and the secretary instructed to invite those who ad- 

 vocated exaniinations for and classification of gardeners to sub- 

 mit some definite plans. This question again aroused an animated 

 discussion with many divided opinions on the practicability of 

 providing examinations and classifications at the present time, 

 which would till the different requirements of the wide area of 

 this country, vvliose climatic and cultural conditions are so variable. 



The Newport l)ranch and .\rlhur Smith had a number of sug- 

 gestions and recommendations to offer, though nothing tangible 

 in the way of an operating plan. Mr. Baxter's paper did not 

 favor the proposition as it considered the proposition impracticable 



and generally non-feasible. The discussion drew forth expressions 

 of opinion from members from different parts of the country, which 

 was very desirable on a subject of such interest as this is to the 

 profession at large, among whom were G. McMahon, Des Moines, 

 Iowa; C. B. Wolf, Hibbing, Minn.; J. Meiscnbachcr, Tulsa, Okla. ; 

 A. Koch, Chicago ; J. Baxter, Lake Forest, 111. ; D. Shepherd, 

 Duluth, Minn.; Peter Duff, Orange, N. J.; A. Bieschke, Noroton^ 

 Conn.: Montague Free, Brooklyn, X. Y. ; G. H. Pring, and H. C. 

 Irish, St. Louis. 



The argument which had a decided influence in bringing about 

 a decision, was the potent fact that the association is in no finan- 

 cial condition to undertake such a project at present, which would 

 involve a vast expenditure in its organization without considera- 

 tion of the cost of carrying it on. 



The recommendation which follows w-as presented by the St. 

 Louis Association of Gardeners and W'as adopted by a unanimous, 

 vote of the convention. 



The paramount issue before the gardeners of this country is 

 the question of the N. A. G. going on record as a national 

 organization to examine gardeners to ascertain whether or not 

 they are capable of the professional name gardener. 



The western members unanimously welcome the proposal of 

 segregating the gardener from that of the pseudo-gardener. 

 Whatever method is adopted we insist that it should be along 

 American lines, that is, to fit American horticulture not that of 

 European horticulture. The men following the profession are cos- 

 mopolitan, embracing men from various parts of the world, who 

 have deviated from the old school to that of specialization, be it 

 Chrysanthemums, Carnations, Roses. Orchids, Propagation, Land- 

 scape or any other branch of the allied profession which he has 

 become expert with. 



The Royal Horticultural Society of England has been repeatedly 

 quoted as a criterion for the N. A. G. to follow. We, however, 

 do not agree with our eastern meinbers on this point in view of 

 the fact that this organization must embrace North, South. East 

 and West, covering conditions entirely different from that of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society of England. For example : an exami- 

 nation can be drawn up in London that will practicallv be the 

 same for all England. Is it feasible for the New York'office to 

 prepare an examination to fit the South or West? The point that 

 \ve wish to emphasize is that this question is not for the New 

 York office to carry out only in a directing capacity. Examina- 

 tions that will fit the eastern conditions will not be appropriate to 

 the western or southern conditions, or vice versa. 



This vital question should be well planned to embrace the 

 varied climatic conditions throughout the country including all 

 men following the profession as well as the private estate 

 gardeners. It is plainly manifested to us Western gardeners that 

 the examinations should be under the directing head of the 

 N. A. G., but the subjects of the examination should be left to 

 the local societies throughout the country who will examine 

 in accord with the purely local conditions, etc. If the local societies, 

 are insufficient at the present time to assist in this movement, it 

 is, therefore, a fallacy to pile more work upon the secretary of 

 this association. Gentlemen, the N. A. G. has not reached that 

 high standard of efficiency in finance and membership to warrant 

 handling this movement. The matter was postponed from the 

 Cleveland Convention until a definite plan was submitted. The 

 Saint Louis Association has called many executive meetings to 

 arrange a definite plan. We perused the Chronicle repeatedly to 

 ascertain if the other local societies have voiced a definite plan. 

 We have read with interest the remarks of the Newport members, 

 and Arthur Smith's article relative to gardeners' certificates ; how- 

 ever, we have not noticed a definite plan offered to assist the 

 matter when brought upon the floor of the convention. That in 

 itself snggi^sts that the national body is not strong enough to 

 carry the project through to success at this period. 



We, the St. Louis Association of Gardeners, recommend that 

 a census of its members should be taken definitely stating their 

 training, whether College or garden trained — subjects studied as: 

 Insects, Diseases and Their Control, Soils and Fertilizers. Experi- 

 ence in Plant Growing; Exotic or Landscape, etc.. Positions Held 



Past and Present, Salary of Present Position. A census of all 

 the members in the hands of the New York office would enable 

 the directors through the secretary to gradt all the gardeners 

 belonging to the national body into classes according to experience. 



Inducements for Young Men to Take up the Gardening 

 Profession 



The difficulty to secure .American boys who will take up the 

 profession of gardening seemed the main' point of contention when 

 this subject was presented. It was shown, however, that the asso- 

 ciation has had ample evidence that a sufficient number of boys 

 can lie interested to supply all the demands which will arise, for 

 training them. As the committee report stated, several estates 

 are ready to furnish the necessary facilities, and the owners of 



